Students Tour Capitol; Are Greeted by House Speaker Amann,
Majority Leader Donovan
State Representative Selim Noujaim today hosted four 5th
Grade classes from the M. M. Generali Elementary School
in Waterbury’s East End, who toured the State Capitol and
the Legislative Office Building and were greeted by
Speaker of the House James A. Amann, D-Milford, and House Majority Leader Christopher
G. Donovan, D-Meriden.
“I am always pleased to expose the youth of our community to the work that we do here at
the State Capitol,” said Representative Noujaim, R-Waterbury, who hosted a similar visit in
March from the Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School. “Our children are the future of our
society and we have an obligation to enhance their educational opportunities. It’s my hope
that their visit to the State Capitol today made them more aware of how our democracy works
and will help them become successful adults who play active roles in the life of their
community.”
“The students’ experiences at the State Capitol today will make what they learn about state
government in the classroom more real,” said teacher Thomas Haines, who teaches one of the
5th grade classes who visited the capitol.
“We haven’t been to the capitol for a few years because of the increasing cost of transporting
the children on school trips,” said teacher Chris Barrett, a 32-year veteran of the Waterbury
school system. “The kids loved coming here today and enjoyed the beauty of these buildings.
It was a wonderful experience for the children.”
“I haven’t been [to the State Capitol] since I was in the 5th grade 35 years ago and I wanted to
see how it has changed. It’s a really beautiful building,” said parent Sean Nolan, whose
daughter urged him to accompany the students as a chaperone.
“It’s a great opportunity for the students to go outside the classroom, visit the state capitol,
learn how government works and who’s working for them and what [state legislators] do,”
teacher Timothy Coughlin said.
Also accompanying the 93 students on their capitol tour was teacher Sue Normandin.
