Students of the Month

    Students of the Month for April at Holyoke JR/SR High School have been named. They are juniors Jaqueline and Jessica Mosqueda, nominated by ESL teacher Allie Balog, and eighth-grader Aidyn Shafer, nominated by language arts teacher Amber Schroetlin.
    Jaqueline and Jessica’s nomination letter read, “Over the past seven years, I have watched Jessica and Jaqueline Mosqueda grow from fifth-graders to juniors. The girls are always with one another. Their passion to help others is contagious, and their positive outlook on life is something that follows them wherever they go. Their generous hearts are always willing to reach out to all students and teachers and never leave someone without a friend.
    “As I was on lunch duty, I would witness their respect and excellence with other people. They stop by every table and say hi no matter who is sitting there. They engage with our special needs students and genuinely care about them and always listen with open ears. Both girls work extremely hard in school and know the importance of working hard and never giving up when the going gets tough. They are a true example of RISE and the good things that are happening in our small community of Holyoke!”
    Shafer’s letter read, “Aidyn is an outstanding student and athlete. In the classroom, he consistently performs at a high level. Even when he is not confident about his ability on an assignment, he gives his best effort, and it usually turns out better than he expected. In fact, Aidyn does not give himself enough credit for his academic achievements. In addition to his schoolwork, he is respectful to adults and peers alike.
    “As an athlete, Aidyn excels because of his size and strength, but I am more impressed with his conduct as a teammate. When everyone else left after track meets this year, Aidyn would still be cleaning up the team camp area. He also stayed to help clean up the bus and put away equipment after meets. Aidyn helped with tasks that were unrelated to his own events, such as hauling the high jump pits in and out several times a week.
    “In both school and sports, Aidyn works without complaining and without seeking recognition for himself. He sets a positive example for his teammates and classmates through his consistent habits of excellence.”