Rockwood School District: Profile Of A Rockwood Learner: Maya Van Den Berg, Woerther Elementary

Press release from the Rockwood School District:

May 19, 2021

​In Rockwood, we strive to do whatever it takes to ensure all students realize their potential. Our goal is to PDFcultivate Rockwood learners who think creatively and critically; engage thoughtfully and respectfully; develop strong character; collaborate with others; and explore our world. Over the final month of the 2020-2021 school year, we will be celebrating fifth-, eighth- and 12th-grade students from around Rockwood who embody these characteristics and reflect the hopes, dreams and aspirations we hold for eve ry child in our school community. Today, we feature Woerther Elementary fifth-grader Maya van den Berg. -----As Maya van den Berg prepares to move on from Woerther​ Elementary, she is looking for ways to continue to challenge herself.That's why she plans to take all Challenge courses as a sixth-grader at Selvidge Middle next year, not to mention extension classes such as art studio and design, theater and chorus.Maya has eclectic tastes."I really like to read, draw, listen to music, ride my bike and ​play sports like basketball, soccer and swimming – I usually swim two to three times a week with Rockwood Swim Club," she said. "I also took a CPR class through summer camp. I want to be a brain researcher or a brain surgeon. ​I've always wanted to be something in the medical field."At Woerther, Maya has been a part of the school's choir, Character Congress and Battle of the Books team. She has earned a medallion – the top prize – each of the years she has participated in the Accelerated Reader program.She also participates in Girl Scouts, has a pen pal in Brazil and has taken online courses to begin learning Dutch, the native language of her father, Mark."Not only is she bright, organized and inventive, but she also has a kind heart," said Maya's fifth-grade teacher, Kayla Hutfless. "She is a good team player who deeply cares about her classmates and teachers. She sets high goals and expectations for herself and makes sure that she can be successful now so that she can achieve those goals in the future."Maya said she is grateful for the influence of educators such as Hutfless, Margaret Mendoza, Kim Wilhelm, Ann Thompson, Kim Harmon and Kayla Italiano during her time at Woerther. She also benefited from speech teachers such as Roberta Curtis and, when she was in the Rockwood Early Childhood program, Kim Gerth and Ruth McMillan. "We've had Rockwood from age 3 on up, and I'm so grateful that she was on the right path the entire time," said Maya's mother, Michele Pasbrig. "We're going to miss Woerther tremendously. It's been like a family over there with the staff and the administration."​

​In Rockwood, we strive to do whatever it takes to ensure all students realize their potential. Our goal is to PDFcultivate Rockwood learners who think creatively and critically; engage thoughtfully and respectfully; develop strong character; collaborate with others; and explore our world. Over the final month of the 2020-2021 school year, we will be celebrating fifth-, eighth- and 12th-grade students from around Rockwood who embody these characteristics and reflect the hopes, dreams and aspirations we hold for eve ry child in our school community. Today, we feature Woerther Elementary fifth-grader Maya van den Berg. -----As Maya van den Berg prepares to move on from Woerther​ Elementary, she is looking for ways to continue to challenge herself.That's why she plans to take all Challenge courses as a sixth-grader at Selvidge Middle next year, not to mention extension classes such as art studio and design, theater and chorus.Maya has eclectic tastes."I really like to read, draw, listen to music, ride my bike and ​play sports like basketball, soccer and swimming – I usually swim two to three times a week with Rockwood Swim Club," she said. "I also took a CPR class through summer camp. I want to be a brain researcher or a brain surgeon. ​I've always wanted to be something in the medical field."At Woerther, Maya has been a part of the school's choir, Character Congress and Battle of the Books team. She has earned a medallion – the top prize – each of the years she has participated in the Accelerated Reader program.She also participates in Girl Scouts, has a pen pal in Brazil and has taken online courses to begin learning Dutch, the native language of her father, Mark."Not only is she bright, organized and inventive, but she also has a kind heart," said Maya's fifth-grade teacher, Kayla Hutfless. "She is a good team player who deeply cares about her classmates and teachers. She sets high goals and expectations for herself and makes sure that she can be successful now so that she can achieve those goals in the future."Maya said she is grateful for the influence of educators such as Hutfless, Margaret Mendoza, Kim Wilhelm, Ann Thompson, Kim Harmon and Kayla Italiano during her time at Woerther. She also benefited from speech teachers such as Roberta Curtis and, when she was in the Rockwood Early Childhood program, Kim Gerth and Ruth McMillan. "We've had Rockwood from age 3 on up, and I'm so grateful that she was on the right path the entire time," said Maya's mother, Michele Pasbrig. "We're going to miss Woerther tremendously. It's been like a family over there with the staff and the administration."​

This press release was produced by the Rockwood School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.