SPOTLIGHT

The end of the calendar year provides us with opportunities to reflect upon where we have been, and where we are headed in the future. Our district's positive momentum continues to grow in each school, as we build strong learning experiences across classrooms, encourage safe, welcoming, and respectful environments, and work diligently with families and communities to make sure that students are staying on track with their progress. In May, our district budget passed at referendum, and we are grateful for the community's support as we invest those budget dollars in our students and our schools. Moving into 2025, we will reinforce through actions our district ideals of Focus, Heart, Collaboration, and Creativity; we will continue to insist upon positive school and district climates; and we will encourage a mindset of innovation in our daily work.

Our partnerships with families and our community are essential for our district to grow and thrive. Thank you for your continued support of our students and our schools as we enter a new year filled with possibilities!

Sincerely,

Janet P. Parlato, Ed.D.

• January 20th: Martin Luther King Day ~ Schools Closed
• January 23rd: Schaghticoke Incoming 6th Grade Open House ~ 6pm (snow date 1/30)
• January 31st: Hill and Plain PTO Family Fun Night Paint Along ~ 5:30-6:30 and 7-8pm (snow date 2/7)
• February 5th: HPS PTO Meeting ~ 6:30pm
• February 6th: Staff PD Day: Early Release for students
• February 7th: Town Wide PTO Spirit Day ~ Favorite Sports Team
• February 7th: NES PTO Bingo Night ~ 5:30pm
• June 14th: Graduation ~ 10:00am @ NMHS Joe Wiser Stadium

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Mr. Raymond Manka, Principal

Mr. Kevin Best, Assistant Principal

Dr. Megan Dwyer, Assistant Principal

Mr. Anthony Blake, Assistant Principal

Congratulations to the WAVE Award recipients ! WAVE awards are given to students who go above and beyond expectations.

On December 18th, US History students went on a field trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. At Ellis Island, they explored the site while actively learning about the immigration process. Afterward, we took the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, where students toured the area, delved into its history, and reflected on its symbolism. Having just completed our immigration unit, which covered the history of Ellis Island and the reasons behind immigration to America, the trip provided students with the opportunity to experience these topics firsthand.

On December 11th, 50 high school students from the Children’s Literature classes visited students in grades K-2 at Hill and Plain Elementary School. As part of a major project, the Children’s Literature students wrote and illustrated their own original children’s picturebooks. The students then visited 30 different classrooms at HPS and read their original books to small groups of students.

This field trip to Hill and Plain Elementary takes place every semester and is the highlight of the course as it reflects what the students have learned about children’s literature. The field trip is a great learning experience for both high school students and elementary students.

The National Honor Society filled 23 stockings for Camilla's Cupboard and designed and delivered over 100 homemade Holiday Cards to the Senior Center. Our December meeting was a gingerbread making contest with Officer Bollero as one of our judges.

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Ms. Linda Scoralick, Principal
Mr. Michael Boucher, Assistant Principal

Ms. Shannon Surreira, Assistant Principal SMS/NES

Mrs. Jennifer Powers, Assistant Principal

On Thursday, December 19th SMS alum Jackson Olson, of the Savannah Bananas, returned to SMS to share his story with our current 6th grade students. Jackson shared about how he went from eating lunch in the very cafeteria that we were in, to playing for one of the most famous baseball teams on the planet. Jackson highlighted the importance of following your dreams and never giving up, even when things don’t quite go as planned. Students even had the chance to get up and try one of Jackson’s famous dances.

On Wednesday, November 27th the SMS PTO Boosterthon Color Run took place at SMS. Students had the opportunity to participate in a color run with their grade level peers and staff. Beautiful weather, combined with music and positive energy from volunteers, staff, and students all contributed to a fantastic event. Many thanks to our wonderful PTO volunteers for putting together such a wonderful event. It was a great way to spend time on the last day before a long weekend!

On Friday, December 20th Color Wars returned to SMS. Each grade level gathered in the Gym for Minute to Win It style games that pitted students and staff from each of the three grade level teams against each other. Games include Face the Cookie, Dizzy Mummy, and Defying Gravity. It was a great way to have fun together on the last day before Winter Break!

The Winter Door Decorating Contest returned to SMS again this year and students and staff went all out! There were many creative and inspiring doors decorating the halls of SMS! There were a variety of winter themes, a team that incorporated Candy Land across all the doors for their team, and several doors that included positive messages and curricular connections. Additionally, each door represented a symbol of community building and collaboration. Well done, everyone!

Recently students from Ms. Scheck’s 8 Blue Social Studies class joined with students from Mrs. Correia’s 6 Yellow Reading class for team building activities. In mixed grade groups, students used clues to investigate a mystery and then participated in Minute to Win It style games. Ms. Scheck and Mrs. Correia plan to continue to foster the cross grade level connection between these groups throughout the remainder of the year.

On Friday, December 13th SMS student actors and actresses took to the stage for “Ebenezer,” an adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol. Congratulations to everyone involved for an incredible performance!

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Mrs. Anne Bilko, Principal
Mrs. Jennifer Chmielewski, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Jennifer Meyers, Assistant Principal

Our music department was very busy this month with six concerts. Students did a beautiful job as they performed for their peers during the day and families at night, many for the very first time! Our bands under the direction of Teresa White and our choruses under the direction of Gloria Capone.

Once again this year, SNIS students and staff participated in the PJs for CCMC day on December 20th. This long standing tradition is a fun way to raise money for a great cause and we are thrilled to have raised nearly $1500.00 !

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Mrs. Gwen Gallagher, Principal

Ms. Shannon Surreira, Assistant Principal SMS/NES

At NES we CELEBRATED the season in so many ways! First, we celebrated CREATIVITY with a "CONTEST". Our Excel classes made Gingerbread houses out of big boxes. The students worked together to decorate them. This was a fun collaborative project. The whole school voted on their favorite house!

We also celebrated COMMUNITY with acts of kindness and COMPASSION. It takes a great deal of effort on behalf of all staff members to ensure children are receiving all they need from their school - from education, to nutrition, to counseling, and everything in between, our staff works hard to make the school day fun and safe for students. Mrs. Tarsa has once again put together her "Warmth from Head to Toe" initiative which is a tree in the office "decorated" with the hats, mittens, gloves and scarves she is collecting for Social Services.

We celebrate our CARES Expectations! Mrs. Merrill, our PE Teacher recognized students in Ms. Barto's class for demonstrating the CARES Expectations during Physical Education.

Kindergarten and First Grade enjoyed Celebrating Grinch Day! The students and staff dressed in Grinch Garb just for fun.

We also made CARDS! Students in the LEO Club at SMS volunteered at the VFW. NES students collaborated with them by making Holiday Cards for the SMS students to deliver and hand out.

John Farrell came back to NES for a sing-a-long. The students and staff really enjoyed his happy performance. We also enjoyed and excerpt of The Nutcracker Ballet from the dancers of Fineline Theatre Arts in New Milford

The first NES Spelling BEE was a grand success! Students had a fun and friendly COMPETITION for the top spot, with Second Grader Eric taking home the big win. We are proud of how much the students studied and practiced!

And a big CONGRATULATIONS Kindergarten student, Isabella for her winning entry in the Holiday Card Contest for the District! She enjoyed a visit from Dr. Parlato and a phone call home to announce her win!

We wish our district colleagues and families a jubilant Holiday Season, and a very CHEERFUL New Year!

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Mrs. Catherine Calabrese, Principal

Mrs. Kerri Adakonis, Assistant Principal

December has been an exciting month here at Hill and Plain School!! We would like to thank the NMHS students from Mr. Bronn’s and Mr. DiFabbio’s Children’s Literature class who came and read their original children's books to our students! We appreciated Ms. Kelly’s help too. We treasure our connection to NMHS. The children loved listening to all the stories!

K-2 Math Lab Teachers observed a demo lesson taught by our Instructional (Mathematical) Coach, and then took part in the analysis of teacher instructional moves with the Consultant from Curriculum Associates.

Mrs. Bonnell, NMPS STEM Teacher, teamed with Ms. Koval to teach a coding lesson celebrating Computer Science Education Week. The students were quick learners and teachers to each other. This is teaching at its finest!

The children were able to purchase items for family and friends at the Holiday Gift Store which was planned and organized by our PTO.

The PTO provided a beautiful spread of holiday treats, hot chocolate and coffee for teachers and staff. Thank you, PTO for all you do!!

Staff had fun finding Barkley who was hidden in different locations over the 12 days before winter break. Special prizes were given to each staff whose name was picked each day leading up to a grand prize winner after entering their “selfie” with the hidden Barkley!! Staff also collected gifts for families in need to make their holiday extra special.

Kindergarteners were asked to participate in our annual Holiday Card contest. One student from each class was chosen based on a piece of artwork and then asked to draw and paint a picture of what could become the cover of the district-wide Holiday Card. Our talented HPS winner is Ayla Khat!! Congratulations!

Students have been learning and enjoying intentional play activities.

We gave a warm Hill and Plain welcome to our new Social Worker, Kathleen Hamilton. Mrs. Hamilton has been working as a School Social Worker for over 13 years in public and private schools, most recently being at Schaghticoke Middle School for the past 5 and 1/2 years.

The generosity of our staff was overwhelming and we are overjoyed knowing that 20 students and their siblings will open an extra special gift through the holiday season.

Here are our CORE VALUES CITIZENS for December:

Finally, to finish 2024, our student body came together to enjoy an assembly about COMPASSION. The second-grade teachers did a phenomenal job organizing and teaching, while the 2nd graders conveyed this message to their peers. We completed the day with a holiday sing-a-long led by Mrs. Haynes.

Gymnastics opened their season with a W on January 3rd! Follow the girls on Instagram @wavenastics.

Follow boys basketball on Instagram @nmhsbbasketball

Follow girls basketball on Instagram @nmgirlsbasketball

Please support our student athletes and community ! 🤸🏻‍♂️🏀🏒

The Food & Nutrition Department is proud to announce the first carbohydrate counting menus for the district. This will help students and families with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. The department uses over 500 food products in their cafeterias and analyzing the amount of carbohydrates in each product was an amazing accomplishment. The carbohydrate counting menus will be posted with the regular menus on the website https://newmilford.schoolinsites.com/menus.