Marta

Grade 7

While Marta hopes to become a marine biologist, she also enjoys climbing trees, cooking, and playing volleyball. Animals are a passion, and Marta has some very unusual pets. In addition to two Cockapoo dogs named CoCo and Riley, Marta cares for five hens: a Buff Orpington, three Ginger Nut Rangers, and one Araucana. The Araucana is her favorite as Marta hatched her from an egg that she purchased on EggBid.com. This hen is not only unusual in appearance, but she also lays blue eggs! During the summers, Marta sells both blue and brown eggs at a local farmer's market.

During the St. Richard's Middle School January term, Marta enjoyed learning about nutrition and exercise through Ann Papachronis' class. This group visited the National Institute of Fitness and Sports to learn how to exercise properly. Marta enjoyed playing volleyball with an oversized ball, stretching in yoga class, rock climbing and running obstacle courses. She also analyzed ingredients in packaged foods and watched the movie, "Super-Size Me," a documentary that emphasizes the effect of fast food on American lifestyles.

Middle School teachers are delighted with Marta's insatiable intellectual curiosity. St. Richard's School is proud to have students like Marta who live life to the fullest!

  CJ , 6th Grade

Many may describe teenagers as too laid back, flippant or even impolite. That certainly is not the case at St. Richard?s School, and CJ, current 6th grader, prides himself on being the opposite. ?Yes, Sir,? or ?No, Ma'am,? is something he learned at an early age from his parents, and he is grateful for their guidance.  St. Richard?s School also holds high expectations for students; all Lower School and Upper School students stand and greet each visitor to the classroom. 

CJ joined St. Richard's School in 1st grade and his sister soon followed. He plays the piano, is a member of Student Government, and participates in basketball and lacrosse while maintaining Academic High Honors (which he has done since the 4th grade). CJ regularly attends Eastern Star Church and he is grateful that he attends a school that allows and encourages him to express his love for God freely.

Although it is easy to say that diversity is valued at St. Richard's, CJ also puts this ideal into action. It is not surprising that he recently asked about the school?s plans for black history month, and his eyes widened when he realized this is a yearlong commitment at SRS, not just a February activity. Thirty percent of the St. Richard's student body represents diversity in race and religion, and socio-economic diversity is welcomed and sought after.

CJ's mature insight is also seen when he speaks of his love for his family and appreciation for his parents. Many teens may shriek at the thought of being seen with their parents at school; CJ, however, appreciates his parents? involvement. He says it is not uncommon to see his father show up during a math class and acknowledges that his mother is also actively involved in the school and his learning. 

CJ credits his Lower School teachers for preparing him to be successful in the Middle School and points out that all of his teachers are more than teachers to him. They care for him as an individual and do whatever it takes to help him learn. Although he loves school, like most students, CJ is looking forward to summer, especially playing tennis, going to basketball camp, and listening to music. St. Richard?s School is thankful to have CJ, his sister, and his parents as active members of our community.

 Shelby, 5th Grade

Watching Shelby's eyes light up as she describes her family?s trip to Kenya this summer is like watching the sun rise?the light just gets brighter and brighter. No one needs to coax facts from her; she excitedly describes beautifully colored birds, golden orb spiders, cheetahs, elephants, warthogs, giraffe, ostriches, zebras as well as her fascination with the Masai warriors.

The family?s three-week trip, organized originally to celebrate her mother?s 40th birthday, was spent in seven different camps throughout Kenya. Some camps offered tents with platforms; others provided tents directly set up on the ground. Animals wandered in and out of the camp and made strange noises all night long. When they went on safari, which Shelby says means "journey? in Swahili, she was surprised to see so many hills and valleys and how clean the air seemed. Evidently it is unusual to see Mt. Kilimanjaro clearly because of cloud cover, but Shelby?s family was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

Shelby learned a great deal from their visit to the Somburu Tribe of the Masai, a group well known for their beadwork. The Masai are a tribe of indigenous people whose primary goal in life is to care for cattle. They wear red garments because red is the color of meat and blood, two major food groups of the Masai, and because red is the color of the soil. Most importantly, red signals danger to predators, so the Masai wear almost neon red to keep predators away from their herds. Shelby is impressed with how resourceful the Masai are to waste absolutely nothing.

"I love St. Richard?s School because of the wonderful, different personalities of the teachers here. Classes are interesting because each teacher presents in a different way and the classes and activities at St. Richard?s are useful for life.? Shelby?s experiences from her trip to Africa have increased her willingness to speak in different languages and her appreciation for the life that we enjoy in America. Now that she?s back, Shelby will continue the hobbies of horseback riding and competitive swimming that she has enjoyed for several years.