Colchester ConnectED
Colchester Public Schools - Spring 2024
Message from the Superintendent
Dear Students, Staff and Families:
Each spring, the district takes time to recognize the work of all of the employees in the Colchester Public Schools. While the designated appreciation days for school personnel occur throughout the spring, we celebrate everyone together as each role is essential to our daily operations. The board and I look forward to showing our gratitude during staff appreciation week beginning May 6, but I encourage students and families to consider sending an email or handwritten note to the people making a difference this year. It means more than you can imagine.
Last summer, the District Admin team identified Pride and Purpose as our leadership mantra. This decision was grounded in the acknowledgement that there is a lot of work to do in order to strengthen community confidence and trust, and that everything we do should have a clear purpose. While not part of the mantra, please know that our purpose is, “what is right and best for kids.”
As we moved into the school year, we sought to name the work groups formed to identify and address the needs of the district and it only seemed logical to begin with Pride and Purpose. Specifically those groups are Student Life, Professional Culture, BA Magnet, Facilities and Trust, Image and Perception. While each group has shared their work at a Board of Education meeting this year, the student life working group also shares survey results in this newsletter.
As Superintendent, I would like to take a moment to thank all of the staff, parents and community members that dedicated their time and efforts to begin this work. While no one person can get us where we want to go, I am confident that we can do great things when we work as a team with pride and purpose.
Daniel Sullivan
What We're Up To!
CPS Students and Staff participated in the District's "Sports Day" to Rally Against Cancer!
This event raised money to help strike out cancer for patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Mel's also held an event on April 1st where a portion of their sales were donated to the Rally!
Social Justice Topics at Bacon Academy
Superintendent Sullivan spent a morning at Bacon Academy working with students, staff and representatives from NCCJ on Social Justice topics relative to equity and inclusion.
Connecticut Innovation Collaboration
Innovation Convention at JJIS
JJIS held their annual Invention Convention! Under the guidance of Renee Anderson, 13 young inventors created projects to share. We would like to congratulate the following students who will be moving forward in the competition:
Kaydence Bedner
Ellie Belding
Juliet Orlando
Celebrations & Acknowledgements
The Continental Math League is a national contest open to grades 2 through Advanced Placement mathematics students. It is designed to complement and improve students' progress in the art of problem solving. Students are challenged three times a year with contest meets. They are given 30 minutes to work through 6 questions on each meet. The top six scores comprise the team's cumulative total and are ranked with other grade 2/3 teams across the country.
Our grade 2 Colchester Elementary School Cardinals met weekly to work together on problem solving challenges that included card and dice games, spatial reasoning tasks, patterns, puzzles, and mathematical problems that required perseverance and communication. While math in the classroom sometimes comes easily for these students, Continental Math League pushes them to consider rigorous problems outside the usual curriculum scope. In our first year, our CES Cardinals were the top team in their division within Connecticut, and were 5th place in the New England Region! We have been so proud of how our Cardinals demonstrated enthusiasm, teamwork, and the willingness to take risks.
The following Grade 2 students comprise our 2023-24 Continental Math League:
Leo Battaglino
Skylar Bigelow
Flynn Bryant
Oliver De Leon-Nadeau
Landon Johnson
Luke Manning
Arabella Martz
Kash Parekh
Cole Pastuszak
Our top three highest scoring students, all with a tied high score of 13 out of a possible 18 total points are:
Flynn Bryant
Oliver De Leon-Nadeau
Landon Johnson
Thank you to Mrs. Murray for supporting new learning opportunities and to our CES Cardinals for challenging them to always fly higher.
Pride and Purpose Student Life Work Group Survey
The Pride and Purpose Student Life Work Group’s goal is to identify obstacles that Colchester students face in terms of acceptance and a positive school experience; to identify challenges students face in the transition between schools; to identify student safety concerns; and to make recommendations to school and district leadership relative to steps that can be taken to improve the student experience here in Colchester.
In order to gain a better understanding of where the Student Life Work Group should focus its efforts, K-12 students and parents were surveyed and 2047 responses were collected.
K-5 Survey Highlights
903 Students completed the survey.
89% of Students reported that they feel safe at school.
97% of Students reported they have at least one classmate they consider a friend.
89% of Students report that their school offers fun activities.
94% of Students report that there is an adult at school who cares about them.
97% of Students reported that students were sometimes or always kind to them.
Areas of Focus for the Student Life Work Group
16% of Students reported that they were not kind to others.
21% of Students reported that they do not follow the school rules.
6-12 Survey Highlights
924 Students completed the survey.
85% of Students agree that Bacon Academy encourages students to take challenging courses; no matter their socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, nationality, and/or cultural background.
83% of Students reported that they feel safe at school.
77% of Students reported they have at least one staff member they are connected with.
80% of Students report that their school welcomes and accepts a variety of identities.
Areas of Focus for the Student Life Work Group
32% of Students are not aware of upcoming events that are happening in their school.
44% of Students report that if WJ and BA offered a late bus, they would be encouraged to participate more in after school clubs and activities.
53% of Students reported that homework is a barrier that prevents them from participating in more school sponsored events.
31% of Students reported that they have no interest in participating in after school activities.
Parent Survey Highlights
88% of Parents report their child feels safe at school.
90% of Parents report that their child has a sense of belonging in their school.
96% of Parents report they have an understanding of the school rules.
88% of Parents agree that Bacon Academy encourages students to take challenging courses no matter their socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, nationality, and/or cultural background.
93.5% of parents are aware of upcoming events that are happening in their child's school and know how to access the information.
Areas of Focus for the Student Life Work Group
72% of parents report that if WJ and BA offered a late bus, their child would be encouraged to participate more in after school clubs and activities.
43% of parents report they do not have a staff member within the school that they are connected with.
20% of parents report that the schools do not encourage them to be active partners in educating their child.
The Student Life Work Group is composed of multiple stakeholders within the community: Teachers, Parents, Para Professionals, Office Professionals, BOE Members, School Administrators. As a group we will look to use this data to continue the conversation on creating school and community based activities that help all students feel accepted, connected, and ready to learn.
Best,
Michael Mal (Co-Chair Student Life)
Renne Anderson (Co-Chair Student Life)
Employee Spotlight
Pauline Goetz is the newly appointed Human Resources Coordinator at Colchester Public Schools, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous role as a Human Resources Specialist in the New London Public School system. Currently pursuing her master's degree in Human Resource Management at the University of Connecticut, Pauline is dedicated to advancing her knowledge and skills in the field.
With a strong academic background, including a BA in Psychology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, as well as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Certificate from Cornell University, Pauline is well-equipped to support the diverse needs of educators and school staff.
Passionate about making a positive impact on student education, Pauline is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment within Colchester Public Schools. Beyond her professional pursuits, she enjoys reading and exploring thrift stores in her free time.
Pauline looks forward to contributing to the Colchester Public Schools community and supporting its members in their roles.
Important Upcoming Dates
Early Release Day April 26, 2024
Early Release Day May 24, 2024
No School May 27, 2024
Early Release Day June 17, 2024
Early Release Day & Last Day of School June 18, 2024
127 Norwich Avenue
Suite 202
Colchester, CT 06415
Phone (860) 537-7267