Message from the Superintendent
Dear Students, Families and Friends of the Colchester Public Schools:
Thank you again for the warm welcome to Colchester. While the last month has been incredibly busy, I am grateful for the opportunity to have met with staff, community leaders, students and parent organizations. The feedback that I’ve received has helped me identify budget priorities and will serve as the foundation for a transition of leadership plan. If we haven’t had the chance to meet, and you have information to share, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dsullivan@colchesterct.org.
One need that I’ve heard repeatedly is for improved communication. The introduction of this newsletter is a first step in addressing this need. Welcome to Colchester’s Smore! Newsletter. This platform will allow us to send regular updates, share pictures, and notify you about important information. We look forward to connecting with you and highlighting the good work happening in our schools.
Two weeks ago, I presented the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget to the Colchester Board of Education. This week, the building principals and directors reviewed their priorities and we began the public comment component of the budget process. While the proposed budget request is unusually high, it is driven by a conflux of unique circumstances. The expiration of stimulus funds, an increased cost for utilities, and increases in out- of- district special education tuition and transportation expenses have all contributed to a budget increase. In an effort to deliver a fiscally responsible budget that continues to meet program needs and maintains reasonable class sizes, the administrative team made the difficult decision to eliminate twelve positions district-wide, including five teaching positions and a central office director.
It is important for this process to be both transparent and inclusive. With that in mind, please consider this your invitation to review the BOE Budget Info and to attend the next budget workshop on Thursday February 23, 2023.
In collaboration,
Dan Sullivan
Superintendent
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World Read Aloud Day We celebrated World Read Aloud Day on February 1st. Superintendent Sullivan had the privilege of visiting and reading a story to JJIS students in Ms. Johnson's class. | The Groundhog Saw His Shadow! Our kindergarteners at CES learned about the groundhog's shadow and can tell you that and more about groundhogs. They learned all about burrows and why they live in them. | Faces of CultureStudents in both Mr. St. John’s and Mr. Bech’s grade 5 classrooms explore the many peoples and their cultures that make up our nation. Students will learn about the various cultures through a hands-on, minds-on exploration of their culture, specific to the arts. |
World Read Aloud Day
The Groundhog Saw His Shadow!
Faces of Culture
Students in both Mr. St. John’s and Mr. Bech’s grade 5 classrooms explore the many peoples and their cultures that make up our nation. Students will learn about the various cultures through a hands-on, minds-on exploration of their culture, specific to the arts.
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100th Day of School Students in CES and JJIS celebrated the 100th day of school on February 8, 2023! The CES math lab put 100 math problems around the school for students to solve and at JJIS the studenta and staff celebrated by dressing up as if they were 100 years old. Grade 5 students celebrated their 1,000 day of school! Students shared what they have learned and enjoyed over the last 7 years. | CAS-CIAC Scholar Athlete Recipients We are proud to announce Grace Gorreck and Ryan Moores as the 2023 CAS-CIAC SCHOLAR ATHLETE recipients! "The Scholar-Athlete Program annually recognizes two high school seniors from each member school whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary, whose personal standards and achievements are a model to others, and who possess high levels of integrity, self-discipline and courage." Congratulations Grace and Ryan! | CPS Celebrates Black History MonthBlack History Month, also known as African-American History Month in the U.S., is an annual observance in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Teacher, Kristen Cleasby, created a bulletin board reflecting a periodic table of Black American Innovators who changed the world! |
100th Day of School
CAS-CIAC Scholar Athlete Recipients
CPS Celebrates Black History Month
Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in the U.S., is an annual observance in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Teacher, Kristen Cleasby, created a bulletin board reflecting a periodic table of Black American Innovators who changed the world!
Budget Corner
2023-2024 Budget Year Key Meeting Dates
- Thursday, February 23, 2023 BOE Budget Workshop
- Tuesday, March 7, 2023 Board of Finance Public Hearing
- Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Board of Finance Education Budget Workshop
Employee Spotlight
Michele is a Library Media Specialist at William J. Johnston Middle School and has been an educator for 23 years, 18 of which have been in Colchester at William J. Johnston Middle School. Her tenure here includes teaching sixth grade English Language Arts, and Library Media. Michele is an avid reader, and you will always find her reading or listening to YA and middle grade literature. She has been part of the Nutmeg Award Book selection committee three different years, enjoying reading over 80 books per year, discussing titles with other librarians and students, to narrow down the books to the nominees. Michele loves working in the middle school with students as they continue to see the world around them in different ways and develop as readers. Michele says that the best part of working in Colchester is the community! The staff is like a family, supporting and caring for each other, working together to make a difference in the lives of students.
Michele is a mom of three children and a wife for 16 years. On top of regular mom duties, she takes an active role in her kids' lives, volunteering and helping out in the activities her children participate in including sports, Sunday School, and VBS. The best part of her day is watching her six year old son run off the bus giving her a big smile and a bigger hug. She loves to be outside hiking with her family, visiting the beach, and exploring nature. Michele's dream would be to hike rainforests in Costa Rica, visit Incan ruins in Peru, and visit and explore her grandfather's home town in Italy.
Important Upcoming Dates
- February 20-21 - School Holiday
- March 10 - School Holiday
- March 23 - Early Release Day / Parent Conferences
- April 7-14 - School Holiday
- May 26 - Early Release Day
- May 29 - School Holiday
- June 14-15 - Early Release Days
- June 15 - Last Day of School (subject to change due to inclement weather)
2022-2023 School Year Calendar
National SRO Appreciation Day!
