Dowagiac Board of Education recognized five February Students of the Month, including two future firefighters, Monday night in the middle school cafeteria.

February students include Kincheloe kindergartener Aaron Bonczynski, DMS eighth- grader James Tovey, Patrick Hamilton’s Olivia Weber, Justus Gage kindergartener Braylon Wade and Sister Lakes kindergartener Nevaeh Hemminger.

Union High’s selection, senior Geraldo Garcia, was unable to attend.

 

Aaron Bonczynski

 

Aaron, son of Mike and Melissa Bonczynski, has two sisters, Emmaline, 9, and Sadie, 2.

Aaron is known as an outstanding role model to the rest of his classmates. He always makes good choices and works hard.

Aaron loves to play sports. Soccer is his favorite, but he also enjoys baseball and basketball.

Buffalo wings, Cheetos and ice cream are his favorite foods. He likes to travel to Chicago to visit Lego Land. Aaron enjoys spending time with his friends, Chris and Matt.

His favorite part of school is having the ability to go and read with first graders. He is very driven to be a good reader and writer.

When Aaron grows up, he wants to be a firefighter because he would like to drive big trucks, to put out fires and to help people.

Teacher Melissa McDonald loves that Aaron is such a good student, that he is a great helper to his peers and that he has such a wonderful sense of humor in the classroom.

 

James Tovey

 

James, 14, is the son of Jim Tovey. He lives with his dad, his grandmother, Rose, and his sister, Brianna, who attends DUHS.

James loves to fish in Indian Lake and is a self-proclaimed expert fisherman.

James also likes to volunteer. For example, he’s helped out at the food bank in town and also at the National Guard on weekends.

After high school, James wants to train to become a fireman so he can help people in his community.

When asked why he thought he was selected Student of the Month, James wasn’t too sure.

He said he’s had a really good year and hasn’t gotten in any trouble.

James was nominated by John Rice, his math teacher, who shared: “I nominated James because he has improved his grades this year. He has also been a great employee at the school store. In math class, he developed a great work ethic. James loves to read — especially books about animals.”

 

Olivia Weber

 

Olivia is a very good listener, tries hard to follow directions and is eager to please.

She can be a bit of a perfectionist and prefers to have help when she is writing, even though she is capable of doing it on her own. Just because she wants to make sure everything is written just right.

Olivia has a large family that loves her a lot and she definitely loves all of them back.

She is making great leaps in learning her sight words and is beginning to be a very good writer.

Olivia is a good friend to all in the class and is a little girl with whom they all like to work.

 

Braylon Wade
Braylon, a student in Emily Hudson’s kindergarten class, works hard every day on both his academics and his behavior.

One of Braylon’s greatest academic strengths is his reading. Braylon is reading at second grade level. He claims, however, that gym is his favorite school subject.

There is a color chart in Ms. Hudson’s classroom. Students get their names moved up or down based on ehavior. Braylon’s goal every day is to get to pink — the best.

 

Nevaeh Hemminger

 

Nevaeh is the daughter of Regina Hemminger and Chad Velthouse. She has one brother, Devin, and one sister, Navarrah.

Nevaeh is an all-around wonderful student. She is a hard worker who always follows the rules. She listens well and follows directions to the letter. She is at or above grade level in all subject areas. In fact, she goes to first grade four times a week for reading enrichment.

Nevaeh’s favorite thing to do at school is rug time.

She likes to color in her free time. Purple is her favorite color. Apple pie is her favorite food.