newark middle school yearbook dedicated to wendy hrabak
TRANSCRIPT
Newark Middle School ELA teacher Wendelyn Hrabak, who is retiring June 30th after 15 years of teaching in Newark was recognized twice last week. First at a retirees reception June 15th and secondly, to her great surprise, when it was announced at an NMS morning assembly, that the 2016 yearbook had been dedicated to her. Hrabak, who was “taken totally by surprise,” when her name was announced at the NMS assembly afterward said:
“I am profoundly grateful for the honor of receiving the Newark Middle School yearbook dedication this year. Today’s assembly was to be another event in a year of @inal moments as I head into retirement, and it turned out to be the surprise highlight of my career! I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work with the dedicated, talented staff at the Middle School. Their hard work is opening up future opportunities for all of Newark’s students. While I will no longer have the class bulletin boards to remind me of wonderful teaching experiences, the fond memories of all the children I have worked with will last forever.”
After announcing the yearbook had been dedicated to Hrabak, Mary Thoms, a seventh grade NMS ELA teacher and yearbook advisor, read the dedication that was written by Susan VanTyle, a retired NMS eighth grade ELA teacher and friend of Hrabak.
“What is success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To Rind the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Newark Middle School YearbookDedicated To Wendelyn Hrabak
“Middle schools are very special places where our students need caring and talented adults to point them toward success every day. Today we dedicated the 2016 Newark Middle School yearbook to one incredible, successful and caring teacher . . . Mrs. Wendelyn Hrabak.
“Mrs. Hrabak’s 8th grade ELA room provides all of the evidence you need to know about success. Facing the front of the room, the Rirst thing you see is a bulletin board full of pictures of her former students. There are diverse students from Ohio, Indiana and Newark, New York. These bright faces reRlect their sense of pride in their success and their joy of learning. The success of these children is because Mrs. Hrabak appreciated each individual and brought out the best in them.
“Mrs. Hrabak has expected the best of all of her students and provided them with the supportive, collaborative and creative environment to success. Whether the theme is Finding Home, Taking A Stand, or Being Made Indivisible, every learning target, and performance goal, has been analyzed to provide students with the best learning strategies and classroom environment that lead to success. Using her tremendous experience and wisdom, Mrs. Hrabak provides varied opportunities for her students to work together, share thoughts and expand their thinking beyond their original thoughts, to more sophisticated and complex ideas. Opportunities to express ideas through discussion and writing allow students to move on to the high school, conRident and prepared.
“Mrs. Hrabak has the respect and trust of every colleague with whom she works. The ELA Department has beneRited from her tremendous intelligence, constant strength and leadership when faced with changes and challenges. Her sense of humor can lighten a debate and provide perspective on any issue. Her willingness to share professional knowledge and insights has aided parents and fellow teachers to navigate the complex world of middle schoolers.”
A Toledo, Ohio native, Hrabak earned her bachelor’s degree in education, with a specialty in English, from the University
of Toledo and earned her master’s degree in liberal studies from SUNY at Stonybrook. Her 25 ½ years in education have found her teaching at various elementary, intermediate and Middle School levels.
She taught for 3½ years in Ohio and seven in Indiana before coming to Newark where she has taught the last 15 years _ the last 10 as an eighth grade ELA teacher at Newark Middle School.
Hrabak was also surprised to be joined onstage during the reading of the yearbook dedication by her husband, David Fitch, who teaches math at Clyde-‐Savannah High School. The couple lives in Sodus. Fitch is stepfather to Hrabak’s two adult children: Lauren Heckler, a digital marketer with Novo Nordisk in Copenhagen, Denmark, and her son, Gregory Heckler, an aeronautical engineer at NASA.
Others who joined Fitch onstage to surprise his wife were his sister, Diane Costantini and husband, Steve, who were visiting from Orlando, Florida and Susan VanTyle and her husband, Bill.
After the yearbook was dedicated, Thoms recognized members of the staff including student photographers and NMS eighth graders Ben Cepulo, who has been yearbook treasurer for two years; Evelyn LoTempio, who created the title page art work; Lynzee Havert, who provided the grade level section divider art work; and Colby Moore, who provided the sports and club section divider art work.