My Child is Graduating

PTSA Bestows Awards

February 10, 2010

The West Irondequoit Central PTSA honored three people in a special ceremony on February 9 at Dake Junior High School. Charlotte Craig, Marjorie (Vandy) Humphrey and Laura Wambach each received the New York State PTA Honorary Life Award, given to those who have shown exceptional service to children and youth. It is the highest honor a PTSA can bestow upon its members.

Charlotte Craig is a first grade teacher at Listwood School. In her nomination letter, parent Colleen Smith wrote, “The times I had the opportunity to be in her class as a volunteer, I came away impressed by the climate of the classroom, the respect for her and the respect classmates had for each other, and the community feeling in the room. The most notable presence was the facilitation of a love for learning.” During the presentation, former students stepped to the podium to read an acrostic poem (a poem where each letter in Mrs. Craig’s name stood for one of her many attributes). Colleague Mary Beth Sadler remarked, “You have a special gift, Charlotte, for seeing the best in all of us and finding the way to bring it out.”

A former biology teacher at Irondequoit High School, Vandy Humphrey spends many hours volunteering at the Helmer Nature Center, often teaching students along side nature center staff.

Mike Liener, 7-12 science supervisor, said, “You‘ve been a life-long advocate for kids. Through your teaching and volunteer work at Helmer Nature Center you foster a love for the environment amongst your students as well as your colleagues. You were green before it was cool to be green. You set an example for future generations of environmentally minded citizens.” Anne Cunningham, a former student of Mrs. Humphrey and now a parent in the district, wrote, “She demonstrates a passion for teaching and dedication to her students that goes beyond the ordinary responsibilities of a teacher…Vandy has a way of making a complex topic engaging, understandable, memorable and fun.” Mrs. Humphrey also lends her many talents to the Irondequoit United Church of Christ and the Monroe County Zoo.

Laura Wambach teaches science to fifth and sixth grade students at Rogers Middle School.

Colleague Dena Baccari wrote “There are no boring lessons allowed in Laura Wambach’s science classroom! She radiates an enthusiasm that is contagious to everyone she comes in contact with.” Miss Wambach is also advisor to the school Spirit Club. This fall she inspired students to donate items for fifty Thanksgiving meals by writing and performing songs daily over the school’s morning announcements. “…they couldn’t wait to help out their community”, noted Mrs. Baccari. With her guidance, students also created and donated 135 books and blankets to a Rochester City school and raised $3,000 for Childhood Leukemia – in pennies!

The West Irondequoit Central PTSA meets monthly, on Tuesday evenings, in the Suzanne Dreher Conference Room at the District Office. For a complete schedule of PTSA events, visit www.wicptsa.org