Dear Seymour School Community Members;

On behalf of the Seymour Board of Education and myself, I invite you to read our April 2022 District Newsletter, which showcases a sampling of what our students and staff have accomplished this year. We are committed to making decisions based on what is best for all children and you will see that reflected in the list of accomplishments for our schools.

Our students are our most precious asset and deserve the best quality education that can be provided by the Seymour Public Schools. We must pledge to our students, parents and the community a commitment for excellence in all we do. It is our vision that every student will achieve success and graduate as a life-long learner, globally competitive and prepared for career, college and life.

Please, join our school board members, administrators, staff, parents, students and the entire community in our efforts to continue “Celebrating Success and a Legacy of Excellence” in our Seymour Public Schools. Always remember, education works best when it is a partnership between students, teachers, families, and community.

It is truly my pleasure and distinct honor to serve as your Superintendent of Schools and I wish the entire Seymour School Community a wonderful spring season.

Sincerely,

Dr. Susan Compton

Mr. Stanek has a long list of accomplishments including helping a new middle school and high school building project, creating the school board’s annual awards program that highlight outstanding educators and community members, and serving as a major advocate for arts and music programs in the schools.

Congratulations and thank you Mr. Stanek. It is a well deserved honor.

INDUCTEES:

Jim Taradine Class of 1959

Jim Anderson Class of 1972

Melissa Tottenham Drozd Class of 1974

Tim Rennison Class of 1983

Robert LaRowe Class of 1984

Michael Mudry Class of 1994

SPECIAL RECOGNITION HONOREE:

Raymond Necio Class of 1966

Bungay - Isiah Sand

Chatfield Lo-Presti - Claire Losee

Seymour Middle School - Kyleigh Schofield

Seymour Middle School - Kayenat Asif

Seymour High School - Benjamin Sepulveda

Dear Parent/Guardians:

As the end of this year rapidly approaches, we are proud to share that the resilience of your children and our educators has allowed learning to continue in a year that finally finds us back in school -together- in ways that have not been possible for two years. Since August we have communicated our firm belief that when we are together, we can accomplish great things... and we have seen so many successes and celebrations this year!

This letter is to inform families that from May 9 through May 20, 2022, all Seymour students in grades 3-8 will participate in the annual state assessments in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics; grade 11 parents were recently informed that the Science NGSS was recently administered as part of the statewide bank of assessments.

As you know, schools and educators use these tests to see how our students are progressing at each grade level so they are prepared for college and careers when they graduate high school. Parents/guardians and staff also use the same high-quality tests to see how children are performing on the CT Core Standards. Administered online, these assessments will adapt to each student’s ability, giving teachers and parents/guardians information by revealing areas where a student is excelling and revealing areas where a student may need extra help in order to succeed.

Key Features of the Smarter Balanced Assessment

· Measures critical thinking with questions that ask students to demonstrate their research, writing, and problem solving skills

· All testing is administered using a secure online assessment system that includes a variety of tools and technology enhanced test questions that will improve the assessment experience for our students

· Accessibility tools for all students and accommodations – such as text-to-speech, key word translation glossaries, American Sign Language translation, and Braille – for those who need them

· Assessments are untimed and students can take breaks so that they can do their best

Results for these assessments are usually released during the summer, and parents will be provided copies of the results. Please feel free to reach out to your building administration with any specific questions that you may have.

Sincerely,

Vonda Tencza

Associate Superintendent, Seymour Public Schools

5/2/2022 Poetry Celebration for Parents of Grade 2 - 9:30 a.m. (classrooms)

5/20 Kindergarten Parent Information Session Café)

· 9:30 Last name begins with A-L

· 2:15 Last name begins with M-Z

5/17/2022 Battle of the Books (Gym)-Mrs. Generalli, Library Media Specialist

· Third grade Battle: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 9:05a.m.

· Fourth and Fifth Grade Battle: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 1:45p.m.

5/23/2022 Bungay Spring Concert – SMS 7:00-8:00 (Joanna Dunne, Music Teacher)

Chatfield Lo-Presti

Project A.C.E.S. Day – Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Project A.C.E.S. Day will be on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. This will be the 34th annual global event for All Children Exercising Simultaneously. Project A.C.E.S. is part of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and National Physical Fitness Week, and has been held annually since 1989. It is hoped that on May 4 at 10:00 a.m. millions of students from all over the world will exercise together to promote proper health and fitness habits. It has been labeled, “The World’s Largest Exercise Class.” Project A.C.E.S. aims to educate children about the importance of life-long fitness, and to end the negative stereotype that children are physically unfit.

For Chatfield-LoPresti’s Project A.C.E.S. activity, kindergarten through fifth grade will walk to Chatfield Park where we will loop the field several times in a school-wide walk. Seymour Police Officers and our School Resource Officer, Officer Kevin Pimpinelli, will be on hand during our walk to and from Chatfield Park to ensure a smooth and safe transition across Skokorat Street and as we walk on Chatfield Street.

CLS PTA Spring Plant Sale – May 3, 4, and 5, 2022

The CLS PTA is sponsoring its annual Spring Plant Sale on Tuesday, May 3, Wednesday, May 4, and Thursday, May 5, 2022. There will be a wide variety of flowers, vegetables and herbs from which the children can choose. Prices historically have ranged between $1.50 and $15.00.

CLS PTA Dance “An Evening in Paris” - Thursday, May 12, 2022

The CLS PTA Spring Dance is for CLS students and their Special “VIP”. The theme this year is, “An Evening in Paris!” The dance will be held in the gymnasium and a picnic box dinner can be purchased in advance to be eaten in the cafeteria. Boxes will include a baguette (sub sandwich), pomme frittes (chips), water, and patisserie dessert.

CLS Spirit of Aloha Week – May 23 - May 27, 2022

Our Spring Spirit Week will be the week of May 23 – 27. It will be centered on the theme of the “Spirit of Aloha.” Many know Aloha as a Hawaiian greeting or farewell, but there is far more to the word. Our CLS Student Ambassadors and CLS Safe School Climate Team will be sharing the positive message of Aloha of thinking and passing on good feelings to others to the CLS community.

The 5 Guidelines of Aloha

· Value and spend time in nature

· Live in the present moment – and appreciate it.

· Cultivate meaningful connections

· Choose to see the good

· Love always

Seymour Middle School

May 2nd- teacher appreciation week

May 5th - parent council hosted staff luncheon

May 6th- nurse appreciation day

May 10th- Parent Council Meeting

May 24th- small group BES student visit

May 24th- spring concert

Seymour High School

Class of 2022

Class dues are $150.00

This total will cover:

• Cap and Gown Purchase ($35.00)

• Senior Picnic Admission($50.00)

• Senior Banquet Admission ($65.00)

Dues can be paid in cash or a check (written out to Seymour High School) to either Mr. McCasland or Ms. Brown.

Senior Picnic: Friday, June 3 at Holiday Hill

• Students will be transported by bus to Holiday Hill and back to SHS.

• Buses will leave SHS at approximately 8:00 AM and return to SHS at approximately 4:00 PM

• Specific times will be finalized as we get closer to the event.

• The cost of the Picnic is covered by Class Dues

Senior Banquet: Date and Location to be Determined

• Yearbooks will be distributed at the Banquet.

• The cost of the Banquet is covered by Class Dues

Junior-Senior Prom - 2022: Saturday, May 7th.

• Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. 6:30 - 11:00 PM

• More information about cost and sign up to come soon.

Graduation is scheduled for June 21, rain date is June 22.