Connecticut's #1 City School District for 3 Years in a Row! |
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NPS Moves To Full Remote Until January 4 |
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Norwalk Public Schools announced earlier this week the switch to full remote learning for all schools. Students and staff will return to in-person and hybrid instruction on Monday, January 4.
With the arrival of this week’s snowstorm, combined with a short holiday week and early dismissal next week, we believe this option is the best way to provide consistency for families and staff. School and office staff will be working remotely as well to make sure that classes and operations continue without interruption.
We understand that this has been a stressful and uncertain time in Norwalk and our country. We know that it has been difficult for families to manage the COVID transitions since Thanksgiving between in-person and remote learning, and weather-related closures. We hope that this decision will help provide some predictability for all as we enter the holidays.
We wish you and your family a joyful holiday and happy New Year.
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2021-22 NPS Calendar Approved By Board of Ed |
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The 2021-22 Norwalk Public Schools Calendar was approved during the December 15 Board of Education meeting. We want to make sure that everyone is aware of the approved calendar for next year. The last day of school is scheduled for June 15, 2022 barring any snow days or unscheduled school closings. |
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The Superintendent’s recommended Operating and Capital Budget for 2021-22 will be presented at the Board of Ed workshop meeting, which has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 12.
The Finance Committees of the Board of Education and the City of Norwalk will hold a joint meeting on Thursday, January 14 to discuss Board of Education budget goals and preliminary revenue and expenditure projections.
Full Board of Education workshop and business meetings are live streamed on Zoom and the NPS YouTube channel. Meetings can now be heard in Spanish and Haitian Creole, with live interpretation available during meeting by through the Zoom meeting link. Recorded translations are posted on our YouTube channel for later viewing.
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Specialized Services Review |
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As part of our next steps in creating the district’s a new, five-year Strategic Operating Plan, Norwalk Public Schools has embarked on several initiatives to gather research and data to help better understand the needs of the district moving forward. Once of these initiatives is a thorough review of Special Education processes, supports and services. NPS has partnered with the Urban Collaborative to complete interviews and focus groups for this comprehensive review. The Urban Collaborative works with districts across the United States that are leading inclusive and equitable schools.
More than 15 individual interviews and 15 focus groups have been scheduled including Central Office administration, school board members, ad hoc, N-SPEDPAC parents, principals, special education supervisors, C/I directors, special education and general education teachers, related services providers (social workers, psychologists, speech pathologists), BCBAs, G/T Team, Literacy Center staff, and staff from the District’s specialized programs.
Next steps will be parent survey and remote program observations, as well as a student focus group.
We look forward to the feedback to guide future goals and impact on budget development for the Strategic Plan.
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Meal Location Changes & Winter Break Schedule |
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To better serve our community, there have been a few updates to meal locations. These changes are effective immediately. Based on community feedback, meals will now be distributed at Monterey Village and Columbus Magnet School. Meals will no longer be distributed at Jefferson Elementary School and South Norwalk Community Center. Click here for updated locations. All Norwalk children are eligible to receive free meals.
Winter Break Meal Schedule:
Meals will be available at community sites during the Winter Break. We will be closed on Christmas & New Year’s Day, and handing out four days of breakfast and lunch the Thursday before each of those holidays.
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Each "NPS Shout Out" highlights the fantastic learning and hard work that is taking place in our schools each day! Videos are shared in the district newsletter as well as on the NPS YouTube page, and social media.
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Norwalk Students Celebrate Hour Of Code |
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Last week, teachers and students celebrated the importance of computer science and coding, and recognized a pioneer in computing, Admiral Grace Murray Hopper.
The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code," to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science.
Jefferson and Wolfpit were among the schools across the district to celebrate coding in creative ways.
Jefferson students accomplished a variety of different coding tasks last week. Kindergartners learned to develop sequential algorithms to move an angry bird from one side of a maze to another. Older students developed projects to be 3D printed as prototypes. Using the engineering design process, students can improve their design in the future by going back into the code.
“Students didn’t just learn how to code, but they also learned how to come up with solutions to real world problems,” said Jefferson STEAM Teacher Diana Walker. “Students also identified what is unique and beautiful about themselves and used codeblocks to design their own avatar with superpowers.”
As a school focused on integrating visual and performing arts into every day curriculum, Wolfpit Elementary School created a video featuring grade 5 students. Students displayed code designs and provided insight on what coding is, and how it applies to today’s world.
We are so proud of all the great work that our students have accomplished!
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NPS Students Receive Connecticut
Western Region Music Honors
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While COVID has changed the way students interact with music curriculum this year, NPS staff and students are finding creative ways to showcase their talents and hone their skills. We are pleased to announce that students from Norwalk High School, P-TECH Norwalk, Brien McMahon High School and Center for Global Studies made it into the Connecticut Western Region Choir and Orchestra.
It is an honor to be selected among Fairfield County's best high school musicians! These students will also have the opportunity to audition for the Connecticut All State ensembles and the opportunity to attend a virtual masterclass with internationally renowned violinist Amanda Bailey. Congratulations to these very talented students!
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Connecticut Western Region Choir
Jordan Brown
Kevin Chuba
Christline Edward
Alexandra Kharenko
Christos Kutrubis
Tyler Tarver
Connecticut Western Region Orchestra
Tristan Ancog
Rancele Ante
David Garcia
Zachary Go
Elizabeth Mutti
Connecticut Western Region Concert Band
Henry Shifrin
Olivia Shifrin
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Seal Of Biliteracy Assessments Underway
Our high school students are completing assessments to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation for proficiency in languages other than English. To date, 41 students have passed the assessment and 95 students are getting ready to test prior to the holiday break.
The list of languages our students are currently testing in is impressive: French, Italian, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese. After break, students will also be testing their level of proficiency in Ukrainian, Haitian Creole and Sinhalese, the official language of Sri Lanka.
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Elementary Students Vote On Lunch Menu Items |
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Brookside Elementary students put on their culinary hats to help with the January lunch menu.
Students voted three lunch menu items off the January menu, and after a taste test, voted three new menu items onto the menu; taco salad, strawberry parfaits, and sun butter and banana wraps.
Additional elementary schools will vote on menu items in the coming weeks.
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Ponus Ridge Coat And Food Drive |
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Ponus Ridge held their annual coat and food drive before Thanksgiving. They provided families with coats funded by the Dalio Foundation, and food from Filling in the Blanks, and Stop & Shop. Great job! |
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Middle School Social Action Project Spotlight |
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Roton Middle School 7th grader Mariel Estrin created a documentary
about the Americans with Disabilities Act
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The Board of Education spotlighted the Middle School Social Action Project during this week’s workshop meeting. In its third year of redesign, the NPS Gifted and Talented program has increased participation in gifted course offerings by over 200 students, striving for more equitable and inclusive programming across the district. As part of on-going enrichment opportunities, middle school students across the district have been studying issues related to social justice, equity and social action.
Over a six-week period, each grade level focused on a particular theme. Sixth grade students focused on diversity, seventh graders on justice, and eighth graders on social action. Students began the unit with lessons about what social action is, why it happens, when and where it happens, and how it creates change. Students then selected a topic of their choice to research and take notes on. Next, they chose a project type that spoke to their interests, passions, or strengths.
Middle School students across the district developed a variety of impressive projects. This included website homepages, podcasts, journal entries from the perspective of another person, as well as infographics. They even created lessons and supplemental materials for teacher use.
NPS eighth grader Arav Amin created a powerful musical piece, which was shared during the recent Board of Education meeting. Arav's project highlights the themes of social injustice and unrest in our world, and demonstrates how art in all of its forms can serve as a powerful medium through which we can bring awareness to these issues. Click here to view Arav’s work. |
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Brien McMahon Students Present Hope In The Dark |
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An idea sparked from an AP community service project, Brien McMahon High School students created a virtual concert to bring joy to the community. Performers include a guitarist, ice skater, percussionist and band. This project is titled Hope in the Dark, derived from a book by Rebecca Solnit. The book discusses the importance of finding hope during dark times. To enjoy the online production of Hope in the Dark click here.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contests |
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The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay contest is underway. Students from elementary, middle, and high school from across Connecticut will participate in honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by submitting essays that reflect on Dr. King’s dream, their own aspirations, and what Dr. King means to them.
Essays should be no more than 500 words for high school students, 300 words for middle school students, and 100-200 for elementary school students. Pictures are optional for elementary school submissions.
The deadline is January 8. If you have any questions about the contest please reach out to [email protected]
The Norwalk Public Library will also host a Norwalk celebration for students whose essays feature three pillars of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy:
- Educational equity
- Environmental equity
- Equity/racial justice
Students should send a copy of any essay submitted to Senator Murphy’s office to their principal so that the essays can also be submitted to the Norwalk Public Library.
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Board of Ed meetings will be held by videoconference until further notice.
Full Board of Ed workshop and business meetings, as well as committee meetings, will be Live Streamed on the NPS YouTube channel at the times listed below. More information on the process for public comments for Board meetings will be available on our website.
Wednesday, December 23, Early Class Dismissal
Thursday, December 24 - January 4, Winter Break
Tuesday, January 12, BOE Workshop Meeting, 7pm
Wednesday, January 13, Finance Committee, 6pm
Meetings also will be recorded and available
on YouTube within 24 hours of the meeting time listed below.
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Norwalk Public Schools
125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06852
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This newsletter is compiled & published by the
NPS Communications Department.
Have a question about our school district or an item to share?
Contact Brenda Wilcox Williams, Chief Communications Officer, [email protected], or call 203-854-4003.
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