The March Student and Teacher of the Month have been announced and Math Teacher Kevin Grogaard and student Maxx Seplow are the winners.

The student and teacher of the month awards are given out by the Wayne Hills Climate Team, which is organized by Donna King, the school’s Student Assistance Coordinator.  They find teachers and students who go above and beyond what is the normal standard for teachers and students.  Along with going above and beyond, students are given this award based on six pillars: respect, responsibility, fairness, trustworthiness, caring, and citizenship.

WHHS math teacher Kevin Grogaard has three things that he wants students and teachers to know about him.  First, he writes poetry in his free time and writes after powerful events happen to him. Next, if he wasn’t a teacher, he would have been a rapper.  Finally, he wants to assure students that his door is always open to talk and even if you’re not in any of his classes, he still views you as “his students”.

Grogaard wanted to be a teacher to help young adults succeed and be there for them.  He also adds that he wants to support his students more than his teachers ever supported him.

Grogaard, like many teachers, has a favorite teaching moment.  One year on his birthday, he received a card from a student, not only wishing him a Happy Birthday but also thanking him for the patience he had shown the student throughout the year.  

“I am pretty honored to be teacher of the month.  I’ve only been here for three years so to have that recognition is pretty cool,” said Grogaard.

Lastly, Grogaard has one piece of advice for students.  He says that students don’t need giant groups of friends; they just need a core group to get through school with.  He also encourages students to join clubs to make more of these “core” friends.

Maxx Seplow, student of the month, has more than deserved this title.  He goes out of his way to help others and is selfless whenever he can be. Everyone that knows him has nothing but good things to say about Maxx. He is the art of marching band, on the baseball team, and team manager of the basketball team, say his friends.

“He is the funniest kid that I’ve ever met. He’s always a good mood, always laughing and smiling,” said Sophomore Louis D’Agati.