Miss. Keller, a history teacher at SHS who is also the advisor of Interact Club was interviewed to ask what her thoughts are about the community engagement with SHS. A few key points from the interview are:

• Can you tell me about the mission/purpose of the Interact Club?

  • "The mission is about helping students develop leadership skills by volunteering within the community and giving back to their community and school to the world that has helped them to become who they are today!"

• What kinds of community service projects/events do you (as a club) get involved in? How often are the events?

  • "Interact club is involved heavily with the Southington Rotary Club. With Rotary club, the club members help at the Apple Harvest booth, DECA Winterfest, Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt, and bell ringing. Community service events usually occur in waves when things are going on, at least one per month and many around the holidays."

• Does Interact Club collaborate with local businesses or organizations? If so, which ones and how does the club collaborate?

  • "Rotary Club is the biggest which facilitates connections with Apple Harvest booth, Bell Ringing and Safe Haven in Waterbury, CT."

Ms. Hosmer was sophomore when she started at SHS in the new building in 1974. Now she is the ELL teacher and helps students all over the building. Here is a few things she said in the interview we had earlier this year.

• What was SHS like when it first still opened?

  • "Everything was shiny and new!  We were all excited to attend the new high school and because my class was the first to attend all three years! It was a great time because everyone (seniors, juniors and sophomores) were all entering a new experience together and there was more support within grades because the building was new for all of us."

• How is the school different now then it was then?

  • "One way it was different was that we had smoking areas in the front of the school as you enter the main doors. Kids would sit on the concrete blocks and mill around until school started and then again after school ended."

  • "Another way it was different is that the principals were all in the main office area and it remained that way for years. Also, our DECA store was in the cafeteria in the two key hole entry ways. It was a great location because of its visibility. The atrium had not been built when I was there and did not have the blue wing."

• How are students different now then they were then?

  • I believe that students are basically the same then as now. There were certain cliques-the athletes, the brainy kids, the techies, etc. There were loners, of course, who did not fit into a particular group which is true now. In 1972, Title 9 was passed and we saw a great many opportunities for girls to participate in sports at SHS. We had phenomenal teams in football, basketball and baseball during that time under the leadership of excellent coaches!