About this column:
"Whiz Kids" is a weekly column featuring individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even teams, who wow us with their accomplishments.Last spring, Westwood Patch ran a series each week that profiled a student or group of students in Westwood who our readers think should be highlighted for their efforts. The series was titled Whiz Kids, and now that school is back in session for another year, we're looking for the next Whiz Kid. Previously, we have featured two Deerfield Elementary students who donated to the Westwood Food Pantry, three middle school girls who qualified for hockey nationals, a fifth-grade jazz ensemble, a group of Westwood Cub Scouts, fourth graders from Deerfield Elementary, the Westwood varsity boys' …
Westwood Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Students of St. John's Nursery School. Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: St. John's Nursery School. Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Learning about fire safety. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: During the last week of April, nearly 40 students from St. John’s Nursery School took a tour of the Westwood Fire Station on High Street. The tour was given by three Westwood firefighters, who taught the students about the roles of firefighters in the community and what to do in case of an emergency. Students even had the chance to slide down the fire pole during …
Last week, we featured a group of Girl Scouts from Hanlon Elementary, who helped donate to the Westwood Food Pantry with proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie sales, as the Westwood Whiz Kids. So far, we have featured two Deerfield Elementary students who donated to the Westwood Food Pantry, three middle school girls who qualified for hockey nationals, a fifth-grade jazz ensemble, a group of Westwood Cub Scouts, fourth graders from Deerfield Elementary, the Westwood varsity boys' hockey team, a group of local Eagle Scouts, and a handful of peer leaders at Sheehan Elementary. Each week, Westwood …
Westwood Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Third Grade Girl Scout Troop from Hanlon Elementary Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Hanlon Elementary School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Raising money to help the Westwood Food Pantry. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: The Girl Scout troop used the proceeds from a recent Girl Scout Cookie Sale to buy food for the Westwood Food Pantry. With the assistance of their scout leaders, the girls took to Roche Bros., where they bought food and health/beauty items. The Scouts then brought the items over to the food pantry, where they shelved them in …
Westwood Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Middle School Hockey Players Whiz Kid's Names: Lulu Swartz, Katherine Heidelberger and Lauren White. Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Thurston Middle School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Competing in the 2011 U.S. Hockey National Championships. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Eighth graders Lulu Swartz, 14, and Katherine Heidelberger, 13, and seventh-grader Lauren White, 12, are players for the Massachusetts Spitfires Hockey team. Swartz and Heidelberger play for the Spitfires U14 team, and left for Anaheim, California on March 29 and made it to the…
Westwood Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Deerfield Elementary Third Graders Whiz Kid's Names: Emily Burbo and Olivia Mula Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Deerfield Elementary School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Lending a helping hand to the Westwood Food Pantry. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Burbo and Mula recently donated a number of food items to the Westwood Food Pantry after reading an article in Time for Kids magazine about other kids that had done a food drive for their local food pantry. The article inspired the girls to take action. They announced their plans to their class …
Westwood Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Downey Elementary School Fifth Grade Jazz Ensemble Whiz Kid's Names:Nataniah Cagan, Nicky Simon, Allison Li, Rena Shi, Brad Orsini, Jason Moy, Jack Higgins, Tommy Bruzzese and Keith Paik. Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Downey Elementary School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: The students have played at the Downey Fifth Grade Winter Concert and were also featured at a January Community Share at the Downey School. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Since forming in September 2010, the jazz ensemble has performed a variety of challenging music by such …
Westwood Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Westwood Cub Scout Dens 2 and 5 Whiz Kid's Names: Den 2: Rhonda Kivlin (Den Leader), Spencer Kivlin, Jonathan Luke, Lucas Lehnen, Josh Minsky, Sean Lendrum, Graham Bayer, Jack Beattie, Tim Furey, Erich Alberg Den 5: Linda Farrell (Den Leader), Scott Stacey (Assistant Den Leader), Brian Farrell, Robert Dyson, Matthew Hillen, Tim Bowers, Bill Girard, Brian Zeuthen, Jon Stacey. Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Sheehan Elementary, Martha Jones Elementary, various private schools. Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Working to achieve Wolf Badge. Whiz Kid's …
Westwood Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Deerfield Elementary Grade 4 Students Whiz Kid's Names: Anna Varriale, Emma Barrett, Melanie Homsy, and Sarah Homsy. Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Deerfield Elementary School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Raising money for Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Varriale, Barret, and Melanie and Sarah Homsy (who are cousins) sold oragami fortune tellers they created with sticky notes and sold them during lunch to other students. The students raised about $84 and submitted the proceeds to Deerfield Principal Allan Cameron, who …
Know a great kid who has accomplished a rather notable achievement? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. Each week, Westwood Patch seeks suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. So far, we have featured the Westwood varsity boys' hockey team, a group of local Eagle Scouts, and a handful of peer leaders at Sheehan Elementary. Now, we're looking for who's next. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as a "Whiz Kid." Submit your nomination in our comment box …
Westwood Patch Whiz Team of the Week: Sheehan Elementary Peer Leaders Whiz Kid's Names: Stephanie Moran, Caroline Kremer, Philip Bligh, James Curtain, Jack Flynn, Will Danforth, Erin Fitzgerald, Kayla Conway, Ben Morris, Jack Stebbins, Will McDonnell, Emma Harte, and Bryce Whitney, along with Sheehan School Psychologist Dr. Rebecca Brody. Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Sheehan Elementary School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Teaching, modeling, and promoting prosocial, proactive, and helping behaviors to peers and younger students at Sheehan Elementary School. Whiz Kid's Key to …
Westwood Patch Whiz Team of the Week: Stephen Campion, Josh Goldberg and Ryan Neville Whiz Kid's Names: Stephen Campion, Josh Goldberg and Ryan Neville Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Westwood High School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Achieving Eagle Scout status. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Through their own respective community outreach projects, Campion, Goldberg and Neville all earned their Eagle Scout Statuses in December at the Islington Community Center. All three have been involved with the scouts for years, and climbing the ranks to Eagle Scout is the highest achievement …
Westwood Patch Whiz Team of the Week: Boys' Varsity Hockey Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Westwood Wolverines Varsity Ice Hockey Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Westwood High School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Last Saturday, the team pulled in a major victory against Dover-Sherborn Regional High School. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: The win against D-S put the Westwood boys' varsity hockey team record to 10-1-1 for the season, allowing them to achieve entrance in the MIAA hockey tournament for the 29th consecutive year, meaning the team has had a winning record for 29 straight …
