Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 15, 2022 Another heroic student act School Committee honored eight-year-old boy last November for coming to the aid of a student who choked on a nacho at lunch By Mark E. Vogler L ast month’s quick response by t w o third-graders at the Belmonte STEAM Academy to help a choking classmate wasn’t the first time this school year that officials cited a student for such heroics. Eight-year old Jacob Puglisi got to sit in the chairman’s chair during a Saugus School Committee meeting last November and bang the gavel as the honorary chair. School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge decided that giving up his seat and gavel for a few minutes to the third-grader from the Belmonte Upper Elementary School STEAM Academy was the right way to honor Jacob, after school officials credited him with saving the life of a classmate in the school cafeteria. After learning about how JaTown reports 41 newly confirmed cases over the past seven days, no new deaths By Mark E. Vogler T he number of newly confirmed cases decreased slightly from 42 last week to 41 over the past seven days through yesterday ( Thursday, April 14 ), according to Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. This week’s positive COVID cases reported to the town by the state Department of Public Health ( DPH ) increased the overall total to 8,730 confirmed cases, according to Crabtree. In addition, the overall number of deaths since March of 2020 remained at 89. Five weeks ago, total Saugus deaths related to COVID-19 were listed at 106. But that number was reduced to 88 because of a change in the guidelines used by health officials. “ Our hearts and prayers go out to those families affected by this health pandemic, ” Crabtree said. Meanwhile, confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Saugus Public Schools continued to increase. The number of new THE REPORTS | SEE PAGE 21 cob rushed to the aid of a student who was choking on a nacho during a lunch break and then began performing the Heimlich maneuver on him, Whittredge decided prior to the Nov. 2 town elect ion that he would invite Jacob to a future meeting so the committee could thank him for his heroics. Whittredge got reelected to a second twoyear term and again topped the field of School Committee candidates, earning the STUDENT ACT | SEE PAGE 16 Saugus Kindergarten Registration opens April 25 ( EDITOR’S NOTE : The following info is from a press release issued by the Saugus Public Schools this week.) K indergarten registration for students entering the Saugus Public Schools in the fall of 2022 will open on Monday, April 25. Registration packets may be picked up at the Main Office of the Veterans Early Learning Center (39 Hurd Ave. in Saugus ) Monday through Friday during school hours starting April 25. The packet will also be available on the Saugus Public Schools’ website, https :// www.saugus.k12.ma.us/. Completed forms and required documentation may be returned to the Veterans Early Learning Center Main Office starting Monday, May 16. Packet drop-off hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 :30 to 11 a. m.; kindergarten screening appointments will be scheduled at this time. Screenings will take place on Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 9 and will last about 20 minutes. There is no deadline for registration ; however, the district asks families to return the forms by May 20 in order to schedule screenings, and plan for staffing and programming in the fall. Saugus moved to a free, allday kindergarten model for the 2021–22 school year to better prepare students academically, socially and emotionally. A half-day option is not available. “ Free, all-day kindergarten levels the playing field and gives Saugus children all of the building blocks they need from day one, ” said School Committee Member Ryan Fisher. Students must be five years old by Aug. 31, 2022, in order to enter kindergarten in the fall of 2022 ; there are no exceptions. For more information, please contact the Veterans Early Learning Center at 781-231-8166. A LIBRARY CONCERT : The musical ensemble “ Trio Gaia ” of the New England Conservatory ( NEC ) entertained residents with a free classical music concert at the Saugus Public Library last Sunday ( April 10 ). Shown from left to right, the group includes violinist Grant Houston, pianist Andrew Barnwell and cellist Yi-Mei Templeman. Library Director Alan Thibeault plans to have a Classical Music Performance monthly. Next month will feature an NEC trombone quartet at the Saugus Iron Works. If it rains, the concert will be moved indoors to the library. ( Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate )
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