Although my office is located in the center of town, I like to start my days “up the hill” by visiting at least one of the schools to speak with New Fairfield students and staff. This routine helps keep me connected to the schools and familiar with current issues affecting our school community.

In hallways and classrooms, I am greeted with friendly smiles from our students and I enjoy the opportunity to speak with them about their learning, current events and activities. I am also amazed by the varied talents of our students, as well as their ability to effectively communicate their opinions and ideas.

At the same time, I witness the amazing dedication of our talented staff who work tirelessly to assist our students in meeting their potential. The strong connections and learning environments they foster allow our students to thrive academically and developmentally.

I also want to acknowledge the continued partnership that we have with families as we work together to support students at school and at home. I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the countless hours that parents volunteer to the schools whether it is at events like the recent production of Annie Jr. or behind the scenes to support their child’s classroom or athletic team. We couldn’t do it without you!

As we approach Thanksgiving, I am reminded of how much there is to be thankful for within our school community. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to students, staff and families for the unique role you play in making New Fairfield a special place to learn and grow.

Warm regards,

Ken

Kenneth G. Craw, Ed. D.

The New Fairfield Junior Rebel Players presented a wonderful performance of Annie Jr this past weekend. The show was a one-hour version of one of America's most beloved musicals. The talented cast of over 40 students in grades 6-9 brought smiles to fans of all ages in the audience. Thank you to the cast and crew, and also to all of the volunteers who made this production such a success!

During the week of November 11–15, NFES students and staff participated in a meaningful celebration of Kindness Week in honor of World Kindness Day on November 13th. Throughout the week, students explored the importance of intentional acts of kindness and how they can make a positive impact on their community. Highlights of the week included:

- A school-wide food drive benefiting the New Fairfield Food Pantry to demonstrate the power of collective generosity.

- Engaging read-alouds in classrooms by administrators and student support staff to emphasize the importance of empathy and kindness.

- Classroom activities and discussions focused on spreading kindness within our school and beyond.

This week was a wonderful reminder of the importance of kindness in building a strong, connected community.

NFES held their annual Veterans Day breakfast, parade, and assembly for students to honor their family members who have served our country in the armed forces. Veterans Day was a tremendous morning throughout the school, a wonderful educational experience for all of our students and an opportunity for Veterans in our community to know our sincere appreciation.

Veterans Day at New Fairfield Middle School was marked by a special tribute and celebration of veterans near and far. Mrs. Ogden and the NFMS Treble Rebels put together a beautiful tribute to veterans who we hold dear to our hearts.

Students also learned about Honor Flights. Honor Flights are an opportunity to honor and thank the Americans who secured our freedom by bringing them to the nation’s capital to see the memorials that commemorate their service. On the return flight, veterans receive mail, letters and cards that contain messages of appreciation and gratitude. NFMS students wrote beautiful messages to be shared on an upcoming flight!

Thank you to all who served and continue to serve our country.

The NFHS DECA chapter organized our Veteran's Day Ceremony in conjunction with Mr. Chapleau. Flags were sold to honor local veterans and a donation was made to the NF Veteran's Association. On Veteran's Day, three speakers came to speak with the student body in a school day assembly. Students had the opportunity to hear the true meaning of Veteran's Day and stories from the Veterans in their presence.

Additionally, the NFHS DECA chapter organized a food drive for the NF Food Pantry which ended on November 11th. NFHS donated over 400 items to the food pantry in time for the holiday season.

DECA is a nationally recognized chartered organization for high school and college students interested in business. The organization prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Our students learn by doing, running our school store, the Rebel Supplier, as well as planning, organizing and carrying out various school and community events and missions.

On Thursday, November 14th, NFES hosted its Annual Reading Campout, an evening dedicated to celebrating the joy of reading with our school community. It was heartwarming to see so many families come together to share in this special event.

Families were invited to bring blankets and books to create a cozy reading atmosphere. The evening began with a delightful read-aloud of "Happy Dreamer" by Mrs. Story, setting an inspirational tone for the event. Families then enjoyed a variety of activities. To close the evening, Dr. Hilderbrand captivated everyone with another read-aloud and left families with a heartfelt reminder that reading can take anyone on an incredible journey.

In the spirit of giving, all remaining books from the event will be donated to the Southbury Public Library, which is rebuilding its collection after the devastating flood on August 18th.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made this evening so memorable. Together, we are fostering a love of reading and building connections that strengthen our community.

It has been a wonderful fall! First graders from NFES enjoyed a trip to Barton Orchards in Poughquag, NY, where they learned about the lifecycle of an apple and picked them fresh from the tree. They also explored a corn maze and picked a pumpkin from the patch.

Back at NFES, students have been learning about characters in fiction stories and brought pumpkins from home decorated as their favorite character.

The new Mindfulness Room at NFES runs on positivity, kindness, and a little luck. Dedicated staff members and students run the room with shared responsibilities and creativity. November's theme was Gratitude and The Giving Tree. Each NFES student was given a gratitude journal and an opportunity to visit the room which had activities to support gratitude and healthy, calm minds. Thank you to the PTO and others in our school community for supporting this work with supplies and donations.

On November 22nd, students from REACH and Enrichment at NFMS went on a field trip to the Connecticut Old State House, a museum dedicated to Connecticut history and the conservation of historical information and artifacts. Students toured the museum, heard fascinating stories about rights and responsibilities in Connecticut's history, participated in a workshop about using primary sources in research, and explored an interactive exhibit about Hartford's transformations from the 1600s to today. It was a great day!

The New Fairfield High School Chamber Singers visited the middle school this month to meet, mingle, and sing with the 8th grade chorus classes. Mr. Gadwah and Mrs. Ogden each led the combined groups in a warm-up exercise, then the students performed a song they're learning for their upcoming concerts. Lastly, singers had a chance to chat with each other about their experiences in chorus and their shared love of music. It was a wonderful cross-grade experience for all!

The NFMS 7th and 8th Grade Bands joined the NFHS Marching Band for the Rebels Varsity Homecoming Game on October 25th. A special thank you to the Fine Arts Boosters for making supporting our students and making this an enjoyable evening for all!

New Fairfield Middle School Student Council ran a food drive in November. Middle School students and staff in grades 6, 7, and 8 were able to donate over 450 food items. This food will be donated to local food pantries. All participants of the student council are proud of the amount of food our building could donate to families in need in the area.

On Wednesday, November 6th, the New Fairfield High School chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed 32 new members at their induction. These students undertook a rigorous application process, highlighting their qualifications to be selected as members. The students who were ultimately inducted exemplify the four pillars of the NHS here in New Fairfield: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. Congratulations!

On October 29th, students were inducted into one of the five World Language National Honor Societies. The five languages represented are Italian, French, Spanish, Latin and Mandarin. We are so very proud of our students' commitment to learning a second language and for the hard work and dedication they demonstrated to earn induction into these prestigious societies. Families came to celebrate their achievements and enjoyed refreshments served by Andrea Forzaglia and her culinary students after the ceremony.

New Fairfield High School is excited for the robotics competition season! We sent two teams to a recent tournament this past Saturday. Our teams tackled obstacles of coding and size parameters but persisted in their matches, placing 46th out of 65 teams in one match and 37th out of 65 teams in another. Congratulations to New Fairfield Robotics and we look forward to the competitions ahead!

NFHS UConn ECE French students attended the annual French Immersion Day and Quiz Bowl Competition on November 14th on the UConn Campus. Students attended academic sessions, were culturally immersed in the language, and practiced speaking while learning about French culture and interacting with other French-speaking Connecticut High Schoolers. It was an inspiring day that showcased their commitment and continued to foster their growth in the language.

The Spanish Club created the Día de Los muertos ofrenda theaters displayed in the main lobby of the high school. A Día de los Muertos ofrenda, or altar, is a colorful display of items that honors deceased loved ones and welcomes their spirits back home. The tradition dates back to the Pre-Hispanic era and is celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries. After learning about this tradition, members of the Spanish club created their own version of an "ofrenda" that was displayed in the main lobby of the high school for all to enjoy.

Joseph Perkus, a 2016 alumnus of NFHS, made a return visit this month, speaking to American Government and US History classes about his role as a legislative liaison between Governor Lamont and the state legislature. Mr. Perkus engaged the students with an exciting and interactive discussion and presentation regarding his role representing and negotiating on behalf of the Governor as a member of the Office of Policy and Management. He also addressed his role as a regional campaign leader in Governor Lamont's 2022 successful reelection bid. Mr. Perkus shared his journey from his years at NFHS to his current responsibilities in state government, and he highlighted the role that his education at NFHS played in his career path. His extensive expertise in the political and lawmaking process provided wonderful insights to students about politics and government. Mr. Perkus is the son of Mrs. Angela Stolfi, NFHS English Teacher and 9-12 English Program Leader.

On November 2nd and 3rd, the NFHS Rebel Players proudly presented their fall play, The Dining Room, by A.R. Gurney. In this comedy of manners set in a single dining room, seventeen students created 57 independent characters inhabiting eighteen scenes, and were supported by ten students involved in the stage management, set, and technical elements. This type of intensely focused drama allowed students to learn and hone their crafts of acting and stage work, and to bring audiences into a truly realistic world throughout the play.

On Friday, November 1st, the New Fairfield High School conducted a mock election. Students and staff were invited to participate and complete a sample New Fairfield ballot, including the six political offices. It was a wonderful learning opportunity for students to simulate the voting process and practice civic participation!

Unified Volleyball Kicked off this year with High School and Middle School students. This Special Olympic event combines athletes with and without intellectual disability or other developmental delays on sports teams for training and competition. The students are of similar age and teams are placed in competitive divisions based on their skill abilities and range from developmental to recreational to competitive. This year the unified team is at the recreational level and began working with an Inclusive Youth Leadership program. We had over 30 partners and athletes at our practices! Several students attended the Unified Sports Leadership Conference at Staples High School and the Regional Unified Sports Youth Summit at Rock Hill High School. We had our first Unified Volleyball Invitational with Bethel on November 20th with cheerleaders, fun activities for the students, volleyball game play, freeze dance, and a pizza party. Congratulations to all the wonderful students who participated!

The Rebels Girls Cross Country team was victorious at the Class M State Cross Country Championship to earn their 3rd consecutive State Championship! Congratulations!