Academic Standout - Sitota L.

Please join the KMS in congratulating Sitota L., this week’s Academic Standout! Sitota is a 10th-grade Downhill Mountain Biking athlete from Barnet, VT. She received strong nominations, each highlighting her thoughtful contributions to class discussions, her wholehearted approach to learning, her strong self-advocacy, and her consistently positive attitude in the classroom. A true asset to any learning environment, Sitota continually raises the bar through her dedication and pursuit of academic excellence.

Offering the first nomination for Sitota this week is Social Studies Department Co-Chair, Advisory Coordinator, and College Counseling Co-Advisor Courtney O’Keefe. Courtney states:

“I am excited to put forth my nomination for Sitota Larocque as this week’s Academic Standout! I have the pleasure of teaching Sitota in my Honors Early American History course this year. Sitota first came on to my radar last year when she reached out to inquire about taking my US course at Honors level. When I asked her why she was interested in this she stated that she wanted to challenge herself- both via content and skills building. I happily agreed as I was impressed by her drive to take on the high expectations associated with this reading and writing-intensive course. She continued to impress once the year began. From our very first class together, Sitota has consistently distinguished herself via her dedication to her academics and her strong work ethic. She is an outstanding participant in class, who often takes the lead to help facilitate deeper, more meaningful discussions around the topics we are exploring. When she participates, her natural talent for connecting what we’re learning to broader historical themes comes through, adding a level of complexity and insight to our lessons. Her work reflects a young academic who is driven to produce final products that demonstrate both her understanding of the material and her ongoing growth as a learner. She is conscientious in following all assignment and assessment instructions, and double checks her work prior to submission. When given feedback, she applies it thoughtfully and consistently- both to the task at hand and to future assignments. She is grateful for the feedback and the opportunity to improve as well as grow in the process. I look forward to reading what she turns in as I know her hard work, time, and effort will be reflected. Overall, Sitota is a true asset to our classroom. She should be proud of the work she has accomplished so far, as well as the positive impact she has on everyone’s learning each day. Thank you, Sitota, and keep up the amazing work!” 

Seconding Sitota’s nomination as well as presenting for her at this week’s All-School meeting is English Department Chair Dr. Mara Taylor. Mara writes:

“Sitota stands out in the area of taking responsibility for her learning. Well ahead of absences she knows about, she is in the habit of letting me know and asking how she can get ahead, so she need not ask for extensions. On several occasions this quarter, she turned in work ahead of time, seeking out feedback from me so she could turn in her best work. During class, she is consistently prepared and engaged. She strikes the perfect balance between listening and contributing. She is a role model for her peers in all these ways!” 

And rounding out these great nominations is Full-Term teacher Alexandria “Ally” Schermerhorn. Ally reflects:

“Sitota has been putting in a lot of effort into her academics! She comes to class with a plan of what to work on, has consistently stayed on top of her assignments, even during the height of her season, and is dedicated to submitting her best effort. Aside from being so committed to the work, I am seeing her become so confident in communication and asking for help. Her attitude is consistently positive, even in stressful times, and she is balancing her responsibilities so well.” 

Congratulations, Sitota! We hope that you are as proud of your hard work as we are!