2013-2014
STUDENT AND STAFF
ACHIEVEMENTS
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Student and Staff Achievements
June 2014
Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
Four of the 11 Stamford teams that competed in the 33rd Connecticut Odyssey of the Mind
Tournament qualified for the World Finals at Iowa State University. The qualifying teams
competed against more than 170 teams from towns and cities across the state. Odyssey
of the Mind is an international program that is designed to build creative problem-solving
skills. Students embark on a 7-month odyssey to create an 8-minute performance
depicting their interpretation of a chosen "problem." Each performance is judged based on
how well the team accomplished the goals of the problem, and how creative they were in
doing so.
Turn of River: 1st Place – Gold Medal and World Qualifier
Coaches: Eric Matrullo and Teacher Deb Wilson
Kevin Harrington
Jack Hicks
Arushi Mathur
Christopher Matrullo
Julien Matrullo
Hannah Nekritz
Westover: 1st Place – Gold Medal and World Qualifier
Coaches: Jennifer Noonan and Victoria Zerjav
Kayla Craner
Neya Krishnan
Aiden Neigler
Luke Noonan
Jake Smith
Preston Smith
Brynn Spingola
Stillmeadow: 1st Place – Gold Medal and World Qualifier
Coach: Kristen Stops
Devon Cavaliere
Ella Cognetti
Olivia Cognetti
Aryan Hassija
Braeden Rubin
Gavin Stops
Connor Tasik
Hart: 2nd Place – Silver Medal and World Qualifier
Coach: Bob Morse
James Dizon
Dominic Frangiose
Nicholas Frangiose
Anibal Loureda
Abigail Morse
Izabella Schafer (Newfield)
STEM Workshop at West Point
Six, seventh-grade students from Stamford's Cloonan Middle School were selected from
hundreds of applicants nationwide to participate in a four-day STEM workshop at the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point. Taran Duncan, Hoshahnia Kumaran, Jharif
Rochabrun, Emma Sawch, Riana Soliven, and Isan Spruill attended the workshop,
which was designed to motivate middle school students in STEM fields, and to expose
them to opportunities available at West Point. The workshop was part of the College For
Every Student STEM program, which helps students become college ready, with a
strategic focus on increasing their interest, knowledge, and skill in STEM topics.
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School of Fashion Design’s Rendering Style Competition
Samantha Cannella, junior at the Academy of Information Technology &
Engineering, was recently selected as one of only two winners of the School of Fashion
Design (SFD) in Boston’s Rendering Style competition. Each participant was required to
write an essay and submit five color sketches, one in each of the following categories:
career clothing, active sportswear, eveningwear, bridal, and fantasy/costume. All entries
were judged by a panel of SFD faculty and fashion industry leaders and were evaluated on
the criteria of originality, wear-ability, skill, and presentation. Winners received two tickets
to attend the SFD’s 80th Anniversary Fashion Show, where their winning designs were
displayed. In addition Samantha will receive registration, tuition, and necessary supplies
to attend the SFD four-week “Fashion Prep” course over the summer.
CHET Dream Big! Competition
Newfield Elementary School third grader David Lops recently received a $500 CHET
college savings account as a winner of the CHET Dream Big! Drawing and Essay
Competition. Each submission had to address the questions: “What will you do after
college?” or “How will you change the world after college?” The goal of the competition is
to encourage families to start thinking about how higher education may help their children
realize their dreams and make a difference in the world, and to promote the importance of
saving early for college. David’ submission was chosen from among nearly 4,000 children
across the state, including 66 of his Newfield classmates. Winners were celebrated at a
ceremony at Rentschler Field in East Hartford in May, and all the winning artwork can be
found on the CHET Dream Big! website.
Learner of the Year
Dane Scates 2014 graduate of the SPS Stamford Adult Education program was recently
named Learner of the Year, by the Connecticut Association of Adult and Continuing
Education. Dane was nominated because of her tenacity and ability to overcome
numerous personal struggles while finishing her education and raising her children. She
was recently honored at a ceremony in the Governor’s mansion. Dane graduated, along
with her son, from the program earlier this month and was featured in a front page story
in The Advocate.
CT COLT Award for Excellence in World Language
Cassidy Colosi, Sean Maloney, Brett Mayer, Bartosz Walas, and Larry Yancey, all
AITE students of World Language Teacher Anna Koltypin are recipients of the CT COLT
Award for Excellence in World Language. This award is presented by the Connecticut
Council of Language Teachers to recognize and reward the excellence and achievement of
deserving world language students. To qualify for the award, each awardee must be:
enrolled in a world language class; demonstrate excellence by achieving an average of
90% or better for three consecutive marking periods in the same language; and
demonstrate evidence of a positive attitude toward language and cultures by using
language beyond the classroom and/or participating in clubs.
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Student and Staff Achievements
May 2014
Secretary of State’s 2014 PowerPoint Contest
Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill and the Connecticut Citizenship Fund, Inc. cosponsored the annual Secretary of State’s 2014 PowerPoint Contest. Each PowerPoint
entry had to: “Discuss an important event or invention from Connecticut that has
significantly affected the history of our state.” Entries were judged on originality,
creativity, and overall quality. Of the five winners from our congressional district, three
were Springdale Elementary School fifth graders.
Jasmin Nunez, 2nd Place, First Portable Typewriter
Evelyn Ruiz, 3rd Place, Can Opener
Samantha Austin, Honorable Mention, FM Radio
Fairfield County Math League and Connecticut State Mathematics Competition
Westhill High School Senior Luis Kumanduri was the second highest scorer in the
Fairfield County Math League and tied as the top scorer at the recent Connecticut State
Mathematics Competition. Thanks to Luis’ success, Westhill placed fourth at the state
level. His leadership also resulted in Westhill’s math team earning a spot at the New
England Mathematics Competition, to which only 14 schools were invited to participate.
Luis has received scholarships from both the Fairfield and Connecticut leagues, and was
among a select group of seniors nationwide to win a National Merit Scholarship.
Connecticut Drama Association Festival
Stamford High School Drama Club recently represented the State of Connecticut at the
New England Drama Festival, after winning the Outstanding Production award at the
Connecticut Drama Association Festival. Senior Andrew Rabita directed the winning
production, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged.” The three student
actors and 25-student crew winning production was one of only two to earn the award and
represent Connecticut at the festival. The production also earned the following awards:
People’s Choice, Outstanding Props, and Outstanding Timing. Additionally, all three actors
won awards. Junior William Hunt was one of only four students to receive the
Outstanding Actor award. Senior Ziggy Sakalauskas and Sophomore Shaina Lubliner
were two of only 12 students to receive All Connecticut Cast awards.
Stamford Literacy Competition
Academy of Information Technology & Engineering Junior Isabel Yick won third
place in the 29th Annual Stamford Literary Competition for her poem, “The Wall Between
Us.” The contest was sponsored by Friends of the Ferguson Library to recognize excellence
in student writing and was open to all students in grades 3 - 12 who live or attend school
in Stamford. Participants were invited to submit original works of fiction, non-fiction, or
poetry. All winners were honored at an awards ceremony in April.
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Connecticut State Winner of the Doodle 4 Google Contest
Third grader Jason Rosado, Hart Magnet Elementary School, was chosen by Google
as the state’s Doodle 4 Google 2014 Winner. Doodle 4 Google is a national art competition
open to all students K-12 in the United States to create their own Google doodle. The
theme of this year’s contest is, “If I Could Invent One Thing to Make This World a Better
Place.” Jason described his doodle, “If I could invent one thing to make the world a better
place, I would invent a machine to slow down time so we can have longer days. It would
float in space and put a force field around Earth to slow down Earth's rotation." In addition
to winning an Android tablet and a t-shirt printed with his doodle’s artwork, Jason also
earned a trip to the Google headquarters in California to celebrate with the other state
winners and the chance to compete for the National title.
The SIFMA Foundation’s Stock Market Game
Academy of Information Technology & Engineering Junior Bryan Mojica won first
place in the SIFMA’s (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) Stock Market
Game, competing against students from across the state. Since 1977 the SIFMA
Foundation has hosted the game as part of an effort to improve financial literacy among
students. Hundreds of schools participate in the state-wide competition where students
invest a hypothetical $100,000 in listed stocks, bonds, and mutual funds and learn the
value of saving and investing as they work together to maximize the return on their
portfolio. Bryan was recently recognized at The Stock Market Game Awards Ceremony in
Hartford.
Human Resources Specialist of the Year
SPS Benefits Manager Meryl Meiteles was awarded a 2014 Fairfield County HR People of
the Year Award by the Southern Connecticut Chapter of the Society for Human Resources
Management (SHRM), in the HR Specialist category. The awards are presented each year
by SHRM to celebrate the human resource profession and recognize individuals who
exemplify “the best in HR” in Fairfield County. Meryl was nominated for the award by a
group of former SPS employees. Among her many accomplishments, Meryl was applauded
for saving the district more than $1.5 million last year.
STEMFest
The Stamford STEMFest was a free, interactive Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math (STEM) event held in Mill River Park in late April. The goal of the event was to build
awareness of STEM with children and parents by demonstrating how fun STEM can be,
how STEM is inherent in our lives, and the possible college and career opportunities in
STEM areas. The event was a resounding success and will become an annual celebration.
STEMFest Steering Committee
Carrie Chiappetta, Overall Organizer, Idea Developer Facebook/Twitter manager
Beth Eiseman, Community Outreach Coordinator
Natalie Elder, Volunteer/Food Coordinator
Alec Iogman, STEMFest Webmaster
Sidney Watson, Creative Director and Event DJ
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District STEM Team and Planning team
Jen Beauleau (currently a long-term sub at Davenport), Magnets Activity
Frances D’Agostino (Scofield), Set-up
Dave Edelson (TOR), co-writer district STEM plan, set-up/break down
Jim Forde (Cloonan), co-writer district STEM plan, set-up/break down, Cloonan Scratch Booth
Joe Lennon (TOR), co-writer district STEM plan, set-up/break down, Mission to Mars Activity
James Neufeld (Scofield), co-writer district STEM plan, set-up/break down, Solar Cooker Activity
Michelle Parchesky (SHS), Mobius Strip Activity
Mike Pisseri (Davenport), co-writer district STEM plan, set-up/break down
Kristen Sileo (Scofield), Mobius Strip Activity
Eileen Wargo (Scofield), Mobius Strip Activity
Nathalia Xavier (Dolan), Mission to Mars Activity
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Student and Staff Achievements
April 2014
International Children’s Art Exhibit
Creative Connections’ Art Link jury selected the artwork of two Stamford Public Schools
students for their 2014 “Food for Thought,” International Children’s Art Exhibit. The two
winning pieces are “i-Dinner,” by Daniel Brennan, Cloonan Middle School, which
depicts a family using the latest technology to find a place to eat in Stamford, and “Cross
Country Run!” by Lauren Klym, Rippowam Middle School, which shows runners being
cheered on as they pass a table of oranges and water. The winning artwork was selected
based on its cultural insightfulness, details and values, quality of work, adherence to
theme, and uniqueness of scene. The pieces will be on display at the Maritime Aquarium
in Norwalk beginning May 15.
Connecticut State Science and Engineering Fair Awards
Rippowam Middle School student Kiran Jagtiani recently participated in the
Connecticut State Science and Engineering Fair, where she earned six awards. She began
working on her Hypo-Allergenic Lawn-Care Device, or HALD, project in October and
presented it over two days at the fair in March. Kiran earned the following awards: CASE
Urban Challenge Award, middle school finalist; Barnes Aerospace Applied Technology
Award, middle school finalist; Association for Women Geoscientists Award; Talcott
Mountain Science Center, Founders Award; Bob Harris Fit-It Award; and Connecticut
Invention Convention Award. As an added honor, Kiran was invited to both Stamford
STEMFest and the upcoming Connecticut Invention Convention.
Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest
Barnes & Noble, Inc., named Turn of River Middle School teacher Miriam Gonzerelli
as the local winner of the Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest. An essay written
by Luis Guaillas, Gonzerelli’s student, was chosen from entries at the Stamford Town
Center store. Students were invited to nominate their favorite teacher by writing essays,
poems, or thank-you letters that explain how their teacher has influenced their life and
reveal why they appreciate and admire him or her. Entries were judged on the compelling
nature of the teacher’s qualities, the sincerity of the student’s appreciation, and the
quality of expression and writing. Luis and Miriam were honored at a recent awards
ceremony in the Stamford store. They are now entered in the Regional Competition where
five area winners will be chosen.
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NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing
The National Center for Women in Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in
Computing honors high school girls for their computing-related achievements and
interests. Two AITE students, winner Kathleen Burkhardt and runner-up Lauren
Roach, were among those celebrated at the organizations awards dinner earlier this
month. Honorees are selected for their computing and IT aptitude, leadership ability,
academic history, and plans for postsecondary education.
National History Day Competition
Four Turn of River Middle School students earned first place awards at the district level
of the National History Day Competition, recently held at Fairfield University. Participants
spent four months researching and preparing their projects, which all were on the theme
of “Rights and Responsibilities.” Student had the opportunity to present their work in one
of five ways: as a paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary, or a web site. Kelly
Bernatchez and Erica Shaulson earned First Place in the Group Exhibit, and Noah
Schaffer and Ethan Riordan received First Place for Group Performance. The students
earned the honor of moving on to the Connecticut Statewide contest.
6th Annual Step Up For Education Step Show Competition
Each year the Butterfly Project Fund, a not for profit organization, hosts events to
showcase the talents of students in the area while raising funds for scholarships. This year
the Cloonan Steppers, led by coaches Teri Bynam, Monisha Whitaker, and Elizabeth
Morales, took first place in the middle school category at the 6th Annual Step Up for
Education Step Show Competition. Cloonan competed against five teams in their category.
The team has been practicing three times a week since the beginning of the school year.
They had the honor of performing at the historic Apollo Theatre in New York as part of the
College for Every Student Leadership Conference.
Team members:
Shaunna Alexander
Diedre Dawkins
Donna Duquene
Tyona Green
Kayla Liborio
Montez Mayo
Jalah McNeil
Monique Pusey
Jayla Scales
Evelyn Vasquez
Tiffani Brown
Ragatou Diallo
Merecedes Durocher
Rootnara Laurore
Katherine Lopez
Armani McCollum
Abigail Moodie
Nekia Renie
Destini Smith
Mikayla Vindas
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Student and Staff Achievements
March 2014
Semper Fidelis Coach
Frank Marcucio, III, Westhill High School head football coach and business
teacher was named a Semper Fidelis Coach by the U.S. Marines Corps and Glazier
Football Clinics. This designation honors high school football coaches who display
faithfulness to the mission of their team and exemplify the Marine standard of
excellence in developing leaders. The Semper Fi Coach is not necessarily selected
for a winning record or championship title, but rather for leaving a legacy of
intentional leadership. It recognizes a high school football coach who lives out the
Marine Corps motto: Semper Fidelis ("Always Faithful"), and who models the
Marine Corps leadership values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
Northeast Science Bowl Competition
Two teams of students from AITE, led by Science Club and Computer Science Club
Advisor, Dr. Rajinder Khazanchi recently participated in The Northeast Science
Bowl® competition. This is the first time AITE participated in this highly
competitive science education and academic event, which was sponsored by US
Department of Energy and hosted by the University of Connecticut in Storrs earlier
this month. The team of Brian Cardona, Brian Cheng, Even Stelly, Isabel
Yick, Maigh Attre, and Victor Dai competed in the Science Bowl, a fast-paced
verbal forum. Science Bowl competitors solved technical problems and answered
questions in all branches of science and math. The AITE team outperformed many
more-experienced teams. The team of Dimitrios Pantzos, Marc DiMartino, and
Gabrielle Baum competed in the Fuel Cell Car Competition, in which teams
designed, built and raced hydrogen fuel cell powered cars against other high
schools. AITE's Fuel Cell Car Team competed against 17 teams and placed 4th
overall.
Stamford Art Association’s 41st Annual Student Art Show
Two students from Stamford High School were selected for the 41st Annual
Student Art Show, presented by the Stamford Art Association, a multimedia juried
art exhibit featuring 80 student artists. Winners were selected from among entries
representing schools across Fairfield County and were awarded in five categories.
Students received awards totaling some $2,500, contributed by areas businesses
and individuals. The opening reception was held at the gallery in early March and
the student’s art was on display at through March 20.
Keyri Aquino, 1st Place, Portfolio (Art teacher: Paul Cusano)
Isabel Gomez, 3rd Place, Drawing (Art teacher: Margaret Zielinski)
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Connecticut DECA Career Development Conference Competition
Thirteen Stamford High School students, accompanied by Business & Unified Arts
Teachers Brenda Zanga and Howard Levy recently participated in the 2014
Connecticut DECA State Career Development Conference in Southington,
Connecticut. More than 900 students from across the state competed in career
competency-based events in Sports Marketing, Finance, Management, Technology
& Design, and Entrepreneurship. Joseph Vukel received a finalist medal in the
Financial Services competition, which included a written exam and role playing
situations. Matthew McClafferty received first place in the CT DECA PIN Design
Contest. The winning pin he designed, in a Connecticut Lighthouse and DECA
theme, was manufactured and distributed to the more than 1,000 plus conference
participants and paid for by the association.
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Student and Staff Achievements
February 2014
UCAN Inspire Award
Westhill High School Senior Evan Skoparantzos was awarded the UCAN
Inspire Award by Generation UCAN and the Walter Camp Football Foundation
earlier this month. The award is given to a Connecticut High School Football Player
who symbolizes the core value on which Generation UCAN was founded: The
unwavering desire to find success in the face of a great challenge. Evan was
nominated by his Coach Frank Marcucio, because of the personal challenges Evan
overcame, battling cancer at a very young age, and for the inspiration he has been
to his teammates and classmates throughout his years at Westhill.
Peace Poetry Contest
Seven Stamford Public Schools students’ poems were selected to be read as part
of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service celebration in Stamford on Saturday,
January 18, 2014. This annual day of service is part of a nationwide initiative to
celebrate Dr. King’s legacy of public service. The poetry contest was spearheaded
by Patricia Williams Community Activist/Program Director, Service for Peace
organization. The contest winners shared their peace-inspired works as part of the
day’s events.
Westhill High School
Terri Cearley, Junior
Academy of Information Technology & Engineering
Taylor Garland, Junior
Cloonan
Joseph Brennan, 6th grade
Anna Ozymko, 6th grade
Rogers
Meagan Armstrong, 5th grade
Ronald Bear, 7th grade
Javan Goulbourne, 7th grade
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Stamford Volunteer Day Honorees
Each year The Volunteer Center of United Way of Western Connecticut recognizes
local individuals and groups for their active involvement in the Stamford
community. This year four members of the Academy of Information
Technology & Engineering community were honored. The AITE Interact Club,
which is led by teachers Samah Chadli and Maria DiAntonis, was named winner
New Youth Volunteer Group. Senior Linda Rivera was named winner New Youth
Individual Volunteer for her work with the Interact Club. And the Senior
Annamaria Ceci, received an honorable mention, Outstanding Established Youth
Volunteer for her commitment to the MADD organization. The winners were
honored at an event in January hosted by The United Way.
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Student and Staff Achievements
January 2014
“What Stamford Means to Me” Art Contest
State Representative Michael Molgano awarded two Dolan Middle School
students, Victoria Wood and Ayusha Gautam as winners of the “What
Stamford Means to Me,” art contest, which he sponsored in October. According to
Molgano, the winners, under the direction of Matt DiGiovanna and Jennifer
Marchetti, expressed the strength of Stamford as well as depicting its challenges
with thought and creativity. The winners’ artwork was displayed in the concourse
of the State Capitol in Hartford.
Go-Kart Racing Success
Tazio Torregiani, Stamford High School freshman, is a competitive go-kart
racer, who has earned more than 130 racing trophies, with 30 for first place. Tazio
began racing when he was just 6 years old and has since competed across the
United States and in five countries, including two seasons of a three-round
international race, in which he was the only U.S. competitor. In November, Tazio
competed for the third year in the Supernationals in Las Vegas, the largest kart
race in North America. He qualified to compete in the Supernationals main event,
and after moving from 40th to 12th place in only five laps, he unfortunately crashed
out of the race. Over Christmas break, Tazio competed in a National race in
Daytona, placing second.
Aid to a Choking Student
Marina Saenz, a Special Education para-educator from Springdale Elementary
School, went above and beyond her responsibilities when she assisted a
kindergarten student who was choking. When Marina noticed a student was having
trouble swallowing a piece of food, she began to take the student to the nurse’s
office for assistance. However, as soon as Marina realized the situation required
immediate attention, she performed a Heimlich and back-blow maneuver, which is
taught to our teachers and paras, and dislodged the food allowing the student to
breathe normally.
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2013 GIS Day People’s Choice poster contest
Betsy Nagurney, Scofield Magnet Middle School Geographic Information
System Teacher led her classes to a second place victory in the 2013 GIS Day
People’s Choice poster contest. The contest is sponsored by The Connecticut GIS
User to User Network, which connects GIS-based technologies and data users
together to learn about GIS activities, explore collaborations, and discover
information resources. The Scofield poster, which was a compilation of work from
all of her classes (grades 6, 7, and 8), was in competition against works created
by professional GIS users. All posters were displayed in the Connecticut Legislative
Building concourse for the month of November.
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Student and Staff Achievements
November 2013
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
World Series of Innovation
Two teams from the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering
(AITE) were named People’s Choice Winners in the “NFTE World Series of
Innovation,” competition under the leadership of Business teacher Lawrence
Keller. The international contest, which attracted students from nine countries
and generated more than 700 innovative ideas, allows students to think creatively
and invent new products or services that address every-day opportunities.
Michelle Printsev, Bridget Smith, and Lina Elmansy are winners in the
category of “Forty Chances Food and Nutrition Solutions,” which addresses the
challenge of reducing food waste. The students’ business proposal, “Two Baskets,”
reduces food waste in schools by collecting and redistributing unused food to
community organizations, such as shelters or farms. The team of Devon
Solomon, Dayana Ortiz, and Jeremy Leone are winners in the category of
“Tablet/Smartphone App Design.” Their business proposal, “CollaboratED,” is a
study app that facilitates communication among students, teachers, and parents.
State and Westhill Diving Record Holder
Rachel Anne Burston, Westhill High School sophomore, was undefeated in
dual meet competition and set a new WHS record for six dives leading up to the
FCIAC Championships. Rachel went on to win the FCIAC, State Class LL, and State
Open titles, establishing both new Westhill and Connecticut State records for 11
dives. Rachel’s performance has qualified her for All-American consideration, which
she earned last year.
Shark Tank Success
Entrepreneur and Rippowam Middle School student Ryan Kelly had a
successful run on “Shark Tank,” the reality TV show that matches businesses with
interested investors. Ryan received backing from Shark Barbara Corcoran, who
invested $25,000 in his all-natural doggy biscuit business, “Ryan’s Barkery.” Ryan
conceived the idea for his business after adopting a dog that didn’t like storebought biscuits. In an effort to bake the “very best” biscuit for his dog, Ryan
created biscuits with no coloring or fillers, no preservatives or chemicals, and no
added salt or sugar. Customers can order biscuits and read Ryan’s full story on
his website.
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CABE/CAPSS Conference Participation
Nick Bellusci, AITE, was selected from all members of the Student Advisory
Council to represent the students of the Stamford Public Schools at the recent
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) / Connecticut Association of
Public School Superintendents (CAPPS) Conference, in Groton, Connecticut. Nick
had the unique opportunity to get a glimpse of the challenges facing public
education; attend workshops designed especially for students; and connect with
educational leaders across Connecticut.
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Student and Staff Achievements
October 2013
National Merit Semifinalists
Three students from Westhill High School were named National Merit
Semifinalists in the 58th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program, based on their
PSAT scores from last October. Bradley Darling, Claire Howlett, and Luis
Kumanduri, are among the highest scoring entrants and represent less than one
percent of all U.S. high school seniors. To be considered for a National Merit ®
Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by
meeting high academic standards and all other requirements.
Commended Students
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation also named 15 Stamford Public Schools
students as Commended Students in the 2012 National Merit program.
Commended students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million
students who entered the 2014 competition by taking the 2012 PSAT.
Academy of Information Technology & Engineering:
Spencer Aronstein
Leora Bell
Victor Dai
Chistopher Hendrickson
Hanna Kahlert
Stamford High School
James Croft
Jasmine Li
Matthew McGoldrick
Megan E. O’Neill
Westhill High School
Mackenzie Eisen
Jason Gallant
Rachel Katz
Ava Marsh
Ryan Silk
Jonathan Xu
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Rachel vs. Guy Kid’s Cookoff
Hunter Zampa, an eighth grader from Scofield Magnet Middle School, recently
placed third in the FoodNetwork’s competition, “Rachel vs. Guy Kid’s Cookoff.”
Hunter was also named MVP of Rachel’s team with his dish, “Larb Shark Swimming
in Thai Pesto.” The dish’s name was inspired by the then, upcoming movie release
of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs II.” As MVP, Hunter won a free screening of
the movie for Scofield’s 8th grade Purple Team. The school has been further
inspired by Hunter and has established its own after-school cooking club.
Connecticut State Network of Educators
Director, School Improvement & Professional Development – Secondary Carrie
Chiappetta, is one out of only 90 Connecticut Educators and 1,800 nationwide
educators to be chosen to participate in the Connecticut State Network of
Educators (SNE). As a member of the SNE, over the next several months, Carrie
will help develop the Smarter Balanced Digital Library, an online collection of
professional learning and instructional resources that teachers can use as they
implement the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The Digital Library will
contain differentiated resources aligned to the CCSS for educators with varying
interests and professional learning needs. Additionally, the library will be
interactive, allowing users to rate materials and to share their expertise with
educators across their own states and across the country.
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Student and Staff Achievements
September 2013
Cloonan Chronicle
Two enterprising Westhill High School 2011 graduates, Elizabeth Quartararo and
Jackie Schechter, were inspired by their own experience as members of the
Westhill High School newspaper. With the help of grant money they each earned,
and support from Westhill and Stamford high school mentors, the college juniors
established Project Lede, a summer camp for middle school students to learn
journalism and create their own newspaper. The Cloonan Chronicle, which will be a
quarterly publication, debuted in August and covered sports, arts and other area
news.
Students:
Sabrina
Ahamed
Fahmida
Ahmed
Tahmida
Ahmed
Salma Amin
Jessica
Anderson
Jennifer Carias
Nikhil Arora
Shamar Bryce
Reynell Burke
Scott Davidson
Don Duquene
Taryn Duncan
Elmer Figueroa
Emmanuel
Hernandez
Matthew
Mogrovejo
Esmeralda
Rodriguez
Daniel Greco
Victoria
Iparraguirre
Kevin Morales
Dicoda Grant
Alex Joaquin
Ryan Hart
Alexandra Lazo
Analisa Muniz
Benny Pisanelli
Kimberly Roig
Precious
Thomas
Nicholas Zarrilli
Stamford High School Mentors:
Anthony Bottino
Megan O'Neill
Lindsay Swatland
Westhill High School Mentors:
Casiano Hamer
Claire Howlett
Lauren Schechter
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Ayn Rand Anthem Essay Contest
Lina Elmansy, of the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering,
was named a Finalist for her impressive essay in the prestigious and very
competitive Ayn Rand Anthem Essay Contest of 2013. This essay contest requires
contestants to write on one of several topics dealing with the characters and
themes in the novel, Anthem. The contest is open to 8th,9th and 10th graders and is
designed to promote critical thinking and writing skills. Essays are judged on both
style and content.
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2013 Sports Person of the Year
The Fairfield County Sports Commission named Claire Howlett of Westhill High
School as one of their 2013 Sports Persons of the Year. Claire is an accomplished
(straight A) student as well as a cross country and track star. She is the 2013
FCIAC Champion and state record holder in the 3,200 meter event. She also holds
the school record in the 1600m, 3000m, 4000m, and 5000m. Claire finished third
in the 1,600 at the New England championships and was named Connecticut
Gatorade Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Claire was also recently named a
2014 National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist.
Yale Educator Award
Jason Roberts, Guidance Counselor, Academy of Information Technology &
Engineering, has been selected as a recipient of the 2013 Yale Educator Award.
Mr. Roberts was nominated by former AITE student Cameron Yick for the impact
he played in Cameron’s life. According to a press release, issued by Yale
University, the Yale Educator Recognition Program recognizes outstanding
educators from around the world who support and inspire their students to
perform at high levels and to achieve excellence. Mr. Roberts was chosen from
among 210 nominees, representing 36 states and 13 countries.
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