By Sarah Opdahl

On Saturday, September 23, State and Town officials, along with school administrators, were happy to join in celebration for the new high school. New Fairfield residents, alumni, and students were among those present for the joyous occasion. With rain coming down outdoors, the ceremony was held in the new school’s auditorium. Following speeches, the formal ribbon cutting was held at the base of the new cafeteria’s gathering stair—a large, planked space that is intended for students to mingle or an alternative space for classes or meetings.

Each speech praised the individuals who were instrumental in bringing the building to fruition, including past and present Town officials and Boards, school district staff, and external parties, O&G, Colliers, and JCJ Architecture. Senator Richard Blumenthal congratulated the Town on the accomplishment, saying, “I wanted to be here today to take this picture back with me to the Na tion’s Capital and say ‘this is how governance should work’, this is how we should get things done.” He pointed to this accomplishment as an example of “people coming together and putting aside differences, differences of party, differences of ideology.” He is encouraged by New Fairfield’s contribution to creating a knowledgeable “workforce” for the future, which he sees as one of the biggest challenges for Connecticut and the country. He presented the Town with a certificate of special recognition from the United States Senate.

First Selectman Pat Del Monaco was thrilled to celebrate “this beautiful new school, our students, our teachers, our staff, our administrators, and our Town’s commitment to education and all of the people who have helped us reach this goal.” She exclaimed, “it has been fascinating to watch all the pieces of this puzzle have come together,” as the school took shape from idea on. Board of Education Chair Dominic Cipollone was proud to welcome in “a new chapter” in the Town’s secondary education offerings, “a chapter that promises innovation, growth, and balanced opportunities for our students.” He went on to say, “The construction of the state-of-the-art high school is a testament to our commitment to invest in the future…our community recognizes the importance of providing an environment that fosters learning, creativity, and personal development. The school is not just the building, it is a commitment to the bright future o f our students,” serving as a “hub of innovation and creativity.”

Permanent Building Committee Chair Don Kellogg was quick to thank “first and foremost, the taxpayers. Thank you for approving this project and allowing us to provide these facilities for our children.” He reflected, “where we stand, lies a safe, resilient building with leading-edge technology that not only provides basic education for our current and future students, but also provides them with the spaces and features that allow them to explore and dive deeper into topics…these capabilities were not available at the old school. What we’ve built into the school really broadens the horizons for our children.”

Superintendent Ken Craw was speaking to present students when he said, “I’m just so excited for you to have the opportunities that are available to you with this high school…the sky’s the limit.” He went on to “encourage [students] to try new things.” High School Principal James D’Amico said in his remarks, “The big event for me was the first day of school to see the looks in the eyes of our students. When they walked into the hallway an d could not believe this is where they get to go to high school.” He said, “our job is to make sure that every student that graduates from high school always feels that way, that this school provided them with an extraordinary experience.” Craw and D’Amico welcomed visitors on tours through the school following the ribbon cutting.