Hundreds In Brockton Join International Walk To School Day

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Lao Khang pushed a stroller carrying his preschool son Jordan as he led a group of youngsters including his daughter, third grader Britney and fourth grade niece Cyanne as the group walked to the Kennedy Elementary School for “International Walk to School Day,” which had 97 parents and more than 60 students arrive at school via their feet.
Khang (Pictured at top signing in with neice Cyanne) said it was the first time the family walked the ½ mile or so to their school and pledged to do it as often as they can. Until their pledge to walk to school on Wednesdays—when possible—Britney and Cyanne are usually dropped off at the Kennedy by their uncle.
While they have taken a pledge to participate—Khang held out a caveat.
“It depends on the weather,” Khang said, noting Wednesday’s sunny and 60 degree temperature made it easy for the family to join the estimated 6 million people in 40 countries who shed their automobiles and instead walked to their local schools.
Organizers, including school officials and representatives of the state Department of Transportation hope the worldwide observance will trigger a year-long, and life-long goal of children adding exercise into their daily routine and maybe having some fun along the way.
“It’s a walking school bus,” said Ben Hammer, the DOT’s statewide coordinator for Safe Routes to School, a program through MASS Rides that Brockton helped to pilot. (Hammer, pictured far left in photo below with Kennedy School student Alejandro Alphonse)
Hammer said Brockton has been a lead district in the walking to school
initiative and received a grant three years ago to promote the program.
Jane Feroli, the district’s Specialist for Parent Engagement, who leads numerous outreach initiatives in the district, said five schools —Brookfield, Davis, Downey, Hancock and Kennedy—for the past three years have taken part in the Safe Routes to School on Wednesday Program.
“To date, over 10,000 students at these schools have walked to school on Wednesdays, even sometimes in rain and snow,” Feroli said.
Feroli said 375 students at Brockton's 5 participating schools joined in yesterday's International Walk to School Day.
She said the walk is a great start to the school day because students—and adults—get exercise, fresh air, help reduce harmful emissions from vehicles and have fun talking to family and friends along the way.
“It’s not just about walking to school, it is bonding as a community and creating safe and sustainable practices that can be handed down to other generations,” Feroli said.

THIS WEEK IN BROCKTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3
Parents’ Academy, "No Such Thing as a Bad Kid Workshop,Arnone School 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Hancock: P.T.A. Meeting, Library 6 p.m.
West: School Store Opens, Auditorium Lobby 2:35 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4
Brockton School Committee Meeting, B.H.S. Little Theater 7 p.m.
Arnone: P.A.C. Meeting, Teachers Lounge 6 p.m.
Raymond: Title One ~ Annual Breakfast – K – Gr. 5 8:35 a.m.
West: School Improvement Council Meeting, Room 110 6 p.m.
West: P.A.C. Meeting, Room 110 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
International Walk to School Day at Brookfield, Davis, Downey, Hancock and Kennedy Schools
Angelo: First Safety Program for Grade 3, During School
Arnone: Title One ~ Family Book Bag – K - Mrs. Wedge 1:30 p.m.
Davis: Family Cooking Night, Kennedy Café 5:45 – 7:15 p.m.
Hancock: Title One ~ Annual Breakfast, 9:15 a.m.
Huntington: Family Cooking Night, Kennedy Café 5:45 – 7:15 p.m.
Kennedy: International Walk to School Day with invited guests from MA DOT 8:35 a.m.
Kennedy: Family Cooking Night, Café 5:45 – 7:15 p.m.
Plouffe: P.A.C. Meeting, Café 6:30 p.m.
Raymond: P.T.A. Meeting, Café 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
Brookfield: Title One ~ Annual Breakfast 9:15 a.m.
Downey: Pajama Day, During School
East: School Improvement Council Meeting, Room 130 5 p.m.
East: P.A.C. Meeting, Room 130 6 p.m.
Huntington: September Citizen of the Month Awards Assembly During School
Kennedy: Read for the Record. During School
Kennedy: First Safety Program for Grade 3. During School
Kennedy: Title One ~ Family Book Bag –Gr. 2 - Mrs. Mondillo 1:15 p.m.
Kennedy: School Improvement Council Meeting, Conference Room 6 p.m.
Kennedy: P.A.C. Meeting, Café 7 p.m.
North: School Improvement Council Meeting, Café 5 p.m.
North: P.A.C. Meeting Café 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
Parents’ Academy, Welcome to the 2011 – 2012 School Year, Gilmore Early Childhood Center 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Angelo: Citizen of the Month Breakfast, Cafe 9–9:30 a.m.
Ashfield: Welcome Back to School Dance, 3:00–5:00 p.m.
Kennedy: First Safety Program for Grade 3. During School

THIS WEEK IN BROCKTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Baker: Family Skate Night Carousal, Whitman, T.B.A.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Parents’ Academy, Raising the Awareness of Underage Drinking, Arnone School 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Huntington: Title One ~ Annual Breakfast Gr. 2–5 8:15 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Baker: School Store Open. During Lunches
Brookfield: Bingo for Books Café T.B.A.
Downey: Title One ~ Family Book Bag Gr. 1 Ms. Williamson T.B.A
Huntington: Title One ~ Annual Breakfast K–Gr. 1 8:15 a.m.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 to FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
NO SCHOOL ~ ROSH HASHANAH

Free PV Course For Electricians

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Southeastern Regional Technical High School has a few spots left for the free 45-hour Photovoltaic, or PV, course beginning Wednesday, September 28.
This course is paid through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and the Massachusetts State Energy Partnership.
The 45-hour course will take place over seven Wednesday evenings from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. and on two Saturdays with instructor, Russ MacLeod.
Licensed electricians and/or electrical apprentices currently enrolled in a registered electrical journeyman license program are eligible for this free course and should contract Dave Degan at 508-230-1296 or degan@sersd.org for a course packet.

THIS WEEK IN BROCKTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
PRE K-8 IN-SERVICE ~ EARLY RELEASE DAY
Parents’ Academy
Welcome to the 2011–2012 School Year
in Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese
Arnone School 6:30 to 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Brockton School Committee Meeting B.H.S. Little Theater 7 p.m.
Angelo: Title One ~ Bingo for Books 6–7:15 p.m.
Ashfield: Open House 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Goddard: Open House 3–5 p.m.
North: Open House 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Plouffe: Open House 5–7 p.m.
Raymond: P.T.A. Meeting Café 6:30 p.m.
West: Open House 6–8 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Parents’ Academy, Make Math Count! Arnone School 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Baker: P.T.A. Meeting Community Room 7 p.m.
B.H.S.: Open House 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Champion: Open House 5-7 p.m.
Downey: Title One ~ Annual Breakfast K-5, 7:45 a.m.
East: Open House 5-7 p.m.
Kennedy: P.A.C. Meeting Café 7 p.m.
Russell: Open House 5–7 p.m.
South: Open House 5-7 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Raymond: Summer Math & Reading Celebration During School

Brookfield Playground Almost Done

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—When volunteers in Brockton install a new state-of-the-art playground at the Brookfield Playground, they will have a lot of people to thank, including Dianne And Rick Snelgrove, who in the name of their daughter Victoria, donated more than $20,000.
“There are things to swing on, crawl through, hang on, slide on, and play on. I think the kids are going to love it,” said East Bridgewater resident Dianne Snelgrove of the new playground.
The installation begins, Saturday, Aug. 13 at 7 a.m. at the Brookfield Elementary School
Snelgrove, her husband Rick, and more than 40 volunteers from Brockton and other surrounding towns are expected to arrive at Brookfield Playground to begin the installation of a playground organizers have spent more than 2 years raising money, designing plans, and seeking donations of services and materials to turn a vacant lot into a mecca-of-fun for not only normally-abled youngsters, but also those with physical disabilities.
The Snelgroves, whose daughter Victoria was tragically killed by a Boston Police pepper-spray bullet Oct. 21, 2004 when riots erupted during the Red Sox run-up to winning the World Series, donated $20,000 toward the project, putting the project over the top financially and opening the doors to today’s installation.
Dianne Snelgrove said while “Torie” is unable to attend the day-long installation, which includes a barbecue for volunteers, she and her husband are happy to get their hands dirty moving dirt or helping in any way they can.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Snelgrove said.
Kritina Lutz, a paraprofessional at the school and who helped lead the fundraising drive, said the Snelgroves have been so generous and gracious, and believes their help with the playground is a beautiful tribute to their daughter’s unexpected death.
Lutz said while organizers have raised about $25,000 to $30,000 in money, services and materials, another $20,000 was needed to buy the see-saws, slides, swings and other equipment that will fill the new playground—which because of a rubber surface will be accessible to children with physical disabilities.
“This wouldn’t have happened without Rick and Dianne,” Lutz said. “They are bringing so much joy to other children,” she said.
Lutz said through area friends and school officials, she heard the Snelgroves had created a fund in their daughter’s name that had donated money to other playground projects.
Lutz said she contacted the Snelgroves, who came to Brockton, checked out the site, and without hesitation agreed to give $20,000 toward the project.
Dianne said the project is eminently worthy, and has found that Torie’s fund has evolved from one that gives to scholarships at Emerson—where Victoria was a student before the shooting—and East Bridgewater where she went to high school—to one that began to pay for playground projects.
She said the fund’s mission is to enhance others’ lives, and the playground projects are a great way to honor Torie’s memory.
“Torie would be thrilled with what’s going on. She never let anything stop her. She had such a zest for life,” Snelgrove said.
Snelgrove said the playground projects began in 2006 with Torie’s Place playground in West Bridgewater on Spring Street, and has continued with others in East Bridgewater, North Easton and Easthampton.
The Brookfield project is the fifth.
Snelgrove said Torie’s death has been extraordinarily difficult on herself and her husband Rick.
The more than $5 million settlement is little solace for the family, and she and Rick have good days and bad days.
“When Torie died a part of my husband and I went with her,” Snelgrove said.
However, she said, they know Torie would not want them to shrink from life and would find it a comfort that they are helping others in Torie’s memory.
“We are going to have to keep going for her. She would tell us ‘don’t let your grief hold you back.’ She would want us to keep on keeping on. So we keep on keeping on,” Snelgrove said.
“This is her legacy,” she said.
Contributions are still being accepted for the Brookfield Playground and can be made to: Brookfield School PTO, 135 Jon Drive, Brockton, MA 02302
The Victoria Snelgrove Memorial Fund can be reached at www.victoriasnelgrove.org.
(Photo above courtesy Kristina Lutz: Dave Garfield and his son Brendan roll over gravel as they prepare the Brookfield Playground for Saturday's equipment installation)

Baker School Terrific Tuesdays Treat Mind, Taste Buds

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Youngsters who might beg their parents for a pet ferret after seeing and learning about them during the Mary E. Baker Elementary School’s Terrific Tuesdays presentation of wild animals, including a ferret, have been warned that while they are cute, cuddly and friendly, everyday, and sometimes important items will begin to disappear around the house.
“They’re thieves,” said Jungle Encounters animal handler Debbie Willoughby to a group of more than 60 youngsters, adults and Baker School officials.
“They will steal keys, they’ll go through your school bag and take whatever is in it—school work, papers, notebooks… and they will bury it deep under the couch where you will never find them again,” Willoughby said.
Along with Jesse the ferret, Willoughby showed the audience a lizard-like blue-tongued skink native to Australia, a long-eared African Fennec fox, a unique brown skunk who let out a yawn during the show, a kangaroo-like Patagonian Cavy, and a hedgehog-like Tenrec from Madagascar.
Students asked numerous questions and some were picked to pat certain animals.
Willoughby said the others might bite because they are not used to anyone other than her, and although in captivity, are wild animals.
At the end, everyone who attended was allowed to pat the Patagonian Cavy, which looks like a kangaroo and is the second largest rodent in the world.
While the animals were a thrill for many, one boy, 5-year-old Christopher Cugno, couldn’t wait until the animal presentation was over so he could get to the real reason he was there. (Cugno pictured with twin sister, Tyla, and cousin Gina Gallagher, 4)
“I wanted the ice cream,” Cugno said gleefully, waving one of the animal books given free during the program and headed to a table where ice cream was being served.
Terrific Tuesdays, offered by the school’s Title 1 program, is a summer long presentation of fun, educational programs that began with “Eyes on Owls” June 28.
Programs are held at 6 p.m. each Tuesday night at the Mary E. Baker School.
All are welcome and at the end of every session participants are treated to ice cream.
Terrific Tuesdays will run until Aug. 30 when the program wraps up with “Back-to-School Bingo,” when participants can win books and supplies for the new school year.
Biana Shearrion, who brought her 6-year-old daughter Taz, and 5-month-old son Malaki, enjoyed an ice cream sandwich after the program.
Shearrion said really liked learning about the animals, especially the skunk because she learned what they eat and to stand still if she ever crosses paths with one.
She said, unlike Cugno, Shearrion did not know there would be ice cream at the end.
“We came for the animals, but the ice cream is good too,” Shearrion said.
Click here for more information about Terrific Tuesdays...