Last week the Marlboro School Administration and the Board of Education honored a number of students for their academic achievements.

Top Ten Students
The Top Ten of the Class of 2024 were honored with certificates, (starting with #10) Chyanne Negron will be attending SUNY New Paltz to study Computer Science; Matthew D’Angelo is still deciding on a college; Kalista Birkenstock is going to Florida Gulf Coast University to major in Civil Engineering; Harrison Solomon will be attending Marist College to study History and Political Science in a pre-law track; Emersyn Lazar is heading to Syracuse University for Political Science and English; Claire Divine is going to Marist College to major in Business Administration on a pre-law track; Thomas Rusk is headed to Boston University to pursue a career in Advertising or Marketing; Deni Menendez will be attending Boston University in the fall to study Political Science and Economics; Salutatorian Sophia Montalbano will be studying Civil Engineering and Architecture at Lehigh University and Valedictorian Kahlan Moran is going to SUNY Geneseo to study Biochemistry.

Superintendent Michael Rydell congratulated the Top Ten saying, “they are a really impressive group.”
National School Development Council Awards.

Superintendent Rydell said, “The three criteria that this Council puts out for the applications for consideration is that the students must consistently pursue a high level of academic achievement, have success in their classes with a high GPA, but beyond the realm of academics they also need to serve as positive role models in the school setting and exemplify admirable character and accomplishments; so in other words the well-rounded student; that’s who we want to acknowledge.”

Rydell noted that school districts have the opportunity to recognize either Juniors or Seniors for this award.
“I elected to choose Juniors because it’s one more thing to add on to the college application to thereby make you a more attractive candidate when you are looking for admission,” he said.

Rydell presented Ruby Brown and Sean Robertson with a Certificate and a Marlboro pin. Emma Jackson, who was unable to attend.

National Merit Scholarship

Rydell said each year about 1.3 million students from across the United States take the PSAT [Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test], a standardized test taken by 10th and 11th graders that is the entry to this National Merit Program. About 50,000 of the top scorers are divided into two categories with the top 16,000 considered as semifinalists and the remainder are commended students, “both of which is a huge accomplishment and they should all be extremely proud.”

The semifinalists can then move on to the final round and be considered a finalist after completing an application, taking their SAT, writing an essay and submitting their academic record to be reviewed and from that the National Merit Scholarship finalists are chosen.

“We are extremely proud to announce that Marlboro High School has a National Merit Scholarship Finalist that walks our halls each day and is a positive force in our learning community; it is my pleasure call up Thomas Rusk,” Rydell said.

1,000 Book Awards
Teachers Kathleen Keane and Maureen Stalter are part of the Marlboro Faculty Association that run the 1,000 book program. They honored sisters Suela and Dorina Demhasaj for reading 1,000 books.

Keane said the book program was established in 1998 as an addendum to the Marlboro Central School District’s Early Intervention Plan. She said teachers at that time expressed their concerns to Superintendent Ed Sagarese, who understood that reading scores were in decline. In putting the whole program together with the Library, then MFA President Joe Pesavento and teacher Celeste Ricciardone stepped in to help.
“Without them and the donations made by the community, the two sets of book packs that are placed in the Milton and Marlboro Free Libraries wouldn’t be here today,” Keane said.

Keane said to date 60 families have competed the project.

“The goal of reading 1,000 books may seem hard but the time spent learning together as a family is an investment that will last a lifetime,” she said. “Each time a parent reads a book to their child, they provide an opportunity for their child to make connections and to think of the world around them.”

Keane said the Demhasaj family made a commitment to reading and the sisters read 1,000 books over the course of a few months.

“It’s not only an honor but an accomplishment,” Keane said.

Stalter said the sisters like to read at bedtime and on weekends, and often “stay up reading until Dad comes home from work.” The sisters favorite authors are Mo Willems, the Pigeon series; Jeff Kinny, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and Jory John, the Smart Cookie series.

“We are beyond proud of their dedication to reading as a family in our school community,” Stalter said. “Remember girls, books open the doors to knowledge and to endless opportunities. Keep turning those pages and congratulations on conquering the 1,000 book project.”

Board President Frank Milazzo paused the meeting for some light refreshments to honor the accomplishments of the students.