Wallace's Marching Band and Drum Line Perform 'The Star Spangled Banner'--and More

Under the direction of music teacher Louis Pontecorvo, Wallace Middle School's band and drum line performed "The Star Spangled Banner" at a Memorial Day commemoration at Generali Elementary School earlier this month. Intervention Officer Jackie Davis captured the performance and created this video. Thanks to Mr. Pontecorvo, the band and drum line, and Ms. Davis for this inspiring moment!

Memorial Day Parade, 2011

Under the direction of music teacher Louis Pontecorvo, the Wallace Band and Drum Line participated in Waterbury's Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 29.





Thanks to David Hailstone's mom for the photos.

Yeshion House 8th Graders Complete Bridge Design Competition in Winning Style

Yeshion House 8th graders completed the annual Bridge Design Competition in winning style. Using nothing but toothpicks, white glue, paper clamps, and a lot ingenuity, students designed and constructed some memorable bridges. Science teacher Mrs. Rusnov provided guidance on building codes, materials and construction techniques while math teacher Mrs. Camilleri showed students how to manage a $1.5 million project budget. This year's special guest judges were bridge engineers from the CT Department of Transportation who are currently working on the $23 Million Naugatuck River Bridge. They scored the students' bridges on the overall quality of construction, creativity and originality of their designs. They spoke very highly of the students' work and hopefully inspired some students to enter the engineering profession. Judging will continue and will include strength testing, overall project management, accounting, architectural drawings, adherence to building code and team camaraderie. The top 3 "Best of Show" winners will be announced next week and Mrs. Rusnov and Mrs. Camilleri will host a celebratory picnic for the winning teams.

--Mrs. Rusnov, 8th Grade Yeshion House Science Teacher

Sixth Grader Terrell Patterson: Why I am Proud to be an American

Note:  This is the essay MSAA 6th grader Terrell Patterson wrote for the Elks Club essay contest earlier this year (see previous post here).  Thank you, Terrell, for sharing your work with us and for being a credit to Wallace Middle School.

 I am proud to be an American because there is a working government, soldiers who would give their lives for their country, and citizens have fair rights.

America has a very successful government.  They maintain freedom, democracy, school systems, laws, and try to keep peace with other countries.  Freedom is being able to be free to do what you want to do, while still obeying the law.  America is a democracy, which means that citizens over the age of eighteen can vote for who runs the government.  in America, the government requires that everyone under the age of sixteen must attend school.  This is why America is one of the smartest countries in the world.  America has written laws, which is why they are followed.  If these laws were not written nobody would follow them because there would be no evidence of their existence.  Also, America is always trying to keep peace with other countries

America has many had working citizens who wake up early in the morning to go to work so they can provide for their families.  Also, there are many soldiers who would give their life for America.  That is why they are honored with Veteran's Day.

I am also proud to be an American because there are equal rights.  Women and men are treated equally as we white and African American people.

Now you know why I am proud to be an American and live in the amazing country of America.

--Terrell Patterson, MSAA 6th Grade Student in the Yeshion House

CPEP Team Competes in Statewide Event in Hartford

The Wallace CPEP team competed in a statewide event at the Hartford Convention Center on Saturday, May 21. The Wallace team won awards in five different events.

Mr. Stevents and Mr. Sirois thank Mr. Simms, Mr. Serrano, and Mrs. Mercado for their volunteer work throughout the day.

Thanks to Mr. Sirois for these photos.

Wallace Marching Band and Drum Line Visit Generali Elementary School on May 24

Wallace Band and Drum Line had a great performance at Generali Elementary School during a Memorial Day ceremony on Tuesday, May 24. There were veterans there who raised the flag and fired a volley, and we played “The Star Spangled Banner.” We said the Pledge, and then we went to a cemetery next to the school and stood in silence to honor the memory of soldiers buried there. We also played a military march and “Rock-a-bye Baby.”

--Ashley Batista, 7th Grade, Huckins House


Thanks to 7th grade Huckins House student Ashley Batista and parent liaison Gretchen Flaherty for these photos.

Wallace Participates in Language Arts Festival

Three Wallace students participated in the district's Language Arts Festival at the Palace Theater on Friday, May 13.  These students created original, authentic responses to literature based on the theme of friendship.  Congratulations to Rezarta Kolludra, a sixth grader in the Huckins House, and Teisiah Lawrence and Elizabeth Angelicola, eighth graders in the Hammond House.  These are the first students from Wallace to participate in the festival.

Huckins House sixth grader Rezarta Kolludra and her dad pause for a moment from practice before  the Language Arts Festival at the Palace on May 13.

Hammond House eighth graders Teisiah Lawrence and Elizabeth Angelicola, who read and performed original poems at the Language Arts Festival at the Palace on May 13, pause for a photo at Wallace.