L to R: MTA President Joe Byrne, Gavin Ciarfella, Natalie Russo, 5th Grade Teacher Jason Klein, and MCSD Superintendent Dr. Mark Kruzynski
The Medina Teachers Association, the Medina School District and the Medina Area Partnership are proud to announce the October selections for Students of the Month. This award is a combined effort of these organizations to recognize students who go above and beyond to help teachers and fellow students succeed and enjoy school.
Medina FFA has graciously sponsored the award for October. This month, students are being honored with this article and a yard sign from the MTA to celebrate their achievement. The yard sign was presented by Joseph Byrne, President of the Medina Teachers’ Association. Dr. Kruzynski also presented the winners with a pen and pencil set. In addition, Medina FFA presented each of this month’s winners with a variety of FFA goodies!
Nominated by Shannon Markarian of Oak Orchard was first grader Da'Maiya Harden. Mrs. Markarian shared the following about Da'Maiya. She stands out as an excellent classroom citizen. She follows directions quickly and does her best work, even when something is difficult for her. Most of all, she is kind and friendly to all of her classmates and will go the extra mile to make another child feel included. For example, when another student was feeling very scared about starting first grade, Da'Maiya comforted her, offered to sit with her on the carpet, play with her on the playground, show her how to go through the lunch line, and sit with her in the cafeteria. Because of Da'Maiya's patience and kind heart, that little girl said that she had a great day!
From Wise Middle School, Jason Klein nominated one of his fifth grade students, Natalie Russo. When Mr. Klein indicated his reasons for nominating Natalie, he shared that she is a remarkable fifth-grader. Natalie is, without a doubt, one of the kindest, most caring, and thoughtful students I have had the pleasure of working with. Her compassion and empathy shine through in every interaction she has with her classmates and teachers. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and is quick to offer assistance to anyone in need. Natalie's genuine concern for the well-being of her peers makes her a true asset to our school community. One of the most remarkable aspects of Natalie's character is her leadership. She is a role model for her peers, setting an example of kindness, respect, and diligence that others aspire to emulate. Natalie's classmates look up to her, and she leads by not just her words but her actions as well. She consistently uses her manners and demonstrates a level of maturity that is well beyond her years. Natalie's commitment to academic excellence is truly commendable. She approaches her studies with a dedication that is inspiring to both her peers and teachers. She strives for perfection and is not content with anything less than her best effort. Her strong work ethic is evident in the quality of her work and her consistent pursuit of improvement. In conclusion, Natalie Russo is an outstanding student who embodies the values of kindness, empathy, leadership, and dedication to excellence. Her positive influence on her classmates and her commitment to her education make her a deserving candidate for the Student of the Month award. I have no doubt that she will continue to excel and make a positive impact on our school community in the future.
From the Junior-Senior High School, senior Gavin Ciarfella, was nominated by Dave Voss and PJ Bell. Dr. Voss reports that his only interaction with Gavin 2 years ago was not a good one. He was very belligerent in the hallways. The incident resulted in a write-up and detention. Since the beginning of the last school year, he has been an excellent student in forensic science. On day two of last school year, he came up to me at the end of class and apologized for the incident of the past year and assured me it would not ever happen again. Since then, he has been a model student for me. He works hard, consistently maintaining a 90+ average. He has taken on a leadership role in his lab group. He asks questions, contributes to class discussions and always pushes himself to the best of his abilities. Compared to past performance, this is a complete 180. Mr. Bell indicated that he would like to second Dave Voss's nomination of Gavin Ciarfiella. He has been outstanding thus far this year. Super engaged and curious about whatever we are studying and laser focused!
Congratulations to this month’s winners! The MTA, MCSD, and the MAP will continue the student of the month program throughout the school year. Be on the lookout for the next honorees in the coming months. Look for posters in the windows of Medina businesses identifying them as proud supporters of this program. Who will be the next outstanding Medina student to be honored???
