Garden City Public Schools56 Cathedral AvenueGarden City, NY 11530

Coordinator of Public InformationCatherine Knight, Ed. D.516 478-1079

May 4, 2018

For Immediate Release:

High School Recognizes Outstanding Students as Spring “Champions”

Congratulations to 11 Garden City High School students who were recently honored at the April 11th “Breakfast for Champions” ceremony that included parents, teachers, and administrators. The “Champions” were nominated by teachers in each high school department: “Each nominating teacher must convince the other teachers in their department that you are worthy,” explained Principal Nanine McLaughlin to the attendees. “This is another way we can recognize our students for high achievement, having a can-do attitude, or being a bright ray of sunshine. We recognize these students for a variety of reasons, and commend you for being selected as a Champion. You are the bright spots in our day!”

Caption for 4-11-18IMG_8967HSChampMusicPalmeri.jpg:“Passionate about music”; and “wise beyond her years,” are two of the reasons music teacher Amanda Conte said about the Music Department’s Spring Champion Gianna Palmeri. Ms. Conte and Gianna are pictured here with Garden City’s District Coordinator for Music & the Arts.

Caption for 4-11-18IMG_8970ChampSocStudiesRoukis.jpg:Social Studies teacher Dr. Michael Stratis nominated sophomore Anastasia Roukis for her “diligence and perseverance,” and being a student with “energetic responses,” were just two of the reasons Dr. Stratis nominated Anastasia as the Social Studies Department’s Spring Champion.

Caption for 4-11-18IMG_8972HSChampEnglishBaldeoDad.jpg: Junior Rudolph Baldeo, pictured here with his father and English teacher Diane Dolan, was selected as a Champion by Ms. Dolan and the English Department for his “unwavering efforts.”

Caption for4-11-18IMG_8973HSChampsLibGannon.jpg:“Luke volunteers in the library and every day he wears a smile and brings positive energy,” shared nominating teachers Trish Sergei (left) and Margaux Calemmo about senior Luke Gannon – the Library/Media’s Spring Champion.

Caption for 4-11-18IMG_8975HSChampsWLHegarty.jpg:Peter Giacalone, 6-12 Curriculum for World Languages, teaches senior Keelin Hegarty in College Spanish 5. “She has proven that she is a champion of compassion and kindness. She can accomplish anything!” Congratulations to Keelin – the World Languages Spring Champion.

Caption for 4-11-18IMG_8978HSChampsGuidanceHenke.jpg:Congratulations to junior Isabel Henke, nominated by guidance counselor Karen Whiston. Ms. Whiston said Isabel is “polite and dependable,” the perfect candidate for the Guidance Department’s Spring Champion.

Caption for 4-11-18IMG_8980HSChampsHenneberger.jpg:“Scott leads the group and is very creative and insightful,” shared mathematics coordinator Stu Dods about sophomore Scott Henneberger’s interest in mathematics, especially coding. Scott was GCHS’s Mathematics Department’s Spring Champion.

Caption for 4-1-18IMG_8982HSChampsLalehzar.jpg:GCHS’s Science Research teacher Dr. Steven Gordon nominated junior Cyrus Lalehzar as the Science Department’s Champion, stating, “Cyrus comes in every lunch period. He enters many contests; helps others; is a lover of organization – he even designed the layout of the Science Research room.”

Caption for 4-1-18IMG_8985HSChampsMiserere.jpg:“Victoria has taken six Business Education courses and excelled in every one – she goes above and beyond,” commented Business Department teacher Dr. Erin McKinstry about GCHS senior Victoria Miserere.

Caption for 4-11-18IMG_8986HSChampsOKeeffe.jpg:GCHS teacher Katherine Squires nominated senior Kelly O’Keeffe as a Spring Champion. “Kelly has worked very hard – she is friendly and personable and wears a constant smile.”

Caption for 4-11-18IMG_8990HSChampsArtTurner.jpg:Art teacher Dennis Fediw selected freshman Deanna Turner as the Art Department’s Spring Champion stating: “Deanna consistently produces art work far beyond her years!” Deanna and Mr. Fediw are pictured here with Dr. Nina Prasso, District Coordinator of Music & the Arts.