Derby Interact L-R: Dr. Matthew Conway Jr. (superintendent), Ms. Carlin Ali (advisor), Breanna Perez (president), Sophie Mraz (vice-president), Ava Umpierre (treasurer), Gabe Tovar (co-secretary), Jayson Drayton (co-secretary and RYLA attendee), Shirley Diglio-Guerrette (RYLA attendee), Ms. Jennifer Moffat (advisor), and Mrs. Jennifer Olson (DHS Principal).

Shelton Interact: Shelton: Mrs. Kathleen Riddle (SHS principal), Mrs. Lynn Giordano (advisor), Akshita Upadhyay (secretary), Mallory Bohrer (vice-president), Savana Ostrosky (president), Dr. Kenneth Saranich (superintendent)

The Derby-Shelton Rotary Club welcomed a very impressive group of students from the Derby and Shelton High School Interact clubs at the weekly meeting on January 29. The officers of each club received their special officer pins and the presidents of both clubs as well as students who attended the recent RYLA convention also spoke about their experiences.

The students from the schools were also joined by the Superintendents of Schools (Dr. Matthew Conway & Kenneth Saranich) and Principals of the schools (Jen Olson and Kathleen Riddle) who have been great supporters of the programs. The Club is also very thankful for Carlin Ali and Jennifer Moffat in Derby and Lynn Giordan in Shelton who are the faculty advisors for the clubs.

Rotarian Gary Scarpa, who is a former educator at Shelton High School, served as the master of ceremony for the luncheon. Gary is also the Youth Services Chair for the Club. He opened the program by introducing Jayson Drayton and Shirley Diglio-Guerrette who spoke about their experiences attending the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) held at Connecticut College last November. RYLA is District 7980’s leadership training program for young men and women in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors). RYLA is held twice a year, in the fall and spring. RYLA is an internationally recognized program, attended by over 9,000 young adults each year, who are sponsored by Rotary Clubs in more than 25 countries. Derby-Shelton was pleased to have such outstanding students represent our Club this past year.

Gary then presented officer pins to the leaders of the two clubs. Vidhi Awadaria, treasurer of the Shelton Club was not able to attend the luncheon, but was also recognized and will receive her pin.

Derby Officers

Shelton Officers

Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. There are 14,911 Interact Clubs in 145 different countries. There are 342,953 members!

Jenn Moffat, Breanna Perez, Thalia Rumardo, Lucy Andrade and Carlin Ali Left-Right

Two Derby High students and members of the Interact Club recently had the opportunity to participate in Rotary Youth Leadership weekend program at Camp Hazento help build their leadership skills. The students attended the weekly meeting of the Club along with their Interact Club advisers at Derby High to tell club members of their experience at the program. Breanna Perez and Thalia Rumardo were poised and confident as they told club members of about what they had learned and how the program has helped their own personal growth as leaders. This is the first year for the club at Derby High School and they have been exceptional in their community work.

RYLA is a leadership training camp that empowers young people with the skills, confidence, and vision needed to lead effectively and ethically and these two students demonstrated how valuable the training can be. Congratulations to both of you!

Members of the Rotary Interact Club after their park cleanup. Thalia Rumardo, Breanna Perez, Sharon, Carlin Ali – Teacher and Interact Advisor, Lucy, Silas Boakye, Savannah Harold, Gary, Cassandra Silkoff, Raelynn Harris, Ferd Amartey, Kaelyn DiMartino, Sara Poric, Emma Hyder, Dr. Michael Rafferty – Director of Instruction, Sasha Karaleva, Jennifer Olson – Principal, Jennifer Moffat – Athletic Director and Interact Advisor.

The Derby-Shelton Rotary Club honored the Derby High School Interact Club for an outstanding first year with a pizza party and some awards at the high school recently. Rotary President Lucy Andrade thanked the club and commended them for carrying out a project every month during their very first year in existence.

Seniors of the Interact Club
Sharon, Carlin Ali – Teacher and Interact Advisor, Lucy, Savannah Harold, Gary, Cassandra Silkoff, Dr. Matthew Conway – Superintendent of Schools, Raelynn Harris, Ferd Amartey, Kaelyn DiMartino, Emma Hyder, Dr. Michael Rafferty – Director of Instruction, Jennifer Olson – Principal, Jennifer Moffat – Athletic Director and Interact Advisor.

She then presented each of the seniors with an Interact sash to be worn with their caps and gowns at graduation in June.

Interactors of the Year
Jennifer Moffat – Athletic Director and Interact Advisor, Cassandra Silkoff – Interact President, Lucy, Emma Hyder – Interact Vice President,
Carlin Ali – Teacher and Interact Advisor.

And finally, she presented Cassandra Silkoff and Emma Hyder, president and vice-president of the club respectively, with plaques for their outstanding leadership and enthusiasm in guiding the club though its first year.

Officers, advisers and school officials with Rotary president Lucy Andrade

The Derby-Shelton Rotary Club is thrilled to announce that both Derby and Shelton High Schools now have Rotary Interact Clubs again.

Rotary Interact is set up for students aged 12-18.

The purpose of Interact is the following:

1. Develop Leadership skills and personal integrity
2. Demonstrate Helpfulness and Respect for others
3. Understanding the Value of Individual Responsibility and Hard Work
4. Advancing international understanding and good will

On January 30, the officers of the clubs and their advisers were invited to the weekly Rotary luncheon where they received their officer pins and provided the Rotarians reports on their activities.

The new Derby Club started in September, 2024 and has approximately 24 Members.

Club officers for Derby are:

President: Cassie Silkoff

Vice President: Cassie Silkoff

Secretary: Raelynn Harris

Treasurer: Kaelyn DiMartino

Advisors: Carlin Ali & Jennifer Moffat

Derby Interact President Cassie Silkoff

President Silkoff briefed Rotarians on the activities that they have already done and are planning to do. They plan to hold one event every month. In December, they held their forst “PJ for Kids Day” which raised money for the Connecticut Children’s Hospital. In January, they offered peer tutoring in all subjects for students just prior to midterm exams. This month they are putting together “kindness” bags for those experiencing homelessness. They are collecting and distributing winter apparel, non-perishable goods and hygiene items.

In March, they will be doing a trash cleanup around the city followed by a food drive to help the Seymour-Oxford food bank recover from last year’s devastating flood. Local animal shelters will be the beneficiaries of blankets and wellness kits in May and June. To round out an incredibly busy first year, they will be assisting the Rotary Club with the Flags for Heroes Project.

Their Instagram page is located at https://www.instagram.com/dhsrotaryinteract/?hl=en

Shelton Interact officers and advisors

The Shelton Club officially started in December and their officers are:

President:  LaDainain Knight

Vice President: Avery Stocker

Secretary: Jaden Alexander

Treasurer: Isaake DePaula

Advisor: Nicole Mattioli-Cortigiano

Shelton President LaDainain Knight addressing the Club

This new club is busy planning their upcoming projects and creating an Instagram page. They are also concentrating on placing a Peace Pole at Shelton High School.