Student Spotlight of the Week

46

Name: Jennifer Navarrete

Grade: 5th Grade

School: Venetian Hills Elementary

As a current fifth grade student at Venetian Hills Elementary School, Jennifer Navarrete is certainly considered to be an “All Around Top Student.” Jennifer consistently displays excellent behavior, and she serves as a shining example of academic scholarship at Venetian Hills.  Even as an ESOL student, Jennifer doesn’t allow any language barriers to prevent her from striving for academic excellence.

Jennifer is always going above and beyond in her classwork.  Whenever she has difficulty understanding a concept, she does not hesitate to seek clarification from her teachers.  This school year she participated in the City Scientist after-school program and in the One Academic Fair at Venetian Hills Elementary School.

In her spare time Jennifer likes to read books, help others and help animals.  Some of her favorite activities include playing basketball with her sister and walking their family dog.  Her favorite school subjects are reading, math and science.

Jennifer states that she wants to succeed in life because she wants to be able to compete with other students academically. As a future educational goal, Jennifer wants to finish high school and enroll in college, where she would like to major in veterinary science.  She aspires to open a veterinary clinic so she can turn her passion of helping animals into a rewarding career.

Name: Maliha Hussien

Grade: Kindergarten

School: Gideons Elementary

Maliha Hussien is an active kindergarten student at Charles Lewis Gideons Elementary School. She enjoys the gifted / talented development program where she can work on creative and critical thinking activities. She is performing on a third grade reading level and is always caught reading a book. Maliha likes to draw and recently won first place and $75 in the Georgia Law Week poster contest. She is also a finalist in the Atlanta Humane Society’s “Be Kind to Animals” poster contest. Maliha’s favorite subject is science because it allows her to do different types of experiments. Maliha aspires to be an emergency room doctor when she grows up.

Name: Ja’mari Davis-Velasquez

Grade: Kindergarten

School: Benteen Elementary

Ja’mari is a 5-year-old kindergartener at Benteen Elementary who recently handled an emergency situation all on his own.  He was able to stay calm, remember what to do in emergencies, and take action. Several weeks ago, Ja’mari was watching TV upstairs when he heard a noise. He quickly came downstairs to find his 15-year-old babysitter injured with blood on the floor. She had injured herself with glass, and needed assistance.  Ja’mari called 911 immediately, and told the operator his name and age, and explained the situation. He continued to stay on the line until the police arrived on the scene. He rode the ambulance to the hospital, and came home after his babysitter was taken care of. “I was sad, because she was hurt, but it was easy calling 911,” Ja’mari says. From this experience, he understands how important it is to learn what to do in emergencies. Situations are always unpredictable, and a kindergartener can save the day if they are trained beforehand.

Ja’mari ‘s favorite activity is playing games, including basketball, sonic, and super mario. He plays basketball regularly, because his dream is to become a basketball player when he grows up. Ja’mari is not shy or afraid to speak in public. He presented in front of a crowd on Awards Day, thanking the teachers, staff, and parents for their support. When asked what he wants everyone to know about him, he responds by saying, “I love my grandma, my dad, and my mom.”

Name:   Christina Aggrey-Banks

Grade:   8^th Grade

School:  Sutton Middle School

Christina is one of Sutton Middle School’s shining stars.  She has managed to keep an intense focus on her academic career and her future while having fun participating in the school’s numerous extra-curricular activities.  

Although she stays busy as a member of the Sutton debate, tennis and volleyball teams, and the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Sigma Math clubs, Christina still finds time to serve as a Junior Achievement Means Success (JAMS) volunteer.  And as a result of serving with JAMS, she earned a spot earlier this year as a feature in a Junior Achievement video that aired around the state. 

Recently, Christina shared how much she has grown at Sutton, and stated that she is even more focused on academics now that high school looms in her future. She has already begun planning her freshmen year by signing up for volunteer duties and purchasing summer reading materials, and she plans to run for student council next year at North Atlanta High School (NAHS).

After watching her big sister go through the college application process, Christina says, “I want to be sure I’m on top of my game,” so that she qualifies for a scholarship.

When asked what she liked about Sutton Middle School, Christina immediately replied, “The supportive teachers and friends.”

She and her friends developed a very dynamic club called the “LPR” Club. It stands for Life Preparation Restrictions. She said that she and several of her close friends have signed up for two Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and this club formation will help them stick together and support each other. Possibly one of these students will be Valedictorian when they graduate from NAHS.

How do Christina’s peers describe her?

“It depends on who you ask,” she said.

She has her fun group of friends and her academic group of friends.  She said her fun group of friends would describe her as outgoing, and her academic group of friends would describe her as dedicated. One thing is for sure, Christina is phenomenal!

Christina’s message: “Mom, you have always been there for me. You are why I have gotten where I am today. Thank you for all that you have done for me. I love you so much.”

Christina, we love you and best wishes in what will truly be an awesome future.

Submitted by:  Judy Marsh, Media Specialist & Communications Ambassador, Sutton Middle School