Nicholas Colombo reassured mom he’ll visit her after he’s done traveling to Mars. The kindergartner is taking his first steps on that journey at the city’s science and technology-themed school, whose new $47.5 million home was dedicated Sunday.
More than 300 people came to hear speeches and to tour the spiffy new video studios and computer labs of the Mauro-Sheridan Science, Technology and Communications Interdistrict Magnet School on Fountain Street.
Mauro-Sheridan is the 31st completed project in the $1.4 billion school construction program. The Vincent Mauro School in the Hill was to have had its own renovation. Due to the effects of the fiscal meltdown, that project was scrapped, and the two schools combined into a K‑8.
Among the celebrants were staffers like Mauro-Sheridan technology coordinator Sue Brown, resplendent in her National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) overalls.
Because Mauro-Sheridan is one of only 50 NASA partnership schools in the country, future astronaut Nicholas gets opportunities such as trying on genuine space helmets. This one was one used in the 1960s Apollo Program’s astronaut ground training, according to Kevin Renfro.
Renfro is a project engineer with Hamilton Sundstrand, a NASA subcontractor headquartered in Windsor Locks. The company has earned many contracts manufacturing space suits and other equipment for grown up Nicholases. The school parlays that connection into support for its its programs.
Of the science education he’s already receiving in kindergarten, the youngster’s mom, Theresa Colombo said, “It’s more than our wildest dreams.”
In talking about the skills of Nicholas’s teacher Eiko Hosozawa-Feldenzer (whom the kids call simply “Ms. Eiko”), Theresa Colombo echoed the speeches of Mayor John DeStefano and other dignitaries at the dedication. They hailed not only the new buildings but the teaching that goes in within.
Among the nearly 600 kids attending Mauro-Sheridan, 26 area cities and towns are represented.
Colombo, who lives in Branford, said the local kindergarten was well and good but emphasized primarily social and general learning skills. She said Nicholas is bright and obsessed with space. He wanted to learn more.
On their half-hour drives home, Colombo said, her son comes out with interesting comments reflective of what he’s learned. Recently: “Mommy, I learned that a thermometer can tell you things other than you’re hot.” Or he announces the weather for the day, which the kids keep track of, or why the leaves are turning color.
And there’s homework every night, up to a half hour. Parents receive regular letters urging them to work at home with their kids. Colombo said she was recently asked to read a book to her son, and then have Nicholas draw a picture showing the main character in a situation in the story.
All New Haven kindergarteners learn science. Because of Mauro-Sheridan’s focus and the enthusiasm of its teachers, science learning in the early grades is enhanced.
When he’s in the fourth grade, Nicholas will be able to partake in Mauro-Sheridan’s robotics labs. At Sunday’s celebration volunteer guide and seventh-grader Kenneth Wells was happy to show him around; Kenneth himself said he wants to become a military pilot. He likes both building the robots and programming them, especially via the physics
applications on the lab’s computers.
Little Nicholas was impressed in a kindergartner’s sort of way: His mouth appeared to hang open slightly. And he wanted to touch everything.
Another secret to science education at Mauro, and all education, was revealed by Theresa Colombo at the end of the afternoon tour: “He runs in everyday and hugs the principal. You would not know there are 600 kids here.”
(Editorial and maternal disclosure: the space suit Nicholas was wearing was purchased not for the Mauro-Sheridan dedication ceremony but for Halloween.)
Is There Life on Mars?