www.plainvillecitizen.com
Volume 16, Number 21
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Wheeler renovation remains on schedule
COMMENCEMENT 2019
By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Work is nearly complete on the first stage of the Wheeler Elementary School renovation and crews are on schedule to complete construction on the new main office and security vestibule, situated where the third through Equipment is piled in a fifth grade classrooms now hallway at Wheeler stand.
Caps are tossed in the air during the Plainville High School graduation ceremony, held in the school's gymnasium on Tuesday, June 18. | Photos by Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
‘Wonderful’ class moves on By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
While many new Plainville High School graduates are destined to go far and wide, speakers at the Tuesday, June 18 commencement ceremony urged them never to forget their hometown, and to remain true to themselves.
Town Councilor Jesse Gnazzo, whose son Benjamin was among the 2019 graduates, said he was once one of those who wished to leave Plainville after graduating. But no matter where he went, the town was always “home.” "No matter where you are in this world, whatever your situation is, you'll always
have a community, a family and a home right here in Plainville," Gnazzo said. Superintendent of Schools Maureen Brummett said in speaking with Principal Carl Johnson about his exit interviews with seniors, many students said they will miss PHS and the positive relationships they had with their teachers. See Grads, A5
The second phase of the upgrades include improvements to the gym, cafeteria, library and art classroom. Ongoing assembly of a new corridor connecting the east and west wings of the school, turning the “U” shaped building into a square, also will be completed by the fall, as well as a new courtyard with outdoor teaching areas. Principal Andrew Batchelder said he’s excited for “a new and enhanced learning environment that is modern, ADA complaint … and even more safe” come the fall. The new main office, nurse’s office and vestibule will face the parking lot on the western
Elementary School in Plainville as the school renovation project begins. | Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
side of the school and will direct visitors to sign into the main office before they can gain access to the rest of the building. The existing bus loop will remain on the southern side of the school and students will continue using that entrance in the morning. Temporarily displaced third through fifth grade classrooms will be moved to Wheeler’s eastern wing, which is normally home to kindergarten through second grade classes, plus a See Wheeler, A10
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