HIGHLIGHTS

Top-notch staff is being hired at the Integrated Services Program (ISP), EASTCONN’s new site-based program for primary-grade students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related disabilities in Coventry.

“They’re a terrific group of professionals who bring a wealth of experience to our new ASD program,” said Ron Morin, EASTCONN’s Coordinator of ASD Services and Director of ISP.

Located at Coventry Grammar School, ISP will serve youngsters, primarily in kindergarten through second grade.
“We’re taking referrals now,” said Morin. |

As program coordinator, Morin brings to the position an extensive background in psychology, pupil services, and specialized-population services and administration.

Formerly the director of pupil services for Bolton Public Schools and supervisor of special services for Bristol Public Schools, Morin has worked for 25 years providing services and program development for a wide variety of student populations. He has Sixth-Year degrees in both school psychology and administration.

Deidre Fitzgerald, Board Certified BA, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Dr. Fitzgerald has been a consultant to EASTCONN’s new ASD program since its inception. Dr. Fitzgerald teaches psychology at ECSU.

Alisha Natelle is ISP’s new certified special education teacher. She is licensed for severe special needs, K-12, and has a master’s in special education. Natelle has worked with the New England Center for Children in Southborough, Mass., in a variety of ABA programs. She has held a variety of positions, including lead teacher in a public school classroom and teacher in an ABA intensive instruction program in Abu Dhabi, UAE, among others. She has also worked in Milan, Italy, as a special educator for children with special needs, and as a consultant and coordinator of special education services.

Erin Casper will be ISP’s new BCBA and will also provide consultation and intervention services to northeastern Connecticut’s LEAs. Casper is currently pursuing her doctorate in school psychology at UConn. She has worked as the educational coordinator for The May Center for Child Development and has previously taught children with ASD. She has a background in program development, instructor training in applied behavior analysis and IEP development.

Morin added that children enrolled at EASTCONN’s ISP will have access to EASTCONN Related Services professionals, including specialists in Speech & Language, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and one-to-one instructors

To learn more about EASTCONN’s new Integrated Service Program, contact Ron Morin at rmorin@eastconn.org, or by cell at 860-933-7371, or contact EASTCONN's Director of Education Services Tom Cronin at 860-455-0707, or tcronin@eastconn.org.

Free Community Forum on
Teen Driving Safety, New Laws

Public Invited to June 18 Panel Discussion With Experts, Parents, on Tougher Teen Driving Laws

Parents and teens are invited to learn more about Connecticut’s new, tougher teen driving laws during a free Community Forum on Teen Driving Safety, featuring state Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Robert M. Ward, on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Theater, 896 Main Street, Willimantic.

Forum panelists will discuss Connecticut’s new teen driving laws, which take effect August 1, 2008, and strategies for improving the safety of teenage drivers. WILI-AM radio host Wayne Norman will moderate.

The Capitol Theater box office will open at 6 p.m. the night of the forum. Seating is limited. Free tickets may be reserved in advance by calling EASTCONN at 860-779-3770.

Forum panelists include

• David Calchera, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents;
• Brendan Campbell, M.D., director of Pediatric Trauma, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, and a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Teen Safe Driving;
• Sherry Chapman, president of !MPACT (Mourning Parents Act), of Coventry, and a member of the Governor’s Task Force;
• Capt. Frank Griffin, of the Connecticut State Police, Eastern District Headquarters;
• Taylor Jennett, a student at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury;
• Jim MacPherson, a driver education professional of AAA, West Hartford, and a member of the Governor’s Task Force;
• Jack Thaw, Ph.D., adolescent psychologist, Glastonbury, and a member of the Governor’s Task Force; and
• Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Robert M. Ward, who also co-chairs the Governor’s Task Force.
   

WILI-AM, Windham Area Chamber of Commerce, Windham Regional Community Council, Windham Hospital, Charter Communications, the Chronicle, Willimantic Fire Department, Willimantic Police Department, Safe Kids Windham County, and EASTCONN are co-sponsoring the forum.

Last November, in the aftermath of seven teenage deaths in car crashes over a four-month period, Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell formed the Governor’s Task Force on Teen Safe Driving. Task Force recommendations resulted in the state legislature’s bipartisan approval of new, tougher teen driving laws, which will affect both teens and their parents. The new laws will impose tighter restrictions and enforce tougher penalties for teen driving violations.

The DMV’s Center for Teen Safe Driving web site reports “…car accidents claimed the lives of 15 teens in 2007 and 14 teens in 2006. In the first three months of this year, the state lost seven teens to traffic fatalities on Connecticut roadways.” To learn more about Connecticut’s new teen-driver laws, visit www.ct.gov/teendriving.

Forum on Teen Driving Safety Flyer

Arts in the Afternoon Off to a Great Start

Chinese Puppeteer Hua Hua Teaches
Ancient Art of Shadow-Puppet-Making to Kids

Arts in the Afternoon, EASTCONN’s new, after-school, arts enrichment program for Windham children and their families, is off to a great start, according to program officials, who say the integrated arts curriculum, visiting artists, and creative programming are having positive effects on participating youngsters.

Funded by a $97,000 Connecticut State Department of Education grant, Arts in the Afternoon opened its doors in early February to Windham area children, grades 3-10. The program takes place at the Windham Heights Community Learning Center in Windham.

“Arts in the Afternoon is going very well,” observed Dan Mullins, Program Coordinator. “We have an artist-in-residence who conducts dance lessons on-site, and our students also attend dance, acting and keyboard classes at the Capitol Theater Arts Academy [EASTCONN’s community arts program in Willimantic].” So far, students have worked with two different puppeteers and a professional mime.

“Arts in the Afternoon gives kids one more safe and nurturing place to go after school for assistance with their academic life, as well as helping them develop their social skills by working with peers and a diverse staff,” said EASTCONN’s Nancy Vitale, Manager of Arts in the Afternoon.

“The program keeps kids involved in academic, positive activities that foster positive youth development and leadership skills,” Vitale said. “We have a heavy focus on language arts, language acquisition, comprehension, fluency and more.”

Pedro Flores, 19, an Arts in the Afternoon staffer, said children were lucky to have an after-school arts program at Windham Heights.
“I was raised here [at Windham Heights],” Pedro said, “and there’s a lot more to do here now because of [Arts in the Afternoon] than there ever was when I was growing up. It helps keep kids out of trouble.”

In the context of the arts, the program’s curriculum is designed to complement classroom instruction, improve student achievement in the arts, language arts, math and technology, in addition to encouraging parental engagement.

A delightfully colorful scene unfolded during one recent Arts in the Afternoon session when Chinese puppeteer Hua Hua Zhang engaged a large group of youngsters in the ancient art of making Chinese shadow puppets.

Hua Hua, a professional artist who is both internationally renowned and a graduate of UConn’s school of puppetry, traveled from Pennsylvania to guest-teach.

“Remember!” Hua Hua said, as the children made their own puppets, “Everybody has a different imagination and a different talent. Trust your imagination.”

Hua Hua said her shadow puppet workshop helped children focus not only on art, but also on language arts skills since each child was asked to create a short, shadow puppet play against a back-lit, white screen at the end of the workshop. The children also worked with geometric shapes to construct their own shadow puppets.

“Art and education together are so important,” said Hua Hua. “My goal is to help children recognize that everyone has potential in art. All they have to do is try.”

While Hua Hua and staff assisted them, the children chattered happily back and forth in both English and Spanish as they changed fluorescent-colored oak tag shapes into shadow puppet creatures. Learn more about Hua Hua at www.huahuaz.com.

Arts in the Afternoon will operate a six-week summer session, Monday through Thursday, from July 8 through August 14, Vitale said. The session, which has weekly themes, will offer regular field trips.

To learn more about Arts in the Afternoon, e-mail Dan Mullins at dmullins@eastconn.org. Or, contact Nancy Vitale at 860-455-0707, or at nvitale@eastconn.org.

Coventry, Putnam Get Share of $13.2 million to Bolster  AP Science, Math, English

EASTCONN’s Helen Weingart Named
Field Project Manager for NMSI Grant

Coventry and Putnam are among 10 Connecticut towns that will get a share of a $13.2-million National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) grant to bolster AP science, math and English at the high school level. The NMSI grant is intended to encourage students to pursue careers in science and technology.

Over a five-year period, the NMSI grant, called Project Opening Doors, will distribute $465,467 to Coventry and $385,788 to Putnam. The program will be expanded in the next five years to include at least 25 to 30 Connecticut schools, officials said.

In partnership with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), the State of Connecticut was awarded the funds following a highly competitive grant process. EASTCONN assisted with the grant application and EASTCONN Staff Developer Helen Weingart has been named the Field Project Manager for Project Opening Doors.

Connecticut is one of only seven states to win a grant from NMSI. The grant is part of NMSI’s Advanced Placement training and incentive program. NMSI is a non-profit organization designed to help America maintain its global leadership position in technological innovation, according to CBIA press materials.

The grant was awarded to the CBIA’s Education Foundation in partnership with the Connecticut Academy for Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology; the Connecticut Science Center; the State Department of Education; and the Connecticut Department of Higher Education.

The 10 Connecticut towns that will benefit from a portion of the $13.2-million NMSI grant include Ansonia, Coventry, Danbury, East Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, New London, Putnam, Stamford and Waterbury.

Exxon Mobil Corp., the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation are also supporting the national initiative.

To learn more, contact Project Opening Doors Field Project Manager Helen Weingart at 860-455-0707, or via e-mail at hweingart@eastconn.org.

Caring Killingly Volunteers
Win $10,000 For Helping
Teacher After Cancer Diagnosis

Thanks to combined fund-raising efforts on behalf of a teacher diagnosed with breast cancer, Killingly Intermediate School, Killingly Memorial School and community volunteers were named $10,000 National Award recipients of the Make A Difference Day Awards 2008.

Make A Difference Day, which takes place the fourth Saturday each October, encourages volunteerism and is sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine. The Killingly award was announced in the magazine in late April.

When former Killingly Memorial School teacher Judy Quinn learned she had breast cancer in June 2007, friends and students from Killingly took action. Quinn, who was 49 and a single mother, had just started a new teaching job in another Connecticut district, which meant she had few sick days as she faced weeks of treatment.

Wendy Johnson-Cavar, a friend of Quinn’s, began organizing a “huge” benefit dinner and auction. Another Killingly teacher and friend, Mona Gardiner, who was already involved with other Make a Difference Day activities at KIS, joined forces with Johnson-Cavar to hold the Quinn benefit on Make a Difference Day in October 2007.

“Everything just seemed to fall into place,” said Gardiner.

Students and staff were involved throughout the project. KIS sixth-graders hosted a “Harvest Fest” for the Judy Quinn Benefit Fund. Both KMS and KIS hosted Casual Day for Charity in Quinn’s honor. KIS staff donated baskets, services and gifts to be raffled off at the benefit. KMS staff assisted and local businesses donated gift certificates.

“Everyone worked together to make the benefit a success,” said Gardiner.

When the benefit night arrived on Make a Difference Day, donors ate by candlelight at the local Knights of Columbus hall to the sounds of a local band and raised more than $12,000. As a result, Quinn was able to work half-days during cancer treatment. Quinn is doing very well, according to Gardiner.

Killingly’s $10,000 Make A Difference Day Award will be donated to the Connecticut chapter of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation. Make a Difference Day grants are provided by the Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation. Winners donate their prizes to a favorite charity. The award cannot go to an individual, Gardiner said.

“You see? Working together does make a difference,” said Gardiner. “Through the generosity, kindness and determination of a group of people, we were able to rally together to help our friend and colleague and also make a difference in the lives of those who will benefit from the research done by the PKD Foundation.”

Six EASTCONN Districts Win Technology Grants

The Connecticut State Department of Education has awarded technology grants to six districts in the EASTCONN region, including Ashford, Brooklyn, Killingly, Mansfield, Willington and Windham.

Only 13 grants (up to $65,000 apiece) were awarded statewide by the federal Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program, also known as CSDE Title II Part D. The state announced its EETT awards in late May. The yearlong EETT grant will serve grantees through June 30, 2009.

EETT funding will allow middle schools to develop “assured technology experiences” for students, according to Jim Huggins, EASTCONN’s Director of Teaching, Learning and Technology.

“What that means is that embedded in each school’s curriculum content areas would be a technology component that requires students to meet both technology competencies and content area standards,” said Huggins.

“For example,” Huggins continued, “while middle school students are becoming proficient in a subject like social studies, they might also be asked to do online research, collaborate through an online environment, and develop a podcast to demonstrate their learning.”

The EETT grant will be used to develop assured technology experiences that can be shared by schools statewide, Huggins said. The grant will also fund professional development and new equipment, such as SMART boards, iPods, and science probeware.

Brooklyn, which plans to use EETT funds to embed technology in its science curriculum, for example, is considering new SMART boards and science probeware, Huggins said. EASTCONN assisted Brooklyn and Windham with the EETT grant process. EASTCONN is also exploring a regional collaborative effort between the six school grantees.

In Mansfield, the EETT grant will be applied to fourth graders’ traditional American Indian unit, culminating in collaborative digital storytelling projects and podcasts, according to Steve Sokoloski, Mansfield’s PreK-4 Technology Coordinator. He and Jim Griffith, Mansfield’s Technology Coordinator for grades 5-8, were the primary authors of Mansfield’s EETT grant. Mansfield seventh-graders will apply grant funding to a robotics and writing unit, while eighth-graders will explore the physics of flight using Adobe’s Flash Animations to illustrate a manual about flight, Sokoloski said.

Other 2008-2009 Connecticut EETT grant winners include Bloomfield, Danbury, Derby, Groton and Norwich, Cooperative Educational Services (CES), in Trumbull, and the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication (ISAAC), in New London.

New Vocational Coordinator
Gives Northeast Regional School Students an Edge Out There...

Building on its recent successes, Northeast Regional School in Brooklyn has expanded its student school-to-work program by hiring a new Vocational Coordinator.

“My goal is to open a window to new career opportunities that our young adults might never have thought possible,” said Steven Dyer, NERS’ new Vocational Coordinator.

“I want our students to take risks and to have the chance to try unexpected careers and to discover who they are and what they would like to be.”

Dyer will work closely with area businesses to create local internships and new job opportunities for NERS students. He will also provide students with ability assessments, vocational goals counseling, assistance with job applications, resumes, interview techniques and business-letter-writing skills, among other things.

NERS, which is administered by EASTCONN, offers a regional, educational, day treatment program focusing on vocational opportunities for high school students who have been unsuccessful in traditional school settings.

“Bringing Steve Dyer on board is another way Northeast Regional School is improving its focus as an exemplary day treatment program with a strong vocational emphasis,” said Thomas F. Cronin, EASTCONN’s Director of Education Services.

One sign of the blossoming vocational opportunities at NERS is its new Student Chapter of the National Association of Home Builders of the United States.

Under the auspices of an EASTCONN Interdistrict program called Skills for Success, NERS students have created their own small-business environment. Students recently elected officers, which teaches them how a board-governed business works. Students also learn valuable lessons in team decision-making and the importance of giving back to the community, Dyer said.

Students are learning about the basic tools used in the residential construction field, as well as the importance of forging strong relationships with other trade professionals. Dyer said that NAHB students will make and sell picnic tables and other items in the community. Area businessmen are advising the NAHB student chapter.

For more information about NERS, contact Principal Denise Davis-Resonina at 860-779-5613, or via e-mail at dresonina@eastconn.org.
To learn more about NERS vocational opportunities, contact Steven Dyer at sdyer@eastconn.org.