Jim Calkins, the ailing former principal of Westport’s Staples High School, today thanked those who have sent him goodwill messages.

Calkins, principal during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s and now ill in his Martinsville, Va., home, sent an e-mail message to a friend and asked him to pass it along to WestportNow, which first published news of his illness last week (WestportNow Dec. 18, 2005).

“I have heard from more than 200 former students, and more come in every day.” Calkins, who is now in his early 80s, told his friend. “I want to respond to each one individually, but it may be too much of a chore for me physically. I am getting quite weak.”

Calkins asked that the following message be posted on WestportNow:

Soccer players past and present, even spectators who love the sport, are invited to the “Albie Loeffler Indoor Tournament” at Westport’s Staples High School on Monday, Dec. 26.

The fund-raiser awards at least $2,000 in college scholarships annually.

Event planners say the tournament will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. followed by a kickoff at 6 p.m.

Construction crews are busy finishing the new media center in order to stay on schedule. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jennifer Connic for WestportNow.com
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Staples High School students will have all of their new classrooms finished by February.

Staples Building Committee Dan Kail said construction is on schedule for the second half of the new academic wing will be available to students and staff after the February vacation. The new wing features world language and math classrooms.

It remains unclear, however, if the new media center will be done finished on schedule, Kail said.

“We hope it will be done, but it needs a lot of work,” he said. “I can’t promise it will be done in February.”

Live Radio: A joint effort of Staples Players,  WWPT, and the Staples Media Lab. Contributed graphicCall it a double dose of holiday nostalgia: a live radio play and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Westport’s Staples Players in collaboration with WWPT and the Staples High School Media Lab are scheduled to present a live radio broadcast of the Frank Capra Christmas classic Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the school’s Black Box Theater.

It is the Staples Players’ first live radio broadcast.

Tickets are available for $5 at the door, or interested parties can just tune into WWPT at 90.3 FM.

For parents looking for activities for their children during the holiday school break, Earthplace, Westport’s nature center, has scheduled “Vacation Days.”

These drop-off nature programs are designed for pre-kindergartners through third graders from Tuesday, Dec. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 29.

Earthplace officials say the all-day program will include trail treks along the center’s 62-acre wildlife sanctuary, art projects, science exploration and a live animal program.

Earthplace is located at 10 Woodside Lane. For further information and registration call 203-227-7253 or visit http://www.earthplace.org

Jim Calkins: “the most progressive, most important and most controversial (Staples principal) in the school’s history.”File photoJim Calkins, principal of Staples High School during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, lies gravely ill in Virginia, a friend said today.

He has enjoyed reading Dan Woog’s new book, “Staples High School: 120 Years of A+ Education,” and is filled with nostalgia and pleasant memories of his years in Westport, the friend said in an e-mail message to WestportNow.

Calkins, now in his early 80s and who served as Staples principal from 1966 to 1974, would like to hear from former students and staff members, the friend said.  His address is 1500 Kenmar Drive, Martinsville, VA 24112; his e-mail address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 

In his book, Woog said of Calkins’ time at Staples: “His eight-year tenure has been called the most progressive, most important and most controversial in the school’s history.”