Quinebaug Middle College gives high school students a head start on college: what they offer
(Written by Connor Linskey. Published in The Norwich Bulletin, 1/30/24.)
EASTCONN’s Quinebaug Middle College magnet high school (QMC) is not your typical high school. Located on the campus of CT State College-Quinebaug Valley (CTSC-QV) in Danielson, the school enrolls approximately 160 students in grades nine through 12. It is a free, public high school...
Quinebaug Middle College gives high school students a head start on college: what they offer
EASTCONN’s Quinebaug Middle College magnet high school (QMC) is not your typical high school.
Located on the campus of CT State College-Quinebaug Valley (CTSC-QV) in Danielson, the school enrolls approximately 160 students in grades nine through 12. It is a free, public high school.
EASTCONN is a public, nonprofit, regional education service center that has been servicing the education needs of schools and communities in northeastern Connecticut since 1980.
QMC enables students to earn a high school diploma while also earning free, transferable college credits from CTSC-QV. After taking general courses such as math and science their freshman and sophomore years, the expectation is for students to take at least half of their classes at CTSC-QV their junior and senior years.
Students graduate QMC with between 20 and 60 college credits free of charge.
The Student Experience
It was the opportunity to earn college credits that motivated freshman Lexi Barber, of Plainfield, to enroll at QMC.
So far, she has enjoyed her small classes and forming close relationships with her teachers.
“They can help you with outside problems and school problems,” Lexi said about the teachers.
QMC students select from one of six learning pathways: Liberal Arts and Humanities, Education, Business/Leadership, STEM Engineering, STEM Manufacturing and STEM Health Sciences. They choose a pathway at the end of their freshman year, however they are free to change to a new pathway at any point moving forward.
Lexi plans on choosing the education pathway in the hopes of one day becoming a first grade teacher. After graduation, she is considering attending Eastern Connecticut State University.
QMC students select from one of six learning pathways: Liberal Arts and Humanities, Education, Business/Leadership, STEM Engineering, STEM Manufacturing and STEM Health Sciences. They choose a pathway at the end of their freshman year, however they are free to change to a new pathway at any point moving forward.
Lexi plans on choosing the education pathway in the hopes of one day becoming a first grade teacher. After graduation, she is considering attending Eastern Connecticut State University.
One major difference Keleher noticed between QMC and other high schools is its democratic process. Students and faculty members vote on school matters such as what clubs to establish and students call teachers by their first names.
“We treat each other as equals here,” Keleher said.
He noted that QMC is unique because students are able to take college courses taught by college professors while they are still in high school.
“Lots of high schools offer college courses, but they’re taught by high school teachers,” Keleher said. “At QMC, students take college classes taught by college professors. They even get college IDs.”
He believes the opportunity for students to take college courses earlier is beneficial to them as well as their families.
“The great thing for students is that it gives them a chance to explore their college interests sooner,” Keleher said. “For families it’s wonderful because we are a free public high school, the college tuition and books are free when they take those classes.”
Application process
QMC is currently accepting applications for enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year through Feb. 28.
For more information on QMC and to access an application for enrollment, visit www.eastconn.org/qmc. Once a prospective student submits an application, it will be evaluated by QMC staff. Michael Hamad, communications specialist at EASTCONN, said students usually hear promptly regarding the status of their application.
As part of the application process, prospective students are encouraged to tour QMC. During the tour, applicants shadow a current student as they go throughout their school day. This gives them a better sense of what it is like to be a student at QMC.
(Written by Connor Linksey. Published in The Norwich Bulletin, 1/30/24.)
ACT Creative Writers shine at Eastern Connecticut State University Literary Festival
Willimantic, CT - Creative writing students at EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) performing arts magnet school in Willimantic received recognition at the 2nd annual Literary Festival for High School Students at Eastern Connecticut State University on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023...
ACT Creative Writers shine at Eastern Connecticut State University Literary Festival
Willimantic, CT - Creative writing students at EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) performing arts magnet school in Willimantic received recognition at the 2nd annual Literary Festival for High School Students at Eastern Connecticut State University on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.
Out of more than 200 contest entries, three of the 13 finalists – senior Johanna Falck (Scotland), junior AJ McGarry (Newington) and sophomore Milly Stoney (Willimantic) – were ACT students. Stoney took second place, which comes with a $100 prize, the publication of her poem “Seaway Songstress” in the next issue of ECSU’s literary journal, “Here,” and a spot in the release reading event (date TBD).
In addition, ACT junior Brady Canoza (Uncasville) and sophomore Kyaraneliz Crespo (Willimantic) received honorable mentions.
“At ACT, we strive to provide opportunities for our students to demonstrate their learning in authentic ways,” said ACT principal Sarah Mallory. “ECSU’s literary festival was a great opportunity for our students to engage in workshops and showcase their learning to a broad audience. The recognition ACT students received is an outcome of the time and dedication our creative writers put into their work. We are so proud of them.”
Students were encouraged to submit original works of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction to the festival’s writing contest. Pieces submitted were read and adjudicated by ECSU professors and festival presenters.
Kristina Dukette and Stacy Vocasek, directors of the creative writing department at ACT, said they are thrilled that their students are finding success so early in the school year. “We can’t wait to see what happens next for our hardworking and talented students,” Vocasek said. “Big things are on the horizon.”
“Giving them the opportunities to attend workshops and work with published writers is showing many of our students that they can use their creativity to make a living,” Dukette added. “Writing doesn’t have to be a hobby; it can be a fulfilling career.”
McGarry, junior Eliana Guadalupe (Norwich) and first-year student Lilliana Rios (Stafford) read original pieces of poetry during the open mic portion of the day. Attendees also participated in workshops with published authors and were inspired by keynote speaker Aaron Caycedo-Kimura, a writer and visual artist who shared his hopes that students continue being creative throughout their lives.
ACT Creative Writing pathway majors are currently working on pieces to submit to other contents in the region, including the Young Writers: SOS Sagas contest, The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest for students, and the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
EASTCONN, which administers ACT, is a public, non-profit Regional Educational Service Center that has been serving the education needs of northeastern Connecticut’s schools and communities since 1980.
Learn more at www.eastconn.org.
ACT Creative Writing Students Published in Young Writers Compendium
Willimantic, CT – For a young writer, seeing one’s work in print for the first time is an unforgettable milestone...
ACT Creative Writing Students Published in Young Writers Compendium
Willimantic, CT – For a young writer, seeing one’s work in print for the first time is an unforgettable milestone. Recent softcover books published by Young Writers, including “Integer” and “Twisted Tales,” have given three Connecticut storytellers from EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) performing arts magnet high school – junior Eliana Guadalupe (Norwich), sophomore Izekeial Phelps (New London) and 2023 graduate Gray Rios (Chaplin) – that very thrill.
“I'm so proud of them,” said Kristina Dukette, English and Creative Writing Teacher at ACT. “The day that I got the books, I brought them in and showed them. They could not get their hands on them fast enough. They read their own stuff. They read other people's stuff. They were all so happy for each other.”
Established in 1991, Young Writers hosts multiple writing contests a year for students of all ages; recent themes include “Spine Chillers,” “Mission Catastrophe” and “Poetry Idol.” In total, eleven students in ACT’s Creative Writing program will be published in the Young Writers publications by the end of the year.
One catch: each story has to be exactly 100 words long.
“It makes it fun,” said Guadalupe, 16, who wants to be a script writer. “I usually don't write 100-word stories, but these have allowed me to be able to write them.”
Creative Writing majors at ACT practice writing across a wide range of literary genres including poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, and SLAM, and present their work through various Coffee House performances, poetry readings and writing contests throughout the school year.
“Kyle the Death Demon,” Guadalupe’s 100-word story for “Integer,” is actually the author’s second published piece in the Young Writers series; a third story, “Crime Scene,” will appear in “Unsolved” later this fall. “My goal as a writer is to be able to make people feel things and make people think about what they're reading,” Guadalupe said. “I think I'm slowly starting to get to that point.”
Both Guadalupe and Phelps are currently enrolled in the Creative Writing pathway at ACT. Rios, who graduated from the program in May, is now studying psychology at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Willimantic.
Inspired by his interests in the mortuary field and crime shows, Phelps, 14, submitted a piece called “The Language of Corpses” for “Twisted Tales,” while Rios wrote a story called “Wall Décor” for the “Unsolved” collection.
“It felt great to see my work recognized,” Rios said. “As a freshman starting college, getting the email letting me know something I wrote my senior year was getting published really boosted me as a writer and as a student.”
Stacy Vocasek, English and Creative Writing Teacher at ACT, said her department had a particularly successful year in terms of contest wins and publications. “More students entered and were recognized in contests than we’ve had in several years,” she said. “It was a joy to see our students push through their fear to submit work; the acknowledgment from others helped grow their confidence. We love being a part of our students’ writing journeys, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Housed in Willimantic’s historic Capitol Theater, ACT enrolls students from eastern Connecticut in its NEASC-accredited, interdisciplinary and arts-infused academic program. Each grade is about 35 students, making ACT an intimate, focused, artistic learning environment. To enroll, students can visit www.eastconn.org/act for an application.
EASTCONN, which administers ACT, is a public, non-profit Regional Educational Service Center that has been serving the education needs of northeastern Connecticut’s schools and communities since 1980. Learn more at www.eastconn.org.
EASTCONN’s Quinebaug Middle College Announces Honor Roll
Danielson, CT – EASTCONN’s Quinebaug Middle College (QMC) has released the Semester 1 Honor Roll list for School Year 2022-2023...
EASTCONN’s Quinebaug Middle College Announces Honor Roll
Danielson, CT – EASTCONN’s Quinebaug Middle College (QMC) has released the Semester 1 Honor Roll list for School Year 2022-2023:
High Honor Roll
Morganna Avery Burdsal- Uncasville (Montville)
Isabella Barnett- Windham
Chistopher Benoit- Putnam
Grace Benoit- Putnam
Zoey Bochicchio- Tolland
Scott Bonafine- Windham
Matthew Bradley-Griswold
Rachel Gagliardo- Plainfield
Justice Henderson- Brooklyn
August Holdridge- Taftville (Norwich)
Katrina Imre - Danielson (Killingly)
Madison Knudson- Plainfield
Natasha Miller- Sterling
CJ Orthmann- Canterbury
David Palmisciano- Danielson (Killingly)
Elsie Peterson- Plainfield
Melanie Quental- Moosup (Plainfield)
Ninoshka Robles Solano- Windham
Lourdes Sanchez Rodriguez- Windham
Ramaya Talabert- Putnam
Michaella Tetrault- Sterling
Honor Roll
Jason Adjei- Plainfield
Pamela Andujar Collazo- Windham
Ava Aubin- Plainfield
Cameron Barber- Moosup (Plainfield)
Sophia Beshaw- Canterbury
Alexander Bishop- Brooklyn
Claire Bonafine- Windham
Deondre Brown- Brooklyn
Sophie Caron- Danielson (Killingly)
Camden Chaplin- Central Village (Plainfield)
Marisa Chappell- Dayville (Killingly)
Karina Clavell- Jewett City (Griswold)
Allanah Coutu- Plainfield
Anani D’Abrosca- Sterling
Kaleb Dansereau- Sterling
Mason Dansereau- Sterling
Ruby Fallon- Sterling
Jason Fletcher- Moosup (Plainfield)
Alexys Fontaine- Windham
Ella Forgues- Dayville (Killingly)
Darren Gravel- Plainfield
Erin Gravell- Putnam
Danielle Gustafson- Moosup (Plainfield)
Kailey Hamel- Sterling
Talisha Headley- Windham
Abby Homen- Plainfield
Kaitlyn Lanctot- Woodstock
Yareni Mendez-Hernandez- Windham
Melany Mendoza- Windham
Gavin Moore- Brooklyn
Sophia Phillips- Danielson (Killlingly)
Cadence Pittman- Eastford
Madalyn Pittman- Eastford
Anna Polaino- Putnam
Cassandra Reynolds- Danielson (Killingly)
Lianna Rivera- Plainfield
Carina Rodriguez- Windham
Camila Snyder- Pomfret Center (Pomfret)
Tristanie Sweet- Moosup (Plainfield)
Rheilley Vegiard- Danielson (Killingly)
Marylynn Whitfield- Wauregan (Plainfield)
EASTCONN’s Quinebaug Middle College (QMC), a regional, public magnet high school, is currently recruiting academically motivated students for the Spring 2023 semester and 2023-2024 school year. Students who seek a more independent learning environment tailored to their academic and career goals are encouraged to apply.
QMC enrolls about 160 students, grades 9-12, from 18 towns across northeastern Connecticut. The school is administered by EASTCONN through a partnership that includes EASTCONN, QVCC and seven northeastern Connecticut towns. Enrollment is not limited to students in northeastern Connecticut.
For more information about QMC and to enroll, students can visit www.eastconn.org/qmc for an application.
