Dear Lebanon Students, Staff, Families and Community Members,

How are you? I hope all is well and that you are enjoying your summer. My summer has been fun and relaxing but I miss working with all of you. Please do not allow this letter to signal that summer is over but I hope it does get you excited about the start of another school year!

Our theme in 2022-2023 was “We’re All In This Together”. Through teamwork, cooperation, collaboration and communication we accomplished so much and were able to have a very successful school year. Thank you staff for your drive and dedication to creating a positive climate and rigorous learning opportunities for our students. Thank you families for the trust and support you give to our teaching team as we work alongside you to provide the best possible education for our students. And thank you students for being the reason we get excited about coming to work each day. Teaching you and helping you grow academically, socially and emotionally is a great responsibility and we look forward to engaging in the learning process with you!

This year we will continue to work as a cohesive unit to develop lifelong learners by building their knowledge and skill through practice and the application of appropriate learning strategies. We will encourage students to apply their understanding of growth mindset to the learning of new skills and knowledge while promoting flexibility when analyzing and reflecting on their work. We will present them with challenging problems and be by their side to help them persevere in solving them.

Final preparations for the upcoming school year are underway. I can’t help but think about greeting our learners on day one of the 2023-2024 school year. I am eager to watch our students be engaged collaborators who actively participate and make beneficial contributions while working together to reach shared goals. To that end the following goals will be at the forefront of all our actions this year as we partner with families and the community, to prepare students to be contributing members of a diverse global society.

Goal 1- The school community will provide a safe, positive, respectful, and inclusive culture that demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

• Descriptors of Effective Practice

• Emphasizes and strengthens understanding of, and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

• Connection to LPS Strategic Plan- Climate, Culture, Communication & Community Engagement

• The Lebanon Public Schools will ensure a culture that supports emotional, intellectual, and physical well-being, in order to create engaged and resilient learners.

Goal 2- Students will be active learners who have opportunities to lead their learning

• Descriptors of Effective Practice

• Student agency through meaningful, relevant, and self-initiated learning experiences

• Opportunities for students to set goals and reflect upon the results to guide learning

• Pursuit of personal interests, and opportunities for creative expression

• Connection to LPS Strategic Plan- Academics

• The Lebanon Public Schools are committed to offering college and career oriented courses and programs to ensure students develop life skills and explore their interests, while employing the latest technology and encouraging students to become lifelong learners.

Goal 3- Educators will, individually and collaboratively, examine a range of evidence, including: Student work, data from a variety of formative and summative assessments (including common course and common grade-level assessments), disaggregated data of participation, performance, and experiences by subgroups, individual and school-wide progress in achieving the district’s Portrait of a Graduate, feedback from a variety of sources, including students, other educators, supervisors, families, and the school community

• Descriptors of Effective Practice:

• Improve curriculum, instruction and assessment practices

• Analyze data to respond to inequities in student achievement

• Emphasize the use of evidence-based research, reflective practice, data, and feedback to improve learners ’educational experiences

• Connection to LPS Strategic Plan-Teaching and Learning

• The Lebanon Public Schools will provide opportunities to ensure professional growth through appropriate, meaningful and engaging professional learning which will address targeted needs to increase student growth across all areas.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS IS AUGUST 28, 2023

OPEN HOUSE DATES

Lebanon Elementary School
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 – Kindergarten Meet & Greet – 1:15 p.m.-3:00 p.m
Monday, August 28, 2023 – Pre-K Open House – 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, September 28, 2023 – Grades K – 4 Open House – 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Lebanon Middle School
Thursday, September 14, 2023 – 6:00 p.m.

Lyman Memorial High School
Thursday, September 7, 2023 - 6:00 p.m.

LES PTA – 6:30 p.m.
Lebanon Elementary School
Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month

LMS PTO – 7:00 p.m.
Lebanon Middle School Library Media Center
Meets the 3nd Tuesday of the month

SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT GROUP – Lebanon Middle School Library
First Monday of the Month (No meeting in September or January)
8:00 am: October 2, 2023; December 4, 2023; March 4, 2024, May 6, 2024
3:00 pm: November 6, 2023; February 5, 2024; April 1, 2024; June 3, 2024

BOARD OF EDUCATION – 7:30 p.m.
Lyman Memorial High School Library Media Center
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month

2023/2024 PLANNED EARLY CLOSING END TIMES
Lyman Memorial High School – 11:55 a.m.
Lebanon Middle School – 12:10 p.m.
Lebanon Elementary School – Grades K- 4 – 1:05 p.m.
AM Pre-K – 8:35 a.m. – 10:45 a.m; PM Pre-K – 10:45 a.m. – 1:05 p.m.

Unplanned Early Closing
Lebanon Elementary School
No PM Pre- K; AM Pre-K 8:35 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

Grade 2- LES- Krista Copeland

Grade 4- LES- Adriana Alfiero

Grade 4- LES- Jennifer Loura

Academic Support Instructor- LES- Kelly Francis

Psychologist- LES- Rachel Brown

Social Worker- LES- Matthew Borkowski

Special Education Teacher- LES- Tiffany Anderson

Paraeducator- LES- Monica James

Paraeducator- LES- Samantha Collins

Reading Interventionist Tutor- LES- Dawn Gonsalves-Joyner

Principal- LMS- Chad Johnson

Special Ed (SCALES)- LMS- Ana Kyrcz

Psychologist- LMS- Rachel Gabrilowitz

Paraeducator- LMS- Katherine Gilbert

Paraeducator- LMS- Louanne DiBella

Assistant Principal- LMHS- Susan Mike

Chemistry- LMHS- Adam Berlin

Social Studies- LMHS- Amber Van Dyne

Special Education Teacher- LMHS- Margaret Quinn

ASTE- LMHS- Rebecca Burton

ASTE- LMHS- Anna Tromza

CNA Instructor- LMHS- Susan Lambert

LES- breakfast-$2.00, lunch-3.25

LMS- breakfast-$2.00, lunch-3.60

LYMAN- breakfast-$2.00, lunch-3.80

The weighted average for lunch puts us at the required $3.55.

Reduced meal cost did not change.

Recently, pursuant to Public Act No. 23-204, $16 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (2021) funds has been allocated for "Free Meals for Students". These funds are being referred to as the State Transition Assistance for Breakfast and Lunch Expenses (STABLE) funds.

This means all students in Lebanon Public Schools will be provided a free breakfast.

Free lunches will only be provided to students/families who qualify for Free-Reduced Lunch meals.

It is very important for everyone to fill out the application for Free-Reduced Meals.

I know that what was reported may have been confusing so if you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to me and I will work swiftly to get you a response.

General Statute 10-15c(a) reads "A student may be admitted early upon a written request by the parent or guardian of such child to the Principal of the school in which such child would be enrolled and following an assessment of such child by such Principal and an appropriate staff member of the school to ensure that admitting such child is developmentally appropriate"

We understand that we have families and students that this will impact. We have already met several times as an administrative team to discuss supporting our community with this change. More information about plans that are in progress will be shared at future preschool screenings, kindergarten orientations, during the registration process and in ongoing Superintendent Updates.

The Connecticut Sun has now introduced a Summer Reading program where students can read and earn 1 Free Ticket to our Fan Appreciation Game on September 10th!

This week, Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program—the popular state program that enables Connecticut children to receive free admission at dozens of museums across the state during the summer months—is returning for 2023 with more than 120 museums statewide participating. Please share this information within the school community.

This summer our Columbia/Lebanon Little League All-Star team had a great run through the tournament. Led by Coach Josh Pagano the team won the district championship and was only one game away from capturing the sectional crown. I was in touch with coach to congratulate him and took some time to interview him for our August Superintendent Update Spotlight Section.

Josh graduated from Lyman High School in 2004, where he played four years for the legendary Coach Marty Gomez on the varsity baseball team. He then attended Porter and Chester for automotive in 2005 and at the same time starting playing professional wiffle ball! He has played in six national title games and won three national titles 2006, 2009, and 2021.

In 2009 he purchased an automotive shop with a business partner and started Certified Auto Repair in Columbia, CT.

Josh started coaching baseball as soon as his son, Nolan, was old enough for Tball which was 2016. His younger son Camden also plays baseball, Josh coaches both teams! This school year was his first as the Lebanon Middle School baseball head coach and he said he had an "absolute blast with the kids". "We set a goal to be a playoff contender and they worked hard and made that happen this season".

The little league all-star run was one for the record books... the team went 1-1 in pool play with a mercy win over RHAM 11-1, but losing a heart breaker to Willimantic/SFC 3-1. But that loss was powerful and he used the loss to talk to the kids about responding to adversity. They responded in a huge way with a come from behind win against Jewett city in the Quarterfinals, then they traveled to Coventry beat them 9-5 to advance to the district finals against Norwich/Preston.

According to coach, "that championship game was the best little league game I’ve ever been a part of. We were down 3-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning and we had two outs on us with our 8 hitter in the box down 0-2 than these kids dreams started to become reality with a solo home run over the centerfield wall, followed by back to back doubles to take down the District 11 title!"

When asked what he enjoyed most about coaching the team he responded, "watching these kids start to believe in themselves and each other.They came together like a ball club and would pick each other up and battle to the end! So seeing them celebrate together taking their championships run around the field, each player with a hand on the district 11 banner was gold! Then the confidence in these kids the following week at practice getting ready for sectional play was incredible almost as if a totally different ball club."

At sectionals the team went 1-1 playing both Brooklyn and South Windsor All-Stars. Unfortunately due to run differential the team didn’t qualify for the championship game. He finished our interview by saying, "these kids will forever be the 2023 District 11 Champs! That’s something I’ll hang my hat on forever! Proud to be their coach."

Lebanon Public Schools actively seeks to assist children and families by locating, identifying, and referring children from birth to age 21 who require special education and related services. If you are concerned about a child's development, you are encouraged to contact Lebanon Elementary School to receive information about Early Childhood Screenings.

If the child is younger than 3 years of age, you may choose instead to contact the Connecticut Birth to Three System at 1-800-505-7000.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact 860-642-5636.

Sabena Escott, MSW sabena.escott@lebanonct.org

Lyman Memorial High School Social Worker and District Family Care Coordinator

With legislation over the summer, a family care coordinator has been added to the growing number of mental health staff that CT recognizes will further support our children and families in the school setting. The family care coordinator role already encompasses what our Lebanon school district mental health teams provide for students and families. Providing students with access to mental health resources within the community and bringing mental health services to students inside of the school has always been a priority in our district. Please reach out if there are any specific mental health topics, community programs, therapeutic referrals or town programs and resources that you would like to know more about. Below are a few programs and resources for students and families.

Lebanon Social Services Office offers a variety of services to Lebanon children, adults, and seniors. Social Services Administrator Shelly Ashcom works with federal, state, and local organizations to provide assistance to Lebanon residents in need. Town of Lebanon Social Services

*The use of the resources/programs in this section are not required by LPS to be used by parents/guardians. They are recommendations only.*

Call or text a trained crisis counselor to talk:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. They’re free and available 24/7:
  Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

• Trevor Project (crisis intervention & suicide prevention for the LGBTQ community): 1-866-488-7386 or Text 678678

• Crisis Text Line: text CTL to 741741

NIMH offers brochures and fact sheets on mental health disorders and related topics for children, adolescents and their families. Printed materials can be ordered free of charge. Brochures and fact sheets in English and Spanish.

Housing and Homeless Services can be accessed through Coordinated Access Networks (CAN). Persons are prioritized for housing services based on an assessment to be completed after calling 211.

Housing and Homeless Services

The Lebanon Public Schools, in partnership with families and the community, will prepare students to be contributing members of a diverse global society. We will provide a safe, nurturing, rigorous, and student-centered learning environment.

The school community of Lebanon is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Lebanon Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment and the District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, alienage, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other category protected under state or federal law in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its program or activities. The District also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups and is specifically required by Title IX not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs and activities. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for individuals with identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

The following person has been designated to handle inquires regarding Title IX sex discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, Title IX Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding other non-discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, 504/ADA Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764