Events
Celebration of Learning Banquet
The 14th annual Celebration of Learning banquet, sponsored by the Wakefield Educational Foundation (WEF), 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. Nearly 400 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: Meagan Gibbons, Zachary Shea, Christopher Jennings, Mila Frohlichstein, Owen Lucey, Olivia Dannenberg, Catherine Constas and Brendan Coughlin; Woodville students: Meaghan Foley, Alex Joly, Mitchell Kennedy, Cara Mogan, Anna McCormack, Dhruv Patel, Matthew Greatorex and Kelly O’Connell; Greenwood students: Sofia Barrett, Max Hinchey, Jake Hinchey, Kaia Carioli, Julia Cheffro and Preston Yee; Walton students: Alec Passacantilli, Samantha Nimblett, Jared Hurley and Julia McDonough.
Pictured with Dolbeare Principal Phyllis Dubina (L-R): Mila Frohlichstein, Olivia Dannenberg, Brendan Coughlin, Christopher Jennings, Owen Lucey, Zachary Shea, Catherine Constas, Meagan Gibbons.
Pictured with Greenwood Principal Deborah Collura (L-R): Julia Cheffro, Preston Yee, Sofia Barrett, Max Hinchey, Kaia Carioli, Jake Hinchey.
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: Kylie Dube, Maggie Tryder, Brianna Smith, Sara Dardis, Alexis Parent, Meaghan Hudson, Nicholas Hill, Meghan Chapman, Allison Root, Maxwell Frank, Camden Ballard and Rachel Gibbons.
Pictured with Principal Dr. Paula Mullen (L-R): Sara Dardis, Brianna Smith, Alexis Parent, Maggie Tryder, Meaghan Hudson, Kylie Dube.
Wakefield High School students honored by principal Dr. Kimberly Smith include Jamie Saropoulos, Sarah Urbonas, Gillian King, Alison Wardwell, Garret Healey, Francesca McCaffrey and Rex Lam.
Pictured with Principal Dr. Kimberly Smith (L-R): Rex Lam, Jamie Saropoulos, Sarah Urbonas, Gillian King, Alison Wardwell, Francesca McCaffrey, Garret Healey.
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 Sheila Robertson, Amy McCarthy, Chris Sacco, Michelle Ferguson, Anne Doherty, Kathy Palumbo, Sheila Chapman, Gerilyn Amico, Debra Fitzpatrick, Melissa Howard, Mary Sullivan, Jennifer Pierce, Erin Manzi, Matthew Winiarski, Pat Massiello, Margaret Coppe and Rita Hannaford.
Several volunteers were recognized for their generous support of and commitment to the students and staff of the Wakefield Public Schools. Those recognized were Maureen McCarthy, Kim O’Neill, Esther Ellis, Kim Smith, Tracy Johnson, Tracey Fisher-Hollup, Diane Lee, Maggie Fahey and Eileen Manning. Community members Janine Cook, Erin Cook, Doreen Joly and Lauren Gill were recognized for their involvement with the Galvin Buddies program. Arbella Insurance employees Peggy Lomasney and John Perlowski were also recognized for their support of special needs students in the School to Life Program at WHS by giving them a real life learning opportunity in their local office.
A special presentation to the family of Kelly McLean was presented to Kelly’s parents Sharon and Frank, and her sister Megan by Dr. Paula Mullen. Kelly passed away at the young age of 12 on March 3 after an unexpected complication following a January surgery for tracheal reconstruction. In Dr. Mullen’s remarks, she spoke of the impact and difference that Kelly’s life had on so many people. “She did not live a long life, she did live an exceptional life. The faculty and students at the middle school have been privileged and honored to have been touched by Kelly. Her life will be a model for kids for years to come. May she always Fly High!” Kelly’s family graciously accepted the plaque to a standing ovation.
The prestigious Skulley Award honoring the late William C. Skulley, Jr. was presented to Mr. A. J. Beebe by Superintendent Landers and Sandy Skulley, Bill’s widow. The award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to enhance the educational experience for our students in honor of the late esteemed School Committee member and Wakefield attorney. Thanking the many people that have helped him in his career including his family, Bill Skulley and Steve Turner, Mr. Beebe graciously accepted a plaque that read:
To recognize Mr. Beebe’s dedication, genuine caring and guidance of the children of Wakefield: We celebrate Mr. Beebe’s integrity, compassion and unending commitment to students. He sincerely cares about the lives of all children and staff throughout the district and ensures that everyone reaches their full potential. He is extremely humble and quietly helps others from behind the scenes. He holds high expectations for himself which helps raise the bar for others. He has been blessed with the gift of making others feel at ease. He is a man of substance, a positive role model for all of us.
The evening ended with many thanks being extended for making the evening possible. The very talented Culinary Arts students from the high school under the direction of Tony Cucci prepared and served the delicious meal. Sue Worden and her WEF team organized the decorations and the dinner, Joy Schilling from the Visual Arts department set up displays of student art work and Galvin Middle School student, Emma Thompson served as the official photographer for the evening. 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.