Here's Why Reed Was Shouted Out As A Newburyport Star Student

NEWBURYPORT, MA — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Rosemary Coulombe who nominated Reed of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Star local student’s name

Reed

What grade is your star local student in?

third grade

How do you know the star local student?

Close friend

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

I believe that Reed should be recognized as a star student because he 'earned' the title as one! Just a few short weeks ago Reeds heroic act was written about in our local daily newspaper-The Newburyport Daily News: "9 year old Reed had no idea when he woke up Saturday morning that he'd be helping local firefighters respond to the Windward Yacht Club near Michael's Harborside for a pickup truck fire that spread to nearby boats. But that's what happened shortly after he and his mother, Mary Kelly, and their dog, Gus began a morning walk. "We could see flames and black smoke in the center of several boats and quickly realized the severity of the situation," Kelly, who works at the Newburyport Council on Aging, said in a statement. As they watched several firefighters and police officers calming down frightened neighbors, Reed noticed how police officer Kevin Martin and others were redirecting traffic away from the boatyard. "It was at this point when Reed was literally called to action. Our street was being blocked off by firefighter Ken Parseghian when Reed heard 'hey kid, can you help me?'" Kelly said. Reached by phone on Wednesday, Parseghian explained that he and others were trying to walk back traffic to Olive Street to give first responders plenty of space to work. As this was happening, Parseghian realized he was unable to walk away from the street he was guarding without motorist sneaking past him. So when he saw Kelly, Reed and Gus walking towards him he asked for Reed's help. Reed immediately agreed, prompting Parseghian to ask him to snag traffic cones so he could block off another street near the fire scene. Reed dashed down Merrimac Street until he found two large orange cones. Bringing them back wasn't as easy as finding them however as they weighed more than the boy expected. Undaunted, Reed muscled up and hauled the cones over to Parseghian. "The cones were almost as big as him," Parseghian said. "Reed was able to complete the challenge but it took that experience and that very moment for Reed to truly understand how much strength it takes to be in the shoes of a firefighter - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well," Kelly said. The boat owner, according to Fire Chief Stephen Bradbury III, had been working on his boat's transmission around 10:45 a.m. when the generator in the bed of his Ford F-250 pickup truck caught fire which quickly spread to nearby boats. The pickup truck was a total loss, and significant damage was caused to the owner's 32-foot sport fishing boat and an adjacent 32-foot boat. A 38-foot catamaran that was nearby sustained heat damage. The Amesbury, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury fire departments provided mutual aid at the scene. Station coverage was provided by the Georgetown, Merrimac and Seabrook, N.H, fire departments. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Newburyport Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's Office." -Dave Rogers-Newburyport Daily News

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

I want everyone to know what a role model student really looks like. Reed puts others before himself, and when he's up against a difficult challenge, he always confronts those challenges head on.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Reed!

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Know an outstanding student who deserves a shout-out?

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