Eye on Town Government
Fresh Starts at Board of Education By Avice Meehan Botelle Elementary School Superintendent Kevin Case presented his first agenda to the Board of Education at its Aug. 19 meeting and quickly learned to take nothing for granted. A suggestion to open the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance—which opens every school day—drew fire from board […]
Botelle Starts the Year in Style
By Avice Meehan Principal Lauren Valentino (in red) and Superintendent Kevin Case welcome students to the first day of school at Botelle Elementary School. After two days of professional training for staff, Botelle opened its doors on Aug. 27 to welcome 55 students for the new school year. The building gleamed and the crisp, sunny […]
Botelle’s New Superintendent Comes with Strong Norfolk Ties
By Avice Meehan Kevin D. Case applied for the role of school superintendent in Norfolk on April 7—just days after the Board of Education posted the vacancy created by the retirement of Mary Beth Iacobelli. “To be honest, I had my eye on this position for a while,” he said. A veteran educator and administrator, […]
Botelle Students Honored
Botelle Principal Lauren Valentino presented Luke Dubrule with the Adele Winn Service Award at the June 10 meeting of the Board of Education. The award is named for a former teacher and given each year by the Adele Winn Endowment Fund. Valentino described Dubrule, who was joined by his family, as a student who was […]
Botelle Sixth Graders Have Big Plans for the Future
By Avice Meehan More than a few already had middle school homework on their minds, but the nine students who completed sixth grade at Botelle Elementary School on June 11 are looking to make a major mark on the world. Their goals range from working for NASA to playing major league sports, becoming a chef, […]
Ed Board Welcomes Superintendent, Discusses Policy
By Avice Meehan The Botelle Board of Education (BoE) welcomed Kevin D. Case, Norfolk’s incoming school superintendent, at its June 10 meeting while simultaneously honoring Mary Beth Iacobelli, who has served in the role for the past 11 years. The leadership change took effect July 1 (see related story on page one). The BoE also […]
Thinking About What Comes Next
By Avice Meehan The most recent attempt to bring Norfolk and Colebrook to plan for the future of their respective elementary schools has quietly fizzled out—made official by a mid-June vote by the Colebrook Board of Selectmen to dissolve its half of a collaboration committee. In an email to residents, First Selectman Brad Bremer said […]
Board of Education to Consider School Candidates
Four applicants for superintendent advance By Avice MeehanFive individuals have applied for the position of superintendent of schools for Botelle Elementary School. At its May meeting, the Board of Education (BOE) decided to proceed with interviewing four candidates recommended by the search committee with the goal of recommending two finalists for interviews by the full […]
Exploring Norfolk’s Past
A Former Seminary Hides in Plain Sight at Botelle School By Stephanie FunkSometimes it seems as though Norfolk is virtually unchanged, that the familiar buildings and streets have always been there. To some extent this is true, but as the saying goes, the only constant is change.An example of this lies within the familiar walls […]
Botelle Beat
Botelle BeatParticipatory Theater Inspires Clean Ocean Awareness By Lauren ValentinoMore than 20 years ago, the Grumbling Gryphons, a professional traveling children’s theater group from Cornwall, came to Botelle School and performed the play “The Ghost Net.” This week they returned and gave a repeat performance of the same play, wowing students, staff and family members […]
