Great News -- Beyond the Amistad; Harding Performs in "Fiesta-Val"; Parent Center Convention

Submitted by Gary Peluchette, TAG Teacher, John Winthrop School

For the fourth year, grade seven TAG students from John Winthrop School, and their teacher, Gary Peluchette, have participated in the “Beyond the Amistad” project. This project is funded by an interdistrict grant from the State of Connecticut and implemented by Cooperative Education Services of Trumbull.

Students from John Winthrop joined with their peers from Fairfield Woods Middle School, Hillcrest and Madison Middle schools in Trumbull, and Thomas Hooker in Bridgeport to research, via primary and secondary documents, the story of the Amistad captives.

Students were assigned roles, which included attorneys for the defense, prosecution, judges, jury, journalists, and of course the African captives. Operating within these roles, the students worked in cooperative groups to stage a mock trial of the Amistad case. Students worked with local judges, attorneys, and bailiffs to learn courtroom procedure in order to bring a level of authenticity to the trial. After the opening arguments, all of the trial proceedings were extemporaneous, enabling the students to use critical thinking skills to convince the jury how to vote. The jury did not rely on the historical reality of verdict, but rather upon the strength of the case presented by both sides.

This year, the trial was held Greenfield Hill Congregational Church in Fairfield. The site of the trial moves to a different community each year. Last year’s trial took place in the Common Council Chambers in Bridgeport City Hall.

Harding Wins “Fiesta-Val” Competition

Harding’s choir, dance/drill team, gospel choir and Madrigals recently performed in the “Fiesta-Val” competition in Virginia Beach. This year, the school rivaled more competitors in their division than ever before, facing off against teams from New York, New Jersey, Deleware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio.

Competing schools were placed in divisions based on school or academy size. Harding's Performing Arts Department was categorized as a Division II school, with less than 500 students enrolled in the arts program. What the teams lacked in size, they made up with talent. Harding’s eleven-member gospel choir won first place in both Division II and Overall competitions against choirs with 45 to over 100 members.

Congratulations to Harding’s Performing Arts students and directors:

Choir

First Place, Division II

Director: Sheena Graham-Owens

Madrigals

1st place, Division II

Director: Sheena Graham Owens

Gospel Choir

First Place, Division II

First Place Overall

Director: Sheena Graham-Owens

Dance/Drill Team

First Place Overall

Hip Hop Dance Team Director: Kim Pettway

Drill Team Director: Kim Pettway

Anthony Whitaker

Best Gospel Soloist

The gospel choir, hip hop dance team, and drill team are supported by the YMCA/Raphola Taylor Resource Center, under the direction of Ca'Tisha Howard and Eddie Quiles.

“Special thanks to Lynn Scully, Ron and the Long Hill United Methodist Church Family, Rev. Sulton Stack from St. Paul's, Blessed Sacrament Bridgeport, Stop & Shop-Main Street, A& P, and the Harding High Staff,” Sheena Graham Owens, Harding performing arts teacher, said. “Without their support this trip would not have been possible!”

Parent Center Presents 35th Annual Parent Convention

Last month the Parent Center and Parent Advisory Council hosted the 35^th Annual Parent Convention at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn. Those attending the event included Superintendent Dr. John J. Ramos, Chief of Staff Robert Henry, Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi, Governor Jodi Rell, and keynote speaker Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

In conjunction with its theme, “Parent Involvement…The Bridge to Success,” the convention featured a variety of workshops, including Literacy is a Family Affair – Create a Homemade Book, Effective Discipline for You and Your Child, and How to Cure the “I Can’t Do Math Syndrome.” Participants also enjoyed a performance by the Wilbur Cross Drummers Group.

Congratulations to this year’s Parent Convention award recipients:

Maggie Exantus

Bassick High School student

Marge Schwartz Community Service Award

Zuheily Laureano

Roosevelt School student

Marge Schwartz Community Service Award

Nancy Stone

Parent Center

Plaque of Achievement

Gina LeVon Simpson

Parent Center

Marge Schwartz Community Service Award

Margie Powell

Parent Advisory Council President

Title I Leadership Award

Kathy Flynn

Priority School District Manager

“Just Because” Award

Nancy Stone, who will soon be retiring from the Parent Center, was awarded a plaque in recognition of her great work with parents and children.