Superintendent’s Spotlight:

WARWICK — If Park Avenue Elementary should ever appoint an official student ambassador, Elvin Mamanyi would be among the top candidates for the job.
Elvin just completed fourth grade and “graduated” from the elementary, so he’s headed to Warwick Valley Middle School in September.
As he leaves Park Avenue he doesn’t hesitate to share how much he loved the school and all the people in it.
“There was one day I missed the bus in the morning,” said Elvin. “I was worried but my mom drove me. I really like this school and I would be sad to miss even one day.”
Elvin’s character, hard work and enthusiasm for learning is why he was selected to explain Park Avenue’s ROAR program to the Warwick Valley Central Board of Education and other members of the community.
ROAR stands for Respect, Outstanding Choices, Acceptance and Responsibility, and a matrix outlines expectations for positive behavior. Sharing, patience, following classroom rules, recycling and cleaning up after oneself are among the ROAR tenets, and students earn praise and even prizes when they meet or exceed ROAR expectations, he explained during his presentation.
“I like to be a good citizen,” said Elvin. “Sometimes the little kids need help with their backpack so I help them. And I always try to have good manners.”
Elvin also knows the power of a friendly face, said Principal Sandra Wood, and he made a daily effort to say hello to the classmates and adults he passed in the hallways of Park Avenue.
He has a knack for remembering names, she said, and a greeting from Elvin never failed to brighten the day for scores of teachers, students and staffers each school day.
Wood said she’ll miss Elvin and all of his fourth grade classmates, but, of course, that’s the bitter sweetness that comes with the end of every school year as students head off to their next challenge.
She’s confident that Elvin will always be a leader, and ready to help if his peers need a bit of reassurance and encouragement in their new school.
The principal said: “He honestly spreads sunshine wherever he goes."
Each week, Warwick Valley Central District Superintendent Dr. David Leach shines the “The Superintendent’s Spotlight” on one of Warwick Valley’s students. “Superintendent’s Spotlight” features students who reach goals, face challenges and are role models to their peers.