Altar Valley All-Stars
We value each of our students and staff in the Altar Valley School District. These All-Stars, who work tirelessly to benefit our AVSD community, deserve our praise and gratitude.
Robles Elementary All-Star Student of the Month
Sophia Contreras, Second Grade
Congratulations to Sophia Contreras, our Robles Elementary Student of the Month! A dedicated and hardworking second grader, Sophia embodies the core values of respect, open-mindedness, accountability, and responsibility in everything she does.
Sophia approaches every school day with a bright attitude and a perfect smile, ready to take on any challenge that comes her way. Whether tackling tricky sight words or sounding out long words, she never gives up—showing determination and perseverance in her learning. She is also a wonderful classmate, always willing to lend a hand by helping her friends find supplies, passing out materials, and encouraging everyone to do their best.
Sophia consistently demonstrates respect for her teachers, her classmates, and most importantly, herself. She sets high personal goals, maintains excellent behavior, and embraces new challenges, even when they seem tough. Her accountability, leadership, and kindness make her a shining example of what it means to be a Robles Bobcat.
Way to go, Sophia! We are so proud of you and grateful to have you as a role model at Robles Elementary!
Robles Elementary All-Star Employee of the Month
Betty Bucks, Administrative Secretary
Betty Bucks is the heart and soul of Robles Elementary, with an impressive 30-year journey of dedication and service to our school community. Starting her career at Mary E. Dill Elementary, Betty has seamlessly transitioned through various roles, embodying resilience and commitment in every position she undertakes.
Currently serving as the administrative assistant to the Principal, Betty continues to excel as the communication hub of our school. In addition to her front-office responsibilities—answering phones, coordinating emails, organizing supplies, and maintaining student files—she plays a crucial role in supporting after-school programming and summer school as the clerk, ensuring everything runs smoothly for students and staff.
Her unwavering dependability, marked by an exemplary record of attendance, underscores her dedication. Beyond her duties, Betty is a pillar of kindness, professionalism, and care for both students and staff.
Betty, your steadfast commitment and tireless efforts make you an invaluable asset to Robles Elementary. Thank you for your years of service and for embodying our school’s values of respect, open-mindedness, accountability, and responsibility (ROAR) in everything you do.
Altar Valley Middle School All-Star Student of the Month
Alizay Hellman
It is an honor to recognize Alizay as our Student of the Month. A natural thinker and future philosopher, Alizay is always asking questions and seeking to understand the world around her.
As president of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS), she collaborates with the advisor to set the direction of the organization and leads initiatives that benefit both our school and the community. She is deeply committed to service, supporting local programs such as the animal shelter, highway clean-up project, and the Socks and Beanies Drive for the Salvation Army. Most recently, she and her fellow NJHS members have been making heart pillows for patients recovering from heart surgery, offering comfort during a difficult time.
Alizay embodies the SOAR values we cherish—safe, open-minded, accountable, and responsible. Her positive attitude, leadership, and willingness to listen make her a role model among her peers. She takes her commitments seriously and can always be counted on to follow through with dedication and integrity.
We are incredibly proud to have Alizay as part of our school community. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!
Altar Valley Middle School All-Star Employee of the Month
Katherine Nicholas, Seventh and Eighth Grade Math Teacher
It is with great pride that we recognize Mrs. Nicholas as our Staff of the Month. Her dedication to our students, staff, and school community is truly exceptional.
Mrs. Nicholas is a hardworking and supportive leader who goes above and beyond in multiple roles. She mentors fellow teachers, serves as Co-Sponsor of Student Council, and is an integral part of our Leadership and Guiding Coalition Team. Beyond AVMS, she extends her expertise by teaching at the UA IMPACTS program and serves as the Director of our 21st Century after-school program—all while pursuing her Master’s in Educational Leadership.
Her impact is felt not only by her colleagues but by her students as well. One student shared, “Mrs. Nicholas is a great teacher because she is totally aware of what is going on in her classroom!” This level of attentiveness and dedication is what makes her such a valued member of our school.
We are incredibly fortunate to have Mrs. Nicholas on our campus, and we thank her for her unwavering commitment to student success and school excellence. We would also like to be the first to publicly acknowledge her completion of her master’s degree!
Congratulations, Mrs. Nicholas!
