The Buzz
School Community Newsletter
Issue #40
Friday, April 2, 2021
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Schedule for Monday, April 5 - Friday, April 9 |
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Vaccination Information
After April 1, anyone 16 and older can get vaccinated in CT
Schedule Your COVID-19 Vaccine
The state offers residents and workers several options for scheduling their COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
Option 1: Search for a Vaccine Site
Enter your address or zip code to view all the locations nearest you. You can also search for a specific provider to view associated locations.
Click on this link:
Option 2: Schedule by Phone
Prefer to schedule by phone? Select sites offer appointment scheduling via phone. Due to high volume, hold times may vary.
Please note that some vaccine sites allow phone scheduling through a direct clinic phone number. Search by location to view additional sites and scheduling options.
Vaccine Appointment Assist Line
877-918-2224
Available 8:00am to 8:00pm EST, 7 days a week
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Alumna of the Week
Carrie Stetson
Class of 1989
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The Railway Cafe, which will open soon at 580 Main Street in Winsted,
is owned by Carrie (Crossfield) Stetson.
From left: Carrie Stetson's daughter Piper, her husband Leon, adopted daughter Nicole Crossman, Carrie Stetson, and her son Ben.
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What have you done since you graduated?:
"I spent twenty three years working at Highland Acres, a nursing facility in Winsted as a cook. It feels like I have been a cook forever. I raised my children in Winsted where I have lived all of these years.
After Highland acres closed down, I worked at Northwestern Connecticut Community College at their bookstore, but I realized that I really missed cooking so I accepted a positon as a cook at GEER Village Senior Living Community in Canaan. I stayed there for two years, and then I took over GEER's Railroad Cafe. They had the cafe available and GEER asked me if I wanted to run it.
When the Covid pandemic hit, GEER was mostly shut down so we couldn't operate the cafe. Eventually, I decided to move the cafe to Winsted, which is where we will reopen this month."
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Stetson's cinnamon buns, just one of many baked good offerings she plans to offer at the Railway Cafe. |
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What do you remember from your time at Gilbert?:
"I still have very close friends from that time. I stayed in Winsted because it's a nice hometown. I can't imagine living anywhere else. We decided this is where we would raise our family."
Do you have any other family members who also attended Gilbert?:
"Yes, my brother Scott Crossfield who graduated in 1991, my two daughters, Nicole Crossman, and Piper Stetson, both graduated in 2014, and my son Ben graduated in 2020."
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Stenson's Homemade S’mores Cookies |
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What lessons from Gilbert did you apply to the real world?:
"That if you work hard, things will come together."
What advice would you give current students?:
"Just work hard and keep at it. Eventually, everything will work out."
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Student of the Week
Aidan Roy
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Age: 17
Parents: Mike and Rhonda Roy
What are your favorite classes?:
"Intro to Marketing is my favorite class because once I reach college I want to study business. I want to run my own company and be a CEO."
What are your extracurricular activities?:
"I play basketball and track and field. Basketball is just something I always played while growing up. I also chose track because once I got to high school ,everyone was telling me I would be good at it and I should try it. I am glad I did because it's something that I like."
What will you remember from your time at Gilbert?:
"The friends I met along the way."
What are your future plans?:
"I haven't decided on a college yet, but most likely I will be going to Western New England where I will study business and go further with that."
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Faculty Member of the Week
Bryttnie Olsen
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Art teacher since January 2021 |
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What's your educational background?:
"This is my first teaching position. I did do student teaching at Veterans Park Elementary in Ludlow, Massachusetts. Its a 4th and 5th grade school. Prior to coming to Gilbert, I was doing art therapy based work with people with traumatic brain injuries. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Art Therapy and Art Education from Springfield College in Massachusetts."
Why did you get into art?:
"I have been a creative soul all my life since I was little. I was always drawn to painting, drawing, even making things out of tin foil. I have always been a maker. As I got older, I had no idea what to do with my life. I actually took a class for people who didn't know what they wanted to do for their career. My parents said 'don't go for art!' but despite that, I went for art education.
How could you pass up being in an art room all day making art while teaching other people how to love it?"
What do you think of Gilbert?:
"I love it here! I am having a blast! The students are more than I could ever ask for. Despite the pandemic, the things that are being made in this art room are fantastic! Sometimes my jaw drops in amazement when I see what students make. I am really proud of the students here and I love getting to know them."
Why do you think your position is important?:
"Especially in a pandemic right now, art is such an important outlet. I think my art room can be refuge to some students. This ability to be able to express yourself and create is important. Being a creative soul is very important. And right now, art is pretty much the only thing that is giving a break to students from staring at a computer screen. Being creative makes you access a part of your brain you sometimes don't access."
How would you describe Gilbert to a stranger?:
"It's so much like my hometown of Thomaston. I went to Thomaston High School, and it reminds me of when I was a student there. It's small and homey. Everybody knows everyone and they treat you like family. The way people have taken care of me here is outstanding and the staff has been very helpful, especially considering I am new. I thought this would have been scary and overwhelming, but so many people are willing to help all of the time."
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A Walk in the Park
By Debra LaRoche Walls, Dean of Admissions
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International Program Student Andrew Park
at Peoples State Forest in Barkhamsted
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Warmer weather has opened opportunities of getting outdoors and into the warm sunshine. Living in the western top corner of Connecticut offers so many beautiful outdoor venues such as Peoples State Forest in the Pleasant Valley section of Barkhamsted. The forest, that is a seven-mile loop trail, was established in 1924 through the efforts of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. It offers the area’s finest fishing, hunting, camping and winter sporting activities nestled in the wooded picturesque splendor just a few short miles from Winsted. The best months to enjoy the wildlife and views are between April through October.
The park is no secret to Residential Coordinator, David Rutherford, who has recently taken international student, Andrew Park from South Korea many times to explore the four-season hiking trails. The two have spent several sunshine afternoons exploring the different trails reaching many top peaks and seeing fabulous views. Mr. Rutherford shared that Andrew is a great hiker and he often has to run to keep up with him. Oh to be seeing the earthly beauty through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old boy from a different country for the first time.
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Peoples State Forest has lots to offer in addition to eleven miles of hiking trails including; trout fishing, canoeing, kayaking, tubing and more. The seven hiking trails are each personally named and the history behind each person begins your journey. The trails; Agnes Bowen, Charles Pack, Elliott Bronson, Jessie Gerard, Walt Landgraf, Pond and Robert Ross, all range between one to two miles in distance and offer different levels of difficulty.
Next week, I plan to join Andrew for a hike. It will be my first time there so I will choose one of the easier trails for my first venture. These photos of Andrew were emailed to his family in South Korea to share his adventures from afar. His parents are so grateful for all of these experiences that their ninth grade son is having as an international student at The Gilbert School.
You don’t have to be from another country to enjoy the natural beauty that is only a few miles away from Winsted. It’s spring, get out and enjoy a walk in the park, Peoples State Park in Barkhamsted. Maybe Andrew and I will see you there!
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Coach's Corner: New Batting Cage Installed
By Buckley Morgan, Athletic Director
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I am pleased to report that the batting cage located at Rowley Field, Willow Street, is now complete and ready for action and it's just in time for Spring Baseball. Coach Cooke and I worked this past weekend installing the netting onto the new batting cage. The framing was installed last fall but we waited until spring to hang the netting.
Getting this installed was a collaborative effort between the Winchester Parks and Rec Department, the Public Works Department, the city field maintainers and the baseball coach. O&G Industries donated and poured the cement for the footings at no cost while the Department of Public Works ensured it was prepped and installed correctly.
The Gilbert baseball and softball teams will be able to use the batting cage this season and the town will be able to use it through the summer season as well. It should be there for many years of youth sports.
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Food Service Schedule April |
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April 2, 2021
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,
I hope this informational letter finds everyone safe, healthy, and excited about the beginning of having our students back to school four days a week.
I would like to begin with the changes that will be made with the food pick up now that students will be starting to come back full time. As students begin to return to school four days a week with Wednesday being a cohort day, they will only be eligible for one free breakfast and one free lunch for the cohort day. This would be cohort group D. Students that choose to change or stay in cohort group C are eligible for five days of free breakfast and free lunch. Families that have been picking up food for students in cohort groups A and B will continue to pick up free breakfast and free lunch until their child/children have returned to school four days per week. Once they have returned they will be eligible for a one day pick up of one free breakfast and one free lunch. If they choose to move to cohort group C they will be eligible for five days of free breakfast and free lunch.
Beginning March 29, 2021, pick up times will change.
Monday pick-ups will begin at 9:30-12:30
Tuesday pick-ups will begin at 9:30-12:30
Wednesday pick-up will begin at 9:30-12:30
For the families that would like to pick up for five days please email or call Lynn Metcalf Director of Food Services at the email or phone number in the side bar. Please follow the same instructions if you would like to pick up for one day. Who is eligible for Free breakfast and Free lunches? Anyone 18 years old or younger, at home learning, toddlers, students that are at home learning and attend a different school can pick up food at The Gilbert School.
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Last week's WHOZIT from 1970! |
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Google Classroom Cheat Sheet |
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Attention Gilbert Alumni
We Want to Stay in Contact With You!
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The Gilbert School
200 WIlliams Avenue
Winsted, CT 06098
860-379-8521
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