Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

At North Canaan Elementary, 42 students ready for the future

NORTH CANAAN — The 42 students comprising the eighth grade class at North Canaan Elementary School (NCES) gathered with their families to bid farewell to their school on Wednesday, June 16.

They are all clearly ready for what will come next.

Parents and families were seated within family circles a distance away, on the lower soccer field.  

Three students delivered welcoming remarks. Leah Drislane spoke of overcoming the struggles posed by the past school year. Ayden Veilleux spoke of a common class goal of helping classmates to shine.  Ella Karcheski celebrated persistence and exhorted her classmates to embrace their future.

After the awarding of honors and certificates by faculty, students read Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.” 

An ensemble of students stepped up for a vocal rendition of “Counting Stars” by One Republic, self-accompanied on ukulele.

 

North Canaan Elementary School Class of 2021 

Brandt Edward Bosio, Eli Bosio, Jake Bosio, Daniela Lucia Brennan,  Lucas Matthew Caranci , Catherine Anne Carlson, Kaylin Michelle Clark, Jerry William Conlin, Ian J. Crowell, Dylan Jacob Deane , Cole Jamison Dennis , Madison Marie DeWitt, Justin Geovany Díaz, Melanie DiGirolamo , Amelia Rose Dodge, Leah Morgan Drislane, Lilly Paige Galarneau, Ava Gandarillas, Jacob Green, Riley Hayden, Abigail Hogan, Bradyn Holst-Grubbe, Harper Olivia Howe, Antonis I. Karampasis, Ellanor A. Karcheski, Dustin Kayser, Muireann Grace Kelliher, Kylie Lynn Leonard, Liam Grey MacNeil, Sasha Lynn McCue, Sophie Elise Nason, Keira Ann Ongley, Ledvia Jeannette Orellana-Lemus, Ciara Marie Panza-Cecchinato,  Diana C. Portillo, Caleb Finnegan Hutchins Rand, Jase A. Sherwood, Taylor Leigh Terwilliger, Ayden Jimmay Veilleux, Natalie Michelle Wells, Abigail White, Kori Ann Rose Wiggins

 

2021 Awards

English Language Arts: Mia Dodge and Harper Howe

Mathematics: Abby Hogan and Daniela Brennan

Science: Kylie Leonard

Social Studies: Ella Karcheski

Spanish: Sophie Nason

Physical Education: Jerry Conlin

Art: Ciara Panza-Cecchinato

Music: Madison DeWitt

Technology: Bradyn Holst-Grubbe

Principal’s Award: Sasha McCue and Dustin Kayser

Leila Wood Scholarship: Jerry Conlin, Jacob Green, Jase Sherwood and Ayden Veilleux

The young women were all smiles as they enthusiastically awaited the start of their promotion ceremony on Wednesday, June 16, at North Canaan Elementary School. Photo by Leila Hawken

Getting ready to line up for the North Canaan Elementary School procession to their promotion ceremony, students gathered under a tent to wish each other well and remember the good times. Photo by Leila Hawken

The young women were all smiles as they enthusiastically awaited the start of their promotion ceremony on Wednesday, June 16, at North Canaan Elementary School. Photo by Leila Hawken
Related Articles Around the Web

Latest News

Let's Hear It - September 17, 2026

Let's Hear It - September 17, 2026

This Week

As summer comes to an end and the days begin to get a little cooler, signs of fall are starting to appear all around us. The leaves are beginning to change, the evenings are getting shorter, and a new season of activities and traditions is just around the corner.

Keep ReadingShow less

$5,000

$5,000

Letters to the Editor - September 17, 2026

Letters to the Editor - September 17, 2026

Put $1M to work for housing affordability

If I had $1 million to improve housing affordability in Litchfield County, I would create a revolving Housing Opportunity Fund. Instead of spending the entire amount on one or two homes, I would use it to help local housing trusts acquire land or properties, provide down-payment assistance for qualified buyers, convert appropriate existing buildings into housing, and help cover some of the upfront costs that can prevent good housing projects from ever getting started.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Turning Back the Pages - September 17, 2026

125 years ago — September 1901

LIME ROCK — Matthew Patterson recently received a silver medal from the Canadian government as a token of his services during the Fenian raid in ‘71. The medal is suitably inscribed and is considerably heavier than a silver dollar. It depends from a silk tri-color and pin, and altogether makes a very neat souvenir.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices from our community about the housing we need for a healthy, vibrant future

Jordan Seibert and Riley Bossi

Shelly Dinelle

There’s a reason people say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” To thrive, a child needs a safe, stable place to call home. That’s the bedrock for health, dignity, and the chance to build a bright future. What kind of “village” does it take to create these homes?

Motivated by compassion and a drive to make housing more accessible, it took the Foundation for Norfolk Living years of hard work to create ten affordable homes at Haystack Woods. The “village” turned out to be a patchwork of support that included financial help from the DOH, a construction mortgage through Northwest Community Bank, and a Community Development Block Grant to purchase the property and pay for the road and infrastructure. The result? Two- and three-bedroom homes reserved for first-time homebuyers earning 60-80% of Litchfield County’s median income, and selling for $159,000 to $261,000. The condominium homes are deed-restricted and net-zero thanks to energy-efficient construction, solar panels, and battery storage, meaning the homebuyers will have no energy costs! Curious? Just Google “Haystack Woods” to learn more. It’s a remarkable accomplishment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Selectmen back $113,000 request for new ambulance

FALLS VILLAGE — The Board of Selectmen approved a request from the Fire Commission for $113,000 toward a new ambulance scheduled for delivery in November.

The selectmen acted during their regular monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 14.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.