Middle Schoolers Recognized for Outstanding Achievement

Middle School Honors Celebration
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Glenn Campus Gymnasium
8:15 – 9:15 a.m.
Prelude……………………….………………………………………………………………………………….Student Instrumentalists
Welcome…………………………………………………………….…………….………….Dr. Angél Kytle – Head of Middle School
Invocation……………..……………………..………………………….…………………………..Sam Worth – Grade 8 Junior Prefect
Scripture………………………………………………………………………………….Leighton Batcheller – Grade 8 Junior Prefect
Pledge of Allegiance……………………………………………………………………….….Aidan Pastush – Grade 6 Junior Prefect
Recognition of Outstanding Achievement
Mount Vernon Mind Award………………………………………………………………………….………………………..……..Heads of Grade
Carolyn Edwards (Grade 5), Susan Oltman (Grade 6), Kristen Pisacreta (Grade 7), and Dave Leflar (Grade 8)
This award is presented to a select group of students at each grade level who consistently exemplify the qualities of a specific mindset (solution seeker, communicator, creative thinker, innovator, ethical decision-maker, and collaborator).
Mount Vernon Mind Awards: Grade 5

This young lady embodies the Mount Vernon mindsets.  She is highly motivated to succeed and always gives the best of herself.  Her classmates appreciate her collaborative spirit and her willingness to listen carefully and accept feedback to help ideas grow.  She exhibits the ethical decision maker mindset by modeling what needs to be done without prompting. Please join us in congratulating Charlotte Cloud.
This young man is a Solution Seeker and Creative Thinker because he approaches problems from various angles and is very determined to reach a fully satisfactory answer. For his 3-D Math project he kept going with natural questions generated from his research. He discovered different ways to uncover, analyze and synthesize information, asking for help when needed. Please join us in congratulating Christian Foster.
Mount Vernon Mind Awards: Grade 6
This student is the epitome of a Creative Thinker; he challenges assumptions, observes closely, and is always ready to take on a challenge. He is a willing participant in every class activity! He has a fail-up attitude and is willing to learn and grow from setbacks. He is a true innovator as evidenced in his rain garden and the tiny house project and detail in his memoir book. Please join us in congratulating Jackson Adams!
This next student is a diligent and persistent learner, and a true Solution Seeker to make learning happen.  She knows how to set goals for herself and develop plans to ensure she meets her objectives.  For example, when she was ill or when she had an injury, she collaborated from home to assist team members in group projects such as her science PBL as well as complete her independent work. These actions demonstrated a strong sense of accountability and responsibility to the grade six team. Please join us in congratulating Reese Hickey!
This next student has demonstrated multiple MV Mindsets, as he is an eager learner who shows real curiosity about our world.  First and foremost, he is a Collaborator as he shows leadership in projects and others enjoy working with him. Secondly, you can count on him to make Ethical Decisions as he is a responsible individual who shows integrity. Lastly, he has strong interpersonal skills and is a good Communicator, so he does an excellent job as a Junior Prefect in Grade 6! Please join us in congratulating Harris Meriwether.
Ethical in every way, this student sets a high standard for himself in every class. We notice that he spends time considering all angles and avenues to solve a problem before landing on the final solution; his persistence and analytical-thought process has led him to be quite the Solution Seeker. His attention to detail in his writing, his careful listening and thoughtful speaking makes him a Communicator, which enables him to show strong leadership skills as a Junior Prefect. Please join us in congratulating Aidan Pastush!
Our last is such a joyful learner, and always approaches school with a big smile on her face. Her enthusiasm for learning enables her to take risks and create unique products, which demonstrates her Innovator mindset. In addition, is a strong Collaborator, as she ensures that all teammates’ ideas are heard and considered. Her classmates and teachers can count on her to put 100% effort into every activity and group project. Our final mindset award goes to Holly Vogt!
Mount Vernon Mind Awards: Grade 7
We are so thrilled to have this student as part of our Mount Vernon community this year.  This student embodies the Mount Vernon Mindsets in multiple ways. When working in teams she is always willing to work as a collaborator and finds moments to stand out as a leader.  She is an excellent creative thinker and writer as evident in her script writing in Literature and Grammar. She is a great communicator, possessing strong presentation skills, and did an outstanding job on her speaking assessment in French.  We are so proud of you and so happy to recognize you today. Please join us in congratulating Audrey Thompson.
This student has fully embraced the Mount Vernon Mindsets in such a short period of time.  He consistently shows determination and grit in everything he does and is constantly working as a Solution Seeker by tackling a challenge independently before seeking help.  He grasps mathematical concepts and strategies quickly, with good retention, and relates mathematical concepts within and across content areas and real-life situations. He works, communicates, and justifies mathematical concepts in creative and intuitive ways, both verbally and in writing.  He is a solid contributor to class discussions and an excellent group member and collaborator as evident in his game design challenge in Grammar and his courageous conversations project in Literature.  Please join us in congratulating Landon Brice.
Mount Vernon Mind Awards: Grade 8
Beyond knowing the MV Mindsets and knowing how to apply each of them to his studies, this student knows how to blend and mix the MV Mindsets, like a composer mixes tones and tempo. He seems uniquely aware of the variety of ways that each mindset complements the others. For example, not only is he a dogged solution seeker, but he is skilled with clearly communicating his questions and ideas to his collaborators and teachers, so that he can guarantee bountiful, high-quality fruits of his seeking. Please join us in congratulating Zach Rizzo!
This student is among the hardest working that her teachers and coaches have seen. She embodies the Mount Vernon Mindsets, showing her willingness to innovate in order to solve new challenges creatively. She is a trustworthy and able collaborator who leads her fellow learners to ever higher levels of achievement. One would be hard pressed to find a better exemplar to receive a Mount Vernon Mindset Award. Please join us in congratulating Virginia King.
Fruits of the Spirit Award………………………………………………………………………………….…………………..……..Deans of Students*
Laura Fillyaw (Grades 5 & 6) and Max Hanson (Grades 7 & 8)
The Epistle to the Galatians 5:22-23 states, “the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” The Fruits of the Spirit award honors students who distinguish themselves as God’s servants, embodying the Fruits we are focusing on this year: self-control, faithfulness, joy, and kindness.
Fruits of the Spirit Awards: Grade 5
This student is the personification of kindness. She is a team player and goes out of her way to treat others with respect. Although she is very talented in both the arts and academics, she stays humble and builds people up with positivity and love. Please join us in congratulating Maya Chopra.
This student defines all of the Fruits of the Spirit.  His kindness pervades many situations, whether it be a game, collaborative group, or tending to a friend.  He has a calm and peaceful way about him which is respected by both teachers and peers, especially when he is talking about his favorite football team. He displays excellence on the sports field and in the classroom, and he manages to remain humble.  Known to many as “Patty All Star,” please join us in congratulating Patrick Still.
Fruits of the Spirit Awards: Grade 6
This student embodies many attributes of the “fruits of the spirit” in his approach to life in MV Middle School. Thoughtful and willing to help others, he showcases patience and kindness to other students and teachers on a daily basis. A deep thinker who strives to better himself in all dimensions, this student’s faithfulness shines academically and spiritually. Please join us in congratulating Noah Sanders.
This person came straight to mind as an individual who represents the “fruits of the spirit.” Since the first week of sixth grade, this student has shown kindness to her classmates and teachers. Her natural inclination to brighten someone’s day with a small drawing and quote, offer help, or include others has made the 6th grade hallway a more welcoming place. In addition, she is always willing to serve and takes leadership as a Junior Prefect to pray for the grade and lead announcements. Please join us in congratulating Caroline Davis.
Fruits of the Spirit Awards: Grade 7
This student embodies the Fruits of the Spirit daily.  Her kindness and willingness to help others can be seen throughout the hallways of the MSAB and in the classrooms.  The best example of her kindness and enthusiasm was during the American Revolution presentation when her eyes lit up as she explained her artifacts to a group of 4th grade students.  She always says thank you, and she always has a smile on her face. But the best part of this particular student is when she says, “I’m really excited for this unit!” This is what true kindness and joy for learning looks like and sounds like. Please join us in congratulating Alanis Casas.
This student brings so much joy and humor to Community every single day.  He is amazing at improv and is always willing to share with others and to try new things.  He even decided to try wrestling for the first time this year, proving his ability to have self-control and discipline.  He is always kind and considerate of others. We are so proud of this student and how he truly embodies the Fruits of the Spirit every day. Please join us in congratulating Joe Srinivasan.  
This student has demonstrated the Fruits of the Spirit continuously throughout the first semester.  He is a great teammate, friend, and classmate. He is kind to others, reliable, and sets great examples for his peers in his willingness to work in any group.  He is always offering to share his buffalo style pretzel chips or a great story during Community meetups. This young man is such a positive asset to Mount Vernon and we couldn’t be more proud.  Please join us in congratulating Kiran Procter.
This student is an absolute joy to have in class. She is very hardworking and kind to everyone around her. She demonstrates self-control, thoughtfulness, and is incredibly humble. This young lady does not seek to be the center of attention, but rather observes and listens and when she is ready to contribute, she speaks with an intention to teach others and to grow and learn from her peers. She is an amazing teammate and demonstrates a tremendous amount of faithfulness in her school work. We are so proud of you. Please join us in congratulating Elisabeth Levy.   
Fruits of the Spirit Awards: Grade 8
For everything there is a season and a time to every purpose, and one student at least is sure to know when that time is. This student demonstrates self-control in both work and leisure. When she has free time, she redeems it by bringing levity to her friends. When she has a task to complete, she is focused and efficient. Please join us in congratulating Anna Kate Anderson.
Our next award is for a student who embodies genuine integrity and Faithfulness, humbling himself by taking on roles or work that no one else is willing to do. He consistently comes to class ready to learn, doing whatever is asked of him in a selfless manner, working well with everyone, and bearing the standard by which learning engagement and a positive attitude may be set. Please join us in congratulating Avery Anderson.
This student set herself apart from her peers in each of her classes. For her Literature performance of Elf, Jr., she took on a leadership role, brought in most of our props and costumes, helped to create the set, and filled in any gaps that were needed to ensure a successful production, doing all of the above with a joyful attitude. The same smile and laughter are present every day in Math, Grammar, Science, and Conflict, where she is as ready with humor as she is to be a best friend to each of her classmates. We are over the moon to celebrate this young lady! Please join us in congratulating Mary Fuentes!
Not only does this young man have a caring heart and a positive attitude, he is beyond polite to adults and his peers alike. Always ready with a smile, a wave, and a ‘hello’, perhaps one of the kindest young men I have ever known. Please join us in congratulating Benjamin Reagin.
Honor Roll…..….……………………………………………………………………………..……………….………………….………Deans of Students*
Students earning all A’s (90 or higher) with no more than two B’s (80-89) and no conduct grade less than satisfactory.
Honor Roll: Grade 5
Kristen Abbott
Ashlyn Beard
Dylan Dwyer
Michael Fennelly
Mollie Martin
Henry Maxwell
Lily Moriarty
Noah Najarian
Coleson Quesinberry
Jenna Rego
Nico Tur
Honor Roll: Grade 6
Audrey Baker
Anna Barber
Christina Dahabreh
Haley Duckett
Herris Fentress
Jake Green
Reese Hickey
Connor Holloway
Landron Hoyal
Amelia Katz
Bennett Kelly
Luke Kendall
Sam Koontz
Brayden Lewis
Collin Maher
John Charles Moeser
Daniela O’Leary
Tatum Overstreet
Jack Rego
Noah Sanders
Hannah Schmidly
Kate Schmidly
Lily Stanford
Sophia Van Name
Katherine Weitnauer
Lex Welin
Honor Roll: Grade 7
Noah Arnold
Sarah Beard
Jack Blitch
Nina Brooks
Alanis Casas
Leah Collins
Claire Davis
Kate Dawson
Sumirra Dirir
Jedson Dunkerley
Drew Flowers
Annabelle Goodson
Rory Hansen
Cate Jacobsen
Jack Landers
Jackson McDougall
Sam Nazarian
Liam O’Leary
Cole Palmer
Katie Robinson
Yaz Sahin
McKenzie Seefeldt
Gretchen Springer
Sofia Tur
Tyler Van Name
Honor Roll: Grade 8
Avery Anderson
Holden Baker
Leighton Batcheller
Ansley Fenech
Bryce Fennell
Thomas Fennelly
Annabel France
Mary Fuentes
Kenzie Gartland
Sam Hodges
Annabeth Hoyal
Rylan Kruep
Macy Leask
William Marks
Moritz Martin
Sophia Mercer
Jack Morrow
Adam Nagy
Liam O’Toole
Reese Peedle
Aidan Ray
Maggie Sims
Giselle Singh
Benjamin Spitz
Dawson Stevens
Liam Still
Ruby Turner
Luke Van Putten
Finn Whalen
Head of School List……………………………………………………………….………..……..Dr. J. Brett Jacobsen – Head of School
Students earning all A’s (90 or higher) and no conduct grade less than satisfactory.
Head of School: Grade 5

Head of School: Grade 6
Jackson Adams
Sage Allen
Kiera Campbell
Mia Chadwick
Caleigh Clark
Ryley Fuller
Reiner Guttery
Riley Jane Houseman
Owen Kempa
Lucille Kincaid
Ansley King
Anna Katheryn Lucas
Maggie McKenzie
Harris Meriwether
Colin Minogue
Kennedy Mosley
Mia Neumann
Caralee Newsome
Spencer Owen
Aidan Pastush
Caroline Putnam
Mary Ellen Reagin
Grayson Rogers
Connor Roush
Anna-Charlotte Toole
Wes Vail
Holly Vogt
Maya Williams
Head of School: Grade 7

 
Head of School: Grade 8
Philip Adams
Isabella Akhlaghi
Natalia Akhlaghi
Anna Kate Anderson
Ben Barber
Campbell Bruening
Josh Cagwin
Ellayna Casey
Brooks Champney
Christopher Collins
Jac Crouch
Emma Dickie
Aubrey Ellis
Grace Gilmour
Michael Hardie
Michelle Hedrick
Hope Holloway
Will Jackson
Taylor Keller
Virginia King
James Knight
William Nix
Benjamin  Reagin
Paige Reeve
Zach Rizzo
Kate Tudor
Addie Vogt
Miller Woodall
Sam Worth
Closing Reflections: Dr. Angél Kytle, Head of Middle School
As we close our time of honoring our students this morning, I am reminded of the many ways that we view an honor or achievement. To honor is defined as to regard with great respect. Synonyms focus admiring and celebrating. To achieve is defined as to successfully bring about by effort, courage, or skill. Synonyms focus on attaining, winning, or reaching. Although there are parameters for achieving Honor Roll and Head of School list, by emphasizing our mindsets and fruits of the spirit, we choose to expand our idea of what is important in school. I certainly hope that this morning’s celebration has shown that we seek to grow and honor not only the knowledge a child attains, but also the skills and dispositions that help define who he is and who we are as a School– those same skills and dispositions that position our students for life-readiness and success.
Scripture reminds us that we each have different gifts that God has given us. Dr. Jacobsen offered a thoughtful reflection at the beginning of the year which connects. He suggested that we “Care what you care about.” By this, he explained that we should take one of our core beliefs– I’ll add our gifts– and ask the question, “So What?” I hope that we all take some time to reflect upon what our gifts are So That we may use them to serve out our purpose or our why to design a better world.
Parents, Thank you for the many gifts you offer to the School– be it your time as a supporter of athletics and arts, your talent as an external expert for our students’ experiences, or your treasure through Pioneer Tomorrow and the Annual Fund. We are so grateful that you joined us today to celebrate our students and their wonderful contributions to the first semester in Middle School.