508Local, 25 Elm Street, Southbridge, MA (2024)

11/26/2024

Cops N Kids N Lions Steve Ide Memorial Toy Drive underway

SOUTHBRIDGE — The Southbridge Lions Club and the Southbridge Police Department are pleased to announce our annual holiday toy drive, The Steve Ide Memorial Toy Drive, sponsored by Cops and Kids and the Southbridge Lions Club. Steve Ide, a long-standing member of the Southbridge Lions club, was instrumental in the creation of the Cops N Kids N Lions project back in 2016 and his perseverance helped make it the huge success it has become.

Please help us bring Christmas to deserving children in our area by donating new, unwrapped, non-violent toys starting Nov. 22 through Dec. 15. All toys will benefit local families. Of particular need are toys for adolescents ages 10 through 16.

Toy Drop-Off Locations are the Southbridge and Sturbridge Police Departments, the Southbridge Fire Department, Harrington Hospital, Southbridge Town Hall, Cornerstone Bank, Big Bunny Market, K & K Thermo Forming, Dave’s Pest Control, Savers Bank-Southbridge, Savers Bank-Sturbridge and all Southbridge Credit Union locations.

Also, monetary donations can be made at any Southbridge Credit Union location or with any Southbridge Lions member. Checks should be made out to Southbridge Lions Toys Program.

Contact us for sponsorship or donation opportunities at [email protected]
Please help us bring Christmas joy to deserving children in our area.

11/25/2024

Charlton Fire Chief to retire

BY JASON BLEAU
CORRESPONDENT

CHARLTON — The Town of Charlton is launching a search for a new Fire Chief with the announcement that current Chief Ed Knopf will retire as of Dec. 23 of this year.
Knopf made the decision official during the Board of Selectmen’s Nov. 12 meeting where he said it’s time for new leadership to take over the department.
“It’s been 23 years, I think it’s time for somebody else to take the baton,” said Knopf. “There’s enough personal reasons and professional reasons we don’t need to get into in any great depth. I just felt that the department is in a good place right now, so I think it’s a good time to step aside.”
Selectmen were complimentary in their assessment of Knopf’s leadership with many indicating disappointment for his impending departure but heavy gratitude for his many years of service and his successful efforts to grow the department. While the announcement was a rather quick affair, it took longer for the Board of Selectmen to decide on a succession plan debating between several approaches included a multi-tiered plan to advertise the job for internal candidates before seeking outside applicants and using an assessment center, a third-party process that conducts testing to determine the proper candidate for a job using both internal and external applicants. Selectman David Singer recommended they approach the hire by seeking internal applicants first and then, if they can’t find a worthy or qualified candidate, opening applications to outside parties forgoing the use of an assessment center.
“We always talk about how much we believe in our departments, police, fire, first responders. I still believe that, and I believe we have a lot of qualified members of these departments, so I’d like to keep it in-house. I’d like to see us post for the opportunity so interested candidates can apply,” said Singer.
Knopf admitted he did not agree with Singer’s proposal. Although Knopf has submitted a letter of recommendation for Deputy Chief Scott Corio to succeed him, he felt that utilizing an assessment center would allow Charlton to ensure the very best candidate is chosen for the job. He also felt that Deputy Chief Corio would shine as a worthy candidate regardless.
“I believe that the town does itself a disservice if it doesn’t spread the search far and wide. If (Deputy Chief Corio) is truly the best candidate that I think he will be, he will rise to the top, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your due diligence in looking for qualified candidates and that doesn’t mean they have to be internal or external,” said Knopf.
Charlton Fire Captain Travis McDonald, who is President of the Permanent Firefighters Union, supported using an assessment center while also expressing his believe that Corio would be a standout regardless of the hiring process.
“I’m speaking on behalf of most of my membership here when I say that I truly believe an assessment center is the correct avenue. That leaves the most transparency in the process,” McDonald said. “It’s very common across the Commonwealth and it’s probably the most common way to appoint deputy fire chief and fire chief positions and it’s starting to trickle down into the mid-level management as well. As far as the internal versus external debate, I want to say that I appreciate all of the sentiments that have been echoed about giving the opportunity to our internal people, but our feeling is our internal people are going to rise to the top anyways.”
Selectmen decided to embrace Singer’s recommendation in a 3-2 decision setting a seven-day application period for internal candidates and the required number of qualified candidates at two. If enough qualified internal candidates apply for the job they will be interviewed and if no candidate is chosen at that time the application will be open to external candidates. Selectmen confirmed any external hiring process will not use an assessment center. Selectmen also solidified the job description for the position choosing to make no changes prior to the application process.

Photo Courtesy — Charlton Fire Department
Charlton Fire Chief Ed Knopf has announced his impending retirement effective Dec. 23.

11/24/2024

Small Stones Festival of the Arts runs Jan. 25 – Feb. 2

GRAFTON — Small Stones Festival of the Arts seventh annual fine art and photography juried exhibition is scheduled for Jan. 27 – Feb. 2 at the Brigham Hill Community Barn, 37 Wheeler Rd., Grafton. The free exhibit is open to the public.

The Blackstone Valley Art Association and the Worcester County Camera Club have collaborated to create one of the region’s largest juried fine art and photography exhibitions. The festival features juror and artist talks and informative seminars of interest to artists.

An esteemed panel of six jurors (three for each category) have selected 144 works to be displayed at the exhibit and included in the hardbound catalog. Cash prizes for each category are awarded: first ($500); second ($250); and third ($100) places. The jurors each select a Juror’s Choice. The public votes for a Popular Choice winner for both categories.

The renowned fine art jurors are esteemed art administrator Claudia Fiks, accomplished fine art artist Carol Arnold and well known national author, illustrator and cartoonist Scott Nelson. Fiks, the former founder and director of New England Art Center, currently serves as director of Galatea Fine Art in Boston and the Newton Open Studios. Arnold, a leader of the Putney Painters Group, recent awards include third place in the Plein Air Division at Rocky Mountain High and first place for figure/portrait in the June Plein Air Salon Art Competition. Nelson is the co-founder of newly established Two Bridges Art Academy and taught for many years at Worcester Art Museum.

Photography jurors include image-maker, independent curator and artist consultant Frances Jakubek, Worcester Art Museum’s Assistant Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photography Olivia J. Stone and renowned fine art photographer Steven Duede. Jakubek is a co-founder of the Yellow Rose Project, former director of the Bruce Silverstein Gallery and past Associate Curator of the Griffin Museum of Photography. Stone’s writing on art has appeared in Big, Red & Shiny, the Boston Art Review, the Rib and other publications. A former board member of the Griffin Museum of Photography, Duede’s works are in collections with the Danforth Art Museum (Framingham State University), the Decordova Museum, Boston Properties and Harvard University.

The Festival opens Jan. 25, with exhibit hours noon – 5 p.m. The awards ceremony and reception begin at 2 p.m. Artist talks will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the gallery.

The exhibit continues Sunday, Jan. 26, noon – 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, noon – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29, noon to 4 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 30, noon – 4 p.m. with extended hours Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1, noon – 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2 , the last day of the Festival, exhibit hours are noon – 4 p.m. with juror talks held at 2 p.m.

The beautiful hardback exhibit catalog is for sale online and at the festival. All submissions meeting minimum requirements are featured in the Festival’s web gallery.

The mission of the Small Stones Festival of the Arts is to elevate the practice and appreciation of fine art and photography in the Blackstone Valley and beyond. The Festival is under the aegis of fiscal sponsor, Grafton Arts, Inc., a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization.

Small Stones Festival of the Arts has received financial support from Gaston Art and Frame, Gaudette Insurance, Homefield Credit Union, New England School of Fine Art, Pepperoni Express, PulteGroup, UniBank and Yesod Foundation. For more information, visit https://smallstonesfestival.org.

11/23/2024

Calling all actors back to the stage!

WHITINSVILLE — ValleyCAST, the arts and culture arm of Open Sky Community Services, will be hosting their One Act Play Festival in March 2025. The festival promises a supportive and inclusive environment where participants can express themselves and connect with fellow theater enthusiasts. Whether you are an experienced actor or a newcomer to the stage, ValleyCAST welcomes and encourages you to register for the One Act Play Festival. Applications for the One Act Play Festival close on Friday, February 14, 2025. All abilities are welcome and there is no submission fee to participate.

Performances will be held on March 28 & 29 at 7 p.m. in the Singh Performance Center, 60 Douglas Rd., Whitinsville, with the potential to have an additional performance date on March 30 at 2 p.m., depending on submissions. Original works, published one act plays, scene work, or monologues can be performed during the festival. After each 10-to-30-minute performance the judges will provide instructive feedback with three awards to be presented after the final performance of the festival. Awards will be presented for best original act, best ensemble, and best in show.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to perform in a welcoming community space” says Mary Laliberte, Open Sky Community Services Assistant Director of Community Outreach. “Bringing back the One Act Play Festival is a great way to support local talent and creativity. We look forward to welcoming experienced actors and newcomers to the stage for this fun and entertaining festival.”

For more information and/or to submit a One Act, visit: www.openskycs.org/valleycast or contact Mary Laliberte at: [email protected] | 508-234-6232

ValleyCAST’s mission is to foster a creative and engaged community in the Historic Blackstone Valley that is inclusive and supportive of all people with and without disabilities. As the arts and culture arm of Open Sky, ValleyCAST curates events that bring people of all ages, abilities, and walks of life together.

Open Sky supports individuals facing complex challenges in Central Mass to achieve their definition of wellness and pursue the opportunities and relationships that are meaningful to them. We help them see beyond what they thought was possible to find their open sky.

To learn more about ValleyCAST and Open Sky, visit: www.openskycs.org.
Photo
Courtesy
“The Howl and the Pussycat” performed by the Whitinsville Christian School Drama Club.

11/22/2024

Practical Nursing Open House at BVT Dec. 2

UPTON — The Moonlight Program in Practical Nursing (Post-Secondary) at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT) prepares its adult learners for personal and professional success as practical nurses. If you are interested in a life-changing career in health care, register to attend the Open House on Monday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The evening is an opportunity to tour the practical nursing classrooms at 65 Pleasant Street in Upton. Speak with faculty and staff, observe the state-of-the-art equipment, and participate in a question-and-answer session. Learn more about the part-time, 60-week evening program requirements, the admissions process, and how to enroll.

All interested applicants must take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), a requirement for the Practical Nursing program. The program administers the TEAS Entrance Exams to applicants and accepts TEAS results from other testing locations.

“It is a good time to enter the nursing field because there’s such a need for skilled nurses,” said Practical Nursing Coordinator Joann L. Monks, MBA, MSc, RN-BC, RMA.

The affordable program offers small class sizes and accepts in-district, out-of-district, and out-of-state applicants. For more information about the program and to register for the Open House, visit
www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/pnopenhouse.

About Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT)
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, BVT creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills.

11/21/2024

Northbridge Elementary students celebrate democracy with mock election
NORTHBRIDGE — Buzzing with excitement, Northbridge Elementary School transformed into an electoral hub on Monday, Nov. 4, as students from Pre-K through Grade 5 cast their votes in a mock election that celebrated civic engagement in a fun and age-appropriate way. This year’s unique ballot invited students to vote on which song their co-principals, Mrs. Lorinda Allen and Mrs. Lauren Dolan, would perform in an upcoming lip-sync battle.
Throughout October, students explored the election process, from the importance of voting to the logistics of casting a ballot. Through a generous grant from the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation, the school was able to purchase the Scholastic Magazine’s “Road to the White House” resources for each student. These were utilized by the teachers to work through the democratic election process.
On election day, students entered the gym to find their designated “precincts” and were guided by enthusiastic parent and grandparent volunteers acting as poll workers. The volunteers “registered” each student, handed them their ballot, and directed them to individual voting booths for privacy. Adding to the authenticity, the Town of Northbridge lent the school its historic crank ballot boxes, which were set up in the school gymnasium, festively decorated in red, white, and blue. A highlight for many young voters was turning the crank handle on the old-fashioned ballot boxes, which made the experience all the more memorable. Each student proudly left the gym wearing an “I Voted Today” sticker.
Fourth grade teacher Jennifer Siemaszko stated, “Here at NES we focused on learning the process and showing the students how important it is to participate. They were able to see the process start to finish and how their vote made a difference in the overall outcome.”
A total of 868 votes were cast, with “Life Is a Highway” emerging as the top choice with 244 votes, closely followed by “Better When I’m Dancing” with 201 votes. The results came to life in a live lip-sync battle on Thursday, Nov. 14 on the NES Stage, where Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Dolan performed the winning songs in front of the entire school community. One of the youngest students, preschooler Jackson Lowe, brought the excitement of our mock election home by telling his grandpa, ‘When you go to vote tomorrow, you should choose "Better When I'm Dancing" because that was my vote!’
“This mock election was a fantastic experience that truly connected our school with the community,” said fifth grade teacher Mrs. Jaime Gauthier. “It gave our students a real feel for what voting will be like when they’re older, making the democratic process engaging and memorable.”
"Seeing our first graders connect what they're learning in the classroom with real-life experiences is truly inspiring," said Cherice Lowe, first grade teacher at Northbridge Public Schools. "Many of them shared stories about going to vote with their parents. One student excitedly said, 'I got to go with my mom and she had her own privacy, too!' It’s moments like these that show the impact of engaging students in the democratic process from an early age."
Ms. Linda Zywein, a guest from the Town of Northbridge, further enriched the experience by explaining to older students how local elections operate, offering them a firsthand look at the civic processes that shape their town.
The mock election also supported Northbridge Public Schools’ Portrait of a Graduate framework, highlighting personal responsibility and community participation. Through this engaging, real-world exercise, students connected their actions to the values of citizenship, teamwork, and informed decision-making.

11/21/2024

Webster-Dudley-Oxford Chamber donates gift cards to community food banks

WEBSTER — The Webster-Dudley-Oxford Chamber of Commerce this week donated $2,000 in grocery gift cards to Webster Dudley Food Share and $1,000 in grocery gift cards to the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf to support these local organizations in their mission to provide people in need this holiday season.
“There’s a need out there, and we don’t talk enough about it,” said John Milas, chamber director. “This is all about helping our community. The number of people going to the food banks has been increasing with the rise in the cost of food.”
This is the third year that the Chamber has been donating to the food banks in the form of gift cards. Previously, it donated turkeys at Thanksgiving. Milas noted that the gift card donations are now included in the Chamber’s annual budget.
Webster Dudley Food Share is a non-profit organization that provides essential food to all Webster and Dudley residents in need. The Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf provides free emergency grocery assistance to any family living in Oxford and any registered members of an Oxford church.

About Webster-Dudley-Oxford Chamber of Commerce
The Webster-Dudley-Oxford Chamber of Commerce advocates for the interests of its local business members and is an affiliate of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. For more information, go to www.wdochamberma.com or call 508-943-9700.

11/20/2024

Dudley and Webster hold Veterans Day parade

DUDLEY/WEBSTER — The towns of Dudley and Webster came together for their annual Veterans Day festivities on Nov. 11 with a parade through both towns and ceremonies at veterans memorials in both communities. The parade started and ended with local veterans presenting the national anthem, three-volley salutes, speeches about the significance of being a veterans, and recognizing all who have served to maintain the freedoms of the United States.
Photos by Jason Bleau
1. Veterans perform a three-volley salute honoring the veterans who have left us before recognizing those still around today.
2. A trumpeter plays “Taps” to honor the veterans who have passed away.
3. The Grand Marshall of Dudley and Webster’s 2024 Veterans Day Parade Sgt. James Morrison of the U.S. Air Force, speaks to the audience before the parade takes off sharing stories of the veterans who inspired him to join the armed forces.
4. The Stars and Stripes leads the way as the parade steps off from Dudley’s Municipal Complex.
5. Local veterans march down the street of Dudley towards Webster in the annual Veterans Day Parade.
6. The Shepherd Hill Marching Band provided a variety of patriotic music to celebrate the United States and those who fight to protect it.
7. American Legion Riders Chapter 184 have become an annual part of the Veterans Day festivities.
8. The Bartlett High School Marching Band march their way into town celebrating the veterans of both Dudley and Webster.
9. Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 273 and Cub Scout Troop 274 capped off the parade lineup for the Dudley and Webster Veterans Day celebration.

11/20/2024

FCC Oxford hosting Christmas Tea Dec. 7

OXFORD — The First Congregational Church of Oxford invites the public to its Christmas Tea Dec. 7 from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Assorted desserts and tea will be served all day, and luncheon begins at 10:30 a.m.
The menu features a choice of homestyle chicken noodle, cream of broccoli, or autumn bisque soup; meat pie with gravy, baked apple French toast, a winter harvest bowl, chicken salad served on a croissant, or roast beef sliders for entrees; assorted homemade desserts including gingerbread, apple crisp, assorted muffins, and a Plated Trio; and assorted teas. Checks, cash and credit cards will be accepted as payment.

11/19/2024

Superintendent praises calls to end “hold harmless” designation

BY JASON BLEAU
CORRESPONDENT

DUDLEY — The Dudley Charlton Regional School District has joined other districts in calling for the end of “hold harmless” status for schools, an initiative spearheaded by Project 211, an offshoot of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools.
Superintendent Steven Lamarche revealed to the Dudley Charlton Regional School Committee in October that representatives of the district had attended a forum titled “Project 211: Uniting to Raise Awareness of Financial Challenges Faced by Districts in Hold Harmless Status.” “Hold harmless” designates districts as overfunded through state aid thus providing them with minimal state aid monies to offset local taxpayer dollars. The “211” number represents the number of schools considered “hold harmless” since 2021, comprising around 51 percent of all public-school students including those of the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District according to Lamarche who indicated that the DCRSD has felt the impact especially around budget season.
“We’ve been in that place since 2009, we’ve received minimal aid, which in turn means that all the increases that we have, increases in health insurance, transportation, or special education, is falling on taxpayers and our taxpayers have made it clear to us that they can't afford it. We understand that. There’s a revenue issue if everything falls on the taxpayers. What is really good here is this is finally gaining momentum. We’ve been saying this for years, but this is finally gaining momentum because it’s 211 districts,” said Lamarche.
Part of that momentum is the initiative expansion from western and central Massachusetts to include schools on the eastern part of the state. While Lamarche clarified that this movement won’t create immediate changes, he feels it’s a positive step for all schools.
“I think the Student Opportunity Act Funding is really where it struck people – We have over 300 districts and I think only around 100 districts received actual funding from the Student Opportunity Act and large sums of it where the rest of us received no funding but we still had to submit a plan because we’re in the ‘hold harmless’ state or our increase or changes in demographic didn't lend itself to receiving Student Opportunity Act money. This is something I’d respectfully ask the School Committee to pay attention to,” said Lamarche.
The Dudley-Charlton Regional School District has sought budget increasing nearly annually, sometimes significant, causing pressure on the taxpayers of both member towns. The hope is that changes on the state level can provide what Lamarche calls a “more equitable funding structure” to benefit all students across the Commonwealth.

11/18/2024

Durant cruises to re-election victory
BY KEVIN FLANDERS
STAFF WRITER
REGION — After cruising to victory last week, re-elected State Sen. Peter Durant (R—Spencer) is focused on continuing his momentum into 2025 for the Worcester-Hampshire District.
Durant earned 49,916 votes at the Nov. 5 general election (58 percent), while challenger Sheila Dibb (D—Rutland) picked up 35,418 votes (42 percent).
Durant’s dominant performance across the Route 9 corridor helped propel him past Dibb. In his hometown of Spencer, Durant won all four precincts convincingly, collecting a total of 4,106 votes. Dibb earned 1,981 votes in Spencer.
Leicester saw similar results, with Durant besting Dibb by a final count of 3,856-2,132.
Additionally, Durant exceeded projections in several cities and towns. He wound up carrying all but two communities in the district (Worcester and Princeton). He even edged Dibb by 731 votes in her hometown of Rutland.
“We are so grateful to be headed back to work tomorrow with our eye on the goals we still hope to reach this year,” Durant posted after declaring victory on Election Night. “We worked very hard to accomplish the things we believe would make life better for the people of the Worcester-Hampshire District and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
Added Durant, “We are so proud of the things we were able to do in just one year—half the length of a normal term. We made strides for families with crumbling foundations, and that issue is still front and center in my office.”
After spending 12 years as the state representative for the 6th Worcester District, Durant was already well-acquainted with the challenges facing central Massachusetts. He told the New Leader his leadership role for more than a decade prepared him well to step into the Senate mid-term.

Durant has worked with his colleagues to advocate for prioritizing educational funding. This advocacy helped secure more than $1.5 billion in early education funding, as well as increases for
regional school transportation.

In recent years, Durant has criticized state leadership for its handling of the migrant crisis and the resulting impacts on municipal governments. He continues to demand that officials make major changes.

“I’ve been a vocal opponent of the unchecked spending on illegal immigration, which costs over a billion taxpayer dollars annually to provide services like housing, food, and medical
care—services that are often inaccessible to legal citizens,” Durant told the New Leader prior to the election. “The lack of transparency surrounding this issue is alarming.”

Following the election, Durant thanked his family, supporters, staff, and campaign team.

“Everyone worked so hard to get us here, and this win is a direct reflection of their commitment to our constituents,” Durant added.
“I am proud to be re-elected as your State Senator, and I assure you that I will continue to work hard for you and in partnership with all of our communities.”
Another priority for the Senator is making Massachusetts more affordable by addressing issues related to housing, taxes, and utility rates. Residents have endured mounting financial struggles in a punishing post-pandemic economy.

“We know that we may be facing challenging times, but I am ready to continue my work on Beacon Hill,” Durant said. “We have plans to work with our communities, crafting legislation that will help them in many areas.”
Dibb spent 13 years on the Rutland Select Board before serving as the communications coordinator for the Rutland Regional Vaccine Clinic.
Dibb could not be reached for comment on the election results by press time.
Photo
Courtesy
State Sen. Peter Durant earned re-election last week.

11/17/2024

Workmates, friends, classmates, nurse colleagues return to Bay Path

CHARLTON — Tracy Nakyagaba, LPN of Charlton and Jeniffer Kilonzo, LPN of Shrewsbury met at the Justice Resources Institute in Framingham August of 2019. They were workmates with the hope of making a difference in the lives of clients living with disabilities.
Kilonzo stated, “With a leap of faith, our journey in healthcare began.”
Nakyagaba and Kilonzo quickly became friends.
According to Kilonzo, “We decided to pursue our dream of becoming nurses.”
Initially, Nakyagaba enrolled at a different nursing school.
However, Kilonzo stated, “As fate would have it, we both found ourselves at Bay Path Practical Nursing Academy and that our journey to nursing begun.”
Nursing school is the perfect friend-making environment, one that hits the three ingredients’ sociologists consider necessary for close friendships to develop: a setting that encourages people to confide in each other, repeated, unplanned interactions, and proximity.
Nakyagaba and Kilonzo’s simple camaraderie grew into a deep friendship.
Kilonzo shared, “We studied together, pulling late nights over textbooks and meals, supporting one another when the material felt overwhelming. We laughed, shared frustrations, and leaned on each other through every challenge. These friendships became the foundation of our college experience, and soulmates in this journey. Together, we read, studied, and eventually graduated, always pushing each other to be better.”
Although Nakyagaba is enthusiastic about nursing, Kilonzo explained, “the path was challenging and sometimes overwhelming. Balancing motherhood, nursing courses, clinical rotations, and long hours of study was demanding—there were many moments of sweat, challenging work, and even tears. But together we persevered, keeping our eyes sharply focused on the prize. Eventually, we graduated from nursing school with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, knowing we had walked this path together. The final obstacle was the NCLEX-PN, for which we studied feverishly, supporting one another through those last nerve-wracking days.”
Both Nakyagaba and Kilonzo passed the NCLEX-PN on their first attempt.
Kilonzo confirmed, “We managed to pass on the first try, and today we are licensed nurses, proud of the journey we have taken and excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. It has been a tough, rewarding journey, made even more meaningful by the friendships we built along the way. We are grateful for the chance to serve others in such a meaningful way and to have shared it with those who became like family.”
“By staying focused, Tracy and Jeniffer succeeded together,” stated Gretheline Bolandrina, DHA, MSN Ed, RN, CRRN, Academy Director. “They are both caring and courageous women. At Bay Path Practical Nursing Academy, we support a safe learning environment, free of competition, grades alone are not a representation of their worth.”
Grades reflect the work students undertake, the choices, the preparation, the circumstances, and the priorities. Grades are based on merit and not the student’s perceived effort. Since Bay Path Practical Nursing Academy is a safe learning environment, students feel a close and personal relationship with each other and some of their facilitators who are receptive to their concerns and mindset. There are students and eventually, graduates who rely on each other for personal affairs and become friends for life. From workmates to friends, classmates, and nurse colleagues, more than nurse colleagues, they are also best friends.
“I love seeing our graduates who return to share their success and their continued friendships,” shared Bolandrina. “I am amazed at their journey, how they interact and relate to each other. I admire their humanity, kindness, and generosity of spirit. They are wonderful nurses and admirable humans.”