danbury digest · there were 641 graduates in the danbury high school class of 2019. commencement...

Danbury Digest Graduation Edition Summer 2019

There were 641 graduates in the Danbury High School Class of 2019. Commencement exer-cises were held June 19 at the school. Here are some quotes from members of the graduating class who addressed their peers:

“As a community at Danbury High School, we support one another, learning and growing together. Now that sparks the question: what does success truly mean to you? Is it making a six-digit salary? Is it volunteering to help others, or is it traveling the world? The moment you realize what success means to you is the moment your hard work has truly shaped you.”

Catarina Silva, Class of 2019Student Speaker

“I’m not sure I’ll miss the content I learned in class too much, but the connections I’ve made,even with people that I speak to briefly on a daily basis,have impacted my life. This is what makes leaving DHS so difficult. Leaving the zone of comfort comprised of familiar faces since elementary school that I may never see again. You’ve made an impact on my life”

Barkha Bhavsar, Class of 2019Valedictorian

Danbury Digest Summer 2019Graduation Edition

“As an underclassman, I found the crowded hallways and bathrooms to be a hassle. But now I look at the crowds and I’m proud that we as a school, as a community, have been able to educate and mold these teenagers into the generation that will change the world. You are your own person, and this milestone proves that. Despite any struggles or bumps in the road that you’ve encountered, you are ready for the rest of your life.”

Ashley Corrie, Class of 2019 Student Speaker

“Consistently expand your horizons and explore ideas. I encourage you to lose the fear you have of trying new things. Make sure you travel when you get the chance also, or immerse yourself respectfully in new culture. I genuinely wish you all good health and happiness throughout life.”

Lucio Pasquale Bellantoni Class President

“Today is a beautiful day – your journey here may have been filled with papers to write, exams to take and many late nights and early mornings – but if you look back, there were many exhilarating moments of laughter, sharing, accomplishment and hope. I look out there and I see the outcome of those moments -- in all of your smiling faces as you bask in the beauty of your first success of many.”

Dr. Sal PascarellaSuperintendent

DHS Class of 2019 (from page 1)

DHS Class of 2019


Photos byPenelope Peralta


Four students from the first cohort of the Danbury Early College Opportunity program at Danbury High School graduated from Naugatuck Valley Community College in May; these students each earned an Associate Degree while attending high school and graduated from DHS on June 19. The following DHS students received degrees on May 23 from NVCC: Veronica Becker, Gabriel Cam-pos, Theodore Hodgdon and Kayla Downs. Kayla graduated summa cum laude; Gabriel and Theodore graduated cum laude. Students earned degrees in general studies or computer information systems.“I am so proud of these students,” said DECO coordinator Dr. Sarah Roy. “The college courses are challenging, and students have to work hard. It’s a sustained effort.”In addition to the four graduates, 13 DECO students received certificates from NVCC in management information systems and/or microcomputer networking. Some students will continue working toward their Associate Degree while others will move on to a four-year college.The 2019 graduates entered the DECO program when it began in 2015 in its first cohort of 100 stu-dents. The program has already accepted its fifth cohort of 76 students to begin as DHS freshmen in the fall.The DECO degree program is offered by Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) at the high school as part of the program’s curriculum. Students begin accelerating their high school require-ments so that by sophomore or junior year they begin college-level courses. They can expect to com-plete the Associate Degree in four to six years. DHS is the second high school in Connecticut to offer such a program.

First DHS students graduate from community college

Where DHS graduates are headed this fallWestern Connecticut State University Monroe College Santa Fe CollegeSiena College Marist College Pace UniversityUniversity of Rhode Island University of Hartford La Salle UniversityHobart and William Smith Colleges Flagler College Kent State UniversityUniversity of Connecticut College of the Holy Cross UMASS, BostonUniversity of New England Rollins College Lasell CollegeNaugatuck Valley Community College Valencia College Bryant UniversitySouthern Connecticut State University Quinnipiac University Union CollegeRochester Institute of Technology University of Pennsylvania Purchase CollegeNortheastern University UMASS, Lowell UMASS, DartmouthEastern Nazarene College St. John’s University Curry CollegeNichols College Springfield College Siena CollegeMassachusetts College of Art and Design Albertus Magnus Manhattan CollegeCentral Connecticut State University Lincoln Technical Institute New York Film AcademyHofstra University Franklin Pierce University Merimack CollegeCornell University Rutgers University Mitchell CollegeSusequehanna University Suffolk University Mercy CollegeMassachusetts College of Liberal Arts Emerson College UMASS AmherstUniversity of Scranton Culinary Institute of AmericaUniversity of Northwestern Ohio American International CollegeEastern Connecticut State University University of South CarolinaUniversity of Vermont Brigham Young UniversityUniversity of Bridgeport Sacred Heart UniversityCollege of Mount Saint Vincent University of New HavenWentworth Institute of Technology University of North CarolinaAmerican University Drake UniversityManhattanville College Marywood UniversityElon University Coastal Carolina UniversityEckerd College North Carolina State UniversityHusson University Vaughn College of Aeronautics and TechnologySeton Hall University University of New HavenEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University Iona CollegePiedmont College Anne Arundel Community CollegeFisher College Johnson & Wales UniversityTrinity College Hampton UniversityStony Brook University Boston UniversityHartwick College Fitchburg State UniversityFordham University University of MaineLondon College of Fashion Rhode Island CollegeGateway Community College Arizona State UniversityArrojo Cosmetology School Norwich UniversityNorwalk Community College SUNY College at CobleskiRochester Institute of Technology Pennsylvania State UniversitySeton Hall University Fashion Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Wentworth Institute of Technology


ACE 2019 graduates:School is family, guidance and support are forever

“This is a family,” said Anthony Varela, who graduated from the Alternative Center for Excellence on June 17 with 22 of his classmates. The close-knit student body at the 100-student school talked about ACE as a second home where overcoming adversities strengthened bonds with faculty and other students.During a ceremony of student speeches, the graduates conveyed an overwhelming sense of community and appreciation for the support they found at ACE, many of them acknowledging the individual attention paid to each student that helped them thrive more than at any other school.“Most regular school teachers failed to actually be something that the teachers here were, which was involved,” said Chris Ynoa, who added that his ACE teachers enabled him to grow and be himself. Ynoa is now at the Westover Job Corps in Springfield, Massachusetts, working as a foreman inside his welding shop.Each student shared the idea that it was commitment of the ACE faculty that helped them achieve their goals of graduating from high school.“Everyone here at ACE…accepted me,” said graduate Corey Le, who found Danbury High School too big, while ACE provided the environment he needed in which to continue school.During the ceremony held at Western Connecticut State University’s Midtown Student Center, students also honored classmate Coreyann Spruill, who was killed in a car crash in May. Many shared powerful words of love and companionship. “Thank you for being the light in my life,” said graduate Julianna Shaw, mentioning how much Coreyann meant to her and how blessed she was to have known her.Student Bailee Dunn also came to ACE from DHS said ACE’s support helped her gain a new confidence that allowed her to see that her dreams are possible.“I used to hold on to the past so much, but I don’t really care about it anymore,” says Dunn.Though the graduates may have left ACE, most said they will also take ACE with them, as their experiences at the school will continue to help them as they move forward. “There are no limits to your imagination,” Julianna Shaw said in closing her speech. “If you can dream it, you can do it, and that’s why I can stand up here today and say I’m proud to be a 2019 ACE graduate.”

Story/photo by Marrcus Danzy


WERACE graduates:beating odds, celebrating accomplishments


Jose Ortiz-Vasquez from the WERACE Class of 2019 celebrates his graduation from the program.This year’s commencement exercises for Western Connecticut Regional Adult & Continuing Education (WERACE) bore many milestones. Not only was it the largest graduating class in a decade with more than 60 graduates, but it also was the culmination of hard work and achievement for many who had thought the dream of earning a high school degree was impossible. The WERACE Class of 2019 also had some special connections: Jose Ortiz-Vasquez graduated with his son Joseph Ortiz. Graduate Adane DeJesus received her diploma along with her son Melvyn Wilder III.“The 2019 ceremony was dynamic and full of energy and enthusiasm,” said Program Facilitator and Com-munity Outreach Coordinator Jody Huzina. “We were honored to be joined by Mayor Mark Boughton, five members of the Danbury Public Schools Board of Education, the Connecticut State Department of Educa-tion, area business leaders, and state senators. Student speakers Jose Ortiz-Vasquez, Luis Simbana and Lor-raine Stewart each shared a heartfelt speech about their journey and what the WERACE program meant to them. They each received a $250 scholarship toward their post-secondary journey.”The ceremony was held at Western Connecticut State University’s Visual & Performing Arts Center on June 17. WERACE is a regional program offering adult education services to seven Fairfield County towns to eligible students age 17 and over. The Danbury program is overseen by Huzina and Regional Director Terence Cunningham.“Today I wanted to give you advice that could be useful and hopefully inspiring,” Cunningham said to the graduates. “I like to leave any group I speak to with an inspirational quote. Today I will leave you with this quote from an unknown author: ‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and (continued on page 12)


DPS three middle schools celebrate ‘moving up’ to high school

There were 885 Danbury students who officially became high school freshmen as they moved up from their middle schools on June 18. West-side Middle School Academy, Rogers Park Middle School and Broadview Middle School promoted their eighth-grade students at three separate events were held at the Danbury High School auditorium.More than 85 percent of the rising freshmen will attend Danbury High School in the fall.

Rogers Park has not just taught us reading, writing and arithmetic. It also allowed us to give back to our community through such projects as Paint the Park, the vegetable garden, food and clothing drives, and unified sports just to name a few. Rogers Park taught us to have confidence in ourselves and to work to the best of our ability; it taught us to work together, be kind to each other, and set aside our differences. The skills we gained here at Rogers Park, with the help of each administrator, teacher and peer, has prepared us well for this next academic stage of our lives, and for that, we all thank you. -- Thomas Schoelkopf, RPMS Scholar Leader, NJHS Treasurer:

Rogers Park Middle School principal Dr. Kristy Zaleta shakes the hand of a student at the 2019 moving up ceremony.


Middle schoolers celebratemoving up to high school (cont’d)

The future of the Class of 2019 is very bright. We will be producing the best doctors, lawyers, teachers, administrators, artists, first responders, and many more that the world has ever seen. Each and every one of us has the potential to leave a great impact. Today Danbury, tomorrow the world.” Hope Thomas, Global Studies Class of 2019, Westside Middle School Academy

Broadview Middle School eighth-grade student Brianna Creegan accepts promotion certificate from principal Dr. Edie Thomas


Danbury students recognized for achievementby Western Connecticut Superintendents Association

profound impact on their lives,” said Dr. John Barile, superintendent of Brookfield Public Schools and President of WCSA. The awards program, originated by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) Public Information Committee, provides a formal means for superintendents across the state to recognize students from their local communities. Awards are based on community service and service to others, academic prowess (relative to ability), and leadership service to the school and community.The Danbury students honored are: Jessica DePalma and Sean Donovan, Broadview Middle School; Higor DaSilva and Elvia Fajardo, Rogers Park Middle School; Sharva Karthikeyan and Sydney Vin-cente, Westside Middle School Academy; Lucas Amaral and Alisha Nagarsheth, Danbury High School; and Xinia Cruz and Justin Escobedo, Alternative Center for Excellence.Other highlights included a performance by the Sherman School Jazz Combo; presentation by the AFJROTC Danbury CT-021 Color Guard; the National Anthem sung by Brookfield High School Chamber Singers; opening remarks by Lauren McCarthy and Rebecca Moen from Brookfield High School; and greetings from Fran Rabinowitz, CAPSS executive director.

Ten Danbury students were among 54 students from western Connecticut recognized for their ac-complishments by the Western Connecticut Superintendents Association (WCSA).At the WCSA Student Recognition Awards ceremony on May 13 in Danbury, students from 27 mid-dle and high schools in western Connecticut were honored.“This is a wonderful opportunity to not only acknowledge students’ accomplishments in academics, in leadership, and in community service, but also to learn how their work all three areas has had a


This fall 15 students will head off to kindergarten in Danbury Public Schools after graduat-ing in June from The Learning Tree Preschool at the Family and Community Engagement center. The preschool is a developmental program for children ages three and four. The program has morning and afternoon sessions and a lunch bunch for children who stay all day.

Readiness program readies students for kindergartenThirty-seven children graduated from the Danbury Public Schools Readiness Program in June prepared to enter kindergarten this fall. The state-funded program serves 56 students by preparing them with the skills necessary to succeed in school. Led by Director Ingrid Norfleet, the language-based program uses the Connecticut Early LearnIng Devel-opmental Standards based on learn-ing through exploration and play.

DPS Learning Tree Preschool graduates 15


WERACE Class of 2019 celebrates (continued from page 7)

Graduate speakers Lorraine Stewart, left, and Luis Simbaca share their experiences at WERACEcommencement June 17.

become more, you are a leader.’”Based on their shared experiences of accomplishing goals despite disappointment and heartache, the gradu-ates indeed presented as leaders. Graduate Jose Ortiz Vasquez said that he was scheduled to complete high school in 1997, but it became nec-essary for him to work and help his mother, a single parent of four children, make ends meet, and finishing school went on the back burner. He tried several times to complete a graduate-equivalency diploma before finding WERACE. “I dropped out (of WERACE) twice, in 2008 and 2011, each of those times due to the birth of my handsome boys,” Vasquez said. “In 2017 when my oldest son started losing focus in school, I was thinking ‘how can I mo-tivate him?’ So I decided I needed to be the example and to enroll in classes again. The journey has not been easy. It has taken discipline, commitment and lots of energy and sacrifice. But I beat the odds, and I am hon-ored to be here this evening to celebrate this achievement side by side with my son Joseph Ortiz. I am proud of you kid. We did it. I told you it would be hard but it would be worth it.”Graduate Luis Simbaca talked about the many challenges that kept him from finishing high school, including the death of his father. “However, even though I had many setbacks, I never stopped learning,” Simbaca said. “Life continued to teach me lessons, because in the end we are also graduates of the school of hard knocks. Because even in the face of defeat, in the face of uncertainty, and in the face of the unknown, I got up time and time again and never gave up. Hence, I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all the people who stood by me during those difficult times.” Graduate Lorraine Stewart, flanked with health problems and a mountain of bills, wrestled with an inner voice that told her to give up on her dreams.“But I didn’t give up at all. I kept pushing,” Stewart said. “I am truly blessed and honored to say that I got the opportunity to graduate from Adult Ed, 11 Crosby St. The team here is truly amazing. And I thank you all for always being there for me.”Stewart dedicated her diploma to her parents for their support: “Thank you for always believing in me and pushing me with words and wisdom. Daddy, this is just my beginning. I have a lot in my mind that I want to do, and I’m going to do it,” Stewart said. “To my fellow graduates - thank you for taking this journey with me . . . Let your graduation today not be the end of your journey, but rather the beginning.”More than 15 percent of the graduating class will be attending Naugatuck Valley Community College in the fall.

Danbury Board of EducationFrom all of our graduates of Danbury High School, Alterna-tive Center for Excellence (ACE) to those students moving up ceremoniously from preschool to kindergarten, fifth-grade to the middle school and middle school to the high school level, I extend a warm congratulations for your hard work and ded-ication. I also extend a congratulations to the families, faculty and community members who offered tremendous support throughout the year. We are fortunate to live in a community that champions our students and education system -- and this month we were able to see another school year end with many successes. .Our graduates are off to many amazing adventures and Dan-bury has prepared them well for wherever they go in the world. Some graduates will attend the country’s top colleges. Others will enter the workforce well prepared for a career that was thought-out and planned for while they were here in high school. In addition to finding happiness and success, my hope that is that you all return often to tell us how you are doing and how Danbury schools were just the beginning of your success.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful summer. We look forward to seeing our students and faculty in the fall where we will all be ready to pick up where we left off and continue with the good work we always do.

Dr. Sal PascarellaSuperintendent

Board of EducationMembers

Joseph BrittonRachel ChaleskiKate ConnettaGladys Cooper

Richard JannelliPatrick JohnstonFrederick KarratDavid Metrena

Emanuela PalmaresRalph Pietrafesa

Amy Spallino

Danbury Board of Education For newsletter submissions: 63 Beaver Brook Road Contact: Robin Provey Danbury, CT 06810 [email protected] or [email protected]

We’re on the web!Visit us at:

www.danbury.k12.ct.us/


danbury digest · there were 641 graduates in the danbury high school class of 2019. commencement...

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