Highville Charter School Walks Home To New Haven

Contributed by Kenneth Joseph, a Highville teacher:

Out with the old and in with the new! On Monday, 400 students, staff and parents of Highville Charter School ended their school year by making a symbolic walk from their old building, 130 Leeder Hill Drive in Hamden, to their new building, 1 Science Park in New Haven.

Highville’s most recent accomplishment is the purchase of a 107,999 gross square-foot facility at 1 Science Park. Executive Director Craig Drezek and his team have worked hard in negotiating and purchasing this building.

It seemed fitting that students ended the year where they will start their 2015 school year; so the walkathon was organized. The Phoenix Walk For Change was done to do just that – collect change to make a change. It started with students filling out pledge sheets and raising a total of $1153.05! The money raised tied in with the school’s global studies mission and will go toward assisting a local organization and helping students internationally in Haiti. The class that raised the most money was treated to a pizza party.

The big day, June 22, was finally here. Newly elected Hamden Mayor Curt Balzano Leng was at the school that morning to bid farewell to the students, staff and parents. Mayor Leng said he has been back to the school many times, both because he was there when it became a school and has seen the growth, and also because his wife Mrs. Cervoni Leng has been part of the school’s teaching staff for many years.

Mayor Leng (pictured) went on to say, ​“It was bittersweet to come at this time when you’re leaving my town now that I’ve become mayor, but I also understand that this move was important and would benefit the students and staff.” He ended by wishing the students a good walk, happy summer and promised them that he would still see them on a regular basis.

The students left 130 Leeder Hill and were safely directed to the Farmington Canal by the Hamden police, who showed a lot of support for the students and the walk. Once they crossed over to New Haven, students were then met by the New Haven police officers. The officers safely got them across a number of streets, stopping traffic, encouraging the kids and finally completing the walk from the last street to 1 Science Park with students.

Students were warmly received with community interaction and other building tenants greeting them on entering Science Park.

This move is a good one for Highville. With the increased square footage and an upgrade in facilities, the school will be able to meet their future growth needs. Also, Science Park is located in an area of New Haven from which the Highville Charter School draws a large percentage of its enrollment – Welcome home Highville!