Events
Celebration of Learning Banquet
The 13th annual Celebration of Learning banquet, co-sponsored by the Wakefield Educational Foundation and the Wakefield School Department, was held recently at Wakefield High School. This evening is a time to honor students, staff and volunteers and to take time out to celebrate the things that make our schools great. Over 350 attendees were welcomed by WEF President, Gayle Wettach. WEF is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational enrichment programs to the students in Wakefield at all grade levels. The foundation’s role is to acknowledge, support and promote academic excellence.
Fourth graders from each of the elementary schools were congratulated by their principals and recognized for exemplifying the core values of their respective schools. Those honored include Dolbeare students: William Holman, Jenna Dunton, Abigail MacDonald, Mark Chiodi, Theresa Fallon, Michael Leven, Julianne Reilly, and James Hanron; Woodville students: Gina DiMascio, John Glendye, Nicholas McMahon, Carly Holbrook, Cross Meehan and Ashley Newbegin; Greenwood students: Caroline Bennett, William Shea, Christina Freni, Evan Burns, Louise Canavan, and Conor Gregson; Walton students: Marissa Hoffman and Timothy Hurley.
Galvin Middle School students were recognized by Dr. Paula Mullen for exemplifying the core values of their school which include Commitment, Achievement, Respect and Enthusiasm. Those honored include: David Holman, Reilly McNamara, Mishelle Melanson, Nicholas Kelley, Geneva Hancock, Angeline LoBrutto, Thomas Auffrey, Melanie Orcutt, Hannah Rodgers, Ariana Chavez and Jessica Vozzella.
Wakefield High School students honored by principal, Ellie Freedman, were Lisa DeGuglielmo, Patrick Holleran, Patrick Comeau, Bianca Cotter, Kailee Visco, Michael Gover, Emily Wright and Andraya Carmilia Smith. Several community members were nominated this year. Four students were honored for their commitment to the Challenger Basketball program. These students gave of their time for several years to coach and referee basketball games for the mentally challenged. Catie Goldstien, Julie Goldstein, Ray Elcewicz and Mike Noonan were recognized for their dedication. John Kennedy from Honeydew Donuts was honored as a community member that has gone above and beyond to help the Wakefield Public Schools.
Faculty members were recognized for their complete dedication to the ideals of education and their abilities to make learning an enriching experience for all students. These staff members included Paula Curley, Cathy Keefe, Shannon Lyman, Janice Barry, Leslie Roberto, Priscilla Hunt, Frank Marino, Andrew Tetreault, Janel Stevenson, and Jane Gutowski-Connell.
Several volunteers were recognized for their generous support of and commitment to the students and staff of the Wakefield Public Schools. Those recognized were Beth Sullivan, Kate Fallon, Tania Helhoski, Stephen Gates, Ginny Lomasney, Chris Oneschuk, Susan Mello, Angie Sciarappa, Tricia Desrocher, and Jeanne Attaya. The Wakefield Alliance Against Violence was also recognized by Ellie Freeman, and accepted by Lynne Zerfas.
This year the Celebration of Learning banquet also recognized those staff members that will be retiring this year. Superintendent, Joan Landers, spoke of their commitment to the students and their years of dedicated service to Wakefield schools. Those retiring this year include, Marilyn Hober, Monica Natwig, Maggie Riordan, Ed Walsh, Patty O’Keefe, Brenda DiNinno and Marie Vacca.
A special award was presented this year to Brian Middleton-Cox. The Rookie Award was created as a special tribute to the new principal of the Woodville Elementary School. The award was supported by faculty and parents to recognize the outstanding job that Mr. Middleton-Cox has done in his first year as principal.
The evening ended with many thanks being extended for making the evening possible. The very talented Culinary Arts students from the high school prepared and served the delicious meal. Sue Worden and her WEF team organized the decorations and the dinner, The Gold Medal WHS Jazz Band played before and during dinner and special thanks were given to Joan Landers for all her support of the Wakefield Educational Foundation and the students of Wakefield.
If you would like to recognize a student, staff member or volunteer at our next banquet, please click here to download and complete our nomination form.
Chocolate Rose Sale
The Chocolate Rose Sale is our major fundraiser each year. The success of this fundraiser determines the scope and amount of mini-grants we can award to the public schools in Wakefield. Chocolate roses are sold in January for the Valentine’s Day holiday. They can be purchased by anyone in our community. The roses are individually wrapped, are $1.00 each, and are made in a “nut free” facility. Please consider buying chocolate roses for your beloved mothers, grandmothers, aunts, neighbors, friends, teachers – anyone to whom you would like to show your love and affection during the Valentine holiday!
Click here to download a Chocolate Rose order form.
WEF S.T.A.R.S. (School Teachers Are Really Special)
WEF’s focus on educational excellence, is carried out in this program, that enables anyone in the Wakefield community, to recognize a special teacher, by making a monetary donation on behalf of a teacher whom they feel helped their children to achieve academic excellence, or who created an exceptional environment in which their children could learn. The teacher receiving the honor, receives a lovely certificate of appreciation from the individual(s) who donated on their behalf. This is another way to recognize academic excellence, provided by our wonderful teaching staff in the Wakefield Public Schools.
Every school year, many teachers in the Wakefield School System are recognized via the STARS program for their commitment to educational excellence in the classroom.
Click here to download a S.T.A.R.S. Teacher Recognition form.