Hello AAE Families and welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!

We had a fantastic first day and a fantastic first week of school! It has been truly wonderful to welcome back all of our returning students and to meet all of our new students! This includes all of our brand new sixth graders, as well as new students who have joined us at almost all of the other grade levels. We're so excited to welcome you all!

Our goal as a school is to foster excellent communication between the school and your home. You can expect weekly newsletters like this from us. These will include updates and important information about upcoming school events. These school newsletters are are primary but not only form of communication. We also will send individual emails, along with phone calls and text messages, if you opt-in for school text messages.

We also are working to increase and improve our use of social media to communicate with all of you and to promote and feature our school. Hopefully you had a chance to view my social media reel after our first day of school. If you don't already, you can follow me at @crecaerospace on Facebook and Instagram. I also encourage family members to join the AAE Middle / High School Community Facebook group, where families share updates, ask questions, etc. I regularly share newsletters and other information to that group.

Of course we are always available by email and phone as well. If we can be of assistance, please call our main office at (860) 243-0857 or email aaemainoffice@crec.org. If you would like to email the whole AAE administrative team, you can email aaeadminteam@crec.org. You can also feel free to email us individually.

A few important announcements & reminders from Mr. Johnson

• For your awareness, please note that this year's AAE Open House will be held on Thursday, September 12th from 5:00 - 7:30 PM. As we get closer to that event we will share more information.
• This Wednesday morning during advisory, we all will practice our school lockdown emergency protocol. CREC Security & Safety leadership will be on hand to assist us.
• We DO NOT have early release days on September 11, 12 and 13 - those are only early release days for the elementary schools. We DO have an early release on September 18th.

Thanks Everyone! Its going to be another great week at AAE!

Mr. Johnson

Wednesday, September 18 - Half Day (11:00 Dismissal)

The after school club schedule is not yet final. Mr. Copeland and Mr. Johnson are working on it. As soon as it is ready, we will announce it in this newsletter, morning announcements and student advisory classes.

Field Trips will be starting soon! Make sure you have logged into the Powerschool parent portal so you will be ready to go! Science teachers are also requesting you to go into the portal to complete lab safety agreements so your students can do labs this year. Thank you!

Dear AAE Families,

We hope you and your students are off to a fantastic start this school year! It's been a great couple of days here at AAE!

We are beginning distribution of student laptops for all students in grades 8-12. Students in grades 6 and 7 will have access to school computers in their classes, but will not be provided with individual devices.

Prior to your student receiving their laptop, we must have a signed Technology Use Agreement on file for this school year. Please review this agreement and complete this Google Form https://forms.gle/85MQrLWeGC2mer3J9 acknowledging your understanding and agreement with this policy. Completing this form as soon as possible will ensure your student receives their school computer without delay.

Your student will not receive their laptop until this form is completed. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

The UConn Pre-Engineering Program (PEP) is a weekly Saturday enrichment program for current 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students! They designed the program to have hands-on STEM exploratory activities, Empowerment Sessions, and STEM Moments with Homework Help opportunities! You get to do fun STEM activities and get help with your math and science homework! The deadline to register is September 10th! They also have plenty of scholarship money available so please don't let the cost stop you from signing up! Please use the following link to get more information about the program and to register:

6th grade students are practicing interdisciplinary skills as they connect science and art in learning about Frida Kahlo’s life experiences and culture. Please contact me at aolmstead@crec.org if you have any connection to local Mariachi bands!

Welcome and Welcome Back to AAE!

I hope you and your family had a restful summer and are ready to head back to school, the first week of school has been fast and exciting! We wanted to send a quick introductory email about who we are, what our role is and how we can help support you and your child this year.

First, we have had a few changes to the school counseling department over the summer. Our previous grade 6 and 7 counselor, Terry Gregoire, has retired. As a result we have a new face and a new model in our department. Please see below for a caseload breakdown.

Jen Skitromo – Middle School, last names A-L (with a few Ms), jskitromo@crec.org

Hannah Kaizer – Middle School, last names M-Z (minus a few Ms). hkaizer@crec.org

Once your child is in high school, they will transition to one of our two high school counselors who have a similar caseload breakdown.

We are excited to build a strong, comprehensive middle school, school counseling program. We know that the middle school years can be difficult, but also a time of unprecedented growth and excitement. As school counselors, we work with all students and their families to help navigate this time. Your child will often see us in the classroom leading lessons, checking in with them or their friends, or in the hallway and cafeteria to say hi. We cover topics like conflict resolution, advocating for self and others, goal setting, college and career aspirations, time management, organization, in short many of the skills that aren’t a discrete skill for a job, but necessary to get the job done! We also are a great resource for you and your child if they are struggling academically or with a teacher and if they have concerns about themselves or their friends.

In the meantime, as you and your child get back into the routine of school please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. While we are rarely in our office (we like to be where your kids are!) we will always get back to you in a timely fashion. The best way to ensure this is to email us. Even if you’d like a phone call, email us with some times you’re available and we’ll do our best to not to play phone tag with you.

Jen Skitromo & Hannah Kaizer

jskitromo@crec.org;

hkaizer@crec.org

Meet the Counselors.pdf

Good afternoon parents,

The SNAP health portal is a communication platform that allows for sharing information with your child's school nurse as well as the ability to have access to your child's health information.

If you would like your child to receive Tylenol and Motrin while at school, this portal allows parents to give written permission to the school nurse.

Attached are instructions of how to create your account.

Thank you.

SNAP Health Portal.pdf