January's Optimist Youth of the Month

Joel Perlish, the Havertown Optimist Club Youth of the Month co-ordinator, shares information on January's Optimist Youth of the Month.

Naomi Popiel is a fifth grader at Chatham Park Elementary. This is her first year at Chatham and she is enjoying getting to know the teachers and the students there. Chatham Park has many opportunities for her to pursue her interests through extra activities. She plays the trumpet for Chatham’s band.  

She loves singing in the chorus as well as the district chorus directed by her wonderful music teacher, Mr. Peters. Helping others is important to her and she is glad to be a part of Chatham’s Service Club as well as working two mornings a week as a peer tutor helping a first grader to learn how to read.  

Outside of school, she has many hobbies. She plays the piano and loves all forms of art and music. Naomi is interested in design of all sorts. Her father is teaching her the fundamentals of wood working as she is interested in architecture.  

Science is another one of her interests, and she is currently preparing for her school’s science fair.  

Naomi comes from a big family. Her parents, her two sisters and she enjoy spending time outdoors, camping, hiking, boating and star gazing.  

Her sisters and she are very close and she has many aunts, uncles and cousins who add a sparkle to her life. Naomi notes that her amazing grandmother has always been there for her and has taught her a lot about acting and having fun.