Altimira Middle School Principal Sydney Smith introduced Matthew Charleston as a Student of the Year, saying, “we’re so, so proud of Matthew.” She said he exhibits all the qualities associated with a fine student, and “of course, he has a 4.0!” His teachers describe him as positive, enthusiastic, hard working, polite and possessing a good sense of humor. He also has an “outstanding work ethic … always willing to do the work.” One of Matthew’s major achievements, as a teaching assistant last year, was organizing the storage room between Mrs. Naslund’s and Mrs. Purtell’s classrooms. This challenge, his teachers said, was “quite an accomplishment!” Another major accomplishment was receiving a Presidential Physical Fitness Award for two consecutive years.
In addition to his excellent personal qualities, Matt is a natural at math. He says it is “just one of those things that click” for him. In his spare time, he collects movies such as the Pixar collection and all the Harry Potter series. He is now collecting favorite TV series such as The Big Bank Theory and MadTV.
Matthew said that receiving the Student of the Year award showed him that he is a much better student than he thought. After all, he said, “This is what I enjoy doing and what makes Altimira special to me.”
Smith then introduced Janet Gonzalez, as a Student of the Year. “Janet is just a wonderful, wonderful student,” she said, “and of course she has a 4.0 average, too!” Janet spent her first 12 years in Sonoma on a dairy farm with her parents, Librada and Ismael. She was enrolled in bilingual classes from kindergarten through fourth grade, and now says that she is quite comfortable in English, even though Spanish is her first language.
Janet said her most memorable experience to date was winning first place in the Cinco de Mayo poster contest in the fourth grade. In the fifth grade, she was recognized as Student of the Month for Sassarini. She finished Sassarini on the Honor Roll and won the Principal’s Award. Her teacher, Mrs. Conroy, wrote that Janet exemplifies the honor of Student of the Year for [Altimira].” She said Janet exhibits the values and life skills of a young, enthusiastic, hard-working student. She exhibits caring, common sense, confidence, cooperation, curiosity, effort, flexibility and facility at following directions. “Not only has she shown these qualities day to day,” she said, “she has shown them on a daily basis for three consecutive years.”
Janet plays the clarinet and has been in the Altimira Band since sixth grade. She said that her favorite classes are “all my classes,” and that her big dream is “to attend Stanford University and become famous.” Her teachers think she just may do that. “We just cannot say enough wonderful things about Janet.”
