CompSci Weekly
December 4, 2023- December 8, 2023
Principals Message
Hello CompSci Families,
I have a lot of information this week, so I will get right to it! I'll start with hoping you all had a nice long weekend and had time to recharge with family and friends. Here is what's happening here at school:
- The students and staff have taken the climate survey, but only 8% of our parents have. I really need you to do this, as right now there is not enough participation to give us reliable data. This survey drives everything we do--from budget allocation to staffing, so please take a few minutes to complete it using this link: https://rezed.io/1NVTHA. Email Ms. Grant your completion page with your child's name at brgrant@crec.org for the gift card raffle.
- This week each team did their cycle 3 mindset awards and the kids were very excited. If your child was a winner, congratulations!
- If you have not signed up for a conference and would like one, please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher and we will figure out a way to get you in.
- If you have not set up your account through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please do so. We will send out instructions and login information again. This is the new way CREC is handling things like field trips and notices, so please set up your account. They promised me that it will make everyone's life better.
That's all for now. Enjoy the weekend, and happy December!
Jill Wnuk
Principal
Equity Corner: Episode 9
Greetings Comp Sci Families!
This week at Comp Sci Middle School The Student Equity Team completed filming the interviews and speeches for our school’s bullying and keeping language positive, video. We are excited to share it with the school staff and students to further build a positive
Thank you for your continued support!
We also got to show our creative side by working on a holiday season “Door Decoration Contest” submission, where we worked together to create a lovely winter snow scene with a bare tree, a snowman, snowflakes, and items and ornaments representing all types of diversity that make up our Equity Committee and school on the tree. We wish everyone a great weekend!
We look forward to continuing this work together as a Comp Sci Community!
~Ashley Hanse
Comp Sci Middle Equity Leader
THEME COACH UPDATE
Computer Science education week is this coming week, December 6-12th ! Hold tight and please read, this is a long one but a topic I am so passionate about !
In 2023, in the State of Connecticut there were an average of 5,373 open computing jobs and these jobs had an average salary of $112,526 (advocacy.code.org). In the United States , 47 percent of schools do not offer any computer science education. We know that regardless of what our students do when they grow up, whether they go into medicine, business, politics, or the arts, knowing how to build technology will give them confidence and a competitive edge. It’s time for us to catch up to the 21st century. Oh wait, I can proudly state CompSci has not only caught up but is well ahead of the majority of middle schools in the Nation.
As I have discussed in past newsletters, computer science is so much more than coding. Computer science has a transformative potential to have positive impacts on students and their communities. Unfortunately, there is a racial and gender disparity that limits access to computer science education. This is where CompSci Middle and High School can proudly proclaim we are actively trying to increase access to computer science education for all students. In Connecticut High Schools, 84% offer, but don’t require foundational computer science classes, only 69% of urban schools offer such an opportunity. The statistics for foundational computer science in middle school are dismal. Of the 17 states who reported data for middle schools, noting Connecticut did not report data, only 3.9% require foundational computer science education in grades 6-8 ( 2021 State of CS Education).
Four out of five college students say they decided to study STEM in high school or earlier, with middle school a pivotal entry point for STEM interest. I feel so fortunate to work with colleagues and administrators as well as to serve the students and families of the CompSci community, in that we share the innovative vision of the need for foundational computer science education. Collectively, we are a part of 3.9% of all the reported middle schools in the Nation to provide such essential educational opportunities really needed for today's digital learner. Thanks to all the stakeholders, including you as families, for giving CompSci Middle School students the opportunity for a bright future.
Diana Beardsley
Congratulations to 7th grade team SPAM’s top three winners of scariest short stories!
Kriston Brown in 3rd place, Sharanya Bharadwaj in 2nd place, and Emaan Adnan in 1st place.
Transportation Inclement Weather Information
Transportation Inclement Weather Information Spanish
PJ Day
Thank you to the families and friends who added to our display in honor of service people and veterans of the US Armed forces.
In keeping with the SOAR theme, this group models Showing leadership, embracing Opportunity, Aiming for excellence being Resilient .
8th Grade Families please see below
Get Ready to Apply to High School for the 2024-2025 School Year!
The RSCO application opens on December 4th, 2023
Go to chooseyourschool.org to learn more about your options and the process.
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
School Nurse
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.
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.
**You will also need your child’s lunch identification number. If you need help locating your child’s number, please contact us.