Charise Siblings Sell Kid-Created Art for a Cause; Youngest Exhibitors at Westport Fine Arts Festival
Ashley and Austin Charise stand inside their booth surrounded by the student-created art, all of which is being sold for a good cause. Austin (11) and Ashley (9) Charise had the idea to join the Westport Arts Festival this year, however when they realized how large of an event it is and that they would be juried, they went back to the drawing board as they worked to meet their goal of obtaining a booth that displayed art created by fellow elementary schoolers.
Thinking about how to enter the show as elementary schoolers, and with guidance from the Downtown Merchant’s Association, the siblings were able to find a sponsor in their parents’ local business and with help from local artist Miggs Burroughs and the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center - and their booth was secured. With a spot on Brooks Corner, they were the youngest exhibiting members of the Festival and enjoyed meeting the artists who worked alongside them to sell their art to the community.
Their booth exhibited art from Westport elementary schoolers, from 5 to 11 years old. Each piece required a $20 fee to enter, which was donated to the international charity BuildOn. The artist named their price for their pieces, and when sold, they collected 80% of the sales - with the other 20% also going towards BuildOn.
The Charise siblings have a goal in mind with those BuildOn donation dollars: build a school in Malawi, Africa. As of Sunday, they had raised nearly $1,500 dollars towards their goal, with hope that Sunday afternoon will bring more success as the festival comes to a close at 5:00 PM today.
Three Staples Students Chosen to Represent USA at Hwa Chong Institution International Summit
Press Release, Westport Public SchoolsNatalie Bandura, Erin Durkin and Allison Schwartz will represent Staples High School at the Virtual HCI-APYLS 2021 event.
As one of the premier schools in Singapore, Hwa Chong Institution is eager to share its success with other high performing schools and to learn from others. For that reason, HCI has organized the Hwa Chong Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Summit which takes place virtually this year in July. HCI invites only the top student leaders from some of the best schools around the world to the Summit. In previous years, student participants came from Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom, US and Singapore.
For the past eight years, Westport has been invited to send three juniors who are both high performing students AND interested in world affairs with a special interest in Asia. The criteria used by HCI are: a) you must be between 16 and 17 years of age; b) you must possess good oral and written proficiency; c) you must have substantial leadership experience and potential; d) you must be academically able and among the top performers in the school; e) you must possess enthusiasm and strong interest in forging ties with fellow students from around the world. The 80 student delegation invited to HCI is selective.
Congratulations to the delegates who will join students from Scarsdale High School (New York) and Dominion High School (Virginia) as representatives from the United States.
Staples Softball Beats Darien, Celebrates Seniors, in Last Regular Game of Season
The Staples High School Varsity Softball Team (L-R, Back): Assistant Coach Dana Seymour, Jill Backus, Gabby Lantier, Caroline Coffey, Ally Schwartz, Tash Taubenhiem, Jen Westphal, Coach Bob Olah; (L-R, Front) Kate McDonald, Grace Alfero, Oliva Bernard, Ava Vincini and Miranda RodriguezUnder the bright lights of the Greens Farm School field, the Staples Varsity Softball Team beat Darien 5-4, bringing their season to an exciting 14-3 record.
Photos and story by Colleen Coffey for The Westport Local Press. Last night’s game was the last regular game of their season, with families, friends, and community members in attendance to cheer on the team while celebrating the outgoing seniors. The warm Spring evening welcomed the small crowds to the school’s ball field, with some attending the game on Facetime.
Members of the Staples Wreckers Softball team high five seniors Jill Backus.The graduating teammates were able to finish their high school softball career on a high note after losing last year’s season. Class of 2021 members include Jill Backus, Olivia Bernard, and Miranda Rodriguez
A close score marks a hard-fought win for the Wreckers. Backus and Junior Ava Vincini scored big by hitting two triples during the game, while Junior Pitcher Tasha Taubenhiem threw nine strikeouts against the Blue Wave.
The team will begin their FCIAC matches (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) tomorrow at 4:00 PM at the Wakeman Field on Cross Highway.
Celebrating the Class of 2021
Going with the Flow
Saugatuck Rowing Club junior rowers went with the flow this evening as they awaited direction from their instructor boat while practicing on the Saugatuck River.
Staples High School Announces May Students of the Month
Press ReleasePrincipal Thomas has announced Staples High School's recipient’s for May Student of the Month:
Yersultan Zhakupov Gr. 12
Jasper Cahn- Gr. 11
Wyatt Resnick- Gr. 12
Amelia Galin- Gr. 11
Spencer Yim – Gr. 10
William Fitch- Gr. 10
The Students of the Month award program recognizes students who help make Staples High School a welcoming place for their peers and teachers alike. They are the “glue” of the Staples community: the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students that keep the high school together, making it the special place that it is.
Students of the month are nominated by their teachers, who are asked to think of those students who come to school regularly, are friendly to the staff and to fellow students, and make positive contributions in class as well as the Staples community. In short, these students are all-around good citizens of our school. Students of the Month are not necessarily star athletes, high honor students, or lead performers, and even if they are, this award recognizes the positive attitude they bring to school every day in making Staples High School a genial place in which to learn and teach.
Saturday Skate
Westporter Jasper Fowle skates the quarter pipe at the Compo Beach Skate Park this afternoon.
Staples Rugby Team Ranked #20 in Nation; Heading to National Championships with the Help of Donors
The Staples High School Rugby Team celebrated on Tuesday with congratulations from community leaders. The team is flanked by First Selectman Jim Marpe and Staples High School Athletic Director Marty Lisevick (left) and Superintendent of Westport Public Schools Thomas Scarice, and Staples High School Principal Stafford Thomas (right). Contributed photo. For the first time in its history, the Staples High School Rugby Team will be heading to the National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri this June as the #20 team in the country. The team is actively seeking donations to fund the trip to the championship matches so they can compete.
Founded in 2003, the team has grown significantly in the past five years alone - going from 30 players in 2016, to 85 boys and 25 girls on the roster today. This is not just the case in Westport.
Nationally, the contact sport has grown in numbers with USA Rugby claiming 110,000 registered players as of this past Summer, and “at high school level, there are over 26,000 people participating, eight times more than there was a decade ago” according to Sport 306’s Senior Editor Niall McCague. Staples High School head coach Dave Lyme says the current number of youth and high school players is currently over 40,000 members.
While rugby grows, Forbes reports that youth football participation has dropped by over 30% since 2009’s peak seasons, and “It seems almost certain that 2020 or 2021 will see overall high school participation in tackle football drop to below 1 million players, a level of participation not seen since 1998.” (Roger Pielke).
To those unfamiliar with the sport - rugby is not seen as a pillar for safety and grace, however players and coaches describe their technique as their brain’s saving grace when it comes to taking down an opponent - leading with parts of the body such as the shoulder instead of their head, and using body mechanics that protect them from injury while attempting to gain possession of the ball - especially during stereotypical scrums.
The Staples High School Rugby Team is lead by Head Coach Dave Lyme. Lyme is not a stranger to championship matches, In 2016 he took a men’s team to the USA Rugby National Championship as head coach for the Fairfield Yankee’s; they won against a Texas opponent. Lyme also serves as Head Coach for the Westport PAL rugby team, and the Sacred Heart University rugby team. The Australian native has been involved in the sport for 45 years.
This year’s Staples Rugby Team captains are Staples Seniors Felix Pollmann, Ben LaFontan, Sam Seideman, and Dylan Garra - all of whom joined their teammates in losing an entire season due to COVID-19.
The Staples Rugby Team is seeking the community’s support as they embark on their journey to the national championships - with a fundraising goal of $50,000 through a GoFundMe campaign. Team members are looking forward to the match, which will also be attended by Connecticut’s Greenwich High School’s team as well as the Aspetuck Valley high school club. “These experiences increase player ability and opens larger opportunities for college recruitment as hundreds of college coaches and scouts will be in attendance” the club described in a release.
To learn more about the Staples High School Rugby Team, visit their website. To donate funds towards getting them to the National Championships this June, click here for their GoFundMe campaign.
edited 05/15/21
Lord and Taylor, Danbury Mall Paediatric Vaccination Clinics Open for Ages 12-15
The Community Health Center has announced that registration is open for their Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at the Lord & Taylor site in Stamford, and the Danbury Mall site in Danbury, Connecticut. The paediatric clinics will offer six days of vaccines, each with their own respective second-dose date.
According to the Center, parents will be asked to electronically give consent for their child to receive the vaccine, and “even though they have already given consent through this process, we strongly encourage the parents to attend the vaccination clinic with their child.” a center representative said in a release. Questionnaires and consent forms will also be given at the site, or can be found here.
Parents can sign up for the Danbury Mall and Lord & Taylor vaccine clinics through the VAMS website, the Vaccine Appointment Assistance Line (1-877-918-2224), or by registering directly through the Community Health Center direct links (below).
Lord & Taylor Dates and Registration:
110 High Ridge Road, Stamford, Connecticut
Lord & Taylor, May 13th: Click here to register
Lord & Taylor, May 14th: Click here to register
Lord & Taylor, May 15th: Click here to register
Lord & Taylor, May 16th: Click here to register,
Lord & Taylor, May 17th: Click here to register
Lord & Taylor, May 18th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall Dates and Registration:
7 Backus Avenue, Danbury, Connecticut. The entrance to the site is located near the former Sears auto center in the parking lot. Please follow the directional signage to enter the area.
Danbury Mall, May 13th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall, May 14th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall, May 15th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall, May 16th: Click here to register,
Danbury Mall, May 17th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall, May 18th: Click here to register
Westport Public Schools named “Best Community for Music Education” Ninth Year in a Row
The Staples High School Jazz Band prepares a pre-recorded piece for America’s Voices performances. Press ReleaseThe Westport Public Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for the ninth year in a row. Recognized for its outstanding commitment to music education, Westport joins 623 districts across the country in receiving this prestigious award for 2021.
The Best Communities Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. Districts that have been recognized by the NAMM Foundation are often held up as models for other educators looking to elevate their own music education programs.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Westport answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. The Music Department has been fortunate to forge partnerships with community organizations such as the Westport Library, the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, PTA Cultural, WestPAC and Westport Arts Advisory Committee, all who recognize and value the importance of the arts in education.
This award also recognizes that Westport is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the new federal education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA recommends music and the Arts as important elements in a well-rounded education for all children.
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.
An Un-official Tradition Returns: The Staples Class of 2021 Motorcade
Vehicles taking part in the Staples High School class of 2021 motorcade pause on Soundview Drive while the unofficial parade of seniors begins the procession to Staples High School. Each year the Staples seniors drive loudly and proudly up the Compo Beach driveway with focus on getting to the homecoming football game. In 2020, like many other things, that didn’t happen. The homecoming game festivities were nixed while the motorcade was postponed until today. Although not heading to homecoming, the group of teenagers gathered their friends and loaded into open air vehicles to cheer on their peers as the boys lacrosse team battled against Trumbull High School on the Wreckers field.
The group gathered at Compo Beach at 2:00 PM today to organize the parade towards their North Avenue high school, with dozens of vehicles streaming through the gates after having their beach parking sticker checked. Westport Police Department officers and Parks & Recreation staff members were on-scene for the event, which is not sanctioned by the Westport Public Schools and not an approved event by the Westport Police Department. However the un-official tradition kicked-off as the clock struck 2:45 and the groups of teens got into their respective vehicles - some in seats, others in the beds of pickup trucks or trunks of drop-top convertibles.
In a year when many young people struggled to see their friends and celebrate their accomplishments in person, passersby stopped to cheer on the graduating class - one woman exclaiming how excited she was to “just see kids smiling again.”
Safety has always been a concern for the un-official event - as many are without safety belts while inexperienced drivers remain behind the wheel. Today, shortly after the procession left Compo Beach, first responders rushed to the area of Compo Road North and Post Road East for the report of a person down with possibly serious injuries after falling from a moving vehicle. There was no information released about what caused the accident or the extent of injuries sustained during the fall.
In a year when so many events were cancelled, the Staples High School Seniors reclaimed one of their favorite traditions as they made the drive to school today. The event has served as a rite of passage for thousands of Westport teenagers - it’s fate now unknown after this year’s accident.