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Region In Review
October 28, 2022
Cross Country
The girls cross country team finished the regular season with an 8-1 record -- second place behind league champion Northwestern. At the Berkshire League championship meet, senior Emma Perun’s performance earned her Berkshire League All-Star status. The team is gearing up for the October 29th Class S State Championship, where the team, along with remaining seniors Mary Katherine Eddy and Olivia Schulta, look to post their fastest times of the season.
Led by senior Eli Fowler, the boys cross country team has many young runners on the team, and have continually improved as the season has progressed. With Shepaug’s young runners gaining valuable experience during the 2022 season, the Spartan boys runners look to culminate their season with season-best performances in the upcoming CIAC State Championship meet.
Golf
The Shepaug golf team had a very successful season, finishing 13-1 in league play, which earned them a share of the Berkshire League title along with co-champion Litchfield High School. Sophomore Gavin Giroux earned Berkshire League All-Star status with his performance at the League All-Star tournament, and with no seniors on the team, the Spartans look to be the team to beat in 2023.
Boys Soccer
The Shepaug boys soccer team has enjoyed a successful season thus far, having posted a 10-4 record at the time this article was written. Led by seniors Walker Butts, Jake Conway, Carter Herrington, Kaelan McDonald, Phil Ostrosky, James Philipakos, Charlie VandenBosch, and Gabe Wilkins, the Spartans have qualified for the CIAC State Tournament, and at press time, are vying to solidify their position in the 4-team Berkshire League postseason tournament.
Field Hockey
The Spartan field hockey team, led by seniors Sophia Granata, Sagely Brenner, and Abby Stinson, have a 6-8 record at press time, and look to qualify for the CIAC state tournament with their performance in the final two games of the season. With several close losses, as well as multiple impressive victories, highlighted by their 3-0 victory at home against Berkshire League rival Nonnewaug at Shepaug’s homecoming, the Spartans look to finish the 2022 campaign on a strong note and are poised to do so.
Girls Soccer
Having graduated a large number of starters from the 2021 team, the 2022 Shepaug girls soccer team has had a rebuilding season, with only one senior on the team. After one of the highlights of the season, a 4-1 victory at Wamogo, a few injuries to key players has created setbacks to the rebuilding process. The 2022 team will graduate Saoirse Crossley, whose leadership and scoring ability will be missed.
Elementary Schools Unify for Kindness, Acceptance & Inclusion
Fostering kind and caring school environments is a priority for all schools and our elementary schools are no exception. This is especially true during the month of October, Bully Prevention Month, when students and staff come together to engage in a variety of thought-provoking activities that expand awareness and practice of empathy, kindness, and cooperation.
The Center for Empowerment and Education visited our schools and presented a wide range of programs that highlighted facts and strategies for healthy and positive relationship building. In REACH, students learned how to speak up for themselves, how to cope with big feelings, and how to recognize mean behaviors. In kindergarten and first grade, students learned to set personal boundaries and trust one’s instincts.
Other grades learned to identify and explore ways to respond to mean behavior, know the difference between teasing and joking, how to overcome stereotypes, and how to practice self-care and personal esteem building. These presentations were informative and interactive and provided our students with facts and strategies to support positive relationships.
Students also celebrated Unity Day on October 19th. The purpose of Unity Day is to focus on positive behaviors and bring school communities together to emphasize the message that bullying is not acceptable and that kindness, acceptance, and inclusion are messages of courage. To celebrate Unity Day, students and staff wore orange, had classroom discussions about how we can demonstrate acceptance, made chains with inclusion messages and participated in a school-wide walk to promote kindness in our school.
Throughout all these activities, students learned that getting to know one another in a deep way helps us discover individual specialness. This allows us to know and appreciate others more fully and celebrate what is both common and different, linking us all together.
Senior Project Spotlight
Abby Stinson - Becoming a Teacher
Abby Stinson's senior project is entitled "Becoming a Teacher." Abby is using her senior project as an opportunity to explore her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. She will be interviewing students and teachers to learn about what makes a teacher effective. She will also be observing elementary students in the classroom and hopefully leading a read-aloud story session. These activities will empower Abby to determine if becoming an elementary teacher is the right career path for her.
Maria Strattner - Understanding the Other End of the Leash
Maria Strattner’s senior project is entitled “Understanding the Other End of the Leash.” Primary activities of this project include holding two in-class demonstrations of dog behavior for Shepaug Animal Science students, creating lesson plans to be used for future demonstrations, and researching dog behavioral assessment protocols used in shelters across the country.
Shepaug Valley Partnership Gets in the Holiday “Spirit”
Shepaug Valley Partnership students traveled to Litchfield to take part in the Halloween festivities at the 'Scarecrows in the Meadow' event.
Invention Convention Winner!
Dayanna Daly was an Invention Convention winner while a student at Booth Free School last year. The Connecticut Science Center has selected Dayanna and her Bee Cozie prototype to be featured during the month of October at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford and on their website!
Congratulations Dayanna!
Audubon Center Visit
Booth Free School students were visited by several animals from the Sharon Audubon Center, including a Madagascar hissing cockroach, a ball python, a box turtle, a white ringed neck dove, and a stick bug!
Fliers & Upcoming Events
Region 12 Calendar
November 3 - Burnham School PTO Meeting, 3:30pm
November 3 - FFA Alumni and Supporters Meeting, 7pm
November 4 - Middle School Social, SVS, 2:30pm
November 7 - Parent /Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal
November 8 - No School - Professional Development Day
November 9 & 10 - Parent /Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal
November 11 - Veterans Day - No School
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