October Students and Teachers of the Month
(To be updated as awards are presented)
Upcoming awards ceremonies:
On October 30th, 2009, we awarded a Student and Teacher of the Month at Burbank Elementary School. Principal Kelly Lawson selected 3rd grader Anthony Cisneros as Burbank’s Student of the Month. Dr. Lawson had this to say about Anthony Cisneros:
“He has a great attitude about learning. He is friendly and gets along well with his peers. He enjoys talking to his peers and is comfortable sharing his ideas in class. He is making steady academic progress. He is eager to learn new things and is an asset to the classroom.”
Principal Kelly Lawson, Student of the Month Anthony Cisneros and his mother, Herbert Simmons and son
Anthony received a certificate provided by FedEx Office, a reusable bag from Whole Foods Market Arroyo, a family 4 pack of passes to Kidspace Museum, a free meal ticket at Islands and Souplantation, a free martial arts lesson from Two Dragons Martial Arts , a free art lesson from KidsArt, a free item ticket from McDonald’s, a free tap lesson from Sue B. Dance Company, a bumper sticker, and a T-shirt.
Principal Lawson selected Mrs. Theresa Burns as Burbank’s Teacher of the Month:
“Mrs. Burns joined the Burbank Team this school year. She is a team player. Mrs. Burns looks for opportunities to improve her instruction. She has gone above and beyond to get to know her students and the families she serves. As a SDC teacher, Mrs. Burns is expected to meet the needs of all the diverse students in her classroom. This is not an easy task. However, she does it with pride and enthusiasm. She is open to constructive feedback and willingly implements the suggestions that are most applicable. She is a valuable member of the Burbank Team and deserves to recognize as Teacher of the Month.” – Principal Lawson
Mrs. Burns was awarded with a certificate provided by FedEx Office as well as decorative paper, a $25 gift certificate to Merit Cleaners, a coupon from Curves Altadena, a $15 gift certificate to Big Mama’s Rib Shack, a $10 gift certificate to Brio Spas, a free movie pass to Laemmle Theatres, a free bowling game and shoe rental at 300 Pasadena, a free item ticket from McDonald’s, and a T-shirt.
Principal Lawson, Teacher of the Month Theresa Burns, Herbert Simmons
On October 26th, 2009, we selected two Students of the Month at Eliot Middle School due to their large student population. Principal Peter Pannell presented Eliot’s Students of the Month for October: Moriah Katz (6th grade) and Matthew Klein (7th grade), both of whom were praised for their perfect and near-perfect attendance, 4.0 GPAs, and overall outstanding attitudes and performances as students. Walt Butler also made an appearance and spoke briefly to the Eliot students.
Both Moriah Katz and Matthew Klein were awarded with a certificate provided by FedEx Office, a reusable bag from Whole Foods Market Arroyo, a free meal ticket at Islands and Souplantation, a free martial arts lesson from Two Dragons Martial Arts, a copy of Up in the Air: The Story of Bessie Coleman by Philip Hart, a free art lesson from KidsArt, a free item ticket from McDonald’s, a $10 gift certificate to Brio Spa (for Moriah), and free movie pass to Laemmle Theatres (for Matthew), a free tap lesson from Sue B. Dance Company, a bumper sticker, and a T-shirt.
Congratulations!
Herbert Simmons, Moriah Katz, and Principal Peter Pannell
Principal Peter Pannell, Matthew Klein, and Herbert Simmons
On October 9th, 2009, Students and Teachers of the Month were awarded at Loma Alta
Elementary, Franklin Elementary, and Altadena Elementary School. Guest speakers present included
Shelene Hearring of Two Dragons Martial Arts (a Student of the Month business sponsor), and Okorie
Ezieme of the Altadena Town Council.
Loma Alta Elementary’s Student of the Month was Tyler Bohannon, selected for his honesty, effort, hard work, and always staying engaged during lessons. Tyler is pictured below with Shelene
Hearring of Two Dragons Martial Arts, Principal Eric Sahakian, Altadena Town Council Member Okorie
Ezieme, and Herbert Simmons. (l-r)
Okorie Ezieme, Tyler Bohannon, Herbert Simmons
Principal Eric Sahakian selected Priscila Leon as Loma Alta Elementary’s Teacher of the Year, stating that “she has diligently set-up Science labs for 5th and 6th grade students and has welcomed special needs students to participate in the groups at the science lab. She has also tirelessly led multiple academic and cultural enrichment activities at Loma Alta Elementary School for all students.” Ms. Leon is pictured below with Principal Eric Sahakian, Shelene Hearring, Okorie Ezieme, and Herbert Simmons.
At Franklin Elementary later that day, Principal Caroline Bermudez announced Student of the Month
Josue Nunez (K), whose teacher commended him for being a conscientious, friendly, hard-working
student who worried about missing school work when he was sick. Principal Bermudez commended
Teacher of the Month Ms. Boynton for her hard work and ability to overcome challenges.
Josue Nunez’s mother, Teacher of the Month Ms. Boynton, Herbert Simmons, Principal Caroline
Bermudez, and Student of the Month Josue Nunez (clockwise, l-r)
Shelene Hearring, Walt Butler, Herbert Simmons, Principal Caroline Bermudez, Alden Denila, Okorie Ezieme
Altadena Elementary gave an overwhelmingly enthused cheer of support for their Student of the
Month, Ivori White, and their Teacher of the Month, Clare Dowell.
Principal Gregory White, Herbert Simmons, Student of the Month Ivori White, and Shelene Hearring
Principal Gregory White, Teacher of the Month Clare Dowell
Principal Gregory White, Teacher of the Month Clare Dowell, Herbert Simmons and son, and students
of Altadena Elementary
Congratulations to all selected Students and Teachers of the Month, and thank you to all supporters.
A special thank you to Okorie Ezieme, Shelene Hearring, and Walt Butler for attending and/or
speaking at these assemblies.
On Friday, October 2nd, the very first Student and Teacher of the Month awards in Altadena were presented at Jackson Elementary School and Webster Elementary School. Principals Rose Ingber and Sharon Lefler, respectively, helped to present these awards with Herbert Simmons, who founded the programs.
The Student of the Month of Jackson Elementary was Jennifer Salvador (6th grade), who Principal Ingber selected for her “wonderful, positive attitude, her ability to get along with all students, and her diligence towards her school work. She truly is an outstanding student.” Jackson Elementary’s Teacher of the Month was Jocelyn Strickland, who Principal Ingber described as a “real teacher leader” who is “well respected among her peers, the students and parents for her dedication and skill. Ms. Strickland is always willing to take on new responsibilities and roles in order to support Jackson students.”
Webster Elementary’s Student of the Month was Annalia Kim (3rd grade). Principal Lefler stated that “Annalia has a positive attitude, gets along well with everyone, and makes the extra effort to go beyond what is expected. Annalia is a great help with Special Education Inclusion students and those with any difficulties. She is well liked by her peers and teachers. She is an excellent role model for Webster School, and for these reasons she was selected as Student of the Month.” Webster’s Teacher of the Month was Sirvard Ogtanyan. Principal Lefler states, “We have had the privilege of working with Mrs. Ogtanyan for the past ten years. She regularly infuses her daily lessons with artifacts and information meaningful to the students’ own lives. In addition, she takes care to address the varied learning styles of her students to assure they receive maximum educational benefit. Mrs. Ogtanyan has established strong communication with the parents of her students, and continually she keeps them apprised of successes and challenges. In her supportive, nurturing classroom environment, she maintains a focus on grade level standards. We are proud to name Mrs. Sirvard Ogtanyan Daniel Webster School’s Teacher of the Month.”
Each Student of the Month was awarded with a certificate provided by FedEx Office, a reusable bag from Whole Foods Market Arroyo, a free meal ticket at Islands and Souplantation, a free martial arts lesson from Two Dragons Martial Arts, a free art lesson from KidsArt, a free item ticket from McDonald’s, a free visit to Under the Sea Indoor Playground, a free tap lesson from Sue B. Dance Company, a bumper sticker, and a T-shirt.
Each Teacher of the Month was awarded with a certificate provided by FedEx Office as well as decorative paper and a roll of butcher paper, a $25 gift certificate to Merit Cleaners, a $15 gift certificate to Big Mama’s Rib Shack, a $10 gift certificate to Brio Spas, a free movie pass to Laemmle Theatres, a free bowling game and shoe rental at 300 Pasadena, a free item ticket from McDonald’s, and a T-shirt.
Congratulations!
Herbert Simmons and Jackson Elementary’s Student of the Month Jennifer Salvador
Walt Butler, Teacher of the Month Jocelyn Strickland, Herbert Simmons, and Principal Rose Ingber of Jackson Elementary
Herbert Simmons, Principal Sharon Lefler, and Student of the Month Annalia Kim of Webster Elementary
Herbert Simmons, Teacher of the Month Sirvard Ogtanyan, and Principal Sharon Lefler of Webster Elementary
#1 by Holly Rundberg on October 3rd, 2009
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I was able to attend the awards at Daniel Webster and the response was, very positive. The kids loved it and the principal was most grateful.
Nicely done Herb!
#2 by gloriana casey on October 4th, 2009
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Congratulations to you Herbert and to your wonderful idea. More congratulations too go out to the students and teachers of month.
For Jackson, Jennifer Salvador and Joycelyn Strickland, and
for Webster, Annalia kim and Sirvard Ogtanyan. Your smiles tell it all!
#3 by Roosevelt Pullem on October 13th, 2009
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Congratulations to Herbert and Walt, I commend you all for your accomplishments well done please continue the good work and “THANK YOU”
#4 by Leigh Adams on October 29th, 2009
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one look at the faces of those kids and teachers and you KNOW this is a good idea! Thank you!
#5 by Wynne D. Thompson on October 30th, 2009
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Love it! Love it! Love it! Our students need to be appreciated for their hard work as do the teachers. These pictures really say it all! Kudos to you Councilman Simmons for listening to a constituent and teaming with them to bring their idea to fruition. .
#6 by Mark Collins on November 3rd, 2009
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Beautifying Altadena is a big issue. Get the cars/RV’s/trucks off the street (esp. on Altadena Dr. west of Lake. Some of them have been sitting there for years!!
The buildings around the post office need a facelift and some imaginative paint (like on Lincoln below Woodbury), including Ralph’s, Websters, the Altadena Hardware area. Everything is drab off-white. The Rite Aid strip mall could also use new paint and imagination!
Can’t some ordinances be passed for people to maintain their front yards at a minimum? Some people have trash, dead lawns, etc. on properties that are not kept up in the least. It makes it difficult for the people who do care and maintain their houses when their neighbors have trashed their property.
#7 by lillian jones on November 3rd, 2009
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Absolutely fabulous idea. Look at the smiles in these photos! You pulled this off in a fine way.
Lillian H. Jones
#8 by Jihad Shakoor on November 6th, 2009
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Keep up the good work Herbert. Dont let the opposition cripple your vision for a better Altadena. Keep striving, keep pushing……
#9 by Roosevelt Pullem on November 7th, 2009
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Dear Hebert
It appears in your news letter And talk around town, Altadena`s are appreciable of all work done by you and those that work closely with you. I don`t understand why other members of the Town Council are resisting or trying to block your efforts to make Altadena a better place for all of us to live?
#10 by D. Maxwell on November 7th, 2009
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Dear Mr. Simmons,
You have worked with a great deal of love and your heart in effort to improve our community, young children understanding of education, and the lives of those who live in Altadena. All I can say is “Thank you and I stand with you!”