Eighth Graders Receive Awards at Assembly

6/21/2018

Six eighth graders received awards during the Middle School Assembly on Thursday, June 7 in the Claudia Boettcher Theatre.

Head of Middle School Tasha Elsbach, who presented the awards, first addressed the entire gathering of Middle Schoolers. "I think we should begin with a celebration of the accomplishments of every student in this room," she said. She cited a number of milestones, including learning how to collaborate around a Harkness table. Added Ms. Elsbach: "You've also learned a little better how to negotiate a conflict."

Demetrios Moutsatsos and Olive Saraf were this year's recipients of the Academic Achievement Award. This honor "is given to students who have the highest grade point average from their eighth grade year, and who exemplify what we value in our classrooms," Ms. Elsbach said.

Oliver Peterson and Stella Zinaman received the Character Award. "This award is given to the students who best represent the tenet of our mission to be "a power for good in the world,'" Ms. Elsbach said.

The Merolla Family Award, presented to Phoebe Radke and Ethan Schlapp, "was first established in 1995 to honor the memory of Masters parent Susan Merolla," noted Ms. Elsbach. "It evolved a few years later to also honor her husband, Joe, who tragically passed away a few years after Susan.

"The Merollas were people of character, they were leaders and idealists. They demonstrated to their children and everyone at Masters that life is meant to be lived to the fullest and to be enjoyed. They had within them all of the qualities we value as a school.

"This award goes to students who have many gifts and talents in the classroom and out and share them freely and willingly every day."