GREAT NEWS FROM BRIDGEPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
May 3, 2007
Upcoming Events

 

 Do you have an upcoming event? Email info to Jennifer Bernheim at jbernheim@bridgeportedu.net
 

  
UI Lights the Way
 
UI Lights the Way for Bridgeport’s Energy Efficient School
 
 
 
On May 1 Bridgeport Public Schools received $140,500 from The United Illuminating Company (UI) at a check presentation held at Cesar   Batalla   School . The check is an incentive from UI’s Energy Conscious Blueprint and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund for the installation of energy efficient systems throughout the school.  Those attending the presentation included Superintendent Dr. John J. Ramos, Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi, and UI CEO Jim Torgerson.
 
The Bridgeport Board of Education and the School Building Committee recently utilized UI’s Energy Conscious Blueprint Program when building the energy efficient school, Cesar Batalla, to reduce its electric bills. According to UI, by means of these energy efficient systems, an estimated 599,007 kWh will be saved annually, as well as an additional 334.2 kW during summer peak periods.
 
This is a major step in energy consciousness for Bridgeport Public Schools.  “We are grateful to be engaged with UI’s Energy Conscious Blueprint Program as it not only promotes energy efficiency, but also helps to save money, which is a crucial resource in our school system,” Superintendent Dr. John Ramos, said.  “The Bridgeport Board of Education has decided that the design of Cesar   Batalla   School will be replicated in the next seven schools we build.”
 
This energy efficient school includes lighting occupancy sensors, high efficient motors and variable frequency drives on all pumps, and motor fans for the chiller system and Energy Star® dry-type transformers throughout the school.  Additionally, an ice storage system was installed in order to significantly reduce the peak demand of the cooling system.

 

 
The Mistress of Ceremonies for the UI check presentation was 8th grade student Majenta Rivera (pictured above).

 

 

Hallen School Students Win Law Day Essay Contest

 
Three Hallen School students, under the direction of teacher Karen Schefiliti, are this year’s Law Day Essay Contest winners:

 
First Place -- William Hudson.

Second Place -- Francessca Williams.

Third Place -- Alan Elem. 

 
These students were honored for their outstanding essays at an interfaith service held this past Monday at St. Augustine Cathedral, where they received a monetary prize and an award recognizing their accomplishments.  A reception was held for the winners, their families and Hallen School staff following the service.
 
The Law Day Essay Contest is an annual event sponsored by the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association.  This year students had to choose one of two topics to write about: Whether there should be curfews for teens or whether drug testing should be performed in schools. Contestants combined savvy writing skills with research and supporting evidence to take a stand on an important issue. “The students’ work is very impressive,” said Hallen School Principal Lucille Sekara. “They did an outstanding job in preparing these essays.”
 
Congratulations to all the Law Day Writing Contest winners!

 Harding & Bassick participate in Violence Prevention Week

 
Last week the Reconnecting Youth Program at Harding and Bassick High Schools sponsored school-wide activities in honor of Violence Prevention Week. Reconnecting Youth is a semester-long program facilitated by School Based Health Centers that applies small group work with life skills.
 
Violence Prevention Week activities included classroom presentations, interactive activities, and auditorium performances from groups such as the Profiles Theater Group of Central High School . The purpose of these activities is to provide information about domestic violence, school violence, and other forms of violence.
 

This event focuses on violence prevention in an attempt to engage students in contemplating the effects of violence on themselves and others. "The most important part of this week is that theses activities are youth involved and student focused," said Kristine Burns, Social Worker and Reconnecting Youth Coordinator for Bridgeport School Based Health Centers. Students actively participated in the preparation and execution of activities in order to learn how to apply this information in their lives.

 
One of the week’s activities at Harding included an interactive bulletin board (pictured above), where students were able to sign a mural in a pledge to abstain from violence in school.