Inspirational Artwork at Saugatuck Elementary School
In another installation of art from the WAAC and Westport Public Schools, passersby were greeted to blooming flowers and beautiful words of encouragement along Riverside Avenue at Saugatuck Elementary School. The work was created by Westport students from all schools and of all ages.
Staples High School Announces Graduates with High Honors
Pictured: Gary Lu, Carolyn Everett, Emma Dantas, Claire Redmer, Claire Lee, Sophia Lauterbach, Hanna Even, Simon Rubin, Assistant Principal - Patrick Micinilio and Principal Stafford Thomas, Jr.Nineteen exceptional students have been honored with the distinction of graduating with High Honors from the Staples High School Class of 2021. A student will be designated with "High Honors" if his/her academic grade point average falls in the top 4 percent of the graduating class.
According to Principal Stafford Thomas, Jr. “this class, is extremely talented and the most astonishing aspect of this accomplishment, is that these students were involved in a number of extracurricular activities and various aspects of school life which took a great deal of time, focus and concentration outside of the classroom as well. We were lucky to have had them for four years and we will no doubt be hearing about their next great achievements in the years to come. Congratulations Class of 2021 High Honors students!”
The following students are the class of 2021 High Honors honorees: Atlas Elana Rose, Bautista, Andrea, Dantas, Emma Alexis, Even,Hannah Carmela, Everett, Carolyn Hyo-Jeong, Lauterbach, Sophia Carine, Lee,Claire Suna, Lu, Gary Keran, Mandayam, Rishabh Chokkamaman, Montoya, Max William, Nordberg, Konur Erik, Portman, Henry Charles, Redmer, Claire Juliana, Rubin,Simon Abraham, Smith, Teagan Rae, Toglia, Alexander Michael, Webster, Samantha Jade, Wynruit, Nasir Isaiah, Zhang, Charlotte Chenyi.
Pictured: Samantha Webster, Nasir Wynsruit, Andrea Bautista, Henry Portman, Charlotte Zhang, Rishabh Mandayam, Teagan Smith, Alexander Toglia, Elana Atlas, Konur NorbergBoard of Education Votes to Keep Shipman & Goodwin as Legal Counsel Despite 2019 Claim of Conflict
The Westport Board of Education voted unanimously tonight to keep the legal counsel of Shipman & Goodwin for Westport Public Schools.
In 2019, claims of a conflict of interest were brought up during a Board of Finance meeting. The claim stemmed from a Shipman & Goodwin attorney fighting the Town of Westport, while the Town paid the Stamford-based law firm for their services.
Timothy Hollister, a Shipman & Goodwin attorney, claimed that the town was preventing affordable housing after blocking a new housing development project in Saugatuck - leading to issues of diversity.
Hollister described to the Connecticut Mirror “Does anybody say we need to keep blacks and Hispanics out of Westport? No, but they talk about property values, safety and preserving open space — all the things that a town can do to prevent development that would bring up a more economically and racially diverse housing population.”
The housing development would have been in the Hiawatha neighborhood of Saugatuck, and would have included 187 apartments created by Summit Development LLC.
Hollister continued to The Mirror, saying “They don’t use the overt racial terms, but it’s absolutely clear to everybody in the room that’s what they’re talking about.”
Members of town leadership questioned the firm and fought back - some saying the District should get rid of their services due to the possible conflict and Hollister’s negative comments - a more than $200,000 annual blow to the group.
However the claims were ultimately not substantiated by law - and tonight - a unanimous Board of Education vote concurred that they will continue to serve the District after July 1. This continues a relationship between the town and the firm that has lasted over 30 years.
Board of Education Chair Candy Savin described the benefits of keeping the firm, and said that although other firms were interviewed, they were still the best choice for the District and its students. Savin also said that they would not be used for certain legal issues, such as special education circumstances. The firm’s attorneys who work on affordable housing, specifically in Westport, do not represent Westport Public Schools.
Click here to read the 2019 Connecticut Mirror article about the conflict.
Staples High School, Westport Public Schools Presents: “America’s Voices” to 3rd-5th Graders
Coleytown Elementary School students stand with their yard sign artwork among a field of signs from the other Westport elementary schoolsPress ReleaseThe Staples Amati Chamber Orchestra pre-records “American Landscape”The Staples High School Music Department and Westport Public Schools will present “America’s Voices” to Westport students Grades 3-5, April 5-9. “America’s Voices” celebrates and showcases the diverse population of musicians and artists within our country and our schools. After several months of immersive studies of varied music and art, elementary students will view a video series spanning from April 5-9 featuring:
Staples music ensembles pre-recorded pieces from diverse American composers
Westport public school student art grades 3-5 and 9-12
A traveling town-wide lawn sign exhibit, beginning at the elementary schools on April 3, visually expressing the Voices of our public school students, in partnership with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee and Poet Laureate, Diane Lowman
Family folk song submissions celebrating Westport’s diverse cultures, recorded at home by elementary students and families
This collaborative effort, previously called the Westport Youth Concert, has been renamed the Westport Youth Arts Collaborative to encompass the cross-curricular involvement in the making of this production. Not only does the program expose students Grades 3-5 to the exemplary musicians at Staples High School, but also builds their understanding of diversity and the uniqueness of global cultures. The multi-discipline initiative has developed partnerships in our community with organizations such as the Westport Library, Westport Arts Advisory Committee, WestPAC and PTA Cultural Arts.
For more information about this collaborative event and Staples Music go to staplesmusic.org.