Lebanon Public Schools

– Henry Ford

Dear Lebanon Community,

I would like to wish you all a belated Happy New Year! May this year bring you joy, prosperity, and a wealth of opportunities.

In reflecting upon the past calendar year, I am full of gratitude for the unwavering support and dedication that our community has demonstrated. Your commitment to education and the betterment of our district has been the cornerstone of our success.

As we embark on the new year, we are excited to share again our ambitious district goals for 2024. Our commitment to academic excellence, fostering a nurturing environment, and promoting innovation remains steadfast. We are dedicated to creating an educational experience that empowers our students to thrive and become active contributors to society. The achievements of our district are a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines our community.

In 2024, we are confident that our shared aspirations will continue to guide us toward new heights of success. We view each member of our community as an essential team member in this endeavor. Your involvement, support, and unique perspectives are invaluable assets that propel us forward.

As we work towards our ambitious goals, we invite you to join us on this journey. Your input, enthusiasm, and engagement are vital components that will shape the future of our district.

Together, we can create an educational environment that not only meets the needs of our students but also prepares them to excel in an ever-evolving world.

I recently read a book titled, "How Will You Measure Your LIfe?" In one of the chapters it focuses on parents reverse engineering experiences to help their children be successful. One particular paragraph stood out to me and connects nicely to this message regarding goals.

"Encourage them to stretch- to aim for lofty goals. If they don't succeed, make sure you're there to help them learn the right lesson: that when you aim to achieve great things, it is inevitable that sometimes you are not going to make it. Urge them to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and try again. Tell them that if they're not occasionally failing, then they're not aiming high enough. Everyone knows how to celebrate success, but you should also celebrate failure if it's the result of a child striving for an out-of-reach goal."

This message is important for all of us to remember as we embrace the challenges and triumphs that the coming year holds, knowing that as a united community, we can overcome any obstacle.

Thank you for your continued partnership, and we look forward to another year of shared successes.

Best,

Superintendent Gonzalez

The 2024-2025 Lebanon Public Schools budget continues to be a work in progress. After receiving all requests from our teachers, departments and administrators we had an initial figure that would equate to a 6.1% increase. After a very careful review of the district budget I made the difficult decision to make what I consider to be necessary cuts specifically to supply line requests resulting in a reduction of the budget increase brining the projection down to 4.8% over the 2023-2024 operating budget. The projections remain fluid and this figure will likely change prior to me presenting the budget formally to our Board of Education in February. After the presentation to the Board I will share the slide deck with the community.

If you have any questions or would like to make suggestions regarding the budget please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Please see the flyer below and the letter that follows inviting you to be a part of the Lebanon Public Schools Strategic Planning process.

In the first month of the new calendar year we had 515 students who did not miss a day of school. This is impressive! We did have 58 students who missed 4 or more days. We understand everyone misses school but regular attendance should be the goal. Our schools are truly better when all our students are present and participating in learning.

Board of Education Curriculum Report - Lebanon Public Schools

January 2024

Rita Quiles-Glover, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Happy New Year! A new year provides a perfect opportunity for teachers to reset the classroom and support academic/social development with students. Goal setting empowers students to take ownership of their learning, promotes a growth mindset and improves academic achievement. It also encourages students to have a long-term vision of what they want to accomplish and short-term motivation to keep them inspired to work hard along the way. To this end, I-Ready focuses on goal setting during assessments. This is critical as LES and LMS prepare for their second diagnostic in mid-January and Lyman’s mid-year exams for all students. As with each assessment, data teams and/or departments will meet to review and create steps for targeted instruction/intervention with the intent of driving intervention groups and whole class instruction. Analysis of data and planning next steps for instruction are important to meet students at their respective levels of achievement. Recognizing growth, progress toward goals and areas for improvement closes gaps and increases student production/progress.

Setting academic goals with students for the new year is a great way to help focus on learning and personal development. Here are some ways teachers effectively set academic goals with their students:

• Reflect on the Past: Start by reflecting on the previous academic year. Discuss with students what went well, what challenges they faced and what was learned from those experiences. This reflection can provide insights into areas for improvement and growth.

• SMART Goals: Encourage students to set SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. SMART goals provide a clear and structured framework for goal-setting. For example, a goal like "Improve my math grades by 10% by the end of the semester through regular practice and seeking help when needed" is a SMART goal.

• Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: Help students identify academic strengths and target areas. This self-awareness can guide them to set goals that target areas for improvement while building on strengths.

• Short-Term and Long-Term Goals: Have students set both short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals could be achievable within a few weeks or a semester, while long-term goals may span the entire academic year. This helps students break down larger objectives into manageable tasks.

• Balance Academic and Personal Goals: Encourage students to consider both academic and personal development goals. This could include improving study habits, time management skills or developing effective communication skills. A holistic approach to goal-setting fosters well-rounded growth.

• Create Action Plans: Once goals are set, work with students to create action plans. Break down each goal into specific steps or tasks they need to complete. This makes goals more achievable and helps students stay focused.

• Monitor Progress: Regularly check in with students to monitor progress. This can be done through one-on-one meetings, progress reports or reflective journal entries. Adjust goals as needed and celebrate achievements along the way.

• Encourage Accountability: Foster a sense of accountability by having students share goals with a peer, teacher or family member. Knowing that others are aware of personal goals can motivate students to stay committed.

• Provide Resources and Support: Ensure that students have access to necessary resources and support to achieve goals. This might include extra help sessions, study materials or guidance on effective study strategies.

• Celebrate Achievements: Celebrate both small and large achievements. Recognition and positive reinforcement can boost students' motivation and confidence.

The goal-setting process is collaborative; students should feel empowered and motivated to work towards their academic aspirations.

Please see the newest version of this year's school calendar to reflect the recent weather related closures. Note that our new last day of school is June 12th.

House Bill 6880 raised the Kindergarten starting age from age 5 by January 1, to age 5 by September 1 of a given year.

General Statute 10-15c(a) reads "A student may be admitted early upon a written request by the parent or guardian of such child to the Principal of the school in which such child would be enrolled and following an assessment of such child by such Principal and an appropriate staff member of the school to ensure that admitting such child is developmentally appropriate"

We understand that we have families and students that this will impact. We have already met several times as an administrative team to discuss supporting our community with this change. More information about plans that are in progress will be shared at future preschool screenings, kindergarten orientations, during the registration process and in ongoing Superintendent Updates.

The CAS Leadership students were chosen based on both observations of our school-wide positive behavior expectations and performance on third grade Smarter Balanced Assessments and fourth grade iReady assessments. The conference was held on Thursday, January 4th at Asnuntuck Community College, in Enfield CT. Students attended break out sessions on leadership, problem solving, diversity and inclusion, and critical thinking skills. These young learners will be recognized at the February Board of Education meeting. Congratulations Isaac, Zoe, Catherine, and Troy!

Recently on one of my walks through the hallways of Lyman I saw an article from The Chronicle newspaper that featured one of our students and I immediately thought "I need to Spotlight this story". I met with Aidan earlier this week to talk about his project. Our interview notes are below:

Aidan is a Senior who lives in Chaplin and is a part of the VoAg program. He said he is having a great year and recently became an officer in the VoAg program. During our conversation you could sense the excitement (maybe it was because we had a two hour delay earlier that morning) about his Eagle Scout project.

He took me back to when he first noticed the overgrown and unkept historical monuments in Coventry. He said as soon as he saw the condition of the site he knew he had to do something. The monuments are dedicated to Harry McKusick who was a town forester, and Asher Wright who is said to have been Nathan Hale's right hand man during Revolutionary War. Aidan worked with the town to get approval to take on this project, and created draft of plan for improvement. As part of his restoration efforts he went to local landscaping companies to seek support and resources. He then worked diligently to clean and restore the area. When he finished he organized a reopening ceremony. Another exciting development along the way was that the town was adding sidewalks in the community and decided to add a walkway leading to the memorial site. This project took Aidan over a year from start to finish.

This is a perfect example of our Portrait of a Graduate in action. Aidan demonstrated responsible citizenship, engaged collaboration and effective communication. Way to go Aidan!

On January 9th our district celebrated the efforts of Officer Slonski. We are so fortunate to have him in our schools supporting our learners and keeping us all safe!

If you have been on our school campus lately you may have noticed that a lot of work is being done. Here is a bulleted list of some repairs and upgrades taking place across the district:

• LMHS roof repairs are ongoing and the coping for the concrete blocking has been ordered and is awaiting installation. (town surplus funds)
• LMHS auditorium lighting upgrades are scheduled to take place soon and we hope before the Spring musical. We have a signed contract and are awaiting contractor availability for installation. (Capital and Non-Lapsing Account funds)
• A new security system has been installed at each school. (town surplus funds)
• We had a kick off meeting with Eastern Data Comm who will be installing the LENS solution which will automate our emergency lockdown capabilities across the district. This project will most likely be done in March. More information will be shared with staff and our community as the installation is complete. (CT Safety Grant funds)

Lebanon Public Schools actively seeks to assist children and families by locating, identifying, and referring children from birth to age 22 who require special education and related services. If you are concerned about a child's development, you are encouraged to contact Lebanon Elementary School to receive information about Early Childhood Screenings.

If the child is younger than 3 years of age, you may choose instead to contact the Connecticut Birth to Three System at 1-800-505-7000.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact 860-642-5636.

Special Education Parents’ Meeting: Monday, February 5, 2024 Lebanon Middle School Library from 3 pm - 4 pm

This month’s focus: Meet Our Speech and Language Pathologists

Two of our Speech and Language Pathologists will be available to share their educational training, assessment procedures, treatment plans, and other information related to their work with learners.

Children are welcome. Snacks will be provided. Please RSVP via email to dawn.delia@lebanonct.org by Wednesday, January 31 if you plan to attend.

Families, please feel free to send photos of our students in action so that I can celebrate them in the Superintendent Updates. Thanks for helping share our Lebanon Pride! andrew.gonzalez@lebanonct.org

Sabena Escott, MSW sabena.escott@lebanonct.org

Lyman Memorial High School Social Worker and District Family Care Coordinator

With legislation over the summer, a family care coordinator has been added to the growing number of mental health staff that CT recognizes will further support our children and families in the school setting. The family care coordinator role already encompasses what our Lebanon school district mental health teams provide for students and families. Providing students with access to mental health resources within the community and bringing mental health services to students inside of the school has always been a priority in our district. Please reach out if there are any specific mental health topics, community programs, therapeutic referrals or town programs and resources that you would like to know more about. Below are a few programs and resources for students and families.

The Lebanon School District is excited to announce a new resource for any family that sends a child to a school in the Lebanon district, as well as the agencies/businesses/staff in those towns. Through our middle and high school School Based Diversion Initiative grant, we are excited to offer for free, the Peace at Home Parenting program through June 30, 2024. In partnership with Colchester, this community parenting, education and support program, utilizes an online subscription which provides a series of monthly workshops for parents/guardians, including, parenting children and teens, parent self-care, understanding developmental milestones, sibling communication, balancing children’s academics and after school activities, and many more. Classes are designed to cover age ranges from birth to young adults, so there is something for everyone!

All of these classes are FREE! Once registered, you can join any monthly live interactive class and attend recorded 10 Minute Videos through your smart phone, tablet or computer. During live online interactive classes you will be able to ask questions, get practical, evidence-based solutions and receive handouts with important learning points. There is even access to over 150 on-demand videos, monthly Q&A and private Facebook group resources.

Working together, our hope is that students continue to thrive at home and come to school more resilient and ready to learn!

Lebanon Social Services Office offers a variety of services to Lebanon children, adults, and seniors. Social Services Administrator Shelly Ashcom works with federal, state, and local organizations to provide assistance to Lebanon residents in need. Town of Lebanon Social Services

*The use of the resources/programs in this section are not required by LPS to be used by parents/guardians. They are recommendations only.*

Call or text a trained crisis counselor to talk:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. They’re free and available 24/7:
  Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

• Trevor Project (crisis intervention & suicide prevention for the LGBTQ community): 1-866-488-7386 or Text 678678

• Crisis Text Line: text CTL to 741741

NIMH offers brochures and fact sheets on mental health disorders and related topics for children, adolescents and their families. Printed materials can be ordered free of charge. Brochures and fact sheets in English and Spanish.

Housing and Homeless Services can be accessed through Coordinated Access Networks (CAN). Persons are prioritized for housing services based on an assessment to be completed after calling 211.

Housing and Homeless Services

Lebanon Public Schools is now in the App Store. On your phones, in the "app store" you can search Lebanon Public Schools and you should see our logo. Please install as another way to get notifications and news from our school district.

Scan these QR Codes and be brought to our Lebanon Public Schools webpage or the Superintendent Instagram page!

The Lebanon Public Schools, in partnership with families and the community, will prepare students to be contributing members of a diverse global society. We will provide a safe, nurturing, rigorous, and student-centered learning environment.

The school community of Lebanon is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Lebanon Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment and the District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, alienage, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other category protected under state or federal law in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its program or activities. The District also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups and is specifically required by Title IX not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs and activities. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for individuals with identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

The following person has been designated to handle inquires regarding Title IX sex discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, Title IX Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding other non-discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, 504/ADA Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

Email: andrew.gonzalez@lebanonct.org
Website: https://www.lebanonct.org/
Location: 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT, USA
Phone: 860-642-5637