Forever Grateful

To the Editor:

Eight years have gone by since our son set foot into his first classroom here in Newtown. The sweetness of a kindergartener with his first backpack and his first take-home assignment is still etched into our minds as if it were yesterday. Last night, as his eighth grade teachers revealed their curriculum for the year, the most profound words that resonated were not what presidents they would learn, or what grammatical phrases they will correct. “Your children are our children. We are here for them now and we will be there for them on graduation day. I promise you this. We are getting them ready for high school, and they will be ready.” These words were from Mr Cruz, who lost his own child last year, and Mr Poulter, who has taught for 39 years.

 As we drove home that night, I reflected on the years gone by; the tests, the homework, the struggles and the successes. I thought about his kindergarten teacher Mrs Anderson, who nurtured his innocent joy for school, his third grade teacher Mr McGuire, who prepared him for his first CMT, his sixth grade teacher Mr Steniford, who consoled him when his beloved grandmother was gravely ill. I thought about the administrators who knew him by name, the superintendent who thanked him for coming to a Board of Ed meeting with his parents to speak on behalf of his education. I thought about the staff who kept the office running, and custodians that ensured his safety, the coaches who assured him that size doesn’t matter. I considered those faceless people in our community who have worked and paid their taxes to support his education for eight years.

“They will be prepared for high school. We will be there for them when they graduate,” continues to play back in my ears. Yes, they will all be there; whether in person on in spirit. Newtown educators, administrators, staff will all be present when this year’s eighth grade class, who is bursting at the seams with the highest enrollment number in Newtown’s history. You will be there, too.

I would like to thank all of you who I don’t know by name but who have made this critical time in his life possible. They will be ready for high school in a year. But is Newtown ready for them?

 I ask this town to continue to support the high school project, for all the children, now and in the future. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, mistakes have happened along the way. Take a look at the results of your hard earned dollars. Our son is ready. He’s worked hard. He’s an A student in every sense of the word. Be proud. He could not have done it without you. We are forever grateful.

Desiree Galassi

151 Huntingtown Road, Newtown                        September 9, 2008