People/Business

Doyon Road Race

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The Doyon family and Kyle Englander are hosting a 5K Memorial Road Race in memory of ET2 Dustin L. Doyon of the Unites States Navy, who lost his life while serving on the USS John S. McCain on August 21, 2017. Dustin was known by his shipmates as a world class athlete, and for running the decks every day while deployed. Dustin’s passion to run started in Suffield Middle School and followed him into his years at Suffield High and Pope Francis High, Springfield. Proceeds of the road race will help support the Dustin Doyon Scholarship Fund. This fund was established in 2017 to offer opportunities to graduates of both high schools, who have that same desire to run, and drive to further their education.

Schools/Sports

Suffield High School Aces Mary Poppins

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Wouldn’t it be great if every dysfunctional family could be harmonized by a magical visitor like Mary Poppins? That’s what Julie Andrews as Mary did for the Banks family in the 1964 film, and this reviewer remembers Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews well in that film and still occasionally sings the music to himself. Now he may still sample “Just a Spoonful of Sugar” or “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” but he’ll be thinking of Olivia Grimard as Mary, whose voice in the SHS musical production was certainly outstanding. Perhaps even supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The three performances of Mary Poppins in mid-March were replete with Mrs. Banks’ uncertainties in her wifely role, Mr. Banks’ repressive dissatisfaction as a banker, and their children’s calamitous misbehavior – all happily healed by Mary, the magical nanny.

Schools/Sports

SMS Gymnasts Show Their Skills

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The gymnasts of Suffield Middle School presented their annual exhibition in the school gym on April 4, with applause for notable performances from the proud audience of family and friends. For an hour and a half, the 32 students participating, singly and occasionally in pairs and small squads, demonstrated almost everything from somersaults and cartwheels to graceful floor events on the big mat and impressive feats on the balance beam, the uneven bars, suspended rings and vaulting horses. The gymnasts comprised 16 sixth graders, five from the seventh grade, and 11 from the eighth grade. As a finale, the whole crew marched out and assembled on the big mat in rows for each grade, with one member of each grade at the lead, holding a tall staff topped with a simulated Olympic torch. Perhaps someday one of them will be holding the real flame.

Schools/Sports

Superintendent’s Update

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The Suffield Public Schools is very proud of the young men and women who participate in the ACES High Robotics team. Most recently they competed in the New England District Championship and qualified for participation in the World Championships in Detroit! Below is a descriptive summary of ACES written by Steve Autieri, our 6-12 Science Curriculum Leader and ACES advisor. The ACES High Robotics team 176, comprised of students from both Suffield High School and Windsor Locks High School, recently competed and were named Connecticut District Champions in Waterbury, CT on March 9-11, 2018. The team finished the qualification matches ranked seventh out of thirty-two teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey competing that weekend.

Organizations

Summer Nature Programs

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Overlooking the Connecticut River in Suffield, the fields and streams of Hilltop Farm are a great place to learn about the outside world. Participants in the summer nature programs at Hilltop will explore the outdoors through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) based activities and experiments developed by UConn scientists and by our teachers. The bugs, birds, trees, soil and water of Hilltop Farm will be examined in an environment of friendly fun. Summer programs are designed for three age groups:

Little Bugs for ages 4-6, is a 2-hour program on Tuesdays at $20 per day. Conservation Explorers for ages 6-9, are two weeklong sessions starting on either July 30 or August 6 at $150 per session.

Organizations

Monster Tag Sale at Hilltop Farm

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The Friends of the Farm at Hilltop are excited about our “Monster” Tag Sale & Flea Market coming up on May 19! This year we are particularly grateful to have received a generous donation of tools, both old and not-so-old, that will be for sale. The event really will be a “Monster” with 60 booths; a good mix of crafters, entrepreneurs, and tag sales. Folks are planning to sell antiques and rustic décor, books, jewelry, fashion accessories, and personal care products. There will also be lots of crafters selling their handmade products.

Organizations

Bald Eagle Golf Outing

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Make plans now to join The Friends of the Farm at Hilltop for our fifth annual Bald Eagle Golf Outing on Sunday, June 24. The event, to be held at the Suffield Country Club, is a major fundraiser for FOFAH. Proceeds will be used to pay for structural improvements to make it possible for the historic dairy barn to be open and accessible for public events. Registration and lunch for the 18-hole scramble format golf outing will begin at 11:30 followed by a 1:00 shotgun start. Golf will be followed by a reception and dinner at the Country Club’s Sunset Tavern around 6 p.m.

For a $200 donation, each player will receive lunch, golf, reception, and dinner.