Several graduations set for this week
The Monroe News
Several area schools will hold graduation ceremonies this week.
Jefferson High School will hold its graduation at 6 tonight on the Marc L. Cisco Alumni Football Field.
The rain dates are Thursday and Friday.
Families will sit in pods and masks are required.
Each senior received seven tickets; the maximum audience is 1,000.
Graduating are 124 students.
Speaking will be the school’s eight valedictorians, one salutatorian, Superintendent S. Michael Petty and principals Dave Vensel (retired) and Millie J. Grow (interim).
The valedictorians are Thomas Boggs, Madison Dennis, Nicholas Jablonski, Sarah Johnson, Brooke Lavoie, Kline Peare, Shea Peare and William Robinson.
Community Foundation awards grants
Recipients and projects are:
Monroe County Intermediate School District received $68,650 from the Monroe Health Plan Endowment Fund for supporting educator wellness.
Educational staff will now receive evidence-based training, psychoeducation on mental health upon hire, and a physical space in the school building to practice positive, proactive coping skills that will increase learning and self-regulation both personally and professionally.
“Though training is presented to educational staff around Monroe County, including Youth Mental Health First Aid, self-care for the school professional is often the last topic discussed in these trainings. There needs to be a paradigm shift in supporting educator wellness because if our teachers do not have the tools to be regulated, neither will students,” said the Community Foundation.
When Jessica Foulkrod was given the chance to study at Gelsey Kirkland Academy in New York City in 2018, she knew the cost would be steep.
A lifelong dancer, the 17-year-old Monroe High School student said she approached her parents, knowing she was willing to do whatever it took to get to the academy for its summer instruction modules.
For dancers, summer intensives provide ample instruction and practice an opportunity critical to a dancer’s success, Jessica says.
“Dancing takes hours upon hours of training,” she said. “Without practicing, you can’t reach your full potential. Without practicing and training, you’ll never get where you want to go.”
One man dead, eight units severely damaged in Dundee fire
Dundee Twp. Fire Department along with Dundee Police Hunter Chirillo and Reserve
Officer Derek Cole were dispatched to Village Pointe Apartments at 4:33 Sunday morning in response to an apartment fire.
When the first responders arrived on scene a fully involved second floor fire had taken over one of the units. Officers identified a man calling for help from the second story window who was being encouraged to jump by other residents on scene. Due to the intense heat smoke and flames the man was unable to jump and fell back into the apartment.