Farming/Nature
Beautiful Birds in the Winter
|
This pretty horned lark, the first one seen by the photographer, was photographed in a scene besting Audubon. He’s a winter bird, very active trying to find things to eat on a cold winter day.
Schools/Sports
McAlister & SHS Honor Vets
|
McAlister Intermediate School and Suffield High School both held observances for Veterans Day on November 12, with very different approaches appropriate to the very different maturities of the schools’ students. McAlister’s, for grades 3, 4, and 5, was akin to the observance three days earlier at Spaulding School for Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. Both offered recitations, performances, and videos in a school-wide assembly, plus a brunch. Both emphasized “Thanks for Your Service” to about 70 visiting vets. SHS offered a brunch, too, and didn’t neglect “Thanks,” but only nine veterans were invited, and they were put to work over four school periods with individual classes, speaking – sometimes quite dramatically – about their military experiences: what they learned, what they enjoyed, what they endured.
Schools/Sports
World Language Student of the Month for November
|
Congratulations to Julianna Service for earning the award for World Language Student of the Month for November. Julianna is a sophomore at Suffield High School who is currently enrolled in Spanish IV H. She is an active participant in class, asking thoughtful questions about the material and diving deep into the comparisons of the cultures and communities that we study. Her written work displays strong conventions and a stronger attention to detail. She consistently uses the target language to express herself, even when speaking with peers in the class. Her positive approach to language learning is inspiring and sets a strong example for her peers.
Schools/Sports
SHS Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Week
|
Once again, at Suffield High School the World Languages department has continued their fall tradition of celebrating the heritage of Spanish speakers in the United States and throughout the world. On Morning Update, the daily news show featured anchors who shared information about the selected Spanish-language music of the day, along with conversation and cultural perspectives in Spanish. Karissa Stanio, Kristen McCarthy, and Michael Grigoriou hosted the show or worked on preparing and writing scripts and visuals for the show. To help get the message out to our school, Shreedula Balakrishnan and Lindsey Kasperski from the World Language Honor Society, with assistance from the Art Club members, coordinated the cultural display focused on this year’s theme: “One Endless Voice to Enhance our Traditions.” Another member of the Society, Kyle Englander, organized a donation drive for the Brazos de Amor – a non-profit organization helping fight poverty in Latin America. The core event of Hispanic Heritage Week this year was a presentation and discussion given by Karissa Stanio and Paige Anderson, both juniors at Suffield High School.
Schools/Sports
FFA Delegates Attend Agri-science Convention
|
In November, 15 delegates from the Suffield High School’s FFA Chapter traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for the 91st National FFA Convention and Expo. These students had the opportunity over five days to learn about different aspects of agriculture from varied booths and exhibits, as well as from other FFA members. There was at least one delegate from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The students had the opportunity to learn about ways that other states run their programs in order to bring back helpful strategies to SHS’s own FFA chapter. The students got the chance to visit booths designed to showcase college agriculture programs, and where students could get information about these colleges and what they offered.
Schools/Sports
Christmas Colors for Sale
|
Three Agriscience students show samples of what they will sell during the school’s wreath and plant sale in the Large Animal Facility behind Suffield High School through Saturday, December 6. From the left: Joanna Beaudry of Enfield, Sam Petrucci of Suffield, and Alexa Adams of Windsor Locks. The Suffield Agriscience Center is a regional school serving the Greater Hartford area.
Schools/Sports
McAlister Launches Grab-n-Go Breakfast Program
|
On Thursday, October 18, a check presentation was held at McAlister Intermediate School to recognize the awarding of $1,700 to the school by the New England Dairy & Food Council and the dairy farm families of Connecticut and New England. Over the summer, the school received the grant funding, which they used to purchase a mobile cart that now sits in the school’s main hallway to increase access to school breakfast. Since the Grab-n-Go program began on August 29, breakfast participation has almost doubled, with 50 more students eating a healthy breakfast each day compared to the previous year. McAlister Intermediate School’s Food Service Director Ben Gashi says this number continues to increase. “We had always offered breakfast in the school’s cafeteria, but due to bus schedules and the location of the cafeteria, many students did not make it in time to eat.” Gashi said.
Schools/Sports
Harvest Hustle Cold But Fun
|
At Bruce Park on November 10, the Suffield Elementary School’s PTO held their third annual Harvest Hustle, whose events began encouragingly at 10 o’clock in increasing sunshine and concluded at noon in strong wind gusts following darkened skies and a cold, very windy sleet storm. Something like 150 kids participated, and of course there were lots of young parents, along with a bunch of high schoolers who helped set up equipment and put things away hastily in the final wind. There were two obstacle runs, one for five-and-unders and a second, with additional obstacles, for all ages. The challenges were set up with props provided by the Land Warrior CrossFit studio. As the weather deteriorated, many younger families left.
Schools/Sports
ShopRite for Education
|
Suffield High School is participating again this year in the ShopRite for Education Program, from October 2018 through April 26, 2019. When parents and supporters enroll their ShopRite PricePlus card to their school’s code, and shop at a participating ShopRite store, their school will earn points towards free equipment and supplies from the program catalog. Please go online to www.shopriteforeducation.com to sign up. SHS’s school code is 50196. Thank you for your support!
Schools/Sports
SHS Music News
|
Students of the Suffield Music Department participated in the annual North Central Connecticut Conference (NCCC) Music Festival in November. Select musicians from the NCCC schools rehearsed for two days as a large chorus and band with guest conductor. They performed a concert on November 15 at Ellington High School. SHS students who participated were Allison Davis, Paul Falvo, Jack Flanagan, Benjamin Grigoriou, Gretchen Gustafson, Julia Hart, Nicholas Hyder, Lauren Klesczewski, Kristen McCarthy, Eva Nick, Veronica Partain, Bryan Tompkins and Olivia Zacchia.