College In CT Shows Support For Palestinian Student Shot In VT In Apparent Hate Crime College In CT Shows Support For Palestinian Student Shot In VT In Apparent Hate Crime
College In CT Shows Support For Palestinian Student Shot In VT In Apparent Hate Crime A college community in Connecticut, alongside many nationwide, has been left reeling after a student of Palestinian descent was one of three shot in what appears to be a hate crime. Tahseen Ali Ahmad, age 20, who attends Trinity College in Hartford, was one of three men of the same age shot outside of a house in Burlington, Vermont on Sunday, Nov. 26, the school announced. Ali Ahmad and the two other men — Kinnan Abdalhamid and Hisham Awartani, also of Palestinian descent — were lifelong friends visiting a relative’s house near the University of Vermont's campus for the Thanksgiving holid…
This School District In Fairfield County Among Top 13 In Nation, According To New Rankings This School District In Fairfield County Among Top 13 In Nation, According To New Rankings
This School District In Fairfield County Among Top 13 In Nation, According To New Rankings Several school districts in the region rank among the best in the nation in brand-new rankings. TeachSimple analyzed reviews and ratings of each US school district and ranked them from highest to lowest, with 1 being the lowest, and 5 being the highest.  The scores are based on reviews from parents and students, statistics from the US Department of Education, and user-submitted information from schools.  The two top-ranked districts in New York and Connecticut are both in Nassau County on Long Island: No. 3 Roslyn Union Free SD has a high proficiency in both reading and math. T…
CT Colleges Face Large Cuts To Services, Price Hikes As Funding Disappears CT Colleges Face Large Cuts To Services, Price Hikes As Funding Disappears
CT Colleges Face Large Cuts To Services, Price Hikes As Funding Disappears Colleges and regional universities across Connecticut are expecting a $140 million deficit next year now that pandemic-era funds are drying up, the CT Mirror reports. The Board of Regents of Higher Education, an organization that oversees that state's 12 community colleges, state universities, and the online Charter Oak College, said the cuts by state lawmakers tightening their budgets along with the loss of federal funding is equal to 11 percent of the entire state system budget, the outlet said. The University of Connecticut in Storrs and its satellite campuses are planning for a $70 mill…
Update: Custodian Stops Armed Man Outside CT Elementary School, Officials Say Update: Custodian Stops Armed Man Outside CT Elementary School, Officials Say
Update: Custodian Stops Armed Man Outside CT Elementary School, Officials Say This story has been updated. A Connecticut school custodian is being credited with helping to apprehend a man with a gun outside of an elementary school. The incident took place outside of the Lincoln Bassett Community School at 130 Bassett St, New Haven on Wednesday, Nov. 8 in the morning. In a letter to parents and the community, school officials said the custodian noticed the distraught man, who was carrying a weapon, outside the school and approached him. "He was successful in de-escalating the situation," the letter said.  When New Haven Police arrived on the scene they fo…
21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell 21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell
21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell A student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York has been accused of threatening to shoot, stab, and rape Jewish students at the Ivy League school. Patrick Dai, a 21-year-old junior originally from Pittsford, New York, was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 31 on a federal criminal complaint charging him with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications, according to prosecutors in the Northern District of New York. Dai allegedly posted threatening messages to the Cornell section of an online discussion site, including posts calling for the deaths of Jewish peopl…
'Devastating News': Ridgefield High School Student Dies 'Devastating News': Ridgefield High School Student Dies
'Devastating News': Ridgefield High School Student Dies A Fairfield County high school student has died, according to school officials. Click here for a new, updated story: Support Pours In For Family Of Beloved Ridgefield High School Student Who Died At Age 15 The student attended Ridgefield High School and died early Monday morning, Oct. 30, Ridgefield Police and school officials said. They did not reveal where or how the student died. The name of the student has not yet been released. Ridgefield Public Schools superintendent Dr. Susie Da Silva wrote in a letter to the community to share the "devastating news." "The loss for our stu…
Top Honors: These Fairfield County Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award Top Honors: These Fairfield County Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award
Top Honors: These Fairfield County Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award When it comes to overall excellence, these Connecticut schools are at the top of the class, and they have the hardware to prove it. Four schools in the Constitution State are among just 353 across the country to receive the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award from the US Department of Education. The annual awards recognize high-performing public and non-public schools, as well as those making strides in closing “achievement gaps” among student groups. “Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teac…
This Connecticut Liberal Arts College Ranked Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says This Connecticut Liberal Arts College Ranked Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says
This Connecticut Liberal Arts College Ranked Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says The grades are in, and these colleges are a cut above the rest. Of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the United States, four can be found in Massachusetts, three in New York, and one in Connecticut, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings. They are: No. 1 - Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts No. 2 - Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts No. 4 - Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts (Tied with Pomona College in Claremont, California and Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania) No. 8 - United States Military …
Best High Schools: Fairfield County Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Best High Schools: Fairfield County Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings
Best High Schools: Fairfield County Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Led by a strong showing in Fairfield County, Connecticut is well-represented on U.S. News & World Report's brand-new rankings of the nation's best high schools. The rankings were released on Tuesday, Aug. 29. The Nutmeg State's No. 1 ranked school is the Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut, with a 100-percent graduation rate, and college readiness rating of 76.1. The top-ranked school from Fairfield County is Staples High School in Westport at No. 2 in the state, and 240th nationally. Connecticut IB Academy in East Hartford checks in at No. 3 in Connecti…
Sexually Explicit Material Shows Up On Slideshow During Fairfield School District Event Sexually Explicit Material Shows Up On Slideshow During Fairfield School District Event
Sexually Explicit Material Shows Up On Slideshow During Fairfield School District Event A Connecticut school district is investigating after reported sexually explicit material showed up in a slideshow presentation during the district's annual convocation. The incident took place in the town of Fairfield on Thursday, Aug. 24 during the event that kicks off the new school year.  “There was an inappropriate website URL which appeared within the keynote speaker’s presentation during yesterday’s Convocation," said Fairfield Public School Superintendent Michael J. Testani. Fairfield Public Schools Superintendent Michael J. TestaniFairfield Public Schools Testani said the websi…
These Fairfield County High Schools Rank Among Top 10 In State, Report Says These Fairfield County High Schools Rank Among Top 10 In State, Report Says
These Fairfield County High Schools Rank Among Top 10 In State, Report Says The grades are in and these Connecticut high schools are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering a number of key areas, the following schools were ranked top 10 in the website’s 2023 “Best Public High Schools in Connecticut” report: No. 1 - Fairfield County: Staples High School in Westport No. 2 - Fairfield County: New Canaan High School No. 3 - Fairfield County: Darien High School No. 4 - Fairfield County: Greenwich High School No. 5 - Fairfield County: Wilton High School No. 6 - Hartford County: Avon High School No. 7 - Hartford …
Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say
Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say Harvard University is under federal scrutiny for its preferential treatment of donor and legacy candidates, reports say.  The US Department of Education announced this week it had opened an investigation into the prestigious Massachusetts university's admissions practices for undergraduate applicants, according to Harvard's newspaper, the Crimson.    Related: End Of 'Legacy': Wesleyan University Halts Admissions Perk The investigation will seek to determine if the legacy or donor admissions discriminate on the basis of race, the Crimson reported. If so, the university m…
Danbury Educator Earns Exceptional Principal Award Danbury Educator Earns Exceptional Principal Award
Danbury Educator Earns Exceptional Principal Award An educator in Fairfield County has been awarded the prestigious Exceptional Principal Award. In Danbury, Rogers Park Middle School Principal, Dr. Kristy Zaleta, accepted the award from the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.  The award “recognizes a school principal who goes beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment for Latino students and their families,” the organization said.  Rogers Park Middle School is composed of 78 percent of Black, indigenous students of color, 6…
New Assistant Principal Named At School In Greenwich New Assistant Principal Named At School In Greenwich
New Assistant Principal Named At School In Greenwich A school in Fairfield County has selected a new assistant principal who school officials say is more than qualified for the role.  Steven Groccia has been named the new Assistant Principal at Cos Cob School, Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Toni Jones announced on Monday, May 15.  Groccia will take over the position from Karen Vitti, who has been on special assignment and filling in for the role since September 2022. Currently serving as an elementary assistant principal at the Meeting House Hill School in New Fairfield, Groccia will bring his extensive experienc…
New Principal Named To Greenwich Eastern Middle School New Principal Named To Greenwich Eastern Middle School
New Principal Named To Greenwich Eastern Middle School Students at a school in Fairfield County will find a new principal roaming the halls this fall. Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones announced on Tuesday, May 9 the appointment of Marc Guarino as principal of Eastern Middle School, effective Saturday, July 1.  Guarino replaces Jason Goldstein who announced in January that he is stepping down at the end of the school year to return to teaching in the classroom.  The new principal will oversee all of EMS’ programs that meet the needs of its students with a strong focus on academic, persona…
Greenwich, Wilton Students Named Presidential Scholars Greenwich, Wilton Students Named Presidential Scholars
Greenwich, Wilton Students Named Presidential Scholars Two Fairfield County students have been named as 2023 US Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for graduating high school seniors. Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker made the announcement on Wednesday, May 10 that Ambika Grover of Greenwich High School and Lukas Koutsoukos of Wilton High School were selected for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.  “I am so proud of Ambika and Lukas on being named US Presidential Scholars and receiving this extraordinary national rec…
Junior Scientist Award: Westport Student Earns Prestigious STEM Program Award Junior Scientist Award: Westport Student Earns Prestigious STEM Program Award
Junior Scientist Award: Westport Student Earns Prestigious STEM Program Award A Connecticut middle school student impressed a national STEM competition with a potential study that could be out of this world.  Fairfield County resident Ziggy Zhao, who attends the Pierrepont School in Westport,  won one of the five Junior Scientist Awards from the Genes in Space contest, which asks students from across the country to design biology experiments that address real-world challenges in space exploration.  The winning study will be carried out by astronauts aboard the International Space Station next year.  The 12-year-old Zhao created an exper…
New Principal Named At Greenwich Middle School New Principal Named At Greenwich Middle School
New Principal Named At Greenwich Middle School A new principal has been named to take the helm at Western Middle School in Greenwich. Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones announced Tuesday, May 9, the appointment of Dr. PJ Wax III as principal of Western Middle School, effective Saturday, July 1.  Wax replaces Gordon Beinstein who announced in January that he is retiring at the end of the school year.  “Greenwich Public Schools continues to be the premiere destination for educators and administrators in our region as more than 60 candidates vied for this position,” Jones said.  Wax comes to GPS from St…
Danbury Educator Earns State's Top Honor Danbury Educator Earns State's Top Honor
Danbury Educator Earns State's Top Honor An educator in Fairfield County has been named the Connecticut Association of Schools’ 2023 Elementary School Principal of the Year. Dr. Keshia Smith-Davis, the principal of Great Plain Elementary School in Danbury, was selected last week after being nominated by Danbury Schools Superintendent of Schools Kevin Walston, who praised her as a “warm, engaging, articulate and inclusive school administrator who consistently leads by example.” “I am grateful and truly honored to have been selected as Connecticut’s Elementary Principal of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Schools,” said Sm…
These Fairfield County School Districts Rank Among Top 25 In America, New Report Says These Fairfield County School Districts Rank Among Top 25 In America, New Report Says
These Fairfield County School Districts Rank Among Top 25 In America, New Report Says Two school districts in Connecticut are among the best in the entire country, according to a new report. In Fairfield County, the Westport, and New Canaan public school districts ranked No. 17 and No. 21 respectively, according to Niche's new 2023 rankings of the top school districts in the country. Niche says it uses "a series of steps to ensure statistical rigor and useful guidance in the school choice experience," according to its website. A detailed explanation of the criteria used to rank the school districts can be read by clicking here.  Both districts received a Niche gr…
UConn Student, Fan Celebration: 16 Hospitalized, 15 Charged After NCAA Title Win UConn Student, Fan Celebration: 16 Hospitalized, 15 Charged After NCAA Title Win
UConn Student, Fan Celebration: 16 Hospitalized, 15 Charged After NCAA Title Win As students and fans celebrated the huge win by the  University of Connecticut in the NCAA men's basketball championship, several ended up in handcuffs and 16 others were injured. The incidents took place in Tolland County on the UConn campus in Storrs as thousands celebrated the win over San Diego State University that was wrapped up late Monday evening, April 3. According to UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz, the vast majority of those celebrating the Husky victory last night did so safely and responsibly. "A small number chose to risk their safety and that of others by vandalizing or …
CT High School Evacuated After Police Respond To Suspicious Incident CT High School Evacuated After Police Respond To Suspicious Incident
CT High School Evacuated After Police Respond To Suspicious Incident A telephone call from an unidentified source who communicated a possible threat caused state police troopers to evacuate a high school in Connecticut. The incident took place in Tolland County at E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 29. According to state police, a preliminary investigation indicates that a staff member at the school had received a telephone call from an unidentified source, who communicated a possible threat to the school.  Out of an abundance of caution, the school was evacuated while troopers investigated.  After conducting a …
Suspect Nabbed After Norwalk HS Stabbing Suspect Nabbed After Norwalk HS Stabbing
Suspect Nabbed After Norwalk HS Stabbing A suspect is in custody after a stabbing at a high school in Fairfield County. Norwalk Police say a knife was located, and a victim is receiving stab wound care at Norwalk Hospital early Friday evening, March 24.  New information on the Norwalk High School incident will be released shortly, police say. This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
School Bomb Threats: 26-Year-Old Suspect Nabbed After Separate Incidents In CT School Bomb Threats: 26-Year-Old Suspect Nabbed After Separate Incidents In CT
School Bomb Threats: 26-Year-Old Suspect Nabbed After Separate Incidents In CT A 26-year-old Connecticut man has been charged with allegedly calling in two bomb threats at local elementary schools. Hartford County resident Dahari Martin, of Windsor Locks, was arrested on Tuesday, March 14 for the incidents which took place on Friday, Feb. 17. South Windsor police said Martin turned himself in to police on two arrest warrants, following the threats that had been called into North Street Elementary School and South Street Elementary School. Dahari was quickly identified as a suspect following a disturbance he had caused earlier that same morning at North Street Element…
Yale Student To Appear On Jeopardy! High School Reunion Tournament: Former Champion Yale Student To Appear On Jeopardy! High School Reunion Tournament: Former Champion
Yale Student To Appear On Jeopardy! High School Reunion Tournament: Former Champion A Yale University student and former Jeopardy! champion will soon return to the show as part of a new spin on the show's College Championship.  Related Story - 'Jeopardy!': Stamford Native To Compete In High School Reunion Tourney Yale University senior Claire Sattler will appear on the popular quiz show on Monday, Feb. 27. She previously appeared on the show's Teen Tournament which was aired in 2018. Sattler, who is originally from Bonita Springs, Florida, will face off against Rohan Kapileshwari of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Rhea Sinha of Chatham, New Jersey during her…
Man Threatened To 'Shoot Up Graduation' At Stratford School, Police Say Man Threatened To 'Shoot Up Graduation' At Stratford School, Police Say
Man Threatened To 'Shoot Up Graduation' At Stratford School, Police Say A man faces charges after threatening to harm students at a school in Fairfield County, police said.  Police first learned of the threats on Friday, Feb. 17 around 6 p.m., when two people told state troopers that a student at the Stratford School for Aviation had made the comments at the school, state police said. According to the two witnesses, a student identified as 21-year-old New Haven County resident Joseph Cyr, of Oxford, had allegedly said that he was going to "shoot up graduation" with a friend or coworker in December 2022.  Additionally, on Thursday, Feb. 16, a witness …
Wesleyan University Student-Athlete Dies In Skiing Accident Wesleyan University Student-Athlete Dies In Skiing Accident
Wesleyan University Student-Athlete Dies In Skiing Accident A junior at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, has died after a ski accident. Jack Seivwright was studying abroad this semester, the university said in a statement. The accident happened on Sunday, Feb. 12. "Known on campus as a student-athlete who brought people together, he will be sorely missed by many," Wesleyan's statement said. "We offer our condolences to Jack’s family, friends, and loved ones." A native of Elmore, Vermont, Seivwright was a member of the soccer team during his freshman year in 2020-21. “Jack was a ball of energy who loved being active and spending tim…
CT School Superintendent's DUI Reduced To Misdemeanor In Florida: Records CT School Superintendent's DUI Reduced To Misdemeanor In Florida: Records
CT School Superintendent's DUI Reduced To Misdemeanor In Florida: Records Michael Yamin, the Connecticut Region 16 superintendent, pleaded guilty to reckless driving in Florida last month after prosecutors reduced his DUI charge, court documents show.  Police in Volusia County, Florida, pulled over Yamin, age 54, of Cheshire, last summer after they spotted him weaving in and out of his lane, records show. Officers said he slurred his words and stumbled as he got out of his 2018 Lincoln.  Yamin refused a field sobriety test but agreed to a breathalyzer. However, he could not follow the instructions and both attempts to test his blood alcohol levels …
5 Greenwich HS Students Try To Enter School In Westchester, Leading To Security Concerns 5 Greenwich HS Students Try To Enter School In Westchester, Leading To Security Concerns
5 Greenwich HS Students Try To Enter School In Westchester, Leading To Security Concerns School officials have provided an update on a group of males who tried to enter a high school in Westchester County before being denied entry. Earlier Report - 5 Men Try To Enter Eastchester HS, Flee After Security Denies Entry: Police The update was given in regard to an incident on Friday, Jan. 20, when five unidentified males tried to enter Eastchester High School and were turned away by a security guard.  In a statement sent to parents on Tuesday, Jan. 24, Eastchester Union Free School District Superintendent Ronald Valenti said that the five were identified as high sch…
Basketball Brawl: Arrests Made After Fight At HS Game In CT, School Officials Say Basketball Brawl: Arrests Made After Fight At HS Game In CT, School Officials Say
Basketball Brawl: Arrests Made After Fight At HS Game In CT, School Officials Say Numerous people have been arrested following a fight that broke out at the end of a boys varsity basketball game in Connecticut, school officials said.  The fight happened at the end of a game between the Middletown High School and Hartford-based Weaver High School basketball teams on Tuesday, Jan 17 at Middletown High School.  In the wake of the violence, Middletown Police are "in the process of making numerous arrests" according to the Middletown Public Schools Communications Director Jessie Lavorgna.  The arrests are a result of authorities taking a look at camera fo…
Female Students Charged After Fight At Fairfield Warde HS Caught On Video Female Students Charged After Fight At Fairfield Warde HS Caught On Video
Female Students Charged After Fight At Fairfield Warde HS Caught On Video Two Fairfield Warde High School female students have been charged following an alleged fight at the school in which one was injured and needed medical treatment. The incident took on Friday, Jan. 6, at the school located at 755 Melville Ave., and was filmed by other students who posted it online. Both students, who were arrested on Monday, Jan. 9, were charged with assault and breach of peace, said Fairfield Police Lt. Michael Paris. "The injured juvenile student was treated and released following the altercation," Paris said. Fairfield Warde Principal Paul Cavanna told students on Thursd…