Highlander Highlights
NWR7 District Updates | January 2024
Superintendent's Reflections:
Greetings Northwestern Regional Families, Students, Faculty and Staff:
I am pleased to share our newest edition of the Highlander Highlights district newsletter. My last newsletter was filled with spotlights of the events happening within and around our district leading up to the holidays and winter break. That period of time is always exciting, but also a time filled with a flurry of activity and a mix of emotions that come during the holidays. I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season, and that you made new cherished memories with family and friends. As we wrap up January and begin the second month of 2024, I am grateful to be leading this outstanding district, and look forward to an exciting year ahead!
It is amazing to me that we have already completed the first semester and midterm exams have come and gone. We begin February already having experienced a number of strange weather events that have required close attention and several schedule shifts. Before I was hired, I was cautioned that the weather up here in the northwestern hills is very unique and challenging for superintendents to deal with. I will admit that I have found this guidance to be very true! After careful consideration and consultation with each weather-related decision, I have already called 4-late openings, 1-early dismissal, 1-cancellation of evening activities, and 2-school closures, and February has just begun! The calendar has been updated to reflect these modifications and can be found below. Funny enough, several students have started to regularly email me on the eve of a weather concern to ask for my predictions. Some have made well supported persuasive suggestions about what I should do regarding an incoming storm. Surprisingly, some students have even asked me to not call a closure or a delay, which I found very interesting. Our kids are great here, and I appreciate their sage guidance on weather-related decisions. Despite mixed pressures, I must ultimately do what I believe to be safest and best for all concerned, given the many variables involved in these decisions. I appreciate everyone's understanding of the complexities that go into weather calls, especially up here in the northwest hills.
February and the winter are marching on. I have been working with my Director of Finance and Operations and our team on the development of the budget, and not surprisingly, we have some challenges that you can read about below. There are many exciting district highlights and upcoming events to share with you in this newsletter, so I hope you have a chance to read and enjoy the following Highlander Highlight.
Warm regards,
Steve LePage
Updated 2023-2024 School Calendar (Including Weather-Related Updates)
Graduation Date Approved By NWR7 Board of Education
During the January 10 regular Board of Education meeting, the Board approved Wednesday, June 12 as the official Graduation date. At that time, the last school day for all students was to be on June 11, but it was understood that there would likely be one or more additional snow cancellation days. Since that time, we have had one additional closure, therefore making both the last day for all students and graduation day for seniors, June 12.
If we should have additional weather closures, those days would not need to be made up by seniors, but would have to be made up by students in all other grades. This is allowable under Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-16l, through which a Board of Education can set a graduation day for 12th grade students at any point during the year, provided that the date is set on or after the scheduled 180th day of school on the adopted school calendar. Our school year here is 181 days, with the original last day for students being on Monday, June 10th. With the two snow closures, the last day for all students is now June 12th. Again, this has been set for graduation, and the Warner Theater has been booked, in addition to the after grad party venue on that date.
The Board expressed that they reserve the right to make a change to this date but would only do so in the event of an unusually high number of closure days between that time and the end of the year. We hope this will not be necessary. At this time, unless a very unusual set of weather conditions were to take place, resulting in many days out, Graduation will be on June 12, 2024. The last day for all students in grades 7-11 will be June 12th, plus any additional closure days that will be added on at the end of the year.
2024-2025 Board of Education Budget Development Process and Outlook
As Superintendent of Northwestern Regional Schools, I take the responsibility of developing and proposing a budget with my team very seriously because I understand the implications of our budget. Still, it is my obligation to present a budget that I believe will lead to the best outcomes for our students, aligning them with opportunities to compete in whatever they choose to pursue after they graduate, while also helping to develop good human beings with positive character and care for others. It is a hard time to develop a budget, with the cost index on almost everything going up significantly over the last couple of years. When this is coupled with continuous unfunded or underfunded mandates from the state, new requirements of districts, and consistent significant shortfalls in the expected appropriation of special education excess cost payments to districts by the state, budget development is a challenging endeavor!
In the development of a school district budget, we face similar challenges that we face as members of families buying groceries and paying for our utilities. Costs have risen significantly. This year, our employee medical benefits are going up by over 11% from last year's rates, which has not happened before, compared to a 6.9% increase last year. There are too many factors to go into within this overview, but I am committed to preparing and proposing the best possible budget we can, an efficient budget that adjusts to changing needs and demands, and a budget that continues to support the excellence we represent in so many areas that Northwestern has demonstrated and been awarded for as an exemplary district with a high school of national Blue Ribbon distinction.
My commitment is to be transparent, reasonable, efficient, and collaborative as we all want to see our schools continue to thrive, but with the best possible balance of resources and value to the community.
Our Reimagined Northwestern Regional Library Media Center
NHS HELP DESK: The NHS Help Desk is up and running during the school day. Each period, a National Honor Society Student is available for tutoring in our LMC! Students who have used the service are thrilled to have access during commons and study hall periods. Tutoring is open to Middle School and High School students.
Ancestry.Com Seminar: The LMC’s second Ancestry.com Seminar took place on 2/1. The ancestry grant allows our students and staff to use Ancestry Classroom for free for the school year. In order to make Ancestry more accessible, Ben Crusson from Beardsley Library’s Genealogy Department offers assistance to Northwestern students and staff. We look forward to hosting another seminar in the Spring! Teachers are excited to incorporate this resource into their lessons soon!
The LMC hosted a “New Year, New Book” Book Tasting for the 9th grade. Ms. Wiecking, Ms. Perschman, and Ms. Munger brought their classes to review books from multiple genres including historical fiction, realistic fiction, Nutmeg Nominees, Romance, Thrillers/Mysteries, and Sports. We were thrilled to see so many students find books to read for enjoyment!
NHS HELP DESK
Ancestry.Com Seminar
“New Year, New Book” Book Tasting
Northwestern High School Athletics: Winter Season Highlights
Our winter sports teams are all competing at a high level and our student athletes continue to demonstrate tenacity and sportsmanship, whether in the pool, on the wrestling mats, on the ice, on the track, or out on the basketball court. I have observed many games and competitions this winter and couldn't be more impressed by our student athletes and coaches. Several of our teams are excelling in the wins column and they are on track for an exciting playoff finish to the season.
Regardless of wins and losses, the commitment by our students to their sport is admirable and appreciated. In addition to maintaining academic performance, student athletes are often returning home from games very late at night, doing homework on buses or wherever they can find time, but balancing everything to be successful in multiple arenas. This is also true of musicians, students preparing for one of our outstanding drama productions, and others I may be omitting. Getting involved in extracurricular experiences is really important and tremendous for student growth and development of a sense of belonging here, but it comes with a price.
We commend everyone who puts forth the extra time, energy and effort to be their best in athletics and extracurricular commitments!
Athletics action photos were taken by Garrett Gallo, NWR7 Senior and outstanding photographer. Garrett does many things in support of our district, from photography to development and support of our district communication systems.
-Thank you, Garrett
Congratulations to Maddie Topa on surpassing the 1,000 Point Scoring Milestone!
Northwestern Girls Basketball Player, Junior Maddie Topa, #22, surpassed the 1,000 point scoring mark during the 2nd game of this season, and she has continued to add many more points to that total since. Not to put any added pressure or expectations on Maddie, but she is well on track to set the all-time scoring record at Northwestern, for both girls and boys, during her remaining junior and senior year games. We are confident that she will focus on doing her best in each game, rather than on point totals, and she will continue to work hard and give her personal best, earning success one game at a time. Congratulations to Maddie on achieving this significant accomplishment!
Northwestern's Stellar Swim Team
Our Northwestern Regional High School Swim Team has repeatedly dominated their opponents in the pool throughout the year and they remain undefeated in the Berkshire League. This team practices extremely hard and competes at a high level in each and every meet. In fact, our Northwestern High School Swim Team has won the Berkshire League Championship for 11 straight years!
Our Swim team will celebrate their Senior Night on Saturday, February 10 at their home pool (at the Winsted YMCA pool) against Wamogo. If you have not been to a swimming and diving meet (Asa Bannerman is an exceptional senior diver), you are missing out on fierce competitors who also demonstrate the meaning of team and sportsmanship, and who support not only their own teammates, but everyone who swims from the other team. Everyone at a swim meet, swimmers and spectators, cheer and clap to encourage even the very last swimmer, who may just be competing against his or her own personal best time. The team also has a rather unique chant to prepare for each meet, and to celebrate after the meet, so that is a something worth experiencing! I encourage you to check out a swimming and diving meet, they are really exciting and inspiring athletic events.
Northwestern Team Records and Standings:
Indoor Track: Does not have a team record as they compete in invitationals, currently preparing for States
Wrestling: As a team, they have won two team events and several of the wrestlers are new to the sport and gaining critical experience. They compete in invitationals and continue to build for the future.
Swim: Record of 7-1, 6-0 in the Berkshire League
Ice Hockey Boys: Record of 1-12 but playing competitively and getting better as the season moves on
Ice Hockey Girls: Record of 8-5
Boys Basketball: Record of 10-4, BL 8-4 Getting ready for the BL Tournament and the State Tournament
Girls Basketball: Record of 11-4, BL 9-3 Getting ready for the BL Tournament and the State Tournament
Cheer: Had their first competition last weekend and did well. The girls are gaining experience and preparing for their next competition on Feb 10th. The girls are also doing a great job cheering and getting the crowd into our basketball games.
Congratulations to our middle school athletic teams and cheer squad on their season performances thus far. I have enjoyed watching the basketball teams compete at a high level. The future looks bright for our high school teams.
NORTHWESTERN PENGUIN PLUNGE...CALLING ALL WHO DARE TO FREEZE FOR A CAUSE
On behalf of Our Northwestern Unified Sports Team and our LINKS Program, I am excited to share that we will have formed a Northwestern Regional Penguin Plunge team and several of us will be participating in the March 23 Penguin Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics, Connecticut. I am excited to join teachers & Unified Coaches, Nancy Wiecking and Kim Perschmann, LINKS Program teacher Mrs. Ficke and as many staff, students and members of the community who would like to be a part of this frigid fundraising event.
The flyer for this plunge can be found below, and we are looking for volunteers to get involved by raising funds, and if you so dare, to register on our team and take the icy plunged. This will be my 3rd plunge, and I will just say that they are truly invigorating! It is a great environment and a guaranteed heartwarming experience, despite a few minutes in the bone-chilling water. Please support this event and the 10,000 outstanding student athletes this event helps to support. Special Olympics provides inspiring and inclusive opportunities for athletes of all abilities, and builds lasting relationships between athletes and their peers.
Look for upcoming fundraisers, including a bake sale to raise funds for this event, to be held tonight at the Northwestern v. Gilbert Boys' Basketball games. Our Unified Team is also playing at halftime, so I hope everyone can come out to support all of our athletes!
Through the Special Olympics, everyone truly wins!
Here is the link to our Northwestern team:
NWR7 Partnering with House Of Heroes CT
I am excited to share a new partnership that several members of our Northwestern Regional High School team and the House of Heroes Connecticut organization are collaborating on. Last week, current Senior Nathan Veillette, whose Capstone is focusing on support efforts for veterans, our high school administrative team, and I met with two leaders from the House of Heroes CT Program. After a really good discussion, we determined that our goal would be to plan and prepare for one or more projects to benefit local veterans in the Northwestern Regional towns. Efforts to plan these projects will take time this year and next fall, but the work would take place during the weeks leading up to next Veterans Day. In our discussion, we talked about some of the potential needs out there, and the process for planning projects such as these. Ultimately, we will need veteran applicants to apply for the program. If we have applicants, we may need sponsors to help pay for materials, and a crew of both skilled and unskilled labor to complete the project(s), depending on what the particular project involves. These projects are a wonderful way to give back, so I am confident that we will be able to get all of the help we need to successfully serve those who once served our country.
I have been involved with 2 previous House of Heroes CT projects and I can't say enough about the experience. Those projects involved students, athletic teams, and adults of mixed skills and experience supporting some professionals in completing a range of jobs from painting the outside of a house, replacing windows in a home, reroofing a garage, adding some accessibility features, doing yard clean-up work, and more. More information about these projects can be found in the following detailed link. It is several pages long, but please take a look and see if you might consider sponsoring or supporting a project in the future. Thank you!
Agricultural Education Program Highlights
The Northwestern Regional FFA held its Chapter Public Speaking Contests on January 30th and February 1st.
First year students recited the FFA Creed and answered questions on its content. Extemporaneous speakers drew a random topic on agriculture and had 30 minutes to prepare a speech. Speeches needed to be 4-6 minutes long and speakers would then answer questions pertaining to their topic. Prepared speakers researched and wrote a report on an agricultural topic of their choosing and had to speak for 6-8 minutes and then answer questions from a panel of judges on their topic.
(Prepared Speakers - Left photo below) from left to right: Alden Bates, Charles Dean, Liam O'Meara, Soleia Swanson, Kylee Quach, Ryder Dean and Ayla Fritz.
(Prepared Speakers - Center photo below) from left to right: Madeline Blanchard, Aurelie Buchanan, Cianna Ferraro, Stefania Mancini, Spencer Nash, Marissa Richards and Elizabeth Schubert.
- Scores are being tallied and the top 2 speakers will advance to the District Prepared Speaking contest in April.
(Creed Speakers - Right photo below) from left to right: Hannah Guenther, Sammy Bombara, Katelyn Cahill, Lincoln Ouellette, Kenzi Shaw, Ryane Longhi, Ava Burrell and Belle Wood.
- Hannah Guenther and Katelyn Cahill were the top 2 speakers and have earned a spot to compete at the FFA District Public Speaking contest at Housatonic on April 4th.
Julia Reinert was our only Extemporaneous speaker. She will also compete at the District Public Speaking Contest
Congratulations to all of the students involved in these challenging and rewarding learning opportunities!
Prepared Speakers, Group I
Prepared Speakers, Group II
Creed Speakers
Welcome Our New School Resource Officer: Officer Stanley Lada!
We have been working diligently to find and hire our new SRO, and I am pleased to share that we have been successful in this process. A team from Barkhamsted, including First Selectman Lukiwsky, Barkhamsted Resident Trooper Attmore and our Northwestern leadership team interviewed Officer Lada on January 5th and were unanimous in the belief that he will be a perfect fit here at Northwestern! Officer Lada will be joining us starting February 15th, following the comprehensive onboarding process required in the hiring of a new officer. Although Officer Lada is a veteran police officer of over 20 years, all officers entering a new position must go through the same comprehensive process that involved; a polygraph exam, a psychological exam, a full background investigation, medical and drug screening, and a physical fitness assessment, all required since the 2020 legislative changes for hiring officers. Officer Lada completed and passed all of these steps without any issues, and provided his notice in Farmington Schools earlier this week, where he currently serves in a similar role. I asked Officer Lada if he would share something about himself as a way of helping our community get to know him, and he sent the following, along with the picture above. Please join me in welcoming Officer Stan Lada.
Hello all. My name is Stan Lada and I'm your new School Resource Officer. A little about myself: I grew up in Southington, Connecticut. I'm a 5-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. I have 20 plus years of law enforcement experience with the Farmington Police Department including 5 years on the North Central Emergency Services Team (S.W.A.T.), and 5 years as a Youth Officer assigned to Farmington Public Schools, which were the best five years of my career and what drew me to this position. My wife Emily and I have been married for over 20 years. We have four children, our daughters Morgan, Logan, and Jordan, and our son Zack. We are a HUGE hockey family. I still play, Logan plays in college, Jordan plays in high school, and Zack plays travel for the Junior Bulldogs. We love doing things together as a family like playing games inside and outside, watching movies, and just having fun. Aside from hockey my favorite thing to do is ride motorcycles. I'm grateful for this opportunity and I'm excited about starting this new chapter in my career. I look forward to being a resource to all; students, faculty and staff, parents, and the community as a whole. See you all soon!
Future Law Enforcement Youth Academy Information and Application
FLEYA Academy Class of 2023
Ellie Gajewski Recognized for Successful FLEYA Completion
FLEYA Academy Class of 2023
FBI New Haven, in partnership with the Yale University Police Department, offers a youth program called Future Law Enforcement Youth Academy (FLEYA). The program is an overnight camp at Yale University. FLEYA gives 30 Connecticut high school students between the ages of 16 and 18 an inside look at today’s FBI while simultaneously exposing them to various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and practices. Classroom training is provided on various subjects, including: cyber technology, investigative forensics, domestic and international terrorism, civil rights (hate crimes), and more. Information on the FBI Honors Internship Program is also provided. Law enforcement professionals from the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and state and local agencies provide instruction for this unique youth program.
Northwestern Regional junior, Elise (Ellie) Gajewski applied for, was accepted into, and completed this program last summer and had an outstanding experience. FLEYA is a highly competitive program and students go through a rigorous application process to be accepted into the program. Ellie was accepted and represented the town of New Hartford and NW Regional 7. We understand that Ellie was the only representative from Litchfield County in her graduating class, so we congratulate her on her successful acceptance and completion of this program.
This profession and experience has become a focus of Ellie's Capstone project, and I am certain her future in the field of law enforcement will be a successful one. This information was shared with me following Ellie's completion of the program:
- 30 students (15 girls and 15 boys) ages 16-18 were admitted and the application and interview process was very rigorous.
- The interview process began with an essay, if accepted to the next level a phone call interview, if accepted to the next level an in-person interview at the FBI building in New Haven, and finally an acceptance email and letter if chosen for the program.
- Students stayed in one of the actual dorms at Yale University for seven days.
- Each day started with a run at 5:00 am and then the students literally went non-stop all day until about 9:00 pm or later.
- US Attorney for the State of CT Vanessa Avery spoke to the group at the Graduation ceremony.
- Robert Fuller SAC of the New Haven FBI spoke to the group personally on 2 different occasions (at the beginning of the Program and at Graduation).
- Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin also spoke at Graduation.
- Over 30-40 other individual FBI agents, attorneys, police, and military personnel volunteered their time during the week to educate the students on their various areas of expertise.
- Students visited several places including Yale Law School, FBI New Haven building, Yale Police Department, New Haven Superior Court.
- FLEYA is 100% subsidized both federally and locally and there is no cost to the students/families, including food and housing.
- Students leave the program with many contacts from the FBI, Marshall's Office, Secret Service, State Prosecutor's Office, DEA, Coast Guard, US Army, State Judge, and ATF. The individuals from these agencies are dedicated to helping students from FLEYA succeed in their futures.
- There are opportunities for FLEYA alumni to support future FLEYA students.
Connecticut FLEYA is the first student law enforcement program in the country between a state FBI office and a top university. CT FLEYA has been so successful that it is being replicated in other states through their FBI offices
To Apply
The 2024 New Haven Future Law Enforcement Youth Academy is open to 16- to 18-year-old high school sophomores and juniors not graduating in Spring 2024. The academy will be held at Yale University Police Department in New Haven, Connecticut from July 14, to July 20, 2024. Professional behavior and appropriate dress will be required of all students attending this program.
Completed applications, including an essay, must be received by email at FLEYAprogram@fbi.gov no later than March 29, 2024, at 5 p.m. Eastern.
Email FLEYAprogram@fbi.gov with any questions about the FLEYA or the application process.