 Director's Message Dear Friends of DSABC,
Welcome back to another school year! The 2014-15 school year marks 25 years of the DSABC Mentoring Program. Many things have changed over these years, however, one constant remains which is the unwavering commitment by DSABC mentors in their efforts to make a difference in the life of a student in need of positive adult role models.
Over the next few weeks I will be working closely with the 19 schools and DSABC partners to confirm students school assignments and intent to participate for this school year. Once all of the students have been confirmed, school liaisons will contact mentors by mid-September to schedule a time to resume mentoring. Mentors should plan on resuming no later than the last week of September. ( I've already heard from several school liaisons that their students have been asking when their mentors are coming to visit. The kids are as eager as the mentors to reconnect after a long break!)
There have a been some exciting changes in the Danbury Public Schools over the summer. First, a new middle school, the Westside Middle School Academy, is now open. This school houses the STEM (formerly at RPMS) and Global Studies magnet programs for grades 6-8. Second, three schools have pockets of students redistricted to different schools. Schools with pockets of redistricted students include Ellsworth, Morris Street, and Mill Ridge Primary. Receiving these students are Park Avenue, Stadley Rough, and Shelter Rock schools. Finally, all DPS kindergarten students will have full day sessions.
DSABC plans to add more webinar presentations this coming year. I will be hosting a quarterly series, presenting on a variety of topic while providing a forum for questions and discussion among mentors. The first of the series will be a general "Back to School" update and refresher training to start the year. Other webinar topics will include Goal Setting, Working with Culturally Diverse Students, and Mentoring Middle School Students. In addition to our webinars, DSABC will host "Lunch and Learn" workshops. The first workshop will be "Positive Mentoring" to be held November 3, 2014. All of our webinars and workshops will be recorded and posted to the website for future viewing. I hope these continuous learning opportunities help develop your skills as a mentor as well as enhance your mentoring experience.
I'm very excited to begin the new school year and look forward to working with each of you in the month ahead. Thank you!!
Sincerely, Mary
Mary Arconti Gregory
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Glad you've joined us
Welcome New Board Member Kristin Goncalves and the following New Mentors:
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Danielle Broeder - Boehringer Ingelheim
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Diana Orellana - Union Savings Bank
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Ginny Burke - Cartus
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Bob Port - Independent
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Fernanda Franco - Cartus
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Jennifer Tomaino - Union Savings Bank
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Ellen Kiernan - Cartus
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Also welcome New School Liaisons
Susan Cribari - Abbott Tech Tany Douangta - Broadview
Liz McKee - Morris Street Dana Perez - Westside Middle School
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Board of Directors News
Congratulations to the new Board Officers:
- Doug Orr, Chair
- Jeff Trocolo, Vice Chair
- Farley Santos, Treasurer
- Ernest Gurwich, Secretary
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Board Members and Committee Volunteers needed
If you, or someone you know, is interested in serving on the DSABC Board, please contact a Board Member, or Mary Gregory for more information. Board meetings are held once a month and a term of office is three years. Also, we need energetic, enthusiastic volunteers for a few key committee assignments:
- Marketing: 25th Anniversary, Social Media manager (volunteer)
- Outreach: Identify and recruit new businesses, speakers bureau
- Fundraising/FC Gives: Planning Committee for online giving day, FC Gives
Please contact Mary Gregory immediately if you're interesting in helping out in any of these areas.
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Mentoring Policy reminders
Just a few reminders as we begin another school year.
School Based: DSABC mentoring program is school based. All mentoring takes place during the school day, on school grounds within the school year. School sponsored events are permissible to attend.
Gift Giving: DSABC prefers mentors DO NOT give gifts to mentees. Should a mentor feel the need to gift-give, please keep it to once per year and $15.00 or less.
Alternative ideas include working on a craft or hobby together (ie, jewelry making), or learning about your mentees interests then bringing a bag of activities, games, books, etc. to each session.
Electronic Communication: DSABC mentors of students grades K-8 are not to engage in any form of electronic communication (i.e. email, texting, social media, instant messaging, cell phone, etc.) directly with their mentees. DSABC mentors of students grades 9-12 may utilize electronic communication for the sole purpose of scheduling meeting times.
Transmission of photographs/video: Participants may neither initiate nor receive electronic transmissions of photographs or videos from students/youth.
Social Media: DSABC participants should refrain from mentioning other DSABC participants or members of the school community (parent, teachers, administrators, etc.) on personal social networking sites. Professional boundaries with students and colleagues must be maintained (ie, do not "friend" a student on personal social media.) All DSABC policies concerning confidentiality of student information apply. (This is a summary of our Social Media Policy; for a detailed copy, contact the DSABC Director, or go to the DSABC website.)
Food Policy: The Danbury Public Schools has implemented a new food policy. No outside food is to be brought into the school buildings due to incidences of food allergies. As with all DPS policies, DSABC mentors are to abide.
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School Contact Information
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School
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Liaison
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Phone & Email
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Principal
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Secretary
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Abbott Tech
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Susan Cribari
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797-4460 x 4430
Susan.Cribari@ct.gov
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Stacy Butkus
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Alternative Center
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Dianna Dinardo
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203-797-4855 dinard@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Sandra Atanasoff
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Doreen Arconti
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Broadview Middle
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Tany Douangta
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203-790-2854 douant@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Edward Robbs
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Pat Morin & Wendy Burke
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Danbury High
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Kim Trocola
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203-797-4829 trocok@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Gary Boccacio
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Ellsworth Avenue Elementary
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DJ Jiminez
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203-797-4740 jimend@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Anna Rocco
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Carmen Morrero
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Endeavor/Reach
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Jackie Dinardo
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203 731-8215
atanas@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Jackie Dinardo
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Great Plain Elementary
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Melissa Hettenbach
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203-797-4749 hettem@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Keisha Smith
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Marie Narowski
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Hayestown Elementary
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Rose Coladarci
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203-797-4771 coladr@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Stephanie Furman
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Linda Rosso
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King Street Intermediate
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Jennifer Renkert
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203-797-4761 renkej@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Tina Hislop
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Pat Blaiotta
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King Street Primary
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Jennifer Looby
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203-797-4744 loobyj@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Tina Hislop
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Angela Cefaloni
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Mill Ridge Primary
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Eva Caputo
or Liz Shea
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203-797-4781
capute@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Mary Cronin
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Colleen Gillotti
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Morris Street Elementary
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Liz McKee
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203-797-4809 mckeel@danbury.k12.ct.us
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William Santarsiero
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Susan Patton
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Park Avenue Elementary
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Joyce Burns
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203-797-4763 burnsj@danbury.k12.ct.us
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David Krafick
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Cherie Gardner
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Pembroke Elementary
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Anne Shields
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203-797-4751 shiela@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Edie Thomas
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Jean Jackson
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Rogers Park Middle
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Lisa Basher
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203-790-2827 bashel@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Patricia Joaquim
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Mary Pritchard
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Shelter Rock Elementary
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Maria Ortner
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203-797-4778 ortnem@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Julia Horne
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Jeri DiFonzo
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South Street Elementary
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Kate Schiff
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203-797-4787 schifk@danbury.k12.ct.
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Heather Pellicone
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Liz Pereira
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Stadley Rough Elementary
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Lauren Gillespie
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203-797-4773 gillel@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Lenny Cerlich
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Teresa LaBarbera
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Western Academy of International Studies
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Mary Levassuer
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203-778-7462 levam@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Helena Nitowski
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Wendy Aponte
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Westside Middle School Academies
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Dana Perez
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203-830-6569
perezd@danbury.k12.ct.us
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Frank LaBanca
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Sandra Sanchez
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91% of mentors returned for the new school year
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A Long-Tenured Mentor Moves On With Thanks 
I have mixed emotions as I write to confirm with you that I will not be coming back to mentor this fall. There is bittersweetness in ending my time in mentoring accompanied by richness that mentoring Glenya and all the rest brought my life. And, by "all the rest", I don't mean just my mentees. The teachers, especially Rebecca Miagiano at Pembroke, Pat Seeley at South Street, Lenny Cerlich at King Street Intermediate (he was Glenya's 5th grade teacher); the principals, especially Edie Thomas and Dr. Robb; the "school secretaries" everywhere; the staff of the media center at the high school when that was the place to mentor made going to mentor a high point of my week. There were times that without the support of Charlie Manos, Mary Kiniry, and you that I might have stopped mentoring too soon. I am grateful for the good and growing times I have had with DSABC.
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| Calendar Watch
September 26 - Business Liaison Breakfast Meeting 8:30-9:30 a.m. @ Cartus
September 26 - High School Mentoring Focus Group Report 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.@ DHS,
Central Office Conference Room
October 9 - School Liaison Luncheon Meeting Noon-1:15 p.m. @ DPS Admin. Bldg.
October 16 - DSABC Board Meeting 8:15-9:30 a.m. @ DPS Admin. Bldg.
October TBD - Webinar on Goal Setting (more info to come)
November 3 - Workshop on Mentoring with Positive Approach (time & location TBD)
November 20 - DSABC Board Meeting 8:15-9:00 a.m. @ DPS Admin. Bldg.
For the most current information, consult the school calendar
Danbury Public Schools:
http://www.danbury.k12.ct.us/districtinfo/2014-15_calendar.pdf
Henry Abbott Tech:
http://www.cttech.org/abbott/latest-news/school-calendar.htm
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 Mentor Trainings
WEBINAR Back to School, Back to Mentoring: Tips for a Successful Year
For those you who missed it on September 5th, here's the link to watch the recorded session.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dkb-GSnIG8 Remember, all DSABC webinars are archived on the website, www.dsabcmentors.org, for viewing anytime. |
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Kathi Barese Heering, Editor |
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The Mission of DSABC is to Help Danbury Public School Students Achieve Personal and Academic Success.
Our Tool: School Based Mentoring
DSABC is a 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization. Please consider supporting our programs.
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