Comp-Sci Weekly
September 25, 2023- September 29, 2023
Principals Message
Hello CompSci Families,
This has been a busy week! It was great to see so many of you at our two Curriculum Nights this week. If you were unable to come, then please just reach out to your child's team leader with any questions. We take school and parent partnership very seriously, so anything we can do to make it better, we will do so. Thank for your help with that.
This week we had some work done to continue to improve our safety. One, we had some trees trimmed along the driveway to make the driveway a little wider and with better sightlines. The tree work was extended into the back lot to improve our camera viewpoints. Two, our staff participated in a training on Wednesday afternoon that addressed pur responses to emergencies. We all left that training with good information and more confidence in our abilities to react quickly. while I am talking about safety, I would also like to address the procedures for entering the building. If you need to come into the school for any reason, please pull all the way around and enter through the side door that leads to the security desk. You will be asked to sign in with security and if you are staying for a meeting, and will need to show an ID. That ID is then scanned through a system called "Raptor" that checks for any convictions for crimes against children. Once you have been cleared you will be given a sticker badge to move around the building. If you are picking up your child during the day we will ask for ID, until we get to know your face! If you need to send someone who is not on the list you provided we will not release the child until we have called you for permission. Please let me know if you have questions or suggestions about this procedure.
Afterschool clubs start on Monday and you will receive the final transportation email today from Diana Beardsley. You MUST return the bus slip in order to ride the late bus, so make sure your child brings it in on Monday.
Finally, please send in any fundraiser packets on Monday.
As always, thanks for being part of our community!
Enjoy the weekend,
Jill Wnuk
Principal
CompSci Theme Update
Our Computer Science and Technology classes are grounded in International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards. Empowered Learner, the first standard, emphasizes the importance of students taking an active role in their learning. The standard focuses on the students’ ability to use technology effectively for learning, personal growth, and problem solving.
What does this standard look like in CompSci classrooms? Through a digital medium, teachers assist students in setting personal goals giving students voice and choice. Students also receive teacher feedback and self-reflect. In our classes, students participate in a variety of lessons and activities which further empower them as learners. Learning about software, hardware, including taking apart old Chromebooks, and how the internet works, students are able to apply their learning to real life scenarios. Through project planning, students learn how to break projects into smaller pieces to meet a deadline. Students learn how to use a variety of technology platforms to drive research. They can use that research to design digitally creative products as infographics, 90 second videos, multimodal digital books, blog posts, vlogging, podcasts, and other multimedia presentations. In all of these, students learn to productively participate in academic conversations and collaboration leading them to be empowered learners.
Advisory
September, 2023
Dear Family,
As part of our curriculum, your child participates in our Tuesday Advisory program. This time is devoted to help support your child’s success in school, focuses on social and emotional learning, and helps to develop the whole student. Students need skills for learning, coping with challenges, making good decisions, handling strong emotions, and getting along with others.
To assist with this we are using Second Step® Middle School, a research-based social-emotional learning program designed to improve students’ social-emotional skills, such as emotion management, impulse control, problem solving, and empathy. Second Step skills and concepts are designed to help students both in and out of school. Our focus this Fall is the Unit on Bullying and Harassment. Students learn how to recognize bullying and harassment, stand up safely to bullying, and respond appropriately to harassment.
Other units in Second Step include the following:
Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions: Students learn how to recognize strong emotions and unhelpful thoughts, and apply strategies to manage their emotions and reduce stress. Managing Relationships and Social Conflict: Students learn strategies for developing and maintaining healthy relationships, perspective taking, and dealing with conflict.]
Additional Advisory topics will assist students with team building, internet safety and digital literacy as well as interactive activities to help build positive relationships.
Thanks for your support as we work to build a safe, caring, and supportive school community. Should you have questions regarding Second Step or the Advisory program, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Sansone
School Counselor and Advisory Coordinator
Back Pack Program
Back Pack Program Spanish
2023-2024 Calendar
Guidance Department
Carla Joseph-Trim , x3153
6th Grade Counselor
Email: ctrim@crec.org
Leigh Skal, x 3160
6th Grade Social Worker
Email: lskal@crec.org
Cheryl Sansone, x3152
7th Grade Counselor
Email: csansone@crec.org
Miguel Falcon, x3156
7th Grade Social Worker
Email:mfalcon@crec.org
Joey Braiewa, x3154
8th Grade Counselor
Email: jbraiewa@crec.org
Jocelynn Nelson, x3155
8th Grade Social Worker
Email: jtnelson@crec.org
Nitza Rivera, x3150 (bi-lingual)
Administrative Assistant
Email: nrivera@crec.org
General School Information
Academy of Computer Science and Engineering
337 East River Drive
East Hartford, CT 06108
(860) 290-5320
Fax# 860-291-3159 (860)-290-5330
COMP-SCI MESSAGES
Would you like to receive these messages via text? If so, please text Y to 67587 to opt into this service (one time). Once you opt in, you will receive future messages about bus delays via text. You can opt out anytime by texting N to 67587. There is no charge for this service but your standard message and data rates apply.
CREC’s Statement of Diversity and Inclusion
“Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) is an intentionally diverse social justice organization whose members work to acknowledge, respect, and empathize with people of all different identifiers, such as race, socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression, education, age, ability, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, language, nationality, and religion. In accordance with CREC’s mission of equity, excellence, and success for all through high-quality educational services, our staff and students commit to participate in and support ongoing equity and inclusion programming through curricular and co-curricular offerings, professional learning, and local and national partnerships. Moreover, CREC staff and students strive to understand and confront the symptoms and causes of systematic oppression—ranging from implicit biases to micro aggressions to discriminatory policies, practices and traditions—that benefit privileged groups. While at CREC, staff and students commit to affirm and honor the lived experiences of others, to willingly challenge inherited beliefs and ideologies, and consequently learn, grow, and serve.”
BELL SCHEDULE FOR SY 2022-23
Students’ bell times is as follows: 7:20am -1:55pm (Full Day) and 7:20am – 10:45am (Half Day)
Picking up your child early
When picking up a student early from school, a note is required and should be given to the front desk Security Guard.
Parents/Guardians are to provide ID for verification when signing out any student. Anyone other than the parent/guardian
Who is asked to pick up a student must have the parent’s written permission; that individual is required to be in our
Emergency contact or be named in the note provided by parent—and will also need an ID.
Address Change Reporting
Help us keep our records current by reporting any changes to your child’s demographic information. Please complete the Address Change Form and bring in the necessary information to complete this process. Complete and return to Mrs. Rivera
In Guidance with any changes to your address and/or phone number. By doing this you will assist in jump starting your child’s bus stop change needs.
Request to Board a Different Bus
Click on the following BUSING PROTOCOL for more information. Please call the school 860-290-5320 with any questions.
Pick up and drop off procedures
Please read the following CLICK HERE for procedures when picking and dropping off your child.
TRANSPORTATION Information
RSCO Transportation Inclement Weather Letter
RSCO Transportation Emergency Closing Information CLICK HERE
Click on the following link for texting information, both in English and Spanish, about busing during inclement weather.
2022-2023 Transportation Reimbursement
Transportation Reimbursement is allotted for Families who reside outside of the CREC Transportation District & do not utilize CREC transportation in any way. Both criteria must be met to receive mileage reimbursement.
Lost & Found
Bins can be found in the 1st and 3rd floor offices, guidance and in the gymnasium. Bins are emptied the last Friday of the month.
Student lunch accounts
During SY 2022-23, through the Community Eligibility Commission (CEP), ALL students attending Comp-Sci will receive free meals.
SNACKS ARE BACK!!
Snack items (chips, juice, etc) will cost extra. If your child will be purchasing snack items, simply add money to your child’s lunch account.
For your convenience, below are ways you can add money to your child’s lunch account:
Pay electronically by registering with My School Bucks. Please remember this takes 1-2 business days.
**To register go directly to www.myschoolbucks.com.
**You must choose Crec as your child’s school district.
**You must register if you do not already have an account.
**If you have an account, please enter your user name and password to access your account.
**You will also need your child’s lunch identification number. If you need help locating your child’s number, please contact us.