Schools

Conard Shelter Volunteers Receive Special Recognition from Board of Education

Semi-annual awards ceremony includes honors for academics, athletics, leadership, arts, and outstanding communications.

 

A group of more than a thousand very special people were recognized Tuesday night at the Board of Education Awards Ceremony at .

The semi-annual awards ceremony is intended to honor students and faculty for notable performance in the area of academics, athletics, leadership, arts, and communications. However, a special presentation was added Tuesday to publicly acknowledge and commend the who worked tirelessly during the aftermath of October's freak snowstorm and resulting power outage to run the Town's emergency at .

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In his introduction, Board Chairman Bruce Putterman said, "During a dark week in our town, Conard remained one bright spot – literally, it seemed to be the only place with power – that represented the very best that West Hartford has to offer. More than 1,000 volunteers turned Conard High School into perhaps the best shelter that the state of Connecticut has ever seen. And what was really remarkable was that this transformation was entirely driven not by housing or social services professionals, but by:

  • educators, and
  • students who set up four hundred cots and provided entertainment to people who were anxious about being displaced from their homes, and
  • school nutrition service workers coming in to prepare meals for the needy, and
  • by school nurses who normally care for children but who were at Conard around the clock to care for a different segment of the population, and
  • our custodians who kept the building safe and clean"

Because so many people were involved in the effort that they could not possibly fit on the stage, representatives from each group were chosen to accept the honors.

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The following individuals were chosen to attend the ceremony:

  • Principal Peter Cummings, Conard administration, provided logistical help and oversight.
  • Lily Cannon and Joe Schuman, representing the student athletes who helped set up the gym as a sleeping center. 
  • Ana Amora and John Ferreira, representing the custodial staff, who went above and beyond to keep the building safe and maintain appropriate hygiene standards.
  • Greg Dupuis, representing the maintenance staff, who kept the power on, fixed what was broken, and helped to set up a generator provided by the Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Trish Molloy, Annmarie Lancor, and Sharon Riley, representing the nutrition staff, who created over 5,000 meals to feed people something warm.
  • Lisa Nowak and Mary Andrews, representing the nursing staff, who came in around the clock to care for our most at risk residents.
  • Dave St. Germain and Dave Volpe, representing the teachers, who came in on days off simply to help, hold hands, and calm nerves.
  • Micaela Connery, representing the volunteers who organized activity centers, exercises, and activities for the kids.
  • Rebekah Hoisl and Tyler Lauretti, representing the student volunteers, who often simply sat and spoke to people and let them know that they cared.
  • Scott Slifka and Beth Bye, representing the elected officials who provided truly exceptional leadership throughout those 10 days.
  • Tom Moore and Karen List, representing the senior administration, who held it all together, simultaneously coordinating activities at the shelter AND preparing to reopen 16 schools as quickly and as safely as possible. They received a proclamation coordinated by State Sen. Beth Bye.

Awards were also presented to Conard and students who have been named National Merit Commended Scholars or Semifinalists, Advanced Placement Scholars, and National Merit Hispanic Recognition Program honorees. Those receiving the Alliance for Community Media-Northeast Region Award, Mathematics Association of America Award, American Traslators Association Award, NCTE Achievement Award in Writing, Intermediate Nutmeg Book Award, Scholastic Magazine "Scope" You Write it Award, First Lego League robotics team members, and Stock Market game winner were honored as well.

High school students from Conard and Hall who received All State and All Courant honors for fall sports were also recognized. Hall tennis coach Jim Solomon was honored for receiving the United States Tennis Association's "Starfish" award, and Hall track and field coach Susan Curnias was recognized for being named National High School Girls Track and Field Coach of 2011 in Region 1A.

Several faculty members were recognized for leadership. Students receiving leadership awards included Hall student Noah Boden and Conard student Tessa Wunder who have been selected to receive the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents Student Recognition Award, Conard student Anthony Gioco who received the WHC-TV Volunteer Award, and Conard students Greg Confessore and Joshua Florez who recently were awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.

In the Arts, Hall student Andre Mitchell has been selected to participate in Hartford Stage’s “Write On” workshops.

The CABE Awards were also presented on behalf of the Connecticut Boards of Education for outstanding educational communications.

A complete listing of awards and honorees is included in the attached PDF.

 


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