NHS Junior/Senior Project Presentations Conclude

By Eliza Hallabeck

The last of Newtown High School students to present for the first semester’s Junior/Senior Project class did so after school on Monday, January 31.

The Junior/Senior Project course has students work with a mentor to investigate their own chosen project, which is then required to be presented before a panel of volunteer judges. Students in the first semester’s course were Melissa Destefano, Megan Thomas, Danny White, Rachel Camejo, Austin Fuori, Laurel Speed and Lauren Harrison. The latter two were the final presenters.

During her presentation, Laurel explained that her project, “Friends Helping Friends with Substance Abuse,” was aimed at students who are in the other side of the crowd at substance abuse presentations. Most presentations, she said, are aimed at students who may be using or thinking about using illegal substances. Laurel said she was always a student who knew she would never consider using illegal substances, but realized what kind of situation she would be placed in if one of her friends decided to try using illegal substances.

For her project, Laurel not only spoke to sources at the high school, like District Health Coordinator Judy Blanchard, but also created her own presentation geared to students who also may have friends using or thinking of using substances.

“The message is just to be a good friend,” said Laurel.

Lauren Harrison was the final presenter on Monday, and said all of her life she has been corrected. As a dancer, she was told to correct her posture: stand up tall, lift arms, and point her toes.

For her project, “The Physics of a Perfect Pirouette,” Lauren researched the physics behind why dancers must strike the perfect pose to correctly move through ballet movements. Lauren explained she learned the reason dancers are told to lift their arms and raise one leg is to raise their center of gravity when turning.

Peg Ragaini from the high school’s Career Center, math teacher Angela Pennucci, and social studies teacher Kirsten Hardy oversee the Junior/Senior Project course.