Pupils earn honors at competition
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON - There are gators in the St. Aloysius School, Bennetts Mills Road, but they are not the kind of gators one might imagine.

Principal Elizabeth O'Connor said, "The teachers and staff of St. Aloysius have many reasons to be proud of their prekindergarten through grade eight students who attend Gatorland. The Gators, as they are called, spend many days working on becoming the very best people they can be. This involves rigorous, yet creative academics and many faith-filled activities."

O'Connor said the students work to develop not only their minds, but their bodies, hearts and souls.

On March 13, a group of 13 St. Aloysius seventh-graders participated in the Monsignor Donovan Scholastic Olympics at Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River.

"The students came in third place in the team championships and walked away feeling victorious," O'Connor said.

From Picasso to parallelograms and prepositions to paramecia, the students demonstrated just how much they had been paying attention in their classes, the principal said.

Participating in the events were Sarah Brenner, who received a bronze award, and Jessica Cruz, who received a silver award and an art award. Alaina Young won a gold award and Mary Jo Mikhail received an English award.

Other students and their awards included Danielle Therrien, spelling; Geraldine Mabagos, gold; and James McGowan, silver and math; Arianna Sergi and Courtney Wolf, history; Brian Madden, bronze; and Zachary Geltzeiler, science.

Ashley Szymczyk and Joseph Zrebiec received awards for computer.

"The students had a great time participating in the academic competition and are looking forward to their continued success in other exciting Diocesan and school-wide competitions," O'Connor said. "St. Aloysius School extends congratulations to the students who participated as well as a thank you to those at Monsignor Donovan who worked so hard to make this event memorable."