Concord Magnet Thursday Notice

A wonderful place where we all learn and grow . . .

Email: lakint@norwalkps.org

Friday, May 31: "Spread the Sparkle" Day

Friday, May 31: ASM - Carnival Trio Performance, 2:00 pm

Monday, June 3: Pride Parade, 2:00 pm

Monday, June 3: CMS Night at Mr. Frosty's, 6:00-9:00 pm

Tuesday, June 4: 6th Grade Orientation, 6:00 pm

Wednesday, June 5: Middle & Elementary Strings, Band & Chorus Concert, 1:30 & 7:00 pm

Sunday, June 9: PTA End-of-Year Picnic, 1:00-3:00 pm

Monday, June 10: CMS Day at Garden Catering, 2:00-9:00 pm

Tuesday, June 11: 8th Grade Promotion, 6:00 pm

Wednesday, June 12: All School Meeting honoring Officer Holms, 9:30 am

Thursday, June 13: 2- Hour Early Dismissal, 1:30 pm

Thursday, June 13: 5th Grade Moving Up ASM, 9:45 am

Friday, June 14: 2-Hour Early Dismissal, 1:30 pm

Friday, June 14: End-of-Year All School Meeting, 9:30 am

FRIDAY, JUNE 14: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Under blue skies and a sparkling sun, the students of Concord Magnet School took to the sidewalks of the City of Norwalk and carried the Olympic Torch on a five-hour relay journey. Dressed in Olympic Shirts and black shorts, the runners carried a torch from the 1996 Olympics, an American Flag and an Olympic Flag on a circuitous journey that took them past almost every school in this fine city. Running in groups of two and three, they wound their way along the sidewalks.

As they approached schools, they were greeted with thunderous applause, cheering students holding signs with words like “You can do it,” and “Go USA’ and staff who had graciously come out to support the runners. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and it touched the heart in a very special way. One wondered what was going through those young minds as they saw students carrying a torch past their school. And what we the runners were feeling as they ran by these cheering voices at this special moment in their lives? On they journeyed on the sidewalks, up hills, over bridges, passed more schools -- all CMS students in grades 4-8 getting a chance to be a part of this remarkable “ride.”

With a police car escort the whole way, parents driving students to their predetermined running places, staff back at school, working together to pull this complicated event together, it truly spoke of the spirit of community that has always been a part of CMS.

While the older students took to the streets with the torch, the younger grades, K-3, got to feel the spirit of the day by relaying a torch around the school field with their classmates. Dressed in similar shirts, they too felt the joy of being part of this team effort, to give students a hands-on learning experience that has always been an important part of the philosophy of CMS.

Sitting in the police car and watching this all unfold was truly magical. As runners approached the next team, you could see them jumping up and down with excitement as they awaited their turn to run. Parents with cameras capturing the moment of their child’s run, other interested spectators observing the event and signs on cars carrying the runners to their places, gave a festive feel to the day. A parade of cars built up behind the pace car, which led to some traffic snarls but Officer Holms and the other police car with us kept everyone calm and allowed traffic to go by. We could not do something like this without their help.

And while this torch run was going on, over in France the Olympic Flame is being carried through cities, towns and villages on its way to Paris for the opening of the Olympics in July, a rich tradition of the Olympics and not much different from what CMS did on this day. Norwalk was fortunate to have the torch come through in 1984 on its way to Los Angeles and in 1996 on its way to Atlanta. On that occasion, the students from CMS who had just participated in the Torch Run got to watch it along Connecticut Ave. What a memory that was!

With this being the 40th anniversary of the torch run at CMS, alumni were invited to the school to do a lap around the field to begin the run. Smith Mowry, Physical Education Teacher at CMS, who did a superb job organizing the run, invited me to lead them around the field and I was truly honored by that special gift. It was so incredible to see students from the earlier runs return to school. Among them were Andy Pank, Megan O’Marra, Becky Rosenbluth and Emily Forcellina from the 1984 group, Denny Schulman (wearing her shirt from that time), Rachel Koteen from 1988 and some other students, Urban Mullverhill, Allison Lindsay, Kyle and Jenna Morrow and Tony Ferrara from my eras. Many other students who had run after I retired joined the fifty or so alumni who came.

On this beautiful day in May, so many thoughts passed through my mind. How lucky I had been to work in such a special school; to have had principals like Art Perschino and Marilyn Liberatore to work for, who supported my ideas and let me go with them. The many fabulous students, parents and staff that I had a pleasure to work with over my career at CMS. And the joy to see this wonderful project continue over the years, led by Smith Mowry and the present staff.

One brief shining moment that has touched many lives and continues to shine.

Friday, May 24, 2024 was one of those extra special CMS days! Continuing the CMS Torch Run tradition for this 40th anniversary has been no easy feat! The planning, the routing, the permits, the coordinating, the scheduling, the drivers, the volunteers, the alumni, and, of course, our amazing, amazing student runners! Thank you Mr. Smith for agreeing to take this on. Your calm, easy demeanor made it seem effortless - although we know that was not the case! Thank you to all who helped keep this dream alive!

Concord Magnet second, third, and fourth grade students have an awesome opportunity to learn how to play hockey with the NY Rangers. Students will be transported by bus to the SoNo Ice house for this amazing experience. Second Grade and Mrs. Baker's 3rd Grade went today and Ms. Dana's 3rd Grade and 4th Grade are going tomorrow, Friday, May 31. Classroom teachers have sent home permission slips and waivers with all the details. Parent chaperones are invited but must meet the students at the SoNo Ice House, 300 Wilson Avenue, Norwalk.

Emma Splan was a CMS first grader who sparkled with love. She loved dance, art, and especially animals. Sadly, we lost Emma, but we continue to share and celebrate her special magic each year with "Spread the Sparkle" Day.

On Friday, May 31, we will celebrate Emma by wearing pink, purple, sparkles, or whatever makes YOU happy! We are looking forward to a day filled with love, kindness, fun and surprises!

"Emma's Plan," is a charity that raises charitable donations through localized fundraising events to provide opportunities to be exposed to and support the different things that Emma loved; children, animals, and the arts. If you are interested in learning more about Emma's Plan, please go to: https://www.emmasplan.com/

• Friday, May 31: Carnival Trio Performance, 2:00 pm Outdoors
• Wednesday, June 5: Middle School & Elementary Strings, Band and Chorus Concert, 1:30 & 7:00pm. Performers please report to the auditorium by 6:30 pm for evening performance.
• Wednesday, June 12: ASM Honoring Officer Holms on his retirement.
• Thursday, June 13: Fifth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 9:45 am
• Friday, June 14: End-of-Year All School Meeting, 9:30 am

Concord Magnet K-8 is a place where we celebrate our differences, uniqueness, and individuality. At 2:00 pm on Monday, June 3 we will hold a Pride Parade on the field. We are asking each grade level to wear a specific color shirt so when we join together we will form our own rainbow! Parents, please join us!

Grade Level Colors:

Kindergarten: Red

1st Grade: Orange

2nd Grade: Yellow

3rd Grade: Green

4th Grade: Blue

5th Grade: Purple

6th & 7th Grade: Choice of colors

8th Grade & Non-classroom staff: White

For a limited time MAY 29 - JUNE 2 ONLY - we are offering CMS Spirit Wear for a discounted price. Get yours now before the prices increases on June 3. If you need an order form to pay by cash/check, please email Valerie Ingenito at valerie102780@gmail.com and she will send one your way.

Go to the website below to view and order Spiritwear.
https://concordmagnetschool.givebacks.com/store?limit=21...

This evening is for current 5th grade families staying at CMS for middle school and new families entering 6th grade next year.

The Tiny Miracles Foundation started in 2004 as one of the first organizations to offer a range of parent support services in hospitals for the parents of premature babies. They are a local Fairfield and New Haven County, Connecticut organization currently partnering with 6 area hospitals in our community.

Congratulations to the following CMS students whose work is included in the Norwalk City-Wide Art Show. Their work will be on display at The Norwalk Art Space on West Avenue through June 6, 2024.

Zara Asif, Kindergarten

Emily Ferrara, Kindergarten

Olivia Pantoja, Gade 1

Aria Brockway, Grade 1

Peyton Burden-Smith, Grade 2

Deyren Perdomo, Grade 2

Rory McNicholas, Grade 2

Alexander Gode, Grade 2

Jaylan Ortega-Lima, Grade 4

The CMS PTA website offers PTA contact information, the current PTA Executive Board, a Calendar of Events and more. Check it out at the link below:

https://sites.google.com/view/concordmagnetschoolpta/

Our two parent groups on Facebook, "CMS Parents Group" and "CMS - en Espanol Group," are private groups open only to members of the CMS community (parents and staff). We ask you to answer a few questions before being approved for membership to ensure our sites remain private. This way we can comfortably live stream All School Meetings and share photos of school/class activities, field trips and PTA events. We welcome your participation, but please remember to fill out the membership questions. Thank you.

"Concord Magnet School K-8" is our public page.

"CMS Parents Group" is a closed group open only to CMS parents and staff.

"CMS - en Espanol Group" is for our Spanish-speaking parents.