Tag Archives: “Students Speak”

“Students Speak”: Empty Chair At Debate? Youth Commission Undeterred

Posted on October 14, 2026 | 2 comments

Jack Thompson is a senior at Greens Farms Academy, and co-chairs the Westport Youth Commission. He helped produce last year’s 1st selectman candidate debate at Toquet Hall, and looked forward to a similar role with this year’s election. Jack writes:

I joined the Westport Youth Commission because student engagement in local government is rare, and being part of this organization would let me be heard.

I put that to the test last year, when I helped organize a first selectman forum as a lead-up to the election. It was a great learning experience, and opened a lot of eyes on how students can be engaged in the political process.

Jack Thompson (left) and Jake Shufro, at last year’s Westport Youth Commission 1st selectman candidates’ debate.

This year, a candidate running for the 136th state House of Representatives approached the WYC about holding a similar forum.

We did some research, and learned that the League of Women Voters has been unable to hold candidate events due to their “empty chair” policy. Due to their nonpartisan position (us too!), they can’t hold events with only one candidate.

We felt that both the town and candidates were losing out, as these events provide important, symbiotic context: We as citizens learn our candidates’ positions, and they learn what’s important to us.

With that in mind, we wanted to see what we could do. We started planning a candidate event for October 29. We invited both Democrat Lee Goldstein and Republican Douglas Ouellette, with the stipulation that both needed to agree for us to host the event.

Screenshot from Ballotpedia, a site that offers “unbiased information to educate and inform American voters.”

We only heard from Lee Goldstein, who responded “yes,” so, in accordance with LWV policy, we canceled the event. This was extremely unfortunate, as it would have provided all of Westport’s citizens and youth an opportunity to hear from the candidates running to represent them in Hartford.

So what do we do now?  As a group, we debated next steps and decided not to be deterred.

We are exploring an event after the election that would be sponsored by the LWV, and moderated by Dan Woog and students.

There are two reasons we arrived at this decision: We want to raise student political engagement and awareness, and it provides an opportunity for our new state representatives to hear from us, about what’s important and how we want to be represented.

It will also give students a chance to share their stance on issues we care about, like AI, social media and local transportation.

We plan to make it technology-interactive, with a live polling system so representatives can see how Westport citizens feel about key issues.

My fellow WYC members and I are excited to plan this event, and look forward to sharing more details after the election.

(“Students Speak” is a forum for all students, who live in or attend school in Westport and Weston. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.net. To support this hyper-local blog, click here. Thank you!)

=================================================

Meanwhile, the Leagues of Women Voters of Lower Fairfield County are sponsoring a debate with the 3 candidates for Congress from Connecticut’s 4th District: Democratic Jim Himes, Republican Michael Goldstein and independent Benjamin Wesley.

It’s Monday, October 19 (Westport Library, 7 p.m.). Advance registration is required; click here. The debate will also be livestreamed on the Library’s YouTube page, with replay available afterward.

 

2 Comments

Posted in Politics, Teenagers

Tagged , , , , , ,

“Students Speak”: Disagree With Me. Just Don’t Threaten Me.

Posted on October 6, 2026 | 20 comments

A Staples High School student offered some thoughts on a podcast last week — and ignited an online firestorm. Today, he describes the aftermath of that podcast.

I am a junior at Staples High School, and over the last week my life has been turned upside down. 

I am escorted to class every day by school administrators. Classmates I sit beside have told me, in writing, that they wish to gang rape and kill me. My retail job has let me go, claiming of course that it was entirely unrelated.

My home address along with my father’s phone number have been posted online. He now fields a near endless stream of calls from strangers detailing their perspectives on his son.

I have loved ideas my whole life. I launched a newsletter my freshman year, and a podcast over the past summer. I gave my perspective on the situation at Cornell last Tuesday, which was similar to voices as politically opposed as what “The View”’s Sunny Hostin and “The Daily Wire”’s Ben Shapiro both espoused: that under New York state law, and with the evidence given to the district attorney in 2024, the decision not to prosecute was not unreasonable.

My tone may have been too cold, my wording imprecise, but nothing that could possibly merit what happened over the course of the week.

Let’s be fully clear: Rape and sexual assault are among the most disgusting things that occur in our society. The video itself labeled what occurred as “morally wrong” and “disgusting.”

My intention was never to minimize or denigrate anyone who falls victim to these situations. Yet the people who ostensibly claim to share that position were willing to threaten me with becoming a victim of it myself.

I have handled the backlash the best I am able. I cooperated fully with law enforcement and the administration at Staples High School. I have ignored the streams of texts and calls, and deleted Instagram off my phone to avoid obsessing over the situation.

I have attended my classes and walked into school despite being told not to go, both by those looking out for my best interests and bad actors seeking to intimidate me.

My current situation has become untethered from the Cornell case itself. It is a story of a 16-year-old kid who expressed an opinion that, whatever issues in presentation may have precipitated the response, was not outside the Overton Window.

The response was not counter arguments. It was hardly anyone seeking to educate me, understand me, or engage in the sort of discourse that only serves to help make our communities better.

The response was doxxing and death threats. 

What has stuck with me most this week is the gap between the unflinching vitriol of the online mob, and the everyday good of the people who know me. What has stuck with me are the friends who have stood by my side, despite facing immense judgment for such a stance.

What has stuck with me are the people who, in the days since the night the clip was posted, have come to me to apologize for their threats and harassment. 

I have a teacher I expected to disagree with on nearly every political issue, and I probably do. But I would now say I agree with her on everything that matters. Before class, she spoke to me privately to make sure her classroom would be a safe space for me, too.

It is those people who expressed a commitment to integrity, values and principles, concepts steadier and more important than partisanship. It is a commitment to how you treat people, your peers and neighbors, including those you disagree with.

I have seen people who vehemently disagree with me show more integrity than those who stand by every word I have said. And to say I am forever grateful to those people would be an understatement. 

I am not asking everyone to agree with what I said in the video, or any political stances I hold at all. The beauty of living in a town, and a nation, where people have such a diversity of opinions and are allowed to speak their minds freely, is exactly what drew me to being so enamored with ideas at such a young age.

What I would ask is simpler: Let dissent be accompanied by an explanation, not a threat of violence or a doxxing. 

Westport is a town that prides itself on being a place that values education and civic participation. If that is true, then it should be the place where a 16-year-old kid can make an argument, however unpopular or poorly expressed, without having his family doxxed, and his little sister living in fear, over it.

That is an entirely apolitical ask, and the bare minimum for a town that wishes to call itself a community. 

(“Students Speak” is a forum for all students, who live in or attend school in Westport and Weston. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.net. To support this hyper-local blog, click here. Thank you!)

20 Comments

Posted in Staples HS, Teenagers

Tagged , ,

“Students Speak”: The Cafeteria Tables — And The Response

Posted on September 10, 2026 | 8 comments

With the passage of time, it’s easy to forget the importance of lunch in the cafeteria to middle school students.

Chloe Robbin is an 8th grader at Bedford Middle School. Today, she speaks out about the lunch situation there. She emailed this to her principal, Dr. Adam Rosen, and school counselors too. Chloe writes:

Lunch is supposed to be a relaxing and fun time of day. You get a break from class to eat your food and socialize with your friends.

But I didn’t know that once I entered middle school, lunch would become so much more complicated. As new friend groups began to form, so did the competition for seats at lunch tables. I often see people sprinting from their class to lunch just to claim a seat.

At Bedford Middle School, lunch tables have 8 seats attached to them. That may sound like enough, but it really isn’t because Bedford has 3 elementary schools combined into 1. Because the goal is to meet new people and expand your circle, having the same amount of seats as the elementary school tables just doesn’t make sense.

Circular lunch tables only sit 8.

What happens when 9 people want to sit at a table? Or what if someone wants to invite a new friend to sit at a table? Now all of a sudden, somebody has to sit somewhere else- and not because nobody wants them there, but simply because there is no room.

For example, so far this year my lunch table has been cramped together with 2 people trying to share the tiny circular seats. Some people are even sitting on the floor or eating standing up, just because they want to be with their friends.

But we can do better.

At BMS, we are told to include others and make sure nobody ever feels left out. These are all very important messages that I completely agree with. However, it can be impossible to follow this when there is not enough room for everyone to join, and then lunchtime becomes the cause for a lot of drama.

When my friends sit at the outdoor tables that have benches instead of individual seats, we fit a significant amount more people than before. Just yesterday, we had 12 people sitting at the table, and I saw boys next to me with 15 people all sitting on the 4 benches around the table.

Students can cram together at outdoor tables.

Keeping all of this in mind, the best solution to this issue is that we should have long rectangular tables with benches instead of individual seats in the cafeteria because these tables are way more inclusive. In fact, I have noticed that Bedford has these tables folded underneath the staircase.

Long lunch tables, unused and stored underneath the BMS stairs. (All photos/Chloe Robbin)

This is not saying that we need to fill the cafeteria with all new lunch tables, but a few new ones would be just enough for students to have a better lunch experience and invite a few more friends to join.

Then  lunch can go back to hopefully being a stress free time!

(“Students Speak” is a regular “06880” feature. Any student living or studying in Westport or Weston can submit a piece. Email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this local blog, click here.)

Chloe Robbin

=================================================

Very quickly. Dr. Rosen responded. The BMS principal wrote:

Hi Chloe,

Thank you for such a thoughtful email. I especially appreciate that the motivation behind your suggestion is to make lunch more inclusive and to ensure that students have opportunities to be with their friends and welcome new people into their groups. That instinct — to notice when others might be left out and think about how we can make Bedford a more inclusive community — is something I admire and hope you continue to bring to our school.

Interestingly, the history of our cafeteria tables may surprise you. Years ago, Bedford did use the larger rectangular tables with benches that you described. At first glance, they seem like the obvious solution: If a table can hold more students, more friends can sit together. In practice, however, we found almost exactly the opposite.

When we had the larger rectangular tables, the competition to get to those tables was much more pronounced. A group of 10 or 12 students could essentially claim one large table, and inevitably there would be another 2 or 3 students who considered themselves part of that same friend group but could not fit. Those students often felt even more excluded because nearly their entire social group was sitting together without them. We received frequent concerns from students and parents across all 3 grades about exactly this issue.

Dr. Adam Rosen

There was another challenge as well. At a long rectangular table, a smaller group could occupy the middle and become the center of the conversation, while students sitting farther down the benches or at the ends could technically be “at the table” but still feel socially separated from the group.

Our move to round tables was very intentional and came after considerable work involving our School Climate Committee, PTA, students, and staff. The difference was remarkable. The concerns about exclusion decreased substantially once we moved to round tables.

One reason is that a round table puts everyone on equal footing—there is no “center” or “end” of the group. Just as importantly, the 8-seat tables encourage larger friend groups to divide into smaller, more fluid groups rather than having one large clique occupy a single table. Over time, that actually creates more opportunities for students to mix, move among friends, welcome others, and develop new relationships.

I completely understand that this can feel counterintuitive when 9 friends want to sit together and there are only 8 seats. Your observation is a very reasonable one. But after many years of watching both arrangements in action at Bedford, I can tell you that the larger tables unfortunately created substantially more social difficulties and feelings of exclusion than our current round tables do.

That does not mean we should ignore the concerns you raised. Students should never be sitting on the floor, standing to eat, or squeezing two people onto a seat in order to remain connected to their friends. Mrs. Harding and I will continue to pay attention to what is happening during lunch and work with students on ways to make the experience as positive and inclusive as possible.

Most importantly, please don’t lose the spirit behind your suggestion. You saw something affecting your peers, thought carefully about a possible solution, and took the initiative to respectfully advocate for a more inclusive Bedford. I hold that kind of leadership in very high regard. While experience has taught us that the particular solution of larger tables would likely work against the outcome you are hoping for, the outcome itself—helping students feel welcomed, connected, and included—is exactly what we want as well.

Thank you for caring enough about your school community to write to us.

Warmly,
Dr. Rosen

8 Comments

Posted in Education, Teenagers

Tagged , , ,

Roundup: Dogs Need Homes; Westport Youth Stretch & Speak; Neighbors & Newcomers Meet …

Posted on September 1, 2026 | Leave a comment

The once-sleepy Westport Animal Control shelter is now full.

So are the foster slots for Westport Animal Shelter Advocates. They care for a number of abandoned and surrendered canines, in need of homes.

This Sunday (September 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), WASA hosts a meet-and-greet with adoptable dogs at VFW Post 399 (465 Riverside Avenue).

Attendees can also bid on a signed Aaron Judge baseball, and enter a drawing for giant Penny and Gus New York Yankee dogs, and Yankee tickets.

The VFW grill will be open too, offering hot dogs, hamburgers and bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwiches.

For more information, click here; call 203-557-0361, or email wasa1@optonline.net. The Instagram is @wasawestport.

==================================================

Amy Shapiro’s 3 young sons are athletes: basketball football, soccer and lacrosse.

While coaches focused on skill and technique, they seldom gave advice on moving well, recovering properly and caring for their bodies.

Tight muscles, limited mobility, nagging aches and minor injuries were the norm for her sons, and their teammates.

Amy encouraged her kids to stretch. But like many young athletes, they did not always listen.

Amy — who has always exercised, and tried to get her boys to join her when she stretched did yoga and foam rolled (they were bored) — had an idea. What if young athletes stretched, and cross trained, as a team?

“The LAB” was born.

Rather than emphasizing sport-specific skills, its comprehensive approach combines performance training, mobility, recovery and mindset development.

Specifically, the “Grind LAB” focuses on speed and agility, footwork and coordination, explosive power, and athletic movement patterns.

The “Mind LAB” combines movement, mobility, stretching, mindfulness, breathwork and recovery techniques. Participants improve flexibility, reduce injury risk, manage stress, and develop mental toughness.

The LAB offers program for 1st grade through high school. Offerings include private training, small group sessions, weekly classes, specialty clinics and seasonal programs.

Classes start at $35. They’re held throughout Westport, including at Forme Barre next to Party Harty, Compo Beach, and private homes and yards.

Instructors include a former Staples High School football captain and pro player, and a woman who has taught over 5,000 hours of movement and mindfulness to children and families.

For more information, email TheLABSportsCT@gmail.com. The Instagram is @TheLabSportsCT.

13-year-old basketball players work on flexibility with a LAB coach.

==================================================

Speaking of students: Our “06880 Students Speak” feature is gearing up for another school year.

Any youngster in a Westport school, public or private; any Westport student who goes to school outside town, and anyone who is home-schooled is welcome to contribute.

We’re looking for insights into any aspect of your life. Is your school a place of excitement or joy? Or do you hate it? Fear it?

Do you use AI to learn, or about yourself, or because you’re lonely, or to cheat?

Have you overcome body image issues? Were you bullied — or unfairly called a bully?

The goal of “Students Speak” is to give young people a voice. Our readers want to know what and how you feel. You deserve to be heard.

Posts can be anonymous, if desired. What’s important are your insights, your honesty, and the power of your words.

Unsure about your writing skills? We’ll work with you, to make sure it sounds right — while at the same time keeping your voice authentic and true.

To submit a “Students Speak” piece — or to learn more — email 06880blog@gmail.com.

================================================

A new school year brings a new calendar for Neighbors & Newcomers of Westport.

The low-key — but very fun and welcoming — organization has been around since 1963.

It’s a place to socialize, make new friends, discover local treasures, and become more involved in the community. Events include casual gatherings, coffee meetups, book and cooking groups, special events and more.

Neighbors & Newcomers is open to recent arrives, longtime residents and everyone in between.

A $65 annual membership includes invitations to activities, access to the membership directory, a monthly newsletter, entry to the December holiday party and June beach party, and the fun of being connected to town. Click here for more information, and to join.

================================================

All year long, the Westport Farmers’ Market has celebrated its 20th anniversary.

CTbites — Connecticut’s go-to food blog — took note this week. They posted a special video, with insights from a variety of vendors (and longtime director Lori Cochran-Dougall).

Spoiler alert: nearly every interviewee praised the market’s “community spirit.” (And not just customers — many vendors buy from each other, and even hang out together.)

The Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) through mid-November, at the Imperial Avenue parking lot.

Click here or below for the CTbites video.

==================================================

Work continues at Sherwood Island. Dirt removed from the newly paved West Beach parking lot — piled high for a while — is being removed this week.

The state park is being readied for next week’s 9/11 ceremony, at Connecticut’s official memorial. It’s set for Thursday, September 10.

Tidying up, at Sherwood Island. (Photo/Chris Swan)

==================================================

Former resident Joseph Zambelli died July 28. He was 91.

The Iona College graduate served in the Navy from 1952 to 1954. He worked at General Foods for 37 years as a financial analyst, financial planning manager, controller, and consultant. He and his family lived in Westport for 27 years.

An expert in efficiency and cost strategy, Joe analyzed potential acquisitions and streamlined business operations across the US, Europe, South America and Asia. He also mentored scores of colleagues.

Joe loved sailing on Long Island Sound and playing golf at Longshore and in Florida, along with big band swing. He was a member of the Florida State Elks Association, and played in the Stonegate Golf Club men’s league.

Joe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Zambelli of Poinciana, Florida; children Bara of Asheville, North Carolina, Jean of Westport, Jay Zambelli (Caryn) of Portland, Oregon, and Carolyn of Darien; grandchildren Emma and Tasha Taggart; Isabel and Georgia Nichoson; Katherine, Thomas and Joseph Cavolo, and Freddy Zambelli; siblings Dolly Orza of Briarcliff Manor, New York, and Alfred Zambelli, of Harrison, New York, and many nieces and nephews.  Joe was predeceased by his brother Andrew Zambelli, and sisters Mary Riggio, Rose Goldsmith and Jane Lieto.

A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at a later date.

Joe Zambelli

=============================================

Every sunrise is special.

But yesterday’s was extra-special.

Matt Murray captured its glory. It’s perfect for our “Westport … Naturally” feature of the day.

(Photo/Matt Murray)

==================================================

And finally … in honor of the dog adoption meet-and-greet set for Sunday (story above):

(How much is that doggie in the window? A better question: How much is “06880” worth to you? We rely on readers for support. Please click here, to donate what you think we deserve. Thanks!)

Leave a comment

Posted in Categories, Environment, Local business, Obituaries, Sports, Teenagers

Tagged , , , , , , ,

“Students Speak”: Senior Reflects On 1 Year At Staples

Posted on June 12, 2026 | 3 comments

Lukas Frenes is a Staples High School senior. He spent his internship working with “06880.”

Every member of the Class of 2026 has a story. Lukas’ is unique: This was his only year at Staples. How did it go? Read on!

Entering Staples High School as a senior is an experience few graduates ever face.

When I walked through the sprawling doors last fall, the crisp autumn air wasn’t just signaling my first day of the school year; it was marking my first week ever living in Westport.

I was still figuring out the winding roads, let alone the labyrinthine hallways of Staples.

Lukas Frenes

These first steps into an entirely unfamiliar environment felt worrisome. Trading the hushed, highly structured quads of a tiny boarding school for the massive kinetic energy of a public high school was a profound culture shock.

I had to brace myself for the “Westport way of life,” anticipating Staples to be an intimidating pressure cooker of Ivy League ambitions and impenetrable lifelong cliques. It felt like I had to jump onto a moving train.

The students themselves were the ones who truly dismantled my self-conceived fears. In Children’s Lit, the ice broke not in a stiff classroom setting but on the seats of a rumbling yellow school bus.

We were bouncing along new roads, the thick, nervous air filled with the smell of diesel while we debated whether our assigned elementary kids would actually connect with us.

I was worried about my kid, Jacob. But before I could overthink it a laptop hit
“record,” asking me predictions on our teaching abilities.

The curriculum was demanding, but the growth happened in the small, quiet moments.

Navigating an intense senior year with dyslexia was always going to be an uphill battle, but the Staples faculty met my learning differences with open arms, prioritizing genuine understanding over routine busywork.

Mr. Feagin’s AP Economics classroom, in particular, became a sanctuary. Instead of leaving me to struggle silently with a sea of swimming letters on timed exams, he would meet with me afterward to give me extra time.

He never made me feel the shame I usually felt regarding my dyslexia. I wasn’t a burden; I was supported, allowing me to find my footing, culminating in an Academic Excellence award.

I still recall my first day in the Staples cafeteria. The energy was palpable; a loud, kinetic room of students completely engrossed in years of shared memories, while I passed through crowds of people alone as a first-year senior.

Then members of the Saugatuck Rowing team waved me over to their table. In an instant, I had an anchor.

Lukas Frenes, in action.

Rowing was my community through it, but there were distinct trade-offs. The grueling practice forced us to sacrifice traditional senior milestones, such as many sports events, and build a stronger bond of solidarity.

As senior year winds down, the perspective I gained has been invaluable. Staples wasn’t just a waiting room for graduation; it provided the space to test my abilities, learn about myself, and explore what I want my future to look like.

The profound judgment-free support I received from teachers, combined with the joy of seeing Jacob’s face light up during my Children’s Lit lessons, illuminated my path to pursue educational studies at Colby College next year. I am driven by the goal of helping students like me who would hate the education system without phenomenal teachers like the ones at Staples.

While being fast, challenging and intense, I wouldn’t give up calling myself a Wrecker for anything.

(“Students Speak” is a regular “06880” feature. Any student living or studying in Westport or Weston can submit a piece. Email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this local blog, click here.)

3 Comments

Posted in Staples HS, Teenagers

Tagged ,

“Students Speak”: “Impossible To Find Success When You Have Yet To Find Your Passion”

Posted on May 6, 2026 | 21 comments

Delilah Berniker is a sophomore at Staples High School. She has lived in Westport since 2016.

She plays JV soccer and lacrosse; is a member of Student Council, an editor of the school’s Soundings literary magazine, and will soon be co-president of Circle of Friends, where she works with students with special needs. In her free time Delilah loves to draw, paint, take photos and write poetry.

She is also a very talented writer. Today, she says: 

Unlike many Westport parents, mine did not pressure me about academics when I was younger.

Delilah Berniker

So when freshman year at Staples came along, I had no idea what I was getting into. It felt like everyone got a memo that I missed — the one that told them to “join as many clubs as possible,” add maximum “rigor” to their schedules, become president of a club by junior year, and at a bare minimum have at least the next 7 years of their life planned out by the time they turn 14.

Am I the only one who didn’t know high school is more about college than it is about high school?

While I don’t blame my parents, I feel naive for listening to them when they told my anxious middle school self “it will all work out,” and I should just go to sleep early.

Now, not only am I catching up on sleep, but I feel like I’m catching up on at least 2 years of intensive PSAT prep, creating new math proofs, publishing my latest philosophical theories, and starting a non-profit.

Don’t get me wrong: I love Staples, and I am invigorated by the different classes and clubs offered. My issue is not lacking interests, it’s having too many. Even after 2 years of scrambling for leadership roles and scribbling my name down on every club sign-up sheet, I still feel lost within the chaos of this high school marathon.

My classmates, painted as competitors, are all rushing to fill the idealistic mold of a college applicant: stacking extracurriculars, joining more clubs, and constantly wondering what more they should be doing. This pressure on our shoulders becomes increasingly heavier as we squish ourselves to fit the narrow definition of success now engraved in our brains.

It wasn’t until recently, as I approach the end of sophomore year, that I realized, within this race to build my perfect academic picture, I have lost sight of my interests.

In fact, I don’t think I’ve had the chance to fully discover them. I’ve been so overwhelmed with what others are doing and what everyone tells me I am supposed to be doing, I haven’t given myself enough room to think of other paths.

I realized I was doing the wrong things by trying to do the right things.

My name was on the roster for multiple clubs, my schedule was full, but I wasn’t invested in anything I was doing. In some cases (like mine) it takes a Debate Club meeting to realize that you may be in the wrong room — and you never wanted to be there in the first place.

A common misconception students have is that there is only one definition, or one path to success. What I’ve started to understand is that it is impossible to find success when you have yet to find passion.

When we focus so much on what we feel like we’re “supposed” to do in order to stand out, we end up following the same 2-dimensional checklist. In that process, we lose something deeper: the space to actually figure out what matters to us.

The truth is, the people who seem like they have everything figured out often don’t.

Declaring your future at 14 doesn’t mean you’ve discovered your passion — it often just means you’ve chosen a path that feels acceptable. I love art, writing, and everything creative, but I’ve been afraid to lean into that because “unless you’re applying to art school, it’s a waste of time.”

What will colleges think about art, and a literary magazine?

I’ve learned that the most valuable accomplishments are ones that stem from passion and consistency. What makes you stand out cannot solely live on an application in a maximum of 200 words. It exists in the things you care about enough to keep showing up for, even when they don’t “count.”

I know a certain amount of external expectations and pressure are necessary to push myself, but I will no longer fall victim to the assumption that there is only one way to succeed in high school.

In trying so hard to build something impressive, it is easy to forget to build something real. Focus on finding your passion, and the rest of the checklist will fill itself in from there.

Passion cannot be manufactured. And passion is never a waste of time.

(“Students Speak” is a regular “06880” feature. Any student living or studying in Westport or Weston can submit a piece. Email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this local blog, click here.)

21 Comments

Posted in Staples HS, Teenagers

Tagged ,

“Students Speak”: Looking Back And Ahead, Pressure All Around

Posted on February 24, 2026 | 10 comments

“Students Speak” is a regular feature of “06880.” We offer this space to Westport teenagers, to talk about anything important in their lives.

Sienna Tzou is a sophomore at Staples High School. She has lived in Westport since 2013.

She is a member of the Pre-med and Asian Students clubs, and co-president of Staples Writers’ Room. She competes regionally in bouldering and lead climbing, and has worked as a barista at Retreat Sweets and a CIT at Rock Climb Fairfield. Sienna tutors young students each week at the Westport Library. She enjoys reading, writing, and watching horror movies. Sienna writes:

It’s getting closer to the time when I have to know what I want to do with my life.

In the underappreciated years of middle school I tried much harder than any of my peers, likely even more than a handful of them combined. I outdid every part of my life that I could get my hands on.

Sienna Tzou

I participated in multiple sports, after-school clubs, and 3 early morning music ensembles. I studied SAT vocabulary daily, wrote notes of analysis on the books I read in my free time, made lists of target and safety universities I’d apply to, and loathed if even a shred of space wasn’t filled in my calendar.

I was always told that middle school didn’t matter, but I was relentless in earning straight A’s anyway. I felt the need to succeed in every subject, including the ones I struggled in. The last thing I’d want to do on a Friday evening became the only thing I did on Friday evenings.

I kept tearing away at my brittle and depleted supply of youthful vitality, rocking back and forth and rocketing off the seesaw of my emotions.

I wasn’t just bitten down; I was sawed down to the quick by everything that did not matter. The only person I was competing with was myself, but I was regrettably up against the most vile and ruthless competitor yet, no match for a middle-school kid.

Now that I look back, I don’t thank my previous self nor do any fond memories refract the occasional creep-ups of those times. If I take a look at the list of target schools I spent hours researching to devise, it would almost look like I was kidding myself.

Reality was just code for something unwarranted and extraterrestrial that existed in another dimension as a kid of 13 years.

This immense pressure has grown and developed, and thankfully subdued upon my entry to high school. It has still, nevertheless, attached the roots of its existence into my skull, thus being incurable.

Most kids from here come from parents who passed on the traits of ambition to succeed. From the looks of it, to fail would mean shaming the generations that had preceded us, breaking off the end of the chain. We simply don’t feel like we can afford being the weakest link.

Away from school: Sienna Tzou pursues one of her passions, at Rock Climb Fairfield.

This doesn’t apply for absolutely every teenager in Westport, but as soon as someone announces they’ll be taking 4 AP classes next year, a gang of teens will crowd the counselors’ suite to take 5. Most seek to be well-rounded, but does that leave any room for uniquely sharp edges?

Given that it’s the time of year for course selection, I’ve seen my peers compile AP after AP because it will “look good for resumes” or because they “can’t take fewer APs” than Academic Rival #12.

An abundantly resource-rich environment for personal growth and the cultivation of youthful learning has unfolded into a landscape of deadly competitive aptitude.

I can’t speak for everyone at Staples, but from observation from the span of my time in high school so far, taking the learning to heart without the side thought of a grade or credit is an endangered species.

From many accounts, students have locked themselves in their rooms from when they got home to after their entire family was asleep, drank multiple servings of caffeine when they felt at risk of falling asleep, and quit activities they genuinely enjoyed to pursue a grade in a class that wasn’t relevant to their interests.

What’s a grave eye opener is that up until we’ve turned 18 and rounded the corner to be sent off to face the world on our own, we are living in the smallest capsule of time in our lives.

The average person in the US lives for roughly 78 years. Sleep consumes 1/3 of their life, while 1/7 of their waking life is spent on social media. Gen Z spends increased hours on their phones, more than the average adult. Most Americans spend 60% of their lives working, the majority of them not finding joy in their role but only working the job for the sake of their paycheck.

A decade later: Where are they now?

How heavily we focus on our academics now paves the way to undergraduate university to grad school to careers to the rest of our lives. This is the age-old proverb we are spoonfed as soon as our conscious mind can comprehend this.

It’s not wrong, but our generation is accustomed to nothing else, and we therefore expect ourselves to be versions of perfection, some not even existent.

I’m at the juncture where I have to choose how I want to lead my life. I regret how extreme middle school was for me, but I know that what I’m pursuing will last me for the rest of the years I live

(“Students Speak” is open to all students who live or attend school in Westport. You can write on any topic relevant to your life. Send questions or submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com.)

(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. We exist for — and are supported by — our readers. Contributions are welcome! Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!)

10 Comments

Posted in Education, Teenagers, Westport life

Tagged

Roundup: Students Speak, Wheels2U Expands, Jackopierce Rocks …

Posted on February 9, 2026 | 1 comment

A reminder to students: We want to hear from you!

“06880”‘s “Students Speak” pages are open to all teenagers. If you live in Westport, go to school in Westport or are home-schooled: Tell us about your lives.

What is growing up here like for you? What causes stress? What brings you joy? What is your passion, and how has this town helped you develop it (or hindered)? Is there too much emphasis — or not enough — on academics, arts, athletics, activities? What’s your friend group like? What do you think about social media? The state of the world (or town, or school)?

You can use your name, or be anonymous — your choice. You can be positive, negative or neutral. You can offer suggestions and solutions, or not.

The important thing is to offer insights and perspectives, to the broad “06880” audience. You’re an important part of our online community, and we want to share your stories.

If you’re unsure of what to write about — or want a little guidance — we’ll work with you. But we’ll make sure that in the end, your voice comes through loud and clear.

To send submissions or learn more, email 06880blog@gmail.com. Thanks!

Of course no one writes like this anymore. But it’s the only graphic I could find about “writing.”

=================================================

Westport’s Wheels2U is branching out.

The on-demand service is joining with Norwalk Community Health Center to bring patients with transportation challenges to Norwalk Community Heath Center’s medical mobile unit at Jesup Green every Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The unit was brought back to Westport by Homes with Hope, following the pandemic.

Residents needing rides can use Wheels2U’s app, or call 475-258-7893. 

The fare is $2 — and new users get their first 5 rides free. 

For information, on Wheels2U, click here.

==================================================

Cary Pierce — the 1987 Staples High School graduate who, as half of the alt/ rock/folk duo Jackopierce has been entertaining audiences around the world for over 30 years — played a “hometown” concert last night.

The Fairfield Theatre Company was filled with a wide range of fans — including former classmates.

Former Staples teachers Jim and Denise Honeycutt were there too. Jim shot this video, with 2 of Jackopierce’s most popular songs: “Please Come to Boston” and “Vineyard.”

==================================================

This was the temperature yesterday on Saugatuck Shores. Did anyone record a lower one?

(Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)

At Old Mill, James White reports: “It’s been a good 10 years plus since the Sherwood Mill Pond froze over.

“Back then we formed the Mill Pond Explorers Club. Here are some hearty members on a current excursion out on the ice.”

(Photo/James White)

Today’s high is predicted to be 30 degrees. Tomorrow, it’s 36; on Wednesday, a positively tropical 41.

See you at the beach!

=================================================

Have you seen the signs? Pink Floyd is coming to Westport!

And they’re not playing at a big venue, like Staples High School or the Levitt Pavilion.

(Photo/Jonathan Alloy)

But wait! Jonathan Alloy — who sent along the photo — notes that 2 of the original members are dead. And the other 3 have not worked together since 2005.

Spoiler alert: The group — called Prognosis The American Pink Floyd — is a tribute band.

Their website says they’ve been “performing the music of Pink Floyd
with incredible album accuarcy [sic] for 15 years both in the USA and internationally. Known for their elaborate lights, lasers and video projections, Prognosis The American Pink Floyd is considered to be the best and most accurate ​Pink Floyd experience.”

Too bad. Still, it sounds like a great show. And for $20, how can you go wrong?

Meanwhile, we look forward to the upcoming Beatles concert. They’ll be playing at Little Barn.

==================================================

The topic for the  next Westport Astronomical Society science lecture is dark.

Dark matter, that is.

Dr. Yue Yu of Columbia University’s International Axion Observatory

It’s set for February 17 (8 p.m.), at the WAS’ classroom on Bayberry Lane. It will be livestreamed too, on YouTube and Zoom.

Axions and axion-like particles are among the leading candidates for dark matter. This talk will introduce the International Axion Observatory, the next-generation experiment designed to search for solar axions, along with its pathfinder mission, BabyIAXO. For more information, click here.

Dr. Yue Yu

============================================

On Saturday, this majestic bird took a break on a small woodpile, just a few feet from a window at Johnny Clark’s High Point Road home.

It sat long enough for a “Westport … Naturally” photo — a gorgeous start to our week.

(Photo/Johnny Clark)

==================================================

And finally … there is no more appropriate song to follow up on the Pink Floyd story (above) than:

(You could pay hundreds of dollars for a Pink Floyd ticket — if they were still performing. But they’re not. So instead, please click here to toss a few bucks “06880”‘s way. Thank you!)

1 Comment

Posted in Entertainment, Transportation, Weather

Tagged , , , , , ,

“Students Speak”: Sharing Grades Adds Extra Stress

Posted on January 6, 2026 | 9 comments

“Students Speak” offers a platform for Westport students to speak out about issues of importance to them.

Ella Turner is a sophomore at Staples High School. She serves Inklings as paper editor and editorial board member, and is part of the Graphic Design Club. Last summer, Ella explored media writing at Vogue Summer School and investigative journalism with the New York Times program.

Ella has studied at Alvin Ailey’s dance intensive in New York. She is a member of the senior company at Westport’s Academy of Dance, performing shows like “The Nutcracker.” Ella writes:

I quit tennis when I was 10 years old.

As someone who couldn’t stand the stress of constant competition, I told my mom that competitive sports just weren’t for me and started a career in dance.

After a while though, my little self realized that in any activity, there would be a level of healthy competition. I slowly adjusted, realizing that it could actually push me rather than hinder my progress.

Ella Turner

At school however, I loved to be in competition with myself. That meant harder classes and more stress. As most Staples students do, I would stress about tests, then worry about the grade I got.

You’d think that would be the end of it. However, once I receive my grade, I am forced to add another level of stress to the already mountain-high stack: the stress of telling others how I did.

Grade sharing is a common occurrence at Staples, to the point where I share and compare my grades with classmates in every class. For most students, it is the norm. It is customary that the second you receive a grade, you feel obligated to share it.

Even when I try to avoid disseminating my grade, I’m often asked outright by others. Sharing grades is now a part of the academic process at Staples, and I, like countless other students, don’t bat an eye at it. But recently, I have  wondered why this is the case.

Some of the blame for the increasingly public nature of grades at Staples is also one of my unfortunately cherished pastimes: checking PowerSchool. Despite the ease that technology has created, students having full access to their grades at any time of day is a risky power. Rather than avoiding the question, or avoiding discussing grades altogether, there’s always the ability to “just pull it up!” — a phrase I am sadly guilty of.

A significant portion of the pressure to share grades stems from the desire for comparison. The culture at Staples is undeniably a feeling of constant preparation for college and the workforce. This leads to yet another feeling that each grade is the defining factor in a student’s future success.

This culture not only enables unnecessary anxiety, but also creates an underlying sense of competition, the kind that can drag a student’s self esteem far down without them even realizing. If they get a bad grade, they need the reassurance that it was still an average or above average grade, and that they are not falling behind others in the constant race to an unknown finish line.

Once a grade is out in the open, whether positive or negative, there are serious underlying consequences that students put on themselves. If my classmate aces an English essay, there becomes this expectation that they are good at English and should be living up to the bar they set for themselves. Effort becomes judged by a letter rather than time and energy. And once stereotypes and expectations are made, breaking those assumptions can feel impossible.

It’s understandable that comparing grades with peers can be exciting, and many people don’t feel uncomfortable with that level of openness. But it’s also important to take into account that many people need a level of privacy when it comes to grades, whether they say it out loud or not.

Rather than asking “What did you get?,” forcing students to reply with a letter grade, try instead “How was the test?” or “How did you do?” This will enable students who are uncomfortable to respond indirectly, which provides a sense of comfort that as of now, not many students have.

As a sophomore who has 2 more years at high school, that means I will be comparing and sharing my grades, whether I am comfortable or not with the idea.

As a community and a school, I believe it is important that we take a step back and reassess the motives for constant grade sharing by asking ourselves: Is sharing your grades for the benefit of others, or the benefit of your self-validation?

(To submit a “Student Speaks” — or for questions about this feature — email 06880blog@gmail.com. We will work with students — at Staples, private schools or home-schooled — to help craft their story. Anonymity, if requested, is assured.) 

(If you enjoy this feature — or anything else on “06880” — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

9 Comments

Posted in Staples HS, Teenagers

Tagged

“Students Speak”: Collateral Damage From Cellphone Ban

Posted on December 9, 2025 | 13 comments

Recently, “06880” introduced a new feature. “Students Speak” gives Westport students a voice on any issue important to their lives.

Will Enquist

Today, Will Enquist looks at Staples High School’s “cellphone ban.” It actually includes more than phones.

A Staples High School senior, managing editor of Inklings, and a member of both the Westport Youth Commission and “06880” board, he enjoys reading the Wall Street Journal, and watching the New England Patriots “slowly regain relevance.”

He plans to major in political science, and contribute to his college’s newspaper. Will writes:

As I took refuge from a chill fall breeze inside the warm halls of Staples High on November 5, I was greeted with a sight unseen over the past decade: Not a single student was using their cell phone.

On that day a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban, first proposed by Superintendent Scarice and later approved by the Board of Education, was implemented.

Despite the student body’s fervor in the days leading up to the phone ban, my Wednesday was rather typical. Like many Staples students, my phone has never really been a distraction in class. However, during my lunch period I first noticed one of its unintended consequences.

As I sat down in the library, I put in my AirPods – equipped with noise cancellation – to block out the buzz during lunch, a volume comparable to Madison Square Garden during the NBA playoffs.

I was 90 seconds into Beethoven’s 6th Symphony and my calculus homework when a faculty member politely asked that I remove my wireless headphones.

I was suddenly reminded of one of the less reasonable stipulations of the ban: In addition to cellphones and smartwatches, students are prohibited from using wireless headphones during the school day.

Interestingly, it is this aspect of the policy — the ban on widely popular wireless headphones like AirPods — that has spurred the most criticism. Students and teachers alike express confusion about why devices that often complement or enhance learning have been strictly forbidden.

Before I continue, I should note that I am a supporter of the phone ban. I believe the superintendent and Staples administration have pursued it with every intention of improving school culture, focus and academic achievement.

However, I believe prohibiting the use of wireless headphones is a significant misstep in the design of the policy.

The administration’s central argument for banning wireless headphones, as I understand it, is that students who might still have their phones on them (in violation of the new policy) could use their headphones to have incoming notifications read to them.

This is not consistent with how I know Staples students to use wireless headphones. Before the ban headphones were most often used for listening to music, canceling out distracting background noise, and listening to teacher-assigned videos or podcasts – all legitimate uses of the technology that support learning.

I have never known of a student using wireless headphones to secretly receive notifications, especially considering that responding to any notification would require verbally dictating a message into their headphones, something immediately apparent to any teacher.

The misuse the policy aims to prevent appears far less common than the productive and legitimate uses it now restricts.

The ability to watch educational videos, listen to music, and cut out distracting ambient noise has been vital to my productivity during school hours and, by extension, my academic success.

Shortly after learning about the new restrictions on wireless headphones, I began researching wired alternatives with active noise cancellation. However, most headphones advertised as “wired” with noise-canceling capabilities are expensive wireless models that include a wired option.

While my summer job may equip me with the means to afford this option, it feels awfully wasteful and fiscally irresponsible to squander that money when I already own perfectly good AirPod Pros that the policy now restricts.

Ultimately, the goal of the phone ban is one I genuinely support: create a school environment where students are more focused on and connected to their classroom community.

For the phone ban to be effective, however, it must accurately differentiate between tools that detract from learning and those that support it. For the vast majority of students, wireless headphones fall into the latter category.

(To submit a “Student Speaks” — or for questions about this feature — email 06880blog@gmail.com. We will work with students to help craft their story. Anonymity, if requested, is assured.) 

(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. Every day, we bring you news, events, opinions, photos and much more. But we can’t do it without the support of our readers. Please click here to contribute. Thanks!)

13 Comments

Posted in Staples HS, technology, Teenagers

Tagged , , ,