WOODBURY — If you are a student at Nonnewaug and the name “Calabrese” pops up, you’ll know it for many different reasons. From team parent to assistant coach to photographer, Kim Calabrese knows many roles here on campus.
“Nonnewaug to me is a big family, and that’s what I love the most,” said Calabrese, whose daughter Allysa graduated in 2023 and whose son Billy is a junior. “When I was taking photos of my kids, that was fantastic, but taking photos of the other kids made it feel like they were my kids, too. Everybody was so tight and you were just a big family.”
Through photography, Calabrese has been able to capture some of Nonnewaug athletics’ most iconic moments: league championship teams, all-conference athletes, and memories student athletes will savor forever.
“I did take a photography course at Watertown High School, and from then on I just loved it and was taking pictures all along. I started off taking pictures at training for the fire department as a hobby,” said Calabrese. “It really took off when I had kids because I was taking pictures of everything.”
She has continued to take photos of everything, but there is one aspect that she enjoys capturing the most: action shots of NHS athletes.
“My favorite photos to take are action photos [of] sports,” Calabrese said. “I started doing that because I was at every single game for my kids and tried not to miss anything. Mallory Tomkalski [a 2023 graduate from NHS] was one of my favorite players to take photos of. I loved her facial expressions and reactions because you can really see what she’s feeling.”
Not only does Calabrese just take pictures for many teams at NHS, but she’s also helped with senior nights and plenty of fundraisers to help support athletes. She also feels like a second mom to many people.
“I loved the banners she set up for softball senior night last year, and all of the pictures she took of the whole team,” said Hannah Searles, senior captain of the softball team. “I love her for just being a second mom to me because she’s so sweet and always there.”
“Events have happened with the basketball program that have been fun for the kids that the coaching staff had nothing to do with,” said Toby Denman, assistant coach of the girls basketball team. “That comes from the hard work and support of the parent group, and I know people like Mrs. Calabrese have been influential in that parent group.”
Billy, who is just as involved as his mother, appreciates everything his mother does to support all things Nonnewaug.
“She helps out with taking photos of sports and other Nonnewaug activities going on. She tries to be present for every event and sport games,” said Billy. “What I love the most about my mom is that she is very caring and always there for me.”
