By Mark Reynolds
Middle School
Eighth grader Jorja Kavanaugh was named the Marlboro Middle School Student of the Month.
Special Education teacher Andrea Garitta said, “There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing a student progress academically, socially and more confidently. Jorja Kavanaugh is a remarkable student who has progressed in all of these areas and witnessing it first hand is something in the special education department and Marlboro Middle School is honored and proud to see.”
Garitta noted that Jorja is a member of the National Junior Honor Student Society and is currently trying out for the school’s bowling team.
“She is an exemplary student, offers to help others, is compassionate and is just such an admirable young lady,” Garitta said.
Other teachers have commented on this outstanding student: Michael Sosnick said, “Jorja is such a wonderful student. She works diligently and is focused every day and she is incredibly responsible and is gaining self-confidence every day.” Erin Nagel commented that, “Jorja has an excellent work ethic that has served her well. She puts the time in to make sure that she understands the material covered in class. Her hard work and self-confidence has resulted in academic success that I have had the privilege to witness.” Marc Eckert said “Jorja is a stellar art student. I couldn’t think of a more deserving person for this honor. She is a very creative, hard working and talented artist who has great potential in the Arts.”
Heather Nikola has been one of Jorja’s English Language Arts teachers for the past two years, “and to see the growth she has had since the beginning of last year to this year is just remarkable.”
Nikola first met Jorja virtually last year and noted that although she appeared to be a quiet student she ended up attending Nikola’s extra Google meet sessions and stayed after class while, “advocating for herself when she needed material clarified.” Nikola said Jorja was very dedicated to her academics, “and did not let a world-wide pandemic interfere with her desire to succeed. Jorja know that you are a very special person destined to do great things.”
High School
Sarah Masterson was named the Marlboro High School Student of the Month for November by Athletic
Director and Physical Education Department Chair Jonnah O’Donnell.
O’Donnell and the other physical education teachers unanimously chose Sarah Masterson as their November Student of the Month.
“Anybody who knows us it’s all abut character in the gym and how you are to others,” O’Donnell said. “Sarah is so respectful and every morning it’s Good Morning Ms. O’Donnell, how are you, how was your weekend and when she leaves she says have a nice day.”
O’Donnell asked her students to submit logs of their activities during 2020, “and I was amazed that she put all the chores she has to do on her family farm. I said this kid deserves more than 100 and she really works hard. It’s a great pleasure for me that Sarah is my Student of the Month.”
Elementary School
Teacher Joann Congelli introduced Daniela Abato as the Marlboro Elementary School Student of the Month, whom she met when Daniela was in kindergarten.
“When I first was introduced to her four years ago she growled at me [and] I knew from that time on it was meant to be; we were going to be stuck with each other,” Congelli recalled. “But it was a pleasure to have her in second grade last year and now I have her in third. She has been a role model for a lot of children too.”
Congelli said Daniela, “always stands up for herself, which naturally I do admire that, but she is always there to help the underdog. To me that means a lot. She is kind and considerate to her classmates and always wants to help them, is a very giving and empathetic child and cares about everybody. She is a very, very outgoing child, she’s very expressive and exciting.”
Superintendent Brooks told the immediate and extended family members of the honorees, “that this is what it means to be a Duke. We see this every single day in our schools. We all need to be what these kids are; when you hear things like they’re bowlers, they’re exemplary, they’re compassionate wonderful people, they’re humble, do chores on the farm, they read 1,000 books and a program that was built by adults is going to be rebuilt by a child, they’re stellar artists; I love you folks, your fantastic. I am so proud to be associated with the kids in Marlboro and the moms, dads and families. We are proud of the people you send us every day. Thank you so much, we appreciate it.”