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Welcome Back Torringford Tigers
August 2023
A Message from Mrs. Galullo & Mrs. Austin
Dear Torringford Tiger Families,
Welcome back, Torringford Tigers, to another exciting school year filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and cherished memories! We hope you are enjoying your summer break and have had time to relax, have fun, and learn new things.
At the heart of our school community, we recognize that parents and guardians play a vital role in supporting their student's academic and personal development. Your involvement, encouragement, and partnership are instrumental in creating a thriving and enriching environment for our learners. We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with you as we work together to nurture the minds and hearts of your young ones. Your engagement in their education reinforces the message that learning is a shared adventure, and your support is invaluable in helping them flourish.
Throughout this school year, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment where your students will grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Our dedicated and passionate educators are ready to inspire, challenge, and guide them on their quest for knowledge and discovery.
We want to ensure that all families feel welcome and connected to our Torringford School family. As we embark on the 2023-2024 school year together, we invite you to be actively involved in your child's educational journey. Attend school events, join our school's PTO, attend parent-teacher conferences, and stay connected with teachers to remain informed about your student's progress. Be on the lookout for upcoming Principal Coffee Hours and family events. We encourage families to stay connected and informed by following our school website for important updates and information. Click HERE to view our Torringford School Website.
Together, let's foster a sense of community, where we celebrate our diversity and support one another through both successes and challenges. Torringford School is not just a building; it is a vibrant and caring community that thrives on the collective efforts of students, families, and educators.
Thank you for entrusting us with your student's education. We are excited to welcome you back to our school family and look forward to a year filled with growth, joy, and accomplishments. Here's to an incredible year ahead!
Be on the lookout for your class placement letter with your new teacher's name to arrive in the mail this week. Class placements are done with careful consideration of all student needs. Monday, August 28th from 2:00-3:00 you can visit the classroom, briefly meet the teacher, and drop off any school supplies you have purchased. There will be a Welcome Back Night Thursday, September 28th.
Enjoy the remainder of the summer.
In Partnership,
Kelly Galullo & Georgia Austin
A New Way of Communicating with You
Torrington Public Schools is excited to announce that we adopted, district wide, a new form of school-to-home communication called ParentSquare.
This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with Torringford School. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:
Send and receive school and class information
Share pictures and files
See calendar items
Sign up to volunteer
Schedule parent-teacher conferences
and much more . . . all in one centralized place!
ParentSquare Overview
Click HERE to get started!
Welcome New Staff and Staffing Updates
We have several new staff members and current staff who have new roles. We are excited to welcome the following people to the Torringford family.
Lynsie Zapatka; Kindergarten (formerly Lynsie Belanger)
Caitlin O'Connor; Grade 2 (formerly grade 1)
Anna Schone; Grade 2
Amy Milano; Grade 3
Chrysta Young; Physical Education
Jennifer Borelli; TESOL
Alyssa Staton; Registered Behavior Technician for VOICES
Kim Kelly; Paraprofessional
Beth Reynolds; Library Media Paraprofessional
Jennifer Matava; Paraprofessional
Jim Dziekan; Social Worker
Sandy Jasensky; Paraprofessional Voices 2
A Note from the Main Office - Melissa Smith and Julie Vold
- We are here to help you and partner with you to ensure a positive school experience for your child. Feel free to call Melissa Smith or Julie Vold (860-489-2300) if you have questions or need assistance. We will do our best to direct your call/ question to the appropriate staff.
- Any early releases or parent pick ups must have written documentation to be honored. Be sure to send your child with a note if you plan to pick them up early or are changing the dismissal plan for the day. Due to the volume of calls, needs, and communications at the end of the school day, no child will be dismissed through the office after 3 pm (1 pm on early release days). Please plan accordingly.
- Always bring identification when coming to the building. Visitors must be pre-approved with an appointment/ volunteer opportunity through a staff member or the PTO. Visitors are asked to come alone with no extended family members. All visitors must sign in and out, indicate where they will be in the building, and wear a visitor's badge while on property.
- All absences must be called in and verified through a written note. Call the office and leave a message with the reason for your child's absence. When the child returns send the absences note back to school from parent or doctor.
- Teachers cannot be reached in the classroom during the school day. Email or leave a message and the teacher will return your call when they are not teaching.
- Please read the Student Handbook located on the Torringford website. There are specific details regarding policies and procedures.
- Device agreements, bus/ car rider tags, and other pertinent forms will be sent home in your child's backpack on the first day of school. Be sure to complete forms as soon as possible and return them to the school.
Meet Our School Nurses - Denise Graziani and Bryana Woodman
If your child is ill at home or shows signs of becoming ill, he/she should not be sent to school. If a child becomes ill at school, parents/guardians will be notified and will be expected to provide transportation.
Students who have a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be dismissed from school and should not return until their temperature is normal for 24 hours without medication.
Students who are vomiting or have diarrhea will be dismissed from school as well. Students should be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.
When a child will not be attending school due to illness the school office must be notified. Please call 860-489-2300.
It is important that parents/guardians notify the nurse of any medical problem that may influence the student’s performance at school or that may require the assistance of the nurse during the school day.
If you have any health concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to Nurse Denise or Nurse Bryana.
First Day of School ~ Thursday, August 31st
Please send your student on the first day with a:
- full size backpack
- small snack
- water bottle
- extra clothes (if needed for accidents/ spills)
- Sneakers students can fasten independently (for recess and PE)
- smile
New students are asked to wear a name tag as well.
It is helpful to label all student belongings with their name. Many students have the same bags, coats, etc. It will help prevent lost or misplaced items.
Student Arrival & Dismissal
Bus Transportation
Click HERE to review bus routes and the bus schedule.
Drop Off & Pickup Procedures
- Student drop off is between 8:30 - 8:45. After 8:45 am parents need to drive to the main parking lot, park and ring the door bell for the student to be signed in tardy. Drop off doors close at 8:45 am.
- Student pick up is between 3:30 - 3:45 pm. Please do not enter the line prior to 3:20 pm.
Cars line up, by the sidewalk on the Torringford West side of the building. The drop off line should be accessed from Charles Street. The drop off entrance has been moved to enter right from Charles Street. You no longer need to enter via the bus driveway. Torringford staff will assist students exiting and entering cars on the passenger side of the vehicle.
You will be asked to show license or valid picture identification to staff when picking up your child.
SUGGESTED Student Supply Lists
Supply lists vary by grade.
Click HERE for our current suggested supply lists. Supplies can be dropped off during the meet and greet event or brought in by the student on the first day of school.
If you have a question or concern about your student's supply list, please call the main office at 860-489-2300.
School Calendar
Keep a copy of the school calendar on your refrigerator. Note the early dismissal days each month. Students are dismissed at 1:30 on early dismissal days. District Calendar
Updates and Changes to Your Student's Information
Please make sure you have updated any changes to email, phone number, or address with Julie Vold or Melissa Smith in the main office. We are using the current information on file to call, email, and mail correspondences. An updated registration form will go home with your child on the first day. Please return the form with changes so we can update our system.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to our friendly office staff at 860-489-2300.
Breakfast & Lunch
Please make sure our Health Office is aware of any food allergies if you are choosing school meals.
Snacks are not provided by the school. Send one small healthy snack and a water bottle each day.
Click HERE to review the August and September menus.
Meet & Greet - Monday, August 28th Between 2:00-3:00
Meet the teacher, navigate to the classroom, and drop off your school supplies. Families can stop by and play at the playscape to meet and mingle with each other. This is a quick drop in visit to help ease minds.
Please note, parents will not be allowed to walk students in on the first day of school.
We look forward to greeting our Torringford Tigers on Monday, August 28th, 2:00-3:00
5 Back to School Tips
- Begin shifting your student’s sleep routines several days before school starts. Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier than you normally would during the summer. Try to decrease your student’s screen time before going to bed.
- Read together every day! Children who are read to at least 20 minutes per day are exposed to almost 2 million words per year. Kids who engage in reading 20 minutes a day, statistics show, are likely to score better than 90% of their peers on standardized tests. Reading together is a great time to bond and model a love of reading.
- Review your student’s bus stop location, route assignment, and pick-up times. Bus routes can be found on the district website or by clicking HERE.
- Before the first day of school, make sure the school office has your correct contact information, including the current mailing address, phone number, email address, and emergency contact information.
- For our youngest students, it is helpful to write your student’s name, the parent/guardian name, address, and phone number on an index card or tag and secure this inside your student’s backpack. Also label jackets, hats, lunchboxes, and other items that will be brought to school with your student’s name and grade.
Click HERE to read additional tips provided by HealthyChildren.org provides additional Back-to-School Tips.
Attendance Matters
Help Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early
Starting in kindergarten, too many absences may cause children to fall behind in school.
- Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
- Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
- Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
- Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
- Connecticut defines truant as 4 unexcused absences in 1 month and chronically absent as missing 10% of the school year (18 days for the year). When your child is going to be absent you must call the attendance line and leave a message that morning before school. Absences can only be changed from unexcused to excused with a signed written note. Parents can excuse up to 9 absences per year. Beyond 9 absences, must be verified by a doctors note.
WHAT YOU CAN DO?
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Keep your child healthy with frequent hand washing and healthy food choices.
- Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
- Schedule medical appointments and trips when school isn't in session. We have early dismissal on the third Thursday most months. This is a great time to schedule day time appointments.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
If you are having concerns or need support to ensure your child attends school everyday, please reach out to our social workers, Deb Mordecai or Jim Dziekan. Melissa Smith is our attendance secretary and she can assist you as well.
Virtual Backpack
Check the virtual backpack each week. This can be found on Torringford School's webpage. This is where you will find flyers, forms, and notifications specific to Torringford School.
Click HERE to open up the Virtual Backpack!
Summer Reading
Torringford Parent Teacher Organization
Torringford Elementary School
Email: gaustin@torrington.org
Website: http://torringtontorringford.ss16.sharpschool.com/home
Location: 800 Charles Street, Torrington, CT, USA
Phone: (860) 489-2300
Facebook: facebook.com/TorringfordTigers