A Look Inside:

West Hartford Public SchoolsOffice of the Superintendent50 South Main StreetWest Hartford, CT 06107

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHARTFORD, CTPERMIT #751

Distribution of ConnectionsAn on-line version of Connections With the West Hartford Public Schools is now available at http://www.whps.org/connections.pdf. If you do not wish to have a copy of Connections mailed to your home, please email connectionsoptout@whps.org with your name, address, child’s name and school. Thank you.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

West HartfordPublic Schools

With the West Hartford Public Schools

ONNECTIONS Connections is a districtwide publication presented

to you by the Office of the Superintendent, West Hartford Public Schools,

50 South Main St., West Hartford, Connecticut 06107

Clear Paths. Bright Futures. No Limits.

West Hartford Public Schools, 50 South Main St., West Hartford, Connecticut 06107 Phone: (860)561-6651 Fax: (860)561-6910 E-Mails: superintendent@whps.org boardmembers@whps.org Website: www.whps.org

• Unified Theater-200 Strong

• Teacher of the Year Finalists

• Projects Underway

• We All Have a Story to Tell

• 17-18 School Calendar

C CUpcoming Events

4th Issue

16-17

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

On Tuesday, May 30th, 2017, American Legion Post 96 in partnership with

West Hartford Public Schools, will host the second annual Salute to Military

Inductees. The recognition ceremony begins at 6:30 PM with introductory

comments by Jeffrey Cole, Hayes-Velhage Post 96 Commander, Tom Moore,

WHPS Superintendent of Schools, and Mark Zydanowicz, Board of Education

representative. Lt Col Jeffrey Cole of the New Hampshire Air National Guard

will deliver the keynote address. This patriotic event recognizes all West Hartford

graduates entering any of our Armed Forces. Students and their families are treated to

dinner and presented with a certificate of appreciation from the American Legion as

well as a red, white, and blue honor cord suitable for wearing at their respective high

school graduation ceremonies. WHPS is proud to partner with the American Legion

recognizing the young men and women entering into the service of our country.

For additional information, please contact Paul Vicinus, Assistant Superintendent for

Curriculum and Instruction at 860.561.6631.

Hall High School, Spring Choirs Concert May 24, 7:30 pmFor more information, call 860-232-4561

Inter-Elementary Music FestivalMay 25, 7:30 pmFor more information, visit www.bushnell.org

Bristow Middle School, Select Ensembles Concert June 1, 7 pmFor more information, call 860-231-2100

Unified TheaterJune 1 & 2, 7:30 pmConard High School Auditorium

School Concerts and Student Art ShowsThroughout the spring there are concerts and student art shows at all schools in town. Call individual schools for specific information.

ONNECTIONS

West HartfordPublic Schools

With the West Hartford Public SchoolsWith the West Hartford Public Schools

OCTOBER M T W TH F 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 30 31 NOVEMBER M T W TH F 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 13 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 23 24 27 28 29 30

DECEMBERM T W TH F 1 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29 JANUARY M T W TH F 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 19 22

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Second Semester 91 Days

SEPTEMBER M T W TH F 1 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29

First Semester 91 Days

School Calendar - 2017-2018

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The last day of school is scheduled for June 11. All snow or emergency days will be made up after this date in order to provide 182 instructional days. School calendars are posted on the West Hartford Public Schools website at www.whps.org

AUGUST M T W TH F21 22 23 24 25 28 29 30 31

JANUARY M T W TH F 23 24 25 26 29 30 31 FEBRUARY M T W TH F 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 MARCH M T W TH F 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 30

APRIL M T W TH F 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 30

MAY M T W TH F 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 16 17 18 21 22 23 24 25 28 29 30 31

JUNE M T W TH F 1 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29

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Important Dates

Teacher In-service Days Aug. 28-29 (no school for students)

First Day of School Aug. 30

Labor Day Sept. 4

Rosh Hashanah Sept. 21

Columbus Day Oct. 9

Election Day Nov. 7 (teacher in-service, no school for students)

Thanksgiving Recess Nov. 23-24

Holiday Recess Dec. 25-Jan. 1

Martin Luther King Day Jan. 15

Winter Recess Feb. 19-20 (includes Presidents' Day on Feb. 19)

Statewide Summative Assessments March-May

Good Friday March 30

Spring Recess April 9-13

Memorial Day May 28

Last Day of School June 11

Note: Yom Kippur falls on Sat., Sept. 30 Veterans Day falls on Sat., Nov 11

Teacher In-service Days (no school for students)

First Day of School

Legend:

Holiday/Vacation

End of Quarter

Snow Make-up Days, if needed

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West Hartford Celebrates Military Inductees

Clear Paths. Bright Futures. No Limits.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

West HartfordPublic Schools With the West Hartford Public Schools

ONNECTIONS C

PUBLIC

The Teacher of the Year process is rigorous and begins with nominations from other teachers. Nominees then submit a resume, essay, and recommendations. Finalists then have a lesson videotaped and the final three are then formally interviewed by the Teacher of the Year committee. The finalist will be announced on May 18, 2017.

The 2017 Teacher of the Year finalists are Luis Ramirez, Anthony Wasley, and Pam Matway.

Unified Theater-200 Strong

We All Have a Story to Tell. What’s Your Story?

Teacher of the Year Finalists

The West Hartford Public Schools, in collaboration with the Bridge Family Center, is a proud recipient of a $50,000 Inspiring Equity grant awarded by the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund. This grant will be used to support the WHPS project, We All Have a Story to Tell: Inspiring Equity Through Community Conversations. This project builds upon collaborative community partnerships and aligns with our district mission which emphasizes the importance of equity, diversity, and global citizenship.

We All Have a Story to Tell seeks to facilitate community dialogue through storytelling. Students, educators, and community members will have opportunities to discuss and record their stories within safe spaces with trained facilitators.

Participation in We All Have a Story to Tell is open to all West Hartford community members. If you have a story to tell or would like to be involved in planning through our Dialogue Team, please contact Grant Coordinator, Michelle Lacroix at michelle_lacroix@whps.org. We would love to know your story!

Summer is a busy time at all of our schools as we continue our investment in our buildings. In addition to normal flooring, heating, painting, auditorium, and roof projects, Hall High School and Sedgwick Middle School will have major projects underway.

Construction of Hall High School’s $12.8M science classroom addition will begin this summer with preliminary site work preparation. Hall’s existing science rooms were constructed in the 1970’s and no longer meet the needs of our students and curriculum. This exciting addition of 8 new biology and chemistry laboratories and renovation of existing science rooms will continue throughout the 2017-2018 school year. It will be conducted safely with minimal impact on the school’s operations.

At Sedgwick Middle School, we are relocating the main office to enhance the building’s security and accessibility. The office will be relocated to the existing multi-purpose room and that entrance will become the main access to the school for both parents and visitors. This project is similar to the security enhancement that was made to Hall High School this year, and we have plans to enhance other school offices, such as Bugbee Elementary School, in the future.

Luis RamirezStart Date: August 20082010 – School Social Worker at Smith STEM School2008 – 2010 School Social Worker, King Philip Middle School/STRIVE Program2003-2008 Counselor, The Bridge Family CenterBachelor of Science-Education, University of ConnecticutMasters of Social Work, University of ConnecticutUnited States Army Reserve, 1989-1995

Anthony Wasley Start Date: August 20102014 – Earth Science and Marine Science Teacher at Hall High School2011-2013 – 8th grade Science Teacher at King Philip Middle School2010-11 – Earth Science Teacher at Hall and Conard High SchoolBachelor of Science-Environmental Science, University of ConnecticutMasters of Arts-Teaching, Central Connecticut State University

Pam MatwayStart Date: August 20062015 – Team Leader, Social Studies Teacher at Sedgwick Middle School2006 - 2015 – Social Studies Teacher at Sedgwick Middle SchoolBachelor of Arts-History, Quinnipiac UniversityMasters of Arts-Middle Grades and Secondary Education, Quinnipiac University

If all the world’s a stage, as Shakespeare wrote, then we must all have roles. That’s exactly what Conard alumna, Micaela Connery, thought when she

was a fifteen-year-old and auditioned for a part in a school production, but wasn’t cast. Connery was also frustrated that her beloved

cousin Kelsey, born with multiple disabilities, was excluded from participating in the performing arts that they both loved.

Undaunted and inspired, Connery picked up a blank script and created her own organization. Her mission: no

one would be excluded, regardless of experience, background, interests, or ability.

Almost fifteen years later, Connery’s non-profit organization -- Unified Theater-- has expanded across the country, allowing thousands of students opportunities to create, write, direct, produce, and perform in the world of theater. Unified Theater continues to grow and thrive at Conard. It is among the most popular after-school activity in the West Hartford Public Schools with nearly 200 students participating.

This year Hall High School began its own Unified Theater Group and during the spring semester both Conard and Hall will meet twice a week to develop theatrical ideas. They will interpret themes, creating whole-group choreographed dances, skits, songs, and sign language numbers. It’s 100% student created and driven. A team of student leaders (director, producer, inclusion specialist, choreographer, tech. director and artistic director) creates and manages every aspect of the shows. This team also attends theatrical workshops sponsored by the Hartford Stage. These opportunities will lead to creating and performing fall and spring performances.

Bristow, King Philip and Sedgwick Middle schools have also formed Unified Theater groups. In their inaugural year, Bristow students produced a collection of skits, dance and a song incorporating sign language using the theme, “Standing Up for What You Believe In.”

Audience reviews of the final shows are always amazing, but the advisors lucky enough to work behind-the-scenes will tell you it’s the process that’s most remarkable.

Connery’s goals, created when she was a teenager are simply put: “Let teens LEAD, let creativity RULE and put the SPOTLIGHT on ABILITY.”

See Unifiedtheater.org for more information or to make a donation.

Projects Underway

First Floor Plan-AdditionHall High School