The Westport Woman’s Club today presented its annual scholarship grant awards to 11 Staples High School seniors at a ceremony at the club’s headquarters. Pictured with the recipients are Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon and Principal John Dodig. Recipients and their colleges they will attend: Jason Bennett – University of Connecticut; Matthew Brill – University of Vermont; Monika Goldschmidt – Xavier University; Bailey Keehan – Coastal Carolina University; Melanie Martinez – Monmouth University; Stephanie Martinez – University of Mary Washington; Alena Serebryakova – Pace Univeristy; Ilana Sinay – University of Maryland;  Joshua Sweet – Cornell University; Tanling Tsao – Queensborough Community College, and Rebecca Watson – University of Vermont. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

Only a few months ago, administrators of the Staples High School Tuition Grants (STG) Program—the single, largest donor of financial aid in Westport and a community mainstay since 1943—feared that awards would be slim in light of the recession.

In February, for example, the STG had raised only 50 percent of the $200,000 it hoped to give away this month, a shortfall exacerbated by the fact that applications for aid were up. (See WestportNow Feb. 25, 2010)

What a difference time and a community’s response can make. Due to the contributions of civic organizations, local businesses, trusts, PTAs and the largesse of more than 450 individuals, the SGA Committee not only reached its goal but surpassed it, giving out a record $265,000 in grants to Staples graduates at the 67th annual awards ceremony Tuesday.

According to Peggy Kammis, who chairs the STG Committee, the amount awarded is a 34 percent increase over last year, with 90 grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 going to 29 members of Staples 2010 graduating class and 61 to Staples alumni currently attending college.

By James Lomuscio

UPDATE The Westport Board of Education tonight approved a list of budget reductions proposed by Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon which he would not diminish children’s educational opportunities next year.

In a letter sent to the school board in advance of the meeting, Landon stressed the cuts are necessary to offset a $500,000 Board of Finance cut from the 2010-2011 budget, a reduction upheld earlier this month by the Representative Town Meeting.

“The reductions proposed have been discussed fully with all of our building principals and central office staff,” Landon said. “We are guided by the philosophy that no reduction be made that would impact negatively upon programs and services that directly serve the children attending our schools.”

Landon said that the proposed cuts are sustainable, providing long-term budget savings, and that administrators believe “these recommended reductions are more desirable than any other reductions that may have been suggested or might be contemplated by the public.”

Lia D’Addario was one of several Staples High School students who participated in the Junior Job Shadow Program today. She spent the day in New York City with Susan Farewell, a Westport-based travel author, journalist and editor of FarewellTravels.com, a travel news and information site. On their itinerary was a media preview of the “Race to the End of the Earth” exhibit at the Museum of Natural History (where she was photographed)—the story of the contest to reach the South Pole in 1911-1912—a behind-the-scenes tour at the museum, and a visit to Montgomery Communications, a public relations firm specializing in international travel. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport’s Staples High School has been named a runner-up in the 2009 -10 CL&P Live Green – Win Green contest, which encourages students to consider projects to make their schools more environmentally friendly. Members of Staples’ Club Green submitted a video and essay outlining their plan to implement “green” projects at the school, and were awarded a trophy and a check for $5,000. Celebrating their achievement are (front row, l-r)) Ayelet Get, Annie Harnick, Nicole Brill and Brett Adelglass; (back row): Ben Meyers, Will Sommer, club advisor Mike Aitkenhead and Dan Navarro. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By James Lomuscio

UPDATE The Westport Board of Education tonight rejected by a 6 to 1 vote a proposal from Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon to institute all-day, full-day kindergarten.
Board of Education Chairman Don O’Day (c) addresses tonight’s board meeting as Vice Chairman James Marpe (l) and Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon listen. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The vote—one of three taken on the issue—was on whether to begin the program in 2010-2011 with an “opt out” provision. It came after most of the 28 parents who addressed the board decried the proposal, arguing that it would add to children’s stress levels, depriving them of childhood.

Five said they favored it, including Sheri Rabiner-Gordon who said: “I beg you to consider the fact that there are a lot of parents in Westport who are strongly in favor of five days. They just don’t happen to be here because they read in WestportNow that the recommendation is being made and they think it’s a done deal.”

Vice Chairman James Marpe was the only dissenting vote.

The Westport Board of Education tonight approved the appointment of new principals at Coleytown Elementary School and King’s Highway Elementary School.

The new head of Coleytown El is Janna Bell, the assistant principal. A former teacher at Long Lots Elementary, she succeeds Melissa Paolini-Kay who earlier this month was approved as principal of Coleytown Middle School. (See WestportNow May 3, 2010)

Susie Dasilva becomes principal at King’s Highway, coming from Waterbury where she has been a principal for four years. She succeeds Maria Castelluccio.

Both appointments are effective July 1.