Cheers To A Caring, Inclusive Third-Grader: Windsor Locks Star Student

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us. Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Sarah of Windsor Locks, who nominated her daughter Emma.

Star local student’s name: Emma

Star local student’s home state: Connecticut

How do you know the star local student? Daughter

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?
Emma is a third-grader who has a heart of gold. Every teacher she has had in school, says she is kind to everyone in her class and a role model for her peers. She excels in school, having been placed into the enrichment class for both reading and math. Her mother is a special education teacher, teaching students with significant and complex needs, and when she has a classmate who requires special education, Emma makes sure she includes them whenever she has the chance, whether it’s picking a partner to work on a class assignment to playing with them when it’s indoor recess. One day, when it was indoor recess and a classmate with special needs was extremely upset because they couldn’t play outside, Emma went over to him and played whatever they wanted to make indoor recess enjoyable for him. “He’s learning how to control his feelings mom, just like one of your students,” she told me later that day. Not only does Emma have a heart of gold and excels in school, she has found her passion this past fall, competition cheerleading! Competition cheer requires dedication and commitment; we have to drive to Hartford two nights per week for practice from 5:30 to 7 p.m., plus additional practices on the weekend when it’s competition time. She never complains about getting her homework done immediately after school on practice nights. Emma also has entrepreneurial skills. She loves to paint. Her favorite painting are “abstract paintings” as she calls them. Last year she wanted me to post her paintings on Facebook Marketplace (she was saving her money to buy a hoverboard she wanted). I was hesitant, worried about people making negative comments or not wanting to buy her artwork. But Emma was persistent, and finally convinced me to post her artwork for sale. I am not afraid to admit how wrong I was! People were so kind in the comments, so encouraging of her to keep painting. She sold all of her artwork we posted in less than a week! I couldn’t believe it! She was able to buy the hoverboard.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?
She is kind, caring, smart and a hard worker. When she puts her mind to it, nothing will stop her.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Emma!

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.

Know an outstanding student? Nominate them here.