By MADDY VITALE
The Ocean City Intermediate School recognizes students who are not just exceptional at academics, sports, the arts or other activities, but also for being of good character.
Each month, the district honors some of the students for exemplifying a trait that defines someone who is good.
In January, the character trait for “Students of Character,” which replaced the Students of the Month, was respect.
“Say hello to our Students of Character for January,” an OCIS Facebook page post said. “The character trait is respect; Showing your regard for other people’s feelings or possessions. Congratulations. OCIS is so proud of you.”
Each student received a certificate, a soda and pizza from 6th Street Pizza and Grill.
Sydney Chin, 11, a sixth grader who lives in Ocean City, was one of the recipients of the honor announced last week.
Her mother, Jill Kozakowski, said Sydney was excited.
“She was thrilled,” Kozakowski said Monday night. “They called her name over the loudspeaker and that is how she found out. They go to school and learn their academics, but it is nice to be rewarded for being a good citizen.”
Kozakowski and her husband, Christian Chin, were proud of their daughter.
“They always did Student of the Month, but this year, a lot of schools are incorporating a character trait,” she noted. “I was super-proud of my daughter for getting the recognition for respect, because I think that is the most important character trait a person could have.”
Sydney’s 4-year-old brother, Sebastian, was also happy for his big sister, Kozakowski said.
“I am so lucky that my children get to go to school here. The district really promotes character traits that every parent wants their child to possess and exemplify and portray,” she added.
Another recipient of the honor this month was Francesca Pittaluga, 9, of Sea Isle City. Her mother, Kristy Pittaluga, who is a Sea Isle City Board of Education member, noted that it made her and her husband, Joe, proud of their daughter.
Francesca, who is in the fourth grade, also has a brother, Joey, 5, and sister, 4-year-old Vivienne.
“It is definitely a proud-parenting moment,” Pittaluga said. “Sometimes as parents, we kind of doubt ourselves, but it is nice to have affirmation that we are raising our kids well, especially in this crazy day and time.”
When asked how Francesca felt about being one of the students chosen for Student of Character for the month, she joked that she was “not as happy as mom.”
Another recipient, Isabella Panico, 11, a sixth grader, was excited by the honor, her father John Panico said.
“When Isabella came home that day, my wife Jen and I told her how proud we were of her,” Panico said. “Showing her classmates and teachers respect meant more to us than all the good grades in the world.”
Here are all of the Character of the Month recipients for January:
David Oropeza Bautista
Nina Bournias
Hailey Camacho
Sydney Chin
William Cleary
Maycie Erney
Brady Gaudet
Madison Hart
Josh Lenko
Bella Panico
Francesca Pittaluga
Willow Tyrrell
Spencer Underwood
