GLOCESTER – Ordinarily at a school ceremony, students are recognized by teachers for their achievements; last Wednesday at Ponaganset Middle School, several teachers were honored by their students.
The students are basketball players, and the teachers were acknowledged thanks to Head Coach Mark Livingston, whose wanted to hold a Teacher Appreciation Ceremony.
This is Livington’s first year with Ponaganset Boys Middle School Basketball.
Previously he was a coach at Johnston High School, where teachers have been formally honored by the students.
“I left it up to the kids what teachers to choose, such as teachers who helped them in class or in life,” he said of his time at PMS, noting he hopes to empower the kids.
Principal Pat Marquette said it “is a wonderful thing, for students to take the opportunity to honor teachers who worked with them, help them. Teachers do make a difference, and students recognize that.”
Sixth grade team mom Anastasia Wachter said the young athletes appreciating their teachers “is a great idea because to play sports they have to have good grades.”
Suzanne Marz, an eighth grade team mom, in her remarks to the teachers, said in part:
“You do far more than teach lessons from a book. You guide, encourage, challenge, and believe in our boy—often on days when they don’t believe in themselves…Basketball teaches teamwork, discipline, and perseverance – but those lessons are reinforced in your classrooms. The confidence they carry onto this court is built during the school day because of you.”
The honorees were as follows:
- Gwyn MacMillan – 6th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies
- Molly Ubel – 6th grade Resource
- Jon Rollins – 8th grade Science
- Kristin Gold – 7th grade Social Studies
- Maryhelen Khoury – 7th & 8th grade Science
- Michael Goudreau – 7th & 8th grade Social Studies
- Shannon Black – Art
- Jamie LaRose – Physical Education
- Michael Orticerio – 8th grade Social Studies
- Michael Ferns – Physical Education
- Kristina Hogan – 8th grade Resource
This ceremony seemed in keeping with the coach’s values.
“I’m a big community person,” he said. “I wanted to get the boys involved in the community, to teach the boys it’s good to give back to those that support you,” he explained, noting that during the a “12 Days of Christmas” initiative the student-athletes helped the Glocester Food Bank.
Livingston said the teacher appreciation ceremony was “a success.”
“I got a lot of feedback,” he said. “The teachers appreciated it.”
Principal is Patricia Marcotte.. and was a teacher at PMS for a while too!
Spent 28 years teaching there from 1976 to 2004.. and loved every minute of it! The students are fantastic and the teachers all great! Proud to be associated with this excellent school!