We Are Stonington Schools August 16, 2010

Know someone who contributes to making Stonington Public Schools an engaging, joyful, challenging, innovative and safe education environment?

Let the Board of Education know!

The Board has begun a new recognition program designed to recognize individuals who are the fabric of the school system. These individuals do not need to be doing extraordinary things – just ordinary, day-to-day actions that help make this a great school system.  This could include the teacher who always greets students with a smile, a student who personifies the meaning of “friend” or a cafeteria worker who devises ways to make breakfast and lunch special. The recognition program is for anyone who contributes to the school system – parents, paraprofessionals, volunteers, administrators, custodians, families, community members and, of course, students. Anyone can nominate someone for this recognition.

A nomination form will be available at all schools and is accessible here: BOE Recognition Web Info. The board looks forward to recognizing all those who are the face of Stonington Schools.

Technology Curriculum August 16, 2010

The Board of Education at its August meeting received an assessment of how the district’s technology education curriculum is being carried out.

The evaluation uncovered some weaknesses in terms of curriculum implementation and that Assistant Superintendent Nikki Gullickson has identified both short and long term plans to rectify these.  The Board will monitor the effectiveness of these intervention plans throughout the coming school year.

It will receive its first update in September.

New Website to Debut August 16, 2010

Keep an eye out for the new and definitely improved Stonington Schools website. The website, which will feature great photos from our schools and lots more information for parents, students and community members, should go live early in the new school year.

Regional Calendar Discussion August 16, 2010

Foreseeing financial challenges continuing in the future, school districts throughout the region are seeking ways to cut costs. One such proposal is a standardized school calendar for school districts throughout the region.

Adopting such a calendar could mean cost savings because of the ability to pool resources to provide professional development for staff and faculty and also to provide uniform transportation services to regional schools such as Grasso Tech in Groton and the Regional Multi-Cultural Magnet School in New London.

Stonington is participating in this discussion, although the district has not yet decided whether it will adopt all or even part of the proposed regional calendar.

Some possible benefits of the regional calendar, besides savings of more than $10,000 in transportation costs annually, could be having a fixed graduation date and schools closed on Election Day.  One change for Stonington, however, would be the proposed elimination of a week-long February school vacation. A three-day President’s Day weekend is currently proposed.

As discussion continues on this topic, the Board of Education invites public comment on the concept.