Julian Curtiss Newsletter #12
November 15, 2024
At JC, our students and staff came together to honor and celebrate teh veterans who have served our country. Each class presented special, handmade gifts to show their appreciation, creating a heartfelt atmosphere filled with respect and gratitude. We were privileged to be virtually joined by a 96-year-old veteran Robert Russell, who shared his remarkable experiences from his time serving in the U.S. Army during WWII, the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and his 15 years in active and reserve service. Mr. Russell and other veterans shared their proudest moments related to their service, such as retiring from the Air Force, traveling Japan, supporting the Marshall Plan, and enjoying family time abroad in Germany.
Our students performed patriotic songs, filling the room with music and expressing their deep gratitude for the veterans present, those stationed around the world, and those who have passed on. The event was a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by so many and the strength of our community's shared commitment to honoring the service.
Thank you,
Eduardo Calderon and Claribel Michilena
Do you have a love for teaching and learning? Want to be part of an amazing school community? JC is the place for you! We are seeking enthusiastic, flexible individuals to join our dynamic team - help shape young minds and make a meaningful impact, one day at a time!
If interested, please let the Mr. Calderon or Mrs. Michilena know who you are and click on this link https://www.applitrack.com/greenwich/onlineapp to apply.
Feel free to pass this message along.
Friendly Reminder:
For the safety and comfort of all our students, we kindly ask that families refrain from bringing dogs onto school grounds (including our blacktop/playground area). We love our furry friends, but keeping our grounds pet-free helps ensure a safe environment for everyone. Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation!
Our 2nd graders will be taking the NWEA MAP assessment. The test is a computer-adaptive standardized test that measures a student’s reading, language usage, and math skills. It’s designed to measure a student’s progress and growth over time. The test helps educators understand where your child’s academic strengths and areas of growth are, so they can tailor instructions to meet your child’s unique learning needs. It also helps track your child’s academic growth over time. MAP scores, also known as RIT scores, are used to measure your child’s academic growth. There’s no passing or failing. Instead, the scores provide a snapshot of where your child is academically compared to their peers, and show how much they’ve grown over time.
In November, we’re excited to celebrate several meaningful themes with our students and school community. This month, we’re embracing gratitude, honoring Native American Heritage Month, celebrating Diwali—the Festival of Lights—and highlighting the diversity and unity that make our school such a special place. To enrich our exploration of these themes, we are reading Luli and the Language of Tea written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Hyewon Yum, an award-winning book that highlights the power of kindness and connection across languages and cultures.
The story emphasizes that when we seek to connect with others, we often look for a common bond. The word for “tea” sounds similar in many languages, and tea becomes the unifying metaphor that brings a diverse group of children together. In Native American culture, for instance, certain herbal infusions—often called “teas”—hold deep meaning. Plants such as mint, sage, three-leaf sumac, and cedar are used for their healing properties and for fostering community bonds, symbolizing respect and gratitude for nature’s gifts.
The book also includes fascinating material at the back that delves into the rich and ancient history of tea across cultures, featuring maps, statistics, and details that engage our readers and deepen their appreciation for shared traditions around the world. We’re excited to share these stories and experiences with our students as we learn and grow together.
