Jump for Johnny!!! by Josue M, Katherine S, Sarai R, and Tory S

   Every year at MHS we have a Jump for Johnny event for grades K-2. This a program that honors Johnny Sileno who passed away in July 2010. The students jump rope in honor of  this wonderful student. We got to ask Mrs. Wojehowski, his kindergarten teacher about him. Here is what she said.

 Mrs. Wojehowski: " He was an energetic and fun boy who liked to laugh.. Johnny like the color blue and the movie Cars.  Johnny passed away when he turned 6 years old.  He actually died right after his 6th birthday. He died from a form of cancer. Johnny has a sister named Taryn and a new baby sister he never got to meet named Monica.

Johnny's mother was contacted and she gave us some information about her son, Johnny.  Here is what she said:

"After Johnny passed (July 2010), his great aunt made a $100 donation to the school to be spent on whatever was needed.  Nurse Inman suggested jump ropes for the PE dept. and healthy heart awareness program and that students could "Jump for Johnny" at the event.  It has now become a yearly event."

          This is the Jump for Johnny event.  We are very honored to have it at our school.

Mrs. Sileno also wrote "The Sileno family wanted to continue the tradition of giving something back to the school he loved so much.   So, year 2 we asked again what was needed  We bought some jumping circles for the PE dept. and at this time Nurse Inman told us about the need for socks - the start of the annual sock drive.  It has since grown each year.  This year, Sileno friends and family, and staff and students from NFA and Meadow Hill, collected  1, 250 pairs of socks for 8 schools in Newburgh (Meadow Hill, HOH, Vails Gate, GAMS, PreK, NFA, Temple Hill, and San MIguel Academy)".  

 Mrs. Sileno also stated that this year, at Jump for Johnny (March 7), the Sileno family will be presenting the PE Coaches with 3 aerobic steps, 4 mesh equipment bags, and 2 sets of cone station-naming toppers.  Also, a $200 gift card to Target will go the Kindergarten teachers to spend however they want - art supplies or ice cream party or whatever. 

In Johnny's memory they also started The Johnny Sileno Wishes for Wellness Foundation which will  provide support to local families fighting childhood cancer.  

          This is going to be a very special event to honor a very special young boy.  Here is a picture of dear Johnny.