'Turnback Tuesday' features Derby High School ring, history of tradition

Turnback Tuesday looks back at the tradition of the high school ring.

The image is of a 1947 Derby High School ring. The wearing of a class ring dates back to 1835 when it was believed the U.S. Military Academy at West Point had the idea of visually displaying the unity among their group.

Past school rings either had an enamel or stone centerpiece with the school name and crest as well as the graduation year. Today's rings are available with many choices to personalize.

According to the “Complete Book of Etiquette” while you are a student you wear the ring with the insignia facing you to remind yourself of the goal of graduation. After graduation you turn the ring around and let others see it. It acts as a badge of honor.

The Derby ring has a red center stone with the image of a clipper ship - the same image used on the cover of many Derby High School yearbooks over the years.

This ring is a recent donation to the Library by the Brady Family.

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

Derby Public Library accepting essay submissions for annual scholarship

DERBY - The Derby Public Library is now accepting submissions for its Annual Scholarship Prize of $500. 

It is open to all high school seniors living in Derby who are planning to further their education, regardless of where they currently go to school. The Library Board of Directors will choose the winner based on a submitted essay explaining the role of libraries in the applicant's life. The award will be presented by the Library Board of Directors at its April meeting. 

In addition to the monetary prize, the winner’s name will be added to the Scholarship Prize Plaque located in our Young Adult Department. 

High school seniors may submit their entries to dplreference@biblio.org now through April 1. Good luck!

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Wesley Village in Shelton honors student workers on their graduation

Wesley Village residents, staff celebrate student workers' high school graduations./ Contributed photo 

SHELTON – Wesley Village recently celebrated 12 student workers who have graduated from local high schools.  

Residents and staff gathered to honor the graduates at an afternoon party with cake and refreshments. 

CEO David Lawlor gave each student a special achievement certificate and congratulatory card. 

“I’m excited for the new chapter,” said Alaina Gaudet, 18, a graduate of Ansonia High School. “I’m going to school at Central Connecticut State University and I’m going to study radiology,” she said. 

With a long history of employing high school students, Wesley Village ensures their dining staff has a healthy balance between school work and job responsibilities. 

“I can come to work in a bad mood, but seeing the residents and talking with them makes me happy. I love what I do,” Gaudet said. 

The intergenerational experience means a lot to the staff and to the residents.  

“These kids are very good, I can’t find fault with any of them. I give them a lot of credit for what they do,” said Ken Steeves, 91, resident at Crosby Commons. 

The residents receive three well-balanced meals a day in the dining room and the strong service is impressionable on those who live in the community. 

The kitchen morale has a lot to do with the quality of service. “We tease, we laugh, we joke,” said Mike Franco, a cook at Crosby Commons. “The kids are good with the residents. They’re energetic and high-spirited,” he said.

The high school graduates who were celebrated are: Luca Belenchia, Kimoya Brown, Sreynin Chhoeun, Alaina Gaudet, Kaylin Guillaume, Anna Kichar, Anyssa Lopez, Autumn Ries, Larissa Rodriguez, Amanda Schafenburg, Ruth Sanon and Nicole Whalley. 

The Wesley Village Campus is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. and includes Crosby Commons Independent/Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Independent/Assisted Living Community, Lifestyle Transitions Assisted Living/Memory Support Community, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center. 

The campus is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes, a local, mission-based, not-for-profit organization. 

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Derby Public Library announces annual scholarship essay contest

DERBY - The Derby Public Library Annual $500 Scholarship Prize is open to all high school seniors living in Derby who plan to further their education, regardless of where they go to school. 

The Library Board of Directors will choose the winner based on an essay explaining the role of libraries in their life. 

The award will be presented June 20 at the Library Board of Directors' meeting. 

In addition to the monetary prize, the winner’s name will be added to the Scholarship Prize Plaque located in the Young Adult Department. 

High school seniors may submit their entry directly to the Library Director now through May 24. 

For more information, stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth St., or call 203-736-1482.

This information is shared from the Library's website.

Seymour-Oxford Rotary Club seeks applicants for 2 scholarships

The Seymour/Oxford Rotary Club is proud to announce this year’s scholarships to two graduating high school seniors and/or continuing education college

students residing in Seymour and/or Oxford.

High school graduating seniors and/or continuing education college students attending a four-year college or university full time in August/September 2018 is eligible.

Rotary International’s theme is “SERVICE ABOVE SELF.”

To submit an essay, it must address the theme of SERVICE ABOVE SELF: your personal experience, the importance of service in your community, the state and throughout the world.

Essays are limited to no more than 500 words.

Scholarship is $500 to two individual students.  Checks will be made payable directly to the college/university upon verification of student’s attendance, i.e, presenting an invoice from college/university indicating student’s name, address and ID number.

Deadline for essay submission is April 6 to be submitted via email to nvbv@hotmail.com.  Essay must include your name, address, telephone, email address, college/university name, address and year of attendance.

Scholarship recipients will be notified by end of April and recipients will be requested to attend a club meeting to share their essay and college goals.

This is a press release from the club.

Newsletter: Demolition of Peck School in Ansonia, Shelton scholar athletes

Dear readers,

Today's Valley Voice newsletter features demolition of the 113-year old Peck School in Ansonia and scholar athletes announced in Shelton.

Thanks for reading,

Patti and Ralph

Seymour Lions Club accepting scholarship applications

SEYMOUR- The Seymour Lions Club is accepting scholarship applications for 2018. 

This scholarship is open to all high school seniors that are residents of Seymour planning to attend any college or course of study. 
Four $500 scholarships are awarded each year.

You can fill out your application online, at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/seymourct. After filling out the application under the scholarship tab, simply print it out along with the application cover sheet also found online. 
You can mail your essay, application, and cover sheet to:

The Seymour Lions Club
26 George St.
Seymour, CT 06483

All applications must be postmarked by April 1 of the current year. 
The check will be made payable directly to the college/course of study upon verification of students' acceptance into the college/course of study.

You asked for it, you got it ~ Latest newsletter is out

Dear readers,

Here's the link to our latest Valley Voice newsletter. 

http://goo.gl/DRaAd4

In it I reveal that I was a wallflower in high school.

Students host prom for senior citizens at Ansonia High School

I was pleasantly surprised to be escorted to Thursday's prom at Ansonia High School by Derby High School junior Queshon McDaniel. 
I arrived to cover the event and immediately was greeted by several polite and respectful students. 
The students who hosted the prom are members of Human Relations Clubs from Ansonia, Derby, and Shelton high schools as well as from Eli Whitney Technical High School in Hamden.


Stay tuned for photos and a story in the next issue of The Valley Voice newsletter.