Colchester ConnectED

Colchester Public Schools - September 2023

Message from the Superintendent

Dear Students, Staff and Families:

Over the summer, school and district administrators met to review the 2022-23 academic year and to plan for the year ahead. While discussing the importance of identifying priorities and keeping students at the forefront of our work, we adopted the following mantra, “Pride and Purpose.” There is a great deal to be proud of in Colchester ranging from academic performance to the arts and athletics. At the same time, it’s important that the decisions that we make and the actions that we take have purpose. With that in mind, we’ve also formed a series of Pride and Purpose Committees as an off-shoot of the Transition of Leadership work that was shared in recent meetings with families and staff. The Committees are listed below, along with their charge. Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting on September 19th and for those who volunteered to join one of the five committees listed below. If you were unable to attend, but would like to participate, please contact us.

Facility Improvements - to evaluate the needs of schools and the district; to identify the most pressing items; to collaborate with local leaders to chart a path forward

TIP (Trust, Image and Perception) - to identify the relationships that have been strained; the schools and programs that have been bruised fairly or unfairly; to identify efforts that we can take to improve perception and rebuild trust

BA Magnet - to identify programs of need and interest in the region; to work with the State Department of Education to become an approved Connecticut magnet school; to develop a recruitment campaign for the BA Magnet Program

Professional Culture - to identify the efforts we can take to make Colchester a “destination district;” to identify recruitment and retention opportunities; to promote a “we attitude” regardless of role and title

Student Life - to identify obstacles that students face in terms of acceptance and a positive school experience; to identify challenges students face in the transition between schools; to identify student safety concerns; to make recommendations to school and district leadership relative to steps that can be taken to improve the student experience in Colchester

As the first month of school draws to a close, you are encouraged to check in with your student to see how things are going both academically and socially. If you have concerns, please reach out to your student’s teacher or counselor. Furthermore, if your student isn’t involved in an extra-curricular offering please encourage them to join something.

Sincerely,

Daniel Sullivan

What We're Up To!

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Convocation 2023

On August 30th we welcomed back faculty and staff to the 2023-2024 school year. During convocation, the administration recognized the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year and Paraprofessional of the Year. We also celebrated staff longevity and played Jeopardy with teams representing each school, the Board of Education and central office. It was a nice start to the new school year and fun was had by all!

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Laurie Lindsey Teacher of the Year!

Laurie Lindsey has served Bacon Academy for 17 years! Her classroom is structured to support all students, while maintaining high standards for learning. She is a strong advocate for students and goes above and beyond to support their success. Laurie has served as a TEAM mentor and volunteered to support new teachers as part the of District's New Teacher Academy. We are so thankful to have Laurie as part of our CPS staff and BA team!

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Lynette Dimock Paraprofessional of the Year!

Lynette works at Bacon Academy as a Library Media Center paraprofessional. Lynette is a welcoming presence to students and staff and goes above and beyond to find relevant information to meet the needs of anyone needing assistance. Lynnette also single-handly runs the Be Well at Bacon Day, a mental health day for the sophomore class. We are grateful to have Lynette as part of our CPS staff and BA team!

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8th Grade Ambassadors Help at WJ!

Students on the first day of school at William J. Johnston Middle School had special help from the 8th Grade Ambassadors. The ambassadors gave a special interview to the 6th and 7th grade classes and helped students during morning drop-off so they knew where to go when they arrived. Students were also given time to tour the building.

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CES Welcomes Students to the New School Year!

Colchester Elementary School faculty and staff were excited to welcome the Cardinals back to their nest this school year! The students began learning their routines right away and are looking forward to an amazing school year.

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BA First Day!

Bacon Academy students had an amazing first day of school. From the morning greeting, to the Pep Rally, and then field events, students celebrated the beginning of the year. A big thank you to Ms. Hahnel and the First Day Committee for making the first day at BA such a success!

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Employee Spotlight

Meet Jessica Kuckel!

On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the Colchester Board of Education unanimously appointed Jessica L. Kuckel as the new Assistant Superintendent of Schools. Ms. Kuckel began her career in education as a social worker for the Milford Public Schools and then for the Capital Region Education Council (CREC). She has a Masters in Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University, a 6th year degree from the University of Bridgeport, and completed the Executive Leadership program at Central Connecticut State University in 2020. Ms. Kuckel began working in the South Windsor Public Schools as the Supervisor of Elementary Special Education in 2014. Three years later, she was appointed Director of Special Services and in 2023 was promoted to the role of Executive Director of Student Services. "I am thrilled and honored to be appointed as the Assistant Superintendent for the Colchester Public Schools. This is a remarkable opportunity to contribute to the standard of educational excellence this community holds, and I can't wait to work alongside our dedicated educators, staff, families, and community members” said Ms. Kuckel. “Jessica’s wide range of experiences, especially in related services, and special education will be an asset to the Colchester Public Schools. We are excited to welcome her to our leadership team and the Colchester community” said Superintendent Daniel P. Sullivan, III.