A Holiday Message: Superintendent Michael J. Testani
Dear Families,
As the holiday season approaches, I want to take a moment to thank you for being an essential part of our school community.
The holidays are a special time to pause and cherish moments with loved ones, reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, and look forward to the opportunities ahead. I hope this season brings your family joy, peace, and cherished memories. As we prepare to welcome a new year, I am excited about the work we will continue to do together to inspire and prepare our students for bright futures.
Wishing you and your family a safe, restful, and happy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Michael J. Testani
Empowering Students to Tackle Climate Crisis Through Art
The Regeneration Project is in progress at Roger Ludlowe Middle School. Twenty Grade 8 artists accepted the challenge of designing ways to reverse climate change.
Starting in October, students began their journey with a planning session at AMP, where they worked alongside their peers to identify specific social and ecological themes.
Through guided activities, students will generate ideas and choose their art medium with the support of renowned artist and AMP’s founder and artistic director Ellen Griesedieck, and education programs director Michelle Begley. The project will culminate in a permanent art installation, which will be unveiled at AMP in Spring 2025.
CT State Department of Education Literacy/English Language Arts (ELA) Consultant Dr. Joanne White visited Fairfield to see the new ELA curricula in action last week. She was particularly interested in the ELA rollout at the elementary level, and was impressed with the practices she observed at both Holland Hill and Jennings. Dr. White also visited Grade 6 and 8 ELA classes at FWMS.
Burr Grade 5 students performed at Sturges Ridge this week to bring joy to the residents for the holidays!
Portrait of Giving Initiative: Connecting With Community Through Art
Fairfield Ludlowe High School art and photography students reached beyond their local community to create dynamic professional portraits of the students at the Adam J. Lewis Academy in Bridgeport. AJL third graders chose one important artifact to have included in their photo. Their high school buddies then interviewed them about the importance of the item, and created a recording to be accessed via QR code for families. The portraits were edited, matted, framed and then gifted to the students.
This special project was made possible by a grant secured by District Art Department Coordinator, K-12 Michele Hermsen from the Connecticut State Department of Education in partnership with Donors Choose.
The Fairfield Collaborative for Youth Mental Health in partnership with local agencies, will host a free program for middle school students to help manage cognitive overload, stress, and develop essential skills for success. Click on the flyer above to register your child for this free opportunity.
Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest - Submissions Accepted Now Through January 11
Senator Murphy invites students from Connecticut to participate in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest. Elementary, middle, and high school students can participate by submitting an essay that reflects on Dr. King’s dream, their own aspirations, and the importance of what Dr. King means to them.
Submissions are now open and must be received by Saturday, January 11 at 11:59pm. Essay instructions and FAQs can be found here
Please contact Sarah Lopez at 860-549-8463 or email at MLK_Essay@murphy.senate.gov with any questions.
Artistic Visions Challenge
The Artistic Visions Challenge is a town-wide juried art competition aimed at encouraging young artists to create art in new and unique ways. The competition is open to all young people, ages 11-18, that either reside or attend school in Fairfield. The final submission is due on March 1, but the registration form must be emailed to: arts@fairfieldct.org by January 12, 2025. Registration is free! All submitted work will be on public display.
As a development piece to this competition, on January 16, there will be "Collaboration Stations" set up at Fairfield Theater Company. Participants are invited to hash out their ideas with expert creative mentors.
General Guidelines
Detailed Project Description/Google Presentation
Student Contest Opportunity: The Connecticut Writing Project
The Connecticut Writing Project (CWP) sponsors a magazine founded in 1987 to celebrate exceptional writing by students from K-12.
The magazine offers students a platform to showcase their original work in poetry, prose, and artwork. Each year, more than 1,500 students submit entries, and from this large pool of poetry, essays, stories, drama, and artwork, select pieces are chosen for publication or recognition at each grade level. For submission guidelines and the parent/guardian permission form click here. Deadline to submit is February 17, 2025.
Students displayed incredible talent during this year's Warde Carillon performance bringing festive cheer to the audience!
Attorney General Tong Meets With Fairfield Students To Discuss Social Media Harm
Attorney General William Tong, State Senator Tony Hwang, State Representatives Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Jennifer Leeper and Sarah Keitt met with Warde High School Civic and Law classes to discuss the harmful effects of social media. The panel engaged students in a discussion surrounding addictive social media features and possible solutions. FPS Superintendent Michael J. Testani attended the event along with Warde Principal Paul Cavanna.
Tong has joined attorneys general across the country suing Meta for knowingly deploying harmful features on Instagram and Facebook to knowingly addict youth. Other investigations, including into TikTok, are active and ongoing.
Thank you to Warde Social Studies Teacher Charles Flynn for arranging this incredible opportunity for students.
Last week, 23 members of Fairfield Ludlowe High School's Tri-M Music Honor Society spread holiday cheer by performing for the residents at Sturges Ridge. There were smiles all around!
Tomlinson World Language Students Work Together To Find Commonalities
"I noticed that even though we are studying, speaking, and writing different languages (French and Spanish) we can still communicate and understand one another." - Tomlinson Grade 8 World Language student
Tomlinson Grade 8 French Teacher Mrs. Lostumbo and Grade 8 Spanish Teacher Mr. Kelso developed a combined World Language lesson for level 2 students. Following a geographical introduction about Spain and France, students worked in groups using their target language to write about the topic and then explain and exchange information with one another.
Holland Hill celebrated International Education Week! As part of the celebration, members from Quinnipiac’s South Asian Society visited the school and shared information about their Indian culture, holidays, dance, music, and clothing. The special guests also touched on the school-wide book, A Family Like Ours, to celebrate the diverse families at Holland Hill.
Riverfield students participated in the first annual Wordsgiving Day Balloon Parade! Students decorated a Mylar balloon to represent a new vocabulary word that they have learned this year.
2025-26 Kindergarten Admission Update
Is your child going to turn five between September 2, 2025, and December 31, 2025? If so, they will only be eligible to enter kindergarten during the 2026-27 school year or if you apply for an early admissions waiver. Information on an early admissions waiver can be found here under Kindergarten 2025-2026.
Parents will need to follow this process to request an early admissions waiver:
- Complete this form in its entirety, which includes a parent observational checklist, selection of a preferred assessment date, submission of a parent letter acknowledging that your child is developmentally appropriate to attend kindergarten early, and acknowledgment of individual testing and results.
Upon submission of the above form, a member of Fairfield Public Schools will be in contact with you to confirm testing dates and times. Each child will be assessed by FPS certified staff, at a designated elementary school, using an individually administered assessment and observation protocol. Only one assessment per child will be administered and the decision on early admissions made by the Fairfield Public Schools is final.
Children who will be five on or by September 1, 2025, will have typical enrollment. The typical registration and enrollment process will begin in January 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact James Zavodjancik, Chief Academic Officer, at JZavodjancik@fairfieldschools.org or 203-255-8390
Stay In The Know: ParentSquare
All district, school and classroom messages are sent to your computer or phone through email, and/or text via ParentSquare. This includes emergency messages and alerts.
Families should have received a link to log in to their ParentSquare account from their principal. If you have not received a link, please reach out to your school directly. Note: families who previously signed up for ParentSquare will not need to do so again.
To ensure that you receive messages via ParentSquare, please double check your contact information in Infinite Campus. If you would like to receive text messages, make sure that your cell phone is listed and NOT a landline.
Infinite Campus will continue to be used for a variety of purposes including report cards, grades and assignments, lunch payments, fees/school store and real-time attendance information.
Reporting Dismissal Changes & Absences
Parents and guardians of middle and elementary school students should use School Dismissal Manager to update the school regarding dismissal plans. The system can be accessed via a smartphone, tablet or PC. Contact your school with questions on how to sign-up and download the application.
