Killington pre-kindergarten graduation
Speech by Betty Hughes
Good Morning Everyone,
I thank you all for being here with us! What a wonderful gathering-recognizing our youngest students!
These past two years have been busy for me, but I am proud of the direction our school is moving in, and am committed to going the distance. I would first like to start by thanking some important people- those that have been an integral part of our growing Pre-K school community. One of my goals for the development of the school is to strengthen school, family, and community connections. Although we are a small town, we still need to remember to connect with one another in the many possible ways we can to nurture our children.
First, a special thank you to Ms. Megan! She is a talented and passionate teacher that truly gives all that she has to your children. I feel very, very fortunate to have her as part of my team; thank you parents-so very much. In my 36 years in education I have not seen such positive family involvement-your commitment is respected very much by me as an educator, a parent, and a grand-parent. Thank you to my husband Chuck for organizing our first, then second annual school Fundraiser, our Turkey Raffle, where he enlisted over 49 businesses and friends in our town to donate to our school to raise necessary funds for school supplies to enhance our developing curriculum. I have to say that he is as invested in the growth of this school as much as I am.
I thank Ms. Mary Hogstrom, our bookkeeper and substitute teacher-the kids love her-and to Rusty Rodriguez, also my mom, a retired educator, the kids adore you! The experience you bring to the classroom is unmatched. Say the story of the kids saying goodbye with waving.
There are many more to thank-Roger for reading to us every Thursday morning throughout the school year-Our partnership with KMS with students visiting our classroom on a schedule that gives our students a solid continuity of mentorship-our connection with the Sherburne Memorial Library/Jess Langlois has presented us with many lessons through books, and most recently with a focus on science-Uncle Nick-Dominick’s for our Holiday Parties and Papa Pizza gatherings. The Mountain Times has been tremendous in supporting our school community efforts for sure-I thank the KES School Board and the entire school faculty and staff, along with Mary Guggenberger in giving us the opportunity feel so welcome at KES. I also thank the Pre-K’s new governing board-Joan Wise, Steve Finneron, and Whit Montgomery. I look forward to working with them as school grows.
I could go on. But we have to pay tribute to our students before we lose their attention span.
You are looking here at 16 (albeit two absent) young children, ages 3-5 who are in my opinion, thinkers, artists, scientists, writers, readers, little chefs, athletes, creators, investigators, dancers, musician’s/recently new drummers, communicators finding their own voices, creative happy young people that are loving learning, exploring, and going on adventure after adventure. They have moved beyond my expectations in all ways. Also, Megan and I think we can really understand them when they speak now compared with the beginning of the school year! What a journey it is with all of them!!!
You are, actually, I believe, looking at a virtual who’s who for the future! As an example, we know we have a budding Paleontologist who really thinks he is a dinosaur-sounds like one too! We have probably the new designers of what Lego will look like in the future-we have some that dream of being policemen and firemen, astronauts, carpenters, construction workers that love machines-builders/architects, writers, clothes designers, even a chef, but he changes his mind weekly; future mothers and fathers-all of these kids love playing with the babies and love being in the kitchen. So, let us move on…..
Read their favorite things about Pre-K and present certificates, Pre-K’s first, then those moving on to KG. I asked each of them what they liked most about Pre-K-with some/but very little prompting as you will hear! They all came over to sit next to me at my table-it seems to be important-this and standing with Ms. Megan to do an art project at her art center it is very important.
Thank you all-see you at the Summit- [for the end-of-year celebration]
Pre-K Graduation Comments By Students
Iyanna
I love playing with the baby dolls and the kitchen and dressing up
I like walking feet because it’s quiet
Playing on Kid’s Kingdom
Eating snack when we do yoga
I love sitting in circle with Ms. Betty talking with everyone
I like the art projects with Ms. Megan
And playing with the pretend phones but I want a real one to talk on it
Hannah
My favorite thing about school is that I get to share and play with my friends
Also I like to show and share because I brought things from Argentina
I like to play with the baby dolls because I get to play Mom
Dressing up is fun because I get to wear different outfits-my favorite one is
the fairy but I don’t get to wear it because Bree always wears it but
today I get to wear it
My teachers are really nice because they always think about fun things to do
It will be really, really fun when Milo comes to school
Mackenzie
I love playing on Kid’s Kingdom and hiking the Nature Trail a lot
And making crafts
Hailey and Hannah are my best friends in school
I like going the trampoline place to jump
I like when we went hiking on the mountain and had lunch at the pond
With the frogs
When Daddy came to make bread in school
I did like my birthday celebration with cupcakes and it was my second
birthday
Show and Share with my horse trailer
Cameron
I like you Ms. Betty and I give you flowers
And Ms. Megan and I like all our field trips going for the hikes
Skiing was fun and I learned to ski by myself
Dressing up in costumes like pirates, policeman and my handcuffs
I have friends Tommy and Jayda
Oh yeah and yoga
Are we done now? I’m tired of this. Only one more-
Ahhh, I like playing with toys and friends and that’s it-later okay?
Ayden
I like the trucks
I have friends
The hike when we went in the woods on the Nature Trail and to the top of
The Mountain-
I like to eat snack
The slipper song with the slippers in the air everywhere
I threw my slippers in the air
Tommy
I like trucks and cars and trains
And legos, and show and share
Eating
Brian
Show and Share because we got to show our toys
Legos, little legos. I built super heros
Friends like Cameron, Tommy and Mackenzie
Are we done yet?
Hiking and the Nature Trail
Ms. Betty that’s all I like, can I go now?
Bree
I like Show and Share cause you get to share things from home
I like playing dress up like the rings and the jewels on them, and
The princess dresses, crowns, wearing the princess polka dot
shoes
When Mrs. Flynn braids my hair
I like you Ms. Betty and I like Ms. Megan
I like going to ballet after school-dancing is fun for me
Playing with baby dolls
The mountain hiking, and the trampoline
Counting numbers with M & M’s colors
Can I tell you stuff about home too? I like my Minnie Mouse Wagon
That’s all but just one more thing, I love the white cake in the kitchen
Chris
My favorite is field trips to the top of Mt. Tom because I had snack up there
And the frogs at the pond and the frog fell into the filter and we could
See Uncle Bobbies House from the top
Dressing up as a fireman, the part where I was the Astronaut for Halloween
It was so cool, remember the planets that you thought I was going to
Fly up to when I was the Astronaut? My jet packs were broken
Because my flames kept falling off so I couldn’t blast off
I did like getting the pizza-I really like that part
Me and Bree have favorite games
Hailey
I like to play babies cause I want to
And playing in the kitchen
Reading the books
Circle with Mackenzie sit with me
I write my name in school
Playing with the castle
Outside at Kid’s Kingdom
Playing with Iyanna and Mackenzie in school
Aurora
Projects
I like it when I do the reading
I like playing with the train tracks
Hot lunch
Skiing is fun
I dress like a princess
Veritas et Puritas – Truth and Purity
Truth and Purity are qualities that Mount St. Joseph Academy values and recognizes in their graduating seniors. This year, the Academy is pleased to honor two graduates, Jonah John Farrow and Shane Michael Protivansky as this year’s Veritas et Puritas recipients.
The son of Christopher and Nicola Farrow of Mount Holly, Vermont, Jonah Farrow is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society, and a High Honors student at MSJ and Stafford Technical Center where he was among the national semi-finalists for the Presidential Scholars Program in Career and Technical Education. An athlete, Jonah was awarded Varsity letters in football and baseball all four years and was a captain of both teams this year.
Jonah will attend Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts in the Fall.
The son of Robert and Patty Protivansky of Proctor, Vermont, Shane Protivansky is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, a “Sole of the Shoestring” Theater and a member of the MSJ student government; he is a recipient of the VSAC Vermont Honor Scholarship. An athlete, Shane has received Varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball; he was a team captain in basketball and baseball this year.
Shane will be attending St. John’s University in Queens, New York in the Fall.
WOODSTOCK UNION HIGH SCHOOL
LIST OF SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN AT SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT
VALEDICTORIAN – Dana Burrington
SALUTATORIAN – Gordon MacMaster
SUMMA CUM LAUDE of the Class of 2016: Patrick Dugan, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Ashley Johnson, Abigail Kaija, Lauren Kaija, Carly Langan, Kallan Piconi, Kristin Ramsey, Brian Townley, Haley Usilton, Peter Wilson.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: Ashley Johnson, Lauren Kaija, Braden McCarthy, Gabrielle Rozumek
ALUMNI VOCATIONAL: Paitra Martin
JEANNE SUMNER CRANE: Abigail Kaija
GEORGE BROCKWAY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Kaylie Millard
CHANGE THE WORLD KIDS WATSON SCHOLARSHIP: Kristin Ramsey, Peter Wilson
CLASS OF 1922-MARBARA W. BAGLEY SCHOLARSHIP: Emma King
CLASS OF 1926 SCHOLARSHIP: Lauren Booth
CLASS OF 1978-JEFF ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP: Braden McCarthy, Kristin Ramsey
CLASS OF 1978-HELEN ANN WHITNEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Kristin Ramsey
D.A.R. GRACE MOUNCE SCHOLARSHIP: Sarah Howe
D.A.R. RUTH WHITAKER SCHOLARSHIP: Michael Hirschbuhl
FAYE A. DUDLEY SCHOLARSHIP: Rachael Emery, Anilese Peterson, Mason Thompson
W. BRUCE DUDLEY SCHOLARSHIP: Bryan Kopf
JON FERRERO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Joseph Bianchi
FRENCH CLUB SCHOLARSHIP: Morgan Hartman
FRANK & OLIVE GILMAN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS: Megan Hoffman,
Kaila Lemmer, Gabrielle Rozumek
MITCH HAGER ART SCHOLARSHIP: Elise Geschardt, Mattias Voltmer
HASSE K. HALLEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Ashley Johnson
GARY FRANCIS HERSEY MEMORIAL AWARD: Abigail Kaija
JOAN JENNE MEMORIAL FUND: Paitra Martin
MARK D. KNOTT, D.D.S. HEALTH SCIENCES SCHOLARSHIP: Kristin Ramsey KINGS DAUGHTERS & SONS TECHNICAL SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP: Paitra Martin, Lauren Booth
LAKE SUNAPEE BANK CITIZENSHIP AWARD: Peter Wilson
MOSHER EXCAVATING SCHOLARSHIP: Jack Greene
NORTH POMFRET LADIES CIRCLE: Bryan Kopf, Dylan McDonough
NORTH POMFRET LADIES CIRCLE/DOROTHY MOORE: Zachary Potter
BARBARA POTWIN RHODES TRUST MEMORIAL: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Lauren Kaija, Gordon MacMaster, Kallan Piconi, Haley Usilton
READING FRIENDS & NIEGHBORS COMMUNITY AWARD: Kaylie Millard
JESSE M. ROBINSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Braden McCarthy
TAITE O’NEIL ROY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Ashley Johnson
LOLO SARNOFF – BARNARD SCHOLARSHIP: Lauren Booth, Ashley Johnson,
Carly Langan, Kaila Lemmer
SHERBURNE WOMEN’S CLUB ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP: Megan Hoffman
SHERBURNE WOMEN’S CLUB COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP: Trevor Van Niel
SILVER LAKE PROGRESSIVE CLUB SCHOLARSHIP: Carly Langan
STUDENT COUNCIL AWARD: Abigail Kaija, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
TYSON’S LADIES AIDE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: Grace Vosburgh
GEORGE VON ESCH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Kallan Piconi
WOODSTOCK GARDEN CLUB: Jack Greene
WOODSTOCK HISTORICAL SOCIETY – GINA L. MOORE SCHOLARSHIP: Emma King
WOODSTOCK ROTARY CLUB AWARDS: Abigail Kaija, Lauren Kaija, Bryan Kopf, Carly Langan, Kaila Lemmer, Kristin Ramsey, Gabrielle Rozumek, Peter Wilson
WOODSTOCK ROTARY/INTERACT SCHOLARSHIP: Gordon MacMaster, Haley Usilton
W.U.H.S.T.O SCHOLARSHIP: Kevan O’Connell, Gabrielle Rozumek
2016 VERMONT RED SOX SCHOLAR: Kaylie Millard
ACT COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS: Haley Usilton
CUMBERLAND FARMS BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP: Gabrielle Rozumek
GAINING EARLY AWARENESS & READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
(GEAR UP) SCHOLARSHIP (VSAC): Ian Dupont, Elise Geschardt, Jackson Wood
HERITAGE FAMILY CREDIT UNION: Kristin Ramsey
MT ASCUTNEY HOSPITAL/DEBORAH H. PEELER NURSE SCHOLARS: Kristin Ramsey
JOHN F. MUELLER/OKEMO MTN/MT SUNAPEE SCHOLARSHIP: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP: Brian Townley
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY: Gabrielle Rozumek
NORWICH UNIVERSITY/ARMY ROTC: Colby Dalton
JEAN COLVER SOFIELD SCHOLARSHIP: Andrew Borden
SPIROL SCHOLARSHIP: Abigail Kaija
TWO RIVERS – OTTAUQUECHEE REGIONAL COMMISSION: Abigail Kaija
UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE SCHOLAR & ATHLETE AWARD: Lauren Kaija,
Gordon MacMaster
UVM GREEN & GOLD SCHOLARSHIP: Dana Burrington
VERMONT HONORS SCHOLARSHIP: Gordon MacMaster, Kristin Ramsey
VERMONT RETAIL & GROCERS ASSOCIATION: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
VSAC – UPPER VALLEY SCHOLARSHIP: Gabrielle Rozumek
VERMONT STATE ASSN OF EMBLEM CLUBS: Kristin Ramsey
ART: Ian Dupont, Lauren Kaija, Bryan Kopf, Nikki Sardelli, Justin Whitaker
ENGLISH: Dana Burrington, Spencer Eckert, Lucas Godfrey, Paitra Martin, Abigail Nickerson, Nikki Sardelli, Peter Wilson
GEOFFREY STOKES MEMORIAL: Patrick Dugan
HACTC: Lauren Booth, Joseph Bryan, Gemma Fielder, Samantha Howe, Kaila Lemmer, Paitra Martin
MODERN & CLASSICAL LANGUAGES: Dana Burrington, Morgan Hartman, Sarah Howe, Ashley Johnson, Lauren Kaija, Bryan Kopf, Gordon MacMaster, Ryan McLiverty, Lillian Noble, Gabrielle Rozumek, Haley Usilton
MATH: Charlie Bollinger, Dana Burrington, Patrick Dugan, Spencer Eckert, Gordon MacMaster, Callum Ritchie
MUSIC: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Haley Usilton
SCIENCE: Samantha Colt, Rachael Emery, Abigail Kaija, Lauren Kaija, Callum Ritchie,
Haley Usilton, Peter Wilson
SOCIAL STUDIES: Ryan Blanchard, Colby Dalton, Ashley Johnson, Carly Langan
Okemo Mountain Resort awards scholarships to area students
LUDLOW – Okemo Mountain Resort Owners Tim and Diane Mueller announce June 13 the recipients of this year’s annual scholarship awards. Ten scholarships were awarded to students who have worked at Okemo, or who are the dependents of Okemo employees. Criteria used to select the scholarship recipients included academic achievement, co-curricular involvement and the composition of an essay.
Okemo Mountain Resort Employee Scholarships
Morgan Collins of the Sitting Bull, from Mount Holly, Vt.; graduating from Black River High School and will attend University of Rhode Island majoring in Education.
Matthew Hawthorne of Ski & Ride School, from Granby, Conn.; graduating from Granby Memorial High School and will be attending Clarkson University majoring in Engineering and Management.
Samantha Metcalf of the Roundhouse, from Springfield, Vt.; graduating from Springfield High School who will be attending University of Hartford majoring in Psychology.
Rebecca van Burken of the Ski & Ride School, from Manchester Center, Vt.; graduating from the Long Trail School who will be attending George Washington University majoring in International Relations.
Employee Dependent Scholarships
Nicholas Ciufo, from Ludlow, Vt., son of Angi Benson-Ciufo of Human Resources; attends Union College majoring in Political Science.
Maggie Stevens from Springfield, Vt., daughter of Hugh Stevens of Mountain Operations and Molly Stevens of the Sitting Bull; attends Champlain College majoring in Communications.
Brennan Webb of Danby, Vt., son of Matthew Webb of Lodging; Attends University of Vermont majoring in Radiation Therapy.
Memorial Scholarships
Thomas Croney Scholarship
Cameron Sharpe of North Springfield, Vt, son of David Sharpe of Ski Patrol; attends Lincoln Technical Institute studying to be an automotive technician. The Thomas Croney Scholarship, given by the employees of Okemo Mountain in memory of Tom Croney, an Okemo employee who set an example for all through his dedication to Okemo and its guests. This scholarship is awarded to a student persuing a technical education.
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick from Brownsville, Vt., daughter of Kevin Fitzpatrick of the Ski & Ride School; graduating from Woodstock Union High School who will be attending University of San Francisco majoring in Biology/Pre-med. Formed by the Okemo Mountain Resort staff in memory of Dr. Mueller, this award is presented to a student, employed by Okemo or Mount Sunapee Resort, who is pursuing a career in medicine.
MSJ CLASS OF 2016 VALEDICTORIAN:
MONICA ANNE SCHMELZENBACH, DAUGHTER OF THOMAS AND JEANNE SCHMELZENBACH OF TINMOUTH, VERMONT, IS THE MOUNT ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY CLASS OF 2016 VALEDICTORIAN, COMPLETING HER FOUR YEAR MSJ CAREER WITH A 4.33 GRADE POINT AVERAGE.
DURING HER FOUR YEARS, MONICA HAS DEMONSTRATED HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP ON THE WOMEN’S VARSITY SOCCER TEAM AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM, SERVING AS A TEAM CAPTAIN ON BOTH FOR TWO YEARS AND ASSISTING THE MOUNTIES IN TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS AS DIVISION IV CHAMPIONS. HER ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED, EARNING MARBLE VALLEY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM HONORS A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES, AND FINISHING HER BASKETBALL CAREER AS A 1,000-PLUS POINT SCORER.
MONICA IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, AND HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT. IN ADDITION, SHE COMPLETED COUNTLESS HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE DURING HER HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.
UPON GRADUATION, MONICA WILL ATTEND THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT. HER SISTER CLAIRE, MOUNT ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY CLASS OF 2014, ATTENDS WEST POINT AND HER BROTHER LUKE ATTENDS CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL.
MSJ CLASS OF 2016 SALUTATORIAN:
NICOLE BRUSO, DAUGHTER OF William and Geri Bruso of Pittsford is the Mount St. Joseph Academy’s class of 2016 Salutatorian. Nicole is a member of the National Honor Society, and has participated in the music program and choir. She was selected to sing at the Installation Mass for Bishop Christopher Coyne and represented Mount St. Joseph in the District Choir this year. In addition to her involvement with the music program, Nicole has been a member of the Soles of the Shoestring Theater, the MSJ drama club during her four years.
Nicole was MSJ’s 2015 Pumpkin Princess and has countless hours of Community Service. She has been a cheerleader for four years and a member of the women’s tennis team for three, and she served as captain of the team her junior and senior years.
In the fall Nicole will attend Merrimack College, where she plans to study Communications and Music.
