By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

Eighth graders at DePaolo Middle School had the opportunity to participate in a week-long immigration unit that was funded by the American Immigration Council’s Community Education Grant.

DePaolo Middle School teachers Debra Moreau and Kerri Fenton were awarded the grant and began to design an immigration outreach unit through the students.

“We wanted to heighten the awareness of social issues in our country as well as others,” said Fenton. “Not only are they learning, but they’re giving back too.”

The three main objectives Moreau and Fenton intended for the unit was to educate students on the immigrant experience, to welcome students, and to empower all students to implement social justice.

“We wanted to have the kids learn more about immigration to make them aware,” said Moreau. “It was active service learning.”

With Social Studies teacher Moreau and the Language Art teacher Fenton collaborating to create this unit, the aspects of the unit were interdisciplinary at the core.

The unit was launched with a trip to Ellis Island, which provided students with some background information on the immigrant journey to America as well as the struggles that came with adapting to life here.

Another aspect of the unit, which worked on awareness, was an investigation assignment. The students looked at resources including local newspaper articles regarding immigration news and searched the school for the information that is provided for English Language Learners who attend the school. They also conducted interviews of faculty to find out how they help ELL and even interview all five of the ELL students who attend DePaolo.

“When they did the investigation assignment, I think they really became aware of all the things that are not available for the English Language Learners at our school,” said Moreau.

The eighth graders also became more aware when Moreau and Fenton invited immigrants in the community to come in and speak to them about their personal experiences coming to American and going to school. Some of the speakers included Board of Education member Terry Lombardi, parents, and three former DePaolo ELL students who now attend Southington High School.

“It built empathy for other people’s experiences,” said Fenton. “You are not aware of what you don’t know, so it was a good opportunity to learn about experiences that are different than our own.”

After learning from investigating and hearing immigrant stories, the students chose five or six important topics that they felt would provide sound information for ELL students joining the DePaolo student body.

On day four, the students used Google docs to work together to create welcome brochures for future English Language learners to come to DePaolo.

The brochure is being translated into the some most dominant languages in the town. The class will have the brochures translated into Arabic, Polish, Spanish, and Albanian by a staff member, a parent, and a student from CCSU.

The funding for this program will allow the class to have the brochures printed out and they will be available as a part of the registration information provided by DePaolo for immigrant students.

The eighth graders also read the book “The Arrival,” which is mainly a compilation of images about the immigrant experience.

The American Immigration Council has a blog geared toward educators and has offered the students the opportunity to write a book review about “The Arrival.” Four students are currently working on the review, which will be published on the blog.

“It’s a good opportunity for students to not only see the writing process, but to also see the publishing process and as an English teacher that’s just great,” said Fenton.

In addition to the book review, other students are working on creating cultural posters and hanging other country’s flags around the school.

The students also have decided they would like to create a social club to help ELL students to learn English and make friends.

“They came up with the club on their own, this unit really was example of active service learning” said Moreau. “They’re really going to help those students better acclimate to the school.”

By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

David Klash, 49, of 173 Meriden Ave., Southington was arrested on Dec. 15 and charged with breach of peace and second degree threatening after he made some threats against school officials at John F. Kennedy Middle School.

According to Southington police, on Dec. 15, the school resource officer at Kennedy was investigating an issue between two students at the school. As part of the investigation, Klash was contacted and was speaking to the principal, vice principal, and SRO via speaker phone. Police said Klash became irate and began screaming that the situation was being handled unfairly. Police accused Klash of making several threats towards the school and school personnel.

Based on the comments made to school officials, police said officers attempted to locate Klash. He was located a short time later in Middletown and taken into custody by the Middletown Police Department.

Police said Klash was subsequently turned over to Southington Police Department and was charged. Police said Klash was released on $100,000 bond and was given a court date of Jan. 5.

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By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

The American Legion Southington Post 72 is holding its annual oratorical contest at Southington High School on Monday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m., providing the opportunity for students to win cash prizes and possibly move on to compete both statewide and nationwide.

The Post 72 contest is open to all high school students who either attend SHS or live in Southington, but attend another local high school.

The American Legion Oratorical Contest will test students’ skills in writing and memorizing a speech, said Kathleen Reilly, SHS tenth grade English teacher.

Although most students have had to prepare and give speeches in school, this competition requires a certain level of dedication.

“It is an immense undertaking to write and memorize a speech,” said Reilly, who has taken on running the contest for the second year.

In order to write the speech, students must explore the Constitution and American citizenry, specifically anything that discusses civil rights for Americans.

“They also need to have a general understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of an American citizen,” said Reilly.

Participants also will be asked to discuss assigned topics, which will be based on the different amendments. Reilly said prompts for assigned topics will be provided on the day of the competition, which gives them a short amount of time to prepare for it.

Reilly said preparing a thought process in advanced can help students when it comes time to craft their piece. Speeches from last year’s competition are available on the American legion website.

“Viewing those ahead of time will help students with their timing and cadence,” said Reilly.

The SHS teacher also recommends that participants reach out to her or another adult for guidance prior to the competition.

“Even if they aren’t sure about what they are writing, they should get something down on paper,” said Reilly. “This will help the adult better help them mold their point.”

Other than being prepared to speak on these topics, a student’s speech must showcase their ability to think and speak clearly.

The American Legion Oratorical Contest is a learning experience in many ways. The competition is an opportunity for students to get involved in the community, an experience that they may not have otherwise had.

“Some students don’t have any involvement in their community,” said Reilly. “This is a great way to connect students with a town organization.”

Participants will meet veterans from the American Legion Post 72 and work with educators throughout the process.

Reilly also said the contest is a good lesson in following rules. The American Legion is strict about how it runs the contest and provides no leniency.

“This is possibly the first time a student comes across such a stringent process,” said Reilly.

Another benefit of participating in the competition is the cash award granted at the local, state and national level. The winner of the Post 72 contest will receive a $500 and and will go on to the First District American Legion contest.

If the student wins that contest, they will receive another $200 and a trip to the State of Connecticut contest. A first place win at the state level will provide the student with another $1,500, second place will win $1,000, and third through seventh place winners will receive $500 each. The first place winner will progress to the national contest in Indianapolis, Ind., where they could win between $14,000 and $18,000.

“Some students do work in the community to earn a living, but many of the jobs available for high school students don’t capitalize on their particular talents,” said Reilly.

However, Reilly said this competition allows students to capitalize on their talents by competing and provides them with an opportunity to earn money for college.

“This is something these students have not experienced before,” said Reilly. “Usually their competitions are for recognition, not monetary payout.”

Unfortunately in the past, the contest has not attracted many students. Reilly said last year the contest seemed to pique students’ interest until they found out they were expected to memorize the speech without using notecards or any prompting. Last year, one student competed uncontested.

The panel of judges chosen for the local competition remains unbiased and can range from members of the community, school board, or veteran members of the American Legion.

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On Friday, Dec. 12, more than 100 Strong Elementary School students stayed after class to decorate homemade salt dough ornaments, and the decorations were packaged by the 5th grade STEPS committee. The ornaments were eventually hand delivered by the students to Mulberry Gardens and The Orchards.  A small tag was attached to each packaged ornament to help remind our community to value our youth, our future.

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By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

Two Southington Catholic schools have announced that they will be merging into one school for the 2015-2016 school year.

St. Dominic and St. Thomas churches announced the merge in a letter to parents and guardians on Jan. 9.

“In recognition of the current challenging environment, the Pastors, Trustees, and Finance members of St. Dominic and St. Thomas Churches have agreed the best way to ensure the ongoing viability of Catholic education in our community is to join together,” said the letter.

The two schools, which have about 120 students each, will become one at the St. Thomas School campus.

Reverend Nicholas Melo, pastor of the St. Thomas Parish, said that it made more sense for the two schools to collaborate for few different reasons.

“It’s not any one issue that led to this decision. Obviously numbers have declined a little bit with enrollment. We’re just looking at sustaining catholic educations and it just makes more sense to join,” said Rev. Melo.

He also said that the schools have been collaborating on various functions over the last few years, so the children already know each other.

The St. Thomas reverend said that he believes the merge will build a stronger school community and together the schools will be able to accomplish more.

Rev. Melo said that he has already received positive feedback from the members of the church after making the announcement last weekend.

“Almost all of them said it’s been a long time coming and should have been done years ago. It’s really a no brainer when you look at it,” said Melo.

In the past, some parents have tried to get the two schools to merge.

“There’s been talk for a long time, but nothing’s ever been done,” said Rev. Melo.

He also said that the long term goal is to see all of the Southington parishes endorse a Regional Catholic School.

“We would like to get the other three parishes in Southington to participate on a full basis and have it be a true Southington Catholic School,” said Rev. Melo.

There will be a Town Hall Meeting on Thurs., Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at St. Aloysius, which will act as a question and answer meeting for parents.

The St. Thomas and St. Dominic parishes will also be seeking input from parents and parishioners in a survey, which will be coming out in the near future.

“With your help, we will forge a unique Catholic community school which will serve as a beacon of what it means to foster academic excellence and high achievement while educating our children within a faith-based environment,” said the letter to parents and guardians.

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DePaolo Middle School announced their December Students of the Month. Front, from left, Marisa Imme, Abby Delgado, Michael Sandulli, Morgan Perschy, and Alexis Izzo. Back, Assistant Principal Chris Palmieri, Connor Stifel, Tyler Heidgerd, Emma Wojcicki, Kelly Barrett, Kate Hardy, Bianca Spataro, and Rachel Strillacci.

DePaolo announces their Students of the Month for December

In sixth grade Kelly Barrett, Marisa Imme, and Abby Delgado were selected by their teams.

Kelly is the daughter of Katarzyna Barrett and Richard Barrett and is a high honors student. She recently volunteered her time at Alex’s Lemonade Stand at the Apple Harvest Festival and is in the school concert choir. Kelly enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, and is a dancer.

Marisa is the daughter of James and Franca Imme and is a high honors student. She played on the DePaolo soccer team as well as for the Town. Marisa plays basketball for the town and plays the trumpet in the school band.

Abby is the daughter of Tony and Ellen Delgado and received the Presidential Award for academic achievement in elementary school. She is a Girl Scout and is a part of Junior Next Steps. Abby also is in the student council and recently volunteered her time at Alex’s Lemonade Stand at the Apple Harvest Festival.

In seventh grade Kate Hardy, Alexis Izzo, and Tyler Heidgerd were selected by their teams.

Kate is the daughter of Kristin and Ray Hardy and is in the National Junior Honor Society. She is a peer advocate and is a part of the Leadership Program at DePaolo. Kate is also in the drama club, concert choir, and played on the school volleyball team.

Alexis is the daughter of Vincent and Robyn Izzo and has consistently earned high honors. She was recognized at a Principal’s Breakfast for both academic achievement and citizenship and is part of the STEPS youth council. Alexis is a member of the Art for a Cause Program and volunteers at the Calendar House as part of the DePaolo Leadership Program.

Tyler is the son of Angela and Rohn Heidgerd and is in the National Junior Honor Society. He is a part of the YMCA Jr. Leaders Club and ran on the school cross country team. Tyler plays the saxophone in the school band and swims on the YMCA Rays swim team.

In eighth grade Connor Stifel, Bianca Spataro, and Emma Wojcicki were selected by their teams.

Connor is the son of Matthew and Laurie Stifel and is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. He is involved in the Leadership Program and volunteered his time at Alex’s Lemonade Stand at the Apple Harvest Festival. This past summer Connor volunteered at St. Dominic’s Vacation Bible School.

Bianca is the daughter of Christine and Peter Spataro and is an honor roll student. She has participated in the youth group at her church and is a peer mediator. Bianca is a competitive dancer at Dance City and the Arts.

Emma is the daughter of Diane and Andy Wojcicki and is in the National Junior Honor Society. She is in the concert choir and dances three days a week. Emma is also a gymnast, part of STEPS, and volunteered her time at Alex’s Lemonade Stand at the Apple Harvest Festival.

In Unified Arts Morgan Perschy, Rachel Strillacci, and Michael Sandulli were selected.

Morgan is the daughter of Deborah and Robert Perschy and is a high honors student. She is part of the Giving Back Girls, STEPS, and volunteered her time at Alex’s Lemonade Stand at the Apple Harvest Festival. Morgan is in the DePaolo concert choir and received awards for her dancing.

Rachel is the daughter of John and Heidi Strillacci and has consistently been an honor roll student. She is part of the concert choir and plays lacrosse in the spring. Rachel is in the ski club and a member of a 4H club.

Michael is the son of Matthew and Amy Sandulli and has consistently been an honor roll student. He has volunteered for multiple food drives to benefit Bread for Life. Michael is in the Animal Helpers Club and is in the concert choir.

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Kennedy Middle School announced their December students of the month. Front, from left, Alexah Zaczynski, Mikaela Bogoslofski, and Rachel Carbone. Middle, Anthony Marcuccio, Matthew Godfrey, Joseph Tellerico, and Trevor Kushman. Back, Mr. Steven Madancy, Abigail Barbour, Emma Doran, Faith Breen, Asami Castellano, Christopher Gambardella, and Mrs. Susanne Vitcavage.

John F. Kennedy Middle School in Plantsville recently announced the names of its December students of the month. Teachers nominated these students for their academic improvement on performance, exemplary citizenship, and/or participation in extracurricular activities.

Sixth grade students of the month are Mikaela Bogoslofski, Rachel Carbone, Trevor Kushman, and Alexah Zaczynski.

Mikaela is the sixth grade Unified Arts student of the month. A respectful young lady with a positive attitude, she works extremely well with others. She especially goes above and beyond to help a student with special needs in each and every class. She is an honor roll student, a member of the Environmental Club, the band, and the cross country team. Mikaela plays town soccer and travel softball and volunteers at the Falcons Club. She enjoys cooking and sewing in her free time.

Rachel is a hardworking, inquisitive, and dedicated student who gives her best effort to her school work and to helping others. She volunteers at her church’s after-care program, and she enjoys dancing and reading.

Trevor is a kind and polite young man who always does his best. He is consistently on task and regularly completes both his classwork and homework. Trevor frequently participates in class, plays town baseball and plays for the Plainville basketball team as a ball boy.

Alexah is a role model to her peers both for her academic prowess and her desire to exemplify the expectations of a JFK student. Without reminders, she always hands in her work and prepares for assessments. Alexah is a member of the band, the cross country team, and the Ski/Snowboard Club. She plays town softball and volunteers to babysit for family and friends. Outside school, Alexah likes to read, ski, and play flag football.

Seventh grade students of the month are Faith Breen, Emma Doran, and Joseph Tellerico. Faith is a pleasure to have in class. Bright, personable, and hardworking, she often assists her peers in understanding new material. She is an honor roll student and a member of the National Junior Honor Society, the chorus, the swing choir, and Peer Advocates. Faith plays town soccer and volunteers for the Mill Foundation and Bread for Life. She also enjoys volleyball.

Emma, a conscientious and driven student, is a polite and patient young lady. Mature and helpful to others, she is a member of Friends of Rachel, the band, the basketball team, and MATHCOUNTS. Emma plays town lacrosse, basketball, and soccer. She volunteers for Junior Next Steps and House of Bread. She also likes to write and draw.

Joe is a positive role model who gets along with his peers and teachers. Conscientious and persevering with all he does. He is an honor roll student and a member of the soccer team. Joe plays town basketball and Ajax Premier Soccer, and he helps coach young soccer players.

Eighth grade students of the month are Abigail Barbour, Asami Castellano, Christopher Gambardella, Matthew Godfrey, and Anthony Marcuccio. Abbie is an asset to her team and is a responsible and conscientious student who always gives her best effort. Regularly willing to lend a hand, she is an honor roll student and a member of the Colorguard, the National Junior Honor Society, the band, the yearbook, and the school newspaper. Abbie reads to residents of the Summit and serves as a mystery reader at Plantsville School. She also enjoys reading for her own pleasure and writing stories.

Asami is one of the most organized, personable, and mature members of her team. She works above her level and possesses a strong desire to succeed. Asami is an honor roll student, a member of Junior Next Steps, Colorguard, Friends of Rachel, the National Junior Honor Society, the soccer team, Select Strings, Regionals, the orchestra, the swing choir, and MATHCOUNTS. She plays town soccer, and at her church, she plays the viola. Her other interests include dance and the piano.

Chris is the eighth grade World Language student of the month. With an innate curiosity about Spanish and a strong work ethic, he goes above and beyond to make the Spanish language a part of his daily routine. Chris is an honor roll student and plays town hockey and lacrosse. He volunteers at Junior Next Steps and as a skating coach.

Matt is a highly motivated student who craves knowledge. He has an inquisitive mind and is an active participant in class. Respectful, kind, and courteous, he is a member of the Bowling Club, Minecraft, Voices of Thunder and the chorus. Matt does charity walks for Wounded Warriors, enjoys golf, and has a membership in the New England Air Museum.

Anthony is the eighth grade Unified Arts student of the month. With his great attitude and spirit, he displays empathy and responsibility along with talent. He is a member of the Homework Club, the chorus and Voices of Thunder.

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Kennedy Middle School recently announced the names of the November students of the month. Front, from left, Dante D’Amore, Maxwell Chubet, Madeleine Silano, and Trevor Francis. Middle, Kelsey Henderson, Samuel Terry, Natalie Diaz, and Maliah Ryan. Back, Mr. Steven Madancy, Colby Johnson, Jamie Lamson, Marissa Robarge, Troy Kieras, and Mrs. Susanne Vitcavage. Missing from the photo is Olivia Calandra.

John F. Kennedy Middle School in Plantsville recently announced the names of its November students of the month. Teachers nominated these students for their academic improvement on performance, exemplary citizenship, and/or participation in extracurricular activities.

Sixth grade students of the month are Dante D’Amore, Trevor Francis, Maliah Ryan, and Madeleine Silano.

Dante, a conscientious student who takes pride in his work, has the ability to self-advocate in a respectful and mature fashion. He plays travel baseball, helps neighbors with yard work and shoveling, and serves as an altar boy at his church. Outside school, he likes to read, play sports, and ride his long board.

Trevor is a good citizen within the JFK community. He has an aptitude for all subjects, and he works hard and responsibly for academic achievement. A member of the Stock Market Club, he plays town soccer and enjoys reading. Trevor is very interested in animals, especially dogs.

Maliah, the sixth grade Unified Arts student of the month, is a hardworking and dedicated student who often tries new activities and explores unfamiliar ideas. A talented young artist, she is always looking for ways to improve her work. Maliah is also a member of orchestra, the JFK Computer Coding Club, town soccer, softball and basketball. In her free time, she also plays the guitar.

Madeleine is a conscientious and responsible young lady. She always aims to please and goes above and beyond in all her academic classes. She is a member of the band, the JFK soccer team, and the Southington Soccer Club. Maddie also enjoys running.

Seventh grade students of the month are Olivia Calandra, Maxwell Chubet, Kelsey Henderson, Troy Kieras and Samuel Terry.

Olivia is the seventh grade Unified Arts student of the month. With an appealing personality, she is a friendly, concerned, helpful, dependable, and enjoyable young lady. Always ready for a challenge and knowledgeable in many aspects of technology, she will go to the aid of a student who is struggling with an activity or project. Olivia is a member of the Bowling Club, the Colorguard, the Fishing Club and the Computer Club. She plays town basketball and volunteers for the Falcons Club blood drive.

Maxwell is a bright, friendly, and curious young man who consistently demonstrates a high level of maturity. He is a pleasure to work with and studies diligently in order to do well in all his classes. Maxwell, an honor roll student, is a member of the cross country team, the Ski/Snowboard Club and MATHCOUNTS. He plays for the towns Little League and volunteers for STEPS.

Kelsey is a conscientious, hardworking, and reliable student. She has a pleasant attitude and is well respected by her teachers. She is an honor roll student and a member of Best Buddies, the Builders Club, Peer Advocates, the softball team, and the yearbook staff. Kelsey plays town softball and basketball, volunteers for Giving Back Girls, and enjoys the company of friends and her visits to Lake Compounce.

Troy is an enthusiastic learner who always performs at his highest level. He enjoys helping around the classroom and explaining academic concepts to his peers. He is an honor roll student, a member of the National Junior Honor Society and the Ping Pong Club. He plays town football, basketball, and baseball, and enjoys working in the field of art.

Samuel is considerate, polite, and kind. An extremely hardworking and diligent student, he has a great attitude and is faithful in doing his best in all his classes. Sam is a member of the Bowling Club and the Builders Club.

Eighth grade students of the month are Natalie Diaz, Colby Johnson, Jamie Lamson and Marissa Robarge.

Natalie is a strong student who takes initiative in the classroom, she is cheerful and polite, enthusiastic and conscientious, also an honor roll student. She is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, the Builders Club, the band, the stage band, and the cross country team. Natalie does YMCA gymnastics and she is an altar server at her church.

Colby is a hardworking, conscientious, and friendly student. He works hard in all his classes and regularly assists other students. He is a member of the Bowling Club and is also a Boy Scout.

Jamie is a hardworking, responsible student who is kind to staff and peers. He puts 100 percent effort in all that he does, and is an asset to his team. Jamie is an honor roll student, and a member of the JFK baseball and basketball team. He also plays town football, baseball and basketball. Outside school, he enjoys playing sports with his friends.

Marissa is the eighth grade World Language student of the month. She is a dedicated and studious student who completes all her assignments on time with excellence, in precision and accuracy. With an A+ average, Marissa volunteers daily to answer questions, provide examples, explain Spanish language rules, and provide guidance to partners in class. She is a role model and an honor roll student. She is a member of the Builders Club, the school newspaper, the yearbook, Friends of Rachel, Acts of Kindness, the band, and the stage band. Marissa volunteers at the YMCA and for Giving Back Girls. She also enjoys reading, practicing her clarinet, and spending time with friends.

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The Blue Knight boys soccer team presented check to the United Way of Southington as a result of team fundraising. Above, varsity captains present a check to Kaye Davis, Executive Director of the United Way of Southington.

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Civil rights activist/author Deacon Arthur Miller engages students at the high school.

By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

On Jan. 15, a Southington High School (SHS) English teacher welcomed a semi-annual guest speaker to talk to students about his experiences during the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s.

Deacon Arthur Miller said he visits around 30 to 40 schools all over the country from Yale to the University of California. Despite his busy schedule, he makes time to come to SHS twice a year to share his personal story and message for young people.

“This is probably the only place I come to twice a year,” said Miller.

SHS English Teacher Janice Zaccardo said that she invites Miller to speak twice each year after teaching the civil rights unit to her class.

“Some of the students heard him speak when they were freshman, and they still come to hear him speak now that they’re seniors,” said Zaccardo.

Miller spoke a lot about his childhood at his most recent visit.

Miller grew up in Chicago in a segregated America and was friends with Emmett Till, a black teenager who was brutally murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi in 1955. Miller said Till lived in his neighborhood.

“He sat next to my brother in school,” said Miller of his childhood friend.

Miller said that he got to know Till really well the summer before he was killed. Miller had witnessed a group of boys, including Till, break the car windows of a negro league baseball player who lived in the area.

Although he didn’t participate in the window bashing, Miller said he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and somehow ended up being grouped in with the boys when it came time for punishment. Miller said the boys had to clean up the man’s yard every day for two weeks.

Miller said that the day Till died changed him forever.

“I had a blissful childhood until that day,” said Miller. “It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with.”

As an adult, Miller went on to write a book about Till called “The Journey to Chatham: Why Emmet Till’s Murder Changed America.”

“When you look in the history books it says that Emmet Till was murdered for whistling at a white woman, but that’s not true,” said Miller. “He was murdered because that community was evil.”

However, Miller said he believes Till’s death sparked the beginning of the civil rights movement.

When Miller graduated high school in 1963, he became heavily involved in the civil rights movement and participated in protests led by Martin Luther King Jr. Some of the consequences of those protests included being arrested and risking his life for the cause of equality.

Although Miller’s story seemed to be a courageous one, he explained to the students that he was not always fearless. He told the students at SHS that when he was in high school he was also afraid of what people think.

Deacon Miller told the story of a young girl at his high school who was bullied by everyone—a story that many of the students could relate to. Although Miller said he did not participate in the name-calling and harassment, he said he still wishes he had stood up for her and been her friend.

“There is so much pressure to be cool, but if you have the courage to stand up and you will feel so much better about who you are,” said Miller.

Miller told the group of students about the Little Rock 9, a group of nine black students, who were the first to integrate into an all-white school. Miller spoke about the iconic image of a slanderous mob of grown adults harassing a 15 year-old black girl, Elizabeth Eckford, on her way to school.

After being prevented to enter the school by the chaotic crowd, Eckford sat down on a nearby bench by herself. Miller explained how one woman came out of the crowd and made sure Eckford got on a bus safely back home. Miller used this woman as an example of standing up for someone else in the face of adversity and said that the woman’s house was burned down the next day as a result.

“When you stand up for some other kid, they might call you names, too,” said Miller. “But you stand up, because that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Miller also had an encouraging message for those who are the victims of bullies in school.

“The people who call you names, text, and tweet about you cannot diminish your value,” said Miller. “Don’t let anyone take your value, because they didn’t give it to you. It’s yours, and you all have the same value. You are all valuable.”

Miller said that he makes an effort to share this message with the youth, because it’s an age-old problem.

“When I look at them I’m talking to that 14 year old me and I wish someone would have told me you’re all the same,” said Miller.

To comment on this story or to contact staff writer Lindsay Carey, email her at lcarey@ southingtonobserver.com.

By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

The Derynoski Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is holding its first annual Home and Business Show on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.in the school’s cafeteria.

Derynoski Elementary School PTO member Laura Rothkopf said she got the idea to do the home and business show from surrounding towns.

“I thought Southington doesn’t have anything like this,” said Rothkopf. “I think it would be a great idea to have a home and business show in Southington, because there are so many businesses in town that people don’t know about.”

Rothkopf said that the PTO decided to host the event, because it was a good way to get the community and local businesses together to hopefully generate more money for these businesses.

Along with helping out local businesses, the event will also support the students at Derynoski. Participating businesses can reserve a table with two chairs at the event for $30 and $10 for each additional table.

“We’re hoping to have 30 to 35 businesses,” said Rothkopf. “We still have a couple more openings.”

The deadline for businesses to send in the form and check made out to Derynoski Elementary School PTO is Jan. 28.

The money collected from these tables will go towards the fundraising efforts of the PTO to support the outdoor equipment at the school, buses, and will help keep the field trip costs at a reasonable rate for families.

Rothkopf also said that the PTO supports the needs of the teachers by supplying all of the smart boards and helping fund classroom needs like bookcases and school supplies.

For more information about the first annual Home and Business Show, email Rothkopf at lrrimp@ gmail.com.

By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

The Middle School construction projects at both Kennedy and DePaolo Middle Schools are moving along on schedule.

“We’re in phase 10 in both schools,” said Chairman of the Middle School Building Committee Ed Pocock Jr. “We have two more phases after that to do.”

Pocock Jr. said the project has been successful thus far, because of all the people involved in the project.

“I’ve got good people on the building committee,” said Pocock Jr. “Although, renovations have been a little tough, the Newfield Construction team has done an excellent job of picking up the pieces.

The Chairman of Middle School Building Committee also said the teachers, paraprofessionals, and staff at the two schools have been cooperative during all of the phases, which has also contributed to the project moving along smoothly.

“A lot of the heavy lifting is done,” said Pocock Jr. “We basically stripped the schools.”

He also said the auditoriums in the schools have come out looking better than ever. Pocock Jr. said that the cost effective decision to keep the old seats in the auditoriums and redo them has paid off.

“It came out really nice,” said Pocock Jr.

Pocock Jr. also said that the building committee has made sure the air quality in the schools has been tested frequently.

“If there’s an air quality problem we want to know why,” said Pocock Jr. “Right now, the air quality in those schools is better than some of our homes.”

According to the Chairman, there are between seven to 12 rooms left to be renovated and generators for each school with RFQ’s out on them.

However, Pocock said that the project is on track to be ready for students’ return to school in August.

Chris Palmieri also gave the Middle School construction projects a vote of confidence at the Town Council meeting on Jan. 12.

“We are on schedule dare I say even a little ahead of schedule,” said Palmieri. “All of the work outside is complete; all of the new construction is complete. We’re just renovating existing parts of the building.”

Palmieri said that the second to last phase of the project will be complete in April and then the final phase of the project will be underway between April and August.

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On Friday, Dec. 12, more than 100 Strong Elementary School students stayed after class to decorate homemade salt dough ornaments, and the decorations were packaged by the 5th grade STEPS committee. The ornaments were eventually hand delivered by the students to Mulberry Gardens and The Orchards.  A small tag was attached to each packaged ornament to help remind our community to value our youth, our future.

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By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

The Board of Education (BOE) finalized the budget for the 2015-2016 school year, and the board unanimously approved spending $90,197,401 with a 3.59 percent increase from last year’s budget.

Director of Business and Finance Sherri DiNello presented the budget, which she crafted along with school administrators based on the year to year needs of the school system. It also includes new requests from the Board of Education in budget workshops.

Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski opened the floor for discussion on some of the new items in the 2015-2016 year budget.

Some of the major items of discussion included providing more support for the English Language Learners (ELL), more assistance in the Pupil Services department for the district, and whether or not to financially support after-school enrichment programs.

Terry Lombardi opened with an impassioned discussion regarding the English Language Learners (ELLs) within the Southington Public Schools.

Dinello invited Derynoski Elementary School Assistant Principal Kelly Nichols to share data regarding the amount of instruction time ELLs are currently receiving.

Nichols shared that only 12 percent of new ELLs are receiving one hour of English Language Service (ELS) per day, which is the recommendation by the State Department of Education for all newly identified ELL students in the school system.

Nichols explained that there has been an influx of ELLs coming into the schools system. Within the past 12 months she said the district has a received 40 additional ELLs, which are considered the high priority population of students.

Five full-time ELL tutors and one part time ELL tutor are currently servicing 105 ELLs. With 40 of those students considered high priority, district administrators were looking to this budget to add another full time tutor in order to help bridge the gap in instruction time.

According to Nichols, 37.5 percent of newly identified ELL students are receiving one hour per week of service and only 7.5 percent of that group is receiving the state recommended hour per day within a small group setting.

“We would reduce the number of students who are only getting one hour per week of service and slowly start to increase their service hours and obviously we’re trying to close that gap and get as close to one hour a day as possible,” said Nichols.

An additional full time ELL tutor would allow 12 students currently receiving one hour per week to receive two to four hours per week, and that would allow two more students to receive one hour per day.

“It may not be 100 percent of what we’re looking for, but I think it’s a step in the right direction,” said Board of Education member Dave Derynoski before making the motion to approve an additional full time ELL tutor to bring the total to 6.5 tutors.

The Board approved the inclusion of an additional full time ELL tutor to the 2015-2016 budget, although, Lombardi, who began the discussion, was the only one to vote ‘no’ on the item.

“I would like more,” said Lombardi.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connellan and the Director of Pupil Service Margaret Walsh advocated adding another Special Education coordinator to the Pupil Services department at a salary of $115,950.

Connellan referred to adding this position as “cost containment and cost prevention” with benefits across the entire district from Pre-K through age 21.

“I really believe that in the long run we will be in a situation where we will be spending fewer dollars to place students out, and I think we’ll be spending fewer dollars down the road for legal fees,” said Connellan. “We can provide some of those services that are being provided outside, inside.”

Connellan said that adding another coordinator would bring at least two students back into existing Special Education programs in the district, which would cover the new coordinator’s position by reducing out-of-district placement costs. It would not affect the budget at all.

Kennedy Middle School Principal Steven Madancy spoke in support of this telling the Board that coordinators are being “spread pretty thin”.

“It has a ripple effect on the entire organization,” said Madancy. “[As a principal] you get lengthy daily correspondences and parents are waiting for a reply, but sometimes it’s not as simple as us just replying to the email. We look for some guidance and oversight as well in certain situations. If the coordinators or the director are not available then the delay starts.”

The Superintendent said that the issue is not the quality of the staff. It’s about not having enough oversight needed for the Special Education programs while also providing assistance to administrators dealing with parents, lawyers, and suspensions.

Walsh explained how she would restructure the Pupil Services department if a new coordinator was to be added. She said that she would have one high school coordinator, one coordinator for both of the middle schools, two coordinators for preschool and elementary schools, and the final coordinator would be responsible for out-of-district placement.

Board of Education Member Terri Carmody requested that Walsh take more time to view the system as the director, because she’s only been there for three months. Carmody asked to see if she could restructure the program with the current employees before adding another position.

However, the rest of the board voted to add another Special Education coordinator to the budget.

“We as a board made a vision that Special Education mattered. It’s 25 percent of our budget and we brought in two professionals,” Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski said about Connellan and Walsh, who were both hired in 2014. “I don’t care if they were here two days or two years, if they can give us a plan and show cost avoidance and balance, we have to do it.”

The only topic of discussion that did not pass and was removed from the budget was financial support from the BOE to support enrichment opportunities.

These enrichment opportunities included a robotics program, a gardening club, and a drama club as after-school programs. Some of the schools currently have these programs, but they are run by parent or teacher volunteers and funded by grants.

Board of Education member Colleen Clark felt it was the responsibility of the schools to come and request funding for a program rather than the Board of Education handing out the money. Lombardi said she felt it inappropriate to fund enrichment opportunities when the basic needs of ELL students were not being met.

However, Johnson advocated for enrichment opportunities saying they are “a valuable part of the educational process.”

“A different value than those who are learning to speak English, but here we are having children who are learning to speak science and technology and math, so this is a different kind of language for children to learn,” said Board of Education member Patricia Johnson.

The board was seemingly split on whether or not to provide enrichment opportunities, and Chairman Goralski swung the vote, agreeing with Clark that the schools should advocate for these programs without BOE funding.

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Town Council Chair Mike Riccio shared the progress of Southington’s economic development at the State of the Town dinner.

By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

Town Councilors spoke about the changes in town government and on their special committees within the last year at the Chamber Legislative Committee 6th annual State of the Town dinner.

Seven of the nine town councilors spoke about recent accomplishments and concerns on projects in town.

Chairman Michael Riccio praised economic development, reasonable spending, and the council’s decision to invest more into economic development budget.

Riccio also celebrated the Economic Development office’s successful partnerships with Lake Compounce and ESPN as well as being involved in the planning process expanding Lincoln College.

He also touted projects of industrial growth and the success of small businesses in town at the Reverse Solutions and Chamber Legislative committee sponsored dinner.

“In the last year alone we have seen business and industrial expansion in the likes of which we haven’t seen in Southington since the 1970s,” said Riccio. “That expansion is taking place within our industrial parks, downtown business districts and tourism industry.”

He also discussed how a high bond rating has allowed the town to sell bonds to finance capital projects including improvements to roads, parks, and buildings, like the plans to renovate the Calendar House.

Stephanie Urillo spoke about success in public health through her work as a sub -committee member of the regionalized health district of Southington and Plainville. She complemented Director of the Southington-Plainville Regional Health District on his efficient communication to the public when a few Ebola cases began being seen in different areas of the country.

Urillo also said that throughout the health district 650 flu shots were administered.

In addition to those successes in public health, Urillo discussed Southington’s opportunity to come out a groundbreaking tattoo ordinance to inspect practices in tattoo parlors to ensure cleanliness and safety for customers. The public hearing for the tattoo ordinance will be on Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Center.

Urillo also discussed progress with open space in town. As Open Space Committee Chair, she said that the committee was acknowledged for excellence in conservation organization, which was a result of the establishment of a Forest Management Plan for Crescent Lake.

“The management plan is going to ensure overall forest health by providing and giving 35 acres of mature trees room to grow,” said Urillo. “It’s also a great opportunity for the public to learn about forest management.”

She also spoke about other projects the committee has tackled since last year such as the beginning stages of a new Plan of Conservation and Development and the town acquiring Pleasant View Stables.

Town Councilor Dawn Miceli had positive updates as well regarding the town initiative she spear headed to combat vandalism especially in areas like the ice rink and the rails to trails.

Miceli worked with the Southington Police Department, STEPS, Chamber of Commerce board members, and the Youth Council to build an anti-vandalism campaign going to reduce damage to businesses in town. She also acknowledged Southington Boy Scouts for being the volunteer vandalism cleanup crew, which is free of charge to businesses affected by vandalism in Southington and serves as a quick response to show vandals the error of their ways.

In addition to the progress she has seen Miceli shared a concern of hers, which is the new new type of road paving and road maintenance practice for the being used in Southington, known as chip sealing.

“It’s new here in Southington, and to date I have not unfortunately seen the benefits and have instead seen the wear and tear on vehicles that the asphalt chips can make, the need for revamping of the roads surface after the plows come through, the marring of driveways and lawns from the chip seal and the overall ill aesthetic of our roads,” said Miceli.

Town Councilor Cheryl Lounsbury said that the Sewer Committee was “in the midst of a perfect storm” when she took it over due to loss of equipment and not being a priority in past budgets.

However, she shared this past year’s success with the Sewer Committee referendum question, which will allow much needed upgrades to the sewer system and shared that the town will see savings in the near future as a result.

“We’re saving a significant amount of electricity, which is going to allow us next year to decrease our sewer rate by five percent for residential sewer payers on the fixed part of their bill and that happened in less than a year,” said Lounsbury.

Town Councilor Chris Palmieri wasn’t as positive about the sewer rates. He shared his concern regarding the budget practices that led to the increase in sewer rates for tax payers this year.

Palmieri also spoke about the successful Apple Harvest festival, STEPS securing the drug-free communities grant, and having an open dialogue with Hartford Healthcare regarding the future of the Hospital of Central Connecticut Bradley campus. He also shared a progress report on the construction projects at the two middle school renovations calling them both “under budget and ahead of schedule.”

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On Thursday, Jan. 22, the Southington High School marching band was honored at the Southington Board of Education meeting for winning the 2014 state championship. The Blue Knight program earned state titles in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2014.

Photo by Lindsay Carey

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The Southington High School counseling department is offering a seminar aimed at high school juniors and their families. The informational session “Navigating the College Process” is designed to help families form a plan for future college students.

A power point presentation about college admission requirements and admission processes will be the main focus of the program.

The seminar will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m., in the high school auditorium. All students and parents of the Class of 2016 are encouraged to attend.

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Representatives from Sikorsky Aircraft tried to inspire young engineers at Derynoski Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The hands-on program for students in kindergarten through grade 5 ran throughout the day.

Photos by TAMMI NAUDUS

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Process Engineer Rick DiMauro demonstrates a wind tunnel for Gavin Anderson, left, and Ben Gorr, right, in the school auditorium.

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Students can’t wait to test their wind tunnel projects.

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Ryan Teixeira makes an air foil to be used in the wind tunnel.

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Sikorsky pilot Keith Harper gives a presentation before the hands-on segment.

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Kate Casey-Loban, from the International Military Department of Sikorsky, works with Shanice Lurry, Thomas Sagnella, and Noah Babik.

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Kate Casey prepares Christina Demchars’ fifth grade class.

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Sikorsky engineer Sean McGuinness welcomes the students.

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St. Dominic Principal Patricia Tiezzi, left, and St. Thomas Principal Mary Wirkus, right, discuss the merger of their schools for next year.

By LINDSAY CAREY
STAFF WRITER

A town hall meeting for parents and parishioners from local Catholic churches was held at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in Plantsville on Thursday, Feb. 5. It offered an opportunity to discuss the merging of St. Dominic and St. Thomas schools at the St. Thomas campus for the 2015-2016 school year.

A collaborative presentation was given to parents, before the floor was opened up for questions about the merger.

Father Ronald May of St. Dominic’s Church began the presentation with an explanation for why the merger is needed. May shared that enrollment has been declining at both schools for some time now.

“A year ago, our school board was putting together a budget for St. Dominic’s. We had forecast about 146 students for this year and we came up with 20 short. Now 20 short is roughly equivalent to $100,000,” said May.

May made a direct correlation between the declines in enrollment with the declining number of Catholics.

“We have a culture that’s becoming more and more secular,” he said. “When the numbers decline and fewer people come to church, fewer people are open to or willing to even consider Catholic school.”

He also attributed declines in enrollment to the decline in kindergarten enrollment in both schools, especially after other schools began to offer full-day kindergarten.

Overall declining enrollment in kindergarten affects the future of the school because schools rely on those students to move on to the next grade and fill classes.

“When Southington Public schools went to full-day kindergarten, we lost more than half the children,” said May.

He shared that St. Dominic School has just 12 students in kindergarten this year, and St. Thomas School only has five.

As a result of a decline in enrollment, both schools have been struggling with their budget.

“This past year and this year we’ve had to pull in all our resources so we have nothing in reserve for the coming year,” said May.

He explained that the merger is necessary in order to ensure financial stability and viability of both schools. May shared that both pastors came together, because they felt like the schools would not survive on their own.

“So what do we do? Do we just let the schools die or do we take the initiative before it happens.” said May. “Unless we take the initiative, both schools will fail. That’s pretty evident.”

He also discussed the hope that this merger would draw in other parishes from across Southington and become the stepping stone to building a town-wide, regional Catholic school.

Father Nicholas Melo of St. Thomas Church shared his support of the merger as well at the town hall meeting.

“It’s becoming increasingly difficult for any one parish to maintain a school on its own in this economic climate and, to ensure the economic viability of Catholic education here in Southington, we felt that we needed to be proactive rather than reactive,” said Melo. “In the long term we felt like this was the direction we needed to go.”

Melo shared how the pastors went about making the decision. The pastors formed an exploratory committee, which included parish trustees and chairs of the finance councils from both churches. Together, they made the decision to go in this direction.

A timeline on the decision-making process was also shared at the meeting. The timeline revealed that a letter was sent to the Arch Bishop on behalf of the exploratory committee as early as October 2014.

It also revealed that the two school principals, Patricia Tiezzi of St. Dominic School and MaryPat Wirkus of St. Thomas school, were notified in November.

A “Steering Committee” was assembled in December to assist the pastors in making decisions. Last December, the Arch Bishop responded to pastors acknowledging and supporting their decision. Parents and teachers were notified of the merge in January.

Some parishioners and parents at the meeting said that they were still stunned by this decision. Many shared that they felt that the decision was made behind closed doors with communications to parents beginning very late in the process.

Other parents were more supportive of the decision to merge.

Gina Marcantonio-Wotton, St. Thomas School and Steering Committee member, spoke about why parents should enroll their child into this new school.

“The closing of St. Thomas and St. Dominic is very emotional for both sides, for many reasons, but it’s a sign of the times where many communities across the country have already successfully consolidated multiple schools into one school community,” said Marcantonio-Wotton. “It’s not going to be easy, but we have been given an amazing opportunity to have a say in what this school will look like.”

Marcantonio-Woton promised that the merge would bring the best of both schools into one, specifically, that the best technology from both schools would be installed.

The meeting also revealed that the school would be run by pastors of both parishes, a school board composed of members of both parishes, and that Tiezzi and Wirkus would serve as co-principals during the first year.

Faculty selection was another major concern for parents and teachers of both schools. Current teachers will have to submit a letter of intent stating that they would like to teach at the new school, and those teachers will be interviewed by both principals this month.

Teachers will be selected upon recommendation of the co-principals. However, the pastors will make the final selection.

Other than the physical space and faculty, there won’t be many other changes to the school’s structure. The curriculum will remain the same and the class sizes will be held to 25 students or less.

Any child currently enrolled in St. Dominic or St. Thomas gets a guaranteed a spot in the new school, and other students will be put on a waiting list

Transportation will continue to be provided by Southington Public Schools, and hot lunches will also continue be offered for those that wish to participate.

However, in order to comply with Southington Public Schools transportation schedules, St. Dominic’s school will be losing 15 minutes of their school day. This decision was debated by some parents, but the co-principals shared that this call was unavoidable.

The final tuition will be presented to parents at another meeting in March, and faculty selection is expected to be completed in March as well.

To comment on this story or to contact staff writer Lindsay Carey, email her at LCarey@SouthingtonObserver.com.

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Matt Maxwell, left, and Alex Jamele, center, commit to play football at Central CT State University next year. Matt Steeves, right, will play at Bryant University.

By BRIAN JENNINGS
STAFF WRITER

Click. Click. Flash. Flash. Cameras snapped pictures, capturing the smiles that filled the room. Audio recorders surrounded the blue helmet with the big “S” that sat on the table next to a football. The pens were out and they were ready to sign.

Wednesday, Feb. 4 was the NCAA’s initial signing date for football National Letters of Intent across the country. Southington High School had three student athletes committing to play collegiate football.

After the long process of filling out online questionnaires, sending game film to coaches, making phone calls, and traveling to offseason camps and one-day clinics, Matt Maxwell (WR/DB), Alex Jamele (WR), and Matt Steeves (C/G) were ready to sign the papers and begin their journeys.

Maxwell was deciding between Assumption College, Southern Connecticut State University, or Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). And for Jamele, it came down to a couple of walk-on offers, but mainly Southern Connecticut State University and Central Connecticut State University.

After careful consideration, both will be seeing more blue, committing to CCSU together to play football for the NCAA Division I Blue Devils.

“Their program is awesome, said Maxwell. “They’re on the rise already, building new facilities. The team is starting to get some good seasons going. Alex and I going there is huge.”

“The biggest part about Central was that they were really outgoing,” said Jamele. “They wanted me as a player. Just their facilities and coaches…their team was really outgoing towards me. I just want to be a part of the rebuilding and everything they have going on right now.”

Maxwell will be attending CCSU as an undecided freshman, but said he is thinking about studying business as his major.

Jamele will also be attending CCSU as an undecided freshman, but said he is thinking about studying business or computer science as his major.

Even though they will be wearing different blue jerseys this coming fall, Maxwell and Jamele said that they have countless memories of Southington football and won’t forget playing for Blue Knight football coach Mike Drury.

“Some of the best feelings that I’ve had were here,” said Maxwell. “And the best games I’ve ever played in, especially the state championships were here. It was an indescribable feeling being there, and I’ll never forget that. All the hard work that I’ve put in is going to help me the rest of my life.”

“I’ll never forget my high school career here…those two state championships and scoring some touchdowns,” said Jamele, who currently holds the state record for touchdown receptions for a single season (29 in 2013) and career (50). “He started coaching when we were freshmen and was our coach for four years. He’s really been an inspiration throughout the whole four years. He’s really a role model to everyone in this program. He’s a great guy. He’s helped me throughout this whole process and I’m really going to miss him next year.”

Steeves will not be teammates with Jamele or Maxwell next season, but he said that playing for Drury helped prepare him for the next level.

“Coach Drury always pushed everyone, especially me personally,” he said. “When I came in as a sophomore to the varsity program, I was pretty overweight and slower. He always got on me about getting my weight down and working my hardest. He engrained that work-hard-mentality into me. I could never repay him for that. He’s been a fantastic coach throughout my high school football career.”

At the end of the day, it came down to two schools for Steeves: NCAA Division II Bentley University and NCAA Division I Bryant University. He went with the Bryant Bulldogs.

“I knew that they had a fantastic academic program, especially for what I want to do,” said Steeves. “And when I combine that with the football piece, you have a program that is incredible and on the rise. I can’t say enough about them. The campus was great. The guys were great.”

Steeves plans to study actuarial mathematics and finance.

Southington football coach Mike Drury admired the consistency and effort that Maxwell, Jamele, and Steeves have put into everything they’ve done in high school.

“All three of these guys didn’t just do it on Friday nights or Saturdays,” said Drury. “They did it everyday in practice too. They have great talent and tremendous grit. There are a lot of kids at the next level that have talent, but what these kids will bring to the table is the work ethic…the want to do better and the want to be better. And when you put that together with talent, you’re going to have a special player. That’s the message I try to get across to these coaches. These are the type of young men that you’re going to be getting.”

Maxwell, Jamele, and Steeves are leaving a program that has compiled a 34-2 record, since their arrival to playing varsity football for the Blue Knights.

“I have a great relationship with these guys,” said Drury. “We’ve put a ton of hours in together, not just during the season, but during the offseason as well. It starts in December or January after the season and it goes throughout the entire year. You get to see them develop as young men. It’s not always easy. It’s not always smiles and all that good stuff. But I’ll remember doing something great, while enjoying our time and accomplishing it together.”

To comment on this story or to contact sports writer Brian Jennings, email him at BJennings@SouthingtonObserver.com.