On June 14th, Cooke hosted its Lower and Middle Awards day to honor the progress and achievements of all students at the lower and middle schools. Dr. Termini greeted parents and students and expressed his pride about the various accomplishments made in the Cooke community over the past year. He was also excited about the Cooke Center Grammar School’s fall opening. Dr. Termini introduced Dr. Francis Tabone, current Assistant Head of Cooke Center Academy and soon-to-be Head of Cooke Center Grammar School, and Cindy Surdi, current Educational Services Supervisor who will be Assistant Head of Cooke Center Grammar School.
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Cooke’s Director of Admissions Billy English announced and congratulated each class. The teachers distributed awards like “math problem-solver,” “most spirited,” and “communicator.” Both the lower middle schools celebrated their participation in the Mighty Milers Program, a New York Road Runners’ project that gets youth to walk/run the distance of a marathon over a school year. The middle school also acknowledged the students’ efforts in raising nearly $200 to support local animal shelters Animal Haven and Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge.
The ceremony closed with the middle school’s performance of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Feelin’ Groovy” and teachers’ heartfelt words of pride and congratulations for the middle school’s graduating class.
Students, teachers and parents left the ceremony in a mixture of reactions - tears, smiles, hugs and laughter.
