Congratulations to Maya Sallam, Union Canal's Student of the Year 2024-2025! Below is Principal McGinty's presentation of Maya to the Board of School Directors at its regular meeting in March. Click the link to read Maya's acceptance remarks.
Maya embodies the characteristics of a true Union Canal Falcon. She is respectful, responsible, and hardworking, three important parts of our school’s creed. However, Maya brings so much more to the Union Canal community through her perseverance, her acceptance of others, and her quiet leadership.
Maya embraces each academic challenge that she encounters in her day. No matter what subject area is being covered, Maya strives to do her best, apply what she has learned, and extend what she knows. We see her perseverance every time she tackles something new, never giving up until she feels confident in her own abilities. This trait inspires her classmates to work hard alongside her.
Maya greets each individual in our school, adult or student, with a genuine smile and automatic respect. She gets along well with her peers and is often found with various groups of friends and classmates. Her acceptance of each person for their own unique selves makes her well liked and makes everyone around her feel comfortable and appreciated.
Maya’s quiet leadership is one of the qualities that brings the greatest benefits to everyone at Union Canal. Maya leads by example, showing respect for the teachers and adults in the school in a way that inspires others to do the same. In the classroom, Maya helps her classmates by demonstrating respectful and responsible behavior and consistently pushing herself to be the best she can be academically and as an individual. She brings encouragement and organization to group work assignments, guiding everyone to a successful end.
Maya is an involved individual within the halls of Union Canal. She is an engaging host of GMUC!, our school announcements. She has participated in Chorus for three years, including volunteering for solo instrumental parts. Maya is a member of the Art Club and has been on our Girls on the Run team. To showcase her academic talents, Maya has participated in the Spelling Bee as a fourth and fifth grader, qualifying for the District Spelling Bee both years, and winning the Union Canal Bee this year!
Maya extends her interests outside of school. She is a member of an Iona Soccer Club team. In her spare time, she explores her love of art and drawing. Maya enjoys time with her friends, especially when they can play outside. She is also a bit of a fashionista who enjoys shopping for clothes and shoes. Her choices in all of these activities further demonstrate her acceptance and quiet leadership, as others see the respect she has for herself in and out of school.
She is the daughter of Mohammed and Walaa and the youngest sister of Miriam, Mena, and Malak.
Maya has helped make Union Canal an amazing place to be just by being herself. We know that she will continue to demonstrate the traits of a UC Falcon as she moves on to the middle school. Add in her perseverance, acceptance, and leadership skills, and we know that she will continue to thrive in all that she does.
-- Dr. Bernard McGinty