At McNulty Elementary, perseverance is more than just a word—it’s a skill that shapes success. Last month, the school launched a new initiative called “Perseverance Leads the Way,” celebrating students who demonstrate hard work, determination, and a never-give-up attitude in their learning.
When students show perseverance in the classroom, their teacher may nominate them for recognition. Those selected are invited by Principal Tina O’Brien to visit her office and “teach the principal” what they’ve learned—turning their effort into leadership. During these special visits, students share their strategies, problem-solving skills, and newfound knowledge, showing how persistence helps them grow as learners.
Each student recognized receives a certificate honoring their perseverance and their role as a “teacher for the day.” The initiative, which will continue each month, celebrates academic growth while also building confidence, pride, and leadership among McNulty students.
“When students take ownership of their learning and push through challenges, they develop confidence and pride that will carry them far beyond the classroom,” said Principal Tina O’Brien. “This initiative gives them a moment to shine and reminds everyone that perseverance truly leads the way.”
September Perseverance Award Recipients
Grade 2
Angelo Insogna – Used a number line strategy to compare two objects.
D’ary Burns – Worked hard to use a calm voice while learning.
Aria Aponte – Earned two perfect scores on spelling tests by studying diligently.
Yuliham Baquero Garcia – Mastered addition and subtraction using a number line.
Michael Rivera Laboy – Learned how to count by tens and create a bar graph.
Amanda Gutierrez Ramirez – Persevered in learning academics while speaking Spanish.
Jazlyn Santiago – Applied a math strategy to subtract two large numbers successfully.
Thomas Stephens IV – Used the “stretching” method to sound out and spell CVC words.
Grade 3
Gehrig Togaila – Excelled at multiplication, solving 4-digit by 1-digit problems.
Savannah Gonzalez – Overcame nerves when starting gymnastics and found confidence in trying something new.
Zaida Johnson – Mastered the distributive property in math.
Talia Agresta – Demonstrated perseverance by making new friends after being separated from her best friend.
Luiz Gonzalez Galan – Reflected on behavior and made positive choices to turn his day around.
Cristopher Alarcon Pilacuan – Mastered multiplication and advanced to a higher math group.
Genesis Gonzalez – Worked through friendship challenges with perseverance.
Carmen Schreurs – Learned her 2’s in math with determination.
Grade 4
Joniel Gonzalez – Improved math quiz scores by more than 20%, showing commitment and growth.
Kaylee Rivera Laboy – Improved math quiz scores by more than 20%, showing commitment and growth.
Matias Pilacuan Valenzuela – Worked hard with a positive attitude and eagerness to learn new content.
Alanay Rivera – Showed dedication, participation, and a willingness to seek help to improve.
Grade 5
Javon Maldonado – Persevered through challenging fifth-grade work, using strategies to read and solve problems.
Isabella Padilla – Continued to work hard and apply strategies to overcome learning challenges.
Orleidys Montanez Rojas – Faced difficult ELA and math topics with determination, completing all work thoughtfully.
Alex Torres-Merced – Tackled new subjects with persistence and focus.
David Mosely – Continued to work hard in math, showing resilience while learning long division.
Sanaa Bethea – Persevered through writing challenges, improving spelling and sentence structure while always giving her best effort.