Danbury Digest District News & Highlights October 2017 Morris Street School earns recognition as ‘National Blue Ribbon’ school Every morning and afternoon, the some celebrate with the honorees at an awards Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing 370 students who attend Morris Street ceremony in Washington, D.C. Schools are among their state’s highest School walk to and from school together, “Morris Street School began a very serious performing schools in closing achieve- flanked by family members and friends. transformation initiative 18 years ago ment gaps between a school’s subgroups The neighborhood school offers family with an implementation of a distributive and all students over the past five years. `events from reading nights to picnics leadership model,” said Morris Street’s “The care given to its students by the and garden activities to make the school principal William Santarsiero. “This faculty, staff and administrators at Morris a place where children want to be. Yet approach empowers all staff and parents Street is at the foundation of the tremen- despite the challenges that come with to focus on two common goals being in- dous academic growth that which the Blue being in low-income area with many fami- creasing achievement for all students and Ribbon is based,” said Superintendent Dr. lies struggling to make ends meet, Morris building a school climate that is conducive Sal Pascarella. “Mr. Santarsiero, the vet- Street faculty and staff have worked to to learning and teaching. These twin goals eran principal, has high expectations for make sure that students have the encour- have paid great dividends, and we are ex- himself and his staff and they serve as a agement and environment in which to cited to have achieved our transformation model for the student body. The Board of succeed. expectations.” Education and the entire school commu- On Sept. 28, Morris Street School was According to the U.S. Department of Edu- nity are proud of this recognition given to named by the United States Department cation website, The National Blue Ribbon Morris Street, and we all know its success of Education as a “National Blue Ribbon Schools Program accept nominations of will continue.” School,” a distinction bestowed on more both public and non-public schools in “Congratulations to the dedicated stu- than 8,500 schools over the past 35 years. existence for five years that meet one of dents, parents, teachers, and the admin- The 342 schools recognized this year were two criteria: Exemplary High Performing istrators of Morris Street School,” said announced by U.S. Secretary of Education Schools are among their state’s highest Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. “Being Betsy DeVos. On Nov. 6 and 7, the secre- performing schools as measured by state named a National Blue Ribbon school is tary and the Department of Education will assessments or nationally normed tests, or a prestigious achievement and this award (cont. on page 3) Danbury Digest -2- October 2017 Superintendent’s Message Dear Staff, Families and Community Supporters, This year, one of our elementary schools, Morris Street School, earned the prestigious status of a National Blue Ribbon. This was the result of many years of hard work, and we congratulate Principal William Santarsiero for his leadership, his staff and all of the families who have supported Morris Street over the years. As you likely know, we are still faced with fiscal challenges, and it is a testament to the great people who work in and support our schools that we can report such tremendous success. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) was in our schools recently award- ing a Broadview student for her essay on Martin Luther King, Jr. Our band has been winning regional competitions week after week. Our music programs in several elementary schools was recently awarded $180,000 in musical instruments and instruction. This year our schools are also initiating anti-bullying programs inspired by Say Something. As we continue to combine resources, please rest assured that the Danbury students are never shortchanged when it comes to opportunity. We work very hard to make sure that every student has what he or she needs to succeed. Despite our hard work and our dedicated staff, we could not do what we do without support from parents, families and community members. In the Danbury School District, the Board of Education encourages community members to be a part of local education every day. Take a look inside our work and accomplishments; become a student mentor through our DSABC program to make a meaningful and long-lasting impact on a student’s life; attend a performance, PTO activity or athletic event; or visit a School Governance Council meeting. We need your participation to help us continue our success. I eagerly anticipate working with staff, families and community members on behalf of Danbury children, to have another successful and rewarding school year. I look forward to seeing you in our wonderful schools. Dr. Sal V. Pascarella Superintendent of Schools Morris Street School receives ‘Blue Ribbon’ (cont’d from p. 1) couldn’t be more deserved. Morris Street hatch baby chicks in her classroom. Also, School continues to exceed expectations 24 fifth-grade students experienced fine and has become a true model for the dining with chicken cordon bleu and ga- rest of the state. On behalf of the entire teau with chocolate mousse while learn- city, thank you for your hard work and ing about manners and how to converse for being a shining example of our great during a meal. The event was sponsored school system.” by district food service provider Sodexo. Morris Street was named a “School of Board of Education chair Ralph Pietrafe- Distinction” for 2015-16 year by the sa said the Blue Ribbon award was the state Department of Education along result of a lot of hard work and progress, with five other Danbury schools - Ells- and that Morris Street has a long history worth, Hayestown, Mill Ridge Primary, of blending school, community and Park Avenue and South Street. Danbury family to make sure that students get the had the highest number of 116 recog- resources they need to achieve. nized schools, along with Greenwich “Congratulations to the students and and Ridgefield, which also had six. In staff at Morris Street for this great ac- addition to garden activities and read- complishment,” Pietrafesa said. ing programs, the school has worked A reception honoring Morris Street staff tirelessly to bring numerous programs to was held at the Oct. 11 BOE meeting at students. Last year, kindergarten teacher the Danbury Public Schools administra- Tracey Scalzo was awarded a grant from tive building on Beaver Brook Road. the Danbury Education Foundation to Danbury Digest -3- October 2017 ‘TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2017-18’ Westside’s Beth Manning The daughter of a school teacher and Rogers Park, Manning made the move a pharmacist, Beth Manning started to the newly built Westside. She enjoys out as a pharmaceutical rep. But before that the district has embraced creativity long, she realized she was meant to in teaching the required curriculum, teach, a position that suits her love of and that all of the science teachers work science and her desire to share that pas- to decide how students learn best under sion with others. The Danbury educator the new state science standards adopted has long been known for her dedication last year (NGSS). Manning accom- in shaping the lives of her students, as plishes this by helping - not telling well as her colleagues. - students to find the answers through Now a science teacher at Westside science-based questions. Middle School Academy, Manning was “It’s a really big shift. It’s totally stu- chosen as the district’s Teacher of the dent-centered,” Manning said. “Kids Year 2017-18. figure science out rather than being told Ironically, it was the position as a phar- facts. For example, I might ask ‘Why is maceutical rep that fostered her desire it so foggy this morning?’ Students may to teach, as she was tasked with training make diagrams and apply learning ac- co-workers in technological changes: tivities that support the main concept. “I soon realized that was my favorite The kids do the heavy lifting, and the part of the job,” Manning said. “And be- teachers facilitate that. I never tell them cause my mom was a teacher, I always the answer. I let them figure it out. I thought I might want to be a teacher.” think that is a gift.” Manning earned a bachelor’s degree in Manning adds to her busy schedule by biology from Saint Michael’s College ‘My hope is that kids working to train other teachers in the and a master’s degree in education and state through the Connecticut Science instructional technology from West- learn to think, rather Center using the new curriculum plat- ern Connecticut State University. A form. She also trains district educators. teacher since 2001, Manning started Manning says her greatest challenge is her educational career at Danbury High than learn to pass a trying to fit it all in, but says that the as a student teacher. Her first teaching district is very supportive – and the position was at Rogers Park Middle test.’ students’ excitement about learning School. science makes it all worthwhile. After teaching in the STEM program at DHS Marching Band keeps marching on to first place The 45-member marching band at Danbury High School took first place in its competition class in early September at the USBandsDHS competition marching held in Bethel.band DHStook was top recognized honor for at first weekly competition of season best music, best visual and best effect in its class.