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Bridgeport Public School Teacher Writes a Tale to
Stir the Soul
Nearly every one is
familiar with chicken soup - Chicken Soup for the Soul,
that is. For the first time in more than a decade, Chicken Soup
for the Soul has published a groundbreaking book that includes
contributions from all 55 of 2009's State Teachers of the Year as
well as 46 others from teachers and students. And a beautiful and
powerful story by Read School teacher, Patricia Marini, is apart of
this wonderful collection called Chicken Soup for the
Soul: Teacher Tales.
"I Wish Every Teacher a Kevonna," is
Marini’s tribute to Kevonna Edwards, a special student who was
considered difficult by others but who blossomed as a student and a
volunteer with Marini, decided to become a teacher, and then died in
a car accident.
"Her story needs to be told. I think
that there are a lot of Kevonnas in Bridgeport," said Marini. "This
is why teachers go into teaching."
Marini and Kevonna met in a summer
school program in 2002 before Kevonna's eighth-grade year at Read at
which time Marini was a resource teacher. Marini decided to make
Kevonna a helper in a class for students with special needs. Kevonna
blossomed.
Marini felt that she was a natural
teacher, and when Kevonna went on to attend high school at Bunnell
in Stratford, she even joined Future Teachers of America.
Unfortunately, three years ago, in
her senior year of high school, Kevonna died in a single-car
accident on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Woodbridge.
It was about a year later when Marini
learned that the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series was looking for
stories from teachers.
"I love the books and I was on their
Web site. I thought Kevonna had such an impact on me, I decided to
write about her," said Marini. She wrote the story in one sitting,
tweaked it a bit and then submitted it.
Early last December, right around the
time of what would have been Kevonna's birthday, Marini learned her
entry was in the top 5 percent and would likely be included in the
book.
Marini plans to use the $200 fee she
received as seed money for a scholarship in Kevonna's name, awarded
each year to a student most improved at Read School.
"Kevonna is a success story. It's
unfortunate what happened to her, but she would have come back to
this district and taught. I know it. On those days when your
patience is worn thin, I hope teachers have a student like Kevonna
to think about," said Marini.
Chicken Soup for the Soul:
Teacher’s Tales was released on February 2, 2010 and is
available for purchase at your local bookstore.
Highlighting a Heritage
Students Awarded
for Outstanding Essays
for Hispanic Heritage
Month
Standing with Mayor Bill
Finch, School Supt. John J. Ramos, Sr. and Cablevision
representatives are Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest grand
prize winner Naysha Ruiz from Luis Munoz Marin School, center; third
place winner Jairo Martinez from Multicultural Magnet School, left;
and honorable mention recipient Olimary Hernandez from Longfellow
School.
Three Bridgeport public
school students were winners of Cablevision’s Power to Learn’s
second annual Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest.
Grand-prize winner Naysha Ruiz from Luis Munoz Marin School,
third-place winner Jairo Martinez from Multicultural Magnet School,
and honorable mention Olimary Hernandez from Longfellow School were
recognized at City Hall during an awards ceremony.
The essay contest, sponsored by Cablevision’s Power to Learn
and Olympusat, Inc., posed the question to grades 6-8: “What does it
mean to be a Latino?”
All three students read their winning essays at the ceremony.
Mayor Bill Finch praised the students for exceptional essays about
their heritage. "Their thoughtful writing and understanding of their
ethnic background is a wonderful accomplishment that should make all
Bridgeport residents proud,” he said.
Award prizes included a $5,000 savings bond, a laptop computer,
an iPod iTouch, and a portable DVD player.
Central, Bassick Team Up for
Charity
Basketball Teams Raise Money During
1st
Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game
The Central girls basketball team
hosted Bassick in the 1st Annual Breast Cancer Game to raise
money for breast cancer research. The event demonstrated how great
an impact the joint effort of two schools and the community has to
create great results for a great cause. Thanks to generous friends,
family, and fans, the schools were able to raise over $1200 for the
Susan G. Komen For the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation.
Central beat Bassick
73-38.
Lending a Helping
Hand
Barnum Students Aid Victims of Haiti
Earthquake
Barnum School and the community raised $3,000.00 for Haiti.
Kindergartener Juan Mandragon and 4th grader Jesus Morales
represented the school community by presenting the check to Lyn
Fine-McCarthy from the American Red Cross. The two boys were
selected because they were the first who brought their piggy bank
savings in support of the survivors of Haiti. The Barnum School
community also pitched in to give their support. Many parents placed
cans at their places of work with a sign that read, “Barnum School
for Haiti Penny Collection." “Hats for Haiti”, “Penny War” and
basic donations were among the activities that brought in the
$3,000.00.
Barnum School also collected clothes and food for the Taste and
See Ministries in Bridgeport. Representatives from the organization
came to Barnum to receive the donations that they will deliver
to Haiti themselves. In addition, students of Haitian heritage
received a chance to represent their country on stage. The
fundraising efforts ended in success due to the outstanding teamwork
of staff, parents, and students.
Today's Scholars,
Tomorrow's
Scientists
Students Show What They Know at the 2010 Science
Expo At UB
  
Bridgeport Public Schools celebrated the scientific
achievements of its scholars at its annual Science Expo on
Wednesday, February 3rd. At the University of Bridgeport (UB)
Student Center, the expo showcased the projects of the 7 – 12 grade
winners of each school-based science fair. A preview night for
parents, teachers, administrators and community members was held on
Tuesday, February 2 also at the UB Center.
The top four juniors selected at the Science Expo will each
receive a $10,000 scholarship to the University of Bridgeport. All
expo winners will be entered into the State Fair competition, which
will be held March 9–13 at Quinnipiac University.
The winners of the Science Expo are as follows:
7th Grade
1st Place - Tayla Bogle, Geraldine Johnson
2nd Place – Jonathan Sullivan, High Horizons
3rd Place – Wilder Quintero, Blakcham
3rd Place - Juan Yanet, Blackham
Honorable Mention – Michael Ticsay, Multicultural Magnet
8th Grade
1st Place – Amani Young, Geraldine Johnson
2nd Place – Zaria Kingwood, Read
3rd Place – Juan Carreno, Geraldine Johnson
Honorable Mention – Anna Hempowicz, Multicultural Magnet
Honorable Mention – Robert Russell, Multicultural Magnet
9th Grade
1st Place – Karim Khardouch, Bassick
2nd Place – Michael Quintero, Central
3rd Place – Mark Monteiro, Central
3rd Place – Joshua Colon, Central
Honorable Mention – Caldarone Mazza, Harding
Honorable Mention – Kevan Chambers, Harding
10th Grade
1st Place – Anthony Abrahams, Central
2nd Place – Tyler Housey, Central
3rd Place – Patricia Morgan, Central
Honorable Mention – Renae Johnson, Central
Honorable Mention – Ariana Mesaros, Central
11th Grade
1st Place – Taylor Gofstein, Aquaculture
2nd Place – Keemberly Reyes, Harding
2nd Place – Maria Ruiz, Harding
3rd Place – Cynthia Anaero, Harding
3rd Place – Jessica Hunter, Harding
Honorable Mention – Jasmine K. Brown, Central
Honorable Mention – Marissa McKelvie, Central
Honorable Mention – Laura London, Central
12th Grade
1st Place – Rasheeda Woods, Aquaculture
2nd Place – Frank Hu, Aquaculture
3rd Place – Dominick Luckey, Aquaculture
Honorable Mention – Gregory Johnson, Aquaculture
Honorable Mention – Ivan Meyerovich, Aquaculture
Honorable Mention – Jonathon Dupnik, Aquaculture
Honorable Mention - Gregory Devos,
Aquaculture
Bridgeport Regional
Aquaculture Students Showcase
Green
Machines
The Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science & Technology
Education Center held its first annual “Aquaculture School Green
Technology Exposition” on January 25, 2010. Students at the school
have been developing and constructing greener, more efficient
designs and prototypes for marine environment application.
Students were on hand to present and explain their projects to
the public.
In the Fall of 2009, students in technology education classes
at the Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Technology
Education Center were presented with a major school project which
would give them real world experiences in engineering design and
prototype development.
The goal of the project presented was to explore the
development of “green” technologies for use in marine
applications. Students were asked work in teams to develop
ideas and work with concepts related to marine technologies while
considering “green” design constraints. Tomorrow’s
marine propulsion related energy technologies should: have minimal
environmental impact, be cost effective, and involve the sustainable
use of resources.
Students in marine propulsion and nautical technology classes
were asked work in teams to investigate the use of existing and
alternative energy sources and apply them to developing energy
efficient propulsion for the marine environment. Some major
projects included outfitting an electric powered launch, designing
and constructing a solar charging station for the electric boat,
investigating the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology as it is
applied today, and investigating the use of Biodiesel fuel as a
substitute for marine diesel use.
 
Students in the advanced technology classes concentrated in the
production of electricity through solar generation. They constructed
solar panels using individual solar cells, and used those arrays to
recharge the batteries that will be used by their electric boat. The
panels are also destined to be used to assist in the electric boat
recharging station that will be located in Black Rock Harbor. The
boat will be used transport students to and from the aquaculture
shellfish grow-out systems for maintenance.
Students in Technology Education classes at Bridgeport Regional
Aquaculture Science and Technology Education Center will continue to
work on this “green” technology design endeavor to:
Ø Design systems and
protocols for testing the hydrodynamic efficiency of hull
forms.
Ø Continue the construction
of a variety of student boat designs.
Ø Design and
test propulsion systems, steering systems and working
applications
Ø Construction of
additional launches utilizing biodiesel and hydrogen for fuel.
Ø Additional solar and wind
applications for charging stations
Ø Solar Electrolysis used
for hydrogen production
Ø Investigate possible
entrepreneur opportunities and future careers in the changing marine
industry.
Ø Producing electricity
through wind generation apparatus.
Ø Direct applications of
solar and wind power that will benefit our school by reducing our
need for purchased electricity.
Nominate a
Bridgeport Teacher
Today!
The Fairfield County Community Foundation is accepting
nominations for the Theodore and Margaret Beard Excellence in
Teaching Award.
The annual award honors one Bridgeport public school educator
with a gift of $25,000. It is one of the nation’s largest teaching
awards.
Bridgeport teachers, school administrators, community members,
parents, and students have until March 12 to
nominate Bridgeport public school teachers for the award. Nominated
teachers will be asked to complete a brief application that will be
due in early April.
Please help us find this year’s exceptional teacher – nominate
someone and pass on this information to others!
Save the
Date!
Bridgeport Students to
Participate in
3rd Annual Poster Art
Program
Mark your calendar - the Third Poster Art Program for
Bridgeport students will take place this March. Students grades 1-9
will take part in a contest to create posters that address the contest's theme: "Step Up; Make Health a Habit!"
The underlining art projects are to encourage walking as a lifetime
physical activity.
Each year, 11 savings bonds are awarded to the top winning
posters.
Date, Time, and Location:
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sacred Heart University
University Common
Room
10am-12pm
Please RSVP
to:
Lisa Nelson,
Home School Coordinator
Geraldine Johnson School
203-275-2501.
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