Chelsea Public Schools recognized 10 students with Student of the Year awards on Thursday, June 4, at City Hall during a celebratory Chelsea School Committee meeting.
School leaders and educators from 10 schools across Chelsea introduced their Student of the Year recipients and highlighted their accomplishments throughout the school year. The award winners made powerful, positive, and lasting impacts on their respective school communities.
The Chelsea Public Schools Students of the Year were: Christopher Xec Aguilar from the Berkowitz Elementary School; Aryj Ait-Chaib from the Hooks Elementary School; Sonya Lenore Reyes Moni from the Kelly Elementary School; Paula Nora Menjivar Moreno from the Sokolowski Elementary School; Allison Figueroa Ramirez from the Morris H. Seigal Clark Avenue Middle School; Marvin Lopez Garcia from the Browne Middle School; Jazmye Mejia Puzul from the Wright Science & Technology Academy; Jose Castillo Arevalo from Chelsea Opportunity Academy; Kaylee Edwards from Chelsea Virtual Learning Academy; and Dariel Medina from Chelsea High School.
The meeting also included recognitions for the district’s retirees who will be leaving CPS at the end of the school year. The district honored six individuals for their dedicated service and thanked them for their impact on Chelsea students and schools: Phyllis Aldrich, Lisa Button, Caroline Ciulla, Stephen Edelstein, Olga Escalante, and Tracy Podol.
Superintendent Dr. Almi G. Abeyta also honored the graduating members of the Superintendent Student Advisory Council, a newly formed group of students who met monthly with Dr. Abeyta this school year to provide here with feedback on district policies and happenings at school.
During the meeting, Dr. Abeyta commented “I had wanted to have a Student Advisory Council because I felt it was important to engage students in policy and to hear about how the policy that we make as a body and the School Committee makes impacts students at the student level. We have 13 wonderful students on the Superintendent Advisory Council and it has been a fabulous year with all 13 students. We have some juniors and some seniors. And I have really looked forward to meeting with the Superintendent Advisory Council once a month. It’s actually the highlight of my week when I get to be with them. I get to hear student voices and listen. They provide a lot of insight.”
In addition, Dr. Abeyta and the School Committee recognized the three student representatives whose roles on the committee ended with the final meeting in June. Representatives Allison Rivera Colindres, Daniel Prudencio de Paz and Natali Sanches Gonzalez were honored with certificates and gifts from the Superintendent’s Office and committee.