Our First Whiz Kids: January's NRHS Students of the Month

Each week, North Reading Patch will honor a Whiz Kid of the Week. In our inaugural feature this week, we honor six Whiz Kids, the Students of the Month for January. All information is provided courtesy of North Reading High School.

Name: Adelaide Zhang, 10^th grade

School: North Reading High School

Accomplishment: Student of the Month for January, Introduction to Music

Key to success: According to her Introduction to Music teacher, Allison Kane, Adelaide comes to class with great enthusiasm and an open mind. Adelaide excels at design. She is meticulous with her work and possesses an amazing ability to create a new and intriguing artistic piece. Adelaide is extremely positive and helpful to others. Academically, Adelaide is consistent and exceptional, and personally Adelaide is someone you turn to when you need to get the job done. She is an exemplary student and a joy to have in class and see each day.

Name: Erin Brooks, 12^th grade

School: North Reading High School

Accomplishment: Student of the Month for January, Advanced Technical Theatre

Key to success: Erin has grown with confidence throughout this year, Kane said. She is free to explore ideas “outside the box” and is willing to sacrifice her inhibitions to try something new. Erin is a positive leader to the class, encouraging others to participate and enjoys everyone’s contributions. Erin takes constructive criticism in stride and works even harder to get the job done right. She is consistent academically and personally reliable. Erin is a joy to have in the classroom.

Name: Lea Fortes, ninth grade

School: North Reading High School

Accomplishment: Student of the Month for January, Algebra I, Part 2

Key to success: Leah is an extremely hard worker who always has her homework completed, teacher Mary Heinold said. Her class participation is great. She is frequently willing to go to the SMART Board to demonstrate homework problems for the class. Leah has steadily improved her grades this year. She earned a B+ in Term 1 and an A in Term 2. Her latest chapter test grade was a perfect 100. Keep up the good work, Lea.         

Name: Matthew Weeks, 12^th grade

School: North Reading High School

Accomplishment: Student of the Month for January, Physical Education

Key to success: Matt has shown great enthusiasm as well as leadership skills this semester, teacher David Johnson said. In all of his physical education activities, he competes at a high level, participates in all activities, serves as a mentor to his classmates and is an inspiration to his peers.

Name: Morgan Maiola, ninth grade

School: North Reading High School

Accomplishment: Student of the Month for January, Spanish II Honors

Key to success: Morgan is an outstanding student in Spanish II Honors, teacher Jennifer Quigley said. She is hard working and continually reaches above and beyond what is assigned. She is creative in her writing and accurate in her use of the language. She truly has a natural talent for Spanish. Morgan enjoys using Spanish and communicates very well with her peers. She has great attitude and is always looking to improve. Added Quigley: ¡Qué bien!

Name: Nick Andre, 11^th grade

School: North Reading High School

Accomplishment: Student of the Month for January, French IV

Key to success: Whether he puts an accent on his last name or not, Nick Andre comes to French IV class prepared and involved in the day’s program, teacher Harold Martin said. He takes pride in his work and shares his interest and abilities with his classmates. I appreciate his contributions to the class, and look forward to his continued success.

Do you have a Whiz Kid you would like to nominate for an upcoming feature? Has he or she volunteered for a local organization, excelled on the court, ice or field, done well in school, or just is an all-around outstanding kid who deserves to be recognized? E-mail editor Matt Bashalany at matthew.bashalany@patch.com. Include the child’s name, age, school, accomplishment, key to success and, if possible, a photo, and we may feature him or her in an upcoming column in this space next Wednesday.