Staged Crash Coming to a Screen Near You

Video from last week’s staged car crash is now available online. Click here to view the YouTube clip that was filmed on Mrs. Krupa’s iPad. If you have your own video from the crash to share, please let us know and we’d be happy to post it here!

HVRHS Students Ranked Nationally in Le Grand Concours

Les Heureux Gagnants

Xavier Quintilla, Sebastien Lasseur, and Kelsey Seitz have ranked nationally in the 77th annual event.  Le Grand Concours is a national competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Students were evaluated for their written, oral and listening comprehension skills in French.   97,353 students in all 50 states competed in the 2012 event.  Xavier Quintilla (11^th grade) ranked 4th in the state of Connecticut and 8^th nationally for French Level 5. Sebastien Lasseur (12^th grade) ranked 5th in the state and 9^th nationally for French Level 5.  Kelsey Seitz, (12^th grade) ranked 10^th in the state and 11^th nationally for French Level 1.  All are students of Marjorie Becker.  They will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held in May at Southington High School. Additionally, the following HVRHS students received the Certificat d’Honneur for having scored in the top 20^thpercentile nationally:

• Level 1:  Megan Cleary, Miranda Riley
• Level 2: Chloe Ocain

The following HVRHS students received the Certificat de Réussite for having scored in the top 50^thpercentile nationally:

• Level 1:  Emily DeMazza, Madeleine Longwell, Fiona Ocain
• Level 2:  Sabrina Brashares, Jillian Cannon, Efraim Hermes, Brittney Pastre, Sheri Rybczyk, Sam Weisman
• Level 3:  Olivia LaFontan, Elana Studer
• Level 4:  Amanda Kitik, Oliver Spelbos
• Level 5: Jaclyn Tagani

Lisa Narug, Director of Le Grand Concours indicated: “These students are a source of great pride to American education and indicative of the high level of achievement of American schools in imparting the French language and culture.”

A “Smashing” Good Time at HVRHS

Students survey the wreckage.

Last Friday, students learned about the dangers of motor vehicle accidents thanks to a donated car and some know-how about remote controls. Jacob’s Garage of Falls Village generously donated the doomed Chevy to the cause, and Agri-Science teacher Mark Burdick, with some help from IT Technician Jonathan Warren and the Robotics team, wired the car for its one-way trip to concrete barriers. Even with an estimated 27 mph head of steam, the car was catastrophically damaged by the impact.  The goal of the exercise was to illustrate to students just how much damage would be sustained from even a low-speed accident. Bob Green of Survive the Drive spoke to students before the crash-up, sharing stories and images from accidents around the area. With the Junior Prom planned for May 19, this timely lesson will hopefully remind students to play it safe behind the wheel not only on that night, but all the time. Many bystanders captured video of the event, which we will share with you this week as it becomes available. Check back soon!

What’s Up with Our Kids? Come Find Out!

Want to know more about what is going on in the lives of teenagers around here? Come find out when the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau, in partnership with the Northwest Prevention Network, presents “What’s Up With Our Kids?: A Presentation of Region One’s Survey Data of our 7^th, 9^th and 11^thgraders, by our kids! This exciting presentation builds a shared understanding of our Region One young people’s strengths and concerns of Northwest CT, based on findings from Search Institute’s Survey results of Developmental Assets, administered in Fall 2011. The presenters, including students themselves, will provide and suggest possible interpretations of the survey data and point toward concrete actions our community can use to help build on its strengths. Come see what we’ve been talking about, and what our students think about the results!” The presentation will take place at the Congregational Church of Salisbury on May 17 at 7 PM. Click here for more information.

Region 1 Announces Summer Trips for Teens

The Region 1 Recreation Directors will be offering several outing for teens during the summer of 2012. These trips offer teens in the Northwest Corner a chance to meet up with their peers for some fun adventures that might be just a bit farther afield than they would normally be able to reach. This year’s offerings include two trips to Six Flags (July 13, Aug. 15), a trip to Ocean Beach Park in New London (July 16), and one trip to the Galleria in Poughkeepsie (Aug. 3).  Click here for more information, and sign up soon!