Southdown Primary School took a timeout from its usual daily routines to honor dozens of students and several retiring faculty and staff members during a festive ceremony in the school gym.
Teacher Pamela Schwarting led the full-school assembly. Sportsmanship was the educational focus of the gathering, which was the word of the week. “We focus on sportsmanship during this time of the school year because of the many events we have coming up, including field day, beach Day, outdoor-recess and the third and fourth grade basketball tournament, which will start soon,” Southdown Principal Scott Oshrin said. “Students were challenged to find inspirational quotes at home that inspire good sportsmanship. They will write these quotes on posters to be hung throughout the school.”
Southdown also honored its Stars of the Month with Splash Awards, which is only fitting since the school’s mascot is a dolphin. The youngsters were recognized for their overall effort and performance in classrooms and all around the building and grounds
Stars of the Month for April included:
Kindergarten: Julia Lanzilotta, Conor Kuhn, Kallye Kuhn
First grade: Aurelia Intonato, Mackenzie Conklin, Katherine Amaya Cruz
Second grade: Taylor Peters, Melody Pierre Louis, Katie Aparicio, Alexandrer Velasquez, Alexa Suazo Archaga
Third grade: Anya Goleski, Lindsey Araujo, Ashanti Galeas, Yesany Abreu Nunez
Fourth grade: Kyra Larsen, Derek Weinstein, Louisa Skrobela
Stars of the Month for May included:
Kindergarten: Shane David Brightbill, Jr., Oliver Fox, Silvano Menor Vazquez,
First grade: Tamia “Montier” Delgado, Brianna Zavala Reyes, Brianna Flores
Second grade: Regan Murtagh, Campbell Proctor, Tulsi Singh, Justin Reyes-Campos, Franco Ruiz Gonzalez
Third grade: Emperatriz Guido-Coreas, Brianna Ramirez-Argueta, Anderson Orellana Lopez, Joshua Rodriguez
Fourth grade: Ryan Donovan, Aaziyah McCoy, Mia Miller
Retiring staff members Joanne Cicio, Anne Johnson and Leslie Rossetti were also recognized before the crowd. “It has been my honor and privilege to work alongside these outstanding women for the past four years,” Mr. Oshrin said. “They will be missed at Southdown. As a parting gift, all three will be permitted to park in the front parking spots.”