March – Principals’ Message March is a month that brings
welcome signs of Spring. It is
also a month that brings the administration of the CMT, parent-teacher
conferences, an opportunity for staff to welcome new kindergarten parents to
the Lake Garda community during New Kindergarten Parent Orientation, and a
continued focus on successful teaching and learning at LGS. From March 1st through 9th,
our third and fourth grade students will take the Connecticut Mastery
Tests. Students will be assessed
in Writing, Editing and Revising, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics. This
series of tests is just one indicator, among the many we use, to monitor how
well our students are learning. It
provides us with long-term data that we can use to track progress in specific
areas. We use this information to
make decisions about instruction and professional development to enhance our
effectiveness in helping all students succeed. Testing is often associated with
stress and anxiety. Our teachers
work hard to help students approach these tests with confidence. Parents can assist our efforts in
creating the best testing conditions by seeing that children get enough rest,
start their day with a good breakfast, and most importantly, add a big dose of
encouragement as they come to school! On
Monday, March 22nd, you will be receiving your child’s second term
progress reports. These are followed by parent conferences on Tuesday,
Thursday, and Friday. Please check
your calendars to be sure you have a time scheduled with your child’s teacher
to review progress made and to set goals for the final marking period of the
school year. We look forward to having you visit and discuss your child’s
academic program. New
Kindergarten Parent Orientation also occurs this month. Please
note that we will host our incoming kindergarten parents at an informational
orientation session on Wednesday, March 31st. This date reflects a change from the date published in
last month’s newsletter. We look forward to meeting and welcoming new parents
to the Lake Garda community. We are registering new kindergarteners every day,
and if you have (or know of someone who has) a student who will be eligible for
kindergarten next fall, we hope you will come in to register them as soon as
possible. School Safety: We continue to focus on maintaining a safe environment for all
the students and teachers at Lake Garda. Our parents and visitors have been
very helpful to this end by signing in and out when visiting the school for any
reason and by observing our policies regarding drop-off, pick-up, and visiting.
The pick-up station requires your continued patience and cooperation. Parents
who move from the main lobby to other areas of the building to either exit
with, or to collect their children, present us with a dilemma and diminish our
ability to facilitate a safe environment. We hope you will continue to respect
the policies in place, as their purpose is to keep your children safe. Please take some time to review
your school calendar/handbook for upcoming events including PTA and Board of
Education Meetings. Attending these meetings is a great way to get involved and
stay informed about current events in Region #10. Sincerely, Robert Choiniere and Rebecca Morton
Principals’ Corner - February
February is another busy month at Lake Garda School.We are looking forward to seeing student work at our annual Science Festival that will occur on Friday, February 19th.This event provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to share their science understandings, creativity, and their pride with our school community.
Lake Garda students will also be keeping fit in February.With the support of our P.E. teachers, Mr. Barlow and Mr. Kleindeinst, children will be participating in Jump Rope for Heart Week from February 8th - 12th.On February 25th, they will also be hosting a PE Fun Night for our students in grades K through 2.
March will hopefully bring welcome signs of spring.It will also bring the Connecticut Mastery Tests that will be administered to our third and fourth grade students from March 1st through March 9th.During February you will receive more information on these assessments used to improve our instructional practices annually.During the testing period, our staff focuses on encouraging each student to do their best.Meanwhile, we are also mindful of minimizing emphasis on the test to ensure that CMTs are not a stressful event for our students.As parents, you can help by making sure your children get enough rest and eat a healthy breakfast on test days.Additional words of encouragement are also essential.We know our students will do well and it’s important for children to hear that their parents know that too!
An Update Regarding Our Cafeteria
Our January 13, 2010 PTA meeting afforded an opportunity to listen to parent concerns related to the cafeteria program at Lake Garda School.Concerns ranged from how children acquire food in the lunch line to the overall management of the students while they are eating.Personally, we value the face-to-face sharing of concerns/ideas that a forum like this offers.
As a result of expressed concerns, we have met, and shared parent input, with cafeteria management staff and our teaching assistants.We engaged their thoughts as to how we might improve the overall delivery of food to our children while managing lunch time in a positive, as well as, safe and efficient way.
Moving forward, steps will be taken to clarify lunch program operations including how students pay, menu changes, etc.Also, we will review our cafeteria management strategies (e.g. the use of red, yellow and green card and lights off when too loud) to ensure a safe, orderly and comfortable eating environment.
We would like to thank our Lake Garda PTA for facilitating an open discussion on an important topic.
Please know that Lake Garda is now and will always be a “student first” environment.Do not hesitate to contact us at 860-673-2511 if you wish to discuss this or any situational matter related to your child.Thank you for your support of our children and our school programs.
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Please take some time to review your school calendar/handbook for upcoming events including PTA and Board of Education Meetings.Our next PTA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 in the Lake Garda Media Center and the next Board of Education meeting is on Monday, February 8th at 7:30 in the Lewis Mills Auditorium.Attending these meetings is a great way to get involved and stay informed about current events in Region #10.
We thank you for your continued support and for the part you play in making our school the positive, child centered place that it is.
Respectfully,
Robert Choiniere and Rebecca Morton
Principal’s Corner – January
Happy New Year to All!
Welcome back to 2010!We hope your holidays allowed you an opportunity to enjoy the season with family and friends.
December was a busy month at Lake Garda.One of our many highlights was the Fourth Grade Chorus Winter Concert.Mrs. Skelton and her students put on a wonderful performance and impressed us all with the skills they have developed since their start in September.We thank Mrs. Skelton, her students and the many parents and staff members who contributed their time and talent to make our third annual concert a memorable night for all.
The holiday tradition of giving was alive and well at Lake Garda in December.Of the many fundraisers and charity events the Lake Garda Community embraced, one particular highlight was the students of Lake Garda’s Student Council “stocking the shelves” at the Burlington Food Bank.Thank you to all the parents and staff that contributed to this act of giving.Thank you to our Student Council students (led by Mrs. Corwin and Mrs. Solek) for their efforts to help others in our community.
As January unfolds, we encourage you to remain in close contact with your child’s teacher to continue to work collaboratively to support their ongoing progress at school. As many of us set our own New Year’s Resolutions, speak with your child about a resolution they might wish to set as they continue their growth at Lake Garda School.We know that the successes of Lake Garda are built upon a continued relationship of teamwork between school and home to help each student be the best they can be.
We look forward to our continued work with you and your children in 2010.
Wishing you peace and happiness in the New Year.
Sincerely,
Bob Choiniere and Rebecca Morton
Safety Reminder: Ice and snow present additional challenges at student drop off in the mornings.Please use extra caution when driving through the drop off area.Safety is our top priority and we appreciate your help in ensuring a safe arrival to school for every child.
Principals’ Corner
December
The Lake Garda Staff is committed to working closely with families to ensure high levels of student achievement, ongoing communication with parents, the safety, health and well-being of our students, and the opportunity for our students to reach their fullest potential.
To that end, the month of December begins with parent-teacher conferences as a follow up to the progress reports that were sent home on November 30th.We hope you will find your conference to be an opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher, to review student progress to date and to set learning goals for the next marking period.We encourage you to communicate with your child’s teacher regularly so that we can work collaboratively to support each of our students.
As winter approaches, it is especially important that children come to school with warm clothing (coats, hats, gloves) so that they can enjoy outdoor recess and stay warm when waiting for the bus before school each day.Unless the temperature is excessively cold, we plan to be outside for recess daily so that students can have an opportunity for physical activity.Thank you, in advance, for helping us to keep your child healthy during this winter season by sending them to school with warm winter clothes.
Student Council began in November.With the support of Mrs. Corwin and Mrs. Solek, our fourth graders are provided with an opportunity to develop leadership skills at Lake Garda.Student participants have begun a recycling initiative and are very excited about organizing the first Spirit Day for the 2009-2010 school year.This December Spirit Day will benefit the Burlington Food Bank.Thank you to Mrs. Corwin and Mrs. Solek for supporting our students to develop their skills as student leaders.
No newsletter is complete without a thank you to our dedicated PTA and to our parent supporters.The Lake Garda community benefits in countless ways as a result of parent contributions to our many fall fundraiser activities.Thank you!
As the season of giving draws closer, we would like to thank you for the opportunity to work with your children each day.We consider it one of our greatest gifts.
Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season.
Sincerely,
Robert Choiniere and Rebecca Morton
The Principals' Corner:
November, 2009
November is the month we take time to appreciate and give thanks for our many blessings.In keeping with the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we would like to thank the many people who give of their time and talents to make Lake Garda such a wonderful place to learn and work.This month we want to be sure to thank all the valuable members of our Lake Garda Team.Thank you to our students, parents and families; to our teachers, teaching assistants, and all our staff members; to our custodians and cafeteria staff; and to our PTA parents and volunteers.
Our PTA members continue to be among our biggest supporters.As active volunteers, they help in countless ways - from hosting delicious teacher breakfasts and maintaining our gardens to organizing engaging enrichment programs for students.Our PTA is constantly working to make Lake Garda a better place for students, teachers, and all our community members. Thank you, PTA members, for caring for our school and making it look great for everyone who visits.
November is a short yet busy month at Lake Garda School.Our first marking period will conclude on November 20th. Our teachers will be analyzing student work and achievement data and preparing report cards that will go home on Monday, November 30th. We align the report cards with our annual parent / teacher conferences to provide opportunities for discussion related to each child’s progress to date – and also to set learning goals for the coming marking period. We look forward to visiting with our families and engaging in conversations about every child’s growth.
Our sincere thanks to everyone who makes Lake Garda a great place for teaching and learning.
With Appreciation,
Mr. Choiniere & Ms. Morton
October – 2009
Cooler mornings and earlier sunsets signify the coming of fall.School is in full swing at Lake Garda and students, teachers, and staff are off to a great start.
As always, with the changing of seasons comes the need to dress for the weather. Please be sure that students are prepared for cooler temperatures when they leave for school each morning.
September was a busy month as expected. The students are well into their daily routines and they are becoming more practiced with the work schedules in each of their classrooms.Our two Open House nights were a success and we were pleased with the numbers of families who came to visit the school to learn more about their children’s classes. We encourage you to stay involved and to communicate regularly with your child’s teacher. Check out our school and teacher web sites for updated information and please use phone and/or email to stay in touch. We are a successful school because of the positive relationship we try to maintain with our community. We are all working together to help our students become successful learners.
We have practiced our fire drill evacuations with the students and have already conducted two drills. The students did a great job following our safety guidelines. We encourage our families to review their own “family home-evacuation plan” with their children. This is important with the heating and holiday season coming soon. Prevention is a big part of safety, but knowing what to do in the event of an accident is equally as important. We want Lake Garda students to be safe in school, and at home.
A safety area we constantly monitor is the daily drop-off and pick-up of students. With the colder weather, we find our morning drop-off volume increases. Although we have staff members monitoring the front of the school, we ask that our parents observe all traffic signs and continue to adhere to strict safety practices when they drop students off. Please take care ANY time you are driving on school property. At pick-up, we ask that everyone take a moment and sign their child out using our sign-out books in the lobby. We follow this safety practice to monitor who picks up each student every day. Thank you for doing your part to make Lake Garda a safe place for everyone.
Here’s to another great month of teaching and learning at “the Lake!”
Sincerely,
Mr. Choiniere & Ms. Morton
The Principals’ Corner
August 20, 2009
Dear Students and Families,
Welcome Back! We are happy to welcome all our new and returning students and families back for another wonderful year of learning at Lake Garda School. We hope that you have enjoyed time with family and friends this summer.
Our dedicated teachers and staff members have spent countless hours preparing for the return of students. We are all looking forward to welcoming you back on Monday, August 31st to begin the 2009-2010 school year.
Thank you to our secretaries and custodians who have done so much this summer to make Lake Garda ready for a new year. Thank you also to our PTA Beautification Committee members who keep our grounds looking so inviting. Please join us in thanking these individuals for all they do to help keep Lake Garda running smoothly and looking beautiful!
We would like to welcome several new (or returning) staff members to Lake Garda:
Jessica Luntta will be joining us as a first grade teacher. She has experience teaching first, third and fifth grade students in both the Farmington and Danbury Public Schools.
Jill Garry is joining us as a third grade teacher. She taught second and third grade at Harwinton Consolidated School during the past three years. Previously, Jill was a teacher in the Rocky Hill Public Schools where she also taught kindergarten.
Christopher Simeone will be joining us for September and October in third grade. He has experience working with students at a variety of ages and has worked in The Poquonock School in Windsor.
Christie Wall, a former third grade LGS teacher, is returning from retirement to assist us in grade three for the month of September. We feel fortunate she is interrupting her retirement for the benefit of our students!
Michele Deeb will be teaching fourth grade this year. This is her second year in fourth grade at Lake Garda. She had five years teaching experience in the Bridgeport Public Schools prior to joining the Region 10 team.
Misty Matthews, the art teacher at Harwinton Consolidated School, will be joining us to teach one Kindergarten art class each week.
We are pleased to welcome our new staff members to the Lake Garda school community and we know you will join us in making their transition a positive one!
A few reminders -
After reading the handbook/calendar which will be sent home on the first day of school, please sign and return the form that was placed inside to indicate that you have received the handbook.
Please be cautious when dropping students off in front of the school. Cars cannot be parked in front as it presents safety concerns during high traffic times. Each morning, a staff member will be on duty to assist you with drop off. Thank you for your attention to student safety.
All visitors to our school must sign in and out in the main office.
We appreciate your assistance with our safety policies as keeping our students safe is very important to all of us.
Our staff is dedicated to the success of every Lake Garda student and we look forward to another rewarding school year together. Thank you, in advance, for your support throughout this year. We appreciate the opportunity to work with your children.
Sincerely,
Mr. Choiniere and Ms. Morton
June, 2009
“It’s that time again…”
As we draw to the close of another school year, we look back at what was a fantastic year of teaching and learning. The efforts of our teachers, the students and their families, and the many volunteers who worked in classrooms and on special events, helped make this year a success. We know that everyone will leave for summer vacation with fond memories of their time at “the Lake” this year.
At this time, we would simply like to say “thank-you.”
…to our students, especially our 4th graders moving up to Har-Bur,
thank you for your efforts to grow and learn and congratulations on a successful year! We hope you will look back at your time at Lake Garda and remember it as a great learning experience. We will miss you as you move on to different challenges, and we are proud of your efforts to become the best students you can be. You will always have a special place here. Please come back to visit us as you continue your academic careers.
… to our families, thank you for your support and trust in our efforts to teach your children. You have become part of “the team” in helping each child achieve success, and we look forward to working with you again next year. Thanks for maintaining your commitment to school while you juggle competing schedules. You have certainly earned some relaxation this summer!
…to our teachers, thank you for your tireless efforts to make this school a special place for teaching and learning. We are so fortunate to have a staff dedicated to the art of teaching. You make the “kids” the top priority and continue the tradition of success and commitment to excellence here at Lake Garda.
…to our PTA, thank you for another year of activities and events that support student learning at our school. There isn’t a more active group of parents anywhere! Your commitment to ALL the children at Lake Garda is inspiring. Thanks for making this year special for the kids. The support of our PTA parents is outstanding and we appreciate all you do.
… to our secretaries, custodians, teaching assistants, cafeteria workers, support staff and all the “behind the scenes players” who are sometimes overlooked when people think of our school. Thank you for making Lake Garda run like a well-oiled machine. You take on a list of tasks and responsibilities that would overwhelm most and you manage to smile all the while.
A school is successful because of the efforts of countless individuals working toward a common goal. In this case, we are all on the same team and our goal is helping each child achieve success at Lake Garda. Thanks for being part of our team.
We wish you a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer!
See you in September!
Respectfully,
Mr. Choiniere and Ms. Morton