Middle School Award Winners From Near and Far

Maddy and Felix were recognized as Students of the Month in December.

  Swampscott Middle School seventh-graders Felix Luebken and Maddy Chambers have at least two things in common. One: They count math as their favorite subject. Two: They were awarded December Student of the Month plaques. Differences? Well, Maddy seems quieter than Felix. She likes challenges — figuring things out on her own. She likes dance. Especially jazz. She studies at Donna's Dance Studio in Lynn. And she has been going to Swampscott schools all along. Felix is very outgoing. He speaks Chinese, German and English. And humor. He likes to tell jokes. And he came to town from China  — Shanghai — just this year. It was a big change.  "It was harder to make friends," he said.  There are differences in the how you connect with people, at …

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Middle School Recognizes Two Students' Hard Work

Liam O'Brien and Annie Norton are team players, as well. They listen to and help their classmates.

  Liam O'Brien and Annie Norton didn't know why they were called to the principal's office but they were sent there. What they found out was that a couple of awards were waiting for them. Teachers at the grades 5-8 Swampscott Middle School nominated Liam, 13, and Annie, 14, for the school's effort award, given out each month. Principal Robert Murphy told them the engraved plaques they received recognize and reward them for their consistent and well done work. Liam, who likes to play and listen to music, and whose favorite class is social studies, is an extremely thoughtful student, say the teachers who nominated him for the effort plaque. "His teachers feel that he is always willing to improve what he has done, so far, despite the fact …

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Photos: The District Recognizes Students and Teachers

On Wednesday night the School Committee recognized National Merit Scholarship commended students and teachers who achieved professional status as well as the educator of the year.

  School officials applauded students and teachers at Wednesday's School Committee meeting. Those recognized were Educator of the Year Judith Flynn, teachers who attained professional status and students commended in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. The Swampscott High School commended students were Zachary Fidler, Aristana Scourtas, Elana Feldman, Philip Cherner, Jaqueline Thomson, Zachary Blonder and Patrick Burkett. Teachers Joanne Wheeler, Jaclyn Belson, Emily Barnum, Heidi Legere, Joanna Maguire, Rachel Eisenberg, and Karen Clements were recognized for attaining professional status.

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MOMents

MOMents - Listing in a Sea of Rankings

How important are lists?

  We are a culture obsessed with lists. We like when our child gets into a college on one of the many U.S. News and World Report top college lists.  We like when our school system shows up in Boston Magazine’s best school list. We like when our school has top MCAS scores, sports championships and awards for art, drama, science and math. When we don’t make a list, we fret. What do we need to do to make it next time? What resources should be devoted to this goal? These are valid questions that should be examined. We also need to ask ourselves how important is the list versus the others things that we value?  Do lists blind us to things that might be more important? For example, a friend, coming from a private middle school with a large drama…

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