SPOTLIGHT
on New Milford Schools
Dear New Milford Public Schools Families, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members,
We had an exceptional end to the 2023-24 school year with many events that celebrated the accomplishments of our students! On June 15, the New Milford High School Class of 2024 graduation took place on a beautiful weather day with a meaningful ceremony for families and graduates. We also found wonderful moments at our Adult Education graduation, the Schaghticoke MIddle School promotion ceremony, the Litchfield Hills Transition Center graduation, and the fun send-offs and celebrations at each school. June is one of the most joyful times of year for a school district.
We are already doing a lot of planning for the 2024-25 school year, and we can't wait to share all of our progress with you as the summer continues. Our ongoing improvements are intended to create growth and excellent experiences in our school district for students and families alike. One example is our new ParentSquare communication platform, which will be explained via email next week! ParentSquare will provide our district with more tools for family and student communication.
As we have completed another school year, I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to our families and whole community for the ongoing support of and care for our students and our schools throughout the year. Here's to peaceful and enjoyable summer days for us all.
Janet P. Parlato, Ed.D.
Superintendent of New Milford Public Schools
by Valerie J. Walsh
For my son,
Yesterday was your last race of your high school career. I know this, because you reminded me countless times, in an effort to see, in your words, “if you could make mom cry.” Which I didn’t. Those moments, you cannot plan. They are the ones that hit you at times you least expect them to.
Instead, I watched with bated breath. Breath that I saved to scream your name and Ben’s name, as you both raced 4 strategic laps of your final 1600 high school race, at the New England Championship.
“Ding…ding…ding…”
The bell lap rings.
“LET’S GO WALSH! LET’S GO BEN! LET’S GO COLLIN! LET’S GO BEN! GO…GO…KICK…KICK!!!”
Your family screamed as you rounded the final 200 meters with the lead, looking strong, fighting for the win. With the final straightaway left, two runners remained on your tail, then at your side, challenging you to continue to fight with everything you had left inside of you to cross the finish line, or rather, dive into for…
2nd place.
I know how much you wanted the title: “New England Champion of the 1600.” And, after all of the years I have watched you run, I also know by now, the only thing I can do in the aftermath of those moments, is to be your mom.
No inspirational words, no life lessons, nothing left to say, only hugs to give. Only time and grace to lend, to give you the space you need to process it all. I have learned this is not something I can do for you; this is something you have to do for yourself. It is these tough lessons from all of those 2nd place finishes, that will take you far in life.
The 2nd place finishes, especially the ones that are just a matter of seconds apart, (or less than in this race) that tend to sting more than the abrasions left across your body from the track that you dove across.
But when the pain subsides, both the physical and mental, something else becomes everlasting.
Everlasting will be your mindset. Your ability to cope with pain, conquer self-doubt and summon the inner-strength and resilience needed to overcome setbacks in life. These are things that cannot be measured by a stopwatch or fleeting title.
So, when you jokingly reminisced about all of your 2nd place finishes on our car ride home from the New England Championship Race, I knew then you are truly winning in life, by making all of those 2nd place finishes really count.
And, by the way, in case you didn’t know by now…
You are ALWAYS #1 in my heart.
Mrs. Valerie Walsh is a best-selling author of the memoir, Shattered to the Core and COREageous. She is also a Leader in Corporate Aviation, Mental Health Advocate and Leadership Presenter.
Student Leaders for a Change
The SMS club, Student Leaders for a Change met bi-weekly beginning at the end of October this school year. The group started at the tail end of the 22-23 school-year and really took off this year! During the final week of school, the group had a celebration and there was much to celebrate! The student leaders were hungry to increase student voice, raise participation in fun activities, and start meaningful activities and initiatives that will positive impact the SMS as a whole. In addition to sending some of our student leaders to the CAS Middle School Leadership Conference, student leaders were instrumental in the planning, promoting, and carrying out our Rising 6th Grade Open House, and for bringing the ABC Countdown to SMS! Student leaders also continued to spread our message of inclusivity through morning announcements and tailored activities through an initiative called, "Disabilities Do Not Define Us." Interested in joining our Student Leaders for a Change group? Applications will be made available during the first weeks of school. See Mr. Boucher for more information.
8th Grade Promotion Ceremonies
On Thursday, June 6, 2024 we celebrated the SMS Class of 2024 at our annual promotion ceremonies. As has been done in the past, promotion ceremonies were held for each team: red, yellow, and blue. Each ceremony included a student speaker who reflected on the time at SMS and provided words of inspiration for the journey ahead. The SMS Voices Ensemble and the Jazz Band also performed at each of the ceremonies.
Hooray for Math Olympians !
In June, we were very excited to learn that our Math Olympiad Team did exceptionally well! The SNIS team finished in the top 20% nationally in a division of 315 teams and over 59,000 students with scores.
Congratulations to Kai Abeyta Ubillos, Vicsan Beauvil, Abigail Bollaro, Harper Ellard, Bethany Hostetler, Brooke Betts, Mark Caverly, Lucinda Chapman, Augie De Lorenzo, Connor Deitz, Matthew Howard, Nick Liu, Kai Marcy, Connor McLean, Nika Melnikov, Douglas McCarthy, Victoria Montgomery, Molly Ohmen, Stella Pozzuto, Ethan Santos, Bree Smith, Charles Vengrove, Hailey Walling, and Jaeyoon Woods.
Kudos to Victoria Montgomery and Nick Liu, who finished in the top 25% nationally and Mark Caverly finished in the top 10%. We are so proud of these incredible Math Olympians.
Costume Race
We surprised our students with a "Blow Up Costume Race" on the last day. Many fun-spirited staff members suited up in crazy costumes (dinosaurs! sharks! unicorns! Cows!) to compete in three heats, with Mr. MacKessy ultimately taking the championship! It was uplifting, exciting and so much fun (for everyone)! This will be an annual event as it had us roaring with laughter!
Happy Summer !
All of us here at NES extend our warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and well-deserved break from school! We now plan to savor the summer but will look forward to seeing staff and students return in the fall. If you are planning to register for school in the fall, please get your paperwork in as soon as possible!
Don't blink! The first day of school is August 26th!
CORE VALUES CITIZENS!
These are the last groups of students that have shown our CORE VALUES.
Our 2nd graders wrote letters to Veterans who were going on an “Honor Flight” to Washington DC. These letters were included in a special envelope filled with others that all Veterans received on the flight home. Thank you Mrs. Regan, one of our 2nd grade teachers, for organizing this and to Mr. Regan who was a volunteer and delivered. The Veterans surely enjoyed their “Mail Call” on the ride home. Look at the joy on those faces! 🇺🇸 💙🐶
Thank you, second-grade teachers, (Mrs. Bollard for her artwork) Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Sanchez, Mrs. Adakonis, our custodians, and most importantly Mrs. Haynes for your lessons, guidance, help, patience, and support in making the 2nd grade send-off concert 🎶 such a success! 👏🏽 The students shined so brightly! 🌟 They were reminded to remember there's only one you, think of the CORE Values, and continue to live by them! 💙🐶 Once a bulldog, always a bulldog!
