Eric Freeman is a partner in a real estate investment firm. He and his wife are raising young sons. A former viola player, he sits on the board of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra.
That’s the organization that, for over 20 years, has provided educational opportunities — and much more — to young men of color, from communities less advantaged than Westport. It’s one of our town’s crown (and underpublicized) jewels.
A few days before ABC’s big fundraiser, the Dream Event — it’s Saturday, April 26 — Eric and I chatted for the “06880” podcast. Click below to learn more.
Five years ago, Brian McGunagle wondered: “Where is Westport’s LGBTQ community?”
After 4 years in town, he and his husband Stephen Gustafson were happy. They felt safe and supported. Through a Facebook group for same-gender parents, they had arranged playdates for their nearly 2-year-old son.
But they wanted more than a quiet, open suburb.
Five years later, much has changed.
Westport Pride — the group Brian founded — has thrived. It’s organized 4 large Pride celebrations; the fifth is set for June 22, on Jesup Green. A party will follow.
Staples High students, at the 2024 Pride celebration on Jesup Green.
Under the leadership of Kayla Iannetta, Westport Pride has partnered with Gender Sexuality Alliances at Staples High School, and the 2 middle schools, and helped organize “UBU” days at the elementary level; worked on Westport Library programming; brought a rainbow crosswalk to Jesup Road, and sponsored 3 drags shows.
A number of LGBTQ parents moved to town during COVID. McGunagle estimates there are at least 2 dozen families with same-gender parents here now — and that is probably low.
Plus: Their son now has a younger brother.
Brian McGunagle (sport coat), his husband Stephen Gustafson and their sons, at the Jesup Road rainbow crosswalk.
But not all the news is positive. The changing national climate has made young transgender Westporters feel unsafe. Some students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or questioning also stand in the shadows.
There is “a lot of fear with parents of LGB — and especially trans — youth,” McGuangle notes.
He says the Supreme Court may take up a case in which parents of trans youngsters could be held criminally responsible for child abuse.
There is “more open bullying” around sexuality issues, he says, in schools and on social media like Westport Back Porch.
Temple Israel had one of the many booths at 2024 Pride.
LGBTQ Westporters without families — singles and seniors — are also looking for a community.
As the father of a 6-year-old and a future Stepping Stones Preschool student, McGunagle continues to search for ways parents like him can connect with each other, and for LGBTQ kids to find others they can identify with.
McGunagle uses the “PTA” letters to describe the groups he wants involved: (P)arents and (T)eachers who identify as LGBTQ, and (A)llies like parents of LGBTQ children.
The DEI Committee has welcomed Westport Pride’s participation, he says. He hopes to find 2 representatives from every school, so that the LGBTQ group can be formalized, much like Special Education is now.
A “playground playdate” for same-gender parents is set for May 4, 3 to 5 p.m. at Saugatuck Elementary School.
“DEI is under fire, at the national level,” McGunagle acknowledges. “But the district seems to be behind it still, in Westport.”
Meanwhile, he says,Westport Pride is always looking for volunteeers: at the board level, and to help with events and fundraising. If interested, email westportctpride@gmail.com.
(“06880” regularly covers every aspect of Westport life. If you enjoy reading about neighbors you know, and those you have yet to meet, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
One of the joys of March Madness is watching low-seeded teams succeed.
“We the People” is not the NCAA basketball tournament.
But don’t tell that to the high school students who compete every year.
For 11 years, Staples High School juniors and seniors in Suzanne Kammerman’s Advanced Placement Politics & Government class have participated in the event.
They’re spurred by their interest in the subject, a strong desire to win, and the fierce passion their teacher — a former “We the People” competitor herself, at Shelton High School — brings to the classroom.
This is not exactly a “name the president and your 2 US senators” contest,
Here is one example of the questions they tackle, from a previous year:
Supreme Court Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote, “I think that we should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe and believe to be fraught with death, unless they so imminently threaten immediate interference with the lawful and pressing purposes of the law that an immediate check is required to save the country.” Do you agree or disagree with Justice Holmes? Why?
That’s a tough question. It takes a ton of work just to understand what Holmes said — let alone figure out what you think, then devise arguments for or against it.
But that’s what Staples students — under the direction of Kammerman (with help from Westport men and women with experience in government and law, who volunteer their time, plus several alumni) — have done since September.
In addition to the regular classroom component, they prepare and present oral arguments on specific sections of the Constitution in simulated congressional hearings, followed by a questi9n-and-answer session with a panel of judges.
It is not for the faint of heart. The students grapple with difficult constitutional questions — and the judges demand clear, compelling answers.
After months of preparation, the Staples team placed second at February’s state competition. Trumbull — their traditional “We the People” rival, who they’ve edged out in the past — took the top spot.
But the Westporters’ performance earned them a wild card spot. They began feverish preparations, for the 4-day trip to Washington.
Staples High School’s “We the People” team …
There were 48 teams in DC (making it more difficult, in a sense, than March Madness, with 68).
The first 2 rounds — and a meeting with Senator Chris Murphy in his office — were followed by a Thursday night DJ dance party. The highlight there was not grinding, but the announcement of the top 10 teams.
Among them: Staples High.
Kammerman’s kids were ecstatic. But they quickly settled down.
The first rounds had been held in a convention center. Friday was more historic: The finals were set for the National Union Building, an 1890 event space.
Friday night featured the awards ceremony. Staples’ “We the People” team finished 8th in the nation.
… and their national competition award.
That’s their highest finish ever. In 2020, the pandemic forced the competition into a virtual format. With fewer states competing, and a trunacated format — 1 round of competition, instead of 3 — Staples placed 5th.
Staples was not the only wild card team to succeed this year. Five of the top 10 teams shared that honor — including national champion Sprague High of Oregon.
Perhaps the NCAA could benefit from some of that excitement.
“We the People” take their show on the road.
Congratulations to Kammerman and her students: Lila Boroujerdi, Kate Bulkeley, Lucas Ceballos-Cala, Olivia Cohn, Sofia Donroe, Gunnar Eklund, Will Enquist, Kasey Feeley, Nolan Francis, Jay Hari, Hugo Jacques, Souleye Kebe, Miles Kahn, Aidan Lapatine, Ryder Levine, Gray Peters, Andrew Rebello, Jack Robinson, Zara Saliba, R E I Seltzer, Jake Shufro, Alex Sod.
We — the Westport people — are very proud of you!
PS: Kammerman and the entire team give thanks to their “guest judges” who helped this year — Ira Bloom, J. Russell Bulkeley, Rachel Cohn, Danielle Dobin, Jamie Dockray, Jonathan Francis, Steve Gerber, Deb Goldfarb, Lee Goldstein, Jeff Hammer, Liz Heyer, Lauren Karpf, Rob Hordon, Andy Laskin, Jim Marpe, Nita Prasad, Candice Savin and Maria Signore.
Alumni who assisted include Andrew Berkowitz, Will Boberski, Mia Bomback, Nina Bowens, Emerson Briggs, Kendra Cheng, Alex Cozzolino, Dylan Fiore, Mack Haymond, Nate Hordon, Sorel Kennedy, Sam Laskin, Tucker Peters, Srish Popuri, Ko Seltzer, Jack Srihari and Lilly Weiz.
(For more information on “We the People,” and its sponsor The Center For Civic Education, click here.)
Staples’ “We the People” team, with Senator Chris Murphy. There may be a future US senator in Suzanne Kammerman’s class.
The video below features one of the 6 “units” of the Staples “We the People” calss. This panel focused on the Bill of Rights, exploring the rights and protections it guarantees. The team includes Olivia Cohn, Graysen Peters and Alex Sod. Nolan Francis was on this team, but could not participate in Washington because of an injury.
(“06880” often highlights the achivements of Staples students. If you appreciate stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The Staples High School PTA Executive Committee wrote a letter regarding superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice’s proposed cell phone ban. It was to be read at last Thursday’s Board of Education meeting.
When the session was canceled, the letter was emailed to all BOE members. A member shared it without consent, and it was published by a local media outlet.
The Staples PTA Executive Committee says: “To ensure transparency, we would greatly appreciate it if ‘06880’ shares this letter in its entirety with the Westport community. Anyone wishing to engage in further discussion should email us at shs_pta@westportps.org.”
Dear Members of the Westport BOE:
We, the members of the Staples High School PTA Executive Board, write to you as a united group concerning Superintendent Scarice’s proposed bell-to-bell cell phone (and personal device) ban at Staples High School.
For context, we are deeply committed to Westport Public Schools. We are the mothers of 25 current Staples students, 10 Staples graduates, and 11 kids rising from elementary and middle school.
Collectively we’ve spent 181 years inside of WPS, and our members have volunteered on 40 WPS executive PTA boards, including 15 turns as president. You’d be hard pressed to find a group more invested, with more historical knowledge, and with more school spirit than the current Staples PTA.
Cell phones are currently allowed, in certain places and times, at Staples High School.
First, we do not support the personal use of cell phones in the classroom. We believe kids should not have unfettered access to their phones, nor should they use phones for any unapproved personal reason inside of the classroom. That said, we unanimously oppose a school-wide cell phone (and personal device) ban, and we unanimously oppose the purchase of Yondr bags.
As you consider the various options on the road ahead, we feel it important to share 3 requests made to Superintendent Scarice at a meeting on March 19th:
That separate community conversations be planned between parents — one for K-8, and another for 9-12.
That a committee be formed, consisting of teachers, admins, students and parents.
That the survey be sent after the community conversation. We are disappointed that none were realized.
You are already aware of our concerns for the replacement of cell phones inside the classroom as integrated by teachers. Many among our Staples staff count on – and expect – phones to be used by students as cameras, video recorders, calculators, scanners, and more. No workaround has been presented for these uses.
We are concerned about the unintended consequences of a cell phone ban, and believe that if kids cannot access phones during their free time, they will instead be more inclined to do personal business on their computers during classroom time, and thereby create a tremendous problem for teachers.
Regarding the wuperintendent’s justification for a ban, we maintain – based on hundreds of conversations with parents, students and even teachers – that there is not a cell phone problem inside of Staples High School.
Further, while there is a policy governing cell phone use, it is rarely enforced, largely up to teacher discretion, and unknown to most students and parents.
Should the WPS BOE deem Staples a candidate for tighter cell phone regulations, then why not just tighten the rules? And have students – and their parents – sign a code of conduct, just like we do for internet use and plagiarism. We are confident this is a prudent place to start.
We believe students should have access to their phones during lunch and free periods. We’ve heard you when you say that the lunchroom is a good place to have a conversation and “just talk.”
But if you were to visit the Staples cafeteria, you’d see that’s exactly what they do: they talk. Even with their phones on their person.
And please understand cell phones are how our students find one another in the lunchroom. It’s a huge space with hundreds of kids on a rotating schedule. They use their cells to find their friends, then sit and talk.
These are not Staples students. But they could be.
Much of this conversation relates to social media usage. The Staples PTA does not believe students should use–or have access to–social media during classroom time.
We are surprised that the Westport Public Schools do not block these sites off of the district networks. That seems like an easy solution. In addition to considering a clearer cell phone policy, we ask that you consider blocking these sites before a bell to bell ban.
Most concerning of the proposed cell phone ban is the cost associated with Yondr bags. Wilton Public Schools spent $80,000 with Yondr (not $1,800 as reported by the Westport Journal) – with a smaller student population (1,200 at Wilton HS versus Staples’ 1,700+), and magnetized the outside of their one school entrance. Staples uses 5 separate student entrances.
That doesn’t even take into account the manpower needed to lock and unlock the Yondr “stations” multiple times during each school day, and the staff needed to maintain the bags themselves. If Yondr bags are to be used, it’s prudent to plan extra head count to the Staples staff for these roles. And they are a recurring cost.
Yondr bags have a limited shelf life. and every freshman class will need new ones, at a cost of $25-30 per unit. That doesn’t account for lost and broken bags (currently at a rate of 2/week reported in Wilton).
Students entering Northbridge High School in Massachusetts present their Yondr pouches — with phones inside — to be locked. (Photo/Allan Jung for Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
Has anyone determined where the Yondr magnets will be mounted? They are affixed to concrete poles outside of Wilton High School; the Staples facade is glass and brick. Are there construction costs associated with bringing Yondr to Staples?
Finally, we know that the Staples population will soar to well over 1,800 in the next few years, and so we ask, what are the actual costs, both for now and into the future?
As an overall question: What is the perceived defined problem, and what is the measurable solution? We believe that a cell phone ban is a movement–applicable to elementary and middle schools–as opposed to an actual Staples problem, and without a clear issue to solve or goal to meet, this is all just symbolic.
We also maintain that our Staples students are bright, motivated, eager to learn, gracious with their time and community support, and overall good citizens. The Staples PTA is profoundly confident that if given structured rules around cell phone usage inside the classroom, our students will rise to occasion, without requiring a punitive, prison-like environment.
There is one constant report among Staples graduates: that they leave Staples High School ready for the next level, whether that be college, the work force or the military.
That is a testament to everyone involved in their educational journey, and why Staples is the #1 high school in the state. So let’s treat these students as the young adults they are.
Let’s give them parameters and structure, but most importantly, let’s give them latitude. Let’s trust them with their free time, to make good decisions, and embody the Westport Public Schools’ value system.
Let’s work together to empower them.
Sincerely,
Jodi Harris, Co-President
Stefanie Shackelford, Co-President
Elena Caggiano, VP-Past President
Marie Tyber, VP-Secretary
Lara Willis, VP-Treasurer
Michelle Macris, VP-Treasurer
Aileen Brill, VP-Ways & Means
Jenny Sydor, VP-Ways & Means
Ying Stafford, VP- Communications Sandy Srihari, VP-Volunteers
Tracy Benton, VP-Volunteers
Karina Betfarhad, VP-Graduation
Amie Peck, VP-Graduation
Pamela Bernstein, VP-Community Outreach
Maria Mulvehill, VP-Community Outreach
Caroline Hendley, VP-Member at Large
A bridge is much more than a physical structure over water.
It can be a metaphor for any kind of span.
The other day, a group of Westporters met to bridge both ideas and ages.
Everyone made it across.
And when they got there, they enjoyed what is always on the other side: a new and different view.
BridgeBuilders is the local chapter of a national organization, BridgeUSA.
The goal of BridgeUSA is “not to change minds or create centrists, but encourage students to engage differing beliefs, experiences and perspectives. What unites us is not agreement on policies, but a shared mindset.
“The BridgeUSA Mindset champions understanding, empathy, open-mindedness, and a willingness to engage those who are different from us.
“It’s not about what you believe, but how you express what you believe.”
BridgeUSA works on 82 college campuses.
But a pair of Staples High School students recently brought it to a younger level.
And an older one.
In the aftermath of last spring’s unrest over Israel and Gaza, and during the 2024 presidential campaign, Jake Shufro realized that plenty of people were shouting about their own point of view, and shutting their ears to others’.
Plenty of other people, meanwhile, were not talking about issues at all. They did not know how to have an actual discussion. Or they were too turned off by polarization to try.
Jake is a very involved junior. He’s secretary of Westport’s Youth Commission; an active participant in Model UN Club and We the People, and a squash player.
His longtime friend, sophomore Sienna Schwartz, is similarly engaged. She’s a Student Council officer; a writer for Staples’ STEM Journal; a member of Women in STEM and participant in the Sikorsky STEM Challenge, and a soccer player and track athlete.
They contacted the national BridgeBuilders group, which is eager to add high schools to their roster of colleges.
Much of today’s discourse consists of shouting — and not listening.
Jake and Sienna were trained on how to moderate effective meetings. They learned, for example, to make sure participants focused on ideas, not on the people presenting them, along with how to keep discussions on track.
They found out it’s best to start with a non-controvesial topic.
But Jake and Sierra also realized that limiting their BridgeBuilders to high school students would exclude other, important points of view.
“We wanted intergenerational dialogue and wisdom,” Jake says. And, he notes, older participants might learn something from younger ones.
Their original idea was to partner with the Senior Center. But it closes at 3 p.m. — just 15 minutes after the school day ends.
Enter the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston.
The group of retired and semi-retired residents is as energetic and stimulating as high school students. They certainly are “wise” — and they’re always looking for new projects.
Y’s Men Jim Marpe and Tucker Mays took the lead. Working alongside Jake and Sienna, they came up with their first topic: whether mandatory national service (military or otherwise) is good for young Americans.
It’s an idea, they thought, that could be viewed from a variety of perspectives, rather than through traditional political lenses.
From left: Jim Marpe, Jake Shufro, Sienna Schwartz, Tucker Mays.
Jake and Sienna invited a range of students they knew, primarily from their social studies classes. None were yet 18: draft age.
Jim and Tucker reached out to a similar range of Y’s Men. Some were military veterans. Others served in the Peace Corps.
The 90-minute discussion, in a Westport Library meeting room, was wide-ranging. It was civil.
And, for the teenagers and senior citizens alike, it was eye-opening.
Listening respectfully, at the Westport Library.
The students learned first hand about the draft, the Vietnam War, and the peace movement.
The Y’s Men learned that many of the teens understood the importance of some kind of service. They learned too about discussions that go on in history and English classes, and what the students feel comfortable writing and talking about.
And the topics they feel uncomfortable discussing.
The 4 organizers had worried that the older participants might monopolize the discussion. That did not happen.
“Everyone spoke. There were lots of rich opinions,” Sienna says.
“There was disagreement, but it was civil. There was no finger-pointing.”
Staples students and Y’s Men, after the first meeting.
Jake, Sienna, Jim and Tucker plan to meet monthly. They’ll invite different students and Y’s Men to join them.
The next topic — later this month — is “the future of work.”
The teens and seniors are excited to keep going.
“In our country, we need to talk with each other better,” Jake says.
“That’s what democracy is. It’s bad for democracy if everyone has the same viewpoint.
“But it’s equally bad if we let those viewpoints pull us apart.”
(“06880” reports regularly on Westport’s teenagers, senior citizens — and everyone else in between. If you like our work, and/or have been featured in it, please click here to support us. Thank you!)
Chris Swan reports that 3 osprey nest platforms are back in operation, with pairs in evidence over the weekend.
He spotted them on New Creek, in the Burying Hill Beach marsh adjacent to Beachside Common homes; directly behind the Sherwood Island Nature Center along the tidal estuary that forms the state park’s northern boundary, and in the marsh grass on the eastern shore of Sherwood Mill Pond, a couple of hundred feet north of Compo Cove.
Chris has not yet seen activity on the marsh grass at the end of Grove Point Road, on a peninsula opposite the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection air quality shack on Sherwood Island.
New Creek osprey platform. (Photo/Chris Swan)
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Will national politics damage Westport’s local governance traditions?
That’s a question the Democratic Women of Westport will ask — and hope to answer — at an April 22 forum (7 p.m., Westport Women’s Club).
Speaker Paul Kahn is a professor at Yale School, and author of “Democracy in America: Can We Still Govern Ourselves?” He has studied the effect first hand, in his own Connecticut town.
Kahn’s talk will be followed by a panel discussion with current Representative Town Meeting moderator Jeff Weiser, and his predecessor Velma Heller.
The public — Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters — is welcome. If you’ve got a question for the panel, or to RSVP, email DWW06880@gmail.com
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Dave Briggs and Alisyn Camerota have done it again.
The Wesrporters — experienced journalists who have just launched “Sanity,” a national podcast on a wide array of important topics — sat down the other day with Craig Carton.
The Fox Sports and WFAN host has been open about how his gambling addiction led to a prison term for securities fraud.
With March Madness in full swing, Carton is a timely guest. Americans will bet $3 billion on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
A not-insignificant amount of that money is wagered (and lost) by teenagers.
Carton gave Briggs and Camerota an eye-opening look at America’s gambling culture, and its impact on adolescents.
He provides strong advice, too. It begins with: Don’t let your kid use your account.
Click below to see the episode. Click here to listen on Spotify.
Not the one that keeps the high school safe from hackers, intruders and other bad actors. (Though they do a very good job of it.)
No — this cybersecurity team is the one composed of students. And — out in the open — they recently took part in the prestigious Lockheed Martin CyberQuest Competition, at Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford.
Hundreds of students attempt to solve cybersecurity challenges designed by Lockheed Martin cybersecurity engineers.
The “Capture the Flag” format includes multi-step intrusion scenarios, steganography, reverse engineering, full OS hacks, packet capture, web exploits, social engineering, and cybersecurity awareness.
Staples was the youngest team there. And the only one new to the event.
No problem!
After 3 hours of vigorous hacking they piled up 2,150 points. They won by a massive 400 points, bringing the coveted CyberQuest belt to Westport.
And Jacek Nieweglowski was named Best Coach of the competition.
Congratulations to Jacek, and team members Ignacy Nieweglowski, Sahil Vora, Rohan Sareen and Ezra Schwartz.
Sounds like you could show Mike Waltz and Pete Hegseth a thing or two.
From left: Rohan Sarren, Ezra Schwartz, Sahil Vora Ignacy Nieweglowski,
Last week, “06880” featured Lynsey Addario’s page 1 New York Times photo, from Ukraine.
The 1991 Staples High graduate is a Pulitzer Prize- and MacArthur “genius grant” photojournalist, who has shot images from wars and danger spots around the world.
But Westporters don’t need to read the Times to see her work.
A collection of stunning images of Afghan women is on display at the Senior Center.
Titled “Veiled Rebellion,” they were donated by Addario to the Westport Public Art Collections. Their provenance is impressive: They were first exhibted at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, in 2012.
The text accompanying the photos is from a National Geographic story, written by Addario in 2012.
Additional images from “Veiled Rebellion” are on display at the Westport Library. (Hat tip: Jeff Jacobs)
Chabad of Westport hosts Glenn Cohen — a hostage debrief team leader, and former Mossad chief psychologist — for a “Candid Conversation” on April 23 (7:30 p.m.).
He’ll discuss the release of hostages from Hamas captivity, including first hand insights into what the captives endured and how they coped, while debunking common myths about captivity.
Noted jazz trumpeter Alex Norris headlines this week’s Jazz at the Post (Thursday, April 3; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; VFW Post 399; $20 music cover, $15 for veterans and students).
He’s joined by bassist Joris Teepe, pianist Greg Murphy, drummer Steve Johns, and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall. Click here for tickets.
Whenever he offers a nature photograph for our “Westport … Naturally” feature, we’re all a winner.
Today he sends an American pussy willow, and a friend.
(Photo/Lou Weinberg)
Lou explains: “A very early bloomer, it provides native bees, honeybees and other pollinators with critical late winter/early spring energy, in the form of nectar and pollen.
“What appears to be oversized saddlebags are pollen sacks that the bees bring back to the hive to share.
“These pictures were taken at the Long Lots Preserve, surrounding the Westport Community Gardens on Hyde Lane. In addition to pussy willow, dozens of other native trees, shrubs and wildflowers have been planted to support this very successful environmental rehabilitation project.
“The Long Lots Preserve is a model for what can be done in any neglected green open space. It is a tremendous hands-on environmental educational resource.”
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Posted onMarch 30, 2025|Comments Off on Teens Want To Work. Teen’s “Help Wanted” Website Helps.
Back in the day, local businesses needing young workers had 2 options.
They could post “Help Wanted” signs. Or use word of mouth.
We’ve advanced quite a ways from those days. Now, stores and restaurants can … um ….
Well, at least a law firm or marketing company that needs, say, help with data input can ask an employee to put out a plea on Facebook.
Of couse, the last time a teenager was on Facebook was 2018.
Kevin Cano is not looking for a job. But the Staples High School junior is making it easy for those who are.
And for employers, looking for them.
Kevin recently launched Campus Flyer. The free website — a modern-day “Help Wanted” flyer — connects students with local jobs, and other opportunities.
The idea came after he did have difficulty finidng a summer job or internship. He realized that LinkedIn and Indeed are geared primarily toward professionals.
Kevin Cano
With his computer science and coding knowledge, he decided to build a soution for his demographic.
Available to students and employers throughout Fairfield County, Campus Flyer has already attrcted a number of teenagers.
Now it needs jobs they can fill.
Each user has an individual account.
Students sign up, create a profile, then have access to an Opportunity Lookup page.
It includes a search box with filters, map, and list of opportunities. Clicking on that list brings up descriptions of the job (or internship, research project, etc.), pay (if any), and contact information.
Employers can sign up as businesses or individuals (for babysitting, etc.). They can also offer volunteer opportunities. Information includes a job description, pay, location, age requirements, etc.
The website’s design is clean and user-friendly. There are no confusing bells and whistles. It does exactly what it promises.
An easy-to-navigate Campus Flyer page.
Kevin hopes any local business, non-profit or individual, with any kind of staffing need, will sign up and post details about job, internship and volunteer opportunities.
“There are lots of talented, motivated, tech-savvy students, ready to contribute,” Kevin notes.
If they’re anything like the site’s creator, Campus Flyer is the place to find them.
(“06880” is your hyper-local source for news you can use. We’ve been doing it — 24/7/365 — since 2009. We rely on reader support; please click here to help. Thanks!)
Comments Off on Teens Want To Work. Teen’s “Help Wanted” Website Helps.
If you went to school in the 20th century, your biggest safety concern was a throw to your head during gym dodgeball.
If you’re in school now, it’s being killed in your classroom.
Every student today has grown up with “active shooter” drills. They’re taken very seriously: Locking doors. Remaining quiet. Waiting for help to arrive.
Many students realize the reality of school shootings as part of their lives.
Zander Bauer and Elijah Falkenstein want to do something about it.
The Staples High School juniors are founders and co-presidents of the local Make Our Schools Safe (MOSS) chapter.
They first learned of the non-profit from someone directly impacted by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High massacre in Florida.
After hearing about its mission (to empower students and staff to help create and maintain a culture of safety and vigilance) and initiatives (for example, passing Alyssa’s Law, which calls for installing silent panic alarms directly linked to law enforcement, dramatically reducing response time), the friends organized the first MOSS club in Connecticut.
At the beginning of this school year, they met with State Senator Ceci Maher. She introduced the bill, and has been very supportive.
Last month, Zander and Elijah testified before the state legislature. They spent hours preparing their testimony.
They expected to be in Hartford, But a snowstorm forced the hearing onto Zoom.
“We waited in a room nervously for what seemed like days,” Zander says.
The format was difficult. Several bills were introduced throughout the hearing. Many people spoke.
Finally they got their chance. Zander was the 56th speaker. Elijah was 81st. “In this generation, I have never fully felt safe at school,” Elijah said.
“In the end, we felt really proud of ourselves. We accomplished our mission, and learned a tremendous amount about the legislative process.”
But the legislative wheels grind slowly. So far, Connecticut has not yet joined the 7 states — New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah — that enacted Alyssa’s Law.
The bill has passed through the Committee for Children. Next up: a vote on the Senate floor. If it passes, it goes to the House, then to Governor Lamont for his signature.
Zander and Elijah have taken action in other ways too. They raised funds to install 7 “Stop the Bleed” kits at Staples, and ensured that all teachers are been trained to use them.
Now — because no level is immune to gun violence — their goal is to donate kits to Westport’s 7 middle and elementary schools. (Click here to help raise $5,000.)
Elijah Falkenstein and Zander Bauer, with “stop the bleed” kits.
The club presidents have enjoyed strong encouragement from superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice. Assistant principal Christine Cincotta helped the club earn official status. Brennan Morgan serves as faculty advisor.
MOSS secretary Mary Stevens, treasurer Dylan Shackleford, social media managers Julian Gravelle and Kate Coykendall,and PR managers Reece Dearborn and Gabe Hellmann have also been very active in the cause.
Elijah and Zander have been bolstered by friends’ support also. “They understand that the work we’re doing will benefit all of us, and the entire community,” Zander says.
And — if their efforts in Hartford are successful — the entire state too.
(Click below for the entire legislative hearing. Zander’s comments begin at 5:52:47. Elijah’s starts at 7:07:27. The testimony of Lori Alhadeff — the mother of Alyssa, for whom the bill is named — are at 6:06:03.)
(“06880” reports regularly on activities at Staples High. If you appreciate those stories — or any others on this hyper-local blog — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Inklings — Staples High’s award-winning publication — has evolved with the times. Since its founding in 1931, it has been a newspaper, magazine and online news and feature source.
All along, dedicated staffs have contributed stories on everything going on at school (and sometimes, the town, country and world).
Now, the biggest paper ever is rolling off the press.
A 54-page “Voices” supplement is the result of a year-long effort, headed by managing editor Angelina Matra.
The goal, she tells “06880” interns (and Inklings staffers) Camille Blundell and Avni Krishna, is to explore ideas and elements in depth, using student voices.
Topics include the lack of females in STEM classes, micro-aggressions, and the impact of political polarization on the school community.
The article on micro-aggressions in classes, written by junior Olivia Saw, notes that students of color repeatedly experience “misspellings, mispronunciations, or just plain being mistaken for other students of the same race,” Blundell and Krishna say.
The Inklings micro-aggressions story.
Another spiece that Matra expects to create buzz is “Staples Divided.” Addressing whether Staples has fallen victim to political polarization, it resulted from a roundtable with 9 students: Republicans, Democrats and independents.
“Women in STEM” is one of Matra’s favorites. It notes that only 13% of students in upper-level Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes are female, and features insightful anecdotes from them.
“I think every single person in Staples, whether that be a student, adult, whatever, will see one article they relate to or say, ‘I know this person, I have done someone similar, I hold a similar view or have had a similar experience,” Matra says.
The Inklings staff began work in October, and finished the supplement earlier this week.
“We’re bringing light to all those unheard circumstances that many kids might face,” paper editor Zara Saliba told Blundell and Krishna. “ It’s really important, especially as a public school, to have all of those opinions expressed and to create an environment where everyone can feel welcome to share their beliefs.”
Inklings is an outgrowth of Staples’ Advanced Journalism class. Students begin as staff writers, after taking Intro to Journalism.
Advisors Mary Elizabeth Fulco and Joseph DelGobbo value independence and individuality in their students’ writing.
“We strive to give them them a platform to express their views and inspire meaningful change,” Fulco told the “06880” interns.
Like their advisors, Saliba and Matra hope the supplement gets people talking. They call “Voices” an “inside look into the Staples community.”
The editors also would like the stories to bring “some empathy to understanding the perspectives of people who are different from you,” Blundell and Krishna say.
The staff hopes this can bring people together. “In high school, students can feel lost between groups. This paper proves that everybody’s experiences are different,” the “05880” interns and Inklings writers say.
Matra notes, “Every single student, teacher, administrator and staff member within the collective Staples environment is so unique. ‘Voices’ is the chatter in the hallways, locker rooms, concert stages, culinary classes, science labs and teachers lounges, all thrown together in one huge, ambitious project.”
To see the full range of stories, click here. To order a copy of Inklings’ “Voices” supplement ($10), click here.
(“06880” regular covers Westport’s schools — and the students in them. If you enjoy these stories, or any other features on this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Tickets are selling quickly for Staples Orphenians’ “Cabaret Olé” fundraiser.
The March 30 event (6 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity Church) is a fundraiser for the elite high school choral group’s upcoming trip to the Spain Choral Festival.
In addition to hearing the talented teenagers sing, Westporters are happy to help the group raise money to ensure that every member can make the trip.
But there’s another, longer-lasting reason to support Cabaret Olé.
Some of the funds will help establish an educational music hub here.
That’s the goal of the VOCES8 Foundation. The non-profit uses workshops, concerts and more to educate and uplift students and communities — including providing opportunities for singers after high school and college.
And they’ve chosen Westport as one of their centers for that work.
VOCES8 musicians have worked with Orphenians in the past, including at the Westport Library.
VOCES8 high school workshop, at the Westport Library.
It’s no surprise that VOCES8 will take part in the March 30 cabaret.
But — surprise! — they and Orphenians will be joined by Broadway stars, including Mary Kate Morrissey (lead in Broadway’s “Wicked”) and Dan Micciche, the show’s music director and conductor.
Morrissey spent a decade touring 92 cities with “Wicked,” “Mean Girls” and “Hair,” before making her Broadway debut in “Wicked” in 2023. Micciche has been with the show for over a decade, including national and international tours.He will coach the Orphenians on their song with Morrissey.
One more surprise: former Orphenian Jamie Mann will perform too. The 2021 Staples grad — currently a senior at the University of Michigan — will be just days away from his Broadway debut in “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.”
Jamie Mann
Orphenians’ set will include part of their repertoire for Spain. They’ll join VOCES8 for at least one number. Exceptionally talented pianist Andrew Maskoff — a Staples senior — will accompany the singers.
“Everyone in Orphenians is helping with fundraising, and performing” says Staples choral director Lauren Pine. “This is a great team-building experience.”
The trip to Spain involves more than just singing in centuries-old cathedrals. Orphenians will also work with guest artists, and learn from some of the world’s top educators.
The young musicians “definitely understand and appreciate where we’re going and what we’re doing,” Pine says.
Cabaret Olé includes tapas and other light bites, and a silent auction.
And of course, plenty of music. The Christ & Holy Trinity sanctuary has wonderful acoustics — perfect for Orphenians, VOCES8, and Broadway stars.
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For 11 years, Staples High School juniors and seniors in Suzanne Kammerman’s Advanced Placement Politics & Government class have participated in the event.
We are concerned about the unintended consequences of a cell phone ban, and believe that if kids cannot access phones during their free time, they will instead be more inclined to do personal business on their computers during classroom time, and thereby create a tremendous problem for teachers.
There is one constant report among Staples graduates: that they leave Staples High School ready for the next level, whether that be college, the work force or the military.
The format was difficult. Several bills were introduced throughout the hearing. Many people spoke.
