From the Principal's Pen
January 13, 2019
Principal's Round Table
Please join me for a Principal’s Roundtable discussion next Wednesday, January 16th, from 8:15-9:15am in the Library Learning Commons.
Robert Hibson, the program coordinator of Library Media and Technology Services for Greenwich Public Schools, and Heather McGuinness, the Library Media Specialist for JCS, will join me to inform you about the use of technology in our school.
The Principal's Roundtable provides me with the opportunity to present information to the community as well as answer any questions you may have. If you have a suggestion for a future roundtable discussion please send me your ideas. In the meantime, come and joins us this Wednesday.
Hope to see you there.
JC Teachers Travel Down Under!
Two of our fabulous JC teachers, Sandra Grandinetti and Mary O'Connor, traveled to Australia this past November to share about how personalized learning is implemented in their classrooms. Please take a look at the article in the Greenwich Time linked below for some details of their trip. We are so proud that our teachers are spreading knowledge worldwide!
Important Information for 4th Grade Parents
As in past years, Julian Curtiss 4th grade students have been selected to participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) program. Information about the assessment, as well as its administration, is contained in the documents linked below. This year, 50 of our students were selected. If your student is among those selected, you will be receiving a separate letter with additional details regarding the assessment schedule. Should you have any questions regarding the assessment, please contact our Assistant Principal, Brenda Brush.
Greenwich Policy and Procedure Regarding Private School Recommendations
Dear Parents,
We are receiving a large number of requests for recommendations for students applying to private schools. We will do everything we can to cooperate and provide the information needed to apply to these schools but teachers and administrators are not permitted to provide personal recommendations for students as stated in the BOE policy below.
Policy – E-080 FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS
Procedure E– 080.15– Relations and Communications with Independent Schools, Colleges
and Universities
The Superintendent directs staff members to cooperate with private schools, colleges and universities concerning student records and references in accordance with the law. Except as authorized by law, the written consent of the parent or the eligible student is required before confidential student information may be disclosed. The written consent must specify permission for disclosure and the person to whom the records are to be disclosed.
The Superintendent recognizes that providing reference information for students who may seek to attend independent schools is a time-consuming activity. Given that the primary responsibility of staff is to those students who attend Greenwich Public Schools, staff members will complete only those independent school applications and references which are for schools outside of the Greenwich area.
LEGAL REFERENCES:
Connecticut General Statutes
10-15b Access of parent or guardian to student’s records
10-76d -18 Regulations concerning children requiring special education
19a-581 through 585
46b-56(e)
Procedure Revised - October 2006
Procedure Revised - November 2016 (Policy Name and New Procedure Number)
Important Information for 5th Grade Parents with Children Going to Central Middle School
Good Evening Future CMS Families,
My name is Tom Healy and I am excited to be your child's middle school principal! The is the first of many communications about the 5th to 6th grade transition process that includes numerous opportunities for both you and your child to learn more about Central and the great times ahead! Central Middle School is an amazing place characterized by its vibrant community of learners. I look forward to building a strong relationship with each of you over the next few years as we work together to foster optimal academic and social-emotional growth for your child.
As a way to break the ice and begin the conversation I invite you to attend an introductory meeting on Thursday January 24th at 7:00pm in the CMS auditorium. This meeting is intended for parents of incoming 5th graders only as your children have a transistion program designed for them later in the year (we want them to enjoy being 5th graders while they still can!). The evening will afford me the opportunity to introduce myself to all of you, share some general information about our school and have parents tour the building to help visualize the experience awaiting your child. Our wonderful PTA will also have volunteers on hand to provide some parent perspective and answer other questions you may have about getting involved and making the best of the middle school years.
The purpose of this meeting is not to have you leave feeling you are middle school experts, but merely to start the conversation and engage in the process of building a personal connection to Central.If you plan on attending, please complete the following form so we can plan accordingly, RSVP LINK .
I look forward to getting to know each of you over the coming months and years and hope to see you on the 24th.
Sincerely,
Tom
Important Information for 5th Grade Parents with Children Going to Western Middle School
Good Day 5th Grade Parents:
If you are receiving this email it is because your child is currently scheduled to attend Western Middle School next year. (Wasn’t it just yesterday when they were teething and you were changing diapers?) Anyway, welcome to middle school! I have been working with this age group for the past 31 years, and I can tell you that there is no better place for your child to spend the next three years as they grow into the fine young men and women they will become. The staff at Western is the best I have ever worked with and are fully committed to the social, emotional and academic growth of your child!
In an effort to better acclimate you to Western, and perhaps alleviate some of your concerns, starting this week I will include you in my weekly parent emails. The information contained in these emails (titled 'This Week at Western') is geared towards the parents of current Western students, but it will provide you with a flavor for what goes on here. This week’s email is included below. One date that I do want you to take note of is Tuesday, April 2 at 6:30 PM. This will be the night of our incoming parent orientation. More information will follow as the date approaches. So enjoy the next few months in the friendly confines of elementary school. I look forward to getting to know you and your child in the coming months.
Gordon
Magnet Open House
The Greenwich Public Schools (GPS) are proud to offer choice to the families of Greenwich that may wish to apply to any of the District’s four elementary magnet schools and one middle school magnet program. School choice provides opportunities to attend a school with programs that may be of particular interest to a family and/or an individual student. School choice also provides the District with a means of balancing enrollment among its schools on a voluntary basis rather than by mandating school attendance area changes. The Magnet School Application Guidelines Packet is available on the GPS website at: www.greenwichschools.org/magnetschools
Julian Curtiss is a successful magnet school with an enrollment of 79 magnet students in a school of 314 students. That is 40% of our student body that attends our school by choice.
The deadline for Magnet Applications for the 2019-2020 school year is February 8, 2019. Please communicate to any families you may know that have an interest.
The final Magnet Open House at Julian Curtiss for this year is Tuesday, January 15th at 9:15 am.
Links to the Magnet School Application in both English and Spanish are below:
2019 - 2020 GPS Magnet Application (English)
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Mrs. Trish McGuire - Principal
Email: trish_mcguire@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: www.greenwichschools.org/jcs
Location: 180 East Elm Street, Greenwich, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 869-1896
Twitter: @jcsprincipal