Region In Review
March 17, 2023
Honoring Dr. Seuss
Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading and each of our elementary schools participates annually. The initiative aims to motivate students to participate in daily reading activities, school-wide reading events, and partnerships in reading with local community members and families.
At Booth Free School, Officer Epps made a guest appearance and read My Many Colored Days, by Dr. Suess, to all students and staff during a whole school morning meeting. In addition, our students have been participating in weekly events like buddy reading with peers in other grades and creating decorative banners representing our students’ favorite books read this month. We have also been “catching readers” by collecting photographs of our students and staff reading. We are hoping to fill our bulletin board with these photographs by the end of the month!
At Burnham School, we kicked off the event with a surprise guest appearance from our mascot, Burnie! The students started the celebration with lots of energy, enthusiasm, and reading! Burnham families donated books for a book swap so that all students could have a large selection of books to choose from. Each week there’s a fun activity planned like Pajama Day Buddy Reading, reading outside, and raffles throughout the month for those who complete their reading goals each week.
At Washington Primary School, students geared up to read as much as possible. Students read over 500 books during the month of February. A drawing was held to select one student to be the Library Assistant for a Day! To continue the momentum, students participated in a whole school buddy reading event. Students were paired with other students in different grades to share favorite books and to read aloud to one another. This was followed by a virtual presentation with award-winning Mexican/American author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh. Students learned how he used technology to illustrate his stories and story writing to teach about his Mexican culture and history.
Fifth-grade students were especially excited as they read his text Separate is Never Equal, a true story of Latinos fighting for racial justice, and were able to share their personal letters to the main character. Additionally, students traveled through our WPS hallways to visit one another’s bulletin boards highlighting a specially chosen classroom text. Each board was beautifully designed to share a summary of the book, the important themes of diversity and appreciation of differences, and student reflections. Our love of reading was also shared by special guest readers. We were honored to have Judge Robert D’Andrea read, I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsberg Makes Her Mark, by Debby Levy, to fourth and fifth graders. The story was made richer with his personal stories.
Reading is a wonderful way to gain a wealth of knowledge, take a reader on an adventure or simply serve as entertainment! We are proud of our students and their eagerness to grow as readers.
Baby Pepper
The Agriscience Academy welcomes its newest member to the agriscience program - Baby Pepper was born on March 9, 2023, at 5 pm in the livestock barn! Students will vote on her official name on Monday. Name suggestions will be accepted until Sunday night (email Meghan Berry at berrym@region-12.org). Peppermint Patty and her calf are doing well.
Aspiring Inventors
This month, students at Booth Free School, Burnham School, and Washington Primary School participated in the Connecticut Invention Convention. Students worked to create a new and unique invention or make substantial improvements to an existing invention. Since early January, students have journeyed through the process of determining what an invention was, how to identify problems in their day-to-day lives that could be remedied, and how to create corresponding solutions. Throughout the engineering process, students researched their ideas, tested materials, and refined their designs. Prototypes were built and shared at each school-wide Invention Convention. Judges evaluated each invention, assessing the students’ processes, visual presentations, and ability to communicate their ideas.
Across the district forty-four students participated. From each school, two students will move on to the State Semifinals held virtually. From Booth Free School, the students who will be advancing are Alara Duman with her Dance Covers and Edward Helmy with his sP.P.E.ak. From Burnham School, the students who will be advancing are Taylor Gustavson with her Cleat Cleaner and Lane Bell with his Doggy Vision. From Washington Primary School, Oliver Sax with his Drippin Drops ice cream holder and Eliza Barr with her Egger will move on to Semifinals.
Participating in the Connecticut Invention Convention, elementary students across the district are provided a special opportunity to creatively problem solve and apply advanced thinking skills in real-life applications through personalized inventions and entrepreneurship.
Shepaug Spartan All-Stars!
Nick Neunzig was named an All-Star in Diving, while Faith Bargellini received the honor for Swimming. Phil Ostrosky also earned First Team All-Star status for his performance on the basketball court.
Being named a Berkshire League All-Star is a significant achievement and demonstrates the hard work and dedication of these student-athletes. Congratulations to Nick, Faith, and Phil on their well-deserved honors and for representing Shepaug Valley School with distinction in their sports.
How the Sausage Is Made
Agriscience students were treated to a special class taught by First Selectman Jim Brinton, who has been a local butcher for over thirty years. Jim demonstrated how to cut a pig into various parts, and how to make a delicious pork sausage.
Thank you Mr. Brinton for sharing your time and expertise!
Fliers & Upcoming Events
Region 12 Calendar
March 20th - Finance & Operations Committee Meeting, CO, 10am
March 21st - BFS PTO Meeting, 4:30pm
March 23rd - Red Cross Blood Drive, SVS, 8am-1pm
March 24th - HS Talent Show, SVS, 7:30-9:30pm
March 27th - Board of Education Special Meeting, SVS, 5pm
March 27th - District Budget Hearing, SVS, 7pm
March 27th - Board of Education Meeting, SVS, After Budget Hearing
March 30th - PTO Meeting, BS, 3:30pm
March 31st - HS Musical, SVS, 7pm
April 1st - HS Musical, SVS, 7pm
Follow Region 12 on our social media channels for updates and information!
The Region 12 community educates, challenges, and inspires all learners to become compassionate, creative, and courageous individuals who are empowered by the knowledge, character, and perseverance to achieve their greatest potential within the global society.
Email: rir@region-12.org
Website: www.region-12.org
Location: 11A School Street, PO Box 386 Washington Depot, CT 06794
Phone: 860-868-6100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shepaug-Regional-School-District-12-153899298123985/
Twitter: @Region12Schools