Dawn Farrenti
by Nikida King

     Being a student at Central High School for the past three and one half years has been a little bumpy. But as I walk the hallways and go to lunch, all I really see is students, and a few teacher assistants trying to rush you out of the hallways as soon as possible. As far as I am concerned, they basically try to make me on time for classes, and try to keep me out of trouble. But across the hall from Ms. Almagno's office, there is a guidance counselor, Ms. Farrenti who takes a different approach.
     When you really think about it, you don't realize who has worked in the building until you pay close attention. Or, if somebody happens to mention who has worked here. Ms. Farrenti has been working in the Central High School guidance department for seven years, helping hundreds of students get on the right track. She visits the students who have received poor grades in their classes, trying to help them improve. And, she's helping students prepare for the real world-and COLLEGE.
     Before becoming a guidance counselor, one has to have some teaching experience. Ms. Farrenti taught preschoolers before deciding to become a counselor. She attended University of Rhode Island as an undergraduate. From there, she moved on to Rhode Island College for her master's degree, and started focusing on counseling, unsure if that's what she wanted to do. Ms. Farrenti was also a substitute teacher in Providence.
     Ms. Farrenti believes that the school rules are for the better. “From the time Ms. De Carlo was principal, we have been making a great effort to get the students on the right path. Before, it seemed like too many students were just hanging out, on the plaza or in the halls.” She said, smiling, “I used to worry that if the fire alarm went off, I wouldn't hear it.”
     She loves her job and the students. “The student is the reason why I come to school every day.” Not enough teachers say that.

Mr. Ellis
by Tiffany Torres

     Mr. Ellis attended Tollgate High School in Warwick. His favorite subjects were history, lunch and gym; his favorite thing to do in gym was play ping-pong. Ellis graduated from Tollgate High School in 1991 and furthered his education at Rhode Island College, where he graduated in 1994. Once Mr. Ellis graduated, he got into teaching, which is what he has been doing for the past ten years. He taught for two years at Feinstein High School, for four years in Perry Middle School, and for the past four years he has been teaching at Central.
     In each of the schools Ellis has taught History. He chose to teach history because he has always been interested in society and what causes it to be the way it is. His desire to cause a change in society is what motivated Mr. Ellis to teach. He hopes to influence people and the way they think. He also hopes to motivate people to do better and help others, as he is trying to do. His only dislikes about teaching are having rules and enforcing them, and the stress disruptions bring to the job.
     The things that separate Ellis from other people are his political and economic beliefs and the way he views the world. However, when he goes home, he is like any other person: he likes to rest, relax, listen to music, watch movies and read. He likes to go bowling with his family and friends, and he loves to travel.
     If Mr. Ellis had the ability to change something in the world, he would end war and starvation. He would bring peace and stability and prevent people from killing each other. When asked what he would tell people about himself, he said, “The basis of my being is to help people, do good deeds and give life meaning.” If only more people had a mind like Mr. Ellis!

Mr. Malardo
by Kateria Colon

      Mr. Malardo is a very funny, smart, friendly, helpful and nice teacher. He is now teaching at Central High School, and enjoys it very much. He says, “I like Central. I find the students have a great deal of spirit”.
      Though this is Mr. Malardo's first year at the school, I believe that he has had a strong impact on the students. Many say that they like to go to his class because he makes learning fun. I strongly agree. He's a great English teacher and enjoys being with the students. He has been teaching for twelve years. Before he became a teacher he owned his own sales and marketing company and his own tavern. He said that he wanted to make some money before becoming a teacher.
      Mr. Malardo is married; his wife's name is Jane Civins. She doesn't have his last name because she worked in a business where everyone knew her by her maiden name, so she decided to stay with it. They have been married for 23 years, and have no children. Mr. Malardo says, “even though I have no kids, I like to look at my students like my own.” Many teachers don't refer to their students like this, but he does. Mr. Malardo is Jewish, and he has found that his religion has been a source of inspiration and comfort in his life. As a teacher his favorite subject is Literature, but he likes knowledge of all kinds.
      I asked him a very important question, “If someone would tell a story about you, which one would they tell?” He answered: “The story of my life would be one of adventure and joy. Of course there have been some bad times and stupid choices made, but I regret nothing. All that has happened in the past, good or bad has made me what I am today.”
      We will all remember the good and funny times we have had with Mr. Malardo. Central students are happy to have him with us.

Mr. Christopher Lopardo
by Evelyn T. Saa

     Mr. Christopher Lopardo is a physical and health education teacher at Central High School. As a child, his parents always encouraged him to go to school, graduate from high school and go to college. They always talked to him about the importance of getting an education, but never told him what to be in life. He decided to become a teacher because he was influenced by his teachers in school. He also chose to become a teacher because he wanted to connect more to the people around him (especially young adults). He wanted to have a positive influence on them and also to pass on his life experiences and what his parents always told him about getting an education.
     Mr. Lopardo graduated from Classical High School in 1985 and graduated from URI in 1991. During his years in high school, his favorite subjects were Sociology, Senior English and Physics, because the teachers were nice and they made the lessons fun for the students. Mr. Lopardo started teaching in 1992, a year after his graduation from college, at an elementary school called Carl G. Lauro, where he taught for two years. He left there and taught at two other schools before coming to Central in 2001.
     Mr. Lopardo has been a Physical Education teacher for fourteen years. When asked about the reason he loved teaching, he said he loved teaching because he can connect and develop a strong relationship with his students and also learn more each and every day. But on the other hand, he doesn't like to see his students fail. He hates to see students make decisions that won't get them anywhere.
     Mr. Lopardo said that this school is too big and there are too many students here. (He loves teaching at small schools where small communities are built each day, and where he is able to know all the students and the other faculty members.) But he still to likes the school because he loves his students.
     Mr. Lopardo has also taken another step in his life. He has elected to become a principal because he believes that by becoming a principal, he will have influence on the whole school instead of just his students. He graduated and received his master's degree on December 15, 2004. His training with the superintendent will end in February 2005.
     Mr. Lopardo is a single father with one son, and in his free time he enjoys playing with him, taking long bike trips from fifty to seventy miles, camping and sailing. He does not participate in any activities outside of school because of his graduate studies. His advice to the students: “Getting an education is a way out of stress, off the streets and away from things that can get you down in life. Graduating from high school is a big deal when a student has worked hard through the years. Diplomas open new doors.”

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