The mission of the Bridgeport Public Schools and its supporting community is to graduate all students "college ready" and

prepared to succeed in life.

In other news... 

 

The Bridgeport Public School district is mobilizing for the best United Way Campaign ever! To promote this effort, Superintendent Dr. Ramos, our district’s Chairman, requested the district’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Robert Henry to participate in leading the effort along with United Way Chairwoman, Theresa Dworkin. The United Way Campaign will kick-off on October 30, and will run through November 30.

 

Contributors can direct their donations to programs and institutions of their choosing.  Donations can be made on a one time basis or as a paycheck deduction. No donation is considered too large or too small.  Please consider joining the Bridgeport Public School’s Team and making a donation to an important cause in our community.

 

United Way campaigns are dedicated to supporting local programs.  United Way of Eastern Fairfield County has received national and international recognition for its Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. Merle Berke-Schlessel, President & CEO, was awarded the Jeffrey Wallace Award from the Connecticut Community Development Association for the work being done to address the human side of homelessness.  Additionally, United Way of Eastern Fairfield County has continued to exceed the administrative cost standard set by the Better Business Bureau, which is an indicator of non-profit efficiency and the amount of money that goes directly into programs.  Thus, all contributors are assured that their contribution goes mainly and directly to services, which better the lives of children and needy individuals in our community.

 

The Peer Players, a traveling adolescent improvisational theater group, performed at Harding High School today to address the issues of substance abuse, relationships, and racism.  The theater company performed for 100 Harding students in an interactive presentation.

The Peer Players group consists of middle school and high school students from throughout Fairfield County. “The performances are dynamic and thought provoking and have proven to be a very effective means of communicating with students of all ages and their parents about the problems and issues they will have to face in today’s complicated world and how to better deal with them,” said Barry Halpin, Peer Players Director and Prevention Specialist for Liberation Programs, Inc.

 

The purpose of using improvisation is to create a supportive and nonjudgmental environment in which students can express their feelings and discuss important issues. Sketches are not scripted, and the audience is encouraged to dialogue and role play in sketches with the actors.  “There are no speeches and no long-winded lectures. It’s kids talking to and helping kids using theater to stimulate dialogue and promote better communication,” said Halpin. “The goal is to get students thinking about the choices they will face.  The audience is an integral part of every performance.”

 

The Peer Players theater group has traveled to a variety of schools, community and teen centers, churches, and professional theaters to entertain and educate about the important issues facing youths and their parents.  In addition to the issues to be addressed at Harding, the Peer Players perform sketches on peer pressure, diversity, fitting in, gossip, bullying and violence, the “party scene, commitment, and courage.

 

For more information about the Peer Players, please contact Barry Halpin at barryhalpin@aol.com or call (203) 451-3615.

 

 

Tazewell Thompson, Artistic Director of the Westport Country Playhouse, visited fourth and fifth grade students at Cesar A. Batalla School yesterday. Thompson read folktales from Virginia Hamilton’s book The People Can Fly to an audience of 200 students. 

 

“Reading has always been, and continues to be, my favorite thing to do. Outside of the theatre, and relationships and breathing, reading is absolutely a necessary part of my life,” Thompson said.  “It is my pleasure, my responsibility, to share, pass and carry on my great love and passion for books and the adventurous world of reading with others, especially children.”

 

Thompson became Artistic Director of Westport Country Playhouse in January of 2006. In his first season, he directed On the Verge in a co-production with Arena Stage; the world premiere of the musical revue Jam & Spice: The Music of Kurt Weill; his own play Constant Star; and his song-filled adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which will return in 2007. Previously at the Playhouse, he directed The Old Settler and The Immigrant, and as an actor he appeared in Checking Out (1976). This season he directed Mary’s Wedding and the world premiere of playwright-in-residence David Wiltse’s Sedition.

 

Jim Ford, a Fairfield resident and School Volunteer Association (SVA) volunteer reading tutor at Cesar Batalla for the past eight years, was the impetus behind Thompson’s invitation to the school.  Ford is a retiree who seeks to encourage other retirees and businessmen to join the ranks of volunteers sharing their talents and experiences with Bridgeport’s public school children. Thompson’s visit to Cesar Batalla School was a prelude to the SVA Read Aloud Day, which will be held tomorrow.

 

To read today's article in the Connecticut Post featuring Thompson's visit to Cesar Batalla, please click on the following link: