Superintendent's Update
April 2016
Teacher Appreciation Day: Tuesday May 3rd
Thank you for supporting our schools.
"Hugs & high fives" from MTA to cheer sick children
CRHS Seniors (and BOE Reps!) Visit Washington, DC
Troopers Morello & Weber reading at Korn on Dr. Seuss Day
Increasing the Rigor at CRHS
Unified Foods and Sports
K-6 STEM Experiences
This year many of our teachers have explored and tried innovative projects with their students. At the K-6 grade levels students have been involved in use of 3D printers at Memorial and Strong, coding at all of our elementary schools, Dash and Dot Robots with a catapult to code, Eco Science Experiments, Cool Circuits, OSOM Learning System, Gravity Maze, and much more! In the 2016-2017 school year, we will be strengthening STEM programming and technology integration at the elementary level.
STEM Program to Begin at Strong Middle School
Readers’ Workshop Model to be implemented across K-6
CRHS boys' basketball competes in CIAC tournament finals
2nd graders at Brewster using new white boards
Students at Lyman use their bodies to create a "still picture"
Owl pellet dissection at Korn
Decorating shoelaces at Memorial
Strong EDGE Club takes stand against tobacco use
Professional Development
The Durham Fair
This year marks the fair’s 100th year of being a fair (but not the 100th fair because they needed to take a few years off for the wars). To commemorate the day the fair was voted on in 1916, the Durham Fair Association is putting together an event to be held Thursday, June 16th, 2016. The event will consist of a pulled pork dinner, music and a reenactment of the vote held back in 1916. Volunteers are needed to help at the event, specifically from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. to take tickets, help with food trays and at the drinks table, and clean-up. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Kara Pedersen at (860) 575-5904 or Kara.N.Pedersen@gmail.com.
Music is in the Air!
After a combined 75 years leading music education and musical performances Dean Coutouridis and Lisa Larsen will be retiring. In addition to their daily teaching schedule, here is an example of some of the highlights of high school Music Program over the last 12 months!
April of 2015: Virginia Beach Festival of Music - Chorus-Band- Jazz Band and Show Choir all received "Superior" ratings. Jazz Band Received First Place (Jazz Category) and Overall Best Jazz Band for entire festival. District 13 presented Vocal Night – vocal groups from 5th grade through high school performed. Senior Arts Night Music Department and Art Department collaborated to present works of Senior Artists and Musicians.
May 2015: All district Instrument and Vocal Ensembles presented Spring Concerts. District 13 Bands grades 5-6, 7-8 and the CRHS Band marched in the Durham Memorial Day Parade.
September 2015: Show Choir, No Refund, Nothing But Treble, Dixieland Combo and Jazz Band Performed Friday and Saturday at the Durham Fair Center Stage.
October 2015: District 13 Hosted Shoreline Music Festival – 20 CRHS Music Students (vocal and instrumental) participated. The CRHS Concert Choir Presented a Halloween Concert.
November 2015: Twelve CRHS Band students participated in the American Schools Band Directors' Association Honor Band Festival Hosted at Simsbury High School. Two Vocal and five Instrumental students auditioned for the Southern Region Music Festival. Mary Grace Fiondella (soprano) and Seth Azevedo (oboe) were accepted.The CRHS Band invited the Durham Nursery Coop to visit CRHS and learn about the band instruments.
December 2015: CRHS Brass Choir performed at the Durham Christmas Tree Lighting Concert Choir and Concert Band presented their annual Holiday Program.
January 2016: Strong and Memorial Schools presented their Annual Winter Concerts. Show Choir and Jazz Band presented their Annual Winter Concert. Two students participated in the Southern Region Music Festival hosted at Middletown High School.
February 2016: The CRHS Jazz Band participated in the Berklee College High School Jazz Festival. The Jazz Band won 3rd place (out of 16 bands in their category) and was offered three 25% discounts toward tuition for Berklee Summer Programs. Concert Choir presented their Annual Italian Cabaret Dinner/Concert.
April: CRHS presented the 1920's musical "Good News".
Kathryn Y. Veronesi, Ed.D.
Email: kveronesi@rsd13.org
Website: www.rsd13ct.org
Phone: (860) 349-7200