Schools

JTMS Salutatorian Helps Class Look to Future

Meet Nand Ganesh.

When he’s not studying hard enough to be the salutatorian for the Jefferson Township Middle School class of 2011, Nand Ganesh practices karate. He’s been working on the martial arts since he was a young child, and will be a black belt before he’s halfway through high school.

“I go to classes at least twice a week, and go to a lot of tournaments,” Ganesh said. “I’m a brown belt now, and will finish my black belt the summer before sophomore year in high school.”

Ganesh also plays the trumpet in the jazz and select bands at the middle school, and will continue his musical career into high school.

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The Oak Ridge resident has spent his whole educational career in Jefferson’s schools, and feels he is well prepared for high school.

“I’ve had some great teachers so far,” he said. “I especially liked Mrs. Harris and the whole GATEways program.”

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Ganesh has been a part of the GATEways program, the district’s gifted and talented program, throughout middle school. The most enjoyment he’s had has come from the programs past two trips, whale watching in Cape Cod last year and Boston this year.

Ganesh’s speech will have to do with the future, the things he and his classmates will experience in high school and beyond. While he’s looking forward to giving the speech, he said he doesn’t really like speaking in public, and is nervous about that part of it.

Ganesh is looking forward to high school, but is concerned about the difficulty of the classes.

“I think we’re going to have to work a lot harder than we do now,” he said.


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