Volume 14 Number 25
The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Thursday, June 24, 2010
On to ‘the Three Rs’ of life for close-knit Class of 2010 By Nick Carroll The Berlin Citizen Having completed 12 years of schooling, the 234 members of the Berlin High School Class of 2010 are quite familiar with the “Three Rs” of education: reading, writing and arithmetic. Now, valedictorian Lauren Weiss would like her fellow graduates to embrace her “Three Rs” for living. “Remember, realize and remain,” Weiss said during her June 20 commencement speech at Welte Hall on the campus of Central Connecticut State University. “By remembering our past, we are essentially remembering ourselves,” said Weiss, who plans to further her education at Mount
Holyoke College. Weiss’ second “R” is “realizing our future goals”. She said that is important to do whether graduates move on to college, the military, the work force, or take another route entirely. “Only by looking forward to the future, can you believe in, and achieve, a better tomorrow.” The third “R”, remain, “puts everything into perspective,” said Weiss, who urged her classmates to “seize the day” and “live in the moment.” With commencement exercises falling on Father’s Day, Weiss began her speech by thanking the dads in attendance. She went on to discuss some of the major changes that have occurred in the world in recent years,
including the rapid advancements in technology. Gadgets are getting smaller, while doing more and more. “Cleary a sign that size is not everything,” the diminutive Weiss said with a smile. Salutatorian Heather Zisk’s speech got the crowd laughing as well. Zisk discussed the downside of having a last name that starts with the letter Z. While attending her cousin’s graduation several years back, Zisk said she asked her mother: “‘At my graduation, am I really going to be the last one to receive my diploma?’ And the unfortunate answer was ‘yes’”, she recalled. “People like me have been
See Graduation, page 12
Maule makes the grade as Teacher of the Year By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen
Celebration was in the air and everywhere June 20 as members of the Berlin High School 2010 graduating class gathered outside Welte Hall at the Central Connecticut State University Campus. For more photos and a list of graduates see inside. Photos by Matt Leidemer
Timothy Maule, a fourth grade teacher at Hubbard Elementary School, has been selected as the 2011 Teacher of the Year for Berlin Public Schools. The announcement was made at the June 14 Board of Education meeting. Maule said he learned from the best. One of his earliest inCitizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence fluences was a teacher at HubTeacher Tim Maule and his class of fifth-graders. bard school, when Maule was a student there in the 1980s. Joe Konivshesky, a fifth grade made to at Hubbard, “there was thunderous teacher, took Maule under his wing and en- applause and a true appreciation, warmth couraged him to consider teaching elemen- and respect for Tim and all he has done.” tary education at a time when male teachers Maule described the most important asat that grade level were rare. pect of being a good teacher. “The relationKonivshesky was Berlin’s first Teacher of ship to students must be a good quality one. the Year the year the award was initiated. It You need to build trust; they need to know appears that his legacy of excellence lives on that you care. That inspires them to do their in Maule’s classroom. best.” According to Superintendent of Schools David Erwin, when the announcement was See Maule, page 12