CONNECTICUT-SPAIN PARTNERSHIP

Even though we are only a few weeks away from the November 6th election, it has been my desire to continue to write about events, organizations, and people who have made a difference in Enfield. I avoided giving the good readers of Enfield just campaign press and candidates biographies. Now, these have been included, but there is more to Enfield then what each political party wants you to hear.

So, I again want to tell you about an excellent program offered to the students at Enfield High School.
Last Friday morning students from Enfield High School said goodbye to their brother and sisters from Spain. Our family, as well as twenty some other families, held back tears as another successful visit ended.
The Connecticut-Spain Partnership is part of the total learning opportunity that students taking Spanish at Enfield High School have had for the past five years.

I want to complement the leadership of Spanish teachers Linda Dalpe and Barbara O’Neil for their hard work and vision for not only classroom learning, but life experience when it comes to the language arts.
The students from Spain were adopted by student’s families where they stayed during their visit. We, along with the other families, had the joyful responsibility of caring for our adopted Spanish student while they visited our country.
We, the host families, did our best to make them feel right at home sharing our culture, ideas, and routines.
While here the students traveled to places like New York City, Boston, the State Capitol where they were greeted by Sen. John Kissel and Rep. Kathy Talarita, and many other local places of interest.

In April of 2008 it will be our students turn to visit a different culture as they travel to Spain. Our daughter has made this trip a couple of years ago and I can tell you that it is a life changing experience.

I believe that the most important aspect of this program is that it takes the learning of a language and applies it to real life experience. Education applied, is education learned.

In the next few months you will see advertisements about fund raisers held by the students traveling in April. I encourage everyone to support these students and their parents as they seek the finances needed to make their trip possible.

These are the types of programs that take the classroom experience and connect it to cross-cultural examination. So help these students take learning on the road.

Now to the campaign.

This week I want to re-introduce you to School Board candidate Pat Droney.

Pat Droney is a candidate who exemplifies community and school involvement. He has lived in town most of his life, graduated from Fermi High School, is the senior patrol lieutenant in the Enfield Police Department, and has two children still in the school system, in addition to two older children.Pat serves on the Enfield Girl’s Softball Association, and also served as an assistant coach for the Enfield Girl’s Basketball League. He is the current Vice President of the Fermi Instrumental Music Association, and is a member of the JFK Middle School Band Parents Association.Pat served on the Cable Advisory Commission, and is a former member of the church council at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer. If you are ever considering getting away from it all, Pat also is a licensed pilot and maybe, just maybe you can convince him to fly you somewhere.

Below is the contact information of the Republican Candidates for Town Council and Board of Education. Each one of us would be happy to hear from you and answer any questions about the town government or school system.

District 1 Candidate Joe Bosco…745-8662…Joseph@boscoautomotive.comDistrict 3 Candidate Scott Kaupin…749-1820…Scottkaupin@cox.netDistrict 4 Candidate Clem Dumont…741-2363…clemdumont@cox.netAt-Large Candidates:Jason Jones…749-2837…jjones174@cox.netBill Lee…749-4922…Enfieldparade@sbcglobal.netKen Nelson…214-7826…ukenown@aol.comBill Ragno…763-5902…wragno@cox.netBoard of Education Candidates:Pat Droney…763-1969…droney.for.boe@gmail.comAndre Greco…749-3883…andregreco@cox.netChuck Johnson…745-1118…chuck.johnson@thanatos.comSue Lavelli Hozempa…253-0677…lavelli@snet.netGreg Stokes…741-7349…GTStokessr@aol.com