Illing Insider
March 22, 2022
From The Principal
Dear Illing families
Here at Illing and at schools all over, there's enormous attention put on curriculum and instruction as well as the grades that students earn in their classes. That’s clearly all very important but there are other things students need to learn that will be getting increased emphasis during the next few weeks and months.
Starting tomorrow, we will be conducting occasional hall sweeps, which are designed to highlight the importance of being organized and punctual.
Hall sweeps are pretty simple. When the bell rings signaling the end of passing time and the start of a new period, we ask teachers to close their doors. Anyone still in the hall is escorted to a nearby ‘sweep station’, where we record their name and then give them a pass to quickly go to class. If they have a legitimate excuse for being late, they write the reason on the back of the pass and give it to their teacher, and the tardy is excused. But if they have no valid excuse, the tardy stands and -- if they get too many of them -- the student will face consequences that can include something else we are starting this week: Saturday detention sessions.
Students have three minutes to get between classes here at Illing. That’s plenty of time to get from one end of the building to another. (By comparison, at much-bigger Manchester High the passing time is 5 minutes.)
Hall sweeps this week will be announced over the PA system right before they happen, but we will begin unannounced sweeps starting next week.
The goal of this campaign is to help students become more disciplined, responsible and focused. We want students to enjoy school and they still have time for a quick chat with a friend. But we also all know that choices have consequences and lingering in the hallways is not worth it if it might mean spending two more hours in school on a Saturday.
Please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher, school counselor, assistant principal or me with any questions or concerns.
In partnership
Principal Idelisa Torres
More About Saturday School
- Saturday detentions are for students in grades 5-8 (from IMS, Bennet and MMA).
- They are held in the Freshman Center at Manchester High.
- Sessions generally runs from 8:30-10:30 a.m.
IMS News
Band on the Run
Illing and Bennet band students, under the direction of Meg Clough and Ken Garrison, participated in the Eastern Regional Middle School Music Festival in Enfield earlier this month. Clough was proud to see how the students represented their schools, music departments and the town of Manchester. “They played at such a high level with their peers and top players from other towns across the eastern region,” said Clough.
Clough is thankful for those who helped with the “huge undertaking,” adding that opportunities like this “feed our students and keep them motivated to continue achieving at a high level.”
SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS
The Positive Behavior Incentive Supports (PBIS) program is all about improving school climate, reducing negative behavior and strengthening responsible behavior. Group sometimes gather to celebrate with with a pizza party and games.
Social Studies Showcase
Meet The Staff
This month we have a seventh grade team (Tufts) and an eighth grade team (Princeton) in the spotlight.
Left to right: Shaira Peralta, Casey Gorman, Bernardo Negron, Thomas Sheridan, Amy Dougan, Chelsea Constantino.
Team Tufts
SHAIRA PERALTA, Math...graduated from CCSU (2010), Saint Joseph’s University (2016)...grew up in Hartford but now lives in Wethersfield with husband and three kids...in her 12th year teaching at Illing and Latin Dance Club Advisor...creates a home haunt for Halloween (Loves Halloween) CASEY GORMAN, Special Education...graduated from 2015, 2018...lives in Manchester...loves reading, baking and crocheting TOM SHERIDAN, ELA...graduated from King’s College (2009), UConn (2014), and SCSU (2020)...lives in Rocky Hill with wife, son (18 months) and baby on the way...served in the US Army and taught English in the Republic of Georgia...spends free time with friends and families, reading, running, boxing, and rock climbing AMY DOUGAN, Science...graduated from UCONN's NEAG School of Education in 2013...grew up right here in Manchester and still lives here today...taught in Waterbury and Hartford, CT prior to IMS...loves spending time with son (Henry, nine months), dog (Finn) and husband (Paul) outside! CHELSEA CONSTANTINO, Social Studies...graduated from UCONN’s Neag School of Education in 2018...grew up in Coventry but now calls Manchester home...taught abroad in Nottingham, England prior to IMS...getting married to MHS Social Studies teacher Sean Rogers this June! COLLEEN BOMBRIA, SEM-R...attended Manchester Community College, Central Connecticut University, and Saint Joseph’s...born in Japan, lived in Mississippi, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut...loves being with family and friends...teaching is a passion - others include nature, mindfulness, dancing, reading...has had the privilege of teaching in Manchester over 19 years.
Left to right: Ellen Gehret, Nicole Pacheco, Greg Vickers, Justine Meyer, Kelley Sutherland, Raquel Rodriguez and Cassie Myers.
Team Princeton
ELLEN GEHRET, ELA...BA Susquehanna University, Masters from UMASS...lives in the same house she grew up in...learning to love gardening GREG VICKERS, Social Studies...BA Baylor, MA Vanderbilt, MSSW, Univ Tennessee...grew up in Houston, TX...loves to travel JUSTINE MEYER, Counselor BS from Keene State College...Masters from CCSU...grew up on Cape Cod and in New Hampshire...enjoys spending time with two young children and husband...loves to read, take long walks, baking and cooking KELLEY SUTHERLAND Science...BS Jacksonville University, FL, Masters from Saint Joseph’s..grew up in Tolland and has lived in Venezuela...loves the outdoors and traveling RAQUEL Y. RODRIGUEZ, Spanish...BA, and current grad student at Interamerican University of Puerto Rico...grew up in San Juan and in Salinas, Puerto Rico...loves writing and spending time with her family. CASSIE MYERS, Math...BA Roger Williams University, currently a grad student at CCSU...also teaches dance and love puzzles NORMALIZ ACOSTA-SETARAM, TESOL...BA University of Puerto Rico, MA Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Sixth Year, UCONN...born and raised in Salinas, P.R...loves spending time with loved ones and traveling.
Library/Media
SPRING SPORTS
- Softball and Baseball tryouts started Monday, March 14 and ran throughout the week.
- Track started up today -- on Tuesday, March 22.
- Schedules for all spring teams, including Unified, are being finalized.