Student Jaya Czerwionka and Social Worker Julie Cullotta are the D64 Shining Stars from Washington for February.
Washington starts every day with the phrase, have courage, be kind, and you be the reason someone smiles today.
“She is a shining example of leadership, kindness, and service to her school. She is a member of our safety patrol and helps to keep our hallways, doors, and crosswalks safe, making sure kids arrive safely and leave with care,” said Washington Principal Angela Brito, talking about Jaya.
Jaya is known to help throughout the building. She volunteers as a 5th-grade kindergarten helper, supporting the youngest learners in the lunchroom, opening notes and their food packages. “She has a lot of patience and kindness, and her compassion extends beyond that,” said Brito.
She also volunteers in the SLC classroom at recess, working with the other students and playing with them. “She has developed some great friendships, and they love her so much. It just brightens their day, and I think it brightens J’s day too. It brightens my day to see that those friendships are here at Washington.”
“I just want to say thank you so much, Jaya, for making our school a better place. I am going to miss you so much next year, so you better come back and visit when you go to Lincoln,” said Brito.
The staff member we celebrated was Julie Cullotta, a Washington social worker.
“I cannot honestly count the number of times that I have gone home at night and said I’m so grateful to have Julie Cullotta at our school,” said Brito. “You have supported me in so many ways and made my job easier and also lighter.”
She is a key member of the PBIS team and the SEL initiatives at Washington, helping build positive environments where all kids and adults can thrive. Additionally, she is on the crisis team and part of the school behavior team.
“She plays a really important role in fostering restorative conversations, helping to develop understanding and growth between students and adults, and helping strengthen our school community.”
Another area where Julie expertly goes above and beyond with her compassion is when she leads the Washington holiday gift drive so that families receive extra support during the holidays.
“Most importantly, she's there for our kids. She meets with all of them, and they love her,” said Brito. They seek her out, and they learn so much from her. I know that the impact that she has had on them will be long-lasting.”
What an awesome embodiment of being a Shining Star!
