The ceremony began with an acknowledgment of the ninth-grade student of the month, Allison Rouse, who was praised for her dedication to academics and extracurricular activities. Her strengths in language arts and active participation in student government and sports were highlighted. Following Allison, Leandro Spoon from the tenth grade was commended for his excellence in geometry and sports, particularly cross-country and track. His teachers were recognized for their role in his achievements. Zena Abomi, the eleventh-grade honoree, received accolades for her creativity in ceramics and resilience in varsity soccer, while Omar Rosario, the twelfth-grade student of the month, was noted for his aptitude in math and sports, with aspirations to pursue a degree in architecture.

The focus then shifted to the district’s employees of the month, starting with Susan Phano, a secretary in the assistant superintendent’s office. Susan was praised for her proactive support and positive demeanor, attributing her success to her team’s collective effort. Charles Munir, a third-grade teacher at School 13, was recognized for his compassion and ability to connect with students and staff. Similarly, Mary Foley, a speech language therapist, was acknowledged for her dedication and innovative approaches, despite her absence.

Caitlyn Priestley, a special education teacher at the high school level, was honored for her work in integrating students into the general school population and creating a supportive environment. Her recognition highlighted the inclusive atmosphere the district strives to cultivate.

The meeting also celebrated the efforts of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program at Christopher Columbus Middle School. Through a video, an assistant principal detailed the “team wars” concept developed during a summer retreat, which motivated students and staff to exhibit positive academic behaviors through friendly competition. The school achieved a remarkable feat by reading over 24,000 articles.

Attendees viewed the video with interest, seeing how the contest engaged students across all content areas, prompting them to read more in subjects like language arts. A student named Carlos expressed his enthusiasm for the reading competition, proudly sharing his achievement as the top reader in his class. Another student, Mud, highlighted the contest’s positive influence on his language arts performance. The program’s success was attributed to the collaborative efforts of staff and students, with rewards such as vending machine tokens and bookmarks distributed to participants.

In the realm of district security, Megan Zenola, the district’s distinguished employee, was acknowledged for her role in developing comprehensive safety protocols. Her collaboration with school administrators and law enforcement resulted in a robust security framework. During her acceptance speech, Megan expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the collective effort of her team and the support from her family and colleagues.

Jennifer Ray, the assistant principal at School 12A, received recognition for her leadership and commitment to excellence. Her initiatives, such as creating the employee of the month recognition program and transforming the teachers’ lounge, were noted for boosting staff morale. Likewise, Miss Jasta Gang, a seventh-grade world language teacher, was honored for her dedication to extracurricular activities and contributions to the Champs program.

Maria R, a custodian at Clifton High School, received the high school distinguished employee award for her work ethic and attention to detail. Her initiative to plant 500 tulip bulbs around the school grounds was highlighted.

The evening concluded with board member comments, where expressions of gratitude were abundant. The board congratulated all award recipients and acknowledged the Champs team at Christopher Columbus Middle School. Attendees were invited to a Christmas tree lighting event scheduled for December 6th, and a reminder was given about an upcoming Mustang band exhibition.