Today was the end of year Awards Ceremony for the 7th Grade at Crispell Middle School in Pine Bush NY. I had received a letter about a week ago encouraging me to attend as Victoria, my 13 year old, was to receive a special award. I went in at 8:00 AM this morning and they had the general awards presentations first. Every student received at least one recognition but many had more. Victoria received excellence in all 5 academic subjects and in all of the additional classes like art, music, gym, health, tech, and homes and careers. The next awards were the RESPECT awards which the team teachers pick 7 students from each team who exemplify the attributes the school promotes. I expected that Victoria would get one of these but when they were over she had not. I was surprised because I had gotten the letter but maybe they had sent it out to all the parents to get them there? Who knew?
The 7th grade Gold Team has had the privilege this year of getting to know an excellent, hard working young lady. She and her family, however, are very well known in our community for their work with Civil War Reenactments. Needless to say, her Social Studies efforts have been exceptional all year.
As a student, Victoria Pizappi is one person who is determined to learn and then excel at any new skill. Her writing and story analysis in English has grown and matured throughout the year, culminating in one of the best term papers submitted by the team. Next, with a glowing smile and wonderful temperament, she gritted her teeth and found the strength to dissect a frog with her lab partner instead of doing it on line. That took real courage and dedication to science. She went on to earn the only 100 on the Science final exam. Victoria had the highest score and the Math final exam. Her work in Math was near perfection all year.
It is true that the professional world needs smart people. However, the heart of our nation needs polite, determined, conscientious and yet compassionate people for our society to grow. Whether Victoria is hard at work with her studies or taking pictures for Catch the Dream Orange County, you know both her intelligence and heart are working overtime.
The 7th grade Gold Team is very proud to name Victoria Pizappi our Student of the Year.
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