King Philip Regional High School

Student Spotlight is an opportunity to highlight dynamic students who are making a positive impact on their local KP community and the larger global community. I am excited to feature Mellysa Botelho Godoi as our first student this year.

Nicole Bottomley

Principal

King Philip Regional High School

Pronouns: she/her/hers

This week’s Student Spotlight is 11th grader Mellysa Botelho Godoi who is an inspiration to everyone around her. Mellysa is an active participant in many of the clubs and activities at King Philip and has learned to make the most of every opportunity she encounters. She feels that she has learned so many valuable skills from membership in Leo’s Club, DECA, POP, Active Minds and through KP Cheer, to name a few. Learning how to manage her time has been an important part of navigating her way through so many activities but she does so because these activities have fostered a strong sense of community and purpose.

When Mellysa discusses LEO’s club, she states that the community service nature of the club has allowed her to get to know her town better and allowed her to give back to her community. Her desire to make a difference is not restricted to LEO’s Club as she has mentored younger students through the cheer team and through the People of Prosperity mentoring program. In addition, she has shed light on mental health awareness working with Active Minds and engaged in important conversations about the role of bystanders in disrupting incidents of harassment and bullying. Through her classes at KP, Mellysa has developed a love of business which she hopes to pursue after high school. She credits several individuals in her life (both in school and out of school) for pushing her to challenge herself, try new courses, and become involved in extracurricular activities that have prepared her to navigate so many different situations. Mellysa has already made such a positive impact on KP and the community as a whole.

Q: You are actively involved in the Bystander Intervention Program. Why do you feel this is important for the school and do you and/or the group have ideas for how to continue improving KP?

A: Students of all different identities have unique experiences at school. The reality is that school is a microcosm of society and that means that identity-based harassment is something for students. Maintaining staff and students to be a great community with strategies can disrupt this harassment and slowly change the culture in a way that make incidents less consistent.

Q: What skills have you developed through DECA that will help you when you graduate KP?

A: The DECA program can help students become better graduates by learning how to be a leader towards potential change in what we believe in, enhancing communication throughout writing, presentation and in my case, even helping me sound professional through all three languages. It also helps students learn problem-solving skills, promoting effective teamwork and how to deal with others, offering practical real-world experience while facilitating networking, and building confidence. These skills and experiences gained through DECA can prepare students to excel academically, professionally, and personally as they grow within and out of school.

Q: Can you tell me a little about the People of Prosperity (POP), and in particular, why the mentoring program is such an important aspect of POP?

A: The mentoring program fosters connections between students of color in different grades and allows for wisdom to be passed on. Without a majority of teachers of color, it is extremely important for underclassmen to have role models that match their lived experiences to look up to. Being a student of color we stick out a majority of the time. By having this program it not only allows us to make bonds over the year but also allows each other to connect on a deeper level than others who don't live our normal day-to-day reality.

Q: How can you use your voice to impact incoming 9th graders? In other words, what advice do you have for students who have not yet found their interests/passions?

A: As a junior many 9th graders can improve through guidance during harsh times. When using my voice I have been able to open up cultural awareness in order to gain wisdom of patience and exploration towards upcoming sophomores. In order to encourage myself I have learned to embrace the journey of trying different activities and subjects. To highlight the importance of perseverance, assure students that it's okay to change their minds while continuously exploring. By having available resources like extracurricular clubs, and mentorship programs to support exploration, this can lead towards inspiration in their educational journey.

We establish high academic standards and expectations for personal responsibility. Students are encouraged to become lifelong learners, to be productive contributors to society, to set ambitious goals, and to use all available resources.

Principal: Nicole Bottomley

Assistant Principal: Kip Lewis

Assistant Principal: Karen Archambault

Assistant Principal: Jill Poirier

Athletic Director: Gary Brown

Website: https://www.kingphilip.org/high-school/
Twitter: @KingPhilipHS

Instagram: KPHighSchool

Location: 201 Franklin St, Wrentham MA 02093
Phone: 508-384-1000