By Ann DeCerbo

After 12 years of service, Botelle superintendent George Counter will retire at the end of the 2013/14 school year.  Although he resides in Thomaston, CT, Counter is often seen at Norfolk town meetings and events. He affectionately refers to Botelle as the “civic center of Norfolk” and has worked to strengthen connections between the community and  the school.

Especially noteworthy has been Counter’s ability to facilitate improvements to the school while keeping annual budget increases to a minimum. With Counter at the helm, the school has made significant advancements in modernization – including the installation of a safe, handicap-accessible playground, a full time kindergarten program, and energy efficient windows and solar panels.

The Board of Ed has established a superintendent search committee and begun to accept applications for this part-time position. Qualified applicants are asked to contact the school administration for more information.

On March 25, Botelle held a school-wide Jump Rope for Heart event, raising more than $2600 for the American Heart Association. In a festive environment of upbeat music, students spent an afternoon in the gym rotating through jump rope themed activity stations.The program teaches students how to take care of their hearts and, by raising money, how to make a difference in the lives of children afflicted with heart disease. The funds are used by the AHA for pediatric cardiac research, support for physical education programs, and nutrition wellness in schools, among other projects.

On April 8, a woodwind quintet from the Yale School of Music performed for Botelle students. It was a 30-minute enrichment production in which the musicians fielded questions and interacted with students. Yale musicians typically perform at Botelle three times each year.