FB pixel

Watkinson School

Tag: Hartford

  • Raheem Mullins ’97 Nominated To Serve As Chief Justice Of CT Supreme Court

    Raheem Mullins ’97 Nominated To Serve As Chief Justice Of CT Supreme Court

    Governor Ned Lamont announced yesterday that he is nominating the Honorable Raheem L. Mullins ’97 to serve as chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. In addition to serving as a justice on the state’s highest court, the position of chief justice is responsible for serving as the head of the judicial branch of state government and overseeing the administration of the state’s courts.

    Justice Mullins is currently an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, where he has been serving since November 1, 2017. At the time he took the oath of office, he became the youngest person to ever serve on the Supreme Court. During his tenure on the court, he has participated in more than 150 cases and authored approximately 70 majority opinions.

    Immediately prior to joining the Supreme Court, he served as a judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court from 2014 to 2017, participating in more than 200 appeals and authoring approximately 95 written opinions. He also served as a judge of the Connecticut Superior Court from 2012 to 2014, during which he presided over criminal jury trials and civil matters for the Judicial District of New Haven. Additionally, he presided over habeas corpus trials and various other civil matters for the Judicial District of Tolland at Rockville.

    “Justice Mullins has had an impressive career serving on all three levels of Connecticut’s courts, and during his years on the bench he has earned the respect of many in the state’s legal community and those who have come before him as a fair, transparent, measured, and sensible jurist with a keen interest in researching and analyzing any number of complex legal issues that come before him,” Governor Lamont said. “I appreciate that he understands the impact that the court system has on the lives of the people who live our state and the need for it to function efficiently, evenhandedly, and equitably. Justice Mullins has already served as a member of the state’s highest court for several years, participating in more than a hundred cases and authoring dozens of opinions. He is well-suited to transition to the position of chief justice and his leadership in this role will benefit Connecticut’s judicial branch.”

    “I am honored by the nomination to serve as chief justice of the State of Connecticut and am grateful for the confidence Governor Ned Lamont has in me,” Justice Mullins said. “My respect for the judiciary runs deep, having served at all three levels – as a Superior Court judge, an Appellate Court judge, and a Supreme Court justice. If confirmed, I will strive to enhance the Connecticut Judicial Branch’s accessibility, efficiency, fairness, and responsiveness to the needs of the diverse communities we serve. I will work diligently to live up to the responsibilities of the position and to honor the hard work and sacrifices of all those who have come before me to make this day possible.”

    Born in Middletown, Connecticut, Justice Mullins graduated from Watkinson School in 1997, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from Northeastern, he clerked for Judge Frederick Brown on the Massachusetts Appeals Court from 2004 to 2005. Justice Mullins is admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court and the Connecticut Bar.

    Before becoming a judge, Justice Mullins served as an assistant state’s attorney in the Appellate Bureau of the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. In this position, he argued appeals before the Connecticut Supreme Court and Appellate Court. Before becoming an appellate prosecutor, Justice Mullins served as an assistant attorney general in the Child Protection Division of the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office and tried cases before judges in the Superior Court for juvenile matters.

    Justice Mullins is currently a faculty member of the Connecticut Judicial Branch’s Civics Academy and participates in the annual Read Across America event and the Judicial Branch’s Speakers Bureau. He serves as chair to the Code of Evidence Oversight Committee, is a fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, and is a member of the Watkinson School Board of Directors. He has also previously been a member of the Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court, the Young Lawyers Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, the board of directors for the Fund for Greater Hartford, the government division of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Law Library Advisory Committee, and the Task Force to Study the Feasibility of Amending Title 46b to Permit a Person Other Than a Family or Household Member to Apply for a Restraining Order.

    The Office of the Governor is forwarding Justice Mullins’ nomination to the Connecticut General Assembly for the advice and consent of the Judiciary Committee as an interim appointment to succeed Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson, who is retiring from the court effective September 6, 2024. At the start of the next regular legislative session, which begins January 8, 2025, the Office of the Governor will again forward Justice Mullins’ nomination for the advice and consent of the full legislature. If confirmed by both chambers of the General Assembly, Justice Mullins will then begin serving a full eight-year term as chief justice.

  • David Hemingson ’82 Is Guest of Honor at fundraiser for Grace Scholars

    David Hemingson ’82 Is Guest of Honor at fundraiser for Grace Scholars

    Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Hemingson ’82 spent the day on campus on April 9, 2024. He attended classes, spoke at All-School Meeting, and in the evening was the guest of honor at a fundraiser for Grace Scholars at Watkinson. Watkinson School is grateful to Mr. Hemingson for his generosity of time and attention to our students and our community. 

    David Hemingson is a veteran television writer who in 2023 made one of the most astonishing feature film debuts in recent memory as screenwriter and producer of Focus Features’s widely acclaimed The Holdovers, directed by Oscar winner Alexander Payne.

    During his day on campus, Mr. Hemingson spoke at All-School Meeting, led a two-hour masterclass with Creative Arts Program diploma students, and attended 10th- and 6th-grade Humanities classes. In the evening, Watkinson held a fundraiser for Grace Scholars at Watkinson, which consisted of a VIP Dinner followed by a conversation between Mr. Hemingson and Head of School Teri Schrader, for which attendees could submit questions in advance.

    About Hemingson’s visit, Schrader says, “A day like this feels like a once-in-a-lifetime gift. David was so extraordinarily attentive with all our students. During his time with our CAP Diploma Students, he shared generously in responding not only to the rich and thoughtful questions the members of the class had prepared, but also asked our students about their work. With our sixth graders, he gratefully received the poems they crafted for him, but also asked them about their hopes for their future. When one student shared their intention to make animated films, Dave and the student had a real conversation about that. He was, for us, a guest artist who honored our students’ intentions and questions, and spoke with them as though they were already “in the field,” never speaking down to them.”

    Much of the day and evening conversation focused on Hemingson’s extraordinary success with “The Holdovers.” Following its world premiere at Telluride, The Holdovers earned five Academy Award® nominations, including Best Original Screenplay for Hemingson’s work and Best Picture. Hemingson’s screenplay has been a focal point of the film’s considerable acclaim, netting him a staggering 37 nods from critic associations and awards bodies, including a BAFTA nomination for Best Original Screenplay and winning the National Board of Review’s Best Original Screenplay award.

    All of these events provided the means to lift up and shine a spotlight on Watkinson’s scholarship program called Grace Scholars at Watkinson, a fund created in 2018 by founding donors Janice and David Klein and designated to enable 8th grade graduates of Hartford’s Grace Academy to enroll at Watkinson for high school.

    Both Grace Academy Head of School Princess Hyatt and Grace Scholar Maria D. ’24 spoke at the event, with Maria extolling, “As a Grace Scholar at Watkinson School, I have been given every opportunity in the world. I’ve met leaders, speakers, and mentors that have dedicated themselves to shaping the world around them. It has inspired me to put myself out there and make a difference. This is one of the many ways Watkinson has pushed me to be the best version of myself.”

    Princess Hyatt added, “Watkinson and Grace Academy are not just providing an education; we are nurturing the holistic growth of youth, fostering intellectual, spiritual, moral, and social development. This partnership is a beacon of hope, illustrating what can be achieved when two great institutions come together with a shared vision of empowerment and transformation.”

    Schrader adds, “Over the past nine years, seven young women from Grace Academy have come to Watkinson, with a total financial aid amount, including Grace Scholars at Watkinson grants, of $918,100 — almost a million dollars of Watkinson funding. This is an extraordinary amount of support from a school of our size and evidence of how we so cherish our relationship with Grace Academy, our sister in Hartford. We look forward to continuing to enact our commitment to the students we share. We know Grace girls make our school a better school and we look forward to continuing to grow our commitment.”

    More than 150 guests registered for the April 9th event, which raised crucial funds for the Grace Scholars at Watkinson fund. Watkinson gratefully acknowledges Fiducient as the sponsor of the VIP Dinner and “Evening with Mr. Hemingson”; thanks to Fiducient, all funds raised will go directly to scholarship support.

    Want to know more about Grace Scholars at Watkinson? Contact us.

  • CT Supreme Court Offers Incredible Learning Opportunity

    CT Supreme Court Offers Incredible Learning Opportunity

    On Wednesday, March 27, the CT Supreme Court’s “On Circuit” program came to Watkinson. Annually, the court selects a location at which to hear arguments, with the goal of educating students about the role and responsibilities of the Judicial branch of our government and specifically the appellate system through this interactive and engaging real-life experience. The court heard two cases, one criminal and one civil, and the students were allowed to ask questions of the attorneys after the cases were presented. Watkinson offers profound thanks to Justice Raheem Mullins ’97 for making this possible. 

    Head of School Teri Schrader greeted the students and community members in attendance, conveying that the day was a chance for Watkinson’s students to get close to the practices of democracy. She cautioned attendees to remember that when the practices of government feel remote, cynicism can emerge.  Schrader was thrilled that Watkinson hosted the CT Supreme Court and that our students got to see them work and understand the judicial process anew.  

    About their visit, numerous representatives of the court remarked on the rapt attentiveness of Watkinson’s students, most notably Justice Mullins. Chief Justice Richard Robinson remarked that the day was “a very proud homecoming for Justice Mullins who speaks highly of Watkinson and it’s easy to see why.” 

    Prior to hearing the first case, Justice Mullins ‘97 brought greetings including a reflection on his time at Watkinson. “Watkinson believed in me enough to get me here, and the experience I had here was second to none.” See the complete opening remarks by Ms. Schrader, Chief Justice Robinson, and Justice Mullins here.

    The event was preceded by a breakfast with the justices where students, faculty, alumni, and trustees were able to greet and speak with the visiting Justices.

    See the full CT-N recordings of the two cases here: Criminal Case, Civil Case

    Watkinson School has been providing educational excellence in Hartford since 1881. To learn more, schedule a visit!

  • Watkinson School’s SPHERE Summer Program For Hartford 1st-5th Graders Enrolling for 52nd Year

    Watkinson School’s SPHERE Summer Program For Hartford 1st-5th Graders Enrolling for 52nd Year

    Watkinson School’s SPHERE Summer Program is an academic enrichment program that successfully integrates fun-filled summertime activities with educational hands-on activities and classroom academics. Students who attend SPHERE achieve exponential growth in their reading and math abilities. The goal of SPHERE is to help students discover that learning can be achieved through varied creative and recreational activities. Our small classes provide special attention and time to explore areas of interest. SPHERE provides an environment with supportive and personalized instruction that prepares the student for the upcoming school year.

    Head of School Teri Schrader says, “For over fifty years, Sphere has been an important part of Watkinson School, welcoming our youngest students to campus for a summer of learning and fun. We are proud of our longstanding relationship with our neighboring schools in the city of Hartford and East Hartford and to the partnerships created as we strive to support young children in their academic development during the summer months. Year after year, SPHERE students at Watkinson demonstrate not only academic progress in math and reading, but also enjoy exploring the arts and sciences, riding bikes, and playing outdoors in a safe and beautiful environment. SPHERE is synonymous with summer at Watkinson, and we can’t imagine it otherwise!”

    SPHERE is a non-profit, five-week program for 60-70 Hartford and East Hartford  youth entering grades 1-5. The program begins Monday, June 24, 2024 and ends Friday, July 26, 2024. 

    The day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with lunch and morning/afternoon snacks included. The main goal of SPHERE is to extend learning beyond June to prepare students for September in a caring, fun, and creative environment. This is achieved by simultaneously addressing any learning gaps that exist, strengthening current academic and interpersonal skills, and building confidence through exposure to the upcoming grade’s content.

    SPHERE classes are aligned with the Common Core State Standards in literacy and math. In addition, students receive science, art, and technology instruction. Our small classes provide personalized and culturally-relevant instruction that prepares the student for the upcoming school year.

    SPHERE is made possible through funding from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Ensworth Charitable Foundation, Petit Family Foundation, Berkshire Bank, Stanley and Hinda Fisher Fund, George and Grace Long Foundation, J. Walton Bissell Foundation, and United Way of Central and Northeastern CT, 

    Application materials are also available upon request by emailing sphere@watkinson.org or by calling: 860-236-5618 ext. 156.  Applications for returning students have priority acceptance up to March 25, 2024.  After March 25th, if openings are available, new students will be accepted on a rolling basis until the program is full. Only completed application packets will be considered.

    Watkinson School, a co-educational independent private day school for grades 6-12/PG,  is Hartford’s oldest independent school.  Watkinson’s next info session for prospective students is April 5 at 9am.

  • Connecticut’s Supreme Court Comes to Watkinson

    Connecticut’s Supreme Court Comes to Watkinson

    Watkinson School is pleased to announce that the CT Supreme Court’s “On Circuit” program is coming to campus on Wednesday, March 27.  Annually, the court selects a location at which to hear arguments, with the goal of educating students about the role and responsibilities of the Judicial branch of our government and specifically the appellate system through this interactive and engaging real-life experience. Watkinson is proud to host this year and is grateful to Justice Raheem Mullins ’97 for making this possible for our community. Watkinson is only the second high school the “On Circuit” program has ever visited. 

    Head of School Teri Schrader adds, “With this experience, our students have an extraordinary opportunity to witness our system of justice in real life, in real time. It is vitally important that we remember that at its core, the process of constructing and hearing an appeal is a critical element of what lies at the heart of our way of life: striving for fairness and justice. It is all too easy to become cynical when we do not understand or feel connected to the ideals of the levels of our government. That Court will be in session at our school draws our young people into the reality and importance of the judicial system in a visceral and unforgettable way. We are honored to host and to have this rare opportunity on our campus.”

    On March 27th, our Foisie Family Amphitheater will become a real courtroom and over the course of the morning, the Supreme Court Justices will hear two cases. Our faculty have been preparing students in their history and global studies classes to ensure our students will take maximum advantage of this extraordinary learning opportunity. 

    The “On Circuit” event is open to the public. The schedule for the day is as follows:

    • 10:00-11:00am — A criminal case will be heard
    • 11:00-11:20am — Q&A with the attorneys
    • 11:30am-12:30pm — A civil case will be heard
    • 12:30-12:50pm — Q&A with the attorneys

    Make plans to join us on campus for one or both of the cases. Please be sure to allow enough time to park and walk to our amphitheater. Attendees will be required to pass through a metal detector before entering the theater.

    Watkinson School is a coed independent private day school for grades 6-12/PG. If you know a student who isn’t thriving in their current educational environment, please invite them to schedule a visit today.

  • Freshly Squeezed Returns!

    Freshly Squeezed Returns!

    Watkinson School is pleased to present “Freshly Squeezed with Dennis House: Sparking Joy Against The Odds” on Wednesday, May 11.

    The panel for this timely topic will include:

    • Humorist Gina Barreca who speaks nationally and internationally about a variety of topics including humor, women’s comedy, women’s lives, and everybody’s stress.

    • morning show broadcaster of more than 25 years Christine Lee who knows about finding joy amidst struggle having been diagnosed with cancer and having lupus in the midst of a global pandemic.

    • Author, CEO and Chief of Possibilities at Ignite Happy Darrin Tulley who works to help employers create happier, more engaged work spaces and recently authored Live Your Possible.

    The forum is at 7:30pm and is preceded by an optional light meal at 6:00pm.

    Tickets are:

    • $25 for dinner and panel discussion

    • $10 for just panel discussion

    Get your tickets today!

    Freshly Squeezed is generously sponsored by Fiducient Advisors. All proceeds from Freshly Squeezed benefit the education program at Hartford Stage.

  • Watkinson Private Middle School Students Visit Trinity Academy

    Watkinson Private Middle School Students Visit Trinity Academy

    On Friday, Jan. 17th, Watkinson’s Private Middle School students traveled to Trinity Academy on Sigourney St. in Hartford to share lessons about Dr. King through art, poetry, and history. Our students became the teachers as they worked with the younger children, grades 1 through 4. In addition, a small team of Watkinson students and teachers prepared lunch for over 100 people. At the end of the morning, we all gathered for a community meeting of sharing and singing Civil Rights songs including “We Shall Overcome”  to remember and honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

  • Proceeds from the 7th Season of Freshly Squeezed Presented

    Proceeds from the 7th Season of Freshly Squeezed Presented

    Watkinson School completed its seventh season of Freshly Squeezed with Colin McEnroe by presenting the program’s community partners — Billings Forge, Hartford Stage, and the Mark Twain House and Museum — with checks from the proceeds to benefit their education departments. Watkinson’s Head of School Teri Schrader presented the profits from the 2018-19 Freshly Squeezed season ($2,341 was gifted to each organization) at a breakfast on June 6th. Fiduciary Investment Advisors is the sole sponsor for Freshly Squeezed and has been since the program began in 2012. After seven years, Watkinson has gifted more than $10,000 to each of the three nonprofits that are community partners to Freshly Squeezed.

    Left to Right: Hartford Stage Associate Director of Education Nina Pinchin, Fiduciary Investment Advisors Chief Operating Officer Maureen Cooper, Watkinson’s Head of School Teri Schrader, Colin McEnroe, Fiduciary Investment Advisors Executive Vice President Michael Goss, Mark Twain House Director of Development Rosalie Roth, Billings Forge Executive Director Cary Wheaton.

  • Watkinson Private School Senior Thalia P. Has Original Play Read at Hartford Stage

    Watkinson Private School Senior Thalia P. Has Original Play Read at Hartford Stage

    Thalia P. ’19 was chosen to participate in Write On, Hartford Stage’s Annual Young Playwrights’ Competition. The competition is open to all Connecticut residents in grades 9-12. Among these applicants, 5-6 are selected to participate in the program. The program is modeled on Hartford Stage’s new play development process, and Write On playwrights have the unique opportunity to learn about professional play development first-hand. Accepted students work with a professional playwright to turn their ideas into ten-minute play scripts. Thalia developed her play, “Escape Room”, in intensive writing workshops held at Hartford Stage. The program culminated with a reading of the ten-minute plays performed by local actors and directed by professional directors who worked closely with the young playwrights.

    Thalia is a member of Watkinson’s Creative Arts diploma program. Private school student artists who have demonstrated serious interest and strong ability may be accepted into the Diploma Program based on an audition or portfolio review, a written statement of intent, and an interview. Many of these students plan to enter careers in the arts; graduates have gone on to some of the world’s leading dance and theater companies, galleries, and symphony orchestras. This program combines rigorous practice schedules with an individualized course of requirements under the guidance of an art advisor. Students may study off-campus if necessary during the day. The C.A.P. faculty provides liaison with leading arts institutions, including Hartford Stage, the Hartford Art School, Hartt School of Music, and Juilliard.

  • Preparations For SPHERE Are Underway

    Preparations For SPHERE Are Underway

    by Harrison Richman, University of Hartford Communications Intern

    Watkinson’s SPHERE Summer Program is entering its 47th summer with the goal of helping Hartford elementary students discover that learning can be achieved through varied creative and recreational activities. Each summer, Watkinson School enrolls 80-90 Hartford children, grades 1-5, in SPHERE and gives them a chance at a more focused and seasonal-based education program at Watkinson’s 40-acre Hartford campus.

    The five-week program consists of academic activities such as weekly trips to the 4-H education center, and special guest readers among classes that align with Common Core State Standards consisting of literacy, math, science, reading, art, physical education, and computers. In addition to the knowledge-based tasks, students will be able to partake in seasonal activities including the Sphere Olympics, picnics, and sprinkler Fridays.

    Having the program tied in with Watkinson means our private school students can be involved too. Watkinson students in 11th and 12th grade may apply to be counselors, while 9th and 10th-grade students may apply to be counselors in training or CITs. The SPHERE program not only gives children a chance at a better education but ALSO helps young adults in the Watkinson community learn what it takes to lead a group first-hand.

    Returning campers/students have an application deadline date of March 10th, 2019. While new campers/students have an application deadline of May 22nd, 2019. The Watkinson SPHERE program is a special and invaluable program for both the prospective counselor and the prospective student.

    The application for campers and counselors is here.

  • Our Private School Sophomores Were Chosen to Speak at Leadership Greater Hartford’s Common Ground Graduation

    Our Private School Sophomores Were Chosen to Speak at Leadership Greater Hartford’s Common Ground Graduation

    by Alexa Miano, University of Hartford Communications Intern

    On December 11th at 6pm, Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH) had graduation proceedings for Common Ground program participants at the Lincoln Financial Group located in Downtown Hartford. Watkinson’s Head of School, Teri Schrader, was represented as a local leader and chosen to be the keynote speaker at the event this year. Two other Watkinson private school community members were also picked to speak, sophomores Anders A. and David E. who were two of the graduates participating in the event. Eight schools were represented that evening, and of the 27 members graduating that night, Anders and David were two of five student speakers chosen to present their speeches about how the program impacted them. Anders and David were joined by two Watkinson private school classmates — Olivia C and Shamarla K. — making a total of four Watkinson students in the group of 27 graduates.

    On having the opportunity to represent his peers, Anders said he was “grateful” to have been picked, and when asked about the message he relayed in his speech, he said, “Common Ground is a really cool thing, and it can benefit anyone who believes in themselves and wants to improve as a person. I thought it was important since leadership skills are not necessarily taught in the regular curriculum, and this program helped us to develop those skills.” Leadership Greater Hartford is a non-profit organization whose goal is to build a leadership capacity for people of all ages. The Common Ground program reaches the youngest audience LGH works with, specifically high school sophomores and juniors.