Students help restore WWI trenches in France By Everett Bishop The Citizen
BOE puts focus on classroom equity By Everett Bishop The Citizen
The Board of Education met Aug. 8 to discuss topics including student equity in schools, proposed policy changes and concerns about the schools’ budget.
For 20 days, two area students took a step back in time to 1917. The United States had entered World War I, Europe was divided and trench warfare was becoming a popular strategy. Luckily for Daniella Lebron of North Haven and Joseph Viski of Durham, they didn’t encounter any combat. On behalf of the Connecticut State Library, and sponsored by the Connecticut Heritage Foundation, Lebron and Viski participated in the program titled “Digging Into History: World War I Trench Restoration in Seicheprey, France.” They worked alongside a group of peers repairing American trenches in France in order to maintain historical integrity of the site.
Friday, August 16, 2019
www.northhavencitizen.com
Volume 12, Number 21
Joseph Visk holds a pick axe that had broken while on site. Photos courtesy of Christine Pittsley, project director of the program
one-year leave of absence. Superintendent of Schools Patrick Stirk said that under consideration were “two candidates to fill Diana and Britne’s positions.”
During a discussion of unfinished business, board The meeting opened with member Jennifer Cecarelli the board announcing the spoke with Stirk and assisretirement of North Haven tant superintendent Melinda McKenna, High School science program coordinator Patricia about the progress they White as well as the resig- had made collecting data on student equity in highnation of NHHS science er level classes such as adteacher Diana Tseperkas. vanced placement secThe board also voted to tions. approve NHHS science teacher Britne Shabbatt’s
See BOE, A8
Lebron and Viski were two of 15 Connecticut students and 17 French students participating in the program. “I certainly wished we could have stayed longer. There’s really so much cool stuff there,” Viski said. “I’m such
a big history buff and there was so much to see. We found grenades and bullets … I found a bullet that hadn’t been fired but was hit with shrapnel so you could still see the gunpowder inside.” Lebron said she had a wonderful time while in France. “When we were in the trenches I was one of the main students pick-axing and shoveling the trenches,” she said. “We also helped with excavations and wallbuilding.” Lebron said the students’ days would start early in the morning, with the group on a bus prepared to leave for the trenches by 8 a.m. They would work until noon, break for an hour lunch, and then hunker down for another few hours of work.
Daniella Lebron with French deputy Dominique Portier.
See France, A6
Club still must fulfill P&Z requirements By Everett Bishop The Citizen
plant, basically, a privacy wall,” said Erik Scaranuzzo, a UBGC board memThe Ulbrich Boys & Girls ber. “A few of the neighClub is set to open bors can see the activities its North Haven unit at the here, it was just kind of a end of August with the fa- way of making a peace cility’s maximum capacity treaty with them.” of 70 kids, slots that are alCarlos Collazo, executive ready filled. director of the club, However, one last said trees were an “unpoint needs to be adforeseen expense” when dressed before opening: the club looked at renting the construction of a tree the new space at Hope wall between the club and Christian Church on Monresidential neighbors. towese Avenue. “That was a contingency “We’re trying to see if we on getting the approval can gain some support from planning and zoning. from the community. And, They approved it but you know, we’re slowly we’re limited to 70 chilbut surely gaining some dren here as a maximum and they wanted us to
See Club, A8