Stars in our School is a web-based incentive program where staff members nominate students who do noteworthy things in the classroom, athletic court or field, and community. Each month, student nominations will be voted on by a faculty committee, and six students will receive a gift card for their accomplishment. Five finalists will each receive a $10 gift card to Subway, and one will be selected as the monthly Star in our School and receive a $25 gift card to Best Buy. Every student who is nominated will have their name and accomplishment appear on the school’s website, and pictures of the finalists will also be displayed. To be eligible, student accomplishments should be generally dated from the previous month (the February Star had to do something noteworthy in January).

Stars in our School for February 2009

Diana Villarreal (nominated by Ms. Short): Diana took charge of organizing the annual blood drive leading up to and on the day of the event. She also recruited 85% of the donors.

Finalists:
Gerard Andre (Ms. Travalini): Gerard demonstrated outstanding effort and work during the month of January in French class.
Jamelia Campbell (Ms. Cicconi): Jamelia has excelled during the month of January in Honors Biology.
Ross Elliott (Mr. Pagel): Ross, who plays the alto saxophone, was selected to represent Dickinson in the 2009 All-State Band.
Julie Gibbons & Elena Tadlock (Ms. Bond): Julie & Elena participated as members of the Junior Ladies Auxiliary at the Five Points Fire Station.
Caprice Torrance (Ms. Zerbe): Caprice had a review of the University of Delaware published in the January issue of Teen Ink magazine.

Other nominations:
Jessica Buckley (Mr. Lee): Jessica wrote the draft for the Stars in our School program.
Kadene Gray (Ms. Sheehy): Kadene, along with her CAD class, excelled in her January class project.
John Robertson & Robby Wiercyski (Ms. Bond): John & Robby collected soda can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.
Heather Seeney (Ms. Travalini): Heather earned an ‘A’ in both second marking period and midterm in French class.
Christopher Simmons (Ms. Bond): Christopher collected recyclable items at Dickinson & Kohl’s department store and made deposits to recycling sites.

Stars in our School for March 2009

Allison Gantt (nominated by Mr. Lee): Allison received the Regional McCabe Scholarship, a full scholarship, to attend Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

Finalists:
Victoria Clarke (Mr. Dick): Victoria was selected as one of only twenty-four basketball players in the entire state to participate in the annual Blue-Gold all-star game.
Erin Gilbert (Coach Eisenberg): Erin placed first in the high jump in the final regular season indoor track meet, and placed 4th in the indoor state meet.
Lilybeth Correa-Senquiz (Ms. White): Lilybeth, a native of Puerto Rico, attended class and turned in every assignment during the month of February.
Grant Mueller (Ms. Short): Grant was singled out for his high achievement and reaching out to help other students during the month of February.
Jessica Blauvelt (Ms. Sheehy): Jessica was singled out by her teacher for her work on a classroom project where students had to design a master bedroom.

Victoria Clarke, Erin Gilbert, and Allison Gantt

Jessica Blauvelt, Grant Mueller, and Lilybeth Correa-Senquiz

Other nominations:
Kat Salvaggio (Ms. Zerbe): Kat was published in the February issue of Teen Ink for her positive CD review of We All Belong by Dr. Dog.
Maurice Gattis (Ms. Zerbe): Maurice wrote a film review recommending Elephant, a movie that explores the problem of violence in America’s schools.
Valerie Cauffman (Ms. Chou): Valerie completed her 24th book during the month of February in the Reading Counts program.
Alex Leiner (Ms. Cicconi): Alex show outstanding effort in Biology class during the month of February.
Francisco Ortiz (Ms. Sheehy): Francisco has done an excellent job during the February project of designing and drafting a master bedroom.