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Click here to read this week's family update.
Click here to read this week's family update.
2/20/2024
Spanish Translation: Family Update 2_20_24 Spanish.docx
Apples Families-
We hope everyone enjoyed the Winter Break. We are excited to welcome everyone back tomorrow.
Reminder: Donuts with Grown-Ups is returning Tuesday, February 27th and Wednesday February 28th from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
On Tuesday the 27th, Representative Paris will be joining us to learn more about your experience as a parent with young children.
Click here to RSVP: Donuts with Grown-Ups RSVP (google.com)
In March, we will be starting a new unit with a focus on Balls. We are seeking your support and input as we plan out this unit for your children. PLease complete this survey for us: https://forms.gle/JTY4xHu8r3MdCpad7
Thank you in advance.
Friendly Reminder to send your child to school as long as they are fever free and vomiting free for 24 hours. Please read the flier below to learn more about the benefits of attending school.
Attendance-Works-Preschool-K_in-person_101321.pdf
We also have an EARLY RELEASE on Wednesday, February 28th. ALL students will be dismissed at 10:30 a.m. The staff will be participating in professional development.
Ongoing Reminders:
Supply Needs- APPLES is always in need of wipes. Please do nos send scented wipes. If you are at the store and can pick up a box for us, we would greatly appreciate it. Wipes are used for art, bathroom, eating, you name it we used wipes. We use gloves a lot as well during bathroom time. Thank you in advance.
Reminder: Outdoor Recess- We are continuing to go outside for recess. It is very important for children to get fresh air and have gross motor activity. Please send your child to school every day with a winter coat, hat, and gloves. Please label these items with your child’s name.
A few notes from staff and families:
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We know many families use our school lunch as a way to introduce children to new foods. This is a great strategy. With that being said, it is also important for students to eat when they are with us. If your child is a picky eater, which most are, please make sure to always send in food they do enjoy. We do not want students going hungry if they do not like the food from the cafeteria.
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Also, kindly send in diapers and changes of clothes for your child each week. We go through a lot during the week and always want to make sure they have what they need. Staff have been noticing an uptick in very wet diapers in the morning. Please do your best to change them in the morning before sending them to school.
Stamford Food Guide
Below is a resource offered to all our Stamford Communities. If you have any questions about this resource, please feel free to reach out to our parent facilitator, Nury Jacome Malpica at njacomemalpica@stamfordct.gov
Stamford Food Guide_Mar23_Eng (unitedwaycwc.org)
Stamford Food Guide_Mar23_Span (unitedwaycwc.org)
February Calendar: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yUOggWDtl6Nraqd3j4ZyVmJkLTA_zAHZ/view?usp=sharing
Lunch Menu -APPLES Lunch Menu This menu is subject to change due to supply chain issues. If your child is a picky eater, please send an alternate snack/lunch so your child has options to eat for breakfast and lunch
Link to APPLES Family Resources and all other Family Updates:
Apples Family Resources This link has all the archives Family Updates and any other flier we have sent home.
Please reach out with any questions! kbrown@stamfordct.gov or lcody@stamfordct.gov
Warmly,
Mrs. Kendra Brown and Mrs. Lisa Cody
APPLES offers a nurturing and enriching early childhood school experience through three programs:
• General Education (admission via lottery)- APPLY HERE
• Special Education (admission via referral and special needs assessment)
• School Readiness (must meet family income criteria)- APPLY HERE
Interested? Attend Parent Orientation on Monday, February 26 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at APPLES.
Click here to read this week's family update.
District News
Dear Staff and Families,
A quick reminder that parent-teacher conferences are next Wednesday-Friday. Please take advantage of this opportunity to review your child(ren)’s academic and social-emotional growth with their teacher(s) as we head into the final three months of the school year.
National Speech Pathologist Day
Monday, March 18 is National Speech Pathologist Day. If your child has benefited from this important service, please join us in celebrating and thanking our Speech Pathologists for all they do to support students.
Westover Magnet School Grade 6 Lottery for Fall 2024
The Westover Magnet School Grade 6 lottery opened today and closes on Friday, April 5. Families of fifth-grade students who are not already at Westover and would be interested in having their child attend Westover for middle school are invited to enter the lottery. The lottery drawing will be announced on Friday, April 26. Please click here for more information.
Climate Survey
The annual SPS Climate Survey opens on Monday. This is an opportunity to share feedback about your child(ren)’s school(s). The family survey will be available in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole and Ukrainian. The deadline to complete the survey is Wednesday, April 3. Links to the survey will be shared next week.
Budget Update
The next step in the FY25 budget approval process takes place on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 pm when the 2024-25 BOE Proposed Operating Budget is presented to the Board of Finance (BOF). The public is invited to join and watch this meeting via zoom.
Following the presentation of the BOE budget to the Board of Finance, the BOF and Board of Representatives will host a joint Fiscal Committee Hearing on Wednesday, April 3 via zoom. This is the meeting where members of the public may sign up to address the BOF and BOR regarding the BOE and City budgets. Sign up details to follow in next week’s message.
High School Course Selection for 2024-25
Next Friday, March 22 is the deadline for students in grades 8 through 11 to select their 2024-25 high school courses. Please make sure to review the Program of Studies for AITE, Stamford High, and Westhill to explore the academic opportunities available to our 4,000+ high school students. For those interested in learning more about our career pathways, check out these videos about the Public Safety Pathway, Construction Pathway, and Manufacturing Pathway.
SPEF Excellence in Education Awards
The Stamford Public Education Foundation is hosting its annual “Excellence in Education Awards” on Thursday, March 21 at the Stamford Marriott. This event, which is a fundraiser for SPEF, recognizes outstanding SPS educators nominated by each school’s Parent-Teacher Organization. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.
Please join me in congratulating the 2024 SPEF Educator of the Year nominees, listed here.
Kindergarten Orientation and Play & Learn Nights
Children entering kindergarten in Fall 2024 and their parents are invited to join us for Kindergarten Orientation and Play & Learn Night. Every K-5 and K-8 school will host its own event. View the flier (English / Spanish) to see the dates and times for each school.
Building a Better Future for Stamford Public Schools
Matthew Quinones, Director of Operations and Katherine LoBalbo, Director of BOE School Operations joined the February Board of Representatives Education committee meeting and gave a school construction update. The city provided the education committee with a projected school construction schedule update, as well as previewed a new city website “Building a Better Future for Stamford Public Schools”.
Stay Safe and Healthy!
Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent
AITE siblings perform at the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra (GCTYO) Winter Concert
On Sunday, March 3, music aficionados were treated to a mesmerizing evening at the Winter Concert 2024 presented by the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra at The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport, CT. Part of the GCTYO were AITE’s senior, James Quispe, who performed on the violoncello while his sister, a sophomore at AITE, Jaimie Quispe, performed on the violin. The concert featured a repertoire of both Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto that left the audience in awe.
AITE teacher Anna Koltypin, who was in attendance, remarked that the concert served as a poignant reminder of the transformative and healing nature of music in a world marred by conflicts and turmoil.
AITE is a UConn ECE Top 10 High School
AITE has one of the largest percentages in the state of high school students taking UConn Early College Experience courses for the 2023-2024 academic year! 29% of our students are taking UConn ECE courses, placing us at number 8 on the list.
National History Day
AITE had a strong showing of six students at National History Day, which took place on March 11. The exceptional work of Maggie Fleischer, Lorena Pergjoni, Eric Karwowski, Maryori Martinez Velasquez, Bianca Rascon, and Raniah Imran earned them the honor to compete at this annual event. Maggie and Raniah placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the Senior Paper category. Lorena placed 2nd in the Senior Individual Documentary category. These three students move on to the state competition. We wish them the best of luck!
AITE Student Wins Greenwich Town Hall Debate
Congratulations to AITE junior, Maggie Fleischer, who won the Debate for Democracy at Greenwich Town Hall sponsored by the First Selectman’s Youth Commission. Maggie debated the topic of affordable housing against five students from Greenwich.
AITE Students Move onto FBLA National Competition
On Tuesday, March 12, thirteen of our Future Business Leaders of America members attended and competed in the CT State Conference. Congratulations to the following students who are now eligible to compete at Nationals in Orlando this June: Vanessa Amsellem - 1st place in Introduction to Marketing Concepts; Aris Johnson - 1st place in Computer Problem Solving; Samantha Mattis - 4th place in Journalism; Teji Rawat - 4th place in Marketing; and Hamza Fayyad, Jermin Montenegro and Ayaan Sadiq - 5th place Introduction to Business Presentation.
Submitted by Tina Rivera
Scientist Visit at Hart Magnet
Hart Magnet Elementary School is delighted to continue our Scientists Like Us series supported by our PTO. Our third, fourth and fifth grade students were provided an amazing opportunity from one of our parents, Andrea Baden, who invited scientist Dr. Carter Clinton to speak to our students about his work as a genetic anthropologist and professor at North Carolina State University. Dr. Clinton has become one of the scientists who studied the underground railroad using ancient DNA collected from soil through the southern US. Our students were astounded by his research and fascinated beyond words.
Hart Magnet Elementary School celebrates “Start with Hello”
Hart Magnet Elementary School celebrated “Start with Hello.” A huge shout-out to Nancy Stanton, Mark Martini, Lauren Gisolfi, Cynthia Santini, Carissa O’Leary, Maria Guzda, Jennifer Fabozzi, Nicole Granata, Alex Lerchen, Jennifer Smyth, administration, office staff, custodians, teachers, staff members, and students. We could not lead off a spectacular event without all of you!
This program from Sandy Hook Promise “Know the Signs” teaches children how to minimize social isolation, empathize with others, and create a more inclusive and connected school culture. The “Start with Hello” Program uses three simple steps to recognize someone who may be lonely:
1) See someone alone
2) Reach out and help
3) Start with “Hello”
On Friday, March 8, as part of our “Start with Hello” assembly, we honored Stamford Citizen of the Year, Sergeant Adriana Molina, for being a trusted adult in our community. We presented Sergeant Molina with a certificate honoring her achievements. Among the many trusted adults in our community, we were honored to have Mayor Caroline Simmons and Dr. Tamu Lucero celebrate this special event with us. Our “Start with Hello” goal is to continue to show kindness, respect for others, and ensure a socially connected school community throughout the school year!
Submitted by Maria Guzda
TOR Boys Basketball Wins City Championship
The TOR Boys’ Basketball Team won the city championship against Rogers in an intense game that ended in an overtime win of 37-34. The boys’ hard work has certainly paid off - they haven’t won a championship since 2013! Congratulations to the entire team and to Coach Woods and Coach Parish!
Submitted by Sherri Prendergast
Turn of River New Arrivals Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday!
Mr. Escobar celebrated Dr. Seuss Day with the New Arrivals Program. Students read the biography of Dr. Seuss and discussed how he “Never Gave Up” on getting his book published. Each student also read one of his 46 books and completed a book report. It was great to see the kids being kids and laughing while playing Pin the Tie on the Cat, Dr. Seuss Character Bingo, and much more.
Submitted by Elba Sims
Northeast Science Fair with STEM Activities
The PTO sponsored the 2nd Annual Science Fair on March 7 at Northeast School. Students in grades 3-5 were invited to pick a topic, design the experiment, test their theory, and display their data. Winners were announced at each grade level. Mrs. Goad, Northeast’s STEM Liaison, also distributed STEM activities for the students to participate in. They were challenged to build towers, work with pattern blocks, and more. A successful night for everyone who came out!
Congratulations to our Science Fair Winners!
5th GRADE
1st Place: Sasha Simblist and Julianna Sanchez, 2nd Place: Elena Passaro, 3rd Place: Madelyn Studebaker
4th GRADE
1st Place: Cooper Simblist, 2nd Place: Natasha Lolis, 3rd Place: Braden Franchi
3rd GRADE
1st Place: Olivia Surerska, 2nd Place: Andrew Aprea, 3rd Place: Clara Studebaker
Northeast School Loves to Read!
Under the guidance of Natalie Betancourt, Ellen Suarino, and Patty Mould, Northeast School celebrated Read Across America Week. Students and staff wore crazy hair & socks to show “how crazy we are about reading,” dressed up like superheroes because “reading gives us superpowers” and more. We ended the week by all sitting together in the hallway and enjoying our favorite books. Another successful week!
Submitted by Emily Fields
Kindergarten Adventures
Northeast kindergartener’s recently went on two exciting field trips. Students in Mrs. Keller, Ms. Blackwell, Ms. Michaels, and Miss Kanel’s kindergarten classes visited the Stamford Museum and Nature Center to learn how maple sugar and syrup is made. Students had a wonderful time learning from the Stamford Museum and Nature Center staff. Northeast’s kindergarteners also visited the Stamford Palace Theatre to see The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle stories. Thank you to the Stamford Museum and Nature Center and The Stamford Palace Theatre for giving our students a fantastic experience!
Leprechaun Shenanigans!
Mrs. Florio’s fifth grade students collaborate monthly with Miss Kanel’s kindergarteners. For our March activity students worked with their buddies to brainstorm, plan, and create a trap to catch the sneaky leprechaun. The students did an amazing job collaborating and displaying their creativity! The students had many materials to choose thanks to the support and donations from our class families. It was a fun STEM challenge as well as an opportunity to work with their buddies.
Submitted by Laura Kanel
Royal Ball and Tea Party
Kindergarten teachers, Judy Kinzler, Amy Colandro, Lindsey Colandro, Tracy Chichester, Patrice Martin, and kindergarten paras collaborated with PE teachers, Jenny Annosier and Tina Batton to provide kindergarten students with a Royal Ball experience, including ballroom dancing and a royal tea party. Graham Leftwich welcomed students with a regal introduction on the trumpet. This was the culminating activity of the CKLA Unit where kindergarten students listened to read-aloud texts about kings, queens, and royal families, which built students’ understanding of royal customs.
First Grade Kindness Concert
First grade teachers Toni Fox, Shira Mandel, Danielle Bryant, Maggie Peterson, Michelle Williams, and first grade paras collaborated with music teachers Greg Herrmann, Francesca Gennusa, and Graham Leftwich to showcase the musical talent of our first grade students. They sang songs about kindness and compassion and students spoke about what it means to be kind and have empathy. This performance showcased Stark’s Character Strengths program which highlights important traits to help us be better citizens.
Courageous Stark Students
As part of Stark’s Character Strengths program, our Stark SEL Committee, including Tina Batton, Katelyn Tavolccai, Maura Mena and Nicole Palomba, organized assemblies to celebrate our Stark Star Students who showcased courage. Students were invited on stage and received certificates for different courageous acts, such as standing up for other students, doing what is right, taking academic risks and stepping out of their comfort areas.
Submitted by Angela Plateroti
Layers of Love at Strawberry Hill
The First Grade team at Strawberry Hill School organized a “Layers of Love” clothing drive in February! Students in Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Fajt, Mrs. McGovern, Mrs. Raymer, and Ms. Taylor’s classes hand-decorated donation boxes and encouraged the school community to donate much needed items to Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County (CTKF), a local nonprofit that provides new and gently used clothing and shoes free of charge to children in need in grades K-12 in Fairfield County. The Strawberry Hill community generously filled those boxes with 500+ new and gently used clothing and shoes. This outpouring of love and support will make a big impact on the lives of children in need in Fairfield County. Every child that CTKF serves receives a week’s wardrobe for school free of charge twice a year.
The overflowing donation boxes provided enough tops and pants for fifty wardrobes plus undies, socks, and accessories for thirty! Through the “Layers of Love” drive, CTKF will be able to help 50 children in need choose quality clothing that fits in their favorite styles and colors, so they can attend school with the self-esteem needed to achieve academic success!
Submitted by Tressa Kinahan
Fizz, Foam, and Fun: 8th Graders Master Chemistry with Elephant Toothpaste!
Students at Cloonan Middle School embarked on an exciting journey into chemistry as they tackled an experiment they had wanted to do since the beginning of the school year, the Elephant Toothpaste experiment! Under the guidance of their teacher, Mr. Russo, this hands-on activity served as a platform for the eighth graders to merge their understanding of matter and chemical changes with real-world applications, leaving them both enlightened and exhilarated.
The Elephant Toothpaste experiment, known for its visually striking reactions, captivated the students as they witnessed the magic of chemical transformations firsthand. Guided by Mr. Russo’s infectious enthusiasm, they carefully mixed hydrogen peroxide with catalysts (yeast and water mixture) and a bit of color, igniting a cascade of colorful foam and bubbles.
“Our budding chemists not only rocked the lab, but also rocked their understanding of chemical changes and matter! With each explosion of foam, they showed that learning can be as exhilarating as it is educational. The students had asked earlier in the school year if we could do an elephant toothpaste lab. With how hard they’ve been working, it was a well-deserved reward that enabled them to have fun and connect the knowledge they gained during the chemistry module,” said Mr. Russo.
Through their participation in the experiment, the students not only deepened their knowledge of chemical reactions but also cultivated critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By bridging theoretical concepts with practical application, they demonstrated their ability to thrive in the realm of science.
As Cloonan Middle School remains committed to providing enriching educational experiences, initiatives like the Elephant Toothpaste lab underscore its dedication to fostering curiosity and innovation among its students.
Submitted by Jamie Russo
Toquam Scholars Showed Off Their Spelling Skills in Classroom Spelling Bees!
Toquam Scholars participated in classroom spelling bees to prepare for the schoolwide spelling bee next month! Our scholars have worked so hard over the last few months practicing their spelling words and getting ready for the main event! Congratulations to all our classroom spelling bee winners!
Submitted by Jenna Cinelli
Filling In The Blanks Food Drive
Steps Program welcomed guest speaker Caryn Kelly from Filling In The Blanks Food Program to teach students about food insecurity in Fairfield County and its impact on children. Steps students are organizing a food drive to assist Filling In The Blanks and contribute to the community.
Submitted by Laura Marino
SPS Represents at INTED2024
The 18th annual International Technology, Education, and Development (INTED) Conference was held in Valencia, Spain on March 4 through the 6. Rob de Andrade, Assistant Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Secondary Schools applied to present at the INTED2024 conference and his research was accepted!
Mr. de Andrade’s project entitled “EQUITY: Restoring Achievement in Mathematics” discusses disparities in math achievement among students of different ethnic groups in a Connecticut school district. It highlights how students of color perform below expectations compared to their peers, leading to underrepresentation in advanced classes and overrepresentation in intervention classes. He was also awarded a grant from Mary L. Fitch Trust for this conference. Congratulations Mr. de Andrade for representing Stamford Public Schools at one of Europe’s most notable educational conferences!
Submitted by Colleen Weiner
Math Can be Delicious!
With a helping hand from our fabulous parent volunteers, Springdale kindergarteners were able to watch how math can become edible! Making Irish Soda Bread has become an annual tradition at Springdale. Students carefully read and followed directions to measure and mix ingredients. While Irish Soda Bread may be considered a “Quick Bread” students needed to show patience as they waited for their creations to bake and cool before they could sample them. Thank you to Springdale’s kindergarten teachers and paraeducators for bringing math and literacy to life for their kids. Thank you also to the volunteers who came out to make this event a success!
Submitted by Becky Chuhta
Westover Reads 74,343 Minutes and Raises $27,937
Westover’s Read Across America and Read-A-Thon week took place from March 1-8. This year’s theme was Westover Chooses Love! The school kicked off the week-long event with a live news broadcast where students learned about schoolwide reading goals and listened to Ms. Maxelix read Whoever You Are. The event also included a visit from the PTO to review the many prizes students could earn. Daily prizes for participation included: Westover swag, extra recess, Gopher ice cream certificates, and choosing from a prize box. Raffle ticket grand prizes for reading minutes included opportunities to pass out Lexia Certificates, do the morning announcements, attend an extra gym class, serve as a special guest in a drumming class, have lunch with administration, and a surprise bonus prize of donuts with Lizzy Love.
The homeroom from each grade level that raised the most money also earned watching a movie in the auditorium. Westover was so excited to incorporate Compassion in Action into this year’s Read Across America and Read-A-Thon Week Activities. Families were asked to bring in new toiletries to be donated to local families in need. Dozens of donations of toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, dental floss, soap, lotion were brought in to fill our “Westover Giving Tree.” The week featured daily spirit days and read-alouds related to social emotional learning. Westover read 74,343 minutes and raised $27,937! Congratulations to our top reader fifth grader Tarushi P. (1,665 minutes) and our top fundraiser third grader Marte D. ($900). Thank you to all of Westover’s staff, students, families, and PTO members that helped make the week such a success!
Submitted by Larissa Weir
Congratulations to our Westhill Future Business Leaders of America
On Tuesday, March 12, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members from Westhill HS and AITE attended the CT State FBLA Conference at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury to compete in various business disciplines.
Congratulations to the following students who placed and are now eligible to compete at Nationals in Orlando this June:
Charles Bordon, Berke Ceken, and Aaryan Marathe - 1st place Banking and Financial Systems; Mritikia Omkumar - 1st place in Public Speaking; Matthew Quaglino and Austin Eisenstein - 1st place in Sports and Entertainment Management; Rhea Malhotra - 2nd place in Business Plan; Mahathi Uppuluri - 2nd place in Economics; Sylvia Marciczkiewicz - 2nd place Personal Finance; Katherine Cognetti, Sabrina Weisel, and Madeline Rosenhaft - 3rd place in Social Media Strategies; Defne Ceken and Katelin Zhao - 3rd place in Graphic Design; Nouha Benhakki - 4th place in Coding and Programming; Keeran Giritharan - 5th place in Introduction to Business Concepts
Submitted by Juan Pazmino
What is an SPS Shout Out?
An SPS Shout Out is a special recognition that acknowledges school communities, staff members or students who have inspired us with a unique project, an outstanding job or a special effort that had a positive impact on our students or community. Each week we will celebrate a few by sharing with all SPS staff and posting on the district website. Please share any or all of these with your friends and families.
SPS Administrators can submit Shout Outs for consideration through the form shared with them in the Administrators’ Weekly.
Families with incoming Kindergarteners are invited to visit your child's elementary school!
Stamford Public Schools invites you and your kindergarten-eligible* child to play and learn at Kindergarten Orientation. Play fun learning games, meet school staff, and learn all about kindergarten!
Please be sure to complete the registration form on the attached flyer, so we will be ready to greet you!
When & Where:
Tuesday, March 26 at 4:30 pm
Rogers International School
Tuesday, April 2 at 6 pm
Roxbury Elementary
Stillmeadow Elementary
Wednesday, April 3 at 6 pm
Davenport Ridge Elementary
K.T. Murphy Elementary
Northeast Elementary
Springdale Elementary
Julia A. Stark Elementary
Strawberry Hill
Westover Magnet
Thursday, April 4 at 6 pm
Hart Magnet Elementary
Newfield Elementary
Toquam Magnet Elementary
*Must turn 5 years old by September 1, 2024 or successfully complete the Early Kindergarten Admission Assessment to begin school in Fall 2024
Dear Staff and Families,
Please mark your calendars for Parent Teacher Conferences, which are Wednesday, March 20, Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22. Conferences are an important opportunity for you to check in with teachers about your child(ren)’s academic progress toward end-of-year proficiency goals. Look for more information about conferences from the school principal or your child’s teachers.
Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day
Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day was celebrated on March 4. We truly appreciate all the hard work and dedication the maintenance workers do on behalf of our building staff. If you missed it, please take a moment to say thank you to our maintenance workers!
National School Social Workers Week
National School Social Workers Week is drawing to a close. These certified professionals assist with mental health and behavioral concerns, support positive classroom behavior, provide social-emotional support for academics, and offer individual and group counseling/therapy. Their work is critically important, especially at a time when youth mental health issues are intensifying. Thank you to the more than 50 social workers who support 16,400+ students across the District. You are appreciated!
Kindergarten Registration Event
Join us for a Kindergarten Registration event tomorrow - Saturday, March 9 - from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at DOMUS (83 Lockwood Avenue). SPS staff will be available to help families complete online registration. You will need to bring documents proving your identity, Stamford residency, and your child’s date of birth to this event. For more information, please click here.
SCOPES Meeting
The Stamford Coalition of Parents Expecting Success (SCOPES) is hosting its next meeting on Wednesday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the Rippowam Media Center. The topic for the March meeting is “Transitioning to Adult Services.” The session will cover transition planning for students, DDS eligibility and waivered services. Parents with students in middle or high school are encouraged to attend. Click here to register.
Westover Magnet School Grade 6 Lottery for Fall 2024
Westover Magnet Elementary School will begin the transition to a K-8 program with the addition of sixth grade in Fall 2024. To ensure that we have full enrollment for the sixth-grade class, SPS will have a special lottery for families of fifth-grade students who would be interested in having their child attend Westover. If your child is already enrolled at Westover as a fifth grader, you do NOT need to submit a lottery application. The lottery will open on Friday, March 15 and close on Friday, April 5. The drawing will be announced on Friday, April 26. Please click here for more information.
iReady Results Available
The iReady for Families Report is now accessible to parents. Log into your student’s Clever Account and click on the iReady icon to go to the iReady Dashboard. From the iReady Dashboard, click on the For Families dropdown and select the For Families Report. Enter District Report Code R4DPJ3 to access your child’s report. For more information, click here.
SAT School Day
On Wednesday, March 13, all SPS 11th grade students will take the SAT for free during the school day. The State of Connecticut requires all public school students to take the SAT during 11th grade. SAT scores may be submitted to colleges and universities as part of the admissions process.
Only students in grade 11 should report to school at the regular time. Students in grades 9, 10, and 12 will have a 3-hour delay. Buses will be provided for both the regular arrival time and the 3-hour delayed arrival.
Climate Survey
Get ready to share feedback about your child(ren)’s school(s) during the annual School Climate Survey, which begins on Monday, March 18. Information from the Climate Survey will be used by school principals and other staff to make improvements in our schools. The family survey will be available in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole and Ukrainian. The deadline to complete the survey is Wednesday, April 3. Links to the survey will be shared on March 18.
Stay Safe and Healthy!
Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent
Toquam Kindergarten Teacher Yvette Cole’s Book “Harriet's Dinner Party” Celebrated for Black History Month
Toquam Magnet Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher Yvette Cole was recently interviewed by News12 and WTNH about her new book Harriet’s Dinner Party, in honor of Black History Month! Harriet’s Dinner Party is the story of a 10-year old girl named Destiny who finds herself at Tubman’s home for a dinner party with different Black historical figures. Ms. Cole also conducted book readings for Harriet’s Dinner Party at the Black History Month Vendors’ Fair at UConn Stamford, the Stamford Ferguson Library, and the Darien Public Library. Toquam is so proud of Ms. Cole and her amazing achievement!
Toquam Fourth Graders Learn to Live The Colonial Life with The Stamford Historical Society
The fourth graders at Toquam participated in the Colonial Connecticut program with the Stamford Historical Society. Students enjoyed learning about life as a 10 year old in colonial times; they had the opportunity to card wool, write with a quill pen, dress up in colonial clothing, play games from that time period, and identify artifacts commonly used in colonial times. A huge thank you to the Stamford Historical Society for visiting our school!
Submitted by Jenna Cinelli
Hart Magnet Elementary School celebrates Read Across America week!
Hart students and staff enjoyed a week of themes to show off their creativity and love for reading led by Maria Guzda, Patricia DeBlanco, and Raji Sundararajan. From dressing up as your favorite character to wearing mismatched colorful socks and reading many classic texts, it was a fun time for all to celebrate how much we love reading at “Hart.”
Submitted by Maria Guzda
Donuts with Grown-Ups
The APPLES PTA recently hosted a “Donuts with Grown-Ups” event designed to strengthen the connections within our school family. This occasion brought families together to enjoy tasty donuts and warm coffee, fostering a sense of unity and support within the APPLES community. The PTA's commitment to creating such a meaningful event highlights their dedication to nurture a strong, interconnected community for our families.
APPLES Community Fashion Fun
As a culminating activity for a study on clothing, the APPLES community hosted a fashion show for the students to showcase their learning over the last month. This event allowed our students to display their creations, including tie-dye shirts, vests, hats, and more. It was a fantastic occasion that united the school community by celebrating our collective learning achievements over the past month!
Submitted by Kendra Brown
A Royal Celebration at Westover
Kings and Queens paraded through the halls of Westover on Friday, March 1. The kindergarteners spent the last month learning about kings and queens as part of the new CKLA curriculum. The students and staff enjoyed celebrating learning about royal families by dressing up as kings and queens, dancing the waltz, and attending a royal tea party. The fun-filled day helped students experience firsthand the responsibilities and customs associated with royalty throughout history. Thank you to the entire Kindergarten Team for planning this wonderful celebration for our students!
Westover Holds First Choose Love Family Night
Families were invited to Westover’s first ever Title 1 Choose Love Family Night on Wednesday, March 6. The fun filled evening began with a communal gathering in the cafeteria to enjoy pizza. Then families rotated between three stations to learn more about Westover’s Social Emotional Program Choose Love. One station taught attendees mindfulness activities including the brave breath, positive affirmation statements, and yoga exercise. Next, families listened to a read-aloud of the book The Giving Tree and created a self-love jar craft. Students also had fun engaging in team building challenges and activities while their parents attended an information session about how they can use strategies from Choose Love to support their children’s social emotional needs at home. The night was thoughtfully planned by the dedicated Choose Love Committee, which is led by fourth grade teacher Jessica Buckett. Thank you to the over 50 Westover staff members who volunteered their time, planning, setting and cleaning up, and running stations at the event to make it such a success. We also appreciate the over 150 families who, even in the pouring rain, came to celebrate our Choose Love program.
Submitted by Larissa Weir
Girl’s Basketball Champions
Congratulations to the Cloonan Girls' Basketball team for their undefeated season. They won their final game 40-29. Great job ladies! We would also like to give a big shout out to their Coaches - Mr. Guillaume and Mr. Reid.
Submitted by Jillian Churchill
A Royal Celebration
Mrs. Keller, Ms. Michaels, and Miss Kanel’s kindergarten classes transformed into royalty as a culminating event for their CKLA Kings and Queen’s unit. Students proudly paraded into the auditorium dressed in their best royal garb as the crowd awaited their royal entrance. Once the parade was complete parents came to the royal classrooms where Ms. Keller and Ms. Michaels hosted a royal tea party and Miss Kanel’s class participated in royal centers. A big shout out to the parents who joined their children and celebrated this fun day with us!
Submitted by Laura Kanel
Northeast Staff Step Through February!
Northeast’s social worker, Lesley Ulloa, organized a step challenge for the month of February. All staff members were invited to participate in the fun challenge. Staff kept track of how many steps they took Monday-Thursday to compile weekly totals. We had 57 participants divided among 9 teams. Drum roll please for the winning teams!
First Place Team: The Red Hot Chili Steppers - Ms. Bates, Ms. Santos, Mrs. Bieder, Mrs. Lubowitz, Mrs. Zemola and Mrs. Moore.
Second Place Team: The Mighty Steppers - Ms. Fine, Mr. Vitti, Mr. Underwood, Mrs. Petrafesa, Ms. McAllister and Mrs. Rafferty.
Third Place Team: Here Comes The Hot Steppers - Ms. Cayla Johnson, Mrs. Mullins, Ms. Gibson, Mrs. Bergman, Ms. Habib and Ms. Ulloa.
National Social Worker Week
In honor of National School Social Workers Week, we would like to honor and acknowledge Lesley Ulloa. Lesley is an essential member of the Northeast School community. She helps run the Care Committee, works directly with many of our Spanish speaking families, runs small groups and more. She advocates for her students and is always available to help the staff. Thank you for your dedication to the Northeast School.
Submitted by Emily Fields
Roxbury Student Leaders Spread Warmth
Roxbury Elementary School is a Higher Order Thinking School (HOTS) and student leadership is a big part of the HOTS philosophy. The Student Senate takes part in many fundraising and leadership opportunities in the school and community. On March 6, Roxbury’s Student Senate, together with their families, made about 20 blankets for an animal shelter. They had a lot of fun making these blankets and are looking forward to more activities like this one!
By Finley Dreyer, Roxbury School Student Senate President
Submitted by Mark Bonasera
Making Memories Worth Record(er)ing!
What happens when you take over 1,200 fourth graders and their recorders to the Palace Theater? MAGIC! On Tuesday, March 5 all of the SPS fourth graders, their music teachers, their classroom teachers, and their paras set off to the Palace Theater to join the Orchestra Lumos and local author Valerie Bolling for a morning filled with a close-up introduction to the instruments of a Chamber Orchestra, a reimagining of the story of Peter and The Wolf, the experience of illustrating with music, and an opportunity to play along with a professional orchestra on their recorders. They were also treated to a surprise performance by our own Stamford High School Sophomore Emily Soroluz as she joined the Orchestra as a featured soloist to close out the experience. A special shout out to the music teachers at each of our elementary schools for preparing their students for this concert and performance experience.
Submitted by Becky Chuhta
What is an SPS Shout Out?
An SPS Shout Out is a special recognition that acknowledges school communities, staff members or students who have inspired us with a unique project, an outstanding job or a special effort that had a positive impact on our students or community. Each week we will celebrate a few by sharing with all SPS staff and posting on the district website. Please share any or all of these with your friends and families.
SPS Administrators can submit Shout Outs for consideration through the form shared with them in the Administrators’ Weekly.
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APPLES
The APPLES Program is: Age-Appropriate Peers Playing, Learning, & Exploring in School.
School of Distinction
Apples won a School of Excellence Distinction award for having the first PTA in a preschool in CT.
Early Childhood Education
APPLES Early Childhood Educational Center offers three different programs to support students 3-5 years old.