East Hartford Pride Newsletter - November 2023

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume III, Issue III November 1, 2023 Superintendent's Message Dear East Hartford Public Schools Families and Community,    I hope everyone is enjoying and appreciating the change of the seasons and vibrant foliage. This time of year often stimulates reflection and promotes rejuvenation as we see the physical change in the seasons. As with the natural progression of our seasons, our EHPS mission is grounded in providing well rounded, high-quality learning experiences for every child in every classroom that accesses and motivates various talents based on student needs.    The academic and physical health of our students is more important today than ever before. This involves cultivating and supporting the whole child and the direct connection between student health and educational outcomes. To support our efforts, we are excited to  partner with the University of Connecticut on a 5-year project with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve our children’s’ health and well-being. East Hartford Public Schools is the only district in New England and one of only 20 districts across the country to have this unique opportunity to benefit our students. UConn's CT WSCC Partnership Team Visits CDC Members of the UConn team and EHPS K-12 Supervisor of Health and Physical Education Tracy Stefano visited the CDC on October 24 to discuss the 5-year project. Photo courtesy of Sandy Chafouleas, UConn Educational Psychology Professor. Connecticut WSCC Partnership Logo East Hartford is a key component of UConn's project to advance equity, health and learning statewide. It's why when designing the logo, they chose to put the star right where East Hartford sits on the Connecticut map.  The project’s goal is to align our schools to the  Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model . This model emphasizes the connection between physical and mental well-being and academic learning to promote equitable outcomes for all students. To meet the needs of the whole child, we must ensure each child is healthy, safe, supported, engaged and challenged. We must also ensure the community and our schools have the proper resources.  For years our school district has been working toward these goals through the work of our Health and Wellness Teams led by K-12 Supervisor of Health and Physical Education Tracy Stefano and Food Services Director Shari-Lynn Staeb. The approximately $500,000 for the 5-year project will help to integrate, coordinate and strengthen these existing school and community health practices. It will also include professional development for school staff and seeking input from the community on health needs.  We are very proud to partner with UConn on this important work that will greatly impact East Hartford’s children and will serve as a model for other school districts in Connecticut and beyond.   For more district highlights, please view the latest What’s New at East Hartford Public Schools video below. These can be seen on East Hartford Community Television and can be viewed on YouTube at any time by accessing this playlist .  Thank you for your support of our students and schools!      Thomas Anderson   Superintendent   East Hartford Public Schools   60+ Volunteers Join EHPS for Annual Read for the Record Event More than 60 volunteers from local businesses, organizations and the greater East Hartford community helped East Hartford Public Schools celebrate the annual Read for the Record event on October 26. In partnership with the United Way, these volunteers dispersed to all eight of our elementary schools reading to kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms. They read the book “With Lots of Love” by Jenny Torres Sanchez and helped our students complete a corresponding activity. Volunteer readers at Mayberry, O'Connell, and Norris Elementary Schools   Governor, State Education Commissioner Commend EHHS for Attendance Efforts Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut State Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker and Barbara Dalio from the RISE Network and Dalio Foundation were among the guests at an October 25th press conference focused on attendance. They chose to hold this event at East Hartford High School to recognize the school’s significant efforts to improve chronic absenteeism since returning to school post-pandemic. EHHS has embraced the Learner Engagement and Attendance Program, or LEAP, which prioritizes home visits as a method of engaging with families that are having difficulty sending their children to school.  Through the attendance team’s LEAP work and their other coordinated efforts, EHHS was able to reduce its chronic absenteeism to 14.3% in the 2022-2023 school year compared to the state average of 23%.  EHHS Social Worker Antoinette Locke, who coordinates the home visits, says the face-to-face conversations are important so school staff can learn about issues these families may be facing that are barriers to attending school.  “Through our supports and efforts, going into the homes or meeting wherever families feel comfortable, we’ve been able to help with needs such as food resources, clothing resources. Those are not issues we would necessarily know about by just seeing our kids each day. It allows our families to have a voice,” said Locke.  One of the students the team visited over the summer was 9th grader Dereon Ellison. Dereon said that visit had a positive impact on her as she was getting ready to start school at EHHS in the fall.  She said, “They let you build trust and have a connection with some of the staff that come and introduce themselves and tell you about the school over the summer. Just being able to have people that you’re comfortable with.” The press conference can be viewed in full in the video below.    EHPS Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month East Hartford Public Schools recognized Hispanic Heritage Month in a variety of ways this year celebrating the rich histories, art, stories, and cultural contributions of those whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15. Inside the classroom our teachers read stories in Spanish and participated in geography activities on Latin American countries. At Mayberry Elementary, the morning announcements included facts about a different influential Hispanic American each day. At Langford Elementary, 4th grade students co-planned a classroom celebration, which included research and texts focused on Hispanic foods and culture. East Hartford High School enjoyed its annual Café con Leche event where students complete activities including cultural crafts, dance lessons and singing then enjoy a celebration of Hispanic food.  Connecticut IB Academy held a schoolwide assembly celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month organized by world language students that included students sharing facts about Latin American countries in Spanish and demonstrating Bachata dancing.  Celebrating this month is especially important in East Hartford where more than 53% of our students identify as Hispanic or Latinx. We appreciate this opportunity to recognize and honor the many cultures of our students and families both inside and outside the classroom.   STAFF SPOTLIGHT Edgar Ramirez is the Bilingual Family Support Specialist at Pitkin Elementary School who supports students, families and even staff within the Pitkin community on a daily basis. He builds trusting relationships with students and their families finding them the resources they need so children feel secure attending school every day and doing their best.    SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS The East Hartford Fire Department visits the Early Childhood Learning Center at Hockanum School, East Hartford Middle School students wear pink to benefit breast cancer research, and EHHS hosts Unified Sports soccer tournament with 7 other towns. EHPS FAMILY FOCUS November is National Family Literacy Month!  National Literacy Month is an opportunity for families to learn and read together. This month, commit to reading together as a family.  As families, we can foster a passion for books and nurture a connection to great literature by reading at home with our children.  Reading together enhances early reading and writing abilities while bolstering vocabulary growth, equipping our children with the self-assurance and skills necessary for a successful educational journey.  When we read together as a family we create special bonds through the act of sharing stories and experiences and engaging in meaningful conversations about the wonderful books we explore together. Throughout the month of November, we will share resources, read-alongs, and opportunities to celebrate literacy at home. Keep an eye out for  our first virtual family read-along event with Superintendent Anderson on Thursday, November 8th at 6:45 PM , and tune in each week virtually to enjoy a read-aloud in Spanish and in English. Our celebration of literacy will culminate in two Literacy Nights: November 28th for middle school students and their families at East Hartford Middle School and November 30th at the Wickham Branch of the East Hartford Public Library for our PreK-5 families. ParentSquare invites will be sent by your schools next week. We hope that you will join us!    Attendance Corner: What to Know About Absences In-person learning is important for building good learning habits. Being in school allows a student to:   Be part of a community Learn and grow with friends Build connections with teachers and other trusted adults  Quick Tip! 2 absences a month = too many! Everyone misses school sometimes, but regular attendance should be the goal. How many absences are too many? Missing even two days of school a month disrupts routines and creates a habit of missing school—also called chronic absenteeism. Send your child to school every day so they get the full benefits of in-person learning.    November School District Calendar Reminders: November 7 : Schools closed for Election Day/Professional Development November 10 : Schools and district offices closed for Veterans Day November 22 : Early dismissal PreK-12 November 23-24 : Schools and district offices closed for Thanksgiving Recess Like and Follow EHPS on Facebook Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Wednesday, Nov 01 2023

East Hartford Pride Newsletter - October 2023

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume III, Issue II October 4, 2023 Superintendent's Message Dear East Hartford Public Schools Families and Community,  Thank you for your partnership and for entrusting us with your most prized possession – your children. It is so exciting to observe the teaching and learning process as I have seen almost 200 classrooms thus far this year.  I’ve witnessed students engaging in high-quality, student-centered instruction that is thought provoking.   It’s also been a pleasure to see students in action at games and other activities. The fall season is fully underway and our athletes and coaches would love to see you in the stands and on the sidelines cheering them on showing your East Hartford pride. Please visit the EHMS Athletic Calendar and  EHHS Athletic Calendar to choose an upcoming event. This past month we had well attended Open House events that welcomed parents and families into our buildings to meet teachers and learn more about daily school activities. In our partnership you play a very important role in your student’s success. Please stay engaged beyond these opening events and stay connected by reaching out to your child’s teachers through ParentSquare.    This time each year we engage in a strategic budget process for the next school year (2024-2025). Our team is currently evaluating our resource allocation and implementation to determine our financial needs for the upcoming year to support students and staff. We engage in a responsible budget process that allows us to create a teaching and learning environment that provides exceptional levels of service to meet the needs of all our students. Your engagement in this process is essential so please review the most current information on our EHPS website under  Finance Department . Thank you for your support as we work to collectively make a difference in the lives of our students!       Thomas Anderson   Superintendent   East Hartford Public Schools   EHPS Hosts CT Grown for CT Kids Week Kick Off It’s CT Grown for CT Kids Week! On Monday, EHPS hosted a kickoff event at Goodwin Elementary School along with the CT Department of Agriculture, town and state leaders, and other organizations that support our Farm to School work all year long.  The event began with kindergarten and first grade students taste testing yogurt from Hastings Farm in Suffield, CT and apples from Blue Hills Orchard in Wallingford, CT. After trying the foods, students did a quick survey to report if they loved the food, liked the food or tried the food. They also had the opportunity to meet with farmers from the Handel Family Farm in East Hartford, who have been key partners in our Farm to School programming.  After lunch, guests gathered in Goodwin’s Community Garden for a tour and to hear from speakers on the importance of local agriculture and how it supports our schools and students. Speakers included Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt, East Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Anderson, East Hartford Public Schools Registered Dietician Carolyn Pancarowicz, State Department of Education Bureau Chief Shannon Yearwood, and CT Farm to School Collaborative member Joey Listro. CT Grown for CT Kids Week is an annual event every October celebrating local agriculture, public education and our community commitment to the importance of healthy nutritious meals in schools. Throughout the week, East Hartford's school menus will feature products from Connecticut farms including cheese and apple cider. The goal is to increase students understanding of local agriculture and where our food comes from.    Student Performance Report Shows Significant Growth and Achievement at EHPS East Hartford Public Schools is celebrating student performance growth during the 2022-2023 school year. The state of Connecticut releases summative data each year that demonstrates how students performed in high-stakes assessments such as the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) and the SAT compared to previous years. From this data, East Hartford can assess its performance on a district and school level compared to state and national data benchmarks. In the 2022-2023 school year, East Hartford students taking the SBAC (grades 3-8) matched or exceeded the district’s highest performance in both English/Language Arts and Mathematics since we began giving the assessment in 2015. East Hartford students also surpassed the state in the average percentage of targets achieved on these exams with 58.8% in ELA compared to a state percentage of 57.2% and 64.2% in Math compared to the state’s 61.8%. On the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Assessment (grades 5, 8 and 11), East Hartford students reached a historic high, with consistent growth year over year in grades 5 and 8.  “We attribute this to our consistency, our rigor, our urgency and the highest expectations of all of our students and our staff as we deliver high-quality instruction,” said Assistant Superintendent Elsie Torres while presenting this data during the Board of Education meeting on September 18.  High School students taking the SAT were holding steady for several years in meeting the performance benchmark, but scores dipped last year following the pandemic. In 2023, East Hartford saw a 4% increase in Evidence-based Reading and Writing and a 2% increase in Mathematics.  “We are really thrilled with the results we saw last year. Our teachers, our principals, our coaches, all of our administrators, and particularly our students have worked really hard and certainly the results show that,” said Deputy Superintendent Anne Marie Mancini. “We celebrate the results the day they come in and we are already working the next day to say, ‘How can we get better?’”   Langford Night at the Library It was a great time at Langford Night at the newly renovated Wickham Library! On September 21, Langford Elementary School students and families enjoyed a library scavenger hunt, literacy activities, reading a story in English and Spanish, and taking home a new book of their own to keep. Thank you to the East Hartford Public Library for hosting this wonderful event!   STAFF SPOTLIGHT Melissa Edge is a business education teacher at East Hartford High School. Having taught at EHHS for more than two decades, she currently runs the Academy of Finance program giving students valuable financial knowledge and professional experiences that will benefit them throughout their lives.     SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS School Recycling Workshop at Sunset Ridge with the East Hartford Public Works Department, Pitkin 5th graders wear hawaiian shirts to benefit the victims of the Maui wildfires, and CIBA students & parents working together at the Rentschler Field clean up Like and Follow EHPS on Facebook Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Wednesday, Oct 04 2023

East Hartford Pride Newsletter - September 2023

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume III, Issue I September 6, 2023 An Excellent Start to the 2023-2024 School Year! As the new Superintendent of East Hartford Public Schools, my hometown, it has been a joy and a huge honor to welcome back our staff and students over the last two weeks. 6,300 students from PreK to Grade 12 started the 2023-2024 school year on August 30. They were greeted by 1,200 teachers and staff members, including 40 new members of the EHPS team, who were ready to help them achieve and grow this year. In my school visits so far, I have seen the excitement and positivity everywhere - the makings for a healthy culture and climate. Teachers and staff are building the foundation for strong relationships with their students by establishing routines and committing to high expectations.                                                                               In East Hartford Public Schools, we know that positive relationships are essential to the teaching and learning process. We look forward to fostering these relationships with our new families and students while growing the bonds we have already established. We are in the business of people and I know we agree that these relationships will lay the cornerstones for our classrooms to be spaces where students feel safe to take the academic risks necessary to grow as learners and leaders. As the school year begins, please take the time to connect with your children’s teachers. Together we can ensure our students are supported academically, socially and emotionally so that they can succeed.  Here's to a wonderful start and to a fantastic school year for our students, staff and all the families of East Hartford Public Schools!   Thomas Anderson   Superintendent   East Hartford Public Schools   New Teachers Join EHPS Team This group of 44 diverse, experienced and impressive educators are joining East Hartford Public Schools this year. In August they attended East Hartford Public Schools’ 3-day New Teacher Orientation program. The orientation kicked off with team-building activities led by East Hartford High School student leaders. Through professional learning and focused trainings, the program prepared them to join our East Hartford team with a deeper understanding of our commitment to put all of our students and families at the center of everything we do.   EHPS Welcomes New Leadership Hires Dr. Craig Outhouse - Director of Pupil Personnel Services Dr. Craig Outhouse has 24 years of experience working in special and alternative education, including 15 years here in East Hartford. He has served as Principal of Synergy Alternative Program since 2013. Prior to his work at Synergy, he served as a Data Analyst and School Improvement Specialist for EHPS, a Part-Time Assistant Principal for Sunset Ridge School, and an Assistant Principal, Team Leader and Special Education Teacher at Woodland School.  Before coming to East Hartford, Dr. Outhouse was an Instructor at Western New England University and a Special Education Facilitator, Supervisor and Teacher for Windsor Public Schools. Nicole Damiata - Director of Human Resources Nicole Damiata has more than 14 years of human resources experience in Connecticut public schools. She joins the East Hartford team from Windsor Public Schools where she has served as Human Resources Manager since February 2022. In this role, she assisted the Director of Business/Human Resources with all HR services. She was responsible for supervising and overseeing job postings, new hire onboarding, district benefits, and staff certification compliance.  Prior to her work in Windsor, Mrs. Damiata was a Human Resources Generalist for Berlin Public Schools for 12 years where she managed the full recruitment and onboarding process for the school district.  Sarah Chmielecki - Silver Lane Elementary School Principal Sarah Chmielecki has served as an Instructional Coach at Langford Elementary School since 2018 providing coaching support and data-informed co-planning for all building teachers. She has also served as the EHPS Elementary Summer School Program Coordinator for the past three years and as a mentor to UConn Master Interns during their internship placements.  Mrs. Chmielecki joined EHPS in 2016 as a Fourth Grade Teacher at Langford after working for Hartford Public Schools as a Fourth Grade, Kindergarten and Summer School Teacher. Edgardo Figueroa, Jr. - Synergy Alternative Program Principal Edgardo Figueroa, Jr. was promoted to Supervisor of School Counseling for East Hartford Public Schools last year. In this role, Mr. Figueroa served as the department lead for secondary school counselors, supported the Career and Technical Education department, and coordinated East Hartford High School’s Summer School Program. Prior to this role, he had stepped up to serve as an Interim Assistant Principal at East Hartford High School.  His new role will be a return to Synergy for Mr. Figueroa. He worked as a School Counselor at Synergy for eight years. During this time, he also served as a Safe School Climate Specialist and the School Based Diversion Initiative Building Liaison.   Connecticut IB Academy Ranked #3 High School in CT U.S. News & World Report has ranked Connecticut IB Academy (CIBA) as the #3 high school in Connecticut. The publication released its  annual high school rankings , which includes nearly 18,000 high schools in the country and 200 in the state. CIBA ranked #254 nationally with an overall score of 98.56/100. In addition, CIBA was ranked #58 in Magnet High Schools nationally and #1 in Hartford, CT Metro Area High Schools.  In the college curriculum breadth index rank, CIBA ranked #1 in the state. This indicator reflects the proportion of grade 12 students who pass IB exams in multiple subject areas. CIBA Principal Michelle Marion said, “As an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School©, CIBA is known for its rigorous curriculum, academic excellence, and focus on college preparation and international mindedness. This ranking is a testament to our dedicated team of teachers and support staff, as well as the hard work of our diverse and ambitious student body each and every day." "As Principal, I am deeply impressed by our students who come from all over the state of Connecticut to our learning community led by East Hartford Public Schools in order to push themselves academically through our IB curriculum and get the most out of their high school experience.”   Thousands Attend Annual Back to School Rally                                               On August 17, East Hartford Public Schools and our community partners welcomed thousands of students and families to our Back to School Rally on the East Hartford Town Green. Around 1,700 students left the event with a backpack filled with school supplies to be ready for the start of the school year. Families also left knowing more about the resources and supports available to them here in town and beyond. The event is organized annually by the EHPS Office of Equity, Partnerships and Achievement. They work to organize volunteers, donations and community resource vendors to make the event possible. Thank you to all of the organizations and individuals below for making this another successful event! Access Health CT American Eagle Federal Credit Union Bakery On Main Broadridge Financial Solutions  Charter Oak Health Center Chase Bank Chick Fil-A Coca Cola Comcast Costco Cub Scout Pack 61 Connecticut Children’s Healthy Homes Program Connecticut Science Center Destiny Outreach DJ Wrexx - Hot 93.7 East Hartford Adult Education East Hartford Alumni Association and Education Foundation East Hartford Family Resource Centers East Hartford Fire Department and Fire Marshal East Hartford Greater Together Fund East Hartford Health Department East Hartford Human Resources Department East Hartford Lions Club East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department East Hartford Police Department East Hartford Public Library East Hartford Summer Youth Festival East Hartford Voters Registration East Hartford Works! East Hartford Youth Services East Hartford YMCA ESPN First Choice Health Center First Congregational Church Gentle Love Diapers Girl Scouts Grandma Lil’s Greater Hartford Legal Aide Hartford Healthcare Hispanic Health Council Husky Dental InterCommunity Healthcare JP Morgan & Chase Bank Literacy Volunteers Mary Morlock Dance M&T Bank Niagara Water No Pork On This Fork Panda Home Care Physician One Urgent Care Pratt and Whitney's IAM LL1746 Union  Read To Grow Rotary Club of East Hartford Safe Routes To School Sifi Networks ShopRite Steve Kennedy, Realtor Sodexo Tab Inc. Taste of Home The Village Financial Resource Center Thrive Afterschool Program Turner Home Improvement UConn Health United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut  East Hartford Public Schools Staff  and members of the East Hartford community   Local Barbershop Offers Free School Haircuts 116 East Hartford students got free back-to-school haircuts on August 23 thanks to barbers at Exclusive Cut on Main Street who offered their time and services again this year. The Synergy Alternative Program team with support from the EHPS Office of Equity, Partnerships and Achievement organized the event for our families. Rosa’s Bakery and Hatillo Restaurant donated treats for kids to enjoy as they waited for their cuts.  EHPS FAMILY FOCUS Stay Connected Via ParentSquare East Hartford Public Schools is using ParentSquare again this year for all communication between school and home. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed, and encourage greater engagement and connection with your child’s school. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to send and receive class information, share pictures and files, see calendar items and much more!  Check out the below video tutorials in English and Spanish on how to activate your ParentSquare account and update your notification and language settings. ParentSquare: Activate Your Account ParentSquare: Activa tú Cuenta   Register for Adult Education Classes Registration is officially open for the Fall 2023 semester at East Hartford Adult and Continuing Education! Classes are  FREE for East Hartford residents and cost $50 for non-residents. Click Here to Make a Registration Appointment Classes Offered Include: GED/ABE (in both English and Spanish) CDP (Credit Diploma Program) NEDP (National External Diploma Program) ESL (English as a Second Language) U.S. Citizenship Family Literacy  Registration is open through September 12. Learn more at  https://adulted.easthartford.org/   Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Wednesday, Sep 06 2023

East Hartford Pride Newsletter - June 2023

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume II, Issue X June 5, 2023 Celebrating the Class of 2023 East Hartford High School: The East Hartford High School Class of 2023 will receive their diplomas during Commencement Exercises on Tuesday, June 6. Leading up to graduation day, seniors have had several events to commemorate the end of their high school journey from celebrating their friendships at Senior Prom to celebrating their plans for the future at Senior Signing Day.  On May 23, the top scholars in the class were honored at the annual Top 20 Dinner. Each of the students had the opportunity to give a brief speech about their personal path, their future plans and the people in their lives they'd like to thank. Hear some highlights in the video below.                                                                              Seniors were also given the opportunity to reflect on their years at East Hartford High School in a series of videos put together by EHHS Hornet Productions. Hear from the Class of 2023 in their own words by clicking the links below. EHHS Class of 2023 Senior Spotlight: Memories EHHS Class of 2023 Senior Spotlight: Advice EHHS Class of 2023 Senior Spotlight: EHHS In A Word Connecticut IB Academy: The Connecticut IB Academy (CIBA) Class of 2023 will celebrate their graduation on Wednesday, June 7. The graduating seniors have big plans for the future and are excited about continuing their education. Check out CIBA's Instagram to view senior spotlights and learn more about their college plans.  Synergy Alternative Program: Team Synergy is looking forward to its graduation ceremony on Tuesday, June 6. To acknowledge all of their hard work toward grades, attendance and behavior, Synergy held its annual Senior Celebration last month handing out awards and prizes. Woodland School: Woodland School held its graduation on Thursday, June 1 welcoming family and friends to a ceremony in the school's courtyard. Before handing out the diplomas, Principal Licia McKnight said a few words about each of the graduates and their journey to reach this milestone.   Sunset Ridge Community Projects Spread Awareness, Inspire Change All 8th graders at Sunset Ridge School are tasked with a project focused on community, service and developing awareness. As part of the IB curriculum, students individually or as a group complete The Community Project, which includes identifying a community need, creating a plan to serve that need, then taking action.  Sunset Ridge held a showcase on May 26 so students could share what they’ve been working on and the impact these projects have had on the community. Topics for these projects ranged from mental health awareness, to book drives and advocating for increased school bus safety.  Showcase attendees had the opportunity to vote for the projects they found most inspiring. The following projects were selected:  Teen Substance and Drug Use: Noel Thompson, Ariellys Quintana and Jaylee Cordero created and shared a video skit to spread awareness on this issue. What Goes In the Blue Bin?: Chris Montovani, Devin Lowell and Danny Hurst brought awareness to the Sunset community about what items can be recycled and where.  Basketball Courts: Kaelyz Dunn worked with East Hartford Parks and Recreation and the Housing Authority to clean up and update the basketball courts and equipment at her apartment complex.   CIBA Holds Annual "Strands of Hope" Hair Donation Event Connecticut IB Academy Junior Naya Chae has been growing out her hair since 8th grade. Ever since her older sister, a former CIBA student, told her about the annual Strands of Hope hair donation event, Naya knew she wanted to be a part of it.   “I really wanted to donate, and you know, the longer, the better,” said Naya.  This May, she chopped off 15 inches of her hair to be donated and also stepped up to coordinate the annual event with fellow CIBA Junior Jayda McKerley. CIBA has been holding the Strands of Hope event for more than a decade.  “There’s not a lot I can do as a child, as a minor, but growing my hair is something that I can do and can help people that have hair loss, help them feel more confident,” said Naya. “I think it’s a really great event that CIBA has.” The hair donations will be given to Children With Hair Loss, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that provides human hair replacements at no cost to children and young adults facing medically-related hair loss. “I think it’s a really important event. When you go on the website of Children with Hair Loss, you see all the kids with smiles on their faces and their wigs, and so I think it’s important that we give back,” said Student Co-Coordinator Jayda McKerley.  Stylist Christina Forgetta, whose niece is a CIBA student, donated her time and services. Along with Naya, three other members of the CIBA community donated at least eight inches of their hair for the cause. “It feels good,” said Junior Theresina Farrington, who donated her hair and said she’s had people in her life with medically-related hair loss. “It is something that I really care about.” The CIBA community hopes to raise more awareness about the annual event and encourage people to grow their hair so they can donate to Strands of Hope in the future.   STAFF SPOTLIGHT Gaunet Davis is a 7th grade English and Language Arts Teacher at East Hartford Middle School and the 2024 District Teacher of the Year for East Hartford Public Schools. Her warm personality she brings to school each day combined with her high standards and expectations inspire not only her students, but also her colleagues.                                         SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS Multicultural Night at Mayberry Elementary, Field Day at Langford Elementary and Multicultural NIght at Silver Lane Elementary EHPS FAMILY FOCUS Last Day of School! The last day of school is June 7, which will be an early dismissal day for all grades PreK-12. Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) will have its last day on June 8 (early dismissal). Have a great summer!    East Hartford Public Library - Summer Reading is for Everyone! Join East Hartford Public Library's  summer reading program !  School-aged children and teens will receive a free book and prize just for signing up. Set a goal for how many books you'll read this summer and receive another book and prize when you meet your goal!  See the attached clickable PDF for more details including information on the Summer Reading Kick-Off Party at the Raymond Library on June 7!    School Uniforms - Donnelly's Clothing EHPS school uniform vendor Donnelly's Clothing is offering discounts through June 15th and private fitting events in early July with 20% off of orders placed during the event. See the attached flyer for more information. New uniform orders can be made here:  https://www.donnellysclothing.com/EHARTPUBLCT UPCOMING EVENTS Save the date for the annual EHPS Back to School Rally!   Get ready for the new school year with a free backpack, school supplies and community resources. Join us on Thursday, August 17 from 3:30-6:30pm on the East Hartford Town Green.    Back To School Health Care Clinics Make your appointment now for back to school physicals, sports physicals and immunizations through InterCommunity Health Care. Current physicals are required for students entering PreK, Kindergarten, 7th and 10th grades, and all students 6-12 who want to participate in school athletics.  Clinics will be held August 8-11, 15-18, and 21-24. To schedule an appointment, call 860-622-5670. See attached flyers in English & Spanish for more information.    Circle of Security Parenting Workshop Want to learn tools to better understand your child’s emotional needs? To better support your child’s ability to successfully manage emotions? To enhance the development of your child’s self-esteem? Register for this evidence-based, parent-focused 8-week workshop presented by Community Health Resources staff. The series is designed to promote the development of secure attachment between you and the child in your care. For caregivers of children ages birth – 12.  Thursdays 6:00 PM June 8, 15, 22 & 29 July 6, 13, 20 & 27  Raymond Library | 840 Main Street | 860-290-4330 |  www.easthartfordct.gov/library Registration required: https://easthartfordct.libcal.com/event/10720641 Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Monday, Jun 05 2023

East Hartford Pride Newsletter - May 2023

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume II, Issue IX May 2, 2023 O'Brien School Hosts Arbor Day Celebration & Tree Planting Ceremony East Hartford celebrated Arbor Day with a celebration and tree planting ceremony at O’Brien Elementary School. The ceremony featured student performances, including several songs, poetry readings, fun facts about Arbor Day and even a short play. The celebration also featured remarks from Chairperson of the East Hartford Beautification Commission Pat Sirois and East Hartford Chief of Staff Connor Martin.  Every year, the town Beautification Commission helps EHPS plant a tree at one of our schools as part of East Hartford’s Tree City USA designation. East Hartford has held this prestigious designation for 27 years. This year, the commission donated a dogwood tree that was planted outside of the school entrance with help from Superintendent Nate Quesnel, Chairperson Sirois, O'Brien Principal Talisha Foy, and several O’Brien students.    Sunset Ridge Celebrates Successful Reading Challenge A longstanding and favorite Sunset Ridge tradition wrapped up with a schoolwide celebration just before the spring recess. The April 6th assembly was a fun way to mark the end of another successful Reading March Madness Challenge. It was the first time the entire school got together for an assembly since before the pandemic. The Reading March Madness Challenge began on March 1 challenging every student and every teacher to read at least 300 pages throughout the month. Students who met the goal were able to participate in fun activities including a basketball tournament and a raffle. Read more on  easthartford.org .                                                                                  EHHS Students Design & Craft Obstacles for Town Dog Park The canine residents of East Hartford have a group of East Hartford High School students to thank for their new agility equipment at Foran Park. When the dog park opened back in September, it simply featured an open area for play, but no obstacles. The town came to the Career and Technical Education classes at EHHS for help.  “I think it’s nice and an interesting project,” said EHHS Senior Elijah Trumpet. “This is one of the biggest projects I’ve helped out with.” Engineering Design students got to work first on this real-world project. Their teacher Michael Vaughan had them use the processes they learned in class to come up with ideas then make prototype models. The students scored the models in a criteria matrix, and those with the highest scores were handed off to the woodworking students for production. Students in woodworking class and in the woodworking club, under the supervision of Teacher Duane McDuffee, created and crafted several different obstacles including jumping hurdles and pipe bridges.  Those were then moved from the high school wood shop and installed at the park for dogs to enjoy.  EHHS Senior Alejandro Morales said, “It’s fun. I live close by the park and I’m excited to see what we worked on there.”   EHPS Welcomes New Leadership Hires Aaron Pulley - East Hartford High School Assistant Principal Aaron Pulley began working at East Hartford High School this September in an interim role. He came to EHPS from Stamford where he most recently worked as a Department Head for School Counseling. He began his education career in 2011 and has held a variety of roles in Stamford and New Haven including School Counselor, Football Coach and Program Coordinator. He earned his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Science degrees from Southern Connecticut State University. He completed his 092 Certification/sixth year degree in educational leadership at Sacred Heart University. Michael Craig - Coordinator of East Hartford Adult Education and Supervisor of Career & Technical Education (CTE) Michael Craig has been a health & physical education teacher in East Hartford since 2008, working at Langford Elementary School and East Hartford Middle School. He has been highly recognized in this role, most recently as the Society of Health and Physical Educators Eastern District National Health Teacher of the Year in 2022.  Last year, he earned his first administrative opportunity filling in as an interim Assistant Principal at EHMS. Based on the success he had in this role, he was asked to take the interim Adult Education position in December.  He earned his Bachelor of Science at Springfield College. He earned his Master of Science, as well as sixth year degree in Educational Leadership at Central Connecticut State University.   STAFF SPOTLIGHT Joana Moore is a first grade teacher at O’Brien Elementary School who has deep connections to the school community. Starting out at O’Brien as an active school parent, she became a substitute teacher then a paraprofessional before earning her teaching certification. Now she says she treats all of her students like they’re her own.                                                                                SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS Science Night at Silver Lane Elementary Silver Lane Elementary School enjoyed Science Night on April 20. Special guests from the CT Science Center led families in making mechatronic dinosaur claws.   EHMS Smarter Balanced Soaring to Success Pep Rally 7th Graders who improved from their fall to winter IAB assessment (which is the interim assessment and prep for the  Smarter Balanced Assessment) were given a foot of tape for each point improved. The students were then able to tape their teachers to the front of the school! EHHS Heritage Spanish Students Visit Parkville Market East Hartford High School students in Heritage Spanish 3 classes visited Hartford's Parkville Market on April 26 for research for their entrepreneurship project. The project includes creating a business plan, budget and menu for their own food trucks then pitching to investors - all in Spanish.  Multicultural Night at the Early Childhood Learning Center  The Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) held its Multicultural Night on April 27. Families were invited to come and share their culture with food, dress and other traditions. They also enjoyed African drumming.   EHPS FAMILY FOCUS Attendance Corner: Let's Not Miss A Day In May! The last months of school are just as critical as the first. Continued learning, preparation for the next grade, state testing, review days, exams, concerts, sports and celebrations fill our May and June calendars in East Hartford. During this time, making sure that students are on time and attending daily allow your child to participate in these important activities. Struggling with getting your child to school every day? We can help. Our Bilingual Family Support Specialist Team is here to support your efforts to get your child to school.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to your school principal to be connected to the team.   FAMILY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE SURVEY If you haven't done so already, please take the opportunity to share your feedback with us! The Family School Experience Survey is an opportunity to have your voice heard as we work together to improve our schools. We want to make sure that our schools are welcoming spaces where your child can thrive. This survey is specific to PreK, grades K-5, grades 6-8, or grades 9-12. If you have children at multiple schools, we ask that you complete a survey for each individual school where you have a student attending. Thank you for your participation. We value your time and feedback.   Click Here to Take the Survey   Questions About Kindergarten Registration? Join us for a Pre-Registration Help Session! It’s time to register your child for the 2023-2024 school year! Families may begin the kindergarten registration process now by  clicking here .  East Hartford Public Schools also invites families to learn more and get assistance with the registration process at the upcoming pre-registration help sessions. During these sessions, you can learn more about the documents needed for registration, schedule your registration appointment, take home a book and Ready4K activity kit, and get help filling out the online registration forms.  See details on the corresponding flyer or on  easthartford.org .   Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Tuesday, May 02 2023

East Hartford Pride Newsletter - April 2023

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume II, Issue VIII April 4, 2023 Norris 5th Grader Wins Statewide Fire Prevention Poster Contest Norris Elementary School Fifth Grader Ashley Recinos won the 2023 Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest. She is the first statewide winner for the town of East Hartford.  Ashley said she spent about a week working on her poster at home after receiving the contest rules from her Physical Education Teacher Carolyn O’Connor. Student participants from around the state are asked to design and produce posters fitting the theme “Fire Prevention – Everyone/Everyday.”  Ashley’s poster features a fire truck and books about fire prevention and what to do during a fire.  “I was really happy with it. I was really proud of myself and thought maybe I had a shot at winning this,” said Ashley. Earlier this year, she was named a Hartford County winner earning a $150 prize. All county winners were invited to a luncheon on March 29 where Ashley was announced as the statewide contest winner.  “I was really surprised,” said Ashley. “I had hope, but I didn’t know that I was going to win, so that was really big news.”  As the statewide winner, Ashley received an additional $750. Norris Elementary School received a grant of $500. Her winning poster will be exhibited at various locations around the state, including the Connecticut State Capitol. Norris Elementary School Principal Corrie Schram said, “Ashley is an incredibly hard-working and motivated student. You can see the time and the effort that she put into her poster within each and every single detail. She is so deserving of this recognition and we could not be prouder of her!”.  East Hartford Fire Marshal John Pelow said, “Being the fire marshal for the town, fire prevention is my big thing. Seeing one of our youth put together something so extraordinary that won the statewide award is really special. I’m excited for her and I’m excited for the town to have something like this.”   200 Attend District STEAM Night                                                                                 Around 200 people from more than 70 EHPS families joined us at our STEAM Night on March 21. Special guests from Pratt and Whitney led students and parents in fun activities getting them excited about science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The activities such as crafting a bird feeder, building a popsicle stick airplane, and examining a mini astronaut space suit made by Collins Aerospace kept families engaged and entertained. The event was sponsored by the International Aerospace Machinists (IAM) Union Local 1746 Women’s Committee.  “Whether you want to be an astronaut, an engineer, a machinist, a carpenter or any trade, even a chef or an accountant, STEAM is your friend,” said Therese Hervieux, IAM LL1746 Women’s Committee Chairperson.    Whole School Competes in EHHS Attendance Challenge At East Hartford High School, students are competing in a March Madness challenge not on the court but in class. Attendance is the goal for every single student in school. Each Period A class was entered into round one of the EHHS Attendance Challenge beginning the week of February 27-March 3. After each week, the class with the best attendance overall advanced to the next round with attendance resetting at the beginning of each week. After seven rounds of play, there will be one winning Period A class chosen before students leave for Spring Recess. They're currently down to the Final Four.  Every student in the winning class, and the classroom teacher, will receive an EHHS sweatshirt for their efforts to come to school each day.  Assistant Principal Ed Lavoie said it’s been fun seeing how the school is embracing the challenge and getting into the competitive spirit. “Everyone buys in when you add something extra like the chance to compete. Teachers have been checking in to see how they’re doing and then they’re promoting the challenge through their students,” said Lavoie. Most importantly, the challenge is having its intended result: improved attendance and more opportunities to learn. Attendance in March was up compared to February.    East Hartford Community Welcomes Back Thomas Anderson East Hartford is pleased to welcome back Thomas Anderson who will begin his role as Superintendent of Schools on July 1. The East Hartford Board of Education appointed Anderson to the role during a special meeting on March 22. He is a former East Hartford student and educator who is currently serving as Superintendent of Schools in New Bedford, MA.  “I am excited to be returning to the East Hartford Schools in my hometown, and where I started my teaching career 26 years ago. I have a clear understanding of the East Hartford Public Schools’ commitment to academic excellence with a lens on equity and supporting the whole student. I am dedicated to the mission of educating all students," said Anderson.  Board of Education Chairman Tyron Harris said, "Mr. Anderson brings an enormous wealth of experience and a deep knowledge of and family ties in East Hartford. We are confident he is the right leader to take the helm from Nate Quesnel and that he will continue our tradition of pursuit of excellence for the students and families of East Hartford.” Mayor Mike Walsh said, "We are excited to welcome Mr. Anderson to the team and back to East Hartford. We wish him the best of luck in this new chapter of his career.” Read more on easthartford.org .    STAFF SPOTLIGHT Ruth Rivera is a paraprofessional at the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) who works with 3 and 4 year old special education students. Her patient, nurturing personality and the genuine care she shows her students allows them to feel comfortable learning, growing and developing.                                                 SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS Read Across America Day at Sunset Ridge School St. Patrick's Day at Pitkin Elementary Book Character Day at O'Connell Elementary Visit from EHPD K9 at Mayberry Elementary EHPS FAMILY FOCUS Attendance Corner: April We wish you a restful and refreshing April recess beginning on Friday, April 7, 2023 ! Despite bad weather and illness, our teachers, families and students have persisted to keep learning and engaged. We appreciate everyone’s hard work and commitment to our school community. Thank you, thank you! We look forward to welcoming all students back to school on Monday, April 17, 2023 . Consider maintaining sleep routines as much as possible during the break to ensure that students have a smooth transition back to school.  If your family or your student need support, please reach out to your building principal or family support specialist.  As long as your student is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session.  Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect to peers and their teachers.  Upon the return to school, we will have less than 40 school days remaining! Every day matters!    FAMILY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE SURVEY Please take the opportunity to share your feedback with us! The Family School Experience Survey is an opportunity to have your voice heard as we work together to improve our schools. We want to make sure that our schools are welcoming spaces where your child can thrive. This survey is specific to PreK, grades K-5, grades 6-8, or grades 9-12. If you have children at multiple schools, we ask that you complete a survey for each individual school where you have a student attending. This survey will close Friday, April 21st. Thank you for your participation. We value your time and feedback.   Click Here to Take the Survey   Kindergarten Registration is Open It’s time to register your child for the 2023-2024 school year! Families may begin the kindergarten registration process now by clicking here . FAQs about kindergarten registration can be  found here .  Please note students who are currently enrolled in preschool programs at ECLC Hockanum School do not need to re-register for kindergarten.  Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Tuesday, Apr 04 2023

East Hartford Pride Newsletter - March 2023

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume II, Issue VII March 3, 2023 EHPS Celebrates Black History   (Above:  Black History Celebration at O'Brien School) Throughout the month of February, East Hartford Public Schools celebrated Black History Month welcoming this opportunity to intentionally appreciate African Americans’ contributions to the history of the US and the world. Our schools and students worked on projects, participated in activities and hosted events celebrating African American heritage and the achievements of people of African descent. Read more about Black History Month at EHPS here . Black History Month Assembly At O'Connell EHMS Cafeteria Display Made by Student Council Highlights from Black History Month Assemblies at EHHS and CIBA     New Principal at CT IB Academy Longtime East Hartford educator and leader Michelle Marion is the new principal at the Connecticut IB Academy (CIBA). On February 6, the East Hartford Board of Education unanimously moved to appoint her to the position effective immediately. She has served as interim principal since April. Marion said, “As an educator in the East Hartford school district for the last 25 years, I am excited for the opportunity to continue as principal in the diverse and unique school community at the Connecticut IB Academy.” Marion first came to East Hartford as a student teacher in 1998 while completing her Bachelor’s Degree in History at Keene State College. She went on to serve in multiple roles at East Hartford High School including Social Studies Teacher, Assistant Principal, Scheduler and First Assistant Principal.    Intramural Sports Program Open to All at EHMS Shooting, dribbling, passing, plus teamwork and sportsmanship: These are some of the skills East Hartford Middle School students are developing during their after school intramural sports program. The program is open to all students, including Special Education students, who really enjoy having fun and playing sports with their regular education peers. Staff members like School Psychologist Lindsay Wells stay after school to support the program. “Students love the opportunity to move their bodies and get some energy out,” said Wells. “As staff, it’s really nice to have time outside of the classroom with them engaging in fun activities.” In addition to basketball, the intramural sports program includes indoor soccer, swimming, flag football and other activities. No tryouts are required. Any student can play. Supervisor of Special Education at EHMS Maria Kennedy said, "Intramurals provide every student with the benefits of health and wellness, opportunities to learn about working as a team, and exposure to social interactions in a fun, structured way."   Families Gather for Health and Wellness Night EHPS families learned about nutrition, health and fitness this month at our district Health and Wellness Fair. The event, organized by the Office of Equity, Partnerships and Achievement, allowed students and families to get health scans, participate in yoga and Zumba, decorate new water bottles, and take home giveaways.  Special thanks to our vendors and partners: Carotid Care, Diligence Training, East Hartford Connects, East Hartford Youth Services, East Hartford Parks and Recreation, Eliza's Energy Source, First Choice Health Center, New England Dental Center, Planet Fitness, Intercommunity Health Care, Samadhi Yoga Studio, ShopRite of East Hartford/Manchester, and Sodexo.   STAFF SPOTLIGHT Francheska Betancourt is the Family Support Specialist at Synergy Alternative Program. In addition to her primary roles of assisting bilingual families and engaging students to improve attendance, she’s gone above and beyond to provide resources and support to the Synergy community proving just how much she cares.     SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS Chinese New Year Celebration at Sunset Ridge Chinese New Year Celebration at CIBA Paint Night at Silver Lane School Valentine's Dance at the Early Childhood Learning Center EHPS FAMILY FOCUS Attendance Corner: March Spring is here and across the district from PreK to the high schools we are celebrating improved attendance! March Madness Attendance competitions, attendance improvement celebrations, and individual support for our students who are struggling to get to school each day are happening in our schools. As our chronic absenteeism rates continue to fall, we thank you for the efforts you are making to get your scholars to school every day while supporting positive attendance practices at home. Need help with your scholar? Reach out to the Family Support Specialist in your building for resources and individualized support in getting your scholar reconnected with school.  Let’s sprint through spring together and make every day count!   United WE READ Parents/Guardians: Celebrate National Reading Month by joining the United WE READ Challenge! East Hartford Public Schools, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and our partners through the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading are bringing back our United WE READ Challenge , an initiative to encourage students to read for 20 minutes every day in March, which is National Literacy Month. By participating you share the importance of reading in a fun and engaging way and have the chance to win exciting prizes! Have children pledge to read 20 minutes every day during National Reading Month, then register your family for a chance to win exciting prizes, including free books! Promote reading for a chance to win prizes! How to Participate: Ask children to pledge to read for 20 minutes every day in March. An optional pledge activity is available on United Way's website , but does not need to be handed in. Submit the online form to register pledges on behalf of your children for the chance to win prizes: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/PlWXVg?vid=x79do Stay engaged throughout the month with United Way's weekly newsletter, or by using optional resources (reading tips, calendars) from its website . Share your ideas, success stories and how you're participating by contacting readers@unitedwayinc.org or using #UWRChallenge on social media. The United WE READ Challenge is one of several initiatives of United WE READ , helping to ensure that our youngest learners reach their highest potential, achieve developmental milestones and improve overall quality of life in our community one story at a time.  UPCOMING EVENTS SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, March 21 from 5-7pm EHPS & Pratt and Whitney invite you to attend K-8 STEAM Night: A Celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. Join us for an evening with our Pratt & Whitney partners filled with hands on activities, crafts, giveaways and more! More to come via ParentSquare! Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Friday, Mar 03 2023

East Hartford Pride Newsletter - February 2023

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume II, Issue VI February 3, 2023 A New Place to Play at Woodland School Woodland School students of all abilities now have a new place to play. Construction of the school’s $116,000 playscape finished in late December. Despite the winter weather, students are already using and loving the new space. East Hartford Public Schools Department of Facilities worked with specialty playground company Ultiplay to develop a playground that would meet the needs of the Woodland community. Principal Licia McKnight also provided ideas and insight on how the playscape should look and what equipment to choose. The inclusive playscape is located in Woodland’s courtyard and is enclosed by new fencing. Among its features are an accessible swing set and sensory-rich activity panels. “Watching our students enjoy our new playground gives me and my staff so much joy," said Principal McKnight. "It was a piece of what was missing when I first started.  All of our students deserve an opportunity to enjoy the amenities that a playground provides, especially one that not only provides an opportunity for our students to play, but also helps meet any sensory needs that they may have.”   Student Musicians Join Pros In East Hartford Concert Series 6th grade percussionist Amirah Parris got to play on stage with professional musicians this month as part of the Intersections Concert Series. The January 19th concert included performances by the East Hartford Middle School Global Jazz and Creative Music Ensemble, the East Hartford High School Jazz Band, and professional improvised jazz ensemble Standards of Dysfunction. One special feature of each concert in the series is that one or two EHMS students get to step out of their student ensemble and perform live with the professionals. “I pull them aside for an individual improvisation lesson the week before the concert, but when they step on stage with the pros, they experience a type of in-the-moment learning that simply cannot be created in the classroom,” said EHMS Music and Band Teacher Dan O’Brien. At December’s concert, 8th grade violist Sara Miranda and 7th grade percussionist Josyah Gionfriddo had this opportunity and rose to the challenge. “When you play with people who are better than you, you figure out quickly how to hang in there and make choices that work. Then confidence starts to grow. All of a sudden you find yourself wanting to create more situations to play, get better, get your friends involved and organize your own gigs,” said O’Brien. The concert series is free and open to the public bringing together not only musicians of all ages, but also members of the East Hartford community. Funding support is provided by the East Hartford Commission on Culture and Fine Arts and the East Hartford Alumni Association and Education Foundation. O’Brien brought the idea of the concert series to East Hartford Library Director Sarah Kline Morgan last summer. He said, “We immediately connected on the value of building a cross-generational community for East Hartford students and residents along with professional musicians and their audiences. What better way is there to show kids that their music-making can amount to something beyond our school walls than to bring them together with professionals who do just that?”. There have been two concerts so far attended by more than 120 people. The next concert in the series will be held on Thursday, March 9th at 7:00 at the East Hartford Community Cultural Center. View January’s concert below courtesy of EHHS Hornet Productions.   Air Museum Field Trips Take Flight This month, East Hartford Public Schools 4th graders enjoyed exciting field trips to the New England Air Museum thanks to a sponsorship from Pratt & Whitney. Students were thrilled to participate in a full day of exploring while learning about STEM topics. The day included a lesson on the forces of flight, an experiment where students built and flew straw gliders, and touring the museum's hangars filled with dozens of aircraft. ( Photos from Mayberry Elementary, Pitkin Elementary and Goodwin Elementary's field trips .)   EHHS Sophomores Accepted to College-Level Chinese Program Three East Hartford High School sophomores will have the opportunity to earn college credit after being accepted to the prestigious STARTALK Program at the University of Connecticut. They will participate in a year-long program beginning this month focused on Chinese culture and language immersion. The program is entirely free of charge for students. Jorge Miranda, Lily Zaikarite and Georgina Contreras are currently taking Chinese 3. With the support and encouragement of their teacher Jerry Zhu, they submitted their applications for the program, which included writing an essay in English and an essay in Chinese. Georgina Contreras said, “I felt pretty confident, but the Chinese essay I was worried about because we had to use a whole bunch of different grammar structures.” All three students who applied were accepted to the program and have committed to participating. They will be the first East Hartford students to do so. “I was so ecstatic because I was not expecting myself to get in,” said Jorge Miranda. “I felt proud of myself because I never would have expected to get into such a prestigious program as this one.” The program is divided into three modules running through December. The highlight of the program is a 60-hour, two-week intensive residential program at UConn’s Storrs campus this summer. “I’m really excited about the learning process and the second module where we get to go to the campus,” said Lily Zaikarite. If students complete all three modules successfully, they can earn three college credits. Chinese Teacher Jerry Zhu said, “I’m so happy for these students. In maturity and work completion, they are way ahead for sophomores. We should all be really proud of them for taking on the challenge of a college-level course.”   STAFF SPOTLIGHT Amy Magoulas is a secretary at O'Connell Elementary School. Greeting visitors, fielding phone calls and answering questions, she makes sure her entire school community always feels welcomed and stays informed.    EHPS FAMILY FOCUS East Hartford Public Schools Celebrates Black History Month As we welcome February and Black History Month, we welcome the opportunity to appreciate and intentionally celebrate African Americans’ contributions to the history of the US and the world. This time is dedicated to celebrating African American heritage and the achievements of people of African descent. How will you celebrate Black History Month this year? Here are some resources to help you share in the celebration with your family. How to Celebrate Black History Month With Kids Celebrating Black Leaders Teaching Your Child About Black History Honoring Black History Month with Children Celebrations & Activities to Honor Black History Month in Connecticut Heading to the library? Check out these books that honor and center Black joy. 9 Picture Books Illuminating Black Joy 17 Middle Grade and YA Books that Spotlight Black Joy   Attendance Corner: February Congratulations to all of our East Hartford Public School families who have been working hard to support positive attendance in school. Today we have 92% of our students in attendance. If your child is not one of them, we can help!   If your child is ill, remember to communicate the absence with your child’s school via ParentSquare or with a phone call. Our school-based health centers are available to all East Hartford Public School families.  Making an appointment when your child is ill will speed up their road to recovery and get them back in our classrooms. Every school day matters, not just academically, but socially and emotionally too! Children who attend school take part in vital relationship skill building every day. Try to avoid unnecessary absences whenever possible. Are you struggling to support your child in attending school consistently? We can help! We are happy to participate in virtual or in-person home visits, connect you with community resources, or simply act as a supportive partner in problem solving with you. Our goal is to help your child succeed. Please reach out to us -   Sonya Stemmer , Alexis-Safo Agyeman or your building principal to set up a time to connect.   Take the East Hartford Digital Access Survey to Help Expand Opportunities! Any and all East Hartford residents are invited to take the anonymous Digital Access Survey. Digital access and navigation are important elements to a growing and inclusive local economy. Your responses help the town's efforts to expand opportunities that achieve equity in East Hartford. The survey will close on February 17, 2023. Click Here to Take the 5-Minute Survey   School District Calendar Reminders: February 17 : Professional Development (Early Dismissal for PreK-12) February 20: Presidents' Day (Schools Closed) February 21: Professional Development (Schools Closed)      UPCOMING EVENTS EHPS Health and Wellness Fair   This event of educational and wellness sessions brings together our community partners for an evening of wellness, relaxation, nutrition, laughter, and joy! It is ideal for all ages, and across all identities, to allow for intergenerational learning and growth. Join us for cooking demonstrations, Zumba, yoga, fitness resources, raffles, health & nutrition information, giveaways and more! Wednesday, February 15 5:00 PM - 7:00PM East Hartford Middle School RSVP on ParentSquare   This Saturday is Take Your Child to the Library Day! Join Congressman Larson, local leaders and the East Hartford community at the East Hartford Public Library (840 Main Street) on February 4th at 11 AM to celebrate!  The highlight of the day will be "Puppetry for All!" from 11 AM - 1 PM, where patrons of all ages will have the opportunity to play with a variety of puppets with puppeteer and librarian Rolande Duprey. The event will take place in the Makerspace on the second floor.   Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Friday, Feb 03 2023

East Hartford Pride Newsletter - January 2023

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume II, Issue V January 5, 2023 Holiday Happenings at EHPS Holiday Accessory Day at Norris Elementary School Leading up to the winter recess, students across East Hartford showed their holiday spirit, participated in toy drives and charitable giving, and got excited for the holiday season. These snapshots showcase just a few of the activities our students and families enjoyed across EHPS. Holiday "Crafternoon" at the Early Childhood Learning Center Carol Singing at Langford Elementary School Seasonal Music at Connecticut IB Academy (CIBA) O'Connell's Annual Participation in Wreaths Across America   XL Field Trip for East Hartford Middle School The entire East Hartford Middle School student body loaded onto coach buses, rode to Hartford, and filled the stands at the XL Center for the UConn Women’s Basketball game versus Seton Hall on December 21. EHMS Principal Anthony Menard said it’s the first time the entire school went on a field trip together. “It’s really awesome because we get to come here, watch the game, and we get to watch one of the middle school’s old students play, which is really cool too,” said Sienna McKennie, 6th grade student at EHMS. This specific basketball game was extra special for East Hartford as our alumna Shailyn Pinkney, who helped lead the EHHS Girls Basketball Team to the state championship last year, now plays for Seton Hall. “It means a great deal to our school to take this trip together,” said Principal Menard. “It’s good for kids to see student athletes who are succeeding, but even better for us to have a former student, who walked these halls, was once their age, went on to high school and now college to be a student athlete and more importantly to be a really good person. It’s a good example for our kids of what they can become.” All students needed to attend the field trip was a signed permission slip. UConn covered all transportation costs, tickets, and lunch for the 800+ students. “It’s fun because I play basketball and it will be interesting to see professionals play basketball. That’s what I could be doing later on in the future,” said Ciara Williams, 8th grade student at EHMS. The trip was made possible thanks to an existing partnership with UConn through the Goal Line program. This afterschool program brings UConn athletes to EHMS to help guide students through lessons, activities, and mentorship. Students learn about positive decision making, teamwork, and the importance of education. Pinkney was once a Goal Line student herself. “I love it because I get to see a bunch of my friends after school who I don’t normally see and we’re learning about some really cool stuff,” said Mikey Adamcewicz, 7th grade student at EHMS. 8th grader Sarah Knight said, “They talk to us about the career path they do and then they have a bunch of activities and set goals with us.” Initial talks about the field trip centered on possibly bringing the Goal Line students to the game. But after conversations with Shannon Russell, Brendan Boyd, and other staff members at the middle school, UConn’s Husky Advantage Center for Athletic Leadership & Enrichment and the Athletics Marketing Team decided to invite the whole school. “It’s incredible. UConn really opened the gates for us,” said Menard. As the students watched UConn score a victory, the field trip was a win for everyone involved.   Board of Education Approves Proposed District Budget The East Hartford Board of Education approved its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024 during its regular meeting on Monday, December 12. The proposed budget includes a net allocation of $98,228,871, which is a 2.3% increase over the current year. This budget includes no staff cuts and adds three full time employees to support the district’s growing English learner population. East Hartford Public Schools continues to leverage grants as much as possible to fund our continuing operations. The next step in the budget process will be to present this proposed budget to the Mayor and Town Council. View the FY2024 budget in full on EastHartford.org .   Video Production Students Showcasing Creativity and Community Music videos, sport highlights and a full-scale student newscast. These are just a few of the projects East Hartford High School video production students are currently working on. This year, EHHS launched its new video production course within the Fine Arts Department. The single semester course taught by Chris Siegel introduces students to storyboarding techniques, studio equipment, and filming and editing video.   “I have been working on getting more technology into EHHS since the day I got here 8 years ago,” said Siegel. “Every student comes to me with no previous knowledge and is almost terrified to touch the camera or the iMac. Seeing them getting used to the equipment, the processes, and the routines and then working together to create something out of nothing that they are proud of is amazing.” Federal grant funding helped secure the classroom’s new iMac computers with editing software. Another grant through the East Hartford Alumni Association and Education Foundation paid for studio lighting equipment. The classroom’s news anchor desk was made by EHHS woodworking students. After just a few months of training on this equipment, video production students can now be seen around the high school campus filming activities, athletics and events to showcase through their videos. “There are so many different things that you can do with just a camera,” said Sophomore Jonah Cruz-Mojica. “We’ve done green screen, we’ve done news, interviews, and I find that really cool because all we had was a tripod and a camera and we came up with so many different things. It really opened my mind.” To further highlight their work and school pride, Siegel started a video production club which puts on a student newscast. Cruz-Mojica is one of the student news anchors. Junior Rodiana Rodriguez, who aspires to be an investigative journalist, took on the role of producer. Rodriguez said, “Working with other people has been interesting because in classes it’s usually independent work, but you learn how to rely on a team and what it’s like to work in a professional environment. I definitely learned where my strengths are that I didn’t even know I had.” Siegel hopes more students will discover video production and help build the school’s program. “I find this course to be of the utmost importance since not only does it teach our students valuable real-world skills with hands-on training, but it also allows me to promote all the amazing things we do here to the community at large. I really want to change the narrative of what people see and think about this school and the first step is to flood the world with positive and amazing messages and displays of excellence.” View EHHS Hornet Productions videos by clicking here .   STAFF SPOTLIGHT Sarah Chmielecki is an instructional coach at Langford Elementary School. Born and raised in East Hartford, her career brought her to Langford six years ago as a 4th grade teacher, and she transitioned to her current role a year later. Now as a leader in the district's focus on student-centered coaching, she works tirelessly both behind the scenes and in every classroom to ensure students achieve and grow. EHPS FAMILY FOCUS Attendance Corner: January Every winter, bad weather — snow, slush, freezing temperatures or even heavy rains — can present challenges to getting children to school.  So do the illnesses such as colds, flu, fevers and earaches that often come with the winter months. Students might also have to stay home due to COVID-19. Here are some tips to help ease these challenges: Develop back up plans for getting your children to school in bad weather.  Check to see who can give your children a ride to school if you aren’t able to take them or the bus doesn’t arrive. Talk with your school about forming a “walking school bus” with other families to get students to school safely. Contact the town if roads to school are not regularly plowed. Join other families to clear snow from the sidewalks closest to the school. Tell school administrators about transportation challenges, including safety, and ask if they have plans for transporting students. Keep your children healthy   Maintain a regular bedtime and morning routine.  Ensure students eat a good breakfast every morning or check to see if your school serves breakfast. Ensure your children visit their medical provider and have received their vaccines, including flu and COVID. Stress hand washing, particularly before and after eating, and after using the restroom. Reinforce the importance of avoiding close contact with individuals who are sick, and not sharing cups and/or utensils with others. If your children seem anxious about going to school, ask teachers, school counselors, your medical provider and parents for advice on how to make your children feel comfortable and excited about learning. Keep your children engaged in learning if they cannot attend school in person. Ask your teacher or school for resources that you can use at home to keep your children learning, including computer tablets, internet access and online learning platforms.  Identify who can support your children’s learning at home, especially if you must go to work.  Encourage your children to call classmates and stay connected to the teacher to find out about what they missed. Communicating Absences With Your School When your child is absent it is important to communicate the absence with your child's school as soon as possible. There are two ways to do this: Using the ParentSquare app or platform, respond to the attendance notice sent by your school. In your response, include the reason your child is absent from school. Call your child's school and report the absence. Follow your phone call with a handwritten note or doctor's note when your child returns to school. Without this documentation, the absence will be considered unexcused. Unexcused absences lead to a truancy designation. To avoid this, keep the lines of communication open and utilize the ParentSquare platform to share updates with us. School Uniforms - Donnelly's Clothing EHPS school uniform vendor Donnelly's Clothing is sharing some savings and reminders for the new year. See the attached flyer for more information. New uniform orders can be made here: https://www.donnellysclothing.com/EHARTPUBLCT   School District Calendar Reminders: January 6 : Three Kings Day (Schools Closed) January 16: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Schools Closed) January 17-23: High School Exams (Early Dismissal Grades 9-12) Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Thursday, Jan 05 2023

East Hartford Pride Newsletter - December 2022

East Hartford Pride News from EHPS - Schools that are the Pride of our Community Volume II, Issue IV December 2, 2022 EHHS Students Take Part in Annual Community Awareness Day  The East Hartford High School student body spent the day before Thanksgiving doing acts of service and community building. “It’s really about getting together, helping out, doing stuff around the community to make it a better place,” said EHHS Senior Kyron Williams-Grant. This annual school-wide program called Community Awareness Day expands every year. This year students were excited to be able to go back out into the community in ways that weren't possible over the last two years. Students raked leaves for local residents and churches, washed the trucks at the fire department, and cleaned up local trails and parks. “We have been raking leaves all over the grounds, we did the front lawn area, we did the parking lot and we did the playscape,” said EHHS Junior DeJalie Santiago, who was one of the students helping out at South Congregational Church. “It feels good because it’s not something I normally do. So it feels nice helping out sometimes.” Other students dispersed to district elementary and middle schools leading activities for younger learners and answering their questions about high school. “Our group that got to come to [O'Connell School], a lot of us went here, so it’s nice to give back to the school that we once went to and help these kids out,” said EHHS Senior Lourdes Rodriguez. Through all of these projects and activities, the goal is to send students off on Thanksgiving break with a deeper appreciation of their surroundings and a more developed sense of how they can help those who are less fortunate. To see more highlights and perspectives from Community Awareness Day, check out the video below produced by the EHHS Video Production Class.   Participate in the Search for a New EHPS Superintendent The East Hartford Board of Education invites members of the East Hartford Public Schools and broader East Hartford community to participate in the search process for a new Superintendent of Schools. Mary Broderick, Jack Reynolds, and George Coleman, consultants working with the East Hartford Superintendent Search Committee, will conduct a series of focus groups on December 6, 7 and 8 both in-person and via Zoom. The purpose is to gauge the community’s perspectives on the qualities, experiences, and characteristics desired in a new superintendent. The search committee is also hosting an online survey through December 9 to gather input from East Hartford students, teachers, school staff, parents, town officials, and community members.   Click Here for Survey Link and Focus Group Schedule     Feedback from the focus groups and survey will be incorporated into a leadership profile that will guide the East Hartford Search Committee in identifying high-quality candidates who best fit the needs of the East Hartford Public Schools. "We encourage the community to be a part of this important process and look forward to incorporating the results of their participation into the Search Committee's work,” said Tyron Harris, Chair of the East Hartford Board of Education.   Outstanding Students Recognized by Superintendent with CAPSS Award Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) Student Award recipients from East Hartford Public Schools! These students were chosen among their peers for their community service and service to others, academic prowess, and leadership service to the school community. 2022-2023 CAPSS Award Recipients: Blessther Quist - EHHS Natania Braham - EHHS Sade Morales - CIBA S. Joseph Wah - Synergy Ramon Schreier - Woodland Lucian Cardona - EHMS Nana Yaa Yeboah - EHMS Abigail Nayes - Sunset Ridge The award recipients, along with their families, were honored at November 14's Board of Education meeting. Their principals shared why these students are exceptional members of their school communities and deserving of this special recognition.   Middle School Families Enjoy Literacy Night Around 80 East Hartford Middle School students and family members attended Family Literacy Night on November 15. Attendees participated in games and activities such as "Name That Song", blackout poetry, and creating their own bookmarks. Before choosing which interested them most, students got to hear "book talks" on the different books they could take home from the event. Every family left with several books to read together. Two lucky raffle winners took home new Kindles!    STAFF SPOTLIGHT Raymond Dogans is the Coordinator of Behavior Support at Woodland School. An East Hartford Public Schools graduate himself, he relates deeply to the students in his building and works to give them the support they need to succeed.   SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS Family Multicultural Night at Norris, UConn Interns work with Langford students, Thanksgiving Food Drive at Pitkin  EHPS FAMILY FOCUS Attendance Corner: December We hope you will take advantage of the winter break to restore a routine for consistent school attendance. On December 22, 2022, we will have a half day to mark the start of winter break. We will return back to the school in the new year on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.  We appreciate everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra time off during the winter break. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session .  Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as to connect to their peers and teachers.   We thank:   ● Our students and their families who do their best to show up daily even when it isn’t easy.   ● Our teachers who go above and beyond to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn. ● Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment. ● Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need. We appreciate each one of you. If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to your school's family support specialist or schools’ social worker for help .   EHPS is Thankful for Community Partners East Hartford Public Schools is incredibly grateful for the generosity of the organizations, businesses, and individuals who ensured our neighbors didn't go without this Thanksgiving. Every school in the district received generous monetary and supply donations, which had a profound impact on our community all while teaching our children about giving back to those less fortunate.  We'd like to thank all of the East Hartford students, families and residents who donated to food drives this month. We'd also like to thank all of our community partners who donated, including:   East Hartford Police Department East Hartford Rotary Club East Hartford Lion's Club East Hartford Social Services East Hartford Library Conduent Midwest Food Bank ShopRite of East Hartford ShopRite of Manchester Key Food Market Our Savior Lutheran Church South Congregational Church Rosa's Cafe & Bakery McDonald's - Glastonbury Granny's Pie Factory Bakery on Main   Early Childhood Services Available at Family Resource Centers East Hartford's Family Resource Centers have had a busy fall providing services, programming and activities for some of East Hartford's youngest residents and their families. For example, this month they hosted a workshop on childproofing in partnership with Connecticut Children's Medical Center with 22 families in attendance. As a thank you for attending, CCMC provided each family with a first aid kit, plus bike helmets, CO/smoke detectors and childproofing kits.  As always, the Play & Learn groups have been working with children on playing in a structured environment to get ready for school. A group also got together for a field trip to Foster Farm. Foster Farm Field Trip FRC Play & Learn Group The FRC provides personal visits and developmental screenings to families enrolled in its programs. They also have a wide variety of books, toys, games and resources families can borrow. While the centers have locations at Mayberry School and Silver Lane School, they offer services to all East Hartford families with children from birth to 5-years-old. The Family Resource Centers have open enrollment all year long.  Click this link to enroll or learn more.  UPCOMING EVENTS Breakfast with Santa - Brought to you by the EHHS Student Council Saturday, December 17 from 9am-12pm at East Hartford High School $5 per person - Pay at the door Meet and take photos with Santa Create and take home crafts Light breakfast will be served   EHHS Alumni Basketball Game The East Hartford Boys Basketball Team is hosting its Alumni Game on Friday, December 9. Doors open at 6:30 PM in the EHHS Gymnasium. Adults: $10 Students/Kids: $5   School District Calendar Reminders: December 22 : Early Dismissal December 23-January 2 : Holiday Recess (Schools Closed) January 6 : Three Kings Day (Schools Closed) Follow EHPS on Instagram Follow EHPS on Twitter View More Stories and Updates at EastHartford.org Read the Town of East Hartford Newsletter

Friday, Dec 02 2022