The Suffield Observer (https://thesuffieldobserver.com/page/263/)
Trees have both common and scientific names, such as Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus).
The Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association (SVAA) has been recognized on the national stage as the 2026 EMS Agency of the Year by the National EMS Management Association.
In England, Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, is kind of a big deal. A national holiday, it’s a bona fide part of the holiday calendar. It’s the perfect coda to the Christmas celebration. Friends and family not seen on Christmas get together. Everyone’s relaxed.
K & P Flowers has been in Suffield for quite a few years, but for almost a year now has had a new owner. She is Erin Fletcher, who grew up in Bloomfield and now lives in Hartford. Erin’s interest in flowers started at an early age. She went to Bloomfield High School, where she was in the VoAg program and in Future Farmers of America. As a hobby she was arranging wedding flowers; at her first job at Moscarillo’s in West Hartford, her mother had to drive her to deliver the flowers to the wedding since she was only 15. She went on to UConn, and received a degree in horticulture.
She has worked at flower shops all over Connecticut.
At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, senior year students in Mr. Migliore’s band class wanted to pay their tribute to him for his 35 years of service to Suffield High School. The students did their research, reaching out to teachers, conductors, musicians and retired teachers from the area, asking for letters endorsing Mr. Migliore. The students followed the chain of command from the vice-principals, principal, superintendent and Board of Education to their state representative. Their request was to name the band room “The Joseph C. Migliore Music Center.” On the evening of the 2018 spring concert, the students presented Mr. Migliore with the plaque which is proudly displayed outside the band room. He also received a certificate from the state legislature congratulating him on his 35 years of service.
Zielinski’s Kindness Crew is proud to announce they raised a little over $1,300 for Will Power for Change (http://www.willswillpower.com/) in honor of William Davidson. Will was a 2010 graduate of SHS who took his own life just four months after returning from the Kandahar region. Will did not receive mental health assistance he needed to aid with his adjustment to civilian life. All funds raised will be going to a treatment center to help others such as Will. The Kindness Crew would like to thank Will and his family for his service and legacy.
The Suffield Middle School PTAC is excited to be hosting the 8th Annual Holiday Boutique Show Thursday, December 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Suffield Middle School gym. The event is open to the public and a portion of all sales go directly to the PTAC. This is a great opportunity to “shop local” and support Suffield and local businesses. There is something for everyone, with lots of items under $5. There will be over 25 vendors in one convenient location.
A number of Thanksgivings ago my family had all gathered at my house for that special dinner. My children had small children at that time, so, although they tried to help, most of the preparation fell to me. We over-ate, rested awhile, and then we all went for a walk. When we got back it seemed to be time for the little ones to eat again so, while the mothers got to work on that, I decided that I would take some time to rest. Off to my room I went with the morning newspaper, knowing I would probably doze after a few lines of news.
With their parents and coaches beaming in support, three of Suffield High’s top athletes are pictured as they sign their commitments to play in college. From the left: McKenzie Sullivan, heading for soccer at Bentley; Sophie Lupone, ice hockey at Sacred Heart; and Anna Casinghino, field hockey at UConn. All three were stars in league-winning teams. Standing at the rear are six parents and three coaches: David and Michelle Sullivan, ice hockey coach Joe Gozzi, Tracy and Joe Lupone, and Heather and Brian Casinghino. David Sullivan and Heather Casinghino play double roles as both parent and coach.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Kindergarten and first and second grade children of Spaulding School invited about 70 veterans, including a few active reservists – parents, grandparents, etc. – to be honored in an assembly program early on Friday before Veterans Day. With their guests seated along the sides of the auditorium, the entire student body filed in, one classroom at a time, and sat on the floor in the middle. Several groups of kids sat up front by the stage, ready to open the event with the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, perform songs and recitations, and close with “America.”
Principal Roxanne Pangallo introduced the program, which was then directed by Assistant Principal Kris Pryce. In one element, each veterans’ group was honored: Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Marines; each had representatives stand as their service was featured.
It is hard to believe that we are fast approaching the holiday season. So many great things are happening at Suffield Public Schools! The following is just a sample of all that is occurring in our district. At Suffield High School all of our fall sports teams made it to States! The SHS drama club put on their fall presentation: A Midsummer Night’s Dream on November 1, 2, and 3.
At First Church, Shawn Flynn proudly displays his book, The Kitty. He claims the kitty rescued him after he rescued the kitty.