
The new school year started Aug. 25 in Naugatuck and Region 16. Toni Ciarleglio laughs after taking a picture of her 5-year-old son, Evan, before his first day of kindergarten at Prospect Elementary School Aug. 25. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

The Naugatuck Emblem Club recently donated backpacks filled with school supplies and books to Western School. The club has adopted the school for its community service projects for the year. Pictured, Principal Brenda Goodrich, Literacy Chairman Evelyn Brown, Club President Kim Best, Community Service Chairman Wendy Meagher and Jaylin Meagher, who helped fill the backpacks. –CONTRIBUTED

Student Transportation America held its second annual Back to School Drive Aug. 14 to collect items for Naugatuck students. The drive, led by bus drivers Krizti Marin and Jess Wynman, collected more than 86 filled backpacks and more than $4,000 in donations. The team also made 17 bags for a pre-kindergarten program. –CONTRIBUTED

Casey Stevens, of Beacon Falls, Daman Brar, Tamanna Brar, Elizabeth Crabtree and Roisin Healy, all of Naugatuck, and Eric Gomez and Alejandro Ortega, both of Prospect, were among the 2016-17 recipients of the Robert T. Kenney Scholarship from the American Savings Foundation. The recipients were honored recently at the annual American Savings Foundation scholarship reception. –CONTRIBUTED