Jefferson Primary School recognized its third grade Class of 2019 with a memorable ceremony this past Tuesday afternoon.
The youngsters marched in the school gym to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and assembled in front of the stage while a crowd numbering in the hundreds looked on. The third graders used recorders to perform “Summertime is Coming” to the delight of family and friends. Oscar Alfaro Hernandez, Deisy Dominiguez Torres, Taylor Ranft and Logan Tine followed by leading those gathered in the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I am very proud of all the accomplishments our 73 third graders have made while attending Jefferson Primary School,” Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said. “We have taught them all of the necessary skills they require to move forward. Our students have been provided leadership opportunities such as participating as a member of our Safety Patrol, Jaguar Leadership Team, and Mission Moon LEGO Jr. Club. As a teacher and now as principal, I learn so many important lessons from my students. Teaching is a two-way street; a matter of give and take. Each year, we welcome a new group of students, each class is unique and different than the last.”
Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky and Assistant Superintendent Beth McCoy were on hand for the festivities. Students later performed several more musical selections before teachers presented a series of special academic awards.
Desiy Dominguez Torres, Katherine Duke, Keiry Gudiel Ramirez, Julia Hotine, Miranda Kincaid, Olivia Koiyet, Kayvon Pittman, Allejandro Ulloa Alfaro, Emerson Wilde and Jayden Zambrano took to the microphone to tell the crowd of their favorite Jefferson memories.
Ms. Capitulo-Saide and third grade teachers Toby Fryc, Renee Garcia, Rosita Lanoue and Sharon Weider then introduced the spectacular youngsters.
Jefferson School’s third grade class includes Roxy Angelica Alfaro, Oscar Alfaro Hernandez, Nathaly Alfaro Maldonado, Saira Amin, Elizabeth Anderson, Edwin Arvelo, Giselle Avelar Romero, Bella Bernzweig, Hanna Boyle, Gian Karlos Bracero, Ali Brady, Charles Broderick, Rhys Carrillo, Anthony Centrone, Jose Chavez Rivas, John Conner III, Bladimir Cordova Parada, Naomi Curtis, Nehemiah Curtis, Michaela Deras, Deisy Dominguez Torres, Katherine Duke, Carlos Fajardo, Malcolm Foster, Violetta Fox, Dante Francis, Justin Garcia, Justin Garcia-Romero, Oscar Granados, Christopher Granito, Christian Guandique, Keyri Gudiel Ramirez, Genesis Guevara Fajardo, Yobani Guzman Saravia, Emily Hotine and Julia Hotine.
The Class of 2019 also includes Iliana Jarmolowski, Brianna Jimenez Leon, Miranda Kincaid, Olivia Koiyet, Xinkun Liu, Karen Lopez Del Cid, Christopher Maldonado Acosta, Andrew Mata Cortez, Logan Mazure, Robert McClure, Sebastian Mendia, David Molina, Diego, Padilla Buezo, Daniella Petrone, Hunter Pitney, Kayvon Pittman, Dayana Portillo Hernandez, Alina Qasim, Allison Ramirez Cruz, Esthefany Ramos Quintanilla, Taylor Ranft, Karina Rodriguez, Steven Rosado, Eric Rubio Perez, Jose Ruiz Maldonado, Marco Antonio Salas, Benjamin Sheetrit, Cedar Stanforth, Bernard Steadman, Dario Stincone, Duntrell Strickland, Logan Tine, Alejandro Ulloa Alfaro, Fernando Villatoro, Emerson Wilde, Jayden Zambrano and Wilton Zavala Santos.
“As a teacher and now as principal, I learn so many important lessons from my students,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said. “Teaching is a two-way street; a matter of give and take. Each year, we welcome a new group of students, each class is unique and different than the last. I thank our amazing third graders for demonstrating kindness towards one another even when faced with a myriad of differences and disagreements. I also thank our students for showing strength. When times were hard, our third graders showed us how to persevere and push through.”
The third graders are headed for either Woodhull Intermediate School or Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School in September. In the meantime, they all plan to enjoy the summer vacation.
“Many of the third graders have visited my office to share book reports, published writing pieces, beautiful artwork and positive notes,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said. “Each day, they reminded me why I wanted to become an educator. I have loved greeting our students each morning during arrival, observing them learn in all of your classrooms, interacting with them during lunch and seeing them off as we dismiss each day. I look forward to watching our Jefferson students continue to flourish in all academic and social emotional areas. Our third graders will forever be Jefferson Jaguars.”
