Flower Hill Primary School likes to keep its students flying high. So Principal Lucia Laguarda, faculty and support staff members are always looking for ways to ignite the energy and enthusiasm that typically comes with being in grades K-4.
There was plenty of electricity around the school when Flower Hill combined March’s Star Student Award assembly celebration with the conclusion of the pick-a-partner reading program (PARP) that had the building’s 400 youngsters spending time daily reading with a family member.
The outstanding students were honored for their classroom work and efforts throughout the school, both indoors and on the playground and even on the bus ride to and from the building each day. The youngster’s collaboration with teachers and fellow students really stood out in s sensational way.
![Principal Lucia Laguarda with Flower Hill School's Star Student Award recipients.](../../../assets/images/2018/april/cameo_06b.jpg)
Principal Lucia Laguarda with Flower Hill School's Star Student Award recipients.
Ms. Laguarda presented the youngsters with certificates and then took a photo with them to commemorate the occasion.
March’s Star Student Award recipients included:
Kindergarten: Katie Husted, Scarlett Menjivar Romero, Addison Ashby, Gretchen Schmid, Gianna Velasco, Jonathan Tavares
First grade: John Ramos-Panameno, Randy Diaz Moreno, Emanuel Rodriguez Buezo, Christopher Breingan, Celia LoPorto
Second grade: Amanda Marquez-Granados, Symphany Cunningham, Harmony Cantave, Jory Morgan Page, Sean White, Aaliyah White
Third grade: Avery Davidson, Harold Jimenez Nunez, Dylan McKean, Andie DiGioia, Julia Goodwin, Keylin Anariba-Henriquez
Fourth grade: Emily Barba, Mia Velasquez Alvarado, Annie Cunningham, Aniya Guerrero
First grade teacher Nicole Arana’s entire class was also honored for their exceptional performance during March.
Flower Hill School Loves Reading
During the recent assembly in the gymnasium, Flower Hill also celebrated a month filled with reading during school hours and at home, too. It was four weeks of guest readers visiting classrooms and all sorts of special events to keep students pumped up.
Flower Hill is tentatively laying claim to breaking the world record for the longest bookworm ever. It happened during the school’s bookworm parade.
This year’s PARP theme was “Be a Flower Hill Bookworm.” The idea behind it was “the more you read, the more you grow,” organizers said. Participation in the initiative ran high. There were raffle prizes to keep things lively and special prizes for the top readers on each of the five grade levels in the school.
Shannon Koepele, a fourth grader in teacher Brenda McManus’ class was Flower Hill’s overall top reader during PARP among all students in the building.
Katie Husted was the top kindergarten reader with Cassidy Goldman winning first grade honors. Henry Schmid was the second grade’s leading reader with Eva Richter capturing top honors among all third graders. Mildred Hernandez Veliz was recognized for being tops on the fourth grade level.
This year’s pick-a-reading partner program initiative was chaired by Heather Johnson. Shannen Delany helped coordinate the “mystery readers” who visited Flower Hill classrooms.