Newington High School Drama Club is proud to present its upcoming spring musical, Anastasia, taking place March 12th, 13th, and 14th. Anastasia: The Musical is an adaptation of the 1997 animated film, inspired by the rumors that occurred following the fall of the last Russian Tsar and his imperial family. This story follows Anya, an orphan with amnesia in the 1920s, who believes she may be Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov, who escaped the execution of the Russian Royal Family. With the help of two con artists, Dmitry and Vlad, she travels to Paris in hopes of meeting the Dowager Empress to prove her past. All while being pursued by Soviet officer Gleb Vaganov with a desire to finish what his father had begun all those years ago. This heartwarming journey carries us on a path of self-discovery as we delve into themes of hope, family, and belonging. 

The high school musical teaser will be on March 11 during 7th period.  Tickets will go on sale shortly at nhsdrama.booktix.com. We can’t wait to see you there! 

Ramadan is a Muslim holiday that will begin on February 17th in the evening and continue until March 19th.  In the spirit of better understanding our Newington community, it's important to better understand what Ramadan means for students and families.

Islam, meaning peace, is a religion followed by billions of people around the world. Similar to the religions of Christianity and Judaism, it is monotheistic, or follows one God, and branches out from the prophet Abraham. The followers of Islam are called Muslims, and are told to follow the five basic principles of faith: Shahadah, or oneness of God; Salah/the five daily prayers; Zakat, annual charity; Sawm, fasting; and Hajj, a once in a lifetime pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca. Similar to the Bible and the Torah, Muslims also follow the teachings of the Quran, which were revealed to the prophet Mohammed (may god send peace and blessings upon him). Muslims follow his actions through the teaching of his actions, or sunnah, and the teachings of his words, also known as hadith. 

Sawm, the fifth pillar  of Islam, is about fasting through the month of Ramadan. The Islamic faith follows a 12 month lunar calendar, the ninth month being Ramadan, which means scorching or intense heat. Scholars believe it is named this way because it burns away the sins of those who practice it correctly. Within the month, Muslims do not just fast by abstaining from food and drink, Allah (god) orders them to abstain from their desires and sin, as a way to practice self control and discipline. Muslims also engage in various extra forms of worship, whether it is praying through the night, giving extra charity, and much more during the month. 

The typical day for a muslim in Ramadan starts around one hour before sunrise. At this time, Muslims eat the morning meal known as suhoor or sehri. During this time, it is recommended to eat more nutritious and better food, as it needs to last through the day. At sunrise, muslims stop eating, make the intention in their hearts to fast, and then pray Fajr, the first of the five daily prayers. 

After this, most people typically go back to sleep for a while before they have to begin work or school. Alongside necessary tasks, Muslims also do various forms of worship, such as remembrance of God, prayers, supplications, and much more. Sometimes, they take a nap at some point midday in order to prepare for a night of worship. At sunset, families and communities come together to help make the meal for breaking the fast. When sunset finally occurs, the call to prayer is made, and the fast is broken by eating a date or drinking milk.

After breaking their fast, they complete Maghrib, the fourth of their daily prayers, and come back to eat their full meal. Then, after completing Isha, the fifth of their daily prayers, Muslims stay up late, sometimes through the entire night in order to worship. Engaging in worship through the night is said to be one of the best kinds of worship, due to the fact that they sacrifice their sleep for worship. 

Ramadan and the practice of fasting holds many lessons, even for those who aren’t Muslim, such as living with mindfulness, self control, devotion, gratitude in the face of adversity, and much more. 

The annual Taste of Ramadan Event hosted by MCCT is a free event offering a panel to help people from other faiths, beliefs, cultures to learn more about how the month of fasting works for Muslims. The event will be followed by a complementary dinner. This event will be hosted at South Windsor High School on February 21, 2026 from 4-7 PM. It would be great if you all could join. The invitation is attached below,  please sign up with the link. For any questions, email info@mcct.us or call the number 860 (794) 5141.