A pair of Spotted Apatelodes moths in the yard of Canton photographer Wendy Rosenberg — the Spotted Apatelodes moth is closely related to the American Silkworm moth — English botanist James Edward Smith described this species in 1797, per MothIdentification.com
The Spotted Apatelodes moth resembles a tiny dragon from behind and therefore has been nicknamed the dragon moth
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4 — Near And Dear Star
Connecticut native Alyssa Naeher has become a global soccer star after winning Olympic gold — and she played on a singular Valley field
17 — Relative Recognition
Alyssa Naeher’s uncle is a local school fixture — enjoy this exclusive Today interview
20 — Golden Jubilee
A local private school celebrates 50 years shaped by a distinctive educational philosophy
22 — Iconic Hikes
The Farmington River Trail is one of countless Valley hiking trails offering scenic fall vistas
“ It was so great growing up with a twin sister … She is always my biggest supporter … and I know she is always there for me ” — Alyssa Naeher
3 — Alyssa Naeher’s world titles
COVER STORY KUDOS
U.S. Saved by Naeher’s Hand
MARADONA scored perhaps the most noteworthy and notorious goal in soccer history — the Hand of God goal.
In a 2-1 victory over England en route to Argentina’s 1986 World Cup title, the soccer icon scored both goals. His second was voted the Goal of the Century, but his first was a routine header — or was it? Replays show that Maradona punched the ball into the net with his fist raised near his head, but referees missed the handball, long before instant replay was utilized during matches. He said the goal was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”
In last month’s Olympics, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made a one-handed save to preserve a gold-medal victory — the Hand of Naeher save. By any measure, she has become a global star — and by the way, she grew up in Connecticut. In high school she played on only one Farmington Valley soccer field. Intrigued? Turn the page to learn more … BWD
Today Magazine • Community News That Matters Nationwide Bruce William Deckert — Publisher + Editor-in-Chief
Contributing Photographer — Wendy Rosenberg Covering the Heart of the Farmington Valley and Beyond Five Towns • One Aim — Exceptional Community Journalism • Avon • Canton • Farmington • Granby • Simsbury •
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WORLD-CLASS CONNECTICUT KEEPER
Alyssa Naeher Has Unique Link To Farmington Valley
By Bruce William Deckert Today Magazine • Editor-in-Chief
IN THE AFTERMATH of the 2024 Olympics, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has become an international soccer star with distinctive accomplishments that place her in rarefied athletic air — and her last name rhymes with air, so this lead is doubly appropriate.
In the arena of global sports icons, Naeher likely isn’t in the same conversation as fellow American Olympic champions such as sprinter Michael Johnson, basketball legend Michael Jordan or swimmer Michael Phelps — unless you’re a true-blue soccer fan.
For fans of the U.S. women’s national team, Alyssa may have superseded all three Michaels in the wake of her performance at the Paris Olympics.
Air Jordan? So old-school.
If you poll American soccer fans today, don’t be surprised if they’re prepared to bestow a sacrosanct moniker on their goalkeeping heroine: Air Naeher.
Let’s consider her extraordinary achievements and unprecedented success — and her singular connection to Connecticut’s Farmington Valley.
Born and raised in Connecticut, Alyssa Naeher is the elder stateswoman for the U.S. women’s team
that won the gold medal at the Olympics in August. In high school, she excelled at sports and academics before her stellar college career with the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Naeher made two especially pivotal saves when the U.S. women won Olympic gold last month — both on point-blank headers in the game’s waning moments. The U.S. defeated Brazil 1-0 in the gold-medal game, and Naeher’s one-handed save in stoppage time helped secure the victory. In the 1-0 semifinal triumph over Germany, she made an amazing kick save in the final seconds of overtime.
These twin saves and her steady presence for the U.S. women have forged an impressive legacy in global soccer history.
“I really didn’t let myself think that she would end up in the Olympics and on the world stage — there are so many barriers for the best of athletes to get to that pinnacle”
— John Naeher Alyssa’s dad and coach
Naeher wears uniform #1 for the U.S. women, and she has become the #1 keeper in the hearts of countless American soccer fans who have watched her help the U.S. attain three world titles in the past decade — two World Cups and the Olympic gold this year.
The U.S. women have garnered five Olympic gold medals — no other nation has more than one. The women have won four World Cups, the most ever — Germany is next with two. So with her three world titles, Naeher has been present for one-third of the international championships in U.S. women’s soccer history.
She is a keeper, indeed, utilizing the best kind of double meaning.
Before detailing Naeher’s unique association with Connecticut’s Farmington Valley, here’s a rundown of some exceptional distinctions that set her apart — just a few of her claims to fame:
• Alyssa Naeher is the only keeper in women’s soccer history to record a shutout in a World Cup final and an Olympic gold-medal match •
• She is the first American soccer keeper to record four shutouts in one Olympic tournament •
• In her professional career, she is the all-time leader in keeper saves and appearances (games
Keeper Alyssa Naeher with her parents John and Donna right after the U.S. women won Olympic gold on the second Saturday in August — in Parc des Princes stadium in Paris — rather than restrict her breathing, it’s safe to say that the gold medal around her neck is a definite breath of fresh air
Courtesy Photo — Christian Heritage School
played) in the National Women’s Soccer League •
• In college, she was a two-time First Team AllAmerican and Penn State’s first World Cup champion, as the starting keeper for the U-20 national team that won the U-20 World Cup in 2008 — fast-forwarding to 2019, she was the starter for the U.S. senior national team that won the World Cup •
• In high school, she was a Parade All-American and the highest-rated keeper in the country — she also played on the U-16 and U-17 national teams •
SOLO STRATOSPHERE
When the American women won the 2015 World Cup, Naeher was the backup for Hope Solo. That squad received an inaugural honor — the first women’s team to be feted with a ticker-tape parade along New York City’s prestigious Canyon of Heroes.
By the time the U.S. claimed the 2019 World Cup, Naeher was the starting goalkeeper. In December 2014 she appeared in her first U.S. women’s match — officially called a cap — and in that contest she recorded her first U.S. senior team shutout versus Argentina. She became the starter in 2017.
When Naeher took the reins as the starting keeper, the popular opinion was that while she deserved the spot, she was no Hope Solo. Today, given Naeher’s distinctive feats, she is in a solo category all her own, occupying a stratosphere that no other keeper in international soccer history shares.
Solo, however, still lays claim to her own place in the goalkeeper stratosphere.
Like Naeher, Solo has won three international championships, but for Solo all three were as the U.S. women’s starter — two Olympic gold medals (in 2008 and 2012) and the World Cup in 2015. Since Naeher was Solo’s backup in 2015, Solo surpasses Naeher 2-to-1 in World Cup titles as a starter and in Olympic gold medals. Yet Naeher surpasses Solo 2-to-1 in overall World Cup titles, in 2015 and 2019.
Courtesy Photo — Team USA
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher speaks with the media on the field at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris after helping the U.S. win Olympic gold last month
These stats indicate that each keeper has a special place in the American soccer pantheon.
In high school, Naeher was an honor roll student and also a star basketball player, scoring over 2000 career points. She graduated from Trumbull-based Christian Heritage School (aka CHS) in 2006.
“I was born and raised in that school,” Naeher told CT Insider before the 2023 World Cup.
“I know the school always does something during the World Cup games and is always very supportive of me — it was very special for me to grow up in an environment that always felt like home and I am still feeling that support.”
CHS has historically been a major sports rival of The Master’s School in West Simsbury, and Master’s has a consequential claim to athletic fame: Master’s soccer field is the only site in the Farmington Valley where global
soccer luminary Alyssa Naeher played in high school. Hallowed sports ground, indeed.
John Naeher, Alyssa’s father, was her soccer coach at CHS — and when Today Magazine asked him if Alyssa competed against any other Valley schools, he replied: “I don’t know of any other schools that we played against in your area.”
Master’s is nearly 65 miles from CHS in Trumbull, a town of about 37,000 residents near Long Island Sound, just north of Bridgeport. Master’s hometown is a distinct section of Simsbury, a Valley town northwest of Hartford with an approximate population of almost 25,000.
The two schools have been members of the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) and the former New England Christian School Athletic Conference (NECSAC). This somewhat long-distance sports rivalry can be attributed to the athletic and academic achievement of two private schools that share a Christian worldview.
The Farmington Valley is no stranger to significant distinctions — here are just three non-sports Valley claims to fame:
• Political dignitary George P. McLean grew up in Simsbury — he served as Connecticut’s governor from 1901-1903 and as a U.S. senator from 19111929, and he hosted three U.S. presidents at his expansive Valley wilderness property that today is known as the McLean Game Refuge •
• Iconic civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. worked in Simsbury during the summers of 1944 and 1947 — his first sojourns outside the segregated South profoundly impacted his views of racial equality and his dream of a more just
Courtesy Photo — U.S. Soccer
American society for all people • • Farmington resident Raheem Mullins has been nominated as chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court — Governor Ned Lamont’s nomination, announced in late August, needs to be confirmed by the General Assembly • Meanwhile, after this summer’s Olympic conquest, Alyssa is the chief keeper on the world’s supreme women’s team. Her parents traveled to last year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and to this year’s Olympic tournament in France,
“She was never a showy, boisterous player — she simply focused on what she could do, did it to the fullest, worked to be a good teammate and let the rest happen — I fully believe … the team respected her immensely” — John Naeher
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hearkening back to her youth soccer days.
“My parents drove me all over Connecticut to soccer and basketball tournaments,” she told CT Insider. “It’s a huge commitment for parents and I am so thankful for the opportunities they gave me.”
After last year’s World Cup, when the U.S. women were knocked out earlier than ever before, Alyssa’s dad told News 12 Connecticut: “I’m mostly proud of who she is, and I tell her this all the time. She’s been great at not letting soccer define her — she plays hard, she’s trained hard for years, but she always has worked hard at keeping it in perspective.”
Was Alyssa’s national-team success on his radar when she was at CHS?
“As a high school student, I knew she had exceptional abilities and a great work ethic,” John Naeher tells Today Magazine. “But
Master’s soccer field is the only site in the Farmington Valley where global soccer luminary Alyssa Naeher played in high school
I really didn’t let myself think that she would end up in the Olympics and on the world stage — there are so many barriers for the best of athletes to get to that pinnacle.”
After Alyssa and the U.S. women won the 2015 World Cup, her mom Donna told Fox 61, “You couldn’t script it better — to see your daughter have a dream and have the opportunity, and the blessing to see it fulfilled.”
This summer’s Olympic victory has brought the 10-year blessing full circle.
“Now that the Olympics are behind her,” John says, “I feel that one of her most enduring contributions to the U.S. team will be her steady, work-hard, stay-humble attitude every day. She was never a showy, boisterous player — she simply focused on what she could do, did it to the fullest, worked to be a good teammate and let the rest happen. I fully believe the other girls on the team respected her immensely and readily followed her lead.”
Dr. Robert Naeher — one of John’s brothers and Alyssa’s uncles — sounds a similar theme.
“I’m so proud of her for letting her play speak for itself, and her focus on the team’s success and doing what she can to help her team win and get better,” he tells Today Magazine.
“I’m proud of her for modeling for many — boys as well as girls — that being consistently good is
At the Paris Olympics, keeper Alyssa Naeher was at the center of her family’s focus
really cool in itself ... that showboating is not the measure of greatness.”
Robert Naeher is a history teacher at Avon Old Farms School and was previously a history teacher and high school administrator at Master’s — see the accompanying sidebar feature for his exclusive Today Q&A.
WINSOME TWINS
Alyssa has two sisters, including her twin Amanda — another Naeher soccer star who was a two-time national player of the year at Division III powerhouse Messiah College. She won two national championships and scored a programrecord 108 career goals as a striker. In NCAA soccer history, 100-goal
scorers comprise an exclusive club.
“It’s a classic story,” says Messiah coach Scott Frey regarding the Alyssa-Amanda success phenomenon. “Think of those two kids at a small Christian school — the perception is that great athletes come out of big soccer clubs and big schools. This family said [their faith] is most important, and for
Courtesy Photo — Christian Heritage School
“It was awesome — I kind of had a built-in training buddy, a built-in friend … We would just go in the backyard and be out there for hours and hours — broke a lot of windows, got into a lot of fights, there were a lot of tears … But it was really fun and something we always enjoyed doing together”
— Alyssa Naeher • on growing up with her twin Amanda
these girls to achieve that stature and success — that to me is a cool part of this story. How does that happen? Most people would say that couldn’t happen.”
By the way, Messiah has competed against Division I programs Bucknell and Lehigh in spring scrimmages, winning most of the time — and once played D-I powerhouse Penn State during Amanda’s tenure, given Alyssa’s Nittany Lions connection.
Frey and Penn State coach Erica Dambach go way back: He was Dambach’s high-school coach.
Dambach has won a national championship at Penn State and is a two-time national coach of the year. Meanwhile, Frey has won six national championships at Messiah and is a four-time national coach of the year — and he has the highest career winning percentage among all soccer coaches in NCAA D-I, D-II and D-III.
In a U.S. Soccer video recorded before the 2015
PATIENT-CENTERED CARE
World Cup, Alyssa beautifully describes the benefits of having Amanda as a twin — recalling the real-life roller coaster of their growing-up years, a familiar story that resonates with family relationships in general, whether sibling-to-sibling, parent-to-child or spouse-to-spouse.
“It was awesome,” Alyssa says. “I kind of had a built-in training buddy, a built-in friend. We were always very active from when we were a really young age — you know, always getting into something, but once we got into soccer it was awesome. We would just go in the backyard and be out there for hours and hours — broke a lot of windows, got into a lot of fights, there were a lot of tears ... a lot of bumps and bruises and some blood along the way. But it was really fun and something we always enjoyed doing together.”
FAMILY TIES
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Appreciation for family is evidently a key theme in Alyssa’s life — she sees the amazing upside and joy and mirth of family relationships in tandem with the inevitable downside and sorrow and heartache.
In the YouTube video, Alyssa tells the story of a mishap upon arriving at their first soccer practice as 5-year-olds: Amanda inadvertently closed the door of the family vehicle on Alyssa’s hand. Naturally, Alyssa cried.
In an attempt to help her feel better, Alyssa says Amanda offered the following words of solace: “That’s all right, don’t worry — you don’t have to use your hands in soccer anyways.”
Noting her sister’s unintentional irony, the 5-foot-9 keeper adds:
“Apparently that was a little bit offtarget, but definitely a memorable first soccer day.”
The twins turned 36 years old in April — Amanda is older by two minutes. They grew up in Stratford, and the family moved to Seymour when they were in high school.
Their younger sister Abigail (aka Abby) and her husband Matt Korman have a son and a daughter. Their son, the firstborn, arrived on the same July day in 2015 that the U.S. women won the World Cup.
Alyssa and Amanda played sports together at CHS, coached by their dad: “I had the fun privilege of coaching both of them in soccer and
The Carmon
basketball throughout high school,” says John, who previously coached CHS boys soccer and basketball, and is currently the school’s director of operations and student life.
“It was so great growing up with a twin sister and I am lucky to have two awesome sisters,” Alyssa told CT Insider.“We were always playing something, anything we could —
that each funeral should be personal and meaningful.
Courtesy Photo — Associated Press
soccer, basketball, cards — whatever it was, we fueled each other’s competitiveness. She is always my biggest supporter ... and I know she is always there for me.” +
Editor’s Note — Today Magazine requested comment for this story from current Master’s athletic director Joshua Lawrence and former athletic director Ed Lebo, asking a few questions, including: How many goals did Master’s score against Alyssa when she was the goalkeeper at CHS?
Lawrence initially replied via email: “Employees must get permission from the Head of School before speaking with the press” — Today Magazine followed up with a subsequent request for comment but hasn’t seen a reply.
Today Magazine also contacted Alyssa Naeher via the X social media platform (formerly Twitter) — her X handle is @AlyssaNaeher — and asked her the following question: What memories come to mind of your HS games against The Master’s School in CT? Today Magazine hasn’t yet seen a reply. +
Today editor-in-chief Bruce Deckert previously worked at ESPN Digital Media, the Journal Register Company
and The Master’s School — his son Luke and daughter Kayla were all-conference student-athletes at Master’s, and Kayla was a First Team All-American at Messiah College (now University) — their mom, Mina Elizabeth Sykes, was Kayla’s high-school soccer coach and a longtime teacher and administrator at Master’s
Luke and Kayla also played on travel soccer teams in the Farmington Valley — Luke with the Simsbury Cyclones and Kayla with the Simsbury Blast squad that won three state cup championships
Today Magazine covers community news that matters nationwide and aims to record Connecticut’s underreported upside — focusing on the heart of the Farmington Valley — Avon • Canton • Farmington • Granby • Simsbury
Sources — multiple media outlets and other online news references
CLICK HERE — for Today Magazine’s award-winning Martin Luther King story
DOUBLE TAKE
Amanda Naeher attempts to take a bite out of her twin Alyssa’s gold medal, apparently to no avail — Amanda is a 2023 inductee in the Messiah University Athletics Hall of Honor — Alyssa is a nominee for the 2024 women’s Ballon d’Or award (or Golden Ball) given by vote annually to the best player in the world
Courtesy Photo — Facebook • Amanda Naeher
“In watching her soccer trajectory over the years, and in particular her career with the USWNT, what has struck me most is her courage, resilience and character — at the level at which she competes, and has competed now for years, everything matters”
— Robert Naeher • Alyssa’s uncle
Alyssa Naeher made two timely and crucial saves in the final two Olympic games that will surely become part of international soccer lore — a one-handed stop vs. Brazil in the gold-medal game plus a savvy and incredible kick save in the semifinal vs. Germany, both 1-0 victories — and worth noting: stellar U.S. defender Naomi Girma (#4) was right there to back Naeher up both times
Courtesy Photos X – formerly Twitter
Relative Regard: Character Defines Keeper’s Career
SPORTS REPORT
Special to Today Magazine
Editor’s Note #1
• Dr. Robert Naeher, an instructor at Avon Old Farms School, is one of Alyssa Naeher’s uncles — for the uninitiated, Alyssa is the goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s national team that won the soccer gold at the Paris Olympics in August.
• Born and raised in Connecticut, Alyssa is the first keeper in women’s soccer history with a shutout in an Olympic gold-medal game and a World Cup final — in Paris, she earned the further distinction of being the first U.S. keeper to record four shutouts in one Olympic tournament.
Exclusive Interview with Alyssa Naeher’s Uncle
• Alyssa made two unbelievable but true late-game saves — one in the Olympic semifinal match and one in the gold-medal game — that will surely be recounted and recognized for years to come as part of U.S. soccer lore.
• In the wake of such a remarkable Olympic tournament, her career has soared — and even skyrocketed — and Alyssa has undergone a rare sports transformation: from unsung and under-the-radar national leader to internationally recognized star.
• A high-school graduate of Trumbull-based Christian Heritage School, Alyssa is one of three
daughters of John and Donna Naeher — Robert (aka Bob) Naeher is one of John’s brothers — and in this exclusive interview, Naeher reflects on his niece’s career achievements:
Today Magazine — As Alyssa’s uncle, what are your thoughts about her stellar success with the U.S. women’s national team?
Bob Naeher — My wife Mary and I are proud of all of our nieces and nephews, and they are all living rich, productive and contributing lives. Alyssa, of course, is living out her calling in an arena, literally and figuratively, under the
gaze, at times, of millions of eyes.
In watching her soccer trajectory over the years, and in particular her career with the USWNT, what has struck me most is her courage, resilience and character.
At the level at which she competes, and has competed now for years, everything matters. We have seen her consistently respond to adversity and setbacks — whether injuries or losses or something else — with grace, unwavering focus, and an ability to work the problem, address what needs to be adjusted, and move forward. As the saying goes, goalies need short memories!
As to character, her levelheadedness and focus have become wellknown to U.S. women’s soccer fans, and I’m so proud of her for letting her play speak for itself, and her focus on the team’s success and doing what she can to help her team win and get better. I’m proud of her for modeling for many — boys as well as girls — that being consistently good is really cool in itself (i.e., that showboating is not the measure of greatness).
Today Magazine — When Alyssa was in high school, to what extent was her success on the Olympic and World Cup international stage on your radar?
Bob Naeher — As my brother John, Alyssa’s dad, said repeatedly as Alyssa moved up through the ranks, and I’m paraphrasing: Athletes are always one injury away from being a memory at best.
While Alyssa has had some significant injuries to work through, fortunately none has been careerending. I think she understands that each day is a gift, and you make the very best of it you can. That’s all you can do, and that’s certainly what she’s done.
Was I assuming she’d play in multiple Olympics and World Cups? It may be fear of superstition, but I just didn’t think in those terms. Each game and each season, and then the next, was enough to consider, and it was exciting to see her continued development and success. Today Magazine — Please provide further comment, as you wish:
Bob Naeher — I would only point out the obvious, that a lot of work goes into the kinds of performances and play that Alyssa has shown.
Years and years of training and travel, including time spent playing professionally in Germany, were all part of the drill.
In the midst of all of that, Alyssa’s commitment to family has also been consistent. She has not lost track of what matters most. +
Alyssa Naeher
“I’m
so proud of her for letting her play speak for itself,
and her focus on the team’s success and doing what she can to help her team win and get better”
— Robert Naeher
Editor’s Note #2
• Dr. Robert Naeher has forged a career in education at three notable private schools — he is currently a history teacher at Avon Old Farms School.
• For nearly 20 years, he served as a history teacher and high school administrator at The Master’s School in West Simsbury — his wife Mary worked on Master’s staff early in her career — they are residents of Winsted.
• In between Master’s and Avon Old Farms, he taught history for more than two decades at Emma Willard School in Troy, New York — Naeher returned to Avon Old Farms in September 2021 to teach once more in the Farmington Valley.
• He earned a doctorate from UConn via a prestigious fellowship that covered his tuition and expenses.
• Naeher and Today Magazine editor-in-chief Bruce Deckert were colleagues at Master’s — Deckert served as a public relations professional for five years and was the varsity boys basketball coach for one season, and Master’s lost a closely contested league championship game to Christian Heritage School, coached by a certain John Naeher — yes, the dad of U.S. soccer star Alyssa Naeher. + Today Magazine covers community news that matters nationwide, focusing on the heart of Connecticut’s Farmington Valley — Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury
First Century Keeper — article from A Slow Life in the FAST Lane
A first-century goalkeeper — metaphorically speaking — is also the best player-coach ever, writes Today editor-in-chief Bruce Deckert in a post on his blog platform A Slow Life in the FAST Lane — CLICK HERE to read this post
Cobb School Celebrates 50 Years
Special to Today Magazine
NESTLED IN the heart of Simsbury, Cobb School Montessori is celebrating a noteworthy milestone this year — 50 years of offering a productive private-school option for families in the Farmington Valley and beyond.
From its humble beginnings in 1974 to its current spacious campus, Cobb School has aimed to remain steadfast in its commitment to provide a nurturing and enriching Montessori environment for children.
VISIONARY FOUNDER
“In 1974, I envisioned a place where children could learn joyfully and explore their innate curiosity,” says Mary Lou Cobb, founder of Cobb School Montessori.
Five decades ago, a satellite location of the Montessori School of Greater Hartford, with nine students in the basement of Ethel Walker School, became the Montessori Children’s House and later Cobb School Montessori.
Under Mary Lou’s leadership, Cobb School blossomed and grew — today, the campus encompasses seven-plus acres of thoughtfully curated learning environments serv-
ing over 165 students. The school enrolls children 15 months old through 12 years old via programs for toddlers, preschoolers and grades 1-6.
LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS
After 45 years of educating, overseeing expansions, and making Cobb School a vital component of the Montessori community, Mary Lou retired.
Sue Angelides stepped in as the head of school in 2019, just in time to face the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted the state and nation in March 2020. Under her leadership, the school was able to weather the storm and keep growing.
“The resilience of our community during those challenging times was truly remarkable,” says Angelides.
Despite the uncertainties, the community rallied together, showcasing resilience and solidarity in
the face of adversity. In 2023, she handed the head-of-school baton to Subha Sankaran, who is overseeing Cobb’s golden jubilee celebration.
ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT
“Our beautiful campus is designed to inspire awe and ignite a passion for exploration,” Sankaran observes.
Cobb School’s sunlit hallways, windows and high ceilings captivate the eye. The classrooms are carefully arranged with hands-on, child-sized and natural materials to encourage excellence — and they provide access to beautiful gardens that are natural extensions of the orderly and calm interior spaces.
Toddlers and elementary students alike enjoy the expansive playground and fields. The design of the campus promotes a holistic educational experience, seamlessly integrating the indoors and outdoors and promoting a deep connection with nature.
“ Our beautiful campus is designed to inspire awe and ignite a passion for exploration ”
— Subha Sankaran • Cobb head of school
Cobb School was founded on the principles of Montessori education and adheres to the Association Montessori Internationale standards.
“We are grounded in our commitment to Montessori principles,” Sankaran affirms.
Each classroom has a trained guide — in Montessori schools, the teacher is referred to as a guide — who supports learning that follows a child’s interests, pace and developmental needs while nurturing initiative, independence, executive functioning, active engagement and collaboration.
COGENT PROGRAMS
Cobb School offers a range of enrichment programs.
As a culminating experience, sixth-grade students at Cobb participate in an international conference with the Montessori Model United Nations. They learn to think critically about current social and environmental issues and work on solutions with fellow delegates.
The school features an Artistsin-Residence program, Spanish language instruction and outdoor education. Various musical workshops give children experience in global music, movement and performance.
Another beloved Cobb tradition is an interactive circus workshop where children work on various unique and challenging skills.
COBB COMMUNITY
Central to Cobb School’s success has been its unwavering commitment to community engagement.
“Our community is our strength, and we value our partnership with families in the child’s development,” says Sankaran.
Cobb School offers opportunities for parents to connect and learn more about the classroom, Montessori pedagogy and child development — with the goal of coming together as a community. Parents are invited to observe classes, volunteer and participate in school events.
From the school’s inception, parents have worked hand-in-hand with teachers and staff to foster cooperation and cultivate a nurturing village where children can thrive. The school’s objective is for
this collaborative spirit to continue so strong ties can be forged with alumni, parents past and present, and the broader Farmington Valley community.
Guided by Mary Lou Cobb’s legacy and fueled by the community’s collective efforts, Cobb School Montessori celebrates its 50th anniversary in hopes of fulfilling its mission of unlocking the individual’s full potential for many years to come — and helping children be responsible members and stewards of the global community. +
www.cobbschool.com
Sources • Cobb School Montessori website • LinkedIn and other online references • Cobb School director of communications Andrea Boden
Cobb School Montessori was honored as the Preschool of the Year by a local Hulafrog website that served area parents and families from 2012-2014 — Mary Lou Cobb founded the school in 1974 and retired in 2019
On the Farmington Valley Trail of Fun
By Lynne Adame Special to Today Magazine
IT’S NOT JUST the colorful foliage, lush greenness and tranquility of snow — and the need to exercise — that draw us to the woods, to wander and ponder.
There’s a distinctive quiet in the forest that banishes the cobwebs and chaotic thoughts that obscure or confine our thinking. That accomplished, the woods can also be a place of inspiration in every season.
This being Connecticut, there are many places where we can wander and find tranquility and inspiration — and yes, we need to watch for the occasional bear.
The Farmington Valley’s many options are outlined on TrailLink by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.
For example, the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail starts in New Haven and runs all the way up to Simsbury. That trail is part of the East Coast Greenway, a still-developing trail network that will eventually span the Atlantic seaboard.
The greenway meets both ends of the Farmington River Trail, shaped like a C between Simsbury and Farmington. We can enjoy it in every season — in addition to a great walking trail, in some segments you can bike, in-line skate and cross-country ski. It is
Hiking trails with astounding views abound in the Farmington Valley — such as this Granby Land Trust trail
VALLEY INTEL
wheelchair-accessible, too. The trail forms a 16.5-mile arc that connects to the longer Farmington Canal Heritage Trail on both ends.
Beginning in Farmington at the parking area at 1008 New Britain Avenue, follow the Farmington River — designated as a National Wild and Scenic River — northwest through residential areas, stopping to enjoy the great views.
The Farmington River Trail meanders through tree canopies and past old mills, rapids and waterfalls. The paved portion of the trail connects Unionville, Collinsville and
Canton. The Collinsville section is particularly lovely in the fall. The off-road trail experience ends in Canton, 10 miles from the start of your trip.
If you choose, you can start your trek in Simsbury at the intersection of Town Forest Road and Stratton Brook Road, and go off road again through Stratton Brook State Park — where the popular trail has a stone-dust surface.
Heavily wooded, this section of the trail requires watching your step to avoid occasional surface tree roots hidden by fallen leaves.
When you reach Bushy Hill Road, turn left and cross West Street to pick up another section of paved trail, on the north side of West Street. Arriving at Drake Hill Road, cross Hopmeadow Street and follow Drake Hill toward the Farmington River.
You can turn left on Iron Horse Boulevard and pick up the paved 5.1-mile Farmington Canal Heritage Trail that ends at Floydville Road in Granby — or you can cross the river to enjoy the Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge.
The town of Simsbury is undertaking a major renovation of the Flower Bridge that is anticipated to be complete by this autumn, and therefore no flowers have been on the bridge in 2024, according to the town website — further, the town has not accepted reservations this year for public gatherings such as weddings or anniversaries.
Built in 1892, the metal-truss bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
True to its name, in previous years the bridge has featured 72 flower boxes, 32 hanging baskets, 14 border column baskets and cottage gardens, planted and maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers. It’s lush and colorful in season — and you might spot an egret or a river otter, too.
The McLean Game Refuge is another great walk. The refuge is located mostly in Granby and Simsbury with a smaller section in Canton.
You can park in the lot on Salmon Brook Street (Route 10/202) in Granby and walk up to the trailhead. Twenty miles of hiking trails and forest roads draw 20,000 visitors each year, and you may be reminded of the Robert Frost poem — “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” — as you wander through the preserve.
You can walk, hike, run, snowshoe, cross-country ski, take photos or just enjoy the quiet. Kids can be
Hikers traverse a trail in Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton
entertained by one of the Girl Scout Scavenger Hunts available on the McLean website.
These trails just scratch the surface of the many options. Easy to access in all seasons, Connecticut’s terrific trail system is a bonus for those of us lucky enough to live here. Whether you’re looking for a short walk with small kids or a daylong trek, you’ll find plenty to enjoy. +
Lynne Adame is the chair of SMPAC’s marketing and communications committee — SMPAC is the acronym for the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center
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