Date: Fri 19-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Jodi-Rell-Scribner-Will

Full Text:

A Visit By The Lieutenant Governor

(with cuts)

BY ANN MARIE COHEN

Children from Donna Scribner's second grade class were honored with a special

visit last week from Lieutenant Governor Jodi Rell. Ms Rell had received a

letter from Katherine Will, a student in Ms Scribner's second grade class. The

letter invited the Lieutenant Governor to come to Sandy Hook School.

Ms Rell took time from her busy schedule on March 11 to pay a visit to Miss

Scribner's classroom. She spoke to the class about the importance of community

and ways in which children could help in their community. This prompted a

child to ask if the state helped poor people. "We try," she responded.

Ms Rell talked about her sometimes hectic schedule. "Occasionally", she

explained, "I travel to events with Governor Rowland, and many times we travel

separately."

"Governor John Rowland is fun. A favorite part of our travels is visiting

classrooms. The governor loves to guess the childrens' ages, and he is very

good at it. He has five children himself and can guess ages real well. I

remember one time the governor guessed a student's age to be six and one half

years old. Her actual age was six and one quarter years old. `Well,' replied

the governor, `I'm close.' `No, countered the student, that wasn't close at

all!'"

The children warmed up to Ms Rell immediately, and eagerly raised their hands

with numerous questions for the lieutenant governor. Do you have a limousine,

asked one of the students? Ms Rell answered, "No, I drive a Ford."

Do you have any pets? Ms Rell told the children about her pet dog, a golden

retriever named PJ. "I love PJ, because he is `clueless'. He is always happy

to see me, no matter what time I come home."

Ms Rell told the class that she grew up in Norfolk, Virginia where she

attended high school and Old Dominion University. When she married, she and

her husband moved to Connecticut where she attended Western Connecticut

University.

The lieutenant governor and her husband, Lou, live in Brookfield. They have

two grown children, Meredith and Michael.

Jodie Rell is the youngest of six children, having five older brothers. Her

brothers often played tricks on her and teased her. She said she thought up

with tricks to play on them. She asked the students if they had similar

experiences. She then read Timothy and the Night Noises to the class, an

amusing book about siblings and teasing written by Joseph DiNardo.

As the children said their goodbyes to Ms Rell, there was one last question:

Are you rich? "Well, yes I am -- and do you know why? It is because of all of

you, my great husband and my great kids!"

The Invitation

Below is the letter written by Katherine Will: 10/22/98

Dear Mrs Rell,

My name is Katherine Will, I am seven years old and I go to Sandy Hook School.

I am in the second grade and my teacher's name is Miss Scribner. My mommy is

printing this because I don't print so good just yet.

In school, Miss Scribner is teaching us about community and people who help

out in the community. I saw you on TV and you talked about the farmers and the

cows. The farmers give milk to the community.

My mommy showed me where you live in Brookfield. She works for the Brookfield

community, she's a cop.

She said you and Mr Rowland help the mayors and select people to help

everybody's community. That's a big job.

Miss Scribner wants us to learn all about the United States and especially our

State of Connecticut and our community of Newtown. (I live in Sandy Hook) She

has people tell us about what they do to help.

I asked mommy to print to you because I thought you could tell my class about

what you do for the community.

Someday mommy said she would take me to the capitol in Hartford to see it.

When we take Grandma Anna to Boston to get her eyes fixed and pass the gold

dome, she says it's the prettiest building in the state. I like the way the

sun shines on it.

Mommy said you and Mr Rowland are very busy getting elected, so I may not hear

from you for awhile. But, if you get not too busy, would you maybe come to my

class or tell us about how you help with the community?

You will like my class. Miss Scribner has blonde hair like you and a pretty

blue dress like what you wear on TV. Mrs Page, our principal, is very nice

too. She says our school is like a community.

Thank you for reading my letter. Have a good election.

Sincerely,

Katherine Will