Extracurricular programs keep Winsted students interested in learning

WINSTED — Extracurricular programs for students at Pearson Middle School and Hinsdale Elementary School are keeping children excited about learning and are a testament to the dedication of parents in the system, principals of the schools said this week.The two programs were saluted April 12 at Town Hall during the Winchester Board of Education’s monthly meeting.Pearson Principal Clay Krevolin announced that PTO members Caroline Christensen and Julie Rego teamed up to obtain a $7,000 grant from AT&T this year to support an extracurricular team-building program for seventh-graders, held recently at Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NCCC).“The seventh grade was divided into four groups and they each spent a morning working down at NCCC in the gym at Greenwoods Hall,” Krevolin said. “The activities focused on teaming, character building and problem-solving.”Students Mikayla Benvenuti, C.J. Barber and Greg Akerly were among the students to participate in the program and presented brief reports of their experiences to the Board of Education.For Hinsdale Elementary School, Principal Matthew O’Connell said it was Rego once again who spearheaded a grant to launch the Laurel City Learning Center Collaborative, an after-school program at Hinsdale that teaches young students arts and crafts. “They started with a winter session, with a sewing club, card making, ceramics, a Lego club and floral design,” O’Connell said. “They have also recently added a cheerleading club.”Students involved in the program included Rego’s sons Hunter and Connor, along with Victoria and Sky Johnson, Alexandra Cassaday and Beth Christensen. The students proudly presented several of their creations to the Board of Education.“It’s a very positive program,” O’Connell said of the Laurel City Learning Center. “The kids are excited about it, and we’ve had parents and teachers teaching the classes. We’re hoping to grow it this year and next and offer more classes. I like it because it gives the students something positive to do after school, it allows them to explore an interest area and gives them a chance to form different friendships that they might not develop in the classroom.” O’Connell praised Rego for her involvement as a parent and organizer and noted that the program is already funded with grant money for the upcoming school year.