The following students were named to the second quarter honor roll at Flood Middle School:

First honors

Grade 8 — Grace Louise Almeida, Sema Nur Aydin, Nathalie Barrios, George Marron Bloom, John Baptist Cervone, Jesse Clark, Sean Colbree, Nikki Conroy, Amber Rose Costa, Thomas Francis D’Agostino, Alisa Lori Delaney, Dante Lorenzo DiFederico, Starr Figueroa, Michelle Nicole Gabriele, Kaylie Joyce Gariepy;

Also, Jessica Victoria Gentile, Helena Michele Gerardi, Linamaria Gonzalez, Quentin Donel Goodman, Shamma Gustave, Daniel Gerard Halchak, Kelsey Lee Hehir, Jamielyn Caneo Iquina, Gardison Jean, Steevenson Jean, Alexandra Kalicki, Ryan Vincent Kardamis, Hope Catherine Kavulich, Nathaniel E Larsen, Allyson Patricia Lazarre;

Also, Maison Lindsie Liscinsky, Christopher Cody McCreanor, Kara Sabrina McLean, Klajdi Memelli, Lexi M Mola, Alyssa Breanne Moore, Daria Munia, Bianca Isabelle Nazario, Thelma Ugochi Ogazi, Iyanna Marie Peters, Mason Lee Pugh, Jacob Rainey, Rohit M Ramakrishnan, Larissa Ann Rapoport, Christopher John Root;

Also, Alexa Renee Rutkowski, Scott Michael Seperack, Gabrielle Shannon, Rachel Elizabeth Sherwood, Michael Joseph Soares, Brittney Marie Stewart, Kyle Sullivan, Natalya Turbaba, Samantha Joan Vitka, Joseph Stanley Wierzbicki, Zaheeda Zakir, Yasmin Zieneddin, Kayla Noemi Zurlo.

Grade 7 — Nowsheba Absar, Sarah Aktim, Kchrea Doyl Alindato, Joline Akunne Alisa, Matthew R Allan, Anna Argulian, Emely Baez, Juliana Marie Barone, Sandy Carina Barrios, Brittany Boaventura, Stephen J Brennan, Malcolm Alfredo Brown, Gianee Brianna Burgos, Erik A Cedillo, Amanda Lynn Celentano;

Also, Alonna Y Christy, Catelyn Clark, Alexander Cronin, Allison Curcio, Ryan William Deak, Arjun Dejesus, Aryan Dejesus, Cassandra Lee Dunford, Emma E Elrod, Charles Joseph Falotico, Sara Michelle Federici, William Emanuel Figueroa, Lindsey Eve Forth, Nya Dolo Gardner, Camille Faye Goodman;

Also, Jayleen Rose Herrera, Connor Peter Hikade, Danka Hlinka, Max Jacob Honafius, Kayla Ann Huchko, Ayisha Ijaz, Kaliha M James, Kiana Lee Johnson, Maura Kelly, Jacob Kudysch, Heather Josephine Lamontagne, Samantha Laste, Juliana G Leblanc, Francis Lembo, Shania Angela Mahabee, Kairyn Mora, Erin A Mullane;

Also, Jacob Anthony Murphy, Clayton Michael O’Brien, Christina Pavone, Jenna Rose Petro, Samantha Michele Piroh, Emely Nicole Rodriguez, Rebecca Nicole Romano, Holly Shaye Rosa, Jenna Marie Sabia, Emily Schwartz, Brandon Maxime Sixto, Amanda Laura Stauber, Melissa Lynn Uhrynowski, Delanah Faith Urban, Isabella Maria Valerian, Andrena Monet Williams, Alyssa Jean Wright.

Second honors

Grade 8 — Shanniel Yahaira Ahumada, Sabrina Marie Alvarez, Anthony Christopher Angelo, Alexis Awad, Brianna Lyn Bahr, Serena Bhushan, Danajah Jayden Bowles, Amanda Kathleen Bull, Kara Nicole Catapano, Jason L Charles, Tabitha Anite Charlestin, Hannah Coello, Gwen Elizabeth Dascenzo, Carla Dasilva, Yan Menezes de Oliveira;

Also, Alexandria Maria Doherty, Laura Danielle Dominique, Laurie Sara Dominique, Belita Fernades Dos Santos, Ramije Egriu, Mia Lynn English, Emma Lynn Fuchs, Michelle Lorraine Harrison, Nicholas J Hoben, Maxwell Robert Jaekle, Isabella Marie Kelley, Alisha Khalid, Elizabeth A Larsen, Jonathan C Larsen, Giana Marie Lopez;

Also, Michael Lopez, Jaela Nyema Lurry, Montana Shelby Macey, Jordan Martinez, Amanda McManus, Jeana Marie McNeill, Kaleigh Mirowski, Natasha Mutambo, Alondra Nicole Negron Ocasio, Danny Nguyen, Ketel Jerry Nkuili, Nkiru Lynae Ogbogu, Christopher Leo Palumberi, Melissa Evelyn Paris, Michael Jon Pastor;

Also, Kateryna Polyak, Lynette Rios, Chase Michael Rodie, Alyssa Seara, Brendan Thomas Semon, Emily Robin Shevlin, Lindsey Victoria Sierer, Sean Luke Soltau, John Steven Tu, Isabella Carol Vaitkus, Tyler William Vancho, Kristina Louise Weyhrauch, Kyle Robert Zadrovicz.

Grade 8 — Alyssa Rose Adintori, Madad Aljleilati, Avani Shani Armstrong, Julie Artiaga, Molly Anne Belinkie, Christian Betts, Anthony James Broadhurst, Kaylie Marie Broadhurst, Teddy Candanedo, Andrew A Carcamo, Tiyana M Coleman, Hannah Marie Cologgi;

Also, Samantha Lynn Crowther, Daniel James Digiugno, Charles Edward Erdos, Abigail C Feehan, Deanna Victoria Fuentes, Yvemalya Stella Germain, Grace Gilbertie, Joshua Isaac Gomez, Daisy Kassandra Gonzalez, Trevon Quentin Griffin, Eric’Kia Heyward, Chyane Inaya Howard, Evans Jean, Sasha Kalson, Camryn M Kascak, Vincent Michael Keller, Andrew Joseph Kozel;

Also, Joshua Natalino Lisi, Lance Lombardo, Jeremiah Lopez, Cailynn Anne Mahoney, Devin Jacob Martinez, Kyron Daniel Martinez, Vanessa Merced, David J Novacek, Xavier Chanthavong Ortiz, Adolfo Lawrence Pacheco, Hanna Palosina, Madelynn Marie Peterson, James Picheco, Ja’quez Rabb, Talia Rose Ranocchia, Jessica R Reynolds;

Also, Maximilian Gregory Richo, Trevor George Ricketts, Marcela Alejandra Rios, Maximus Rodman, Katie Anne Schulte, Shylene Shianne Soler, Jamie Rose Sullivan, Matthew Torpey, Daelynne Zoey Veloz, John David Vitone, Riley Aiden Webb, Sarah Elisabeth Williams, Yariah-Lynn Kharmyl Williams, Javari Yearwood, William Albert Young, Alexsandro Gaetano Zitelli.

The following students were named to the second quarter honor roll at Wooster Middle School:

First honors

Grade 8 — Alexander John Adzima, Michelle Noella Aiello, Makayla Cheyanne Albert, Zion Lamont Allen, Morgan Anissa Anderson, Sean Nicholas Attanasio, Tamauri D Attaud, Michael Chernak August, Caitlin Nicole Bacon, Tyler Cree Bailey, Dakota Marie Benson, Katherine Lynn Bike, Steven James Bonazzo, Taylor Nicole Brady, Jada Nicole Bryan, Claire R Budnick;

Also, Jayson Alexander Camargo, Alexa Julianne Capuano, Christopher John Carey, Ryan Anthony Carrano, Destin Lyric Charles, Liliana Elzbieta Chipman, Jake Alfred Chittem, Nicholas Joseph Cipriani, Kaitlyn A Ciufo, Abigail Watkins Colwell, Rory Cooper, Ryan Cooper, Emma Cranston, Carmela Beth Daponte-Smith;

Also, Kaylee Judith Davidson, Scott W Detuzzi, Omar Alejandro Dominguez, Jeremiah David Domschine, Anthony Joseph Dragone, Brendan Sander Duffy, Kevan Christopher Duffy, Ryan Patrick Duffy, Madelyn Terese Dunkel, Mikhaila Renee Eller, Lisa Enaye, Holden A Fetchin, Alexandra Flathers, Imanol Flores-Quechol, Vincent Leigh Gabrielle, Amanda Sue Gallagher;

Also, Chastity S Garcia, Natanael Garcia, Kate Melany Gavilanes, Rebecca Glaudin, Emily P Goddard, Olivia Morgan Grant, Abigail Amelia Granton, Naishia Renee Gray, Amanda S Haydu, Tyler David Heffern, Benjamin Fairbend Heiden, Ameira Samary Hernandez, Leanny Hernandez, Dillon Richmond Higgins, Louiz-Anthony Ferreira Iannucci, Amanda L Jeffreys, Trinite Mujinga Kayembe, Zachary Bennett Kenney;

Also, Jordan Thomas Kinder, Fiona Kyle, Brianna Nicole Lapia, Owen Sibley Law, Barry Dean Libowitz, Michelle Lin, Brianna M Lora, Alexis Victoria Mackbach, Eric Edward Mackowski, Gillian Renae Mariconda, Derek Tyler McKane, Hannah Leigh McLaughlin, Seth Cornell McNellage, Christian Alexander Medina, Shannon F Meisel;

Also, Rafael Alejandro Mesias, Will Anthony Morzello, Isabella Marie Moshier, Matthew N Murray, Lauren Elizabeth Nadzam, Drew Avery Newcomb, Wisley Nathan Noel, Jasmin M Ochoa, Ryan Thomas Palomba, Kristi Alexis Pena, Kellie Marie Perillo, Marley Cathryn Peterson, Chloe Anne Plavcan, Ryan Zachary Poisson;

Also, John Patrick Reed, Jenique RoseMarie Richards, Jovanny Will Riley, Alicja Maria Rog, Faith Danielle Roos, Clarissa Hanna Rotonto, Emma Kathryn Sakowicz, Katie Lynne Sarnecky, Nicholas Jacob Satta, Gavin Anthony Scofield, Meghasri Shankar, Emily Lynn Shaw, Hannah Lynn Shimura;

Also, Reilly Alexandra Simpson, Aoife Grace Smith, Emily June Sosik, Nyasia Monet Thomas, Chyna Karen Tisdale, Annie Tran, Martina Ida Troncoso, Danny Vega, Jesse Alexander Veilleux, Daniel J Vilarinho, Eliot Calvin Walker, Jessica Wills, Ayesha Tu Zahrah.

Grade 7 — Ayziah Elexus Abner, Elyza Brianna Acevedo, Krysta Jaylin Alverio, Taylor Marie Alves, Christopher Edward Anstis, Ivan Javier Arguello, Kyla E Bailey, Samuel Branyan, Jackson Lawrence Buchanan, Samantha Elizabeth Carbone, Olivia Grace Carriero, Christiana Jessica Carrillo, Noah Christian, Nicholena Honey Connelly, Edgar Cortes;

Also, Nelson Cortes, Christopher Stephen Coughlin, Alexa Crea, Norman Afonso Cruz, Claire Elizabeth Curry, Brianna A D’Aloia, Ryan Khang Dang, Kaitlin Elizabeth de Friesse, Jack Antonio DeLise, Jasen G Docteur, Sydney Page Durost, Lauren Ann Fazekas, Karli Elizabeth Flores, Bryce Forte, Angie Dejesus Garcia, Nathan William George;

Also, Charlotte Rose Gilbert, Ashley Yanelly Gramajo, Giovanni Emamuel Gramajo, Christopher Alan Gulish, Myles James Hall, Sarah Harrison, Ashley Michelle Hong, Kristen Hubbell, Bao-Van Huong, Gabrielle Celestine Jacob, William Scott Jenkins, Kacie Lyn John, Jaslin Johnson, Olivia Esinam Johnson, Abigail Elizabeth Joy, Raissatou A Karim, Megan Rose Kozlowski;

Also, Tristan Alexander Lariccia, Jeneva Larose, Jaspar Michael Law, Saraya Theresa Lewis, Shamar T Livingston, Kelly Kassandra Londa, Everett Kiernan Lowe, Walter Luciano, Nicholas Joseph Macisco, Kamila Anisa Malinowska, Danielle Mae Malota, Aidan Patrick Marin, Juan Martin, Justin Masi, Brooks Hannah Matthews, Ann Elizabeth McNeil, Jennifer Stephanie Melo;

Also, Cassidy Rose Moore, Olivia Xiaodou Mraz, Kyleen Octayvia Nelson, Magnus Ordner, Joshua Alexander Ortiz, Alexander Clark Osenbach, Amelia Elizabeth Overby, Chloe Pappas, Emma Catherine Parkes, Grace Sharon Perez, Madyson E Perley, Daniela Brennan Petillo, Austin Pongpit, Christian Graviel Ramos;

Also, Summer Valencia Reid, Manuelito Reyes Valencia, Elizabeth Ann Rohrs, Faye Elizabeth Rooney, Rachel Ruth Sajaw, Braydon Lundquist Seaburg, Daniel Sikes, Kayla Theresa Simon, BobbieJune Mary Singer, Maniyardpha Sirichantho, Sanoma K Smart, Jervon Jervar Speed, Amanda Nicole Tecci, Kaitlynn Torres, Nicholas Antonio Traussi;

Also, Shea Kathleen Tyler, Nnenna Faith Ugenyi, Anthony David Wilcoxson, Justin Thomas Williams, Preston Matthew Williams, Kayla Ameila Noel Wilson, Melissa Lodge Wilson, Cheree Marie Wright, Jenna Alyssa Zabaneh, Carly Alexis Zajac, Logan Bennett Zezima.

Second honors

Grade 8 — Natalie Anderson, Allison Elizabeth Anka, Christopher James Antrum, Heather Bacon, Makalah La’shay-Marie Banks, Gabriella Nicole Barg, Milton Steve Barrera-Garcia, Matthew Noel Barrios, David John Bedat, Sai’Ka Blondy Belony, Samantha Bobko, Shivam Devshi Bokhiria, Olivia Essence Brooks, Travon Palmer Burnett;

Also, Edwin Camille, Nathaniel Jay Caro, Aaron Ronald Christy, Adrianna Cintron, Ta’tiara Shamone Coachman, Emma Josephine Cogswell, Payton Virginia Damato, Cyrus Quinnlan Dufane, Elise J Dunning, Nicholas Peter Evan, Emily B Faulkner, Marla Dorothy Fetcho, Christiana Marie Flores, Ki’son J Gardner;

Also, Deanna Elizabeth Giardina, Joseph Tyler Grindrod, Kasey Emily Herrera, Evan David Hudenets, Kelly Ann Hylton, Dejah Danielle Latham, Tiaire Jovon Lee, Amanda Leonard, Britney Joan Levasseur, Michael R Little, Cora Martonak, Christopher Robert Matarazzo, Raymond McIlhoney, Deja Lana’e Mendenhall, Emma Rose Miller;

Also, Gianella Faith Moyano, Julianna Elina Nunez, Victoria Owusu-Afriyie, Shyla Pacheco, Trinity Feliz Pagan, Kaitlyn Marie Priestley-O’Brien, Damian Quinones, Sara Grace Rader, Alexa Rose Ruiz, Jose Camilo Salazar, Antonio Frank Sciarappa, Zachary James Shaham, Andrew Jay Silva, Victoria Rose Sorrentino, Shannon Elizabeth Tripodi, Ernest Armanny Velazquez-Rodriguez, Alyssa Baia Verissimo, Dream Alore Marie Whitaker, Nicholas Gus Yerinides.

Grade 7 — Elijah Yclair Alexandre, Tamia Shanice Allen, Mathew Beck, Patrick Jameson Carter, Anthony Edward Castro, Skyla Jewelz Cedeno, Makayla Arianna Clarke, Corey Edward Corica, Na’varia Emonti Curry-Johnson, Don’Unique Rayvin Daniels, Jacqueline Gayle DeCrescenzo, Jada Aljandra Delgado, Glen Orlando Diaz, Laniyah Brionna Dunn, Kyah Echo-Lyric Durrschmidt, Joshua Edmond Erdos;

Also, Jesse Scott Fabrizio, Rosabet Mary Falcon, Ralph Dylan Fuller, Eyliana Marie Hernandez, Javier Giovanny Hernandez, Yamelize T Hernandez, Justin Ricardo Herrera, Brett Charles Hill, Amber M Johnson, Joseph Christopher Allen Jones, Nicholas Joseph Kantzas, Dylan Kravitz;

Also, Suri Anahi Lainez, Jake William Lopez, Maggie Luong, Jaysen Anthony Madera, Julia Kathleen Mahoney, Kathryn Tatiana Martinez, Facundo Mateo, Alexandria Eve Matyasovszky, Rachel Laura Meglio, Isaac Mellen, Kenneth Faustino Mendoza, Ysabel A Motta, Kerrigan Helene Murphy, David Keegan Nalezynski;

Also, Christopher Lars Ohlin, Shanely Ortiz, Victor Rafael Ortiz, Jerry Antonio Palomo, Matthew Vinton Pond, Gianna Marie Poremba, John David Purdy, Jessien Felipe Ramos, Mackenzie Taylor Rivera, Joshua Jefferson Gene Robbers, Patricia Marilynn Rotonto, Amaya Inez Soto, Bay Tait, Laura Andrea Taracena, Kieara Nya Trenard, Loreina Gabrielle Vasilakos, Ryan James Wechter, Madison Rose Winter, Chloe-Ryan Woolfolk, Angela Yi.

“If you want to be important, wonderful,” according to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “If you want to be recognized, wonderful. If you want to be great, wonderful! But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s the new definition of greatness. By giving that definition of greatness it means that everybody can be great. Because everybody can serve.”

This definition of greatness given Dr. King can be well applied to all the work and effort put forth from the hands of over 500 volunteers at The University of Bridgeport this year on MLK Day, Jan. 20, which included students from Stratford and Bunnell high schools.

Some people think about the life of Martin Luther King and then wonder, What would he want people around the world to do on a day dedicated to his life and legacy? There are people who believe that if Dr. King Jr. were still alive, he would enjoy hearing and reading about people coming together all over the world to help one another and create peaceful interactions.

Some of these people have volunteered to serve their community and help others in need at the University of Bridgeport for the 10th Annual MLK Day of Service ready to provide needed services for their fellow community members.

The volunteers gathered at the University of Bridgeport were not the only group serving their community. Local restaurants and markets including Whole Foods Market, Bagel King, Subway, Captain’s Pizza House, Tomlinson’s Restaurant, Giove’s Pizza Kitchen, and Ralph & Rich’s donated breakfast and lunch for our 518 volunteers. The volunteers were very grateful to those donors who made sure there was enough food to feed them on this special day.

The student volunteers from Bridgeport and Stratford made a great sacrifice in the midst of studying for midterms and other activities. They changed this “day off” into a day on. To arrive at 8:30 in the morning, these students found rides from parents, caught the city bus, and even walked to the University of Bridgeport in order to give a helping hand to their community. They participated in service activities on campus such as making blankets for the homeless, dog biscuits for the animal shelter, and care packages for food pantries.

These students are a part of a high school health career educational program called the Youth Health Service Corps (YHSC), conducted by Southwestern Areas Health Education Center (AHEC). YHSC participants learn about the variety of health career occupations through presentations facilitated by YHSC Coordinators, and visits from guest speakers from the health career field. Students also participate in service learning projects in which they present health-related topics to different audiences. Students in YHSC are connected to their communities, careers, and knowledge of better health through education and outreach.

The following students were named to the second marking period honor roll at Notre Dame High School, Fairfield.

High honors

Grade 9 — Guymara Manigat, Megan Peterlin

Grade 10 — Rose Brennan, Brendan Gallagher, Elyse Politica, Emily Schofield, Nicholas Stevens, Caitlin Wardlow.

Grade 11 — Shadea Foster, Trenton Moore, Mario Nunes.

Grade 12 — Pedrica Belizaire, Samnyeong Heo, Matthew Moffat.

Honors

Grade 11 — Morgan Sweeney.

Grade 12 — Spencer Bassett, Jasmine Fuller, Nichole Miller.

The following students were named to the second quarter honor roll at Stratford High School:

First honors

Grade 12 — Maggie Bodington, Alicia Buynovsky, Jeremy Calvar, Danielle Calzone, Jacob Cayton, Quincy Cayton, Andrew Cerone, Jillian Chambers, Timothy Cox, Margaret DeCapua, Nicolas DiIulio, Brian Evan, Jenna Fasanella, Ann Fednard, Samantha Feliciano, Christian Foito, Christopher Gonzalez, Gloria Grave Avila;

Also, Kristopher Guzman, Jonathan Homburg, Jephthe Jean, Reid Jefferson, Taylor King-Craigwell, Nicholas Kovalik, Rebecca Kuzmich, Katherine Lee, Eleanor Lefever, Yasmine Mahmud, Margaux Mahoney, Spencer Marks, Alexander Martin, Jacob Martinez, Eric Mezzo, Brendan Miller, Milo Mitchell, Haley Moore, Brandy Morales, Madison Norton, Timothy Paproski, Abbie Perez;

Also, Joanne Pierre-Louis, Anabelle Plaza, Katherine Rodriguez, Emma Rooney, Denise Sanchez, Rachel Santo, Kaitlyn Schuessler, Nora Scott, Anekka Scott-Gray, Miguel Seclen, Alexia Smith, Allyson Starkey, William Tait, Elizabeth Tallberg, Alexandra Trahan, Anna Trahan, Michael Vavala, Jacqueline Walsh, Paige Whitley.

Grade 11 — Bertha Barrios, Samantha Breaz, Samuel Breiner, Zane Carey, Christopher Carroll, Piotr Chaber, Mariah Cortes, Livingston Cortez, Marissa Dacruz, Tyler Devellis, Nathanael Domschine, Thomas Ferrara, Kaitlin Hines, Enrique Jaime, Carlos Jaramillo, Schekina Jean, Stephen Jepsen, V’eona Lanham, Michael Lapia;

Also, Timothy Leveen, Alex Masi, Michael McClean, Tera-je McLennon, Kevin Mendoza, Rosalina Morales, Ambar Negron, Alexis Rader, Kareem Robinson, Emily Sanchez, Christian Sarmiento, Matthew Schaefer, Ayanna Staton, Anna Velasquez, Kylee Vitka-Lainey, Miles Wilson.

Grade 10 — Marlene Abouaassi, Julia Barksdale, Laura Battey, Kristina Bennett, Helen Branyan, Timothy Breiner, Jonathan Brooks, David Buonantony, Matthew Canapetti, Kyle Carmona, John Cox, Joseph Cox, John Duffy, Shannon Dugan, Kyle Fasanella, Nathan Glick, Gillian Goddard;

Also, Katherine Goodrich, Christopher Hamilton, Ashley Jean-Pierre, Jason Kelly, Helen Langston, Madison Lazaro, Megan Leonard, Miguel Marrero, Olivia Mastroluca, Joseph McClean, Gabrielle Olexovitch, Danielle Peterson;

Also, Michael Petillo, Teresa Petreycik, Aileen Pingol, William Rooney, Zohra Sarpas, Allana Scudder, Chynna Sherrod, Christopher Smith, Zachary Smith, Richard Starkey, Daniel Thorstensson, Jakub Tomaszewski, Fatima Tuziahrah.

Grade 9 — Connor Anderson, Benjamin Andrade, Ndidi Anekwe, Connor Anstis, Ross Bodington, Britney Boursiquot, Brianna Braham, Alan Brzuszko, Jordan Chach, Danielle Cisero, Nicholas Cody, Jeremy Corpuz, James Dotterman, Maia Dufane, Thomas Fernandes, Erik Flores, Tristan Frownfelter, Zachary Gottlieb, Roula Kouvatas, Emma Lacourciere, Jean-Paul Lieu, Caroline Londa, Leanne Lubas, Emily Luciano;

Also, Allysa Noccioli, Jenna Noccioli, Brandy Okrah, Tiffany Owen, Angeleen Pingol, Olivia Plavcan, Martha Polanco, Meghan Reynolds, Samantha Rivera, Vanessa Rivera, Alexis Rosado, Molly Ryan, Daniel Schaefer, Katie Schneider, Raghad Serri, Jeffrey Sharnick, Marguerite Walsh, Kaya Wells, Michael Yacik, Brady Young.

Second honors

Grade 12 — Keishera Aldonza, Shania Bancroft, Samantha Beck, Anthony Bobko, Isaiah Booker, Andrew Bouchotte, Michelle Bravo, Harrison Brooks, Rushawn Brown, Kelly Ceccarelli, Jacob Cuevas, Daniel Dellavecchia, Liliette Diavua, Matthew DiCostanzo, Jose Espinoza, Kyra Ezekiel, Carlos Flores, Julia Genetti, Rodney Johnson;

Also, Wendy Jones, Kristofer Koch, Ivette Lebron, Mcbryan Lesperance, Victor Lopez-Hernandez, Matthew Masi, Adrienne Meneo, Shannon Mraz, Destiny Ortiz, Alexander Pale, Nyle Peterson, Sarita Peterson, Kathryn Posser, Siah Reeves, Edward Rivera, Emelyn Rivera;

Also, John Rohaly, Gabrielle Rooney, Brandon Russo, Alexander Sarmiento, Frank Sessa, Chayla Sherrod, Thomas Signore, Rebecca Simon, E’Zhana Smith, Jacob Sosik, Ana-Michelle Valente, Joi Vickers, Andre Vilarinho, Jada Watley.

Grade 11 — Gabriela Aguieiras, Anthony Alvarez, Jenna Amoroso, Samantha Belport, Curtis Boahene, Kevin Bott, Austin Bult, Brianna Bursey, Andrea Camargo, Phinehas Cleary, Brett Cody, Alexander Colwell, Karen De La Roca, Christopher DeCrescenzo;

Also, Dariell Diaz, Jerry Dinan, Cierra Donald, Jack Erazmus, Derek Falcon, Brenden Figueroa, Kelsey Gabris, Giovanni Gonzalez, Lauren Goodrich, Tarquinn Granado, Allison Granberg, Jahliah Green, Wassim Haddad, Katharine Himpel, Lance Jamison, Coralie Joseph, Crystal Kantzas, Katherine Krasniewicz;

Also, Angela Mariano, William McDonald, Tasiana Mesidor, Albert Messana, Bethy Napaul, Lauren Padua, Audrey Pancak, Athanasios Panolis, Stephanie Perez, Tiara Pomontty, Kassie Poruban, Laura Quijano Jimenez, Taylor Reed, Anthony Rivera, Haley Schaefer, Lynn Schneider, Emma Simmons, Jillian Stringfellow, Patrick Warren, Alexis Williams, Emily Winter.

Grade 10 — Elmar Barrios, Jaydin Beatty-Knight, Grace Belport, Joana Brousseau, Michelle Buzzanca, Gabrielle Camarero, Geraldine Chavez, Remy Cooper, Donielle Daniels, Isabelle Dominguez, Elissa Dykes, Jomaris Echevarria, Danielle Evan, Lenyn Feijoo, Guirlaine Francois, DeAndrea Frederick, Jayla Frederick, David Goldstein;

Also, Autumn Graham, Matthew Herrera, Kayla Hughes, Dialynda Joseph, Shaina Joseph, Sarah Kotsay, John Lagerfeldt, Willie Llera, Maya Marrero, Darla Moss-Clarke, Emily Pappas, Sabrina Ramirez, Alexander Ramos, Eric Redgate, Jeffrey Riccio, Tamara Schriffert, Tyler Schuessler, Rachel Scott, Genesis Torres, Carlos Umana, Jennifer Vargas, Akin Warburton Baker.

Grade 9 — Kirsten Adams, Maher Alsakkaf, Tia Anderson, Angel Arias, Mackenzie Bakos, Amanda Bedat, Amelia Brennan, Shaiann Bridges Potts, Christian Camargo, Lauren Cesar, Shawn Chambers, Angela Cortazar, Kathryn Cullen, David Decoteau, Olivia Donnelly, Samantha Gangemi, Charlotte Haas, Samantha Hackett;

Also, Liam Hannon, Rory Hannon, Brooke Haschak, Paige Hoydick, Khalifa Karim, Kaitlyn Keegan, Emily Kiely, Steven Koripsky, Kelsey Lepesko, Carley Lubas, Kamal Mansour, Rahaf Mansour, Rebecca McMahon, Jennifer Medina, Olivia Murray, Sam Noccioli, Amanda Osenbach;

Also, Amanda Pale, Tatyanna Pettway, Brandon Rashan, Anginette Repollet, Nicole Richards, Vanessa Russo, Sabrina Saad, Christopher Scott-Gray, Nathaniel Shields, Khalil Sokunle, Steven Surmaczewicz, Cassidi Sutherland, Rony Tello-Galvez, Colin Townsend, Koe Tsutsumi, Tyler Verissimo, Rebekah Wargo, Sarah Zuiewski.

University of Rhode Island: Zach McIntosh, Alexa Williams, Cassandra Schellhas, Nicki Owen, Jessica Schellhas, Samantha Marks, Bridgette Bassett.

Skidmore College: Erica Johnson, class of ’14, daughter of Linda Johnson; Meaghan Ford, class of ’15, daughter of Robert and Catherine Ford; Daniel Lesko, class of ’17, son of Joseph Lesko and Candace Bothwell.

Francis University: Kathryn Buonantony, English major.

Marist College: Andrew Baran, Gabrielle Carriero, Brendan Ferguson.

Fairfield University: Brian Arpie, Patricia Brice, Alma Dwumfour, Iliana Figueroa, Matthew Guberman-Pfeffer, a resident, Anne Guglielmoni, Synethia Holly, Quindell Jones, Sydney Kessing, Richard Kovach, Joseph Mastroluca, Shelby Meyer, Chanel Noblin, Amanda Ocasio, Andrew Parker, Carly Rivera.

Four middle school students were recognized as Youth At Its BEST at the January Board of Education meeting. Two of the winners, Wooster Middle School eighth grader Katie Sarnecky and Flood Middle School eighth grader Nathaniel Larsen, attended the meeting.

Students Katie Sarnecky and Lili Chipman from Wooster Middle School and Emma Lynn Fuchs and Nathaniel Larsen from Flood Middle School have been named 2013-2014 Youth At Its BEST winners, and they were recognized at the Jan. 27 meeting of the Stratford Board of Education.

Stratford’s Business Education Support Team, a.k.a. BEST, is a collaboration between the Stratford business community and the Stratford Public Schools, to align resources with needs for the benefit of Stratford students.

Youth At Its BEST recognizes the volunteer activities of Stratford Public School students and reflects on the positive qualities of these students.

Flood Middle School Principal Jack Dellapiano spoke of volunteerism before commending the students directly. “No community could exist without the efforts of volunteers,” said Dellapiano. “It has been said that to volunteer is to contribute your goodness and works to humanity unselfishly, without seeking any rewards.”

He shared a quote by Sherry Anderson: Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.

Dellapiano said that Fuchs feels that volunteering has changed her community as well as herself. Fuchs has helped the elderly with daily living tasks and taught young children about the vast history of Stratford and the people who have helped shape the town. One of her greatest accomplishments, Dellapiano said, was raising over $39,000 for cancer research through the Blocks of Love Foundation.

Larsen says that volunteering gives him a chance to do special things for people in the community, which allows him to take pride in his community, according to Dellapiano. Further, the principal said, Larsen feels that volunteering has helped him gain a sense of responsibility, commitment and pushed him to be the best he can be.

Larsen has worked with his church, the Boy Scouts and The Barnum Festival.

Wooster Middle School Principal Jack Lynch outlined the highlights of Chipman’s and Sarnecky’s volunteer activities. Chipman volunteered at Lord Chamberlain’s Elder Hostel for the elderly and tutored children in Wilcoxson Elementary School. She participated in a food drive, was an assistant counselor for a children’s tennis camp and sings in her church choir.

Sarnecky volunteered to wrap Christmas presents for children in Bridgeport Hospital and tutored students at Wilcoxson elementary. She created a lemonade stand with friends to raise money for cancer and a second time to raise money for the local animal shelter. She also ran an eyeglasses collection fund for those who can’t afford glasses on their own.

To select the four Youth At Its BEST recipients the middle schools requested students to write an essay on their volunteer activities. The Administration reviewed the essays and selected the top ones and provided them to the BEST committee who reviewed them and recommended students for interviews. The schools’ administration completed the interview process and provided the final selections.

Superintendent of Catholic Schools Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., Rev. Donald Guglielmi, Joseph Krekoska, Allison Krekoska, Helen Krekoska, Principal Gene Holmes, and Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, bishop of Diocese of Bridgeport.

Eighth grade student Allison Krekoska from St. Mark School was recently honored with the 2014 St. Thomas Aquinas Award. Allison received this award as a result of her academic excellence and exemplary values and community service. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano recognized her achievement with a medal of honor at the recent Breakfast of Champions Awards Ceremony, held at the Catholic Center in Bridgeport. Allison Krekoska will be attending St. Joseph High School in Trumbull in the fall.

The following students were named to the second quarter honor roll at Wooster Middle School:

First honors

Grade 8 — Alexander John Adzima, Michelle Noella Aiello, Makayla Cheyanne Albert, Zion Lamont Allen, Morgan Anissa Anderson, Sean Nicholas Attanasio, Tamauri D Attaud, Michael Chernak August, Caitlin Nicole Bacon, Tyler Cree Bailey, Dakota Marie Benson, Katherine Lynn Bike, Steven James Bonazzo, Taylor Nicole Brady, Jada Nicole Bryan, Claire R Budnick;

Also, Jayson Alexander Camargo, Alexa Julianne Capuano, Christopher John Carey, Ryan Anthony Carrano, Destin Lyric Charles, Liliana Elzbieta Chipman, Jake Alfred Chittem, Nicholas Joseph Cipriani, Kaitlyn A Ciufo, Abigail Watkins Colwell, Rory Cooper, Ryan Cooper, Emma Cranston, Carmela Beth Daponte-Smith;

Also, Kaylee Judith Davidson, Scott W Detuzzi, Omar Alejandro Dominguez, Jeremiah David Domschine, Anthony Joseph Dragone, Brendan Sander Duffy, Kevan Christopher Duffy, Ryan Patrick Duffy, Madelyn Terese Dunkel, Mikhaila Renee Eller, Lisa Enaye, Holden A Fetchin, Alexandra Flathers, Imanol Flores-Quechol, Vincent Leigh Gabrielle, Amanda Sue Gallagher;

Also, Chastity S Garcia, Natanael Garcia, Kate Melany Gavilanes, Rebecca Glaudin, Emily P Goddard, Olivia Morgan Grant, Abigail Amelia Granton, Naishia Renee Gray, Amanda S Haydu, Tyler David Heffern, Benjamin Fairbend Heiden, Ameira Samary Hernandez, Leanny Hernandez, Dillon Richmond Higgins, Louiz-Anthony Ferreira Iannucci, Amanda L Jeffreys, Trinite Mujinga Kayembe, Zachary Bennett Kenney;

Also, Jordan Thomas Kinder, Fiona Kyle, Brianna Nicole Lapia, Owen Sibley Law, Barry Dean Libowitz, Michelle Lin, Brianna M Lora, Alexis Victoria Mackbach, Eric Edward Mackowski, Gillian Renae Mariconda, Derek Tyler McKane, Hannah Leigh McLaughlin, Seth Cornell McNellage, Christian Alexander Medina, Shannon F Meisel;

Also, Rafael Alejandro Mesias, Will Anthony Morzello, Isabella Marie Moshier, Matthew N Murray, Lauren Elizabeth Nadzam, Drew Avery Newcomb, Wisley Nathan Noel, Jasmin M Ochoa, Ryan Thomas Palomba, Kristi Alexis Pena, Kellie Marie Perillo, Marley Cathryn Peterson, Chloe Anne Plavcan, Ryan Zachary Poisson;

Also, John Patrick Reed, Jenique RoseMarie Richards, Jovanny Will Riley, Alicja Maria Rog, Faith Danielle Roos, Clarissa Hanna Rotonto, Emma Kathryn Sakowicz, Katie Lynne Sarnecky, Nicholas Jacob Satta, Gavin Anthony Scofield, Meghasri Shankar, Emily Lynn Shaw, Hannah Lynn Shimura;

Also, Reilly Alexandra Simpson, Aoife Grace Smith, Emily June Sosik, Nyasia Monet Thomas, Chyna Karen Tisdale, Annie Tran, Martina Ida Troncoso, Danny Vega, Jesse Alexander Veilleux, Daniel J Vilarinho, Eliot Calvin Walker, Jessica Wills, Ayesha Tu Zahrah.

Grade 7 — Ayziah Elexus Abner, Elyza Brianna Acevedo, Krysta Jaylin Alverio, Taylor Marie Alves, Christopher Edward Anstis, Ivan Javier Arguello, Kyla E Bailey, Samuel Branyan, Jackson Lawrence Buchanan, Samantha Elizabeth Carbone, Olivia Grace Carriero, Christiana Jessica Carrillo, Noah Christian, Nicholena Honey Connelly, Edgar Cortes;

Also, Nelson Cortes, Christopher Stephen Coughlin, Alexa Crea, Norman Afonso Cruz, Claire Elizabeth Curry, Brianna A D’Aloia, Ryan Khang Dang, Kaitlin Elizabeth de Friesse, Jack Antonio DeLise, Jasen G Docteur, Sydney Page Durost, Lauren Ann Fazekas, Karli Elizabeth Flores, Bryce Forte, Angie Dejesus Garcia, Nathan William George;

Also, Charlotte Rose Gilbert, Ashley Yanelly Gramajo, Giovanni Emamuel Gramajo, Christopher Alan Gulish, Myles James Hall, Sarah Harrison, Ashley Michelle Hong, Kristen Hubbell, Bao-Van Huong, Gabrielle Celestine Jacob, William Scott Jenkins, Kacie Lyn John, Jaslin Johnson, Olivia Esinam Johnson, Abigail Elizabeth Joy, Raissatou A Karim, Megan Rose Kozlowski;

Also, Tristan Alexander Lariccia, Jeneva Larose, Jaspar Michael Law, Saraya Theresa Lewis, Shamar T Livingston, Kelly Kassandra Londa, Everett Kiernan Lowe, Walter Luciano, Nicholas Joseph Macisco, Kamila Anisa Malinowska, Danielle Mae Malota, Aidan Patrick Marin, Juan Martin, Justin Masi, Brooks Hannah Matthews, Ann Elizabeth McNeil, Jennifer Stephanie Melo;

Also, Cassidy Rose Moore, Olivia Xiaodou Mraz, Kyleen Octayvia Nelson, Magnus Ordner, Joshua Alexander Ortiz, Alexander Clark Osenbach, Amelia Elizabeth Overby, Chloe Pappas, Emma Catherine Parkes, Grace Sharon Perez, Madyson E Perley, Daniela Brennan Petillo, Austin Pongpit, Christian Graviel Ramos;

Also, Summer Valencia Reid, Manuelito Reyes Valencia, Elizabeth Ann Rohrs, Faye Elizabeth Rooney, Rachel Ruth Sajaw, Braydon Lundquist Seaburg, Daniel Sikes, Kayla Theresa Simon, BobbieJune Mary Singer, Maniyardpha Sirichantho, Sanoma K Smart, Jervon Jervar Speed, Amanda Nicole Tecci, Kaitlynn Torres, Nicholas Antonio Traussi;

Also, Shea Kathleen Tyler, Nnenna Faith Ugenyi, Anthony David Wilcoxson, Justin Thomas Williams, Preston Matthew Williams, Kayla Ameila Noel Wilson, Melissa Lodge Wilson, Cheree Marie Wright, Jenna Alyssa Zabaneh, Carly Alexis Zajac, Logan Bennett Zezima.

Second honors

Grade 8 — Natalie Anderson, Allison Elizabeth Anka, Christopher James Antrum, Heather Bacon, Makalah La’shay-Marie Banks, Gabriella Nicole Barg, Milton Steve Barrera-Garcia, Matthew Noel Barrios, David John Bedat, Sai’Ka Blondy Belony, Samantha Bobko, Shivam Devshi Bokhiria, Olivia Essence Brooks, Travon Palmer Burnett;

Also, Edwin Camille, Nathaniel Jay Caro, Aaron Ronald Christy, Adrianna Cintron, Ta’tiara Shamone Coachman, Emma Josephine Cogswell, Payton Virginia Damato, Cyrus Quinnlan Dufane, Elise J Dunning, Nicholas Peter Evan, Emily B Faulkner, Marla Dorothy Fetcho, Christiana Marie Flores, Ki’son J Gardner;

Also, Deanna Elizabeth Giardina, Joseph Tyler Grindrod, Kasey Emily Herrera, Evan David Hudenets, Kelly Ann Hylton, Dejah Danielle Latham, Tiaire Jovon Lee, Amanda Leonard, Britney Joan Levasseur, Michael R Little, Cora Martonak, Christopher Robert Matarazzo, Raymond McIlhoney, Deja Lana’e Mendenhall, Emma Rose Miller;

Also, Gianella Faith Moyano, Julianna Elina Nunez, Victoria Owusu-Afriyie, Shyla Pacheco, Trinity Feliz Pagan, Kaitlyn Marie Priestley-O’Brien, Damian Quinones, Sara Grace Rader, Alexa Rose Ruiz, Jose Camilo Salazar, Antonio Frank Sciarappa, Zachary James Shaham, Andrew Jay Silva, Victoria Rose Sorrentino, Shannon Elizabeth Tripodi, Ernest Armanny Velazquez-Rodriguez, Alyssa Baia Verissimo, Dream Alore Marie Whitaker, Nicholas Gus Yerinides.

Grade 7 — Elijah Yclair Alexandre, Tamia Shanice Allen, Mathew Beck, Patrick Jameson Carter, Anthony Edward Castro, Skyla Jewelz Cedeno, Makayla Arianna Clarke, Corey Edward Corica, Na’varia Emonti Curry-Johnson, Don’Unique Rayvin Daniels, Jacqueline Gayle DeCrescenzo, Jada Aljandra Delgado, Glen Orlando Diaz, Laniyah Brionna Dunn, Kyah Echo-Lyric Durrschmidt, Joshua Edmond Erdos;

Also, Jesse Scott Fabrizio, Rosabet Mary Falcon, Ralph Dylan Fuller, Eyliana Marie Hernandez, Javier Giovanny Hernandez, Yamelize T Hernandez, Justin Ricardo Herrera, Brett Charles Hill, Amber M Johnson, Joseph Christopher Allen Jones, Nicholas Joseph Kantzas, Dylan Kravitz;

Also, Suri Anahi Lainez, Jake William Lopez, Maggie Luong, Jaysen Anthony Madera, Julia Kathleen Mahoney, Kathryn Tatiana Martinez, Facundo Mateo, Alexandria Eve Matyasovszky, Rachel Laura Meglio, Isaac Mellen, Kenneth Faustino Mendoza, Ysabel A Motta, Kerrigan Helene Murphy, David Keegan Nalezynski;

Also, Christopher Lars Ohlin, Shanely Ortiz, Victor Rafael Ortiz, Jerry Antonio Palomo, Matthew Vinton Pond, Gianna Marie Poremba, John David Purdy, Jessien Felipe Ramos, Mackenzie Taylor Rivera, Joshua Jefferson Gene Robbers, Patricia Marilynn Rotonto, Amaya Inez Soto, Bay Tait, Laura Andrea Taracena, Kieara Nya Trenard, Loreina Gabrielle Vasilakos, Ryan James Wechter, Madison Rose Winter, Chloe-Ryan Woolfolk, Angela Yi.

The following students were named to the second quarter honor roll at Bunnell High School:

First honors

Grade 12 — Renata Nicole Aguirre, Roger Antunez, Elizabeth Ann Bevacqua, Jessica A Bogdwicz, Julianna Carole Boras, Lauren Brainard, Madeline Renshaw Burgess, Matthew Jacob Burgos, Sabrina Marie Burgos, Ashanti Danai Campfield, Christian M Caravaglia, Elisabeth Cerino, Michelle Katherine Costa, Sarah Marie Czerwinski;

Also, Lindsey M Delahoz, Elyssia I Delgado, Kaleigh Tara Dillon, Tara Bridget Doherty, Charles Joseph Dyke, Lindsay Marie Fraedrich, Bridget Ann Frouge, Daniel Ghajar, Daniel Luis Gordon, Margaret Mary Halper, Ranya Samir Hamada, Michael Kenneth Henetz, Lauren Emilia Jachimczyk, Anthony William Johnson, Ryan Jovanelly, Hayley E Kepchar, Kevin R Kiley, Christina Joy Klein, Erin Elizabeth Koletar;

Also, Eldine Sabrina Lazarre, Kevin Ledezma, Emily W Mackay, Anita Rose Martin, Sherice Mayne, Patricia Rae Meade, April Nicole Meadows, Donna Ellen Messina, Haley Mitchell-Adams, Katherin Yomara Mujica, Craig Pellegrino, Kathiana Princy, Julia Prusaczyk, Michaela Lynn Roman;

Also, Benjamin David Ruskin, Alexandrea Marie Sajda, Jennie Lee Salgado, Alyssa Ana Santiago, Syed Saud, Ariel Cherie Smith, Elise Sotolongo, Thomas West Sullivan, Ian C Taylor, Devante Teel, Brandon Roberts Thomas, Alex Trabanino, Matthew J Varney, Mark Eugene Verrilli, Lora Rose Walsh, Evan Matthew Wilson, Darek Wojenski.

Grade 11 — Mariana A Alcantara, Emily Stoddard Andrade, Ricardo Pierre Belizaire, Ruth Bernadel, Ana Lilia Cardenas, Courtenay Carrano, Joseph Catapano, Sean Patrick Craven, Sarah Katherine Doce, Armando Dominguez, Timo J Fischer, Rylie Noelle Forte, Julie Ann Greenberg, Olivia Hayes, Linden Christopher Higgins, Shannon Marie Hofmiller, Montana L Honafius;

Also, Daphney Jean-Pierre, Stephanie Joan Kaesmann, Mbuyi Samantha Kalemba, Sean Karasik, Justin Lasko, Audrey Law, Tyler Stefan LeComer, Samuel Fildes Leventhal, Neileauna Neileycia Medley, Rachael Ann Merritt, Alexis Marie Mucherino, Jade Neverson, Lukman Bolaji Obisesan, Jillian Marie Pastor, Joyce Proano, Giovanni-Marie Roper;

Also, Kayleigh Anne Ross, Juan-Jose Salazar, Matthew Patrick Sharnick, Juliana Marie Sharp, Brady Patrick Shea, Brittney Nicole Sierer, Tracie Denea Slade, Sebastian Walter Smaga, Matthew Smarz, Nicole Marie Terrizzi, Nicole Robin Truedson, Brianna Villa, Frederique Vlaanderen, Laura Camila Zapata.

Grade 10 — Fatima Ali, Lauren Ashlee Anderson, Gabriela I Arias, Emily Ayala, Bailey Rose Barnum, Olivia Belliveau, Darrin Phillip Bosco, Dhruva T Chagi, Morgan Elizabeth Damato, David DaSilva, Victoria A Fatovic, Nicholas Fazekas, Jack V Ferrara, Mariana Forte, Morgan Emily Galvez, Alex Michael Ghajar, Patrick O Gough, Bridget C Grover;

Also, Emily Lynn Harrison, Anthony Thomas Herman, Melissa Hernandez, Elizabeth Nicole Johnson, David J Junga, Olivia Susanne Kascak, Christopher Kovach, Sarah Jean LaMontagne, Jessica Lapinski, Paige M LeComer, Raquel Eugenia Martinez, Diamond Nicole Ashle Medley, Alexandra Pauline Naimoli, Ryane Elizabeth Newall, Ashley Morgan O’Neill, Florence Opoku;

Also, Cynthia Yamileth Ordonez, Michael Pham, Miles Christopher Richards, Katelyn Marie Root, Jaslene Yolibel Ruiz, Yazmin Santos, Orlando Segui, Brooke D Shannon, Alex Bibi Sithivong, Devin A Starr, Erin Diane Sullivan, Eleanora Grace Turner, Megan Lynn Uhrynowski, Madeleine Lee Videira, Maria Volonte, Autumn Zhu Lynn Wagner, Amanda Nicole Williams, Ashley Rose Young.

Grade 9 — Chrisaine S Bailey, Francesca Rose Barone, Emily Rose Booth, Tashmique Aiyanna Brown, Rochelle Mia Buchanan, Jennifer A Cadley, Lindsay Marie Colacurcio, Ashley Elizabeth Conley, Danielle Marie Costa, Carissa Emily DiCicco, Kayla Angie Dominique, Caroline Mary Early, Zachary Jan Fagan, William Ryan Fazekas, Erin Beth Hanna, Abbas Mohamed Harris;

Also, Monika Hlinka, Kathrine Jankowska, Dalisa Claire Kennedy, Emily Grace Kratochwil, Lawrence Lam, Angelina Lee LaMonica, Melissa Marie Lemieux, Rebecca Nicole Marrero, Hannah Marie McGettigan, Sara Nicole Moore, Haylee J Norton, Saira Nahomy Ordonez;

Also, Joseph M Pellegrino, Isabella Josephine Puzzo, Madison Theresa Robotti, Chadwick Emerson Schroeder, Rachel C Scott, Mark Sennello, Cooper John Shea, Jasmine Sherelle Streeter, Jessica M Taliercio, Alexis Anastacia Trovarelli, Joshua M Vazquez, Yeymi Velasquez, Alyssa Ann Velez, Marlon A Vinza, Ashley A Williams.

Second honors

Grade 12 — Matthew Luis Alcantara, Izzah Meraj Ali, Nana Asare-Kwakye, Rhofrane Assadi-Slaoui, Nolan Shepard Aurelia, Agnieszka Bartoszek, Cameron Hartley Belliveau, Neyra Enid Benoit, Jocelyn M Berrios, Caitlin Beth Bryant, Celeste Dominique Burnett, Alexis Rafael Cabrera, Angeles Cardenas, Katelyn Leigh Carlson, Eduardo Carmelo, Nicholas Donald Cavoto, Katie-Ann Cervone, Shauna Rose Connell;

Also, Brigitte Curcio, Corey John Cusano, Siobhan Marie Davis, Victoria Louise Davis, Marissa Delvecchio, Sabrina E Dinuzzo, Emily Rose DuRivage, Cayla Elandra Eaddy, Jeffrey Daniel Flores, Dymond Cristal Florestal, Aleena Mercedes Garcia, Katie Gloeckner, Amanda Gomez, Teresa Marie Harkins, Edward Alan Harrison, Jack Gregory Heiden, Yvonne Hinds, Crystal M Holly, Haley Elizabeth Hubbell;

Also, Rebeca Jimenez, Tanaija Monique Jordan, Brittany Amber Lawson, Aldine Lazarre, Ivy Serondo Ling, Dean Michael Loehn, Kayla Renee’ Lombardo, Michael Lynch, Tyler John Macolino, Priscilla Mahar, Trevor Brian Mandl, Chavez Martinez, Hailey Elisabeth Meyernick, Hunter Mitchell-Adams, Kacie Erin O’Neill, Christopher David Och, Lillian Marie Parry;

Also, Alaijah T Perry-Francis, Monica N Pham, Jacqueline Pihonak, Jeremy Benjamin Proto, Nicolina Y Rivera, Jocelyn Catherine Rodriguez, Jack Berlin Ruiz, Ryan Sage, Rogelio Santana, Heaven Sent Janay Sealey, Samantha Shultz, Katarina Sokol, Laura Marcela Tamayo, Tegh Terrell, Natalia Rosa Torcaso, Christopher P Tumio, Issac J Vann, Justin Anthony Wargo, Hailey Rose Young, Rick Zacchi, Megan Zacchia, Stanley Teng Zheng.

Grade 11 — William Ortiz Alberti, Diane R Arias, Katerie Rosie Boursiquot, Isabelle Brown, Lindsey Danielle Brown, Matthew Thomas Bull, Melissa Erin Buzan, Jaydon Angel Caban, Hannah Lillian Caldwell, Hope Caliendo, Jeanie Cameron, Diana Marie Carroll, Laura Elizabeth Caserta, John Tyler Edward Castellanete, Emily Ann Cervone;

Also, William Joseph Chonka, Megan Connor, Adrian Jacob Cordova, Elizabeth Christine Cosgrove, Christian Emmanuel Cruz, Jasmine Mamacos Darlucio, Marisa-Jane C Decker, David Jonah Delaney, Eric Joseph DiCicco, Ruvens Exantus, Deja Ryen Fonseca, Julia Cristina Fredericks, Terra Frye, Shawn William Gerte, Monica Helen Gorton, Kaily Gruttadauria, Christina Marie Hardacre, Adrianna Elsa Hickey, Thomas Hong;

Also, Rebecca Jean-Pierre, Jazmine Brinae Khantikone, Alice Lam, Joshua Alexander Lampo, Phillip Ballard Miklovich, John Minopoli, Monica Montanez, Mildred Rosemary Morales, Ahyiana Sheray Morris, Lily A Mudre, Rachel M Mudre, Blake Alexander Norton, Tamya Justine Olufowobi, Thomas Kenneth Petrahai, Ryan Anthony Pittman, Charlene N Plavnicky;

Also, Melanie Lynn Rapoport, Trevaun Jonae Lynett Ricketts, Ronnie W Rossomando, Jordan Kenneth Sells, Damien Jacob Soler, Benjamin Stein, Jessica Amber Tartaglio, Brian Thomas Valeriano, Sarah Wiegand, Jacqueline Roman Williams.

Grade 10 — Abigail Aguirre, Audrey June Anderson, Michelle Lee Archer, Allison Arlene Baker, Arielle Juliana Beninco, John Carl Blashke, Mikayla D Boras, Dylan Joseph Brennan, Caitlyn Nichole Carrafiello, Karina Castro, Amber Catchings, Amanda R Cavoto, Olivia Rose Cioffi, Alyssa Rose Cooper, Ewelina Dabrowski, Cole E Davis, Javel Lloyd Dawkins, Nicole Marie DeFazio;

Also, Alyssa C Dudley, Charles Enright, Michael Gerard Frouge, Max Ellis Garber, Nicholas David Giannoni, Wyatt Goff, Elizabeth Margaret Grznarik, Patrick J Haggerty, Jack W Herrera, Christopher J Loehn, Alicia M Lombard, Zuehailee Kayla Martinez, Katarina C Masilamani, Dexter Mercado, Matthew E Messina;

Also, Kara N Murray, Nicholas Anthony Nolting, Megan Kathleen O’Leary, Jonathan Walter Och, Anderson Chibunna Ogazi, Katlyn Eileen Parkes, Sarah Kaylee Pickel, Valerie Pierre-Charles, Joselyn P Rivera, Noel Rodrigues, Alexis Marie Rodriguez, Astrid Carolina Rodriguez, Melanie Elizabeth Russell, Paulina Smaga, Jennifer Urena, Samanntha Lyn Velazquez, Sirette Vicenty, Alicia Clarisse Washington, Amanda Onide Williams, Christian A Williams.

Grade 9 — Anthony R Abed, Sevin Artik, Giancarlo Barbalinardo, Ryan Batka, James Bavolacco, Brett J Bogdwicz, Christopher Jeovoni Branez, Brandon Bungu, Michael John Castelot, Catherine Ann Chmielewski, Nicole Yingzhen Collins, Holly A Crowther, Foster W Deak, Melissa Andrea Escobar, Patrick Keller Finn, Courtney Greene, Jessica Helene Guerrucci, Mikayla Hartman;

Also, Carly Margaret Horch, Mary Katherine Jovanelly, Alexander Steven Kells, Julianna Rose Koonitsky, Breyanna Nicole Lesperance, Jade Dylan Lester, Emily May MacDaniel, Kayla Marie Mason, Caitlin Marie McCormick, John Thomas Merritt, Vanessa Misurale, Shannon Mullings;

Also, Neil James Murdoch, Noureen Z Nassra, Emilia G Ordner, Dominic Francis Parrella, Clarinda Polynice, Clarissa Polynice, Isabella Katherine Romano, Yoselyn Sarceno, Zoe Lynn Stradinger, Maria Isabella Terrizzi, Tiffany Vannarath, Gabriel E Williams, Kylie Elizabeth Zack.

The following students were named to the second quarter honor roll at Stratford High School:

First honors

Grade 12 — Maggie Bodington, Alicia Buynovsky, Jeremy Calvar, Danielle Calzone, Jacob Cayton, Quincy Cayton, Andrew Cerone, Jillian Chambers, Timothy Cox, Margaret DeCapua, Nicolas DiIulio, Brian Evan, Jenna Fasanella, Ann Fednard, Samantha Feliciano, Christian Foito, Christopher Gonzalez, Gloria Grave Avila;

Also, Kristopher Guzman, Jonathan Homburg, Jephthe Jean, Reid Jefferson, Taylor King-Craigwell, Nicholas Kovalik, Rebecca Kuzmich, Katherine Lee, Eleanor Lefever, Yasmine Mahmud, Margaux Mahoney, Spencer Marks, Alexander Martin, Jacob Martinez, Eric Mezzo, Brendan Miller, Milo Mitchell, Haley Moore, Brandy Morales, Madison Norton, Timothy Paproski, Abbie Perez;

Also, Joanne Pierre-Louis, Anabelle Plaza, Katherine Rodriguez, Emma Rooney, Denise Sanchez, Rachel Santo, Kaitlyn Schuessler, Nora Scott, Anekka Scott-Gray, Miguel Seclen, Alexia Smith, Allyson Starkey, William Tait, Elizabeth Tallberg, Alexandra Trahan, Anna Trahan, Michael Vavala, Jacqueline Walsh, Paige Whitley.

Grade 11 — Bertha Barrios, Samantha Breaz, Samuel Breiner, Zane Carey, Christopher Carroll, Piotr Chaber, Mariah Cortes, Livingston Cortez, Marissa Dacruz, Tyler Devellis, Nathanael Domschine, Thomas Ferrara, Kaitlin Hines, Enrique Jaime, Carlos Jaramillo, Schekina Jean, Stephen Jepsen, V’eona Lanham, Michael Lapia;

Also, Timothy Leveen, Alex Masi, Michael McClean, Tera-je McLennon, Kevin Mendoza, Rosalina Morales, Ambar Negron, Alexis Rader, Kareem Robinson, Emily Sanchez, Christian Sarmiento, Matthew Schaefer, Ayanna Staton, Anna Velasquez, Kylee Vitka-Lainey, Miles Wilson.

Grade 10 — Marlene Abouaassi, Julia Barksdale, Laura Battey, Kristina Bennett, Helen Branyan, Timothy Breiner, Jonathan Brooks, David Buonantony, Matthew Canapetti, Kyle Carmona, John Cox, Joseph Cox, John Duffy, Shannon Dugan, Kyle Fasanella, Nathan Glick, Gillian Goddard;

Also, Katherine Goodrich, Christopher Hamilton, Ashley Jean-Pierre, Jason Kelly, Helen Langston, Madison Lazaro, Megan Leonard, Miguel Marrero, Olivia Mastroluca, Joseph McClean, Gabrielle Olexovitch, Danielle Peterson;

Also, Michael Petillo, Teresa Petreycik, Aileen Pingol, William Rooney, Zohra Sarpas, Allana Scudder, Chynna Sherrod, Christopher Smith, Zachary Smith, Richard Starkey, Daniel Thorstensson, Jakub Tomaszewski, Fatima Tuziahrah.

Grade 9 — Connor Anderson, Benjamin Andrade, Ndidi Anekwe, Connor Anstis, Ross Bodington, Britney Boursiquot, Brianna Braham, Alan Brzuszko, Jordan Chach, Danielle Cisero, Nicholas Cody, Jeremy Corpuz, James Dotterman, Maia Dufane, Thomas Fernandes, Erik Flores, Tristan Frownfelter, Zachary Gottlieb, Roula Kouvatas, Emma Lacourciere, Jean-Paul Lieu, Caroline Londa, Leanne Lubas, Emily Luciano;

Also, Allysa Noccioli, Jenna Noccioli, Brandy Okrah, Tiffany Owen, Angeleen Pingol, Olivia Plavcan, Martha Polanco, Meghan Reynolds, Samantha Rivera, Vanessa Rivera, Alexis Rosado, Molly Ryan, Daniel Schaefer, Katie Schneider, Raghad Serri, Jeffrey Sharnick, Marguerite Walsh, Kaya Wells, Michael Yacik, Brady Young.

Second honors

Grade 12 — Keishera Aldonza, Shania Bancroft, Samantha Beck, Anthony Bobko, Isaiah Booker, Andrew Bouchotte, Michelle Bravo, Harrison Brooks, Rushawn Brown, Kelly Ceccarelli, Jacob Cuevas, Daniel Dellavecchia, Liliette Diavua, Matthew DiCostanzo, Jose Espinoza, Kyra Ezekiel, Carlos Flores, Julia Genetti, Rodney Johnson;

Also, Wendy Jones, Kristofer Koch, Ivette Lebron, Mcbryan Lesperance, Victor Lopez-Hernandez, Matthew Masi, Adrienne Meneo, Shannon Mraz, Destiny Ortiz, Alexander Pale, Nyle Peterson, Sarita Peterson, Kathryn Posser, Siah Reeves, Edward Rivera, Emelyn Rivera;

Also, John Rohaly, Gabrielle Rooney, Brandon Russo, Alexander Sarmiento, Frank Sessa, Chayla Sherrod, Thomas Signore, Rebecca Simon, E’Zhana Smith, Jacob Sosik, Ana-Michelle Valente, Joi Vickers, Andre Vilarinho, Jada Watley.

Grade 11 — Gabriela Aguieiras, Anthony Alvarez, Jenna Amoroso, Samantha Belport, Curtis Boahene, Kevin Bott, Austin Bult, Brianna Bursey, Andrea Camargo, Phinehas Cleary, Brett Cody, Alexander Colwell, Karen De La Roca, Christopher DeCrescenzo;

Also, Dariell Diaz, Jerry Dinan, Cierra Donald, Jack Erazmus, Derek Falcon, Brenden Figueroa, Kelsey Gabris, Giovanni Gonzalez, Lauren Goodrich, Tarquinn Granado, Allison Granberg, Jahliah Green, Wassim Haddad, Katharine Himpel, Lance Jamison, Coralie Joseph, Crystal Kantzas, Katherine Krasniewicz;

Also, Angela Mariano, William McDonald, Tasiana Mesidor, Albert Messana, Bethy Napaul, Lauren Padua, Audrey Pancak, Athanasios Panolis, Stephanie Perez, Tiara Pomontty, Kassie Poruban, Laura Quijano Jimenez, Taylor Reed, Anthony Rivera, Haley Schaefer, Lynn Schneider, Emma Simmons, Jillian Stringfellow, Patrick Warren, Alexis Williams, Emily Winter.

Grade 10 — Elmar Barrios, Jaydin Beatty-Knight, Grace Belport, Joana Brousseau, Michelle Buzzanca, Gabrielle Camarero, Geraldine Chavez, Remy Cooper, Donielle Daniels, Isabelle Dominguez, Elissa Dykes, Jomaris Echevarria, Danielle Evan, Lenyn Feijoo, Guirlaine Francois, DeAndrea Frederick, Jayla Frederick, David Goldstein;

Also, Autumn Graham, Matthew Herrera, Kayla Hughes, Dialynda Joseph, Shaina Joseph, Sarah Kotsay, John Lagerfeldt, Willie Llera, Maya Marrero, Darla Moss-Clarke, Emily Pappas, Sabrina Ramirez, Alexander Ramos, Eric Redgate, Jeffrey Riccio, Tamara Schriffert, Tyler Schuessler, Rachel Scott, Genesis Torres, Carlos Umana, Jennifer Vargas, Akin Warburton Baker.

Grade 9 — Kirsten Adams, Maher Alsakkaf, Tia Anderson, Angel Arias, Mackenzie Bakos, Amanda Bedat, Amelia Brennan, Shaiann Bridges Potts, Christian Camargo, Lauren Cesar, Shawn Chambers, Angela Cortazar, Kathryn Cullen, David Decoteau, Olivia Donnelly, Samantha Gangemi, Charlotte Haas, Samantha Hackett;

Also, Liam Hannon, Rory Hannon, Brooke Haschak, Paige Hoydick, Khalifa Karim, Kaitlyn Keegan, Emily Kiely, Steven Koripsky, Kelsey Lepesko, Carley Lubas, Kamal Mansour, Rahaf Mansour, Rebecca McMahon, Jennifer Medina, Olivia Murray, Sam Noccioli, Amanda Osenbach;

Also, Amanda Pale, Tatyanna Pettway, Brandon Rashan, Anginette Repollet, Nicole Richards, Vanessa Russo, Sabrina Saad, Christopher Scott-Gray, Nathaniel Shields, Khalil Sokunle, Steven Surmaczewicz, Cassidi Sutherland, Rony Tello-Galvez, Colin Townsend, Koe Tsutsumi, Tyler Verissimo, Rebekah Wargo, Sarah Zuiewski.

Parents of children ages 3-8 may attend a Parent Speaker Series to meet Mondays at 6 p.m., from March 3-31.

Suzanne Porco Clement, Family and Early Childhood Specialist from Cooperative Educational Services will lead discussions on goal setting, parenting styles, strategies for parenting and successful family routines and parent self care. Clement encourages discussion and conversation in a friendly environment.

Meet other parents and share stories together. Child care and refreshments provided.

Call 203-385-4162 to register.

Caeley Ott and Stanley Yarmoussik

Caeley Ott and Stanley Yarmoussik won the South End Community Center and Stratford Library-Teen Services Department’s annual Black History Month Contest and Celebration for all Stratford students in grades 6-8.

Out of more than 300 submissions from the Stratford schools, Caeley placed first for the 7th grade, and Stanley placed first for the 8th grade.

For the contest, students had to choose from one of the following:

— Write an essay about any African American past or present (both famous and not so famous) and why you think that he or she should receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

— Write an essay about any African American past or present (both famous and not so famous) and explain why you would like to grow up to be like that person.

— African Americans have been depicted in many wonderful fiction books written by African American authors. Read a Young Adult Fiction title such as those listed on the back and imagine that you are one of the African American characters in the story, how would you relate to the same difficult situation that the character faces and why.

— Poem: Write a poem about an African American person or a special event in African American history.

— Art: Create a drawing or an original piece of work about an African American person or a special event in African American History.

Stratford Baptist Preschool is now taking registrations for their 2014-15 school year, and an open house will be held on Sunday, March 2, from 2-4 p.m., 131 Huntington Road.

There is a Monday/Wednesday/Friday 4-year-old class and Tuesday/Thursday 3-year-old class. They also offer a “Lunch Bunch,” which meets daily from noon-1 p.m.

For more information or to register for class, call 203-380-2755 or visit stratfordbaptist.org.

Senator Kelly teaches students about lawmaking.

Senator Kevin Kelly (R-21) visited two elementary schools in Stratford to teach students about the lawmaking process in Connecticut.

Senator Kelly gave presentations to Kathleen Lozinak’s fourth grade class at Chapel Street Elementary School and to Claire Casey’s fifth grade class at St. James School on Wednesday, Feb. 19. The lessons taught students about how a bill is created and the process that happens before a bill can become a law.

“I was honored to have the opportunity to speak with two bright groups of students,” said Senator Kelly. “It is very important to get our children excited about issues that affect the lives of Connecticut families. These students are our future leaders, and sparking an early understanding and interest in government is key to fostering engaged citizenship.”

“The students were excited to welcome Senator Kelly to our classroom,” said Kathleen Lozinak. “By talking to someone directly involved in government, the students got a firsthand understanding of how a bill becomes a law. They saw that lawmaking is not just something we read about in history books; it happens continuously everywhere in the country, even right here in Connecticut.”

As part of the lesson, Senator Kelly also gave the students information on an education bill, which they can now track throughout the legislative session to watch the lawmaking process.

“Being able to track a real bill over the next few months is a great way to help the students stay engaged and see what they’ve learned in action. We really enjoyed the visit and lesson and we look forward to keeping in touch with Senator Kelly and learning more about the legislative process,” said Claire Casey.

Lozinak also commended Senator Kelly for his approach to the lesson. “He certainly could have a future as an educator. He did a great job relating the legislative process to topics the students understood. He talked about bus safety, the number of school days and other things the students had their own opinions about. The kids were completely engaged the entire time,” Lozinak said.

Georgianna, a fourth grade student from Chapel School, thanked Senator Kelly saying, “He taught me a lot about how laws rotate through a process to become laws.”

Kevin Kelly (senatorkevinkelly.com) represents the 21st Senatorial District, which includes the towns of Stratford, Monroe, Seymour, and Shelton.

In the Connecticut State Department of Education’s School Performance Report for 2012-13 three of Stratford’s public schools — Eli Whitney Elementary, Flood Middle School and Wooster Middle School — are rated as Progressing schools, one — Lordship Elementary — is rated as Review, and the other nine are rated as Transitioning.

Stratford Academy/Johnson House, a Transitioning school, was designated a School of Distinction, because its English Language Learners subgroup performed exceedingly well.

No Stratford school was rated as Excelling and no school was rated as among the lowest performing schools statewide by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE).

The CSDE report informs parents and communities about the overall performance of their schools and districts.

Connecticut schools were ranked according to a complex formula combining a number of criteria — student individual performing index (IPI), school performance index (SPI), district performing index (DPI), and subject school performance index (Subject SPI).
The SPI, one of the key components, is a calculated index of the number of students performing at goal on a majority of standardized tests such as the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) or Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT).

The state has set a target for all schools to achieve an 88 SPI (based on 0-100 SPI) by 2024.

Classifications
The school classifications, from highest level to lowest, are:
• Excelling — An overall SPI of 88 or above. More than 25% of students score “advanced” in a majority of subjects tested. CAPT participation rate is at least 95%. Graduation rate is at least 94%.
• Progressing — There are two ways a school can receive a progressing classification: a) An overall SPI of 88 or above and a CAPT participation rate of at least 95%, missing one or more of the excelling criteria or b) an overall SPI of 64 to 87 inclusive, a CAPT participation rate of at least 95%, and meeting the SPI target for 2012-13. Stratford’s three Progressing schools qualified by being in the (b) category with SPI between 64 and 87 inclusive.
• Transitioning — An overall SPI of 64 to 87 and a CAPT participation rate of at least 95%, missing one or more of the progressing criteria.
• Review — An overall SPI below 64 or a CAPT participation rate below 95%.
• Focus — A Title I school (a school designated in need of improvement) with one of its subgroups among the lowest performing in the state.
• Turnaround — Schools in this category were selected from among the lowest performing schools statewide.

School by school
Three of Stratford’s public schools achieved the individual school target as set by the state — Eli Whitney, Wooster Middle School and Flood Middle School. The other 10 public schools here did not achieve the state’s target for the school.
Twelve of Stratford’s 13 public schools were given a target in each of four subject areas — math, reading, writing, and science. Stratford Academy/Honeyspot House, which is kindergarten through second grade, was not shown with subject targets.

None of the 12 reported Stratford schools achieved its target in math.

In reading, Eli Whitney, Wooster and Flood achieved target. The other nine reported schools did not.

In writing, Eli Whitney, Wooster and Flood achieved target. The other nine reported schools did not.

In science, Chapel Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Eli Whitney, and Stratford Academy/Johnson House achieved target. The other eight reported schools did not.

District overall
Taking all schools together, the Stratford district did not achieve state target.

State Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said the new accountability system is primarily designed to recognize the progress schools are making as well as highlight areas that need improvement.

“We encourage educators and parents to draw upon these reports — as well as other forms of input and insight — as they continue working together for our schools’ and our students’ success,” he said.
For Stratford Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Robinson’s overview of these report results, see related story in this edition.

For complete reports, visit the website sde.ct.gov.
Patricia Gay contributed to this report.

Lordship Elementary School missed its state-designated target for achievement by more than any other Stratford public school. It has been termed a “Review” school by the Connecticut Department of Education. Greg Reilly photo.

Looking at the reports from the Connecticut State Department of Education on the performance of Stratford Public Schools as a district and the performance of the individual schools, Superintendent Dr. Janet Robinson sees a lot of underachieving.

The district did not make the state’s designated target for achievement in either the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) or the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT). The targets set by the state were based on the district’s prior results in those areas.

Nine out of 12 Stratford schools that were given a performance target index number did not achieve the target. Stratford Academy/Honeyspot House, Stratford’s 13th school, is for grades K-2 and was not given a numeric target.

Looking at performance targets by subject area — math, reading, writing, and science — for each of the 12 schools with numeric targets, 48 individual subject targets total, Stratford schools achieved the targets 10 times. Ten achievements out of 48 opportunities is a 21% achievement rate.
[For more details on this report, see adjacent story.]

Start with reading
Superintendent Robinson considers the data “important” and “valuable,” she said in reviewing the results with The Star.
“We need to focus our resources to have better results,” Robinson said. “A key ingredient is literacy,” she said. Robinson said she is going have a “major emphasis” on reading in kindergarten through third grade. “If kids can read and have basic concepts of math, that is a good foundation” for future learning.

Robinson points also to an increased enrollment this year, up approximately 50 students. She is instituting a “universal screening” for students transferring into the Stratford Public Schools, so it does not take weeks for a teacher to understand the student.

Continuing to address the findings of the state performance reports, Robinson said she is “drilling down” and looking at each one of the schools by grade level to see where assistance is needed. Further, she said, the building principals are looking at specific children for what assistance is needed.

At Lordship School, which missed its state target by the largest margin, “you will see a lot of focus on kids who need assistance,” Robinson said.

Resources and principals’ ‘rounds’
The superintendent, who joined the Stratford district last July, said directly, “The district needs more resources.” She had the results of the 2012-13 Performance Reports in hand before she presented her budget request to the Board of Education’s finance committee on Feb. 10.

Robinson’s budget request calls for increasing spending by $4.3 million over the current year budget of $95.5 million, a 4.5% boost. This, she said when making the presentation, “is to enable the schools to have the resources needed to raise student achievement.”

There are two key elements where Robinson is looking to effect change. First, the curriculum needs to be “rigorous, solid, research-based,” she said. “We have some work to do on that. I have found some things to change.”

The second area of focus is “how we teach, the instruction,” she said.

Robinson has already started a new program called “rounds,” which has principals from all Stratford schools coming together as a group to visit classrooms and report on observable data. The principals team up with an administrator, break into smaller groups of four or five, and go into classrooms each month. “We then sit and discuss what we’re seeing,” said Robinson.

They talk about things like, Is the teacher doing most of the talking? Are the students passive? Are the kids in a group? What did the students and observer learn during that time?
“Even if what we see is really good, we say, ‘What is the next step,’” Robinson said.

Robinson said she has used this principals’ rounds program, which she said came out of Harvard University, in Derby and in Newtown. “I know it works.”

“Within five years we will have a turnaround here,” said the superintendent.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Robinson. Greg Reilly photo.

Parents of “non-perfect” kids are invited to come out of their messy closets and brag about the accomplishments of their children.

Today’s society is obsessed with achievement and perfection – especially when it comes to our children. You can’t go anywhere without hearing about how someone’s child scored the winning goal or without seeing an “honor student” bumper sticker. What’s a parent of a child who’s not a star athlete or Rhodes Scholar to do? Join The Movement of Imperfection.

This movement, which is coming to Connecticut on Friday, March 7, invites parents of “non-perfect” kids to come out of their messy closets and brag about the accomplishments of their children – to wear a badge of imperfection and tell the world, with humor and grace, “We’re not always OK, but that’s OK.”

The event is a night of comedy for parents hosted by Stratford Special Education PTA, featuring Massachusetts-based sisters Gina Gallagher and Patricia Konjoian, who co-wrote the book Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid: A Survival Guide for Ordinary Parents of Special Children.

Gina’s daughter has Asperger’s syndrome, and Patty’s daughter has bipolar disorder. (Gina’s imperfect dog, Max, has challenges, too — poor eye contact and a bilateral motor integration issue.) But their message is a universal one, about letting go of parental expectations and loving the reality.

The event will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7, at Wooster Middle School, 150 Lincoln St., in Stratford. The suggested donation is $10 per person, and seats can be reserved at stratfordsepta.org. For more information, write info@stratfordsepta.org.

More information on Gina and Patty and their book can be found at shutupabout.com.

For those who missed the fall testing, Sacred Heart Academy will offer an entrance exam for applicants for grades 9 and 10 on Friday, March 7, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Academy, 265 Benham St., in Hamden.

Students who plan to take the test must submit the Application for Admission with the $60 fee and contact Elaine Lamboley, Director of Admission at 203-288-2309, x307 for an interview. Applications can be accessed at sacredhearthamden.org, the school’s website.

Sacred Heart Academy, an independent college preparatory school founded in 1946 by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, successfully prepares young women in grades 9-12

Rachel Santo

Rachel Santo, a senior at Stratford High School, was recently named a News 12 Connecticut Scholar Athlete.

A three-sport athlete (indoor track, volleyball and lacrosse), Rachel is one of the top students in her class, with a 4.09 grade point average. She is also a member of two honor societies and the vice president of the school’s athletic association.

Rachel hopes to study marketing in college and is considering attending either Georgetown University or Northeastern University.