Griswold BOE May 22, 2025 Honorees

At the Board of Education meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025, Superintendent McKenna and the Board recognized many members of the Griswold Public School community for their hard work and contributions to moving Griswold Forward. Recognitions at the meeting included honoring students from Griswold Middle and High Schools who were awarded CABE and CAS recognitions, and members of the GPS faculty and staff who are retiring.

CABE stands for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. The CABE Leadership program allows middle school and high school administration and faculty to select two outstanding student leaders. In assessing leadership skills, the administration and faculty look for evidence of the following:  Willingness to take on challenges; ability to make difficult decisions; concern for others; ability to work with others; willingness to commit to a project;  diplomacy;  ability to understand issues clearly; and/or ability to honor a commitment. 

Griswold Middle School (GMS) recognized two eighth-grade students, Anna Jagielo and Claire Norman, for their well-rounded leadership in activities such as athletics, performing arts, National Junior Honor Society, and community service. 

Griswold High School (GHS) Junior Alanna Sutherland and Sophomore Micah Hamel were recognized as CABE leaders at the high school. Alanna is the Treasurer of the National Honor Society, an advocate for the GHS Fencing team, is in the top 10% of the Class of 2026, and is an active student leader who genuinely cares about her peers. Micah is a leader in the music and drama programs, serving as a lead role in both Legally Blonde and Godspell spring musical productions, and also a star on the soccer field and in the classroom -- ranking in the top 10% of the Class of 2027 and recently inducted into the National Honor Society.

Congratulations to all GMS and GHS students recognized for their leadership!

Next, GMS and GHS student-athletes were recognized as CAS Scholar Athletes. CAS stands for the Connecticut Association of Schools. The CAS Middle and High School Level Scholar Athlete awards acknowledge two students from each Connecticut middle school and high school who have distinguished themselves in scholarship and leadership both in school and in the community. The CAS Scholar Athletes selected from GMS were Shreya Patel and Emily Tessier. The CAS Scholar Athletes from selected from GHS were seniors Abigail "Abby" Matheson and Tyler Silva. Congratulations to all!

CAS, the Connecticut Association of Schools, also provides High School Arts Awards annually to recognize two outstanding seniors from each member school who excel in the performing and/or visual arts, scholarship, and leadership. Natalie Obuchowski was the recipient of the 2025 Performing Arts Award for her contributions to the GHS instrumental music program. An accomplished clarinetist, Natalie has been accepted into the New England Music Association's Concert Festival for the last two years, was a member of the 2024 John Philip Sousa Honor Band, and performed in this year’s Connecticut American School Band Directors Association Honor Band. She will attend the University of Rhode Island next year, where she plans to study Ocean Engineering and Italian. Congratulations, Natalie! 
The Visual Arts Awards Recipient, Ayumi Marguilies, could not be in attendance at the Board meeting, but was recognized for her incredible skills in illustration, painting, and sculpture, and her contributions to projects at GHS, including the Athletic Wall of Fame and spring musical sets. As a transfer student from Japan, Ayumi has shared her passions for fine art with her classmates and staff while navigating a new school culture and academics. She will attend UConn Avery Point this fall to study Psychology. Congratulations, Ayumi!

Retirement Recognitions 

At the close of student recognitions, Superintendent McKenna and the Board of Education recognized six retiring faculty and staff members who dedicated a combined 136 years to Griswold Public Schools! 

With more than 25 years of devoted service to Griswold Public Schools, Kevin Kinsall has been a foundational figure in the district’s music program. Spending many years as the high school instrumental music instructor and music director for the GHS Spring Musical productions, Kevin began his career in Stonington Public Schools and ended his teaching career spreading the love of music to K-4 students at Griswold Elementary School. 

Renee Normandie was hired as a school nurse at Griswold Middle School in 2003 and has served as the District Nurse Coordinator since 2015. At that time, she became responsible for supervising and evaluating school nurses and health assistants, for serving as a school district liaison with medical authorities and health officials, and for ensuring that policies and procedures were current and consistent with state regulations and good medical practice. Renee will be remembered at GPS for ensuring every student in the district has received the care and attention they deserve.

Don Butremovic started with GPS as a full-time custodian in February 2005. In this time, he has provided students, staff, and the community with a safe, attractive, clean, and welcoming facility.  He has been a steady presence behind the scenes (and also cheering on Griswold athletics!) working with many of our community members through weekend facility use of our buildings.

Although not in attendance, Superintendent McKenna also congratulated Kindergarten teacher Jacqui Bill and food services staff members Tammy Henn and Jo-Ann Pedersen for their retirement. These vital members of our school community will be missed!

As each of our retirees step into this new chapter after this school year comes to a close, we thank them for the many years of dedicated service to Griswold students and for sharing countless memories with colleagues. Congratulations on this wonderful milestone. 

The Griswold BOE deeply values all students, all families, and all employees. The Griswold Board makes it a point to take time at their meetings to recognize the remarkable contributions of outstanding individuals in our community.

The Board of Education meeting notes and recording can be found on the BOE Meeting Agendas & Minutes webpage.