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Superintendent's Newsletter Fall 2025 Sharing the News. Hearing the Needs. It's How We Move Forward, Together. Transparency is our priority: providing timely information to parents, students, staff, and the community.   District Happenings   UPCOMING EVENTS Friday, October 10th ~ Paid School Lunches Begin for SES, SMS, SHS Monday, October 13th ~ Columbus Day ~ No School Monday, October 20th ~ 5:30 BOE Policy Committee Meeting, SES Monday, October 20th ~ 6:30 BOE Regular Meeting, SES Wednesday, October 22nd ~ Professional Development ~ Early Dismissal Saturday, October 25th ~ Stafford Trick or Treat on Main Street, 4pm Thursday, October 30th ~ Gr. 6-12 Parent Teacher Conferences, Early Dismissal for SMS & SHS Friday, October 31st ~ Professional Development ~ No School   FOOD SERVICES Paid Meals begins as of October 10, 2025 (Breakfast and Lunch) at Stafford Elementary School, Stafford Middle School, and Stafford High School. Meal Prices are listed below. The district used PaySchools exclusively for lunch payments and will show your student's lunch balance. See the links below: PaySchools Quick Setup Guide Student ID Location Guide PaySchools Central SPS Full User Guide Free & Reduced Lunch Application     ACADEMICS & ASSESSMENT As we kick off this school year, I’m excited to grow alongside the Stafford community and continue learning what makes it such a special place. In grades K–8, we have launched our new ELA curriculum, CKLA and Amplify, and students have also completed our beginning of the year reading and math benchmark assessments to help us better understand their learning needs and growth. We also recently held a district-wide early release day for professional learning. During this time, teachers worked on curriculum writing, reviewing SBA data, and examining common assessments. These efforts help ensure that our teaching is aligned, effective, and responsive to student needs. Looking ahead, we will be administering important assessments for our secondary students. The PSAT will be given on October 15th to students in grades 8–11, and the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) will take place the same day for grade 12 students. Please note upcoming dates for professional learning: October 22 – Early Release for students October 31 – No School for students, Happy Halloween! We look forward to a successful year of growth and learning for all of our students. Warmly, Colleen Bava   SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE Families and Community, From my first day here, I have been endlessly grateful for this community. The grit, determination, kindness, and work ethic that define Stafford are reflected every day in our students and staff. As we look ahead to shaping the future of Stafford Public Schools, your voice matters. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey linked below. I will also be available at schools during upcoming parent-teacher conferences for informal listening sessions (details to come). In addition, I will be holding two listening sessions at the Stafford Public Library on Wednesday, October 22 (Early Dismissal Day): 11:00 a.m. – Middle School Parents 12:15 p.m. – Elementary Parents One of my most important responsibilities as Superintendent is to serve as a caretaker—ensuring both the present and future success of our schools. Our students must leave Stafford with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive, whether they choose to enter the workforce, join the military, or pursue higher education. Preparing them for this future is increasingly complex: schools are now tasked with equipping students for careers that don’t yet exist, while many traditional paths are changing rapidly. To meet these challenges, I am committed to listening and learning from those who matter most—our students, staff, and families. Your voice, your input, and your partnership are essential, and I take great pride in the work we will do together.   Strategic Plan: Shape Your Student's Educational Future Over the coming months, we are developing our next five-year strategic plan. To guide this important work, we are gathering input from every corner of our school community. This includes meeting with students, collaborating with school leaders and Board members, listening to teachers, and collecting insights from parents and families. Your perspective is especially important. Parents have a unique understanding of our schools, and your feedback will help shape the priorities and goals that drive Stafford forward. I ask that you please take 5–7 minutes to complete this brief survey. Complete Survey Here Face-to-Face Feedback In addition to survey feedback, Mr. Sugarman is hosting two coffee drop-in opportunities on Wed. Oct. 22nd (see details below) and will be available at Parent-Teacher Conferences: October 30th, 12:30pm @ SMS October 30th, 2:30pm @ SHS November 20th, 12:30pm @ SES November 20th, 2:00pm @ WSS   The SPS Central Office has a new home!   The Stafford Public Schools Central Office has moved to Stafford Middle School. This includes: Office of the Superintendent Human Resources Business Office Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Office Data Management The entrance to the Central Office is located at the right front side of the SMS building. (860) 684-2208 sugarmans@stafford.k12.ct.us stafford.k12.ct.us

Pasta and Partnership ~ SES Families ~ Come enjoy a ...

October Superintendent Newsletter