McAuliffe Middle School names its 2012 Heroes of the Heart

The following information was released by the Los Alamitos Unified School District.

Each year, the schools that make up Los Alamitos Unified School District have a chance to formally recognize and thank outstanding volunteers at a School Board meeting.

McAuliffe Middle School recognized its volunteers at the May 8 meeting.

Eileen Kochevar

It is a sincere pleasure to recognize Eileen Kochevar as a Hero of the Heart for McAuliffe Middle School for the 2011-12 school year. Eileen is a special person who volunteers to do the extra things that help make McAuliffe a special school and the PTA a special organization. She goes above and beyond what is asked of her and she is most positive and caring lady.

Eileen has been very actively involved in the Special Education arena for several years at McAuliffe. This requires a great deal of time and energy as she stays abreast of everything in that area and she routinely reports what she knows and what is going on during McAuliffe PTA meetings. In addition, she is also intimately involved with Special Education at the high school and like McAuliffe, she also reports and shares at the high school. Her reports are always articulate and she is an outstanding presenter. Her knowledge and her ability to relate information so that all understand what is going on is most commendable. I sincerely appreciate Eileen’s commitment to Special Education and her willingness to present information on a regular basis. Eileen is also very devoted to her family which at the present time includes a son at the high school and a son, Andy, who attends McAuliffe.

Eileen is a most active McAuliffe PTA member and she routinely steps up and helps out with school events. A couple of years ago McAuliffe put together a Fit-A-Thon event to help raise money for school technology needs. Eileen has helped with the Fit-A-Thon for two years. She began as a co-chairperson and this year, she was the chair. Her specific area dealt with donations, which is a most difficult and time consuming area, but as usual, Eileen did a marvelous job. The event was again very successful and volunteers like Eileen made it all happen. Thank you very much Eileen.

As noted, Eileen is very much involved in school activities and she is a most consistent and dependable volunteer. She is the first to step to the plate when something needs to be done and she does it with energy and enthusiasm. Eileen is most deserving of the Hero of the Heart Award for all of her hard work, time, and dedication. She has touched the lives of many people and it is with sincere gratitude that we recognize Eileen as a McAuliffe Hero of the Heart. Thank you, Eileen, for all that you have done and for all that you will continue to do.

Melendy Fabian

It is a sincere pleasure to recognize Melendy Fabian as a Hero of the Heart for McAuliffe Middle School for the 2011-2012 school year. Melendy is a most conscientious and caring parent who has contributed countless hours to support staff and students at McAuliffe.

For the last two years, Melendy has served as the Media Center’s parent volunteer coordinator in the most active location on the campus that houses the library, five computer labs, and three classrooms. Prior to serving as the coordinator, Melendy spent many hours in the Media Center as a volunteer. The position in the Media Center has Melendy spending countless hours coordinating her volunteer colleagues to work shifts throughout the year and also to work during the busiest times that center on material check-out and check-in. Melendy is so conscientious that if a shift is not covered, she takes care of it. Media Center staff stated that, “Last year during textbook check-in, Melendy was there coordinating all the volunteers that she had enlisted each day of check-in. She never took a break. She was amazing!” What made that time period even more critical was that was the Media Center’s time in McAuliffe’s remodel and getting thousands or items relocated was huge. In addition, Melendy has become the repair lady and she has helped restore numerous library books and textbooks for students.

In addition to the Media Center hours, Melendy has helped with numerous other PTA functions. She is readily available, whenever she is not in the air (Flight Attendant for United) and she is always a most sincere and generous volunteer helper. She is very gracious, warm, and personable. We sincerely appreciate all that Melendy has done for staff and students. She is highly skilled whether she works individually or as a coordinator. She gets the job done.

As mentioned a couple of times, Melendy is very much involved and devoted to helping with school responsibilities. She “takes care of business.” Melendy is always here for us and she does not hesitate to take a job and she always performs with heart and enthusiasm. Melendy is most deserving of the Hero of the Heart Award for all that she has done for McAuliffe. She has touched the lives of many of us, both staff and students, and it is with sincere gratitude that we recognize Melendy as the McAuliffe Hero of the Heart. Thank you, Melendy, for all that you have done and for all that you will do at the next level as her daughter, Erin, will be moving on to the high school in the fall.

Featured photo

Pictured left to right: Board President, Mrs. Meg Cutuli; McAuliffe Assistant Principal, Mrs. Ann Allen; Melendy Fabian; Eileen Kochevar; and McAuliffe Principal, Mr. Dennis Sackett. Courtesy photo.