September 2011
Congratulations and Thanks!

• Mark Crino and Allison Malerba were named co-recipients of the Marion D. Fenton Award. This award was created in honor of Marin Fenton and her 29 years of inspired and devoted work with children who have a hearing loss. The qualities that the winners’ exhibit reflect Marion and they include:

1.Commitment to listening and developing spoken language;
2.Dedication to the effective use of the most appropriate amplification technology;
3.Active involvement in professional development;
4.Contributions to professional organizations outside of Soundbridge; and/or contributions to the Soundbridge community.

• Congratulations to Judy King, who has been selected as a CREC Shining Star! These awards were created to recognize employees who demonstrate CREC’s core values of Teamwork, Achievement, and Respect every day. Many thanks, also, to Chris Billings who wrote the nomination!

• Congratulations to our graduates, Chelsea Lyle of South Windsor, Tarelle Hall of Hartford, Kaylene Cruz of New Britain, Colby McNair of East Hartford, Juan Torres of Hartford, and Tashiqua Williams of Wethersfield! All have post secondary plans and we wish them all the best as they embark on their next adventure!

• Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients:
o Julie Lepore (South Windsor) recipient of the Melida A. Bergeron Scholarship.
o Colby McNair (East Hartford) recipient of a PTO award
o Brian Strong (Simsbury) recipient of the Alvina Narkin Scholarship.

• Congratulations to all the shining stars in grades 3 – 12 who participated in the No Limits play called Believe It or Not this summer. No Limits Theater, a California-based theater production company for deaf and hard of hearing students, provided the play and many of the costumes and props to put on this production as part of our Language, Literacy and the Arts theme. Students were from the towns of Wethersfield, Norwich, North Windham, Bristol, Northford, Plainville, East Hartford, Douglas, MA, Salem, Fairfield, and Southington.

• Thanks to Donna Mercier of CAST -Children’s Associated Summer Theatre, Manchester, for lending props, costumes, and the pipe and drape to create the stage for the summer production of the No Limits play, Believe It or Not.

• Thanks to Kim’s Flower Shop, Wethersfield, for their support of our young actors with the donation of congratulatory flowers.

• Thanks to the incredible Language, Literacy, and the Arts staff: Claire Lombardo, Camille Pinelle-McFadden, Nikki Saccomandi, Karen Walters, Kathy Bell, Jessica Doyle, Janet Sullivan, Nina Gioielli, Linda Day, Michele Comporesi, Madeline Baldwin, Joanne Sansabrino, Alex Touhey, Shirley Phung, Pam Mycka, Stephanie Partyka, Katey Welch, Shannon Mercier, Abigail Baldino, Joan Weir, Ellen Gill, Diane Shannon, Marion Radeen, Alison Malerba, Dr. Elizabeth Cole, Diane Nelson, and Maura McGuire. Your care, expertise, and dedication brought our students an incredible experience this summer.

• Thanks to the fabulous audiological staff: Mark Crino, Pura Gomez, Dr. Elaine Carroll, Susan Piescik, Dr. Raisa Usifer, Dr. Jill Raney, Jacqueline DiFancesco, Rossana Gutierrez, Kathy Bell, Rhonda Sousa, Cathy St. Laurent, and Megan Sankovich for the equipment management, collection, repair, and support to help conclude the school year and start up all the summer programming. We could not do it without you!

• Thanks to office and building staff: Kelly Clark, Nancy Gonzalez, Dianne Webber, Janaelle Robles, Marianna Rizzo, Carlos Vizcaino, and Peter Kaflik for making the Soundbridge world run so smoothly. You are the best!

• Ellen Gill, Marion Radeen, and Dr. Elizabeth Cole attended the A. G. Bell LSL Symposium in Washington, DC from July 21- 23. This brought researchers, clinicians and educators from around the country to share data and evidence-based strategies to further the education of children with hearing.