Newington honors everyday heroes and proclaims Social Workers Appreciation Day

The Newington Board of Education on March 11 presented everyday-hero recognitions to members of the Ruth Chaffee Medical Emergency Response Team and read a resolution honoring school social workers.

Board members nominated and thanked Principal Jim Marciano and MERT staff—security officer Ramon Nunez; head teacher Emily Provost; administrative clerk Gina Duensing; and head secretary Joseph Sirigliano—for their roles responding to two recent emergencies at Ruth Chaffee, including an anaphylactic reaction and a student seizure. Karen Rodoux, who submitted the nominations, told the board she was “very grateful” for her team and their calm performance during those incidents.

The Chair read the board resolution into the record, which states in part: “We do hereby proclaim Wednesday, 03/11/2026 as Newington School social workers appreciation day,” and directs the board secretary to enter the resolution into the minutes and prepare a presentation copy.

Multiple board members, administrators and the online nominee praised social workers for daily, behind-the-scenes work supporting students’ social, emotional and academic needs. The board took no fiscal action but acknowledged the staff and students with awards and a group photo.