By Tony Negri, Past President & Donna Dennes Doyle, Founding Board Member
The Student of the Month Program at SRHS is one of the Foundation’s most rewarding accomplishments. In the fall of 1990, former Principal Mike Panas presented a plan to recognize and treat to lunch, on a monthly basis, students who make worthwhile contributions to class or to the school community. Teachers were asked to nominate students who make significant academic progress or who enrich the classroom by their presence, their attitude and their involvement.
The Program was started by Board members and the school principal taking 6 to 8 nominated students to lunch at Chevy’s in Railroad Square. Recognition letters from the teachers or staff were read and Board members explained the role of the Foundation and financial & scholarship support available to students. It was also a nice way to get to visit with some of the students.
Two years later, the Program included an annual end-of-school-year pasta dinner at the Druid’s Hall. Attendees were the student recipients, their parents, family members, the nominating teachers and school administrators, with Board members hosting and serving the dinner. Board member Christine Romani-Tonelli ’88 was instrumental in developing the dinner plan and her grandfather, Frank Stefani was enlisted to do the cooking, which was attended by 200-225 people. The luncheons and dinners were partially funded by the family of the late Edna Parker, SRHS Dean of Girls in the 50’s and 60’s, who sought to encourage, acknowledge and reward deserving students.
Since 2020 the Student of the Month Program experienced some changes, due in part to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rather than going to in-person monthly luncheons, each nominee is given a $25 gift card to a restaurant, a framed certificate, a car window sticker reading “My Kid was Student of the Month at SRHS” and a congratulatory letter mailed home to the parents.
This Program is truly a labor of love and the Foundation Board members are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the students’ achievements.
