The June 14 Board of Education Meeting in Shamong opened with a celebration of student success. Students from across the district were honored for outstanding creative achievement and exemplary work with certificates from the board.
“The end of the year meeting is always great to celebrate achievements of our students and honors of our staff and our families here in Shamong,” Superintendent Christine Vespe said.
Beginning the awards presentation, Indian Mills School (IMS) art teacher Kimbery Shaw-Hartman briefly discussed this year’s agricultural theme and presented seven artwork awards. These awards included the Superintendent’s Awards, given to students whose artwork is selected to be framed and hung in the superintendent’s office for the upcoming school year, given to third graders Mallory Huling and Genevieve Jenkins.
“These pictures were selected by the superintendent and they all focused on still life and things that related to agriculture, which is a big part of Shamong,” Shaw-Hartman said. “All of my students did very well and learned a lot this year.”
Third grader Ethan Lawrence was named as the recipient of the Independent Principal’s Award, and Camille Collins, Matthew Leo, Jayna Phillips and Haylee Mehigan were named as the fourth-grade recipients of the Principal’s Award.
“Being able to draw was fun, especially because I like our art teacher a lot. I’m very happy I won because two of my best friends won this award with me,” 9-year-old Mehigan said.
Aside from art awards, areas of study including science, writing and music were also celebrated. During the school year, astronomers visited IMS for both Astronomy Day and Astronomy Night. From their experiences, they selected two students to receive the NASA Night Sky Network Recognition Award — Tyler Thomas and Brady Winger.
“[The astronomers] were so impressed with these two young men’s answers to their questions and how they could describe exactly what they saw in the sky that they said, ‘Wow, we are giving them this recognition,’” IMS image teacher Karen Clementi said. “Hopefully you guys can come back with your telescopes and teach other students one day.”
Distinguishing the district’s musicians, Sophia Corona, Julianna Graeber, Emily Haines, Isabel Kagan and Alexandra Smith received certificates for their participation in the All South Jersey Elementary Choir Festival. As for writing, the VFW Patriot’s Essay Contest Winners were also announced and recognized Luke Walker in first place and Morgan Hough in second.
”Every year, the VFW and I participate in an essay contest, so all of my students, whether they want to or not, participate in this contest. We’re really lucky because the Shamong students are usually the ones to take first and second place,” IMS teacher Cathy Campeau said.
In addition to the achievements of these students, various staff members were honored at this ceremony. While some staff members were thanked for their service upon announcing their retirement, others were congratulated simply for a job well done.
Teaching assistant at Indian Mills Memorial Middle School (IMMS), Grace Randolph, received this year’s IMMS Education Professional of the Year award. She said she feels like the lucky one for getting to come into the school each workday, and that getting to hear the board say such nice things about her was just a little extra reward. Jeanne Urso received the same award at the elementary school level.
As for Teacher of the Year, IMMS Spanish teacher, Deborah Drabold and fourth-grade IMS teacher, Lisa Fuchs were name as this year’s recipients. Fuchs was specifically presented the honor for her hard work and dedication not only to her class, but to philanthropy as well. Nominated by her peers, Fuchs has stood out in the school community for her work organizing fundraisers and calling attention to important causes such as Medford Lakes Food Bank, Camden shelters, Operation Yellow Ribbon and more.
“My mantra is ‘Pay it forward.’ There’s always have something that you can give to others,” Fuchs said.
