First graders Reagan Wildman, Sarah Nicholas
and Arielle Segal-Gould under their self-portraits.
Alex Hird (right), a kindergartner-in-waiting,
drew a self-portrait and placed it under his first-grade sister
Rachel's picture.
Sixth-grader Kate Swann with her pastel,
"Ocean Mystery."
The Youngest
Take the Stage
Dunia Habboosh belts it out.
Words and pictures by Betsy Driebeek
Because there is so much talent at Bear Path School, the 2006 PTA-sponsored talent show turned into a two-parter. Grades three through six performed last week, and kindergarteners, first- and second-graders had their turn Thursday afternoon.
In need of a stage, the troops moved up the street to Alice Peck School, once again. There, drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, singers, dancers and a scarf juggler strutted their stuff to a delighted audience. The MCs were young students as well.
Bear Path students Gabriella Colello, Luke
Arabolos and Erik Holmquist.
Bear Path parent Geneene Luedee dedicated much of her time and passion over the last three weeks to these children -- and it showed.
Jackson Chapelle and Alex Tingley.
Could it become an annual event? Hope so.
And Dean Luedee on drums.
HDN reporter Betsy Driebeek can be reached at betsydriebeek@hamdendailynews.com.
Waking
Up Alice
Theresa Shine, sixth-grader, acrobatics.
Alice Peck School came alive with kindergartners through sixth-graders Friday night, a rare sight for the school that was "closed" by the Board of Ed in 2004. Bear Path, which lacks a stage, had come to perform a talent show.
"We searched 47 countries to look for talent," said Anthony Bonadies, husband of talent show coordinator Linda Bonadies. "And it just so happens that the best talent was at Bear Path School."
Zach Jolles, fourth-grader, saxophone; Rachel
Laster, fourth-grader, dance; Chris
Shine, sixth-grader, piano.
Before he handed the mic to the kids, Bonadies joked: "President Bush came two days too early. He was supposed to be here tonight."
For the next two and a half hours, 10 MCs announced 26 singing, dancing, musical instrument, acrobatic, band and karate acts.
Jodie Richetelle, sixth-grader, dance.
Last night's performance included third- through sixth-graders. The younger children will get their chance to wake up Alice Peck on April 13 at 5 p.m. The Bear Path PTA is sponsoring the shows.
HDN reporter Betsy Driebeek can be reached at betsydriebeek@hamdendailynews.com.
Middle
School Construction May Be Halted
Workers must sift through this debris, taken
from the middle school site, to look for more artifacts.
Indian artifacts found under sports field
Story and photos by Betsy Driebeek
Yesterday afternoon, a construction worker stepped down from his excavator on the backfields of the new middle school and spotted what he said looked like a bone on the ground near his feet. On closer inspection, he said it looked more like a clay pipe.
"It looked more like a clay pipe," said the worker who asked to be anonymous.
By late afternoon, the amateur archeologist who was the first to find signs of Indian artifacts at the TrailsideVillage building site on 3594 Whitney Ave. was called in to examine the find. He also asked for anonymity.
There's an artifact
just left of that little piece of log.
Leaving the artifact in its place and sweeping around it with a brush, he said he found pieces of pottery and stone implements nearby. That was enough to cause all equipment and personnel ordered off the backfield -- as carefully as possible.
Just one week ago, Konover Construction was given the go-ahead by the School Building Committee to start excavating the extensive stump dump, which is dragging the completion of the sports fields. The section where the artifacts were found is just beyond the dump on undisturbed land.
As in the case of the new Village on Whitney, the state archeologist has been called and will arrive Monday to inspect the site. Until then, both tire and foot traffic must remain off the area.
Art Was
the Evening
Paris craft.
Words and pictures by Betsy Driebeek
A huge crowd last night attended the first Fine Arts Showcase, held at Hamden High School. People were forced to park in the next-door Plaza parking lot. "To be honest, we didn't expect such a huge turnout," said Amy Golda, director of fine arts for the Hamden schools.
Spring Glen fifth-grader Kathleen Fedorchak
points to her work entitled, "Korhogo
Cloth,"
a crayon-resist oil pastel.
Clay heads by fifth graders.
The art was visual, dramatic and musical, representing the work of children from every school and grade. The purpose was to "expose art to the town and show off a variety of things we do," said Golda.
-
Paris craft and mixed media. Mixed
Media construction.
Standing in the midst of the artwork Leslie Della Valle, one of five high school art teachers, said, "It is great for kids to see their art on display. This is their big day."
Ceramics
In addition to the K-12 visual art, the Hamden High orchestra, jazz combo and swing choir and the middle school drumline performed. And for a touch of dramatic art, high school students performed one-act plays.
'The
Best School in the World' Displays Imagination
The people of Spring Glen School.
Story and photos by Betsy Driebeek
Last evening, the Spring Glen School held its annual art show. Despite the art-room break-in and arson the night before, the place was bustling with over 350 children and adults.
Principal Cheryl Townsend and art teacher/show coordinator Patrick Sullivan said they were determined to see the show go on. "Everyone would have been disappointed. I had lots of support from the custodial staff and teachers," Sullivan said.
"We reorganized and you'd never know" there had been a fire there nearly 24 hours earlier, said Townsend. The art room was closed while fans aired it out. Nothing needed for the show had been damaged, she said.
Nicolette DeStefano makes a didgeridoos.
Liam Clune gets his hands into some Native
American sand painting.
Halls were lined with students' drawings. Children were inside classrooms carving arctic animals out of soap, building Australian didgeridoos (musical instruments) with paper towel tubes, creating an Aztec sun out of clay, making an African stone passing game called Mancala, designing Native American sand art and painting the Sistine Chapel.
Hani Nasser and his wife, Laura, with sons
Omar (left) and Nasser, and daughters Alia'a (left) and Nora
by their Arabian Peninsula display.
There was a "mini world museum" consisting of traditional clothing and other items parents shared from their heritage. German, Italian and Greek refreshments were served. And the "Art Night Band" played musical selections from around the world.
Inside the school's Pakistani mini-museum.
Sullivan said many former Spring Glen students were there.
"It makes me feel so good when so many people come back from the middle school and high school ... that they want to come back because they remember their art nights," he said.
At the close of the show, Sullivan praised the custodial staff and the teachers for the extra effort they made to put the show on this year. "Once again, you proved to me that this is the best school in the world," he said.
By Betsy Driebeek
Where to dump the stumps and how to protect the new middle school from further vandalism were the two main issues on the School Building Committee's agenda last night.
The sport fields are at a standstill pending the removal of an extensive stump dump discovered after construction began.
"My fear is if I don't start getting it out in the next 10 days, it will hurt my schedule," said Ross Mezzanotte, project manager for Konover Construction.
The town landfill was considered to be the best place until recently when the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission determined there was more wetland there than previously thought, placing a question mark on whether the stumps could be dumped there. Mezzanotte said he's awaiting word from the commission if he can use the landfill and said he may not get an answer for months.
The alternative is to continue to stockpile at the construction site, building a new pile separate from all previously collected debris. If that option is used, the debris would have to be moved twice because at some point it would have to be hauled away.
The SBC voted to allow Konover to spend no more than $500,000 to begin relocation of the stump dump, including ripping up and replacing an access road that runs through the fields and replacing pipes buried underneath.
The committee switched gears to the recent arson in a storage room off the main corridor. Mezzanotte took a walk through the area with building inspector Robert Labulis. "Everything has to come down to the skeleton and then that will be inspected," Mezzanotte said.
Due to smoke traveling through the ceiling there was ancillary damage at high levels. The top of the surrounding sheet rock has to be cut to inspect the insulation and and replace it if necessary.
Assistant Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez asked if there are plans to contact the state Department of Health. He said he was concerned the residual damage could cause health problems. Mezzanotte said he'll contact the state.
Committee Chair Curt Leng asked Mezzanotte what he was doing to prevent further vandalism.
"All doors have locks on them and a security system is in place," he said. And police are patrolling the area more. Asked if he had installed extra lights, Mezzanotte said he had not. The SBC instructed him to do so and to compare the cost difference between a police officer and security guard.
Committee member Michael D'Agostino interrupted the meeting. He had just been informed by Hernandez there was a fire at Spring Glen School and the school had been vandalized.
Fire, Vandalism
Hit the New Middle School
By Sharon Bass
This morning at 6:20, workers at the new middle school discovered a storage area that appeared to have been set on fire last night and then self-extinguished, according to a Hamden police press release. The building was broken into and a construction vehicle in "the lot was pushed over an embankment causing damage to the vehicle."
Local police and the Hamden and state Fire Marshal offices are investigating the incident for burglary, vandalism and possible arson. The new school is located at 2623 Dixwell Ave.
According to Councilman Curt Leng, chair of the School Building Committee, the damage is estimated at $75,000-$200,000. He said he doesn't believe the destruction would delay the opening of the school this fall.
"I'm very frustrated that it happened and I'll tell you why," said Leng. "Before the [March 9 SBC meeting], I went to the middle school site to take a walkthrough. I was able to walk right onto the site and walk into the building. I was looking for someone [because] there was music playing [inside], a small stereo. That day there were probably four or five openings [to the school].
"At the meeting that night, I discussed the issue with Konover," Leng continued. "We have talked a lot about security when the school opens, but it's very un-secure right now."
He said at the March 9 meeting the building committee told Konover Construction to tighten security at the school site by taking such steps as installing outdoor lighting, putting up more stable fencing around the entire property, possibly hiring a security guard and putting up temporary plywood doors where there are openings, that can be locked. Leng said he doesn't know if Konover followed through on any of those measures.
Council President Al Gorman said a large piece of concrete was thrown through a window in the back of the school for the trespassers to gain entry to the first-floor storage area, where the fire occurred. "The biggest problem is smoke damage. That's where we're going to incur the cost," he said. Gorman said there are a couple of security cameras set up but none in the back in the building. (Altogether, 75 cameras will be placed in and outside of building.)
He said about a week ago the electrician's trailer at the middle school site was broken into and one of his vehicles was damaged.
Ross Mezzanotte, project manager for Konover Construction, refused to comment.
Mayor Craig Henrici called the act "senseless" but said he shouldn't comment further because of the investigation.
According to police, similar incidents have occurred this month at Hamden High and Aces. Both were reported on March 13. The high school was forcibly entered, damaging several doors. The trespassers entered the pool area and threw garbage around.
Aces, at 261 Skiff St.,was also forcibly entered and fire extinguishers were sprayed inside the building. And on Jan. 22, someone entered the current Hamden Middle School at 515 Newhall St. and vandalized a trophy display case.
Police suspect the incidents are related. Anyone with information should contact the Hamden Police Investigative Services Division at 230.4040. All information will be kept confidential.
Two Hamden Schools on the Edge
This year's CMT scores will determine their fate
By Betsy Driebeek
The pressure is on for the kids at Church Street and Dunbar Hill schools. Like other third- through sixth-graders, they are in the midst of taking the Connecticut Mastery Tests (CMTs). But the stakes are higher for the Church and Dunbar students.
Last fall, the Hamden school system was designated a "district in need of improvement" because of unsatisfactory CMT results from those two elementary schools. The label was issued because some students did not reach the state-specified goals. So the state placed the two elementary schools on probation.
If either Dunbar Hill or Church Street is put on probation again, the town must offer all that school's students the option to attend a different school in the district with transportation provided, to attend an area charter school or to get outside tutors -- at no expense to the families.
"Priority is given to lowest-achieving, low-income students," said Hamden Assistant Superintendent Portia Bonner.
When asked if these possible expenses have been built into the proposed 2006-2007 Board of Education budget, Bonner said, "Such mandates are to be covered by [federal] Title I funds. If we need to provide these mandates, funds would be reallocated."
Title I money is distributed to districts based on the percentage of low-income students. Hamden has five Title I elementary schools this year: Church Street, Dunbar Hill, Helen Street, Ridge Hill and Shepherd Glen. Title I funds have already been spent on tutors at both Church Street and Dunbar Hill.
Bonner on NCLB
The CMTs are given in accordance with the No Child Left Behind act touted by the Bush Administration as a way to close achievement gaps by 2014. However, states have sued the federal government because the mandate has not been funded, and critics say it puts too much emphasis on teaching for tests.
The assistant super gave it mixed reviews.
"Yes, we are more accountable to parents. It has made us begin to focus on the needs of children we were not reaching, and we have a higher expectation of students," said Bonner. "But the focus in the classroom is on meeting the goals. Are we helping [students] prepare for life or are they just learning the skills needed to take and pass tests?"
A couple of teachers who asked to remain anonymous concurred. "Teachers are no longer asked, 'What do you think would be best for your class?' It doesn't matter. We are not able to teach life lessons," said one.
Another said, "We have to cram so much into three-month semesters, there is no room for creative teaching."
The outcome of the current testing -- and the status of Church and Dunbar schools -- will not be known for seven months, but Bonner said she's pretty confident. "I'm going to be optimistic they are going to do well. Our teachers work really hard to prepare the students," she said.
Testing ends March 28. Results will be sent to the superintendent's office in October.
To see how Hamden students are testing, to compare different schools within the district and to compare the entire Hamden district with others visit www.cmtreports.com.
Sights
of Silence
Helen Street School.
Words and pictures by Betsy Driebeek
I woke up yesterday morning before the alarm clock buzzed, wondering if school would be cancelled due to the snow prediction. Looking out the windows on my way to my computer I saw the same brown yard that was there the day before. I thought, "This is silly, of course there's school. Wonder if there will be early dismissal, though?"
Hamden High. Shepard
Glen.
So when the school closings from a local station came up on my computer screen, the word "cancelled" really made me jump. "Whoa, look at all those cancellations!" I scrolled and scrolled down through many towns and schools and there it was: Hamden Public Schools -- cancelled.
Church Street.
But, but, but … Well by 9:30 a.m., when the first flakes started to fall, I understood the decision. Schools in town were quiet and peaceful Thursday, with only the snowflakes making their way in.
Bear Path.
With the alarm set once again in the evening,
the question of whether there would be a delayed opening the
next day would have to be answered in the morning.
Parents say they doubt an anti-bullying bill that received testimony in Hartford yesterday would make a dent in Hamden
By Sharon Bass
Like other parents of children who have been reportedly bullied in Hamden schools, Frank Santoro was peeved that he had little notice of a public hearing in Hartford yesterday morning about some anti-bullying legislation. He said he found out about it "through the grapevine at 6 p.m. Friday."
Most parents never found out about it at all.
"I would love to testify in front of the Legislature [although] knowing in the back of my mind it wouldn't do any good because we contacted legislators who failed to respond," said Santoro who has claimed his son was bullied and beaten for years.
Still, he and others wanted the opportunity to tell their stories to the Legislature's Select Committee On Children. The committee was taking testimony for a House bill called, "An Act Concerning A Safe Learning Environment for Children and Youth."
The bill mandates the Department of Education to analyze "safe learning policies and practices in school districts … to address bullying." This includes examining how well these policies are working to reduce bullying; the relationship between bullying and school dropout and student suicide rates; and prevention and intervention strategies schools use to reduce bullying.
Faith Voswinkel, an assistant advocate with the Office of the Child Advocate, spoke at the Hartford hearing. In part, she said: "In 2003, our office issued a report on the suicide of Joseph Daniel. While many factors contributed to this 12-year-old boy's death, one issue that emerged and was discussed in our public report was bullying. During the course of our investigation, we learned about the bullying that Joseph Daniel was subjected to. Within a few months after his suicide, Connecticut passed anti-bullying legislation …
"Since Joseph Daniel's death, my colleagues and I have received numerous concerns from families about the bullying of their children. We attended a forum in Hamden, where dozens of parents came to tell their stories about the bullying of children. I have spoken to many other parents personally whose children have been bullied, and tragically some of those children have attempted suicide due to bullying. In England, they have recognized the seriousness of bullying and the consequence of suicide as it relates to bullying; they have named the phenomenon 'bullycide.' Reviewing the suicides of children under the age of 18, I have reason to believe that some of these suicides have elements of bullying to them."
In 2002, Connecticut passed the anti-bullying law that Voswinkel referred to, but it doesn't have enough teeth, she said. "There's no mandate" in the bill requiring the state to compile bullying incidents, she said. The House bill does include that mandate. "I think the bullying legislation when it was passed was a first good step, but there are limitations to the law."
She said few parents testified yesterday and none from Hamden.
As Santoro said, he wanted to be there even though he's doubtful anything -- compelling testimonies, new laws -- would make much of a difference in the Hamden schools. Other parents echoed his sentiments. [Messages left for Superintendent Alida Begina and Assistant Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez were not returned.]
A Family Turned Upside Down
Santoro said his son was bullied when a student at Ridge Hill School. "On a daily basis he was verbally and physically assaulted by the same kid. The social worker and the principal did nothing but inflame it by letting the kid know that no matter what he did to my son there were no consequences," he said. "If my son did as much as answer the kid back, my son would be punished.
"It's turned the entire family upside down. When you have a straight-A student who didn't want to go to school …"
"[An anti-bullying law] only makes a difference if the school is willing to do its job," said Jennifer Grego, whose son who was allegedly bullied at Ridge Hill.
"The school solution was to label my son emotionally unstable and put him into the ACES program in North Haven, which is a thousand times better," she said. "He went from being depressed and wanting to kill himself to actually looking forward to school again." Grego said she knew nothing about the public hearing.
"I still get too emotional about it to talk about it. This happened years ago. He's in eighth grade now. This happened in fifth," she said. "The principal used to say my son was being too emotional. 'It's just boys being boys on the playground.' Until it became violent. A boy knocked my son down and smashed his head into the blacktop. The principal said my son is clumsy. The more we fought with the school, the more active we were, the more the principal would take it out on our other son in the school."
Grego said she wants the Hamden school system to admit there is a problem and address it. "They're making these kids who are victimized in school feel it's their fault," she said. "They don't see the problem because they don't want to. You can't expect to sweep things under the rug and expect things to go away."
No Recourse
"It's an awful school," said Maria Humphrey, who alleged her daughter was also bullied at Ridge Hill, starting in September 2004.
"Over a period of about a year and a half she had sexual comments made to her [by another student] and that's how it started," she said. Then the bullying got physical.
"Nothing was being done to the kids who were picking on her. I talked to the principal and he said, 'Well, I have to see what your daughter did to provoke that,'" said Humphrey. When she talked with other administrators about the way her daughter was being treated, she said, "They always said that the incident doesn't fall under the category" of bullying.
So she took it to the Board of Education. She said she sent a letter to the home of every BOE member and "I didn't get one response." Humphrey said a former assistant superintendent told her "if I didn't like what was going on, I could home school her."
The Hamden mother said her daughter is now at the middle school, still being bullied but "it's a little better because she's in TAG [talented and gifted] classes and those kids [bullies] aren't." However, she said, they are in her daughter's nonacademic classes -- art, music and gym -- after asking the middle school not to place her with them.
"Her grades have gone down. She was a straight-A student. She got her first F this year," said Humphrey.
"If I had my way. If I could afford to send her to private school, I would. But I'm a stay-at-home mom. This town, they don't care about the children. It's more about the politics."
