Housatonic student of the week

The Lakeville Journal congratulates the honorees of the student of the week program at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Raising a child is, in a limited sense, similar to growing a plant. With the right nurturing and supports, a child will grow up strong, straight and upright. Christian Allyn, our student of the week, is not only a fine example of such an upbringing, but an extraordinary student of horticulture himself. If you purchased one of the impeccable poinsettias from our FFA during this year’s holiday sales, you were the beneficiary of Christian’s green thumb, which he also puts to use as a member of the Arboretum Committee that has worked extensively this year to spruce up the courtyards and plan for the replacement of storm-damaged trees.If you are a regular follower of the Region One Board of Education meetings, you may already know Christian (who is a junior this year) as one of our student representatives. His enthusiasm for Housatonic Valley Regional High School is infectious, and his knowledge of school history and culture are impressive. Christian has a fine mind for history in general, and can trace his own lineage back to both Ethan Allen and Wilhemine Allyn, the first English teacher at HVRHS.Christian is currently working with our Alumni Association to plan the 75th anniversary celebration, which will take place in 2013, and he is also working with the Arboretum Committee to replace the white birches that flanked the entrance to the building prior to this fall’s storm. Having such a knowledgeable and spirited student to help with that work adds an element of passion to those efforts that make Housatonic such a special place.