Students at the Middle School of Plainville recently attended an assembly entitled Step Up, presented by the Anti-Defamation League. The Step Up assembly focused on stepping up to build a school of allies and reject name-calling and other bullying behaviors. The format for the program included facilitator Derek Hall from the Anti-Defamation League, a video in which students describe experiences they have had, and discussion opportunities from the middle school student audience.

In Photo: Mr. Derek Hall from the Anti-Defamation League addresses Middle School of Plainville students during the Step Up assembly.

Plainville High School students in Dean Esposti's Technology Education class recently collaborated with students in the Capitol Region Education Council's Integrated Program Model (CREC IPM) program to construct wooden pear shaped shelves for the holidays. The Technology Education students prepped and helped build the shelves, also decorated by the students.

The Linden Street School Reading Partners Program  recently received a generous donation from the Plainville VFW Post 574’s Community Outreach Program.  On December 19th Steve Wowk of the VFW joined Linden Street School students and  their GE Reading Partner volunteers   for a holiday reading of the Polar Express  by Linden Street School Principal Paula Eshoo. Thanks to the donation by the VFW, the students each received a copy of the Polar Express  in support of literacy and the VFW’s s focus on remembering those who have passed, and celebrating the living. 

In photo: Mr. Steve Wowk of the Plainville VFW Post 574 with students in the Linden Street School Reading Partners Program 

Members of the Plainville High School Band, Jazz Band and Choir, under the direction of faculty members Jeff Blanchette and Dominic Talotta, gather at Walt Disney World in Florida, where they recently performed.

Twelve Plainville students were recently honored for receiving the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents' (CAPSS) Superintendent / Student Recognition award and certificate of excellence at the 24th annual Superintendent's award presentation.

In Photo: Superintendent Jeffrey Kitching and student honorees

Newly elected and re-elected Board of Education members were sworn in by Plainville Town Clerk Carol Skultety at an induction ceremony held on November 14, 2011. From left to right: Plainville Board of Education members Barbara Willard, Charlotte Koskoff, Deborah Hardy, Lisa Buckley, Robert Anderson, and Mike Giuliano

The Plainville High School Counseling Department sponsored a college fair on October 21. More than 100 colleges and universities were in attendance. The high school students were able to ask questions and obtain information from the representatives on hand from various institutions of higher learning. 

On Sunday, October 2, 2011, Plainville High School DECA members participated in the  Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)  walk at Rentschler Field in East Hartford,  to fund juvenile diabetes  research efforts. The students had a great time raising money for a worthwhile cause, meeting the UConn Men's Basketball Team, and working together as a team. In all, the students raised approximately $1,100 for JDRF.

On September 21^st, the Wheeler School community received a pleasant surprise when representatives from Bob’s Discount Furniture stopped by to present Principal Catherine Frayler with a donation of $1,000 for the school. Wheeler was one of five Connecticut schools to receive a donation from Bob's, which periodically makes charitable donations to schools throughout New England, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Virginia.

In photo: Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School Principal Catherine Frayler poses with Wheeler third graders and the "donation check" from Bob's Discount Furniture.

172 students received 200 awards at Plainville High School during the first annual Plainville High School Academic Recognition Ceremony held on September 15.Awards were presented for academic excellence, outstanding achievement and special recognition.