Cherry Avenue Holds Oscar Ceremony

The Third Annual Oscar presentation for third-grade students at Cherry Avenue was another starlet-studded gala of award-winning personalities that had everyone applauding.

Hollywood star decals on the floor led invited guests to the red carpet entrance of the cafetorium and through the artfully decorated doorway. Within, life-sized golden Oscar posters flanked the stage. The audience twittered and pointed with excitement as the nominees hurried past to take their places for the ceremony.

From the moment the stage curtains parted for the opening song and dance number, directed by music teacher Kristi Woerner, until the last award category was announced, all eyes focused on the glamorously dressed winners of the golden statuettes. And every third-grader was a winner, for one attribute or other (see list below), the result of ballots tallied after the votes were cast by their teachers and classmates in advance of the ceremony.

The third-grade teachers, donning feather boas and tiaras, hosted the event and announced the category winners. Each Oscar winner took the stage and gave a speech thanking the important people in his or her life… "mom and dad for homework help; sisters or brothers for being nice; for best friends, and for the teachers who made it all possible."

A special life-time achievement award was presented to Dr. Rosemary Jones, Sayville Schools Superintendent, who recently retired. Dr. Jones expressed her tremendous gratitude to her fellow Oscar Winners for their support and for the lifetime of wonderful memories the Sayville students have given her over the years.

The Cherry Avenue Oscar Ceremony, a self-esteem promotional program, is the brainchild of third-grade teacher Geraldine Batterberry who saw it as a creative way to fulfill the New York State Standards for public speaking. Yet, without the indispensable assistance of her third-grader colleagues Mrs. Donnelly, Mrs. Fulton and Mrs. Falco, along with the support of Principal John Stimmel, music teacher Kristi Woerner, Mrs. Batterberry's idea would not have been such an extravaganza that delighted everyone.

For the real stars of the show, the Cherry Avenue students, who proved to be confident and poised before the large crowds, the Oscar ceremony may have been just the beginning of illustrious careers in public speaking.

And the winners are…

Mrs. Fulton's class

Best Leading Attitude: Faith Dargis, Colin Rajkowski

Best Set Design: Jonathan Nolan, Eric Willsen

Best Supporting Speller: Bryce Morrison

Best Script: Madeline Braun, Eric Gustafson

Best Screenplay: Caitlin Fawcett

Leading Man: Brady Dolan, Andrew Ohman

Leading Lady: Ryleigh Canberg, Simone Carniaux

Outstanding Behavior: Emma Malone, Camryn Sparacio

Best Director: Jack Goercke, Erika Powers

Math Action Star: Timothy McNamara, Thomas Nielsen

Director's Assistant: Nicole Leigh-Manuell, Daniel Witt

Mrs. Batterberry's Class

Best Leading Attitude:  Daniel Connolly and Keira Hanlon

Best Set Design: William Sukow and Lorenzo Pensabene

Best Supporting Speller: Alex Urmaza

Best Script:  Madeline Henke

Best Screenplay: Avery Rosado and Sara Holmes

Leading Men: Justin Rosado and Jacob Wolmart

Leading Ladies: Megan Romano and Emily Manning

Outstanding Behavior: Ceili Howland and Julia Kazmarek

Best Director: Andrew Liberato and Rylie Allen

Math Action Star: Jack Davis and Nicholas DeStefano

Director's Assistant: Kathryn Kolar and Carmella Perrone

Mrs.  Donnolly's Class:

Best Leading Attitude:  Jacquelin Weinfeld

Best Set Design: Lillian Schweiert and Maggie Schroeder

Best Supporting Speller: Sean Imhoff and Adele Micelli

Best Script:  Madelyn Wagner and Ian Azzara

Best Screenplay: Paige Hall

Leading Men: Kolbi Maddy and Aidan Kaler

Leading Ladies: Bettina Bonfiglio and Maria Buffardi

Outstanding Behavior: Dana Welch

Best Director: Thomas Marks and William Folks

Math Action Star: Liam Berlingieri and Evan Geffner

Director's Assistant:  Autumn Dushnick and Christopher Reitzel

Mrs. Falco's Class:

Leading Attitude:  William Casaburi and Richard Michelini

Best Set Design: Ava Herrera and Christopher Hlavaty

Best Supporting Speller: Donald Schweikert and Alexa Panusuk

Best Script: Timothy Mohrman and Lauren Birong

Best Screenplay: Cory Cutrone and NadiaYojadda

Leading Men: Johnny Gaccionar

Leading Ladies: Hannah Niggemeier and Nita George

Outstanding Behavior: Gabriella Ulloa

Best Director: Allison Neumeyer and Christopher Pitre

Math Action Star: Jake Maha and Jenna Newman

Director's Assistant :  Kevin Lederer