Students Pulled Toward New Magnet School

Wednesday morning, August 30, most of the students arriving at Reed Intermediate School got off their buses and headed inside to start their second day of the 2006-07 school year. A few children walked to the end of the parking lot to board bus #64. They are part of the Newtown contingent of 19 students who will be attending the new magnet school in Danbury.

The Western Connecticut Academy of International Studies Elementary Magnet School opened its doors this week for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The school, located on Western Connecticut State University’s Westside Campus, will accept children from Danbury, Brookfield, Newtown, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Redding.

WCSU students from foreign language, elementary education, music education, and the EdD program in instructional leadership will work with students and teachers at the magnet school. Other WCSU education students will provide after-school tutoring and specialized programs. WCSU’s Roots and Shoots program will help the magnet school staff develop an environmental curriculum.

Teachers will follow the Danbury School District’s curriculum, but with an emphasis on world cultures and languages, with many after-school programs to enrich the traditional studies. Spanish will be the only language taught this first year, other languages will be added in the future.

Yvonne Patelli brought her daughters, Juliana in third grade and Sophia in first, to Reed School to meet the bus on the first morning.

When asked why she had chosen to send her children to the magnet school, she explained, “I speak Spanish and I want them to be Spanish speakers. It’s important to me for them to get a feel of what the world’s about.”

Alex Kimble, a Newtown second grader, said, “I’m very excited. I like the whole program, how it works. I’m looking forward to taking Spanish.”

Melinda Jaehn, who has driven a bus for two years, will shuttle the students between Reed and the Magnet Schools. Her supervisor, Michelle Voight, was on hand to ensure a smooth send-off.

Tony DiLonardo, director of transportation for Newtown Schools, was also on site, overseeing the beginning of the new bus run.

“Yesterday went great,” Mr DiLonardo said. “Today should go just as smooth.”