Want to get students interested in Science? Have them explore underwater caves in the Caribbean! That’s just one of the COOL things at Rockville High School in Vernon. Mr. Agenta’s Marine Science classes have been making the trip for the last 30 years.
AG-Science at RHS is about as diverse of a program as I’ve seen. Students can learn everything from arc welding (to fix farm equipment) to knowing the ins and outs of Roberts Rules of Order to conduct FFA meetings! Now that covers all the bases when it comes to preparing students for the real world.
There is so much more to learn about our experience at RHS, take a look at the other stories and video of our LIVE COOL SCHOOLS pep rally on wfsb.com
Have a great weekend
and stay COOL.
Mike Hydeck.
It was so fun this morning!
Thank you so much for coming to my school.
I’m really proud that I was able to be on this segment before I graduated at the end of the year.
Dear Mike:
This is Joe Connolly. You were a judge for mykids at the Hebron Fair and they told me they had a chance to say hi when you visited Rockville High School.
We know you must have a very busy schedule, but we’re also aware of your love of music, so if you and your family and friends need a relatively cheap night out in May, please cosider this an invitation to see GODSPELL in Vernon.
A news article about the production is attached.
Hope all is well on your side of the computer.
Joe Connolly
Edit as needed…Leanne reminds me all the time that I am very wordy!
Disclaimer note: Joe Connolly isn’t positive he has the years exactly correct, but he knows 2010 makes five different decades for this story. Despite his old age, at least in his children’s eyes, everything else in this article is accurate.
FIVE DECADES OF GODSPELL
The first decade Joe Connolly directed GODSPELL, in the summer and fall of 1979, for St. Matthew’s Church in Tolland, Connecticut, Leanne Dwire would perform O BLESS THE LORD MY SOUL. Joe was heading north to his family’s favorite vacation spot, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, to be a DJ for the summer. His friend, Pete Perreria, had different ideas. After both working on BYE BYE BIRDIE for the East Hartford (CT) Summer Youth Festival (EHSYF), Pete invited Joe to be assistant director for GODSPELL in Tolland. Though Joe loved being a DJ, he loved the concept of GODSPELL more and stayed in Connecticut.
The second decade Joe directed GODSPELL, in the summer of 1988, for the Theatre North Company of Berlin-Gorham, New Hampshire, Leanne was in the audience of the old James River Barn during a night of its run. Joe had been in New Hampshire since 1984, working at 3 different radio stations in New Hampshire and Maine as well as co- anchoring the 1988 New Hampshire primaries for the local TV cable outlet. His full time job was fifth grade teacher in Milan (NH). He also had the opportunity to do several shows for the award winning Theatre North program, where he was asked to direct the 1988 musical of his choice. He chose GODSPELL. Joe still kept his old phone book, and tried to contact several former cast mates from GODSPELL ’79.
Leanne was one of them.
A teacher in Willimantic (CT), Leanne told Joe that if he was ever in Connecticut, he should stop by to say hi. Well, he WAS coming to see the summer musical for EHSYF and…that led to a visit to Leanne, and another visit, and a long distance relationship, so by opening night of GODSPELL ’88, Leanne and Joe became engaged. Joe would be leaving New Hampshire a few weeks after the run of the show to move back to his home state of Connecticut.
The third decade Joe directed GODSPELL, in the summer of 1995, for the Indian Valley YMCA (IVYMCA) of Vernon, Connecticut, Leanne was the musical director. Oh, by then, Leanne had married Joe and they had two children, Erin and Patrick, who were 3 and 1 at the time. Joe had been involved with the early years of the youth theater program for IVYMCA and, on this particular year, offered to start a high school-age program, especially if he could direct GODSPELL ’95 with the assistance of Leanne. The high school program has since re-joined forces with the IVYMCA youth theater program, but, for GODSPELL ’95, it did let the public see the role of Jesus portrayed by an actress.
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The fourth time Joe directed GODSPELL, in the spring of 2001, for the Youth program of the First Congregational Church of Vernon (FCCV-UCC), the producer was Bob LaRochelle, a colleague of Joe’s in the South Windsor, Connecticut school system. This may have never happened, but Joe had been directing the Timothy Edwards Middle School musicals in South Windsor for several years. When Bob became youth minister for FCCV, he was looking for something to bond the youth. While going though the FCCV Family Yearbook, Bob spotted Joe’s family picture and the wheels began to turn. GODSPELL started a run of youth musicals for several years at FCCV, including a production written by two youth of the church (Eric Hutchinson’s and Mike Sadler’s BELIEVER). For Bob and Joe, however, it was already mathematically decided that they should do GODSPELL again in 2010. Erin would be 17 and Patrick 15, and, besides, they might like doing musicals.
The fifth time Joe directed GODSPELL will be on Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22, back at FCCV for the program titled FELLOWSHIP 2010. Bob and Joe both still work for South Windsor, but now in 2 different schools. In fact, Bob is now “Pastor Bob” for the First Congregational Church of Union in Union, Connecticut. Leanne, however, is still around and is musical director for this production, while in her “free time” she is getting ready to start her final year of ministry school at ANTS (Andover Newton Theological School of Newton, Massachusetts). Erin and Patrick, students at Rockville (CT) High School, are part of the 2010 cast of youth ranging in age from 7 to 20-somethings. Both are singing solos in GODSPELL 2010. Patrick will perform WE BESEECH THEE as well as lead the audience in an intermission sing along version of BEAUTIFUL CITY.
Oh, and Erin will be singing O BLESS THE LORD MY SOUL.
GODSPELL 2010 will be performed on Friday, May 21st and Saturday, May 22nd at The First Congregational Church of Vernon (FCCV-UCC), 695 Hartford Turnpike (exit 66 off I-84). Showtime is at 7 p.m. both nights. Tickets are based on reserved seating and are limited to 200 tickets per night. Youth groups of all kinds are encouraged attend our ROCK THIS WORLD performance on Saturday. The suggested donation is $7.00 per ticket. More information can be obtained and/or tickets can be reserved by calling the church at 860-875-7580 or contacting the Connolly’s at:
http://www.freewebs.com/jconnolly/
It should also be noted a worship service celebrating GODSPELL music and parables within the Christian service will be held on Mother’s Day, May 9th at 10:00 a.m. at FCCV-UCC. The guest preacher that day will be Leanne Connolly.