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PUBLICCommunicator SCHOOLS Simsbury Public Schools—Continuously Improving Teaching & Learning l Spring 2020

Dear Neighbor, Simsbury Public Schools Adapt to Pandemic Tese are unprec- Visit our Distance Learning Website edented times. Go to https://www.simsbury.k12.ct.us and click on "Distance Learning" More than ever, we are grateful to Prior to the close of schools on March to-face contact with students and families. all of the families 13th, principals, department supervisors, Structure of Learning who gave us patience, fexibility, and partner- curriculum and special education leaders, For elementary, we distributed a suggested ship. Even in less challenging times, we know we and others worked together to develop Sims- daily schedule, including guidelines for cannot do what we do without you. bury's Distance Learning (DL) Plan, the goal activities and breaks for children throughout Since schools closed on March 13th, our district of which is to continue to engage students the day. Suggested supplementary activities has shown an amazing capacity to mobilize in learning in an equitable and continuous related to "specials" (art, music, physical quickly and adapt to changing circumstances. manner. A DL website was created to house education, and Spanish) were posted on the We were able to launch our Distance Learn- all of the information related to the plan, DL website. Each week included teacher in- ing Plan almost immediately (see details of this as well as a list of family support resources, struction videos. Math and English language plan in this issue). We began with a survey to information on Grab and Go meals, technol- arts coaches provided support, including fnd out how many of our students might not be ogy support, and more. standards/learning targets, suggestions for prepared with the appropriate technology tools Distance Learning Plan & Purpose lessons/materials, and grade level Google to engage in Distance Learning. Within a week Te plan's developers sought to provide Hangouts to review learning goals. Via email afer schools closed, we had gotten Chrome- predictable, sustainable, and authentic communications with families, elementary books and/or wif hotspots into the hands of any structures for learning. Preserving a sense principals encouraged students to be self- student who needed them. We are so proud of of community was a primary goal, thus it directed and motivated learners. the educators who quickly mastered new skills to promotes connections—teacher to class, stu- At the secondary level, it is fortunate deliver education remotely, and in many cases, dent to student, teacher to families. Driven that SHS and HJMS had fully implemented provide comfort to children who were missing by grade level/content standards, the plan "1:1 Chromebook Program for Anytime their friends and teachers. provides for review of recently taught skills Anyplace Learning" prior to the pandemic, As we continue to adapt and change with this as well as introduces new learning. so students were already familiar with the pandemic, we appreciate the tremendous sup- K-12 Tools for Learning educational online resources and tools port of Simsbury families and the community. Technology is at the center of our DL harnessed for distance learning. HJMS's plan Please continue to stay safe and healthy. plan. Just a few of the technology platforms embraced the school's tenets of Connec- tions, Challenge, and Character. At both Matthew T. Curtis, Superintendent our educators are employing are SeeSaw for SHS and HJMS, weekly planning involved Susan Salina, BOE Chair grades K-2; Google Classroom for grades 3-12; Screencastify for making videos; Flip synchronous learning (when students learn at the same time, such as with video confer- Watch Email for Your Snapcode! Grid for short, video-based discussions on classroom topics; Explain Everything, for encing or live chat) as well as asynchronous To All Parents/Guardians: Our annual on- students and teachers to share thoughts and learning (when students learn at diferent line student information verifcation system ideas in real time; and Google Meet for face- Distance Learning—continued on page 2 will open in late July. PowerSchool Enroll- ment (formerly called InfoSnap) is used Simsbury BOE 2020-2021 Budget Summary to verify demographic, emergency, and medical information for your child. In late Due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with the Gov- July an email from your child's school will ernor’s Executive Order No. 7I, a budget referendum was not held this year. Final authority for contain instructions and a secure “snap- adoption of the 2020-2021 budget was granted to the Board of Finance in accordance with the ex- code” for your child’s information. Please ecutive order and by resolution of the Board of Selectmen on May 11th. On May 19th, the Board monitor your In Box (and check your spam of Finance adopted a Board of Education budget of $72,309,061, which represents $1,428,083 in folder) so you don't miss this important communication. new dollars, or a 2.01 percent increase. Te new mill rate will be 37.09, a decrease of .61 percent. Distance Learning—continued from page 1 addressed will be marked NA (not appli- of their control. times, such as with email or blog posts). cable). K-6 teachers will provide comments Safety & Security Special Education aligned to the grade level standards taught Health and safety of students and staf is Distance learning presents hurdles for during the third trimester through common a top priority. Custodians work staggered special education, but guided by the goal learning experiences. Feedback will focus on shifs to clean and disinfect all areas. Neil of supporting all students in their learning, a student’s level of engagement, completion Sullivan, Director of Personnel, and Mark special education staf work with general of tasks, and progress toward specifc learn- Critz, Director of Safety and Security, par- educators and implement IEPs to the great- ing goals. ticipate in weekly Public Safety Committee est extent possible. Psychologists, social Our 7-12 approach includes the grading of meetings facilitated by the Board of Select- workers, and school counselors are available key assignments that demonstrate mastery men. Playgrounds, felds, and basketball to address mental health. Students are sup- of learning targets identifed by teachers for courts have been closed, with large signs ported by paraeducators, nurses, tutors, and each course, with no fnal exams. Tese as- placed at school entrances to ask for public instructional technology specialists. signments will receive numerical grades that cooperation with social distancing. Grading will count toward their end-of year grade. Nutrition services continues to provide End-of-year grading plans have been As of June 1st, families can elect a Pass/ meals for families who need them. Health designed to articulate student learning for Incomplete option if this DL grade nega- services inventoried personal protec- the 2019-20 school year and are designed tively impacts the fnal grade. Tis option tive equipment (PPE) and donated masks to capture student achievement while at the is in place for all courses to ensure that no and gloves to Simsbury Police, Simsbury same time respecting our current reality. student’s fnal grade is compromised because Volunteer Ambulance, the Visiting Nurses Elementary report cards will not include of circumstances related to DL that are out Association, and Hartford Hospital. grades (E,M,A,B) for the third trimester. All indicators addressed during distance learn- Stephen Patrina Appointed SHS Principal ing will be coded as DL and indicators not On February 25th, the BOE his frst formal leadership position as the Raising Awareness About appointed Stephen Department Supervisor for social stud- Patrina to the position of SHS ies, and just over two years later, he joined the Importance of Reading Principal. He served as interim the team as an Assistant Principal. During February 5th was World Read Aloud principal since July 2019. his interviews with administrators and the Day (WRAD), an opportunity for people In January 2020, staf BOE, Patrina enthusiastically communicated around the world to celebrate the joy of members, parents, and students partici- his vision to collaborate with faculty on a reading aloud and advocate for literacy pated in focus group discussions about the number of current initiatives and challenges: as a basic human right. Although WRAD position. Te group’s articulated needs for developing the structure and curriculum for has been going on for several years, a new principal matched Patrina’s qualifca- the new Capstone requirement, continued 2020 marked the frst time we have of- tions perfectly. An SHS graduate (Class of emphasis on the school’s work related to fcially celebrated this event as a district. 1980), he returned to his alma mater in 1985 equity, implementation of a new schedule for Planned experiences were implemented to become a social studies teacher. Patrina 2020-21, and examining the factors that con- at all schools. An impressive number of contributed to the life of the school as a class tribute to student stress. Patrina and his wife SHS students—180!—visited K-5 class- advisor and multi-sport coach, including Andrea are the proud parents of three SHS rooms to lead read-aloud activities. Said a successful stint leading the program for graduates—Nicole (2011), Allison (2013), Assistant Superintendent for Teaching varsity boys’ basketball. In 2001 he accepted and Jack (2015). and Learning Erin Murray, “Providing learning opportunities that connect our high school students with our elemen- School Facilities Plan Moves Forward tary students is so powerful! Te excite- Work continues to move forward on the the Simsbury Public Schools by prioritizing ment from the younger students when School Facilities Master Plan & Reconfgura- the option of a sixth grade addition to HJMS working with the visiting high school tion Study. During Phase 1, begun in April and a renovate-as-new project at Latimer kids was evident and caused everyone in 2019, existing conditions were analyzed and Lane as the frst capital improvement proj- the room to be so highly engaged!” results shared with the public. Te consen- ects in the timeline. Once the formal plan is sus from surveys, studies, and direct input completed, the conversation will turn to the from the community throughout additional Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance phases of the plan's formulation was that for an analysis of the town’s ability to fund our schools are outdated and at capacity, identifed projects over the long term. Due in particular Latimer Lane. Tere was little to the economic impact of COVID-19, the support for either building a new Grade 5-6 originally presented timeline for these proj- school or taking a status quo approach with ects may need to be altered. More detailed maintenance projects only. communication from Superintendent Matt Curtis will be forthcoming. For more infor- Amoya Francis and Lauren Ampadu read The Proudest On May 26th, the BOE unanimously Blue, by Olympic medalist and social justice advocate Ibthaj voted to direct Tecton Architects to com- mation, please see the website: Muhammad, to Tootin' Hills fourth graders. plete the long-range facilities master plan for https://www.simsbury.k12.ct.us/facilities-study 2 Te Communicator l Spring 2020 l www.simsbury.k12.ct.us Achievements participate, but ofen place among the top Melanson, Molly Walsh BOYS SWIMMING in the state at the Annual Student Home All-CCC: Liam Dunnigan, Ryan Ho, Jackson l SHS senior Sarah Ackels was named a Design Competition.” Matyczyk, Colin Russell, Malaki Tatum, Erik Connecticut Distinguished Finalist for the l Te Connecticut Council of Language Winkler. BOYS INDOOR TRACK All-State: Prudential Spirit of Community Award. A Teachers (CT COLT) awarded SHS World Miguel Gutierrez, Noah Pennington, Shamar Prudential representative presented her with Language Department Supervisor Stephanie Sutton, Owen Wollenberg All-CCC: Miguel a bronze medal on March 10th. Honoring Duchesneau the prestigious 2019 Pegasus Gutierrez, Kyle Paterson, Noah Penning- students in grades 5-12, the awards program PRIDE Award, which recognizes and high- ton, Shamar Sutton BOYS ICE HOCKEY is considered the U.S.’s largest youth recogni- lights "some of the many dedicated world All-State: Cole Chapman All-CCC: Jackson tion program based exclusively on volun- language teachers...who, day in and day out, Bulger, Cole Chapman, Rocco Cirilli, Scott teer community service. Between 2 and 10 work hard in their classrooms to promote Simeon BOYS BASKETBALL All-CCC: Ian Distinguished Finalists are selected in each the development of foreign language and Calabrese GIRLS BASKETBALL All-CCC: state, depending on the state’s cultural skills among their stu- Mary McElroy population. dents." l For the ffh year in a row, l In March SHS introduced Simsbury has been honored a new National Society, the with the “Best Communities Computer Science Honor Society, m@ rri rn)] u~ rF rn:; r1rn for Music Education” (BCME) into which there were 17 newly Slt1SBURY 2n . 2n SENIORS 1 designation from Te NAMM -n u• . u 2n inducted student members. CU C> TOL TOL U Foundation for commitment to l A total of 39 SHS student- BALL ON , DOWN TO GO QTR and support of music education. athletes received postseason l Architecture students SHS senior Sarah Ackels displays recognition for outstanding competed in the Student her bronze medal. accomplishments during the To highlight and recognize the Class of 2020, on Friday, May 8, 2020, the scoreboard lights on Holden Field were lit up from Design competition at the CT Home Show 2019-20 winter season. WRESTLING All- 20:20pm (8:20pm) for 20 minutes. sponsored by the Connecticut Builders & State: Ty Finn. All-CCC: Tyler Coiro, Jack Remodeling Association (CBRA) of Central Cunningham, Cael Finn, Ty Finn, Tommy Measuring Student CT. In a repeat of the past few years, SHS Guilfoyle, Nathan Hotchkiss, John Mairano, students swept the top award categories. D'Sean Martin, Saul Pera, Noah Pryzbek Success Awardees were seniors Owen Wollenberg (1st GIRLS INDOOR TRACK All-State: Mar- Connecticut’s Next Generation Ac- place), Angelina Alessandrini (2nd place), tina Benedetti, Olivia Birney, Leila Gary, countability System goes beyond measur- and Amoya Francis (3rd place); junior Keeley Jada Mars, Elsa Martin All-CCC: Martina ing student success purely by standard- Flaherty (4th place); and senior Samantha Benedetti, Olivia Birney, Amanda Derway, ized test scores. Instead the State employs Fong (honorable mention). Teir teacher, Dr. Leila Gary, Jada Mars, Elsa Martin GIRLS a set of 12 indicators that “help tell the Wendy Ku, was awarded Special Congressio- ICE HOCKEY All-State: Grace Melanson story of how well a school is preparing nal Recognition for “consistently dedicating All-CCC: Mackenzie Chapman, Abigail Har- its students for success in college, careers time to ensure that SHS students not only ris, Mackenzie Lynch, Anna Melanson, Grace and life.” Here's how Simsbury stacked up against the top schools in its District HJMS Students Connect Kitchen to Community Reference Group, DRG B. In her kitchens at HJMS, Family & Con- the group. 2019 Accountability (DRG B) sumer Sciences (FACS) teacher Diane Rigby Te Simsbury Food Pantry serves approxi- District OutcomeRatePct teaches her eighth graders a lot more than mately 80 households per month, a statistic Greenwich 87.3 the skills they need to handle food—she also that may be surprising to some who view teaches them that there are folks in their own Simsbury as an overwhelmingly afuent com- Simsbury 85.6 community who are food insecure and that it munity. Formanek marveled at how the HJMS Avon 85.5 is important to help out. students used their culinary skills to beneft Granby 84.8 During the fall months and the recent others. She said, “With the food pantry, every Brookfeld 84.8 holiday season, Diane’s eighth grade “FACS family gets fresh food. Tese are families right Woodbridge 84.7 for Life” students held bake sales to raise here in town. It’s a way we can really help.” funds to donate to Cheshire 84.5 the Simsbury Food Monroe 84.4 Pantry. Tey raised a Guilford 84.4 total of $236, and on Farmington 84.2 February 20th, the Trumbull 83.9 director of the Sims- bury Food Pantry, Region 15 83.7 Kristen Formanek, Fairfeld 83.5 stopped by to accept Glastonbury 83.5 a giant check from

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By the Numbers Keep in Touch l U.S.News & World Report reviewed more than BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS 24,000 U.S. public high Te BOE meets on the 2nd and 4th schools; Connecti- 207 Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM. Visit cut schools made the rank- our website for upcoming dates and ings, with Simsbury High School #6 of Best High Schools locations. Check out the BOE facebook in Connecticut and #326 nationally. page, too! l Simsbury High School ofers students 29 Advanced IT'S ON THE SPS WEBSITE Wonder- Placement (AP) courses. Of the 477 students who took ing about the availability of nutrition 1,027 AP exams last year, 78% of scores were 3 or bet- services? Looking for information on a ter. SHS Advanced Placement Exam Performance board policy? Seeking the latest news on Community Supports STEM topics in education? Looking for a link to the PTO website? Want to fnd your On January 28th the BOE accepted a child's English teacher in the faculty gif from the Ensign-Bickford Aerospace Defense Company (EBAD) to fund K-12 directory? It's all there on our website at Science, Technology, Engineering, and www.simsbury.k12.ct.us so bookmark the Math (STEM) programs. Te donation page and check back ofen!

will be $10,000 a year for 3 years. Te IN CASE OF EMERGENCY... For primary objective of the grant is to sup- weather-related or other emergency an- port the Vision of the Graduate compe- tencies of critical thinking, communica- nouncements, go to www.simsbury.k12. tion, collaboration, self-directed learning, innovation and global citizenship as learned ct.us and click on the Emergency link and practiced through STEM. Te total donation is $30,000. located at the top of the page.

4 Te Communicator l Spring 2020 l www.simsbury.k12.ct.us