Principal's Weekly Update
March 23, 2024
Dear Parent(s)/ Guardian(s):
We begin and end with some crazy socks this week-- you see some in our insert picture and then again in the "Final Photo". Thursday was Down Syndrome Awareness Day,--one way in which to raise awareness of and appreciation for Down Syndrome is participation in the "Rock Your Socks" initiative (under a microscope, chromosomes have an appearance much like multi-colored socks), and our staff and students embraced that opportunity. Miss Mancini and Miss Moriello's homerooms won a prize for having the most participants.
World Language Week was tremendously successful and a whole lot of fun. You could literally hear the excitement all around the building on Wednesday as Period 4 classes competed in a “Cultural Kahoot”. Students actively participated as dancers on Thursday when ELA teacher Jessica Matthews led them through some steps and then they were an appreciative audience for some guest Peruvian dancers during ELB on Friday. This has become a real high point on the calendar every year as students gain an appreciation for language and culture in such interesting and interactive ways. Thanks to Paula Teixeira and her department for helping to make this incredibly worthwhile week possible.
Across the district schools are now able to share the 2023-2024 School Climate Survey with you. Your feedback is crucial in shaping the future of our school and our district, ensuring a supportive learning environment for all. Please participate openly and honestly to help us identify areas for improvement. Your participation in the survey will be confidential
Take the survey here: District Parent Survey. Thank you for your time and input.
Next week, we have two special events planned for the entire seventh grade to celebrate their completion of the novel I’ll Always Write Back. First, the students will get to “meet” the author and main character Caitlin Alifrenka through a live Zoom presentation on Wednesday. Next, in the spirit of the book’s emphasis of kindness, the students will spend a class period making fleece blankets which will be delivered to children at both Yale New Haven Hospital and Bridgeport Hospital. We are grateful to our PTA for sponsoring both events.
Our PTA is able to assist with activities like the ones described above through its mini-grant program. Your participation in PTA fundraisers makes these mini-grants possible. Teachers use them to enhance their programs. Examples of mini-grants approved at the most recent PTA meeting include: Mrs. Baillargeon's request for an incubator to hatch baby chicks, Miss Dwyer's request for a Hiwonder robotic car for her Makerspace program, and Mr. Sakly's request for to fund registration for his students to participate in a National French contest.
One such fundraiser was our first annual student/ parent Corn Hole Tournament on Friday night. While the competition raged on, we had a screen set up so that we could all also follow the progress of the real "March Madness" basketball games. You can see our tournament bracket in a photo below-- congratulations to Boy's Basketball coach Spencer Smolinsky and his son Sam for emerging victorious. I guess they both are good at more than just basketball. I anticipate making this tournament a permanent fixture.
Clubs & Activities:
Attention 7th and 8th Graders: Please check your Gmail! Invites have been sent to those of you that have qualified to be a part of the National Junior Honor Society here at Madison. If you received an invite, please accept it to become a part of the 2024 - 2025 NJHS Google Classroom. There you will find information about NJHS, as well as the application if you are interested in applying. The application deadline is Monday, April 22 at 2:30 PM. See Mrs. Pacelli in Room 227 with any questions.
Science Club will meet next week on Wednesday, March 27th when the CHICKS HATCH! We will observe the chicks and have some egg-citing activities! See you there! ALL ARE WELCOME!
Panther Play Day is BACK! On Friday, April 5th, our faculty/staff have organized over 40 activities for afternoon enjoyment, laughter, relaxation, and fun! Please stay tuned for the Program of Activities Sign-ups for activities will occur next week - every student must sign up and there will be no switching of activities! There will be something for everyone!
READ this year’s Nutmeg book selections! Voting forms are available for sixth grade and seventh and eighth grade. Vote by April 26!
Reminder:
TPAUD, Trumbull’s Prevention Partnership, is seeking input from Trumbull parents and caregivers about issues facing our youth. Please complete this brief, online survey, that is available in both English & Spanish (links below). Your feedback will guide TPAUD’s work to build a safe and healthy Trumbull!
Spanish: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/EncuestaTPAUDdelaComunidad2023
English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023TPAUDCommunitySurvey
So this week featured both crazy socks and March Madness, multiple "dancing days", Cultural Kahoot and Cornhole. Left on its own, March can be a very difficult month to get through-- this week's weather was a reminder of how temperatures can spring forward one week and then immediately slide back to a more wintry feel. So, we just make sure to keep really busy, to make our own fun, to brighten and warm up the month as much as we can. I think that we are having a lot of success with that, thanks in large part to the role which parents and our PTA have played in helping to enhance all of our academic and social opportunities at Madison.
Have a great weekend, and best of luck with your brackets. I got off to just about the worst start ever, but late Friday night upset wins by James Madison and Grand Canyon University have me a bit back on track. I plan to watch a lot of basketball today as I take refuge from the rain inside my house-- I'm sure many of you might do the same.
Take care,
Peter Sullivan