Let me think. The landing could be really where the door is the first riser could be where the door is at now and you gain if you don't have any door at all. I I mean I guess so in theory, but then then you there's I mean then you would have the whole downstairs open like there's no sound. There would be no way to I mean you can close you could close it at the bottom. So, I'm just using it to explo if I can add a comment that doesn't relate to the code, but relates to the use of the um the lower level. Uh the University of Michigan has requirements for fraternities that have social events. And one of those requirements is to limit access to the area where there is an event, only have one door in, one door out. um so that they can control the people coming in and out, check IDs and things of that nature.
Any questions on this stuff? We should probably Um, anybody need to see the school staff survey? No. Or have you guys all looked at these things? Any questions at all for Jennifer or Dr. Stewart? The only thing that really stood out to me is in the parent survey that the parents recognize that that they're not participating as well as they should. I did notice that. But um might I suggest that we need to maybe move along otherwise we're going to it'd be forever. We got kids up. Yes, we do. Well, but they're in the regular agenda. So remember those students are in part of the regular agenda. Oh, they're not part of workshop. Remember, we moved it so we'd get some more people here. Okay. All right. All right. Okay. Is that all of that one, Cass? Was that all of that one? But this was Oh, this is the one that was talking about.
Only three schools have ever raised over $6,000 in 14 years we've hosted Socket to Cancer and Parkview is now the fourth. With this incredible effort, there are now just two schools ahead of Parkview and total funds raised throughout the history of the campaign. So Parkview students and parents just amaze me every single year with the the generosity when we do these kind of fundraisers. It's it's just blows me away. So um great job. Uh the picture on the right is a picture of our middle school and we have our fourth graders there. Every year in late April, fourth grade classes take turns visiting the middle school to learn about a typical day would be like for a fifth grader. Uh a panel of students answer questions and give groups of students a tour of the building. And the tour is worth its weight in gold as far as easing um the students tensions and fears about going to middle school next year.
Yeah. So, we kind of framed our script around that. So, the entire bottom section of the uh script is like null and void. Okay. But we are happy to be seeing you guys next month for next month's meeting. Thank you.
You are fighters, dreamers, and trailblazers. Each of you has faced adversity, personal challenges, academic struggles, and obstacles that once seemed insurmountable. Yet, here you stand today, proving that setbacks do not define you. It is how you rise above them that truly matters. Music has a unique power to unite us all. last year's graduation speech. I spent a few moments sharing how legendary artist Bob Dylan gave me inspiration as I was growing up. Many of you know I'm also a big fan of an iconic band called The Grateful Dead. I heard of Yeah, you're here. I I hear you. One of their most beloved songs is a song called Ripple. This song carries an important message. Reach out your hand if your cup be empty. If your cup is full, may it be full again. This lyric reminds us that life is both about giving and receiving.
So that door at the top of the stairs helps comply with that requirement. So again, not a code requirement, but I'm just sharing another reason why um that would that just be to the basement room or is that for the entire house? Well, it's where the social event is being held. And so, as Dwight was explaining, the whole goal is to move all of the social events to that lower level. And um the way that they meet that code is actually the students. Um most of the students that are guests will come in through the outside door that they come around the outside and come in that door so they can manage that access that way. Um, so it's um, again, it's not a code reason, but it's just a a supports the use of it. Sorry. But like that being said, that's the importance of trying to get this as close to code compliant as possible because if it is the main thing and you have hundreds of 50 kids, 70 kids, whatever, going up and down these main stairs, you know, that's that's a very good point on why it needs to be as close to code as possible.
Yeah. Yeah. So, at least there's some recognition on the part of the parents that um they're not involved. They're not involved. Yeah. Question five looks better than the others. You know that um there's some visits to the school. So, Okay. Okay. Okay. Appreciate you guys doing this for us. Um, I spent some time with it today going through each one of them and I'm sure everybody did just to see just out of curiosity from I wish that we had more than 155 parents. Yeah. Doing this. This is really kind of an important thing for me. Yeah. Because pretty much the only communication we have with parents is something like this, especially when we have about 600 families. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it would be nice to have a higher percentage of of responses. Um but it also says the kinds of responses that we got on this survey.
Um and also um we have our Parkview field trips. Uh as we finish the year tying up loose ends, all grade levels have completed their field trips and students were able to participate in these field trips due to the uh chocolate sales that we have. Uh we use that money to pay for uh any fees that uh cost for our field trips. And then finally uh next Friday we have our field day. Park students will get to celebrate the good times with our annual field day. Uh, always one of the funnest days of the year, just getting out and competing and having fun. No. Yeah. Okay. Wax museum. Why we're all here, right? So, um, one of the fourth grade common core writing standards is to write an informative explanatory text. So, at the beginning of the year, the kids all pick a famous person and they write a five paragraph essay on that particular person.
Any questions from board members? Mr. I just like to say uh any uh uh one of the great aspects of public speaking is being being able to adlib if things go sideways. So thank you. Um we were not here for decision date. So can you just announce where the two of you are heading? I think I know. Um I will be attending MIT in the fall. I'll be attending Yukon in the fall. Go. Congratulations. Thank you folk that was great and we will see you in June then for sure. All right Dr. June 5th it's well before like a whole week before GRE presentations are up next if Dr. Solen. Um, we have the first one which is the CAB student leaders. Thank you, Miss Rosenberg. Um, so this evening we have the incredible opportunity to recognize five very special students with the CAB, the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Student Leadership Awards.
It's a cycle of perseverance and renewal. As you stand on the brink of this new chapter, think about how you can embody this message in your future. Each of you will face new challenges and opportunities as you leave Aspen Valley. Just like the ripples in a pond, every action you take will impact those around you in ways you may not fully see. Your journey so far has been filled with lessons. Lessons of resilience, self-belief, and community. Carry these lessons with you as you venture into the world. Whether you're heading to college, starting a job, or exploring new passions, remember to fill your own cup while also uplifting those around you. You have exceeded expectations, not just those that others have set for you, but the ones that you set for yourselves. You have redefined what it means to succeed, showing that potential is not a fixed destination, but a journey of discovery.
And so so there's there's no more ex there's no more walls going down into the wreck room. That's just all open now and everything. Mhm. Um there's not even a lot of room. The main thing is in that Florida down there, there's only a half bath. So people are going to be going coming down the stairs to go to the bathroom for an event. You're correct about that. um the long-term plan and there were actually plans submitted two years ago to remodel the basement um that included new bathrooms in the basement. It would be hoped that those would be added at some point in the future. That's still the that's still the plan, but we're just trying to get this part. doing it in phases and because of costs and um there were several issues with uh accessibility compliance with that initial um set of bathroom plans.
um uh says to it that that the only people who responded are are not people who are unhappy. Yeah. You know, because sometimes that's what happens when you do a you know, when you do a survey, the people who choose to participate are the ones who are unhappy about things. And this I would like to think this is probably representative of a cross-section. This sort of reminds me of parent conferences. You know, only the good students parents are the ones you see. The ones that you have really would like to see don't. And so, you know, that's the thing is, you know, are, you know, the the other ones that really don't care aren't even responding. And rail r a i l. And it doesn't have to do with anything but trains. Not according to Google. Barb and I went to u this conference up in Flagstaff.
towards the end of the year um they take that five paragraph essay and they turn it into a first-person narrative uh to then cover another lang uh common core standard for language arts um to present knowledge on a particular topic or text um starting in August when they come it's like the first thing that they always ask about when is the wax museum when do we start working on it so it's a whole year process so they're very excited to come up and present so all of our um presenters are going to come and take their positions and get ready. If I can have you all come and go where you're supposed to go, appreciate it. Mr. Grody, can you just scooch a smidge? Thanks. Martin Luther King needed to get in. Okay. Hello. Welcome to the fourth grade wax museum. My name is Princess Diana.
The awards program was developed to give local boards of education a chance to reward student leadership potential. The students selected tonight were drawn from hundreds of peers, uh, literally over a thousand students because they demonstrated incredible leadership qualities that were defined by the CAB's board of directors. Those leadership criteria include willingness to take on challenges, capability to make difficult decisions, concern for others, the ability to work with others, willingness to commit to a project, diplomacy, ability to understand issues clearly, ability to honor a commitment. even if you thought today was the last meeting and the last meeting is actually a week from now or excuse me a couple weeks from now. So, um you know, like I said, the students being recognized tonight from Dodd Middle School and Cheshire High School stand out as real superstars among their peers. And this isn't necessarily an academic award, though all of our students receiving the award tonight have really exceptional academic performance, but uh this is a lot about character and the sort of people that you want leading your group.
As you leave Aspen Valley, the world needs people like you. Individuals who rise above challenges, inspire others, and create positive ripples in your communities. So go forth with confidence, dream boldly, chase your passions, and whatever life seems to be too much to overcome, remember, you've already overcome so much. You got this. Reach out your hand if your cup is empty. If your cup is full, may it be again. Congratulations, Aspen Valley High School class of 2025. The future is yours to shape, and I have no doubt it will be bright. Thank [Applause] you. And now, Mrs. Shandandy, it is with great pride that I present you, the members of the class of 2025. I hereby certify that these young adults have met the requirements for an Academy School District 20 diploma. I recommend them for their diplomas. On behalf of the board of education of Academy District 20, I accept with pride and pleasure the 2025 graduating class of Aspen Valley High School.
So that's the history on that issue. Mhm. So um one more just one more couple of questions. the the guardrail that's coming down on the right side of the stair as you're going. So that would have to continue, would it not? At least one one 10 pass. Yeah. So that'd be a variance on that, too. Well, that's what I'm trying to avoid. I don't want them to come back. Um, and I don't think you'd have enough clearance um between the wall and what would be the end of the guard rail. I I guess I guess where I'm going with this is um why don't you just why don't you just leave the stair open? Why put a door at the bottom? If the door at the top is the the the ceremonial or the decorative door and that's the one that's going to control sound, why don't you just make it the stairs as simple as possible?
the district paid for us to go up there and we went to this conference and it's was very very impressive. The presenter was very very impressive. Um fantastic. He basically involved everybody there even me who has a tendency to sit in the back and kind of listen and not contribute very much but it was very very interesting. So, what Barb and I talked about on our way back was actually doing this a little bit with the board to show you what it is because what I would like to see is that at least this is considered as part of the PD in the fall. Um I don't know try it with one school try it with the whole faculty try it with whatever but it was um it was very very impressive. Yeah and uh at the conference there were teachers from schools that had been involved in it and stuff.
I was born on July 1st, 1961 in Fort England. I am best known for becoming Princess of Wales when I married Prince Charles. I was born to a high ranking British family. I have a father named John Spencer, a mother named Francis Spencer. I have three siblings named Sarah, Jane, and Charles. I went to boarding school when I was very little. I enjoyed art and music. I loved to help with the elderly and disabled. I only met Prince Charles 13 times before we got engaged. I was very kind to others. I did so many charity events to help people. I was known for my charity work and being an advocate for one's rights. Also, I help with the children, the sick, and the homeless. I hope I taught you to be kind and to help others. Also to do is right for no price. Remember to help everyone.
And so, uh, tonight I'm proud to recognize and I ask that they please come up to the podium, uh, from Dodd Middle School, Lily Giuliano, Palmer Simpson, Tatum Gutman, and from Cheshure High School, Lydia Gali, and Malachi Bea. Come on up, guys. Follow pictures. If you want to take a picture, come on. You go first. Get a little closer together. Look at me first. One more. Thank you, Dr. Sen. Dr. You're going to move into C. The award of excellence for Honorable Mansion. I'm sorry. Are you moving to C? B. Uh, the school partnership awards. Okay. Thank you. If uh we could welcome up Mr. Mr. Grippo. Mr. Grippo. Oh, no. Mr. Mr. White has Norton and Mr. Gribble has Dittle. Perfect. All right, Mr. White, come on down. I got a Come on. Our Norton recipient is Claire Newell. Claire joined the Norton school community during the 232 24 school year.
Mr. Chamberlain, thank you, your faculty, and your staff for an outstanding job. graduates and staff. It is now time to move in position for the distribution of diplomas. Let's go. Sure. It is a high honor and a thrill for staff members to read graduates names and their post-secary future plans. This year, Chad Estrada and Chris Martin have that honor. Chad and Chris, I now present to you the Aspen Valley High School class of 2025 enjoy the honor of announcing these fine graduates names and their story to come. Board, administration, and seniors, it's time to distribute diplomas. Ash Alexandra Acavdo. After high school, Ash will be attending CSU PBLO, majoring in criminology. Their next plan will be to attend the police academy and work up to becoming a detective investigating crimes against children. Ariel Crystal Collins Ariel has plans to become a chef after graduation. Adriana Lee Cumins.