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Dear Community Members,

I am very pleased that the winter is finally over. This year, like the past several, was one for the record books. From the extremely cold temperatures to the weekly Monday snowstorms, the winter could not end soon enough for all of us. I would like to thank the entire Wallingford Public Schools maintenance staff. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Wallingford Public Works Department. I appreciated each crew’s collaboration and support in making difficult decisions this winter. They were extremely supportive and worked tirelessly to provide the safest conditions for student and staff.

I also want to thank our teachers and administrators for their hard work in striving to maintain continuity in their instruction throughout the disruption of snow days. I appreciate their efforts on behalf of our students. Hopefully, next year we will be more fortunate with the weather.

A special thank you should also be conveyed to the district bus drivers. Our bus drivers were faced with many delays of less than optimal travel conditions. I am sure everyone joins me an extending appreciation for keeping our students safe each day on their way to and from school. Your commitment to our system was exceptional.

As a result of the winter weather, students did miss nine days of school. In developing the calendar for this year, we decided to extend the year until Friday, June 19, 2015. This provided for eight snow days. Unfortunately, we ended up having nine snow days. Consequently, the Friday of April vacation needed to be replaced with a day of school. Next year, the first seven days lost to school closings will be made up at the end of the school year. Any days beyond seven will be made up at the end of the spring vacation, starting with Friday, April 15, 2016 and working backwards. In the event of more than twelve days, the BOE may decide to reduce the student year from 184 school days.

As we now move into spring, my mind shifts to the many end-of-year activities and baseball season. My team, the Yankees, may not be predicted to have the best season; however, there is something about being at a game with my dad that just makes life so sweet.

Make it a great spring!Sincerely,

Salvatore F. Menzo, Ed.D.Superintendent

On Tuesday, February 24th the sophomore classes at both Lyman Hall High School and Mark T. Sheehan High School traveled to the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford to participate in our first annual Credit for Life Fair!The Credit for Life fair is an experiential, life sized game in which our students were propelled into their future lives at the age of 25. They were given a profile with a career that they choose ahead of time and an annual salary to match that career. The student’s objective at the fair was to participate in “life” and make financial decisions based on their needs, wishes and income. They did this by visiting various booths that represented the major monthly spending categories.

Students met with real estate agents to discuss housing options, service stations to deal with car repairs and grocery stores to shop for food. They were faced with decisions about that daily cup of coffee or whether to go to the movies or have their nails done; just to name a few. The primary goal for this day was for students to start thinking about how career choices, salaries and budgets fit together and how both big career decisions and daily financial decisions affect the quality of their life.

This event was possible due to the collaboration of Wallingford schools, businesses and community members as part of the HUBCAP Wallingford. Approximately 40 local businesses participated in this event and we had approximately that many additional volunteers. They all went above and beyond for our students! We are very lucky to collaborate with this active and generous community. All participants are eager to play again next year!

Most importantly, the students truly engaged in the game. Great financial questions and conversations

took place between students and businesses. Some students found themselves with money to spare and others didn’t have a dime; but both left with some good lessons learned. When asked one lesson they learned from the game, this is what a few of the students said…

“Choose your expenses very wisely and carefully”“Go cheap”“Choose a job with a bigger annual salary”“Not to blow your money on simple, useless luxuries”“Budget wisely and live slightly below your means”“Save money because unexpected expenses arise”“I need to do well in school to get a good job”

We look forward to making the Credit for Life Fair an annual event!

Superintendent's Message

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Wallingford students host Colegio del Carmen

Middle School TheatricsGerman Home Stay and Exchange Program

LHHS Musical

The Ct Association of Schools through the Elementary Celebration of Arts Festival honors two outstanding students in the highest grade level of the elementary schools in our State who have excelled in the areas of visual or performing arts and who have exhibited high levels of citizenship and cooperative skills. The award winners are:

Parker Farms Apollo Dubuc and Jaidin Kapoor

Pond Hill Ally Bonet and Lexi Chaney-Robinson

Rock Hill Trinity Sharron and Alexa Guercia

Yalesville Nikita Zuev and Elaine Tolentino

CABE Student Leadership Award given to students who exhibit exemplary leadership skills as they relate to school and community activities;

Lyman Hall High School Celeste Rolon and Maximillian Marino

Sheehan High School Caroline Bradley and Robert Hacku

South Central Area Superintendents’ Association (SCASA) Student award: presented to students who embody the mission of their school and are deeply committed to community and humanitarian service.

Lyman Hall Felisha Marron and Louis Scopetto

Sheehan Kaitlin Reed and Kevin Carnale

Dag Grace Valentine

Moran Isabella Welch

Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) Scholar Leader Award: This award is bestowed annually on graduating seniors who demonstrate academic excellence, are considered leaders in the school community, and more importantly, serve as a role model to others.

Lyman Hall Rachael Whitney and Jonathan Jacobs

Sheehan Nimanthi Kumara and Michael Moscato

Connecticut Association of Schools’ (CAS) Arts Award: presented to Senior students who excel in the performing and /or visual arts programs.

Lyman Hall Amber Albe and Ashley Lane

Sheehan Joshua Glynn and Cassandra Myers

CAS-CIAC Scholar Athlete Award: presented to two seniors who participate in athletics at the varsity level, demonstrate academic excellence, and serve as a model to others.

Lyman Hall Quinn Shields and James Burnham

Sheehan Eileen Hinman and Christopher Gerzabek

Student Awards

Caption under picture: L to R Melanie Montaganon, Sal Menzo, Ken Welch, Rep. DeLauro, Liz Landow, and Joe Mirra

Lyman Hall Productions is proud to present Mary Poppins as the school’s musical production for 2015. Based on a series of children’ s books, the musical is based on adventures led through Victorian London by a quirky nanny who is put in charge of four precocious children. The books were first adapted for film in 1964 by Disney and a stage production was first performed in London in 2004. Since then, the musical has become a staple for audiences everywhere. Under the direction of very talented teachers and advisers Jennifer Castelli, Jane Haffner, Dean DellaVecchia, Jennifer Courtmanche, and Kayt Keirn, 65 student actors, actresses, and crew members are working very hard to make this an extraordinary event that is filled with more than a few surprises. Please join us on April 30th, May 1st, or May 2nd for what promises to be a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious event.

Dag Hammarskjold Middle School presented a spectacular theatrical performance of “Shrek, The Musical” in February of 2015. Despite the weather issues of this winter, the incredible cast managed to wow audiences with their energy and poise. In all, Mr. Boudreau and Mrs. Boucher want to congratulate our fantastic cast and crew for a job well done.

Moran Middle School presented in March the fantastic and delightful production of Legally Blonde Jr. The cast and the crew worked very hard throughout the winter in order to present an outstanding production. Ms. Lorenzo and Ms. Brandl would like to thank all those involved.

On Sunday May 17, we will welcome 15 students and three faculty members from the Franziskus Gymnasium in Mutlangen, near Stuttgart to our school district.

During their stay, the exchange students will live with Wallingford families and attend classes at Sheehan High School and Moran Middle School. They will attend various school events and give class presentations. There will also be time for some sight-seeing in Boston and New York City. The exchange students will have a busy schedule until their departure on May 28.

Wallingford students and World Language teachers will complete the exchange next year in April by traveling to Mutlangen, Germany. It will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to use their language skills outside of the classroom and to deepen their understanding of the German culture and people.

Students from Sheehan and Lyman Hall welcomed a total of 25 students and 5 teachers from the Colegio del Carmen School in San Rafael, Argentina this past March. Exchange students lived with Wallingford families, attended classes at the high schools with their hosts, and participated

in all of the daily activities of their American host families. Of course they got to experience some special out-of-the-ordinary things as well! Students spent time in New York City before arriving in Wallingford on March 11th. Once here, families organized a potluck dinner for the group, a family bowling night and a fun evening of bouncing at Sky Zone. Students attended the Sheehan dance and musical and participated in some exciting activities outside of town as well. They journeyed to Newport, RI, Sturbridge Village

and The Mark Twain House to experience some of the iconic sites that New England has to offer. Families and students said a tearful goodbye on March 25th after what was inevitably an experience filled with cultural awareness, language immersion and new friendships. But the fun isn’t over yet! 20 Wallingford students will travel to San Rafael this summer to attend classes and live with the new friends they have made as we journey to Argentina!

Representative Rosa DeLauro visits HUBCAP