School’s Open - Please Drive Carefully!
Vol. 20, No. 34
-FREE-
www.advocatenews.net
Published Every Friday
617-387-2200
Friday, August 24, 2018
Malden resident wins Gold in USA hip-hop dance-off for Sanfilippo disease awareness By Tara Vocino augus and Malden youngsters received the gold medal at the 2018 USA Hip Hop Dance Championship, but more importantly, they won it for something bigger than themselves. The studio, Phunk Phenomenon, based in Everett and Peabody, uses dance to promote awareness about Sanfilippo disease, a rare noncurable genetic illness that afflicts the owners’ son, Jared, 13. In an advanced stage, Jared is nonverbal and isn’t able to walk on his own. The disease is similar to Alzheimer’s in adults, yet with hyperactivity as a symptom. Chief choreographer and owner Reia Briggs-Connor, of Saugus, said her team was crowned world champions in 2009, but this year is more sen-
S
Aaron Connor, 8, of Saugus, and Julianna Fonzi, 11, of Malden, were crowned gold medalists at the USA Hip Hop Dance Championship earlier this month. They dance to raise awareness for Aaron’s brother, Jared, who suffers from Sanfilippo disease. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino)
timental, as she was able to watch her younger son, Aaron, capture a gold medal in his brother Jared’s honor. “We dance for something larger than medals – to raise awareness to the world and to prevent kids from being misdiagnosed as autistic or other conditions,� Reia Briggs-Connor said. She and her husband, Rick, are striving to give Jared the best quality of life during his potentially brief time left on Earth, adding that the dancers’ energy and support keeps him going. When Jared Connor was diagnosed, she was tempted to close the studio doors, but instead wanted to change the mission from a standard dance studio to one that would change the world – one child at a time.
HIP HOP | FROM PAGE 14
Malden ready for new school year By Barbara Taormina fter a long, hot summer, Malden schools will open their doors next week and welcome back nearly 6,800 students. Next Wednesday, Aug. 29, is the first day for all students in grades 1 through 12. Freshman orientation at Malden High will be held on Wednesday and Thursday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Jenkins Auditorium. The first
A
$2.43 GALLON *$//21
:H DFFHSW 0DVWHU&DUG 9LVD 'LVFRYHU
3ULFH 6XEMHFW WR &KDQJH ZLWKRXW QRWLFH
*DO 0LQ +U 6HUYLFH
day of Preschool is also next Wednesday, but kindergarteners will start school after Labor Day on Wednesday, Sept. 5. School Committee Vice Chair Leonard Iovino said it’s a hectic but exciting time for students, teachers and staff, who are all heading into the school year with new goals, opportunities and a fresh slate. “Our educators will be asking themselves, ‘Where have I been, who do I have in front of me now and how am I going to move them all forward?’� he said. Students and parents will see some changes in the main
offices of several schools this year. Timothy Ruggere, the new principal at Linden STEAM Academy, has been meeting and greeting students and parents this week. Over at the Salemwood School, new Principal Dr. Jose Salgado has been inviting families in to learn more about Salemwood’s programs and its commitment to the school’s rich diversity. And Chris Mastrangelo, who is already a wellknown face at Malden High thanks to his nine years at the helm of Boyle House, will start this year as MHS’s new principal. Barbara O’Brien will serve
again this year as the interim principal at Beebe School. In addition to the principals, there will also be about 75 new teachers and staff members starting next week. “We are looking to the new principals and new staff to bring our curriculum to life and do the best for our students,� said Iovino. Ward 5 School Committee Member Tara Beardsley said parents have been taking advantage of open houses and “meet and greets� to talk with the new principals and staff. “Parents always wonder about new principals, but I think everyone is excited to see the effect the new administrators will have on their schools,’� she said. Malden Education Association (MEA) President Deb Gesualdo agreed the changes are adding some excitement to the start of school this year. “People are looking forward to seeing how the new administrators shape their schools and the district as a whole,� she said. Gesualdo also said that orientation for new teachers and
staff has been terrific. “We’re always excited to welcome our new educators,� she said. “It’s great to see the enthusiasm of people coming into the city.� At the end of school last year, several teachers in the district’s English Language Learners program pleaded with the School Committee for more support. Teachers work in crowded classrooms with students who come from dozens of different cultures and speak a wide variety of different languages. “The district has taken some steps to alleviate class sizes,� said Gesualdo, adding that real change in the program will depend on the ongoing effort to revamp the state’s Chapter 70 education funding formula. She said that Chapter 70 will be a major focus of the MEA this year. However, she added that the district has been offering more support for educators teaching in the city’s diverse classrooms. “One area we’ve been working on is to provide educators with training and knowledge in cultural competencies,� she said.