Region In Review
February 14, 2020
Shepaug Athletics
The Shepaug boys and girls basketball teams are more than halfway done with their seasons, and both teams have been very successful thus far. The girls, who currently sport a 12-5 record, do not have any scorers in the top 10 of the Berkshire League because of their balanced scoring attack, but have five girls in the top 25 (Abigail Harty 9.2, Brooke Donaghey 7.7, Lucy Puskas 6.6, Haylie Lasky 6.4, and Marissa Perachi 6.3). The boys, who currently have a record of 12-4, have three scorers in the top 10, including the #2 scorer in the league (Owen Hibbard 21.7), the #6 scorer (Jayden Cornwall 16.4), and the #9 scorer (Michael Perachi 14.2). A “Rivals Night” varsity double-header vs Nonnewaug will take place at Shepaug on Friday, February 14, with the girls playing at 5:30 pm, and the boys set to tip-off at 7:00 pm.
The swim team recently swam neighboring rival New Milford High School. During the meet, sophomore diver Giacomo Colangelo broke a 10-year old record by compiling 249 points over six dives, eclipsing the previous record of 245.9, set in 2010 by Cody Heimbrock. The meet against New Milford featured several “personal bests”, with Ava Adiletti (500 freestyle), Francesca Amato (100 backstroke and butterfly), Michael Granata (100 breaststroke), and Owen Moore (50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke) all breaking their own personal records.
The ice hockey team, with lone Shepaug senior Michael Iannucci, will wrap up their regular season during the last week of February, with their “Berkshire Cup” game at Housatonic, and their home finale against Wilton on February 28. The Spartans hope to have Cazden Brenner and Ryan Wagnblas, sidelined by sickness/injury, rejoin their fellow junior class members William Cario and Jakob Wild to close out the season.
The indoor track team has finished their regular season and will send senior Cameron Brown to Friday’s State Championship meet, where he will be running in the 55-meter hurdle event.
And last, but certainly not least, the cheerleaders continue to bring their energy and spirit to the sidelines of Ted Alex Gymnasium. Led by seniors Gwenevere Noto and Alexa McCarley, the Spartan Squad has become a major factor in giving the Spartans one of the biggest home-court advantages enjoyed by any school in the Berkshire League.
Connecticut Association of Schools 21st Annual Elementary Celebration of the Arts
Region 12 elementary schools proudly recognized six students at the Connecticut Association of Schools Arts Festival on February 11th. Art teacher Jane Manley, and Music teachers Jennifer Doiron and Monique Oppel recommended students from the fifth grade who have excelled in the areas of visual or performing arts and who have exhibited high levels of citizenship and cooperative skills in their respective schools.
Agnes Schiesel and Madilynn Rak from Washington Primary School, Jacob McCauley and Juliana Quaranta from Booth Free School, and Breonna Lorentsen and Joseph Fontanilla from Burnham School were recognized. Students and their guests enjoyed a fun-filled evening with caricaturists, balloon sculptors, and face painting as well as a special performance from a New York professional performer, Holly O’Brien. One of Ms. O’Brien’s favorite roles includes Belle in Disney’s Beauty And The Beast. The room filled with young artists and musicians who shared a common connection to the arts was inspiring to all.
A Trip to Quebec
Students from Madame Edel & Madame Krehel's French classes went to Quebec City from February 6-9. Students stayed with host families, sharing meals at dinner and breakfast. It was a great way to practice the French language in a smaller and authentic setting. During the day, despite the largest snowstorm Quebec has seen this winter, time was spent as a Shepaug group learning about maple syrup and sugar production and experiencing a traditional meal with Quebecois music at a sugar shack (cabane à sucre).
Students also braved a wintry dog sledding adventure through the woods. On a colder but sunnier day, students and teachers visited the famous Ice Hotel before hitting the snowy slopes on tubes and rafts.
Carnaval was up and running, and the shops, both those overlooking the St. Lawrence River and in the lower village were bustling with shoppers and those looking for some classic treats -- poutine (fries covered in cheese and gravy) and queue de castor (an immense beaver tail-shaped donut with toppings). Before heading home, many teamed up with classmates at the foot of the iconic Frontenac Hotel to toboggan down a speedy course.
Model United Nations
Shepaug Valley School recently participated in the Harvard Model United Nations conference located in the heart of Boston. Shepaug was one of only a few Connecticut public schools selected to the sixty-sixth session of Harvard Model United Nations. Under the guidance and leadership of Oscar Cespedes, 24 Shepaug students collaborated with students from around 200 secondary schools and 51 different countries to grapple with some of the most serious challenges in international relations. The conference lasted four days and there were over 4,100 students from around the globe in participation.
This year, Shepaug represented the country of South Africa. South Africa was recently elected to serve a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. This country assignment gave our students a unique and significant role in addressing the most pressing issues that confront the United Nations. As a strong force and a sought after ally by many other countries, our student-delegates found themselves in situations where their voice, knowledge, and expertise became vital to passing resolutions. All student-delegates spent countless hours learning as much as they could about South Africa, reading background guides, and writing position papers. In addition to representing South Africa, six students were selected to serve on highly specialized committees. Over the years, Shepaug students have carved out a very good reputation. This year’s group continued the tradition.
Some of the committees that our students served on included the International Monetary Fund, the World Conference on Women, the United Nations Environmental Programme, the World Health Organization, and the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, among many others. While working to build resolutions to the most pressing issues in the world, students had opportunities to build lasting relationships with students from all over the world. Our students continue to perform at a high level, consistently winning awards each year at Harvard.
Music with a Latin Beat
Booth Free School and Washington Primary School students experienced a blend of traditional and original Latin American music with a multicultural enrichment program, Surcari, sponsored by each school's PTO. Performers led students on a musical journey through Spanish-speaking countries showing different rhythmic styles of music and instruments.
The experience was engaging and interactive while promoting a greater appreciation of the role music plays in the lives of people from different regions of our world. We thank our PTOs for their generosity and commitment to our students.
Mathletes
Shepaug has a variety of clubs, such as the Model UN and Debate Club, but for years there have been no extracurricular opportunities for those interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Thanks to SVS sophomore Caroline Kibbe, the Shepaug Experience has been altered for the better with the introduction of the new Mathletes Club.
The club has nineteen members, with three members taking the lead. These members, known as the Council, are sophomore Caroline Kibbe and juniors Henry James and Sydnie Vidal. They are responsible for organizing meetings, scheduling competition team rosters, creating team-building activities, and managing the club’s finances and fundraisers.
The Mathletes compete in the Fairfield County Math League (FCML) once a month against several Fairfield County high schools in Wilton. On Wednesday, February 5th, the largest group of Shepaug Mathletes to date participated. Region 12 was represented by fifteen students enrolled in six different math courses, ranging in grades nine through twelve. Five of the students were first-time competitors, and all truly embraced the thrill of competition and collaboration. When asked why they were willing to travel over an hour to compete, the overwhelming response was how much they enjoyed the challenge. They also noted their participation is self-motivated, as this is a personal choice versus a parent or teacher decision. Coach Marianne Maher couldn't be prouder of the Spartan Mathletes!
#ShepaugProud
Go Red for Women!
Do you know what causes cardiovascular disease in women? What about the survival rate? The fact is, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women causing one in three deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman every month! It doesn’t affect all women alike, and the warning signs for women aren’t the same in men. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement advocates for more research and swifter action for women’s heart health.
On February 7, 2020, the Region 12 staff joined thousands of hospitals, small businesses, corporations, and many others to help raise crucial awareness and significant funds in the fight against heart disease and stroke in women. The staff participated in “Go Red” by giving a donation and wearing red to school. Most women don’t notice the symptoms of heart disease until it is too late, and it is the number one killer of women. The more women become aware of cardiovascular disease, the more lives can be saved. Kudos to the staff for participating in this important fundraiser.
Fliers & Upcoming Events
Region 12 Calendar
Feb 14: Regional Elementary Dance at Shepaug (Grades PK-5)
Feb 17: President's Day, No School
Feb 18: Professional Development, No School for Students
Feb 21: Spartan Night, SVS, 7pm
Feb 24: Curriculum & Educational Programming Committee Mtg, SVS, 6pm
Feb 24: REACH Open House, WPS, 2:30pm
Feb 26: Community Conversation/Multiage Classroom Discussions, BFS, 7pm
Feb 27: Shepaug FFA Social, SVS, 4pm
Follow Region 12 on our social media channels for updates and information!
The Region 12 community educates, challenges, and inspires all learners to become compassionate, creative, and courageous individuals who are empowered by the knowledge, character, and perseverance to achieve their greatest potential within the global society.
Email: rir@region-12.org
Website: region-12.org/
Location: 11A School Street, PO Box 386 Washington Depot, CT 06794
Phone: 860-868-6100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shepaug-Regional-School-District-12-153899298123985/
Twitter: @ShepaugRSD12