Schools

Meet Monroe's Students of the Month

Teachers and administrators choose students to honor from each of the town's five public schools.

Since last year, teachers and administrators have chosen a Student of the Month from each of Monroe's five public schools. On Friday, December's standouts were honored in a morning ceremony in the Masuk High School media center.

"To be selected out of every student in the building is quite an honor," Interim Supt. of Schools John Goetz said from behind the podium. "I would say these kids have a bright future, because the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior."

Goetz said administrators and teachers observe how their students interact with others, do their work and show themselves to be good citizens of their schools before choosing a deserving student each month.

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Among those honored on Friday were: Michelle Fedor and Andrew McCauley of Masuk; Emily Zimmer of Jockey Hollow Middle School; Jessica Mount of the Science Technology Engineering & Math (STEM) Academy; Michael Primorac of Monroe Elementary School, Lillian Cusa of Fawn Hollow Elementary School and Ethan Fink of Stepney Elementary School.

"I know your families are proud of you and you should be proud of yourselves," Goetz said.

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Michael Primorac

Monroe Elementary School Principal Debra Kovachi introduced her outstanding student, Michael Primorac.

She said Michael comes to school with a smile every day. He is thoughtful, polite, very respectful and kind hearted with a "wonderful sense of humor."

Michael writes in his journal and his teachers notice how he thinks hard and looks at his notes before answering a question. He has a positive attitude and is always prepared for class, according to Kovachi.

"I get a 'Good morning Mrs. Kovachi' and at the end of the day Michael always waits to say goodbye to me in a special way," she said of her star pupil.

Lillian Cusa

Fawn Hollow Elementary School third-grader Lillian Cusa was introduced by her principal, Rebecca Kosisko.

Kosisko said Lillian is a mathematician, scientist and a writer. "Students look up to her as a friend and a leader," Kosisko said. "She has a maturity well beyond her eight years."

Lillian makes breakfast for her younger siblings and reads to them. Outside of school she is member of the local Brownie Troop.

Kosisko said Lillian is "always bursting with creativity" as a talented writer, artist and musician. 

"Lillian is willing to help everyone. She is kind and friendly," Kosisko said. "It's her ability to lead that stands out."

Ethan Fink

Ethan Fink was not only recognized as Stepney Elementary School's student of the month, he was also scheduled to have a lunch with Principal Susan Austin, featuring slices from Sal's Pizza.

"Ethan truly models our Stepney Pledge and what it means every day," Austin said.

Austin recited a poem using each letter of Ethan's name. The following is what each letter stood for.

E: Enthusiastic

T: Trustworthy

H: Hannah's brother (Ethan's older sister Hannah is also an accomplished student)

A: Academic

N: Noetic Math (Ethan was a finalist in the Noetic Math Competition)

F: Friendly

I: Inquiry

N: Nice

K: Kind to all

Ethan helps out with Multicultural Night at his school and he is a Boy Scout. He enjoys playing soccer and baseball.

Emily Zimmer

Jockey Hollow Middle School Principal John R. Ceccolini presented certificates to his on-campus student of the month Emily Zimmer, as well as to Jessica Mount, who is enrolled in the STEM Academy.

He said Emily has earned straight A's since the fifth grade. She was a Homework Hero Award winner and her favorite subject is Spanish.

Emily is an athlete, an actress and a dancer. She has played Travel Soccer for four years and has taken tap dancing lessons for 10 years.

"She has a joy for the stage," Ceccolini said of Emily.

Emily has performed in Jockey Hollow Spring musicals for the past three years. At the end of March, she will play the starring role in the musical "Annie."

Outside of Jockey Hollow, Ceccolini said Emily is a Vocation Bible School aid at St. Jude Church. She loves her two-year-old Havanese dog, Rudy.

Ceccolini said she is known for her upbeat attitude, adding Emily is an intelligent, hard working student, who is kind and well-liked by her peers.

"Emily always smiles, accepts challenges and rises to all occasions," Ceccolini said.

Jessica Mount

Jessica Mount enjoys studying language arts and science as a 7th grader at the STEM Academy, where she is known as an outstanding student who earns A's and A-pluses across the board.

"Jessica's teachers recognize her modesty," Ceccolini said. "She shies away from the spotlight."

However, Jessica does not shy away when it comes to the arts. She does sketching, painting, singing and theater. She has taken dance lessons since the age of three and has performed in Jockey Hollow musicals.

Ceccolini said Jessica is responsible, diligent and trustworthy. "She strives not only to meet expectations, but to exceed them," he said. "She always has a warm smile for everyone."

Jessica is also charitable. Ceccolini said she has donated her hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that makes wigs and hairpieces for children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Drew McCauley

Masuk High School Interim Principal Joseph Kobza introduced two students of the month: Drew McCauley and Michelle Fedor, both of whom he said come from wonderful families.

He called Drew a Renaissance Man.

"He can balance Voltaire with vintage truck restoration," Kobza said. "He's consistently been on the high honor roll."

Among Drew's courses are Honors Calculus and woodshop.

Though Drew was a late arrival to the Boy Scouts, Kobza said he still earned the coveted rank of Eagle Scout with a restoration project of the jail cell bars at the Monroe Police Department. He's now a junior scoutmaster.

Drew has a strong drive for helping others. He volunteers at a special needs summer camp and he has earned certification as an emergency medical technician. He has been a member of the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service since last year.

Drew earned a $15,000 scholarship to the University of Hartford where he plans to pursue a career in nursing.

"The one true love in Drew's life is his truck: A Harley Davidson Chevy 2500," Kobza said. "He spends time with his father doing body work on his truck. He's a great kid."

Drew is doing an independent study on Harley Davidson with Carl Bodner at the high school.

Michelle Fedor

Kobza said classroom success does not come easy for Michelle Fedor, but that her strong work ethic and dedication has allowed her to achieve high honors in each of her four years at Masuk.

Michelle mostly took college preparatory courses during her freshman year before increasing the academic rigor to include Honors Spanish and AP classes, including physics and pre-calculus.

"Michelle stays for extra help before big exams," Kobza said. "She has done an amazing job. Her work ethic shows she's ready for the college level."

Outside the classroom, Michelle has excelled as a long distance runner in indoor and outdoor track and cross-country. She has been a captain and an MVP for all three school teams and ran once ran a 5:41 minute mile, according to Kobza.

Only a knee injury during her freshmen year prevented her from earning all 1,200 points one would accumulate from earning a varsity letter every season — a rare feat. Michelle finished with 1,100.

Michelle aspires to be a special education teacher at the elementary school level. She is a member of the Future Teachers of America Club.

Kobza said Michelle has already heard back from the University of Scranton, one of her top choices. If she enrolls there, she will run on the cross-country team.

Aside from academics and athletics at Masuk, Michelle has taught Bible school at St. Jude Church.

"Michelle is a great student and a hard worker," Kobza said. "She will be missed."


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