Cougar Chronicles
Kent Center School's Monthly Principal Newsletter
End of 2019-2020 School Year
What a year it has been! I am so thankful for our year together and I know that once you view our End of Year slideshow linked below, the memories of our times together at KCS this year will come flooding back!
I want to thank all of our staff at Kent Center for their hard work this year. Every year comes with its challenges and this one didn't skip a beat! Who else didn't skip a beat? The staff at KCS.
From our custodial crew, who while everyone else was asked to stay home, continued their daily efforts to keep our school clean and safe awaiting our students' return.
To our Chef, who kept our students' bellies full, even from a distance!
To our secretaries, who continued to support me, our staff, and our families with whatever was needed.
To our IT coordinator, who quickly downloaded YouTube videos for teachers to use, fixed WiFi issues from afar, and basically answered all of our tech needs at a moment's notice!
To our Nurse, counselor, and school psychologist, who contacted staff, students, and families to check-in and keep us positive!
To our paraprofessionals and support staff, who went above and beyond their normal daily duties to support the teachers and students as they navigated their way through distance learning.
And, finally, to our amazing teachers, who are being praised by so many for not missing a minute of teaching since we left school on March 13. Your perseverance, passion, and flexibility these last three months were outstanding.
It wasn't only the staff at KCS who helped us get through this year. I want to send a special thank you to all of the students and families. As a mom of three school-aged kids, I understand how your world was turned upside down in March. I am so proud of our students and families for adapting so quickly to distance learning. Your persistence, understanding, and extreme flexibility helped our staff make this time at home successful. We could not have done it without your support and we truly appreciate everything you have done to keep us together while we were apart!
The summer is here, and soon we will be together again! While we don't know what school will look like in the fall, I know that we will be ready. I wish you the best of days this summer. Stay healthy, stay safe, and stay in touch!
My best,
Mrs. Mott
Goodbye Mrs. Kleisner
Keep in Touch!
Summer Reading
Two Books, Six Schools:
The six Regional elementary/middle schools will all be participating in a summer reading experience together. Students in grades K-3 will read the picture book version of "Hidden Figures," and students in grades 4-8 will read the Young Adult version.
Books and activity packets were handed out to families during the student material pickup. Please note in the packet that STEM prize baskets will be given at the beginning of next year for completed activities! We will also be arranging a schoolwide activity using the books upon our return.
We are excited to offer this program to bring all of our Region One students together!
Governor's Summer Reading Challenge - IMAGINE YOUR STORY
Kent Center School is participating in two summer reading experiences this
summer. First, we are participating in TWO BOOKS, SIX SCHOOLS with all
Region One elementary/middle schools.
Second, we are participating in CONNECTICUT READS 2020 – the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. For Two Books, Six Schools, students should read the copy of Hidden Figures that they received during material pick-up time. Students in K-3 received the picture book version and students in grades 4-8 received the young adult version. We are excited to offer this program to bring all Region One students together. For The Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge, students should keep a list of the books they read during summer vacation. This includes audiobooks, read- aloud, independently read books, and their Hidden Figures books. Students may record their information on a regular sheet of paper or they may print the official summer reading journal. Students should return their summer reading lists when we return to school in August.
Suggested reading lists, created by the Connecticut State Library, and links to the official journals are available on the KCS website (www.kentcenterschool.org).
Happy Reading,
Betsy Morrow, School Librarian
**Please see the link below related to the Governor's Summer Reading Challenge
Summer Camps
Dear KCS Families, I hope you are all doing well as we finish up the 2019-2020 school year through distance learning. I’m sure many students and their families are looking forward to a much needed break after having to work through the unique and often stressful challenges of learning from home! With the new regulations and restrictions placed on summer programming for children due to COVID-19, many parents and guardians may be wondering what might be available in our area to keep the kids active and cared for during the next few months. Below is a list of summer programs that have confirmed they will be running for the summer. Of course with the ever changing nature of the pandemic in CT, it is always a good idea to contact the programs to confirm that their programs will still be up and running. Pratt Nature Center-New Milford, CT: Offering a traditional outdoor day camp experience for children in Pre-K through 9th grade. There is also a Teen Leadership program offered for students in 10th through 12th grade. They are offering 9 week long sessions starting June 22nd. Scholarships are available based on financial need. Please call 860-355-3137 or visit their website to get more information on any changes they have made to their programs in order to comply with state guidelines. https://prattcenter.org/summer-camp/ YMCA Camp Mohawk-246 Great Hill Rd. Litchfield CT: A traditional girl’s overnight camp, Mohawk will be offering instead a co-ed day camp for kids ages 6-15. They will be offering 8 week long sessions starting on June 29th. This is a great opportunity for kids to enjoy a fun camp in a beautiful setting. Go to https://campmohawk.org/daycamp/ for more information and to register. Robotics and Beyond-20 Bank St. New Milford: Offering online Summer STEM and Design classes this year. Tuition assistance is available for families. Go to https://www.roboticsandbeyond.org/summer-stem-camp/ to register. You can also contact them at 860-717-4139 or info@roboticsandbeyond.org. Reis Learning Center-65 Bank St. New Milford: Offering a variety of classes, summer camps and artisan workshops for kids and adults, programs start on June 23rd and run throughout the summer. Each program is limited to 10 participants. Go to http://reislearningcenter.com/the-classroom/ for more information and to register. To talk to Jessica Reis about her programs as well as the online tutoring that is available this summer, call 860-354-0854 or email her at jessica.reis@reislearningcenter.com. In regards to whether Camp Kent will be running their programs this summer, a decision will be made early next week. You can check on the status of the day camp by going to http://www.kentctparkandrecreation.com/. Finally, the Housatonic Youth Services Bureau will continue to offer free counseling services to families in Region 1. Currently, they are offering telehealth counseling and will continue to do so throughout the summer. Contact Bethany Keck, Supervising Clinician at 860-824-4720 or email her at bkeck@hysbct.org. I wish you all a safe and restful summer, and look forward to seeing everyone in the fall!
2020 - 2021, What Can We Expect?
IMPORTANT: We have been hearing mixed opinions about the safety of bringing school supplies from home. Please hold off on buying any school supplies until further notice. We will send out supply lists, if necessary, during the first few weeks of August.
Board of Education
Chairperson: Martin Lindenmayer
Vice-Chairperson: Gonzalo Garcia-Pedroso
Secretary: Dana Slaughter
Member: Scott Trabucco
Member: Melissa Roth-Cherniske
Member: Jenn Duncan
The June Board of Education meeting was held on Wednesday, June 3. The Board approved a recommendation to hire Jennifer Moros for our part-time music position starting in 2020-2021. Jennifer will also serve as the math teaching assistant for grades K-3. We are excited to welcome her to KCS and will share more details in the fall!
June & Summer Birthdays!
Whitney Rousseau
Odin Bonis
John Russell
Elijah Pennucci
Kadence Parsons
Willie Brown
Henrik Banffy
Alexa Hoadley
Augusta Smith
Olivia De Sanctis
Mason Cateno
Dominick DeLonge
Evelyn Donzella
Kyle McCarron
Aaron Kurze
Emma Behling
Meadow Moerschell
Mario Brito-Trinidad
Mrs. Morin
Mrs. Menard
Mrs. da Silva
Mrs. Starr
July
Nathaniel Keck
Margaret Austin
Jack Gennings
Lucy Taylor
Lanna Kennedy
Abigail Victory
James Sullivan
Eason Zhang
Fuller Manes
Georgiana Baird
Trevor Deitz
Sophia Gladding
Levi Houck
Mrs. Saunders
Mrs. Vega
Mrs. Rodriguez
Mrs. Willson
August
Kaelyn Darrin
Penelope Tolfree
Charlie Osborne
James Flores
Lola Moerschell
Austin Hoadley
Patrick Money
Elizabeth Austin
John Davis
June Duncan
Abigail Braislin
Remington Hotchkin
Sophie Rousseau
Alyssa Kovacs
Skylar Fitch
Oliver Ward
Lyla Banffy
Elizabeth Forbes
Owen Brown
Marisol Vaughn
Peter Austin
Ashton Osborne
Gabriel Sario
Mr. Poirier
Mr. Rose
Mrs. Moore
Mrs.Barrett
*Social Media*
There are two Kent Center School Facebook pages- @KCSCougars is the best way to find the right one!
About Us
Website: www.kentcenterschool.org
Location: 9 Judd Avenue, Kent, CT, USA
Phone: 860-927-3537
Facebook: facebook.com/kentcenterschool
Twitter: @KCSCougars