By Ann DeCerbo

Nichole Pitruzello teaches fourth grade.

Three new faces greeted Botelle’s elementary school students this year—fourth grade teacher Nichole Pitruzello, music teacher Sandra Kleisner, and school nurse Donna Pequignot. These women bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the school.

A recent UConn graduate, Nichole Pitruzello is a bubbly, enthusiastic new teacher certified in elementary education and secondary social studies, with a Master’s degree in curriculum development. Before coming to Botelle, Ms. Pitruzello completed her student teaching in Glastonbury’s fifth grade and taught English to children in South Africa for a semester. She is passionate about helping her students understand their place and role in our globally-connected world. Ms. Pitruzzello wants her students to “recognize what each of us does impacts the world around us.” Hailing from a large family, Ms. Pitruzello is the oldest

Sandra Kleisner is the new music teacher.

among her siblings and cousins. She explained, “I was always in the teacher role. It was natural. And, I thought it was really fun to play school.”   Indeed, from her hand-painted rocking chair in her classroom to the bright blue rugs and walls adorned with positive messages, Ms. Pitruzello seems to make everything fun. When asked about her first impressions of Botelle, Ms. Pitruzzello replied, “This is an awesome, incredible community. Everyone works together so we can be happy and successful.”

Donna Pequignot is the new nurse.

A veteran teacher, Ms. Kleisner joins the Botelle School staff with 36 years of experience. She blends a variety of approaches to develop the musical skills of her students – often using rhythmic movement and games. When asked what she loves about teaching, Ms. Kleisner explains that seeing students get excited about music and dance makes her day. She says, “I love watching them ‘get it’.” Ms. Kleisner plans on expanding the music concerts at Botelle to include the younger, Kindergarten through third grade, students. In addition to teaching at Botelle, she teaches Kindergarten through eighth-grade students at Kent Center School and is the choir director at her church in Roxbury.

Donna Pequignot has worked with children throughout her 35 years in nursing. She has been a neonatal nurse, a pediatric home-care nurse, a flight nurse in the Air Force and, with her husband, ran medical missions in Haiti for nearly a decade. Ms. Pequignot was a school nurse in nearby North Canaan and is happy to be returning to that role at Botelle. She appreciates all of the support she has received and feels at home at the “Small School with a Big Heart”. She says, “It’s just awesome. Such an intelligent and supportive group of people.” Already an active member of the Botelle community, Ms. Pequignot is helping to arrange a pen pal program with the Alabama elementary school where her daughter teaches.

Botelle is Norfolk’s sole elementary school. It currently houses 95 students Pre-Kindergarten to sixth grade.

Photos by Ann DeCerbo.