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FPS Music Department recognized as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education"

The Fairfield Public Schools Music Department was just recognized as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education" by the NAMM Foundation. This designation is reserved for districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement and effort to provide music access and education to all students, and places the Fairfield music education program within the top 5% in the country!  

The pandemic's impact on music may have slowed our progress, but it also strengthened our resolve. Despite the challenges of the past few years, we have emerged as better educators, musicians, and community members. The BCME classification recognizes the herculean efforts our music faculty makes everyday to provide a high-quality education to the students of Fairfield.

 

Author Rob Buyea meets with RLMS students

Amy Vernon's small group reading class at RLMS has been reading the Mr. Terupt series by Rob Buyea.  When assistant principal Karin Shaughnessy visited with the class, she was so taken with their enthusiasm, that she reached out to the author.  He graciously volunteered to join their class for a Google Meet.  Amy Vernon and Marie Riggs worked with students to generate questions and practice them in a conversational format.  Students thoroughly enjoyed their discussion with Mr. Buyea.  We are so appreciative of the joy he brought to these students.

 

FWHS Students Explore Physics at Nutmeg Bowl

FWHS Physics students participated in a cumulative exploration of physics concepts from the year at Nutmeg Bowl.  Students developed their own research questions, designed their own investigations, and then collected and analyzed data which they then explain using scientific and mathematical modeling.

Did you know that bowling balls have different, specialized, core shapes to help get the spin and hook needed to bowl a strike or that the lanes are oiled up to about 10 feet from the pins to reduce friction, and then are dry the rest of the way?  It’s all PHYSICS!

Besides applying their classroom learning, students had a great time too.

 

WFC has BEES!

The Walter Fitzgerald Campus, our alternative High School, has been engaged in a year-long project to secure, operate and maintain a working beehive on the campus grounds.

The project is the brainchild of the students themselves. Last spring, “We were watching some videos in biology class. When we saw a beehive in operation, we asked our teacher, ‘can we have bees?’ ” James Pruitt, the science teacher responded, “I don’t know, let’s find out.” This kicked off a rigorous inquiry - what would the students need to make this happen? They researched insurance issues, safety protocols, and bee stings. Then they researched what equipment was needed, what was the best bee genus for our area, how would the hive be maintained, and how would the bees survive the winter? Around all this inquiry, the students established a budget, created safety measures, and presented their findings to Mike Cummings, who approved the plan. 

This year, the Senior English class wrote and submitted a grant proposal to Whole Foods and secured the funding needed to establish a working beehive! Meanwhile the Biology students accessed the Biology curriculum through their study of bees, their life cycle, pollination (next steps will be to establish a wildflower garden as part of the pollinator pathway), and the products the bees produce. The project is an example of Project Based Learning which promotes student engagement, interest, and authentic learning.

Students donned bee-keeper suits, presented updates on the project, including two new hives, had a coronation for two recently purchased Queen Bees, and discussed future plans.

Next year, Honey!

 

FWMS "Free Throws for H2O" raises money to build wells in South Sudan

Grade 7 social studies students read A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. The story is based on the life of Salva Dut, a boy who was forced to flee his home in 1985 due to a civil war in southern Sudan. In the story, students learn that many people in the Sahel region of Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to safe, clean drinking water. Now, as an adult, Salva helps the people of South Sudan by building water wells. Once students heard this amazing story, they were inspired to help. FWMS grade 7 social studies teachers, Kyle Mangieri, Craig Krushinski, and Ryan Hart, organized the fundraiser, "Free-throws for H20" to help students raise money for Salva's organization. Through our students' hard work we helped fund the construction of two wells in South Sudan, and this year students have raised more than $3,000 to put toward another!

 

FLHS' Aliz Toth-Melko at Lincoln Center

Aliz Toth Melko is a Grade 9 student at FLHS and a first semester piano student.  She had the chance to perform Romance Op. 44. N. 1 by A. Rubinstein at the Lincoln Center in New York City as part of the Golden Key International Music Festival. She qualified as a Bronze medalist! Congratulations to Aliz!

Click above to hear her performance.

 

Congratulations to FLHS' Danielle Prohaska, winner of Freedom Forum Institute's Al Neuharth Journalism and Free Spirit Award

Danielle Prohaska has won the Freedom Forum Institute's Al Neuharth Journalism and Free Spirit Award and scholarship. One junior is chosen from each state for the award and the student represents the state at the national conference in June. Students submit two essays, two teacher letters of recommendations, school transcripts, and list activities and community service.

 

McKinley Grade 2 Student Continues Tradition of Giving

First page of the PDF file: 2022LemonadeStandFlyer

Our lived experiences define a great deal about us and inform our beliefs, values, and lens through which we see the world. At times it can change our perspectives and even our feelings about events. As I think of ways to bring to life our work for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, I am reminded more every day of how extremely reflective and personal this work is and how global the impact of the work. 

As we do this work, we are challenged every day to reflect on everything we do and inquire how does this message, statement, reality and or reflective space impact others around us?  What are the points of view that I am not considering and how do I include them in the conversation? 

In May we celebrated an array of events in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Mental health Month; International Worker’s Day, Eid AL-FITR. Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, World Day of Cultural Diversity, Memorial Day, and more.  I attended Patriotic Day at Riverfield, the Latinos in Action Conference and the Spring into Action event.  Thanks to Joelle Kilcourse, Library Media Specialist, for creating this site to share resources with the community,

As we now celebrate Pride month, Juneteenth, moving up ceremonies, and graduations, let us take the time to listen to each other’s stories. It will help us make more connections and build more relationships along our journey.  Congratulations to the Class of 2022: eyes have not seen, and ears have not heard all that you will be able to accomplish in your lifetime. A special shout-out to those students receiving honors, those who are first generation college students, and those graduating with the CT Seal of Biliteracy! It is important to celebrate your accomplishments, and the family and friends who helped you through. Be proud of yourself, y para adelante mi gente!

Digna A. Marte, MRP, MDiv., MBA, (she/her/ella)
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dear FPS Community,

Beginnings and endings are times to express our gratitude.   September is a time of new beginnings and promises to be kept. June is a time of taking stock and reflecting on what we have accomplished and the work ahead.  For students in PK, grades 5 and 8, and especially for our graduates, it is also a time of transition to new challenges.  On behalf of the Fairfield Public Schools community, I wish our graduates the very best.  Their sense of justice, of community, and of belief in themselves bodes well for them, and for all of us.  We are proud of what you have become.  You will carry us with you.

For a number of our staff this is also a time of transition.  We are nearing 40 teacher retirements.  They are joined by many paraeducators and other support staff.  Each person has left their mark on the students they have taught and helped along the way and the colleagues with whom they collaborated and built friendships.  The knowledge and experience they take with them as they leave is not replaceable and it falls on our returning and new staff to continue the legacy of Fairfield Public Schools.  Even as we continue to adapt to new challenges and learning opportunities.  Change is difficult at times.  It is also inevitable and educators and school systems that thrive take advantage of change to become stronger.

I am honored to be in the ‘graduating class’ of retirees this year. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Superintendent in Fairfield.  The commitment and care shown by our staff, and our community, to the well-being and education of our children, is beyond any measure.  I am forever grateful to everyone who worked through the past two years with concern and compassion for the students and I will remain forever proud of your work.  

I end this message the way I started, full of gratitude for the great gift I have been given, to work in education for these past 36 years.  I am the beneficiary of every student, parent, and staff member with whom I have ever worked. I leave knowing that the work is unfinished but that commitment of the FPS staff to do what is best for students is strong and resilient.  There is no further proof than the work they have done for the past 2 years. 

I wish you, and your families, all the best.
 

Take care,
Mike

 

Student Awards 2022

Board of Education Recognition for Student Musicians and Athletes

CABE CAPPS Superintendent Awards

 

FWMS Chamber Choir at Fenway Park

Riverfield Grade 5 Student Wins UCONN Letters for Literature

Riverfield’s Ella Meiers is the state-wide winner for the 4-6 grade level of UCONN’s Letters for Literature contest. She wrote her letter in response to the poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou. To read or watch a video and listen to Ella’s letter, click here. 

The Neag School of Education, UConn’s Department of English, and the Connecticut Writing Project (CWP), are co-sponsors of the 30th annual Letters About Literature contest.

Each year, students in Grades 4 through 12 are invited to read a text and write a letter to the author  about how the text affected them personally. Submissions are grouped by grade level (Grades 4-6, Grades 7-8, and Grades 9-12).

Each of these submissions was read and scored by Neag School alumni teacher-volunteers. Of the 558 submissions from Connecticut students this year, there were 69 students who received Honorable Mention as well as 62 Semi-Finalists.  A second set of judges, all pre-service teachers, then read and scored the 62 Semi-Finalists—again, twice for each submission—and selected a total of nine Finalists, three per Grade Level. Then 1 student per grade level was named Winner.

Congratulations to Ella on her accomplishment! She is a phenomenal young woman!

 

Holland Hill donates 1,248 boxes of Mac & Cheese to nOURish Bridgeport!

Dwight STEAM Day

Dwight students spent the afternoon rotating to different activities led by the Dwight staff. Students participated in engineering challenges, problem solved, built, drew, tested, and discovered! It was an all hands-on-deck effort by Dwight's wonderful teachers and parent volunteers!

 

Jennings Enjoys Energy in Action

The Energy in Action Mobile Learning Experience visited Jennings School. Each class had a turn with engaging in fun energy related activities outside the exhibit with their mad scientists.

Mad Science of Fairfield & New Haven Counties has entered into a joint partnership with EnergizeCt and Ct's utility companies to design and deliver exciting and hands-on programs about Energy Efficiency and Conservation.

Students enjoyed and explored Wind Power, Thermal Tunnel, Energy Grid and several other stations.

https://connecticut.madscience.org/

 

NSS Peer Tutoring

North Stratfield 4th graders work with kindergartners two times a week for 15 minutes. We have created a tutoring "menu" to help guide their interactions. They work on letter sounds and making words. They utilize our district's snap word list to reinforce word identification. They also can play fun phonics games. Each fourth grade classroom is paired up with a kindergarten classroom. They began their sessions by reading a book together and building a relationship. Now, both groups of students are SO excited when it's their tutoring day!

 

Invention Convention Winners

2022 Connecticut Invention Convention Awards and Winners

Boehringer Ingelheim Caress Foundation Award: Eliot Sample, Hanno the Health-a-Phant, Stratfield

McCormick, Paulding, and Huber Patent Award and UConn School of Engineering Innovation in Engineering Award: Luke Schwartz, The Sneaky Step Stool, Roger Sherman

Pratt & Whitney Jules Verne Award and Stanley Black & Decker Most Innovative Award: Eoin O'Connor, Styro-Spray, Osborn Hill

Recognized Inventors Awards:

Anjali Chirunomula, Sleeperson, Mill Hill

Chase Coburn, Shoot 'n Sling, Jennings

August Henderson, Missed Fist, Roger Sherman

Eliot Sample, Hanno the Health-a-Phant, Stratfield

US Nationals Invitation:

August Henderson, Missed Fist, Roger Sherman

Eoin O'Connor, Styro-Spray, Osborn Hill

Eliot Sample, Hanno the Health-a-Phant, Stratfield