Green Acres Students Honor Loved Ones at Special Valentine's Day Breakfast

Valentine’s Day was the perfect time for Green Acres fifth grade students to honor the special individuals in their lives.

The children treated their special someone to a breakfast where they served their guests a variety of foods including fresh fruits, juices, bagels, croissants, and muffins.  After breakfast, the students read the expository essays they composed in honor of their special person and gave them flowers to commemorate the occasion.

Jeanne Savoia said her fifth grade class has been hosting a Special Person Breakfast for the past four years.  The assignment is first to think of someone in their life that is important to them.  The students  then identify character traits that their special person  possesses that makes them “special” and how these character traits have empowered them to be a better person in life.

“It is a great way to weave curriculum into sharing the qualities of our special person on Valentine’s Day,” Savoia said.

Mrs. Savoia began her classroom presentation by saying “the fact that you are sitting here today says a lot about you.”  She explained that her own daughter, who is now 21, had an event similar to this when she was in elementary school. Both Savoia and her husband expected their daughter to choose one of them as her “special person,” but instead she chose her babysitter. 

Connie Schingh reminded all her fifth graders that Valentine’s Day is “not just about boyfriends and girlfriends, it is about people who mean a lot to us.”  She told the audience that they would find out just how much they mean to the children by reading their essays.   

Students selected parents, grandparents, best friends, and even Green Acres students and staff members as their special individuals.  Rajani Subramanian chose school secretary Gail Arciulo. In her essay, Subramanian wrote that “Mrs. A” is a wonderful secretary.  “She greets everyone cheerfully and warmly and she is always patient.  If you ask her a question, she will answer it clearly, and promptly.  If Mrs. A is not in there, the office is dull, but if she is there, her cheerful voice fills the office and the office is bright and lively.”  Subramanian explained that these are some of the reasons why she loves to go to the office. Arciuolo said she was very touched that Rajani chose her.

Mrs. Schingh also chose a special person to honor,  her paraprofessional Mrs. Keyes.  Schingh said, “The close working relationship that we have is what makes life special in our classroom. I depend upon her to strengthen and assist me in improving student achievement.  She has a heart of gold and (like her own children) wants what is best for every one of our students. We work together striving to create a kind and caring room environment.”

Student Alyssa Caldarella chose her “poppy", Sabby Colella who taught her “honesty is the best policy” and “it’s better to give than to receive.”   Colella was very proud of his granddaughter and said she “did a great job.”  Caldarella said her grandfather “has taught and shown her to be an honest, reliable and generous person.”

Spencer Smalley chose his dad, Jeff, as his special guest.  Spencer praised his dad for moving his office into the home and cutting back on travel for work to spend more time with his family.  He also praised his dad for helping him be more organized.

Nicholas Perillie chose his grandfather, Russell See, calling him “the funniest guy I know.”  Nicholas described See as caring and determined.  “He tries his hardest to come to all my football games. He never misses one. I always see him cheering me on from the stands before I call ‘hike’. He also gives me great advice by saying practice and play hard, but most of all, have fun.”

Lorenzo Rappa shared this special day with his grandmother, Alva Forte. “Nanny never thinks of herself.  She is always thinking of us.  She never wants any gifts on Christmas, but always gives us the most Christmas gifts.”

“She always comes to our sports games and she always supports us with school projects and events,” Rappa added.

Erica Castelli describes her mom, Meg Castelli, as someone who makes sure she is safe and who loves her no matter what happens.  “If I break a plate or a mug she will not get angry.  If I get her mad she still loves me,” Erica said. Meg Castelli described the breakfast by saying it was “fun and touching to hear all the special times that the kids have shared with their someone special.”

The students certainly made the special people in their lives proud and started Valentine’s Day 2011 off on a positive note.