From the Principal's Pen
October 6, 2019
United Nations Week
The celebration of the United Nations Day takes place on October 24th to honor the international organization promoting human rights, social progress, and world peace. Founding the United Nations right after the very tragic World War II meant that a very important idea could be embedded in every nation – that is to achieve peace. This year, Julian Curtiss will be celebrating this day with the rest of the world on October 24th, and I cannot think of a better place to begin to achieve peace than in our own little school here in Greenwich, Connecticut.
During our signature event, The United Nations Day Parade , we will take the United Nations Personal Pledge Against Racism together. We take the message of this event very seriously. We are a diverse school with over 60 nations being represented in this year's parade. Many of our students are first and second generation Americans.
This year we will be joined by Nicolas Pron, Special Advisor and former Secretary of the Executive Board at UNICEF, who will address the community. We will also hear from two of our 5th grade students who have had unique experiences here at Julian Curtiss.
Please spend some time discussing your heritage and background with your children prior to the parade. This day symbolizes our similarities and our differences, along with the fact that we come together every day to learn and become friends. Students can wear traditional costume or the colors of the flag of the country they are marching with.
Here at school, the students will be discussing the following in their classrooms:
What is culture?
What is my family’s culture/history?
What does JC's culture look like?
What did you learn about each other’s culture? How has your idea of culture changed?
If there is one event you attend at school this year make it the UN Day Parade. It is truly an event filled with love and meaning.
The Culture Within Us - The Inside Out Project
This year, Julian Curtiss will be participating in a special project that will teach our students about their individuality as well as their value as a member of our Julian Curtiss international community. This project was proposed by international photographer Mr. Alexandre Coric, parent of Zoe Coric, who is now a student at Central Middle School. Portraits of students representing our more than 60 nations have been taken and will be displayed as part of the UN Day parade. Documentation of our project has been submitted to the Inside Out Project inspired by French street artist JR.
Our goal is to teach the children about “The Culture Within Us” and capture images that reflect the diversity of our Julian Curtiss community. We look forward to sharing the unique and wonderful character of Julian Curtiss with the world!
These are the 3 elements embedded in this school project: “The Culture Within Us"
"Less is definitely more” is the first dimension of the project. Money is only a tool we use to get what we need to live. Once we have everything that we need, we begin to focus on what matters to us. We focus on those things that give us the utmost satisfaction and leave us feeling content.
The second element is respect - respect for life, respect for others, and respect for each other’s differences.
The third and last dimension is that we can develop a moral character to achieve success! Some of the virtues we hope to instill in our children include compassion, courtesy, cooperation, responsibility, fairness, tolerance, self-control, courage, knowledge, perseverance, honesty and respect for one’s self and for others.
Volunteer To Help!
We need volunteer help to complete this amazing project.
Proposed volunteer schedule:
WEDNESDAY 10/9 - 8:30 AM
PANEL SET-UP
PREPARING PANELS FOR PORTRAIT PASTING
WEDNESDAY 10/9 - 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
PANEL APPLICATION
PASTING PORTRAITS TO PANELS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAY THE WHOLE TIME - COMMIT TO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!
THURSDAY 10/10 - 7:00 AM (APPROX. 1 HR)
CLEAN-UP
HELP CLEAN UP GYM AND MOVE PANELS TO STORAGE
SUNDAY 10/19 - AFTERNOON (TIME TBD)
INSTALLATION
INSTALL PORTRAIT PANELS ON FENCE OUTSIDE JC
FRIDAY 10/25 - 3:00 PM (APPROX. 1 HOUR)
TAKE-DOWN
REMOVE PORTRAITS FROM FENCE AND MOVE INSIDE
If you are available to help, please sign up using the link below:
A Brief Look at the Artist Behind Inside Out
To Our Community Members Celebrating the Jewish Holidays
L'Shanah Tovah
Gmar Chatimah Tova
For those of us who would like to wish our community members well.
An explanation of how to greet those celebrating the holidays. https://time.com/4958294/yom-kippur-greeting/
JC Service Club helps Students Around the World!
Dear JC Community,
As you know, the Bahamas was hit with a catastrophic hurricane. The picture below shows how truly devastating it was. Here at JC, we live by the motto “Care for Self and Others” and what better way to show this spirit than by helping those in need. The Service Club would like to help by collecting school supplies for the Bahamas. If you’re interested in contributing, below is a list of items assigned to your grade level:
Kindergarten and First Grade: Crayons
Second and Third Grade: Markers
Fourth and Fifth Grade: Pencils
There will be a donation box outside the gym doors to drop off supplies. We will be
collecting items through October 25th .
Thank you in advance for all your donations!
-The JC Service Club
Smarter Balanced Assessment and School Improvement Plan Presentation
On Wednesday, October 16th at 8:15 am, Mrs. Brush and I will be presenting the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) data from 2018-2019. In addition, we will give the community insight into the 2019-2020 School Improvement Plan including our goals and action plans. Please make every effort to attend. If you are unable to come, we will post our presentation on the JC website.
STAR parent reports for students in grades 1-5 will be sent home in Friday folders on October 11th
Your child has taken a STAR assessment during this school year. Students in grades k-12 will continue to participate in the STAR Early Literacy, STAR Reading and STAR Math Assessments throughout this year. This guide will explain what a STAR assessment is. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or visit the STAR website at www.renlearn.com/se.
To learn more about our comprehensive assessment process please visit:
JC In the News!
Run off that big dinner...Join us at the Turkey Trot! Julian Curtiss aims to be the elementary school with the highest number of participants. The elementary school that reaches this goal receives $500 toward PE equipment. Please consider registering your family even if you are not attending. The Greenwich Alliance supports our students in so many ways. This is a good cause!
5K & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Arch Street Teen Center
100 Arch Street
Start Times: 1 Mile – 9:30 AM (sharp)
5K – 10:00 AM
Adults: $30 through 10/31, $35 after 10/31 (Race Day – $40)
Children (14 and under): $15 (Race Day – $15)
($1 service fee not included)
Click on the link below to register!
Saturday, Nov 30, 2019, 09:00 AM
Arch Street Teen Center, Arch Street, Greenwich, CT, USA
PARA TRADUCIR ESTE MENSAJE, HAGA CLIC EN ESTE MENSAJE PARA ABRIR EN SU NAVEGADOR, LUEGO HAGA CLIC EN EL BOTÓN DE ABAJO QUE DICE "TRANSLATE."
Julian Curtiss Magnet School of World Languages
Mrs. Brenda Brush, Assistant 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