GOWANDA — The Student Council of Gowanda High School named six outstanding Panthers as Students of the Month for January.

Honorees are selected based on the following attributes – collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity – otherwise known as The Four C’s. These skills and characteristics are central to the district’s mission and values.

Students include:

— Marcus Gamble for communication. “Marcus is doing amazingly well in Earth Science class this year. What impresses me the most is that he is always willing to share newly learned content with his classmates. He is often found re-explaining concepts to struggling students. It is a common understanding in education that it takes a deeper level of knowledge to explain a concept. Marcus is a master of communication based on his ability to explain confusing concepts to his peers.”

— Winter Mentley-Peters for critical thinking: “I’ve had Winter Mentley-Peters in both English 9 Honors and English 10 Honors, and his improvement over the past year has been impressive! He is able to think critically, analyze, explain, and also be creative in a way that shows his true knowledge of the subject. I’m proud of how much Winter has grown, and I’m looking forward to seeing how far he can go.”

— William Szalay for collaboration: “In JCC Precalculus, William Szalay always pays attention, works hard to understand the material and distinguishes himself by regularly collaborating with his peers. He is never satisfied to just get an answer. He works to make sure he understands why the correct answer makes sense. He does this by discussing his solutions or questions with other students in the class on a regular basis, and he tries to help other students understand if they are having difficulty.”

— Simone Kramer for collaboration: “Simone Kramer is the epitome of a collaborative learner. She works hard independently, but will seek out others whenever she is trying to gain a greater understanding of the learning. Simone is not afraid to share interactions with any of the instructional staff or her peers around school. Simone does her best to stay actively engaged while she is working with others.”

— MacKenna Furlet for communication: “Effective communication skills are crucial for high school students as they navigate through various academic and social situations. From classroom discussions to presentations, Kenna Furlet expresses her thoughts and ideas clearly, engages in meaningful conversations, and builds positive relationships with her peers and teachers. She is continuously impressing me with her confidence in her speaking skills, her ability to actively listen, and her empathy towards others, which is setting her up for success in all areas of her life. Assertiveness is an important communication skill that allows individuals to express their thoughts, ideas, and emotions while respecting the rights and opinions of others. Kenna’s ability to be assertive allows her to confidently communicate her ideas, ask questions, and engage in productive discussions, which makes her a true leader in and out of the classroom.”

— Winter Rivera for communication: “Winter Rivera demonstrates a very high-level proficiency communication skill in Seneca. He has the ability to read smoothly while pronouncing Seneca words accurately. He is also speaks extremely well in Seneca, capturing the tempo, candor and annunciation of a highly proficient Seneca learner.”