Michelle Mallo, Plank Road South Elementary School
By: Kevin Doran
Updated: May 17, 2011
Kids learn better when they feel comfortable and safe. Our News 8 Golden Apple Award winner makes sure kids at Plank Road South Elementary School In Webster are ready to learn. Tonight we surprise School Nurse Michelle Mallo.
Lauren Graf's a happy 5th grader at Plank Road South Elementary School in Webster. She has diabetes and is used to checking her blood sugar. Lauren wrote and asked us to say thanks to her School Nurse, Michelle Mallo.
Mrs. Mallo has been there for Lauren since Kindergarten. Lauren's Mom Teaches at Plank South. "And Michelle has just taken care of her as a whole person, her diabetes and everything and we can't thank her enough."
With the help of Lauren's teacher, we tricked Mrs. Mallo into coming to her classroom to help Lauren. When she walked in everyone yelled surprise!
Principal Mike Davis says School Nurses help kids learn and Michelle is very deserving of a News 8 Golden Apple Award. "In order to do a good job in school you have to feel safe. You have to feel healthy. You have to feel you're in an environment that cares about you. And that's a pivotal role for our school nurse.
"School actually should be a safe place for kids" says Michelle. "I think, especially in today's world they need to know there are people they can come to and look up to and know they're going to be taken care of. You just try to keep a positive attitude and encourage them to do there best and if they're not feeling well, I do what I can to make them feel better and get them back into class." "
Michelle Mallo is a News 8 Golden Apple Award winner. You can read the letter we got from the Graf family below.
Dear channel 8,
I am contacting you because I am wondering if you might be able to help us honor a spectacular school nurse. My daughter Lauren was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 4. Lauren is now 11 and in 5th grade at Plank Road South. Michelle Mallo has been her school nurse since she entered Plank South in Kindergarten! Believe it or not Lauren will be graduating from PS and moving on to Spry Middle School. Lauren came up with the idea to honor Michelle this year sometime in June because Michelle has taken care of Lauren while she was at PS. Lauren and I feel that Michelle is a special person who takes fantastic care of children at PS!! Since Lauren is graduating we thought this year was appropriate to let Michelle know how important she is in Lauren's life! Can you help us? I can't thank you enough for taking the time to read my letter.
Sincerely,
Dana Graf
4th grade Teacher Plank South
