Sunday, May 13, 2012
35 percent of Connecticut eighth grade students reached proficiency in the subject in 2011 — the same percentage that reached proficiency in 2009 — however since then numerous other states have beefed-up their science programs.
As Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy prepares to sign the state's new education reform bill into law, a report from The National Center for Education Statistics shows that the state has dropped in the rankings for science proficiency. According to the report (see attached PDF), 35 percent of Connecticut eighth grade students reached proficiency in the subject in 2011 — the same percentage that reached proficiency in 2009 — however since then numerous other states have beefed-up their science programs. As a result seven states have pushed ahead of Connecticut in the national ranking, according to the report. The report notes that although Connecticut has slipped in the rankings, its student proficiency rate in science is higher than the …
Friday, May 11, 2012
A man is bit by a dog, other dogs are accused of killing pet rabbits, a woodchuck wreaks havoc for one homeowner, more raccoon babies are found ...
A Den of Baby Raccoons A raccoon den site was found in the loft of a detached garage on Elm Street on May 5. No adult raccoon was present, but the homeowner removed five babies and placed them in a basket by the woods, so their mother could pick them up. (See the photo) Monroe Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said the baby raccoons' lives were not in danger from this, adding the mother usually takes each away one-by-one. However, as of May 7, police said no adult raccoon had returned, so the young were turned over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. On the first night that the raccoons were in the basket, Risko said two of the babies escaped and wandered into the road. A motorist stopped to avoid hitting them and the raccoons climbed …
41.30408
-73.24515
Monroe Animal Shelter
447 Purdy Hill Rd, Monroe, CT
/articles/animal-reports-448b64f8
165482
/locations/6990579
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The reform bill now goes to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for his signature.
The Connecticut House of Representatives unanimously approved the education reform bill Tuesday night, after the state Senate approved the lengthy bill early Tuesday morning. The legislation is viewed as a compromise of sorts and ends months of controversy between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Connecticut Education Association, the state's largest teachers union. Malloy has pledged to sign the bill into law. "I can say, with confidence, that this bill will allow us to begin fixing what is broken in our public schools," Malloy said during a hastily assembled press conference late Monday evening at the state Capitol to announce the agreement. The state Senate then huddled in chambers for the better part of the night Monday into Tuesday …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Many questions still remained about the education reform agreement that the governor and legislature announced Monday night.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy got an education reform package late Monday, while the Connecticut Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, also appeared to get what it wanted, as the final agreement appears to be somewhat of a compromise between the governor's initial proposal and ones backed by the union. Although details of the agreement were still cloudy late Monday, and any bill making the proposed reforms law must still be approved by the legislature, Malloy hailed the agreement as one that will bring "meaningful education reform" to Connecticut. "I can say, with confidence, that this bill will allow us to begin fixing what is broken in our public schools," Malloy said during a hastily assembled press conference late …
The Board of Finance had reduced the Board of Education's 2012-13 spending request by $923,075 at budget time. On Monday, the school board made revisions to get there.
Board of Education members managed to reduce their spending increase for 2012-13 to zero as was approved by the Board of Finance at budget time, while adding in $200,000 for technology upgrades. Supt. of Schools James Agostine had proposed meeting the $923,075 spending decrease by reducing the medical reserve fund by $542,000, saving $50,000 in unemployment compensation due to no layoffs and using $531,075 from an enterprise fund that was carried forward. Several board members had serious concerns over cutting the medical reserve, but after lengthy debate, Mark Antinozzi made a motion to approve the budget revisions Monday. "Even though we're not happy with some of the decisions that were made, we have a good program in place," he said. "I…
41.349
-73.19798
Masuk High School
1014 Monroe Tpke, Monroe, CT
/articles/school-board-cuts-2012-13-budget-hike-to-zero
165619
/locations/6956921
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Virologist Robert Gallo discovered that HIV was the cause of AIDS. The graduates included 37 students from Monroe.
Hundreds of University of Connecticut graduate students, including 37 from Monroe, were presented with diplomas at the university's graduate commencement Saturday afternoon at Gampel Pavilion. The graduates, most of whom came from the university's business school or teaching program, spanned a range of ages, interests, degrees and career goals. While many of the students enrolled in their post-graduate programs right after getting their bachelor's degrees, many, including Edilia Mora, postponed their advanced degrees. "It's just wonderful," said Mora, who got her master's degree in business administration. "I actually stopped when I had my baby, so this was a goal for me." At the ceremony, UConn President Susan Herbst presented two …
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Popular fairytale characters, good food and fun greeted seniors returning from their prom.
Masuk High School was decked out in a fairytale theme Friday night with colorful figures from childhood stories like Snow White & the Seven Dwarves, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Members of the Class of 2012 feasted on a spread in the cafeteria and Sherwood Forest led them toward the gynasium, which featured such attractions such as a 'Wrecking Ball' and a mechanical bull. On the way through the "forest" students could stop in at Ye Old Photo Shoppe where photographers snapped pictures of them with their friends and they could choose from a variety of computer-generated backgrounds. The late-night event was the annual Post Prom Party, which is meant to provide a fun and safe environment for seniors. This year's motto is based on the …
41.349
-73.19798
Masuk High School
1014 Monroe Tpke, Monroe, CT
/articles/post-prom
165619
/locations/6898326
Sunday, April 22, 2012
A former student becomes a teacher at her former school.
When Kathy Marconi put her first born child, Kristen, on the school bus in August of 1992 for her first day of kindergarten at Saint Jude School, little did she know that nineteen years later she would once again be seeing her daughter off for her first day at St. Jude School as the new Pre-K teacher. "Kristen was so excited to put on a plaid jumper and red tie and of course that pink Lands’ End backpack and board the bus in August of 1992," said Kathy. "Fast forward 19 years and swap the jumper and tie for business casual and the backpack for a Vera Bradley tote! As a Mom, it’s been exciting to watch Kristin follow her dream of becoming a teacher and landing right back where she spent nine years of her life." I attended St. Jude School …
41.330005
-73.207599
St. Jude School
707 Monroe Tpke, Monroe, CT
/articles/kristin-marconi-and-saint-jude-school-then-and-now
1218124
/locations/6810284
Monday, April 16, 2012
High school students recently held their fourth blood drive, this one in honor of A.J. Rogers, 19, a Masuk alum who is battling leukemia.
Patients rushed to hospitals for emergency surgeries, as well as people living with leukemia and hemophilia, all depend on blood transfusions as part of the medical treatment they receive. The American Red Cross collects donations to supply Connecticut's blood banks. Masuk High School students are among the many volunteers who donate their own blood to the cause. In fact, the high school has hosted four blood drives for the Red Cross this year. "It's pretty significant, well above average with blood drives," said Doug Wayne, an account manager for the Red Cross. "Most schools do two or three. Next year they want to do four again." He expected 52 pints to be collected by the end of the day. The Masuk Representative Assembly, which is the …
41.349
-73.19798
Masuk High School
1014 Monroe Tpke, Monroe, CT
/articles/blood-drive-15273e99
165619
/locations/6807926
Sunday, April 15, 2012
A tag sale fundraiser will be held at Rt. 25 Junk Haulers LLC on April 28. Raffle prize is a Caribbean vacation.
Taylor DiMiero of Monroe is among the 17 high school students nominated and selected to represent Connecticut in Europe this summer 2012 with the People To People educational and goodwill program, whose purpose is to help realize President Eisenhower's goal of spreading goodwill and peace from the U.S. to countries around the world. People To People is a program that was established in 1956 by President Eisenhower. It was his vision that each person can make a difference and help to achieve peace through understanding. A multi-family fundraiser to support Fairfield County’s 2012 People To People Student Ambassadors is scheduled to be held on April 28 at Route 25 Junk Haulers, LLC, 560 Main Street (Route 25), from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Rain date …
41.33035
-73.265609
RT25 Junk Haulers
560 Main St, Monroe, CT
/articles/monroe-resident-to-represent-connecticut-in-europe
1509232
/locations/6788528
jim laguardia
9:23 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
i agree sometimes these articles make people look foolish for calling the animal control but i can speak from experience somewhere between their report and the way it is printed here the story gets a little mixed up more ›