The TIGERS Rise

Charlotte Janis, Principal of Trumbull’s Tashua Elementary School led an afternoon school-wide assembly on April 26 dedicated to the rebirth of the school’s mascot - the Tiger.

The entire student body - nearly 400 first to fifth graders - sat on the floor in the gym as a band led by guitarist Tyler Cohen, the school’s music teacher, with Madison Middle School music teacher Mike Martone on bass, and THS junior Gabe Weitzman on drums entertained.

Ms. Janis began by introducing four of our community’s leading educators - Assistant Superintendent, and soon to be Superintendent, Dr. Gary Cialfi, Curriculum Director Dr. Linda Paslov, and Board of Education Chair and Vice Chair, Steven Wright and Deborah Herbst.

She also introduced Trumbull Community Television’s videographer, Donna Girot. Could the children resist a little show of spirit when they saw the camera? Not here.

The program’s emcee, Jennifer Neumeyer, Tashua’s Math Specialist and Chair of the Assembly and Song Committee, took over. She told everyone that a fierce but friendly tiger has been the school's mascot for many many years. Today he will be given a purpose. He will stand for what Tashua stands for.

She introduced the school's new song - The Eye of the (Tashua) Tiger - with its own lyrics, courtesy of guitarist Cohen, to spread the message.

As the band played groups of students narrated a PowerPoint that gave special meaning to the letters T-I-G-E-R-S:

• T is for Tolerance - “Be kind to others even if they don’t look like me, think like me or act like me.”
• I is for Integrity - “I do the right thing even when nobody's watching.”
• G is for Generosity - “I share my friendship, talents and time with others.’
• E is for Empathy - “I ask myself ‘How would I feel if someone did that or said that to me?’”
• R is for Responsibility - “I make my own choices and accept what happens as a result.”
• S is for Self-Control - “I think before I say something or do something. I only say it or do it if it’s kind.”

Cohen's lyrics underscored these ideas - “We stand up for what’s right 'cause we know we’re in this together/We’re Tashua Tigers/Like a star we shine bright/And we’re proud to be here in the home of the TIGERS!”

A few teachers and some of the two dozen parents in the hall sported T-shirts with the school’s new orange and blue colors. In the fall everyone will be able to buy their own.

The assembly was part of what has become a national program to strengthen the climate within every school building in response to a continuing epidemic of bullying, one that affects more students than most teachers and administrators believed only a couple of years ago.

Trumbull has been active – across our school system – creating and implementing programs to identify bullying, to respond to the needs of its victims and help those who do it to think twice – a bit of self-control and empathy.

Friday afternoon seemed to be a tough time to keep the rambunctious audience sitting quietly. The youngsters sang along with the band. As what really was a show ended, many turned into young groupies, urging the band to keep playing. They did. While the reserved Martone stuck to his craft, Cohen bounced around the stage, and even jumped down to get closer to his audience.

Ms. Neumeyer and the teachers on the committee should all be congratulated for putting on a great show with a strong purpose that so engaged the school's students.