Valley Students Join Forces to Fight Prejudice

ANSONIA -
Approximately 100 students, all members of the Human Relations Club, from Ansonia, Derby , Shelton and the newest addition,  Eli Whitney Technical School in Hamden, will come together to implement an education program, for all 4^th grade and kindergarten students at Mead and Prendergast Schools in Ansonia and Bradley and Irving Schools in Derby. 

The two days of teaching will focus on the themes of “Who Am I” and “Celebrating Differences” in the 4^th grade and “Being Kind and Recognizing and Accepting Differences in People” in kindergarten. The main purpose of this program is to instill in students an understanding of the importance of working together and getting along in the diverse world we live in.

The HRC student leaders serve as role models, and inspire and motivate the younger children to embrace these concepts. Student leaders started working on this education program during the summer and through their efforts, age appropriate teaching packets were developed for use in the schools. Teaching dates will be March 23 and March 31, 2016.

All students who are participating in this program will take part in an all-day student developed and conducted training session on Tuesday, March 15,  at the Ansonia Boys and Girls Club . The collaborative effort between adults and students in Ansonia, Derby and Shelton, and Eli Whitney, has been amazing and has contributed greatly to the growth and development of the Human Relations Club.

The entire Human Relations Club, including students and adults, are deeply appreciative of the Valley Community Foundation and the Katharine Matthies Foundation. Both of these organizations have validated the work of the HRC by providing much needed funding to support its many programs.

For more information regarding the Human Relations Clubs please contact Nick Collicelli at 203-305-6342 or Nickhrc@sbcglobal.net  

Put on Your Dancing Shoes!

Teens and seniors dance up a storm at an intergenerational social gathering in Ansonia

Mary Ann Brozak dances during an intergenerational 'beach bash' at AHS

By Jean Falbo- Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

ANSONIA >> Teenagers learned how to do the “Lindy” Thursday, while senior citizens were schooled in the “Electric Slide” during an intergenerational event geared to bridge the age gap between the two generations.

More than 100 seniors from Ansonia and Derby senior centers gathered for a summer “beach bash” in the Ansonia High School cafeteria, hosted by student members of the Human Relations Club.

Though separated by some 50 years, the age gap between the two generations simply melted away as young and old alike enjoyed each other’s company for a cookout, games, dancing, ice cream and more. Students decked out the cafeteria with colorful paper lanterns, beach pails and baskets of shells, while playing summertime classics by the Beach Boys and more.

The club, comprised of nearly 300 middle and high school students from Ansonia, Derby, Shelton and Hamden, has held intergenerational events such as Thursday’s for the past eight years. Adviser Nick Collicelli said it’s important to bring both groups together.
Read more here.

Ansonia seniors, students enjoy each other's company

Games, ice cream make for a fun day

Nick Collicelli, right, founder of the Ansonia High School Human Relations Club, Thursday kicks off an inter-generational event at the Doyle Senior Center. With him are HRC President Ryan Nicoletti, left, and inter-generational coordinator Kelly Zarka. 

Ansonia resident Matt Milardo, right, gives some pointers to bocci players, including his wife, Louise, at left, outside the Doyle Senior Center in Ansonia. 

Middle and High School students serve ice cream to members of the Doyle Senior Center in Ansonia.
 
 

Ansonia human relations club to host cultural celebration

ANSONIA - Please join The Ansonia Middle School Human Relations Club For Our First Community Cultural Celebration!

5 to 7 p.m. May 15

Ansonia Middle School, 115 Howard Ave.

This free event will consist of student presentations representing their culture and a dynamic and interactive show featuring:

Soro-Bindi, African Dance, Song and Culture

Food will be provided. 

For information and to reserve your seat, contact Jessica Bedosky: jbedosky@ansonia.org or 203-910-0945.


This is a press release from Ansonia Middle School.

Clubs in Ansonia, Derby win plaudits

DERBY -The Human Relations Clubs of Ansonia and Derby will be recognized at the Valley Community Foundation's annual meeting at 5 p.m. April 3 at the Sons of Italy Banquet Hall, 73 High St.

Nick Collicelli, Ansonia High School's Human Relations Club founder and advisor, said Ashley Adams of Ansonia and Emily Borrelli of Derby will be guest speakers.
They will talk about the Human Relations Clubs and what being members of the clubs has meant to them. 

Collicelli, a retired educator, said the Valley Community Foundation has been very important to the Human Relations Clubs over the last seven years in terms of providing grant funding.

To register for the event call Beth Colette at the Valley Community Foundation, 203-751-9162 or go to www.valleyfoundation.org.

Registration deadline is Friday.  

Teens teach 4th graders in Ansonia

... and in Derby.

On Wednesday members of the Human Relations Clubs in Ansonia and Derby - middle and high school students - collaborated to teach a diversity lesson to fourth graders at John C. Mead and John G. Prendergast elementary schools in Ansonia and at Bradley and Irving elementary schools in Derby.

Pictured from left, Ansonia Middle School eighth grader Olivia Mitchell-Robinson, Ansonia High School freshman Jason Edwards, Ansonia High School senior Ashley Adams, Derby High School freshman Ejona Gjata. They were part of a group teaching fourth graders in Alfreda Pepe's classroom at John C. Mead Elementary School in Ansonia.

The Human Relations Club members went through training last week for the program. They will be following up with a second session at all four schools next Wednesday.

The teen-aged teachers deserve plaudits for the great job they did getting the fourth graders to open up and participate in the discussion.

Please check out Register photographer Melanie Stengel's photo gallery featuring a pipe cleaner craft activity the fourth graders completed during the class.

She captured the children's enthusiasm. The assignment was to create something important to them, such as a favorite hobby or sport.

 

Anti-bullying program at Derby Middle School applauded

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Students from Human Relations Clubs at Ansonia High School, Ansonia Middle School, Derby High School, and Derby Middle School deserve plaudits for their participation in an anti-bullying program Thursday at Derby Middle School.

After the 90-minute session club members reunited in the cafetorium where DMS Principal Sean Morrissey thanked them for their hard work.
"You just bridged that gap between the communities," he said. "It's a great program and I'd like to see it continue to grow."


Stay tuned for a story about the program in the New Haven Register.

Mystery photo from fair in Ansonia

Where was this ball python and how did he get the name "E.T."?

Scroll down:

Here Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center ranger Marty Wigglesworth shows off a ball python he brought to Friday's fourth annual Culture Fair at Ansonia Middle School.

The snake's markings resemble the movie character E.T., which is why he got the moniker "E.T.," Wigglesworth said.

I'm just happy the snake didn't get loose in the middle school gym!

The fair, sponsored by the school's Human Relations Club, featured booths with information about ethnic traditions, local history, music, nature, and more.

Kudos to Lisa Nicolari, Mary Gibson, Nick Collicelli and everyone else who worked hard to make the fair a most enjoyable event for AMS students and the community.

Culture fair slated at Ansonia Middle School

Human Relations Club to host 4th annual event 

(Click on program to enlarge)

I'm looking forward to the culture fair Friday. It's always an educational event. See you there!


This information is taken from Ansonia Public Schools' Facebook page.

Young and young at heart enjoy Hawaiian-themed party in Ansonia

Tiare Kahana leads members of the Ansonia High School Human Relations Club in dance.

ANSONIA - On Thursday I attended an inter-generational event sponsored by the Ansonia High School Human Relations Club.

The fun started in the gym with a performance by entertainers Tiare Kahana, Samoan fire knife dancer Taki Aiolupotea, and Kawika, a drummer who used the Hawaiian ipu gourd and the Tahitian toere log drum.

I must admit I was relieved when I wasn't chosen to get up and learn how to hula with the pros.

The program concluded in the cafeteria with a delicious dinner, to which I was invited. Much appreciated!

Samoan dancer Taki Aiolupotea shows his 'fire-eating' skill.