Winsor Hill School in Johnston has heart to spare

If you talk to people connected with Johnston public schools, they’ll readily attest that Susan Parillo has “always had a heart of gold!”

Parillo, who is the Health and Physical Education teacher at Winsor Hill Elementary School and served as the long-time coach of Johnston High School’s champion cheerleader program, has long been active in youth and charity works which in some cases as led to young women receiving lucrative college scholarships.

Perhaps another perfect example of Parillo’s work came recently when Winsor Hill School conducted its annual “Heart Health Program” that has been part of its ongoing work with the American Health Association since the year 2000.

The entire faculty, staff and students, in fact, were excited when Donna Tringali of the American Heart Association came to Johnston armed with not one but two coveted awards. First the AHA named Winsor Hill as the Top School for the annual Heart of Gold Kids Heart Challenge.

“Winsor Hill School is excited to be recognized and rewarded with the top school award,” Parillo said after Tringali presented her with a special Heart of Gold patch. “We’re proud of all our students; each and every one is a Heart Hero.”

One student, in particular, Brayden Garceau — was also honored with the Heart Health Hero Award for collecting more than $1,000 himself during the campaign last year.

Thus, as Parillo related during the special awards ceremony, “Brayden loves this program because he does it for a friend that had heart disease. He told us that this friend is the biggest contributor and he is happy to give back to this campaign because the American Heart Association has helped his friend.”

Likewise, the popular health and physical education teacher issued special thanks to all the Winsor Hill families for their continued support of this event every year.

“This is part of our Winsor Hill Cares campaigns,” Parillo explained. “I am thrilled with our recognition. This campaign is especially important because we have several students and families that have had heart issues. It is also a way for us to show we care and are committed to lifelong healthy hearts.”

After issuing special congratulations to Garceau and thanking Tringali for the prestigious honor, Parillo concluded: “Let’s hope Winsor Hill can have another record breaking year!”