I am delighted to have this opportunity to write a recommendation on behalf of Gabriella Rivera.  I have had the great pleasure of working with her as her principal over the past five years.  During that time I have found Gabriella to be a highly motivated young woman with incredible talents, a commitment to helping others, and unquestionable integrity. 
 
Gabriella has always shown an interest in learning and often works beyond the requirements of an assignment.  She dives head first into the subject matter and makes impressive connections across curricular areas.  Gabriella has a wide range of talents that she weaves together to enhance both her own learning experiences and those of others. In the classroom Gabriella is passionate and involved. She is excited to learn and willing to engage in class conversations, often asking probing questions.  
 
Gabriella’s interests and skills extend far beyond academics. She is heavily involved with theater arts and voice both in and out of school. She was the recipient of the Theater Arts Project Award in recognition of her extraordinary work in the discipline. Gabriella never hesitates to share her talents with her peers. Last year she directed the all school play and she took on a lead role in our K-12 production this year. These significant endeavors required her to both exercise her creative talents and to extend patience and kindness to younger children. As usual, Gabriella excelled. 
 
Perhaps Gabriella’s greatest strength and the trait that will push her to continue to grow as both a student and as a person is her commitment to receiving and responding to feedback. Gabriella regularly seeks out criticism from her teachers and uses critiques as an opportunity to grow. This is true in both her academic and creative pursuits.  She regularly asks for help and clarification on assignments, as she seeks to truly understand. Gabriella takes any opportunity she is given to really master a concept, even if the extra effort does not improve her grade. She consistently sets an incredibly high bar for herself and her peers. Gabriella is resilient; she responds well to setbacks, taking them as an opportunity to better herself. This quality, combined with her intellectual capacity, prepare her for the rigors of college level work. 
 
I recommend Gabriella without reservation and am confident that she will continue to excel in her future endeavors. I am confident that any program could only benefit from the addition of a student of her caliber and character.  

Angie Pepin

Principal, 5-12