'Turnback Tuesday' features opening of time capsule from 1976

Turnback Tuesday has a special treat today.

On June 24, 2026 Bradley School in Derby opened a Time Capsule that was created by John Ogle’s fifth grade class in 1976.

It was a beautiful day attended by John’s family, many students from the school, and from the community. Dr. Matthew Conway was master of ceremonies with Mayor Joseph DiMartino greeting all who attended.

John’s wife Linda did the honors of opening and showcasing what was inside. Linda was heard saying she was afraid that John had played a trick and snakes in a can would pop out. John Ogle was a teacher and basketball coach for the Derby Public Schools for 37 years.

The items retrieved from the Time Capsule are on display at Derby Public Library at the main Circulation Desk through the summer.

Pictured from left: Joe Ogle, Jennifer Ogle, Victoria Ewen, Linda Ogle, and her grandson Rhoan Baczek.

Thanks goes to Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

Bradley School community in Derby to open 1976 time capsule Wednesday

 

Prescription take back event slated April 25 at Bradley School in Derby

DERBY - The Derby Police Department, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD), and Youth Services director John Saccu, is hosting National Prescription Take Back event to allow residents to safely dispose of unwanted or expired medication.

Upcoming Details:
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Location: Bradley School, 155 David Humphreys Road, Derby
Method: Drive-up, drop-off (no questions asked)

Accepted Items:
Prescription medications
Over-the-counter medications
Medication samples
Medications for household pets
Medicated lotions or ointments

By safely disposing of prescription drugs, you are helping prevent medications from being misused, abused, or getting into the hands of children. A simple step like cleaning out your medicine cabinet can make a real difference in protecting our community.

We appreciate your continued support in keeping our neighborhoods safe.

Shared from the Derby Police Department Facebook page.

Derby to hold tree lighting ceremony Friday on Green

 

Registration open for Derby summer camp located behind Bradley School

 

Prescription takeback event slated Saturday at Bradley School in Derby

DERBY - Join us tomorrow for a DEA National Prescription Takeback event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Bradley School, 155 David Humphreys Road,  

Drop off your unwanted, expired, or no longer needed medications at this drive-through event. Your participation will help prevent prescription medicine misuse and opioid abuse. 

Shared from a Facebook event page.

Derby to hold tree lighting ceremony Friday on Green

 

Medication takeback event slated at Bradley School in Derby

 

Derby Police Department hiring school crossing guards

From the Derby Police Department's Facebook page:

"We are hiring School Crossing Guards @ $20 per hour. Normally the duties of the crossing guard will include 180 days of employment per school year. This schedule will change periodically due to weather and other unforeseen occurrences. You will be classified as a non-union, part-time, seasonal at will employee, scheduled to work 7.5 hours per week.

Hours: Monday through Friday
Bradley School Morning (7:30am - 8:15am)
Afternoon (2:00pm - 2:45pm)

Irving School Morning (8:15am - 9:00am)
Afternoon (3:00pm - 3:45pm)
Applications are available for pickup at Derby PD located at 125 Water St."

Patronize Panera Friday, support Bradley School in Derby

 

Medication take back day slated at Bradley School in Derby

DERBY - The Derby Youth Service Bureau is partnering with the Derby Police Department and the Naugatuck Valley Health District to hold a medication take back day Oct. 28 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Bradley School

This community service initiative is in unison with the national medication take back day and is in response to the public health crisis concerning the growing number of overdose deaths in our country, which has doubled in recent years.

 

This effort is intended to take back unwanted, un-used prescription drugs, which can make their way into the community and in the hands of young people. 

The inappropriate use of these drugs can lead to possible addiction and the desire to move toward a more dangerous illicit drug market. 

These illicit drugs, which are often tainted with fentanyl and other synthetic chemicals, are dangerous and have caused thousands of overdose deaths.

Medication take back day is one-step in helping to preventing these overdose tragedies.

 

For any questions contact John Saccu, Director, Youth Services Bureau, 860-883-7476.

This is a press release from Derby Public Schools.

Derby Board of Education names Dean of Student Affairs for Irving, Bradley Schools

This is a press release from Derby Public Schools.

 

Dispose of medications Saturday at Bradley School in Derby

 

Derby Food Service to offer lunches in summer

 

 

Congratulations wished to Derby's 2019 Teacher of the Year

 Teacher of the Year Maureen Zahara

DERBY - Bradley School is proud to announce  Maureen Zahara is the 2019 Derby Public School District Teacher of the Year. 

Zahara teaches all the general music classes, leads the grades 3-4-5 Bradley School Chorus, the grades 4-5 Beginner and Advanced Bands, and runs individual and small group instrumental lessons for students. 

Zahara wants the music program to be the best in the state and is very involved with her colleagues to organize and run the All-City performances in the spring. 
She has been a member of the Bradley School Leadership Team and is musical director and emcee for its monthly pep rallies.

Each year Zahara nominates a fifth grade student to receive the Connecticut Association of Schools Celebration of the Arts in Music and attends the event with the student and his or her family. 
Zahara and her Unified Arts colleagues helped paint and plant the community garden beds in anticipation of the students participating in the Farmer’s Market in the fall. 
Zahara applies for various grants each and every year to be able to get free musical instruments for students to use. 
Many of the instruments, including all the classroom guitars and ukuleles, are grant-funded through her efforts.
Bradley School Principal Mario Ciccarini said, “Maureen Zahara epitomizes everything you would want in a Teacher of the Year. She has a passion for what she does, instills this in her students through meaningful and engaging lesson planning and activities, and is an advocate for the arts throughout the entire school district, not just Bradley School.”

Board of Education Chairman Jim Gildea said, “Mrs. Zahara is an amazing teacher who is full of energy and enthusiasm. She has played a pivotal role in the development of our music program and really helped take it to new heights. 
"As a parent, I have seen up close the impact she has on the children she interacts with each and every day. She is loved and respected.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Conway said,“This recognition is a small testimony to the incredible experience Mrs. Zahara provides for her students every day and to all others fortunate enough to have attended a performance by her students.”

The District also announces building-level Teachers of the Year: Ivory Urban at Irving School; James Rosa at Derby Middle School; and Ryan Adams at Derby High School. 
All of these deserving staff members will be celebrated at the Derby Schools' 2018 Convocation Aug. 23.

This is a press release from Derby Public Schools. 

Derby student wins second place in statewide road-safety poster contest

Derby Police Chief Gerald Narowski, Mrs. Rudus, Sofia Rudus, Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan.

   Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman congratulates Sofia. 

Sofia's safety poster.

Sharing this info from the Derby Police Department Facebook page:

This week, April 9-13, is National Work Zone Awareness Week.

This year Sofia Rudus, a fourth grade Bradley School student, received second place (Grades 2-4) in this year’s statewide Roadway Safety Poster Contest. 

Students in Grades K-6 were asked to design a poster to illustrate ways in which they think road users can impact roadway safety.

The winners were recognized by Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and DOT Commissioner James P. Redecker along with representatives from local public works departments, Department of Motor Vehicles, state and local police, and public safety agencies.

We would like to congratulate Sofia for her award and for proudly representing Derby!

J-Cuts in Shelton launches 11th annual school supply drive

Tina Cadella, Lower Naugatuck Valley-Parent Child Resource Center Child First-Early Childhood Clinician, left, and Karen Martinez, LNV-PCRC, Child First-Care Coordinator prepare supplies for children served by their agency./ Submitted photo 

SHELTON - J Cuts has launched the 11th Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive in the Valley. From now to Aug. 22 book bags and school supplies are being collected around the Valley. Last year, more than 130 book bags, and an abundance of back to school supplies, were collected. 

The main collection location is J Cuts, 505 Howe Ave.

 Supplies include book bags, book covers, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators, pencil sharpeners, paper and folders.  Supplies are collected for children from preschool to high school.  Book bags and supplies must be brand new.
“The outpouring of kindness within the community always warms my heart,” Jennifer Sneider at J Cuts said. “So many people stop by to drop off donations. Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or 10 dollars so I can pick up what we are falling short on. It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need!”

For the second time last year, Bright Horizons Day Care, 3 Corporate Drive, held its own collection and dropped off donations.  Barb’s Corner Consignment, 25 West Main St.,     Ansonia, joined the drive last year. Minuteman Press, 427B Howe Ave., again donated collection posters. Other local businesses and organizations are invited and encouraged to join in by holding collections of their own.

 For a third year coordinators of the drive were contacted by Jackie Romaniuk, Dental Health Care Specialist with the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership, dental plan for HUSKY Health. They provided oral kits each containing a tooth brush, toothpaste, floss, and oral health education. 
According to Romaniuk, “The oral health kits contain tips to keep the mouth healthy as well as the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth for the benefit of a person’s general health. The beginning of the school year traditionally correlates with starting new routines and habits. This seems like the perfect opportunity to spread the oral health message of the importance of daily oral hygiene and scheduling a dental exam.”

HUSKY Health members can contact the CTDHP call center at 855-CT-DENTAL or visit www.ctdhp.com for help connecting to one of the 1,900 dental providers available.
More than 200 oral kits were given to students who received back to school donations, as well as the Milford Department of Children & Families office.

Children receiving donations from this community drive last year are served by TEAM, Inc. and Bradley School in Derby, the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Resource Center all of Shelton; along with BHcare in Ansonia. 
“The Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley is forever grateful for receiving backpacks and dental kits to support our families in need,” Jen DeLeon, Unit Director, said. “The smiles on our members' faces are absolutely priceless as they feel so much more confident getting ready for their first day of school!” 

For more information call Jennifer Sneider at J Cuts, 203-924-4107.

This is a press release from J Cuts.

Satisfy sweet tooth and support Derby's Bradley School

Derby to hold Christmas Tree Lighting Friday

Derby poets win plaudits

Students' work to be published

Submitted photo

DERBY - The following Bradley School students from teacher Anna Van Wyck's third grade class wrote poetry that will be published in the 2015 Edition of A Celebration of Poets. 

Only selected student entries throughout the U.S. are chosen for publication. The purpose of this contest in is to inspire young writers in their creative abilities. 

Congratulations to the following students whose Haiku poems were chosen: 
Gabriela Barrios, Sindy Barrios, Sabrina Beck, Christopher Castellini, Margarita Clark, Nyasia Davis, Alexander Lawrence, Xavion Manrique, Connor McKenna, Syna Patel, Eric Pemberton, Lucinda Riberio, Robert Rogucki, Jocelyn Schietinger, Jacqueline Voss, Trevor Worobel, Gabe Wyszkowski. Missing from photo, Eric Pemberton.


This is a press release from Bradley School teacher Anna Van Wyck.