Calvary Christian student honored by Baskin-Robbins for donating face shields to workers

Joshua Runde, a student at Calvary Christian Academy, was scheduled to compete in the 2020 VEX Robotics World Championship, but COVID-19 canceled those plans. Instead, Joshua decided to help others in need, and with the help of his coach, money from his piggy bank and his robotics skills, he printed and donated hundreds of face shields to front-line workers.

To honor Joshua’s service to his community and others like him, Baskin-Robbins launched the Pint-Sized Heroes Program, a charitable initiative that celebrates young people who are giving back to their communities. Through the program, the Baskin-Robbins Joy in Childhood Foundation will donate $5,000 to the charity of Joshua’s choice and treat him to one year of free ice cream. Joshua decided to give the funds to 4KIDS, one of the leading foster care agencies in the country.

“We’re happy to recognize these young philanthropists and their entrepreneurial spirit,” said Shannon Blakely, vice president of marketing at Baskin-Robbins. “These students have been using their incredible talents to creatively and selflessly give back to those in need. Acknowledging these Pint-Sized Heroes is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to these amazing kids, inspiring us all to step up in our communities whether our contribution is big, small, or pint-sized.”

For information on the Pint-Sized Heroes Program or to submit a story, visit www.pintsizedheroes.com/.

Honoring principals, assistant principals

The top principal and assistant principal of Miami-Dade County Public Schools were recently recognized during the annual Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year Awards, which was live-streamed on Facebook.

Rafael Villalobos, the principal at John Ferguson High School, was named Principal of the Year for helping to shape the future of thousands of Miami-Dade students for more than 20 years.

Villalobos’ leadership has yielded significant impacts, including increased graduation rates, academic performance, and innovative educational programs. To recognize his efforts, Villalobos received a $2,000 cash prize, a three-year car lease sponsored by Toyota of North Miami, and a special gift basket.

Lamar Johnson, an assistant principal at Jesse McCrary Jr. Elementary School, was named Assistant Principal of the Year.

Johnson began his career in 2008 as a teaching fellow in Miami. As the winner, he received $1,500, a 55-inch TV from Toyota of North Miami, and a special gift basket.

This year’s runner-up for Principal of the Year was Leon Maycock of Miami Edison High School, and he received a $1,000 cash prize. The runner-up for Assistant Principal of the Year was Celethia Passmore-Mack from Manuel Barreiro Elementary School, and she received a $600 cash prize.

Belen summer camp canceled

The faculty at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School announced that the school’s 2020 summer camp is canceled due to COVID-19.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, we have been continuously monitoring the situation, gathering as much information as possible to aid in our decision-making process relating to our summer camp,” said Carlos Barquin, summer camp director. “These are challenging times, unlike anything we have ever experienced before. We urge you to follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization and practice social distancing. Be assured of our prayers for you and your families.”

A full refund, including the registration fee, will be issued to all registrants. For information or questions, contact the school’s office at info@belensummercamp.org.

This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 6:30 AM.