LIFE in the Classroom NHS Student Council makes intergenerational connections

by Mark Jahne

Editor

Courtesy photos

The members of the Student Council at Newington High School don’t limit the scope of their activities to the NHS campus. They are seeking to make an impact on the wider community as well.

That’s why they paid visits to Jefferson House and Masonicare at Middlewoods of Newington to interact with the senior citizens who live in those facilities. These visits are among other outreach projects the students are encouraged to undertake under the leadership of Spanish teacher Elisa Batista, who is their faculty advisor.

“It grew a lot more this year,” she said. “Last year we started with Jefferson House.”

Batista contends that it is valuable for teenagers to interact with senior citizens and give back to the community in that manner.

Faculty advisor Elsa Batista (in all-black outfit) and members of the NHS Student Council pose for a photo with their new senior citizens friends.

Members of the Executive Board are Adrian Bielski, president; Makayla Woods, vice president; Erinn Piechowicz, secretary, Jaylen Henderson, treasurer; Jason White, social chairperson; Daniel Bieszczad, junior Board of Education representative and Abigail Pratt, senior Board of Education representative.

Other members include Jayati Dubey, Nayla Gonzalez-Costa, Isaac Joo, Duaa Khan, Imaan Khan, Fjona Isa, Aniyah Lewis, Isabella Polanco, Aldina Punzalan, Kiara Rosi, Grace Singh, Grace Simons, Shubhada Solkar and Allie Tardif.

“I’ve been a part of it through all my years of high school,” Bielski said. “It’s so fulfilling to be part of the process.”

Newington High School Student Council leaders visited with Bev Luddy, a resident of Masonicare at Middlewoods of Newington. Luddy is the mother of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maureen Brummett. They are, from left, Addison Stafford, Makayla Woods, Adrian Bielski, Jason White, Erin Piechowicz and Abigail Pratt.

He became an officer of the club during his sophomore year. He believes that school spirit is an important component of the NHS experience and wants to make sure everyone is acknowledged.

“Being the Board of Education representative is really important to me. I actually get to represent student voices on a larger scale,” Pratt said.

“I was in Student Council in middle school. It’s a special group of people,” Piechowicz added.

She likes the fact that members bring different opinions and perspectives to the table. The Executive Board meets twice a week.

Board members of the Newington High School Student Council are, from left, Jason White, Erin Piechowicz, Abigail Pratt, Jaylen Henderson, Daniel Bieszczad, Makayla Woods and Adrian Bielski.

“I’m super proud of them. They do a beautiful job collecting the student body’s ideas and thoughts,” Batista said. “We have 1,200 students in the school and we have over 200 student representatives” who feed into the Student Council.

She added that they also have a record of high academic achievement.

“We are thankful that we can give back to our community, especially the seniors. This is a phenomenal Executive Board and I’m proud to be their advisor,” she added.

Bielski is a senior and plans to attend the University of Connecticut to study civil engineering. Pratt is also a senior and will most likely matriculate to Quinnipiac College to pursue studies in public relations and political science