Profiles of the Cunniff's many interesting people
Meet Ms. Doherty
By SHAMA J.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Sheila Doherty helps kids solve their problems.
Ms. Doherty is a guidance counselor and Ms. Davidson and Mrs. Antonellis are her partners. Ms. Doherty helps kids at the Cunniff School, from preschoolers to fifth-graders. She meets with kids in her room by the main office and helps them talk about their feelings.
Sometimes she talks, sometimes the kids play games that help kids solve their problems, and sometimes they watch movies. She meets one on one and in groups. Sometimes they meet for lunch in the teacher’s conference room.
Ms. Doherty has been at the school for three years. Ms. Doherty says she likes
her work.
“Sometimes it is hard, but I love it,” she said. “The hardest thing is to make them talk.”
She says, “I work with all the other teachers.”
Ms. Doherty is really nice. Sometimes she is not at the school because she might have a conference, but she always takes kids from different classes to help them. Sometimes they talk about feelings, sometimes they talk about what happened.
--June 1, 2010--
Meet Ms. Carlson
Toni Carlson is the Cunniff Elementary School’s library/technology teacher. She is also a massage therapist.
She became a library/technology teacher at the Cunniff School in 2007 when she saw an ad to be a librarian/technology teacher. She said, “That’s pretty cool! I can be a technology teacher and do it my way!”
She was looking for a job and saw a sign that said you could be a tech teacher and a library teacher. She said to herself that it would be a cool job because "I could do whatever I want to do."
She was a librarian in her past job in Hudson for 10 years.
Some of the things she teaches in technology are Powerpoint presentations, writing biographys, and using Microsoft Word.
She has three kids -- Andrew, Scotty, and Chelsea and some pets -- one dog and two cats.
-- March 12, 2010--
Meet Ms. Johnsky
By CATHERINE C., ARIANNA P., and DYANNE B.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Danika Johnsky is a teacher at the Cunniff School.
Her favorite food is BBQ ribs. Her favorite colors are pink, dark blue, and gray.
Her favorite book is “Holes,” and her favorite author is Louis Sachar. She likes the number 15.
Her favorite place to be is on the beach. During her free time, she likes to be with her family and friends.
--March 5, 2010--
Meet Miss D
By SAM C., SEAN L., and TJ P.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Miss D’s first name is Allison and she teaches kindergarten. The
“D” stands for DiDomenico.
Miss D has worked at the Cunniff School for three years. Miss D
loves her class. Miss D’s class loves her.
She used to have two dogs when she was a kid.
Her favorite superhero is WordGirl.
.
More questions and answers from Miss D.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Cambridge, Mass.
Q: Do you have a pet?
A: Yes, a German shepherd named Kelsey.
Q: What is your favorite thing about school?
A: Getting to spend time with my students, and watching them learn and grow.
Q: What do you like to do on school vacation?
A: I like to visit my friends and go out to lunch.
Q: What advice do you have for students?
A: If you think you can ... you can!
Q: Do you have a favorite sports team?
A: The Boston Red Sox.
--June 5, 2009--
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Meet Patty Donovan
By DYANNE B.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Patty Donovan has been teaching for 15 years. She was given an award by the Special Needs Children’s Parents. The award was for working with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
“The award was to say thank you,’’ she said.
Patty lives in Walpole and has a dog named Max. It takes her 40 minutes to drive to Watertown.
In the kindergarten, she helps kids, plays with kids, and “has fun.”
When asked what was her favorite color, she said, “I don’t have a favorite color,” she just loves all the colors.
(Cunniff Kids News staff reporter Meagan K. contributed to this report.)
--May 21, 2009--
Meet Mr. Marcotte
By SHANNON M., ISABELLA V., and TJ P.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
What do teaching athletic training, adventure racing, and playing lacrosse have in common? They are some of the things that Greg Marcotte, the P.E. teacher at the Cunniff School, enjoys doing.
This is his fourth year being a physical education teacher. He chose his job because, he said, "I love exercise, physical activity, and working with kids!"
Mr. Marcotte didn't always want to be a P.E. teacher. When he was little, he wanted to be a fire fighter, but he changed his mind.
Mr. Marcotte has an office in the gym that he uses to organize lesson plans. In it, he uses a computer to email teachers, buy equipment, and find new ideas for P.E.
He also has a closet that stores all of the gym equipment. There are more than 100 different activities in the closet. Some of his favorite activities are climbing, jump rope, and playing with scoops.
Mr. Marcotte started jump rope club, jump rope for heart, and he put up a climbing wall in the gym because he likes those things so much.
-March 4, 2009-
Meet Mrs. Lacy
By RYAN L.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Janelle Lacy is a first-grade teacher at the Cunniff Elementary School. She has been at the school for more than seven years, but she left last year for a maternity leave. Now she has a son named Aidan.
She said maternity leave was boring at first but once Aidan was born, she was very busy. Mrs. Lacy said she missed her students and was excited when she got to come back at the end of the year to see everyone and introduce them to them Aidan.
Mrs. Lacy’s favorite subject is math because the kids love playing games and learning that they can add -- without their fingers! She said what she likes most about teaching is watching the kids grow.
“First grade is a year of many changes for the kids and it is so much fun to be a part of it,” she said.
On the weekends, Mrs. Lacy likes to go on walks with her husband and Aidan. Their favorite spot is around the pond near their house where there are lots of ducks.
-Nov. 26, 2008 -
---------- Archive 2008 ----------
Meet Ms. Hudnall
By ELIZABETH A.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Kelley Hudnall is a first-grade teacher at the Cunniff School. She came to the Cunniff because Janelle Lacy, a first-grade teacher, had a baby and she took Mrs. Lacy’s place.
She said she likes the Cunniff School because the people are nice, but she is not coming back next year.
Ms. Hudnall, who wears pretty necklaces, said she became a teacher because she likes working with students and she likes children.
Her students say they like her because she is funny, she makes reading fun, and one day even let the class have cupcakes!
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Meet Mrs. Sees
By ROBERT K. and DEREK S.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Erin Sees likes to see kids learn.
That’s why she became a teacher.
Mrs. Sees, who teaches fourth grade, has been working at the Cunniff School for a year and a half. When she started at the Cunniff, she filled in for former first-grade teacher Sarah Murry, who was having a baby. Next year, she will be teaching fifth grade.
She said her favorite thing about teaching is the fun activities with kids and teaching her students new facts.
“Mrs. Sees is a good teacher because she plays games with us,” said David, who had Mrs. Sees as a teacher last year in first grade.
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Meet Mrs. DiMascio
By RYAN O. and KAITLYN R.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Beverly DiMascio teaches third grade at the Cunniff School, where she has worked for 22 years.
She said she has wanted to be a teacher ever since she was in kindergarten. She loved to play school with her friends.
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Meet Mrs. Smith
By KATELYNN O.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Here is the transcript of an interview with kindergarten teacher Heidi Smith:
Cunniff Kids News: How long have you been at this job?
Heidi Smith: This is my fifth year teaching and my first year teaching kindergarten at the Cunniff.
CKN: Why did you become a teacher?
HS: I became a teacher because I love to teach children!
CKN: What is the best part of being a teacher?
HS: The best part of being a teacher is being with the children all day! I love to see the growth all the children make in one year!
CKN: Where do you live?
HS: I live in Watertown.
CKN: Where are you from?
HS: I am from Michigan.
CKN: Do you have any pets?
HS: Yes, I have a black miniature schnauzer named Gus.
CKN: Who do you live with?
HS: I live with my husband, Carson, and my dog, Gus.
CKN: What is your favorite color?
HS: Sage green and sky blue.
CKN: Thank you.
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Meet Mrs. Uccello
By FAITMA B., TIMMY C., JIE SEN L.,
JESSICA M., and BETH P.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Elizabeth Uccello has worked as a teacher for four years, two in the second grade at the Cunniff School.
She says she became a teacher because she “likes helping kids learn new things.”
She says she likes teaching kids to read and seeing their faces when they understand.
Her students say she makes learning fun and that she loves candy.
Uccello says that what she likes best is “getting to have fun teaching kids all day.”
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Meet Mrs. Gallagher
By CATHERINE C. and ANGELA M.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporters
Judi Gallagher helps kids at the Cunniff School. Her job is an assistant teacher.
She has been at the Cunniff for seven years.
She said that when she works with children, it’s a lot of fun.
“Since I like always learning new things, I find education very rewarding,” she said.
She works with students and shows them how to make many different arts and crafts. Students in the class said it was a lot of fun.
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Meet Mr. Marcotte
By KATELYNN O.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Greg Marcotte is the physical education teacher at the Cunniff School. This is his first year at the Cunniff. He worked at the Lowell School last year.
Mr. Marcotte also does the athletic training for all Watertown High School sports.
He became a teacher because he loves teaching kids and showing them how exercise can be fun.
“I love teaching,” he said. “It’s rewarding when kids are excited about gym.”
Mr. Marcotte, who also works as a landscape contractor, is from Blackstone, Mass., but has lived in New Zealand, Australia, and Wisconsin.
Mr. Marcotte loves the Red Sox. He watches all of the games and goes to Fenway Park 2-3 times a year.
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Meet Ms. DiDomenico
By RYAN L.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Allison DiDomenico teaches kindergarten at the Cunniff School.
“This is my first year,’’ she said. “I love working with children.”
Her favorite day of the week is Saturdays.
“I get to sleep late and get to spend time with family and friends,” she said.
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Meet Mrs. Rono
By KAITIE M.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Have you met Christine Rono? She has worked at the Cunniff School for three years. Her job there is fifth-grade teacher. She is also a mother of 4-year-old twin girls.
Why did she become a teacher? Her answer is simple: “I enjoy working with kids,’’ she said. “I like giving them challenges. Teaching is always a reward.
“No matter how much I give, I get double back. I like helping kids learn new things every day.
“I love my job.”
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Meet Ms. Wincelowicz
By RENEE S.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Zaida Wincelowicz is a speech and language therapist at the Cunniff School. She’s been here for four years.
She teaches at the Cunniff because she loves working with kids and likes doing fun projects.
“The best thing about teaching is that I get to work with all the grades,’’ she said.
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Meet Mrs. Kimmins
By KATELYNN O.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Bridget Kimmins likes kids a lot.
She is an instructional aide at the Cunniff School. She works in all of the kindergarten and Pre-K classes and has been doing it for seven years.
Mrs. Kimmins said she likes interacting with the children.
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Meet Ms. Walton
By AIMEE B.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Kristin Walton is a teacher’s assistant for Ms. Palermo and Ms. Rono. She also helps out with the little kids in Voyager after school every day. She has been at the Cunniff for about one year.
“I like working in schools and I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” she said.
She said the best part of working at the Cunniff is “I get to help students and I get to learn things, too.”
When Ms. Walton started working here, she thought it was difficult at first, but now she enjoys it.
Ms. Palermo and Ms. Rono said that she is a lot of help and they said they hope she can stay.
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Meet Mrs. Sauder
By JULIA F.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Shannon Sauder is a teacher in the first/second class at the Cunniff School. She teaches because she likes to watch kids learn new things, and she thinks the best thing about her job is when kids learn to read.
Mrs. Sauder, who lives in Watertown, said she teaches at the Cunniff, "because it is a small neighborhood school with a friendly learning community."
Mrs. Sauder had a baby boy Feb. 4, 2008, at a hospital in Boston. His name is Jameson Christopher. He weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 19 inches long when he was born. She sent her class a picture of him when he was born. She knew that he was going to be a boy and she already had a lot of blue clothes for the baby.
Mrs. Sauder and Jameson are home, and her students see her walking him sometimes.
Now that she had the baby, she will be out for a long time. Her aide, Stephanie Schaffert, has taken over the class.
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Meet Ms. DiIeso
By RACHEL Q.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Lidia DiIeso is a fourth-grade teacher at the Cunniff School. She has been teaching at the Cunniff for five years, and six years altogether.
She has been interested in teaching since first grade and had a make-believe classroom under the stairs in her house. When she got older, she found that she liked working with kids and thought she would be good at teaching them.
The best thing about teaching, she said, is "when a student tries really hard and understands what I taught."
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Meet Mrs. Kearney
By LUKE M.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Judy Kearney is a first-grade teacher at the Cunniff School. She has been teaching for 23 years.
She has a dog and his name is Duncan. Mrs. Kearney has a picture of Duncan in her classroom.
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Meet Mrs. Mandile
By FREDERICK P.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Janice Mandile is a teacher in the second grade at the Cunniff School. She has been a teacher for 30-plus years. For her, the children are the best part of her job.
“I like working with kids,” she said.
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Meet Mrs. Souliotis
By ISABELLA V.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Teresa Souliotis is an instructional assistant at the Cunniff School, where she has worked for seven years.
She wanted to be a teacher, she said, because, “Education is very important to me and I enjoy being with children.’’
She said she finds teaching rewarding. “I like to see kids be successful,” she said.
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Meet Mr. Mag
By LAUREN P.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Mr. Mag is a special education teacher at the Cunniff School.
Mr. Mag’s full name is Bryan Magliocca and he has been teaching for 34 years. The reason he decided to teach was that it looked fun to him.
The best thing about teaching for him is that he gets to work with children.
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Meet Ms. Palermo
By AUSTIN F.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Ann Palermo is a fifth-grade teacher at the Cunniff School. She has been teaching for over three years, and she has been at the Cunniff for two years.
She wanted to teach because she wanted to change her career and try something new. She also likes helping children learn.
The best thing that has happened to her while teaching was when “I got a poem from my class and everyone signed it,” she said.
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Meet Mr. Scudder
By MATT M.
Cunniff Kids News staff reporter
Robert Scudder is an instructional assistant for reading at the Cunniff School.
He has been working for five years at the Cunniff. What he likes best about his job is that “it’s local and I can still have time to spend with my kids.”
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