Houston High School and Junior High Students of the Month
Earlier this school year, Houston Staff discussed with students five areas that they should take pride in. Those five areas are academics, extra-curricular activities, facilities, self, and field trips/assemblies. Starting with February, Houston staff will nominate and select Students of the Month that show pride in these areas.
March 2025
The students of the month for March are Malaiya Gross, Cadence DeLong, Gabriella Harding, and Teagan Rauch.
Read below to find out why each student was nominated and selected as Student of the Month in their nominator’s own words.
These first two students were nominated together, by the same teacher. On their most recent essay, both students were used as examples of individuals who have shown steady growth throughout the school year. They are also excellent lead-by-example types who are ready to go when the bell hits every day; they work hard in general, stay on task, and participate in class.
Rylinn Bruner – nominated by Mr. Borchers – Academic pride
Mr. Borchers
This student has grown exponentially. She increased by 17 percent on a similar essay from 1st semester to 2nd semester and then on an extended writing project from 2nd quarter to 3rd quarter, she increased by a whopping 34 percent!
Mrs. Pollock
She puts a conscious effort into her work every day in my class. If there is an assignment that she turns in, I automatically know that it will be good quality and that she did her best on every single question. I also really appreciate that she brings her curiosity to class, and she always adds positively to class discussions and the environment of the classroom in general.
Mrs. Mertz
She strives to do her best everyday and is willing to help her peers. She attempts new ideas independently and challenges herself with work in my class. However, what I appreciate most about her is her positive can-do attitude and her kindness toward others.
Mrs. Maier
She is a quiet strong lead by example student in my room. Her confidence to participate in class has grown throughout the year and she speaks kindly to her classmates and has wonderful collaboration skills.
Ms. Heitkamp
She is a great leader! She leads by example. Very friendly to her classmates and does her work and turns it in on time.
Jayden Pleiman – nominated by Mr. Borchers – Academic pride
Mr. Borchers
This student has been a great example of steady growth. They’ve gone up a total of one letter grade on four major essays, by jumping 5 percentage points, then 4 points, and then another 2 points. Since expectations are higher as the year progresses, that consistent progress is definitely worth noting.
Mrs. Pollock
He is a great leader in class. He always answers questions and works to do his best on every assignment. He is quick to help others when they need it, and he does a great job at working hard during class to ensure he gets all of his work done on time.
Mrs. Mertz
He is a strong participant in my class. He offers solutions and suggestions during class discussion that are beneficial to all of his classmates. He is willing to help others and brings a positive energy to class each day. I appreciate his strong work ethic and willingness to share his ideas with others.
Ms. Heitkamp
He strives for academia success and genuinely cares about his academic success. He works hard and turns work in on time and gives quality work.
Paul Samera – nominated by Ms. Heitkamp – Self pride
My student, I am nominating.. is for SELF. This person takes pride in how they present themself and treats others with respect. One of my coworkers states that this person shows great leadership in class. In addition, is respectful of everyone and developed self-discipline ( an underrated quality) willing to take on challenges even if they are difficult. Always willing to help others and is simply a good person. Another co-worker states that he appreciates this student’s perspective on life. Brings a positive down to earth energy to the class and offers realistic thoughtful advice to others. What a great example of what it truly means to be genuine. Finally, another coworker states this student should be acknowledged for how he/she chooses to live life. Does what is needed daily in class, is kind to classmates, honest and sincere in their interactions with staff. Reliable, responsible, and always ready with a helping hand. Their attitude, demeanor, and outlook on life is inspiring to all of us. I nominated this student because of the help they give me in PE class. He/she understands my daily goals and jumps in to help set up games or tear down and participates in class. Shows amazing maturing and leadership. When I am gone, I know this student will take charge and help the substitute teacher. If this young man ever flies the plane I am on, I will be confident in getting to my destination and treated with care and respect. My student for SELF Pride is Paul Samera.
February 2025
The students of the month for February are Malaiya Gross, Cadence DeLong, Gabriella Harding, and Teagan Rauch.
Read below to find out why each student was nominated and selected as Student of the Month in their nominator’s own words.
Malaiya Gross – nominated by Mrs. Sherman – Extra-curricular pride
This nomination is for a student who shows pride in their extracurricular activities. In all of this student’s extracurricular activities, they strive to be their best. Even when missing practices or being late, they ask what they missed and if there is anything they need to do. This student has taken on leadership roles within shows. They are a dedicated individual and are reliable which has allowed them to have key roles in the plays this year and in the past. This student is always willing to step up and do whatever needs to be done; they do not have to be bribed or even asked to help, they just do it. She helps make Spanish Circle events run smoother and makes Senora Chappie’s job easier. This student has strived to improve themselves each year in public speaking and because of her perseverance and dedication, she is now state bound for FFA extemporaneous public speaking. Your student of the month for Extracurricular pride is Miss Malaiya Gross!
Cadence DeLong – nominated by Mr. Judy – Facilities pride
It is my pleasure to nominate this student for Student of the Month. This student has shown pride in our facilities time and time again. During the 24-25 basketball season this student stayed after every home basketball game to help clean up the student section and then help clean the home side bleachers, often staying well after all other students and fans had left the gym. She set an excellent example for what it looks like to take pride in our school facilities.
Gabriella Harding – nominated by Mr. Hausfeld – Academic pride
Why I nominated:
- Dedicated to individual excellence with regards to understanding the material and not just their grade
- Shows curiosity about alternatives paths in math
- They help their partners more often than any other student I have. This is also never just surface-level help trying to get them through the problem. This student will take the time to make sure their partner truly understands the material
- Sometimes, this student has the opportunity to complete their homework in class, but often chooses to spend the time helping instead
Other teachers added:
- Meticulous attention to detail.
- Best effort every time no matter the assignment
- Offers great insight during class discussions and helps her classmates understand the content during group discussions
- Reliable effort and timeliness on all their assignments
- Ability to personalize the information learned in order to apply it in a way that makes sense to them (Not just trying to memorize)
- Has a goal of being able to utilize the Spanish vocabulary to actually communicate, not just memorize
Teagan Rauch – nominated by Mrs. Mertz- Academic/self pride
I am honored to nominate this student for Student of the Month. Focusing on academic pride, this particular student exemplifies the qualities of a dedicated and hardworking student, consistently striving for personal excellence in the aspects of personal academic growth and achievement.
This student demonstrates perseverance when faced with challenges, never giving up, but instead seeking solutions and pushing forward with determination. Their attention to detail is evident in every assignment, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness. They not only correct every assignment to learn from mistakes but also take the initiative to ask for help during class and Wildcat time to clarify misunderstandings.
Beyond personal academic growth, this student is willing to help others in my class. Their active class participation reflects their curiosity and eagerness to learn, while their genuine care for grades and improvement showcases a strong commitment to academic success. Even when faced with difficult tasks, they are willing to try something hard and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.
When asked about this student, other teachers wrote, “This student is someone who always ensures they are doing their best academic work. They go above and beyond AND ask questions when they are unsure. This student takes pride in their academics, and this is something that I really appreciate about them”. Another teacher added, “This student is someone who continually strives toward improvement and success. He/she asks questions, is a strong participant, and helps others. They display academic pride by exercising extreme dedication to learning and playing their best every day in band without complaint”. Another teacher provided an example of this student’s commitment to academic excellence stating they submitted a perfect essay complete with grammar / mechanics / sentence structure, punctuation, and citation! Awesome Job! Finally, this student is also described as being very conscientious and diligent. They are someone who smiles, has a sense of humor, and picks themselves up when things do not go their way instead of lowering their head or quitting.
It is for these reasons; I wholeheartedly nominate this student for this well-deserved recognition. Their dedication and positive attitude make them an outstanding academic role model for their peers.
If you still need another hint about who this junior high student may be, they excelled at the Power of the Pen and also play three different instruments, one of which she studies with an instructor.
Congratulations goes to Teagan Rauch, February Student of the Month!