Moving up at SUNRISE
Significant goodbyes were made during Sunrise Drive’s Moving-Up Ceremony this year as the Fifth-grade class parted company and a Fifth-grade teacher waved ‘so long’ after 25 wonderful years in Sayville.
To open the ceremony, the Fifth-graders performed the school song composed by Mrs. Amy Baron Sunrise Drive You Are the One for the last time as Sunrise Drive students.
In her Welcome, Principal Rose Castello first introduced Middle School Assistance Principal Peter Branscombe, who greeted the future Sixth-graders with reassuring words. Mrs. Castello continued by proudly citing many good works performed by the students, especially noting: “Sunrise Student Council this year received two awards for their community service-learning projects from the Long Island Regional Service-Learning Network….These students, your children, have definitely made a difference! A difference here in Sunrise Drive, in Sayville, and to people they will never meet….We are very proud of all of our students and know they will continue to make a difference.”
Prior to the presentation of certificates to all students by the classroom teachers, select students were named for specific awards (see list below).
A special tribute recognized retiring Fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Susan Burton with high words of praise from Mrs. Castello. This was followed by the Fifth-graders singing For Good (from the muscial Wicked) directed by Mrs. Amy Baron.
Stemming grateful tears, Mrs. Burton hugged the bouquet in her arms and expressed her thanks to the boys and girls, her colleagues, and Mrs. Baron for their “unbelievable job…Who has a better job than I do? I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
Reading a popular email, called Mean Moms, Mrs. Castello encouraged authoritative parenting. “...help them to make solid decision, continue the educational partnership you started with us six years ago.” She thanked the Sunrise Drive faculty for also making a difference in the lives of their students, and parents for their “patience, support, and assistance. You are the key to our success at Sunrise Drive.”
Addressing “these fine Fifth-graders,” Mrs. Castello reminded them about the Third-grade butterfly lesson. “You too will go through many changes as well, but know the results you get are well worth your efforts.” Once more, the auditorium swelled with music when the students performed Unwritten before they marched away amid tremendous applause.
PRESIDENTIAL
ACADEMIC AWARDS
GOLD AWARDS
Grace Aversano
Emily Benedetto
Kylie Buck
Nicholas Cameron
Nicholas Cannetti
Cassandra Deutcsh
Cayleigh Dillon
Andrew Faughnan
Owen Ifferte
Jillian Knopf
Evan May
Michael McKillop
Deanna McNally
Kelly Read
Cassandra Rosado
Benjamin Scapellati
Christian Simpson
Eric Stenzel
Amy Tomko
Patrick VanWickler
Liam Wallace
SILVER AWARDS
Amanda Albanese
Sierra Boyce
Robert Cascio
Laura Eichele
Katie Feeley
Kellyn Gregory
Megan Hassig
Deanna McNally
Anna O’Connell
Madeline Recker
PRESIDENTIAL
FITNESS AWARD
Grade 5
Grace Aversano
Olivia Boucher
Kylie Buck
Nicholas Cannetti
Cassandra Deutcsh
Cayleigh Dillon
Laura Eichele
Aidan Fitzpatrick
Sarah Gallagher
Kellyn Gregory
Michael McKillop
Patrick VanWickler
Triple “C” Award •Evan May & Cayleigh Dillon
NYS Comptroller Achievement Award •Eric Foster
County Executive Public Service Award •Grace Aversanon;
County Legislature Presiding Officer Award •Kellyn Gregory
SD PTA Cultural Arts Awards •(art) Megan Hassig, Christopher Hlavaty, Owen Ifferte, Anna O’Connell; (brass) Madeline Recker; (percussion) Anthony Borruso; (strings) Robert Cascio, Eric Foster; (voice) Ariana Annarumma, Samantha LoGrippo; (woodwind) Amy Tomko, Lauren Vahle
