MissionTo inspire and prepare all students to realize their

potential and enhance our global community

WEST HARTFORDPUBLIC WEST HARTFORDPUBLIC SCHOOLS

West HartfordPublic Schools

A Look Inside:

• TeacheroftheYearFinalists

• 2014-2015Budget

•NorfeldtPrincipalNamed

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

Connections With the West Hartford Public Schools

13-14

Fourth Issue

Connections is a districtwide publication

presented to you by the

Office of the Superintendent, West Hartford Public Schools

WestHartford,Connecticut

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

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHARTFORD, CT

PERMIT #751

Distribution Of Connections- An 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.

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

Phone (860)561-6651

Connections with the West Hartford Public Schools

UpcomingEventsKing Philip Middle School, Select Ensembles ConcertMay 19, 2014For more information, call 860-233-8230

Sedgwick Middle School, Pops ConcertMay 19, 2014For more information, call 860-570-6500

Inter-Elementary School Festival of MusicMay 29, 2014, 7:30 PMThe Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Mortensen HallTickets: $12, General AdmissionFor more information or tickets, call 860-561-6638

Bristow Middle School, Select Ensembles ConcertJune 9, 2014, 7 PMFor more information, call 860-231-2100

A Note on 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.

JANUARY M T W TH F 22 23 26 27 28 29 30 FEBRUARY 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 MARCH 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

APRIL 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 MAY 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

JUNE M T W TH F 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 29 30

OCTOBER M T W TH F 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 13 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 23 2427 28 29 30 31 NOVEMBER M T W TH F 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 1417 18 19 20 2124 25 26 27 28

DECEMBERM T W TH F 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 29 30 31

JANUARY M T W TH F 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21

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Second Semester 91 Days

West Hartford, Connecticut

Note: Yom Kippur falls on Sat., Oct. 4.

Important Dates

Teacher In-service Days Aug. 25-26 (no school for students)

First Day of School Aug. 27

Labor Day Sept. 1

Rosh Hashanah Sept. 25

Columbus Day Oct. 13

Election Day Nov. 4 (teacher in-service, no school for students)

Veterans Day Nov. 11 (school will be in session)

Thanksgiving Recess Nov. 27-28

Holiday Recess Dec. 24-Jan. 2 (includes Christmas & New Year's Day)

Martin Luther King Day Jan. 19

Winter Recess Feb. 16-17 (includes Presidents' Day on Feb. 16)

Statewide Summative Assessments March-June

Good Friday April 3

Spring Recess April 13-17

Memorial Day May 25

Last Day of School June 10

School calendars are posted on the West Hartford Public Schools website at www.whps.org

AUGUST M T W TH F18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29{ }

SEPTEMBER M T W TH F 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 29 30

TOTAL DAYS: 182First semester - 91Second semester - 91

First Semester 91 Days

Adopted by Board of Education on April 2, 2013

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School Calendar - 2014-2015WEST HARTFORDPUBLIC SCHOOLSWEST HARTFORDPUBLIC SCHOOLS

West HartfordPublic Schools

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The last day of school is scheduled for June 10. All snow or emergency days will be made up after this date in order to provide 182 instructional days.

Dr. Karen L. ListSuperintendent

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* End of Quarter

Holiday/Vacation

Teacher In-service Days (no school for students)

First Day of School

Snow Make-up Days if needed

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(Continued on page 2.)

A Goodbye, and a Thank You, from Superintendent Dr. Karen List

I promise to avoid making this a walk down memory lane, but I did want to share a couple of anecdotes with you about my arrival in the West Hartford school system 32 years ago. I share these thoughts as a way to illustrate that we

never really know what lies ahead – and if that isn’t a metaphor for what is ahead of me, I don’t know what is – but also that if we have confidence in ourselves, faith in the future, and an abiding sense of hopefulness -- what is actually down the road is even better than anything we could have imagined. That’s certainly what happened to me here in West Hartford.

My first job interview in West Hartford occurred in the Board of Education building on Steele Road, which has since been demolished and turned into a housing development. I met with Neil Atkins, Art Woznicki, and Van Ftergiotis, and the interview was delightful – for me, anyway - because I don’t think any of them had a clear view of what the position of assistant coordinator of the arts should – or could – be. It was a new position, and I felt as though I could create it as I moved forward. I didn’t know much about West Hartford at the time, but I knew I was going to be working in a place where I could help to imagine the possibilities. I was able to do just that in West Hartford, from my job as the assistant arts coordinator to principal

of Norfeldt, Webster Hill, and the Smith School of Science Math and Technology, to assistant superintendent to superintendent. The move from assistant superintendent to superintendent was no slam-dunk, I assure you. Even though I was confident in my performance during the process, I didn’t know who I was competing against.

Relief, joy – I felt those emotions very keenly once Bruce Putterman and Jack Darcey told me I had the job, because I had come to love West Hartford, its children, its families, its educators, its leaders, its incredibly strong sense of community. Deepak Chopra says that when you make a choice, you change the future. Becoming superintendent was a big choice for me, and a big one for West Hartford as well. Lately, everyone has been congratulating me on my accomplishments as I near the day of my departure, and I keep thinking that, honestly, I have taken away more than I have given – that I have learned more, grown more, and been more – thanks to each and every one of you.

I have learned, most important, at least to me, to listen. I have learned to be present. And I have learned the beauty of collaboration – that inspiration and excitement can come from successful collaboration – and I have had that here in West Hartford. Our Board of Education, our leaders, our teachers and staff are second to none. Our families have shown their love and commitment with their involvement in so many great causes and organizations, from Gifts of Music, the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools, Great by 8, mentoring, Hello West Hartford, Growing Great Schools and the Parent Leadership Training Institute.

Heartfelt

Imagine the Possibilities!

MissionTo inspire and prepare all students to realize their potential and

enhance our global communityWEST HARTFORDPUBLIC WEST HARTFORDPUBLIC SCHOOLS

West HartfordPublic Schools

WestHartford,Connecticut Connections

Left to right: Morley and Kinsella 5th Grade Inter-District Band performs at Kinsella’s Black Box Theater in Hartford on April 24. Charter Oak International Academy 5th grade students placed second in the state for their Odyssey of the Mind performance, led by Quest teacher Michele Hadlock, and now are off to the world finals competition in Iowa. Hard-working middle school students rehearse for their MidFest concert at the Bushnell, which took place April 3.

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

With the West Hartford Public Schools

Bristow Principal Named AssistantSuperintendentDr. Karen List and Mr. Tom Moore announced at the Board of Education meeting April 1 that Bristow Principal Dr. Andrew Morrow would be the next assistant superintendent for administration. Dr. Morrow will be replacing Mr. Moore, who is the new superintendent of schools effective July 1, 2014. Selected from an impressive

pool of candidates, Dr. Morrow will officially begin his duties July 1.

Dr. Morrow has led Bristow Middle School for the past five years. He has strived to bring students from every corner of West Hartford together into a tight-knit middle school community. As a principal, resident, and parent of two school-aged children, he knows the town and schools well. He has a reputation as a responsive educator who possesses excellent communication skills and is an advocate for all students.

Before arriving in West Hartford, he worked in Arizona and New York as a secondary school principal. In Arizona, he oversaw the construction of a new International Baccalaureate-themed high school. These experiences combine to make him a unique fit for the job.

Dr. Morrow is a graduate of University of Notre Dame, where he received his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Composition. He received his master’s degree from Miami University and his doctorate from Seton Hall University.

Teacher Of The Year FinalistsThe Teacher of the Year process is rigorous and begins with nominations from other teachers. Nominees then submit a resume, essay and recommendations. Finalists have a lesson videotaped, and the final three are formally interviewed by the Teacher of the Year committee.

The 2014 Teacher of the Year finalists are Lauren Drazen, Jeffrey Michaud, and Brittney Zieller. • Lauren Drazen has been teaching Chinese at Hall since 2006. She received her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and her master’s in Curriculum and Teaching from Michigan State University. She has been critical in

helping expand our Chinese program, and has been writing and implementing curriculum and running our annual student trip to China. In 2012 and 2013, she was one of 50 Chinese teachers throughout the country chosen to participate in the Asia Society Confucius Classrooms Network Teachers’ Institute. She also writes and awards grants annually from

the Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Memorial Charitable Trust and the Robert E. Dunn Fund.• Jeffrey Michaud has been teaching kindergarten at Wolcott Elementary since 2003. He received his bachelor’s degree in English/Human Growth and Development from Central Connecticut State University and his

master’s in Teaching and Learning with Technology from Ashford University. He is a multiple grant

recipient from the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools and is an Educational Resources grant recipient. Jeffrey is active in many district-wide organizations and at Wolcott, including as a member of the Curriculum Professional Development Committee from 2009-2013 and children’s forest coordinator from 2006-2012.• Brittney Zieller has been teaching fourth grade at Norfeldt since 2010. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University. She is a fellow in the Central Connecticut Writing Project (2013) and is a volunteer on many committees and organzations, including as teacher liaison for the Norfeldt PTO and Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs.

Board of Education Approves Next Year’s BudgetThe Board of Education adopted the 2014-15 budget April 8, with an increase of $6,785,724, or 4.16 percent, from last year. Superintendent of Schools Karen List wrote in the materials presented to the board that this year’s budget was $8 million lower than it would have been had West Hartford spent at the state average in 2012-13.

This year’s budget increase is being driven by benefits, primarily higher health care and pension costs. Increases in salaries – required by contract – position changes and numerous other expenses were detailed for the board in determining the remaining costs.

The total budget, at $145,888,757, preserves key programs including full-day kindergarten, small class sizes, programs that meet the needs of all learners, arts and physical ed programs, world language beginning in Grade 3, the middle schools’ team structure, and counseling support at secondary schools, among a variety of other items.

Thank You, from Superintendent Dr. Karen List(continued from page 1)

Norfeldt Elementary School Principal is NamedLast month, Dr. Karen List announced that Mrs. Jennifer Derick would be the next principal at Norfeldt Elementary School.Mrs. Derick began her career in Waterford as a kindergarten and first grade teacher, then moved to Bugbee School in West Hartford as a first grade teacher. From there she advanced to the position of Braeburn’s curriculum specialist. In 2008, Mrs. Derick became assistant principal at Willard Elementary School in Berlin. For the past four years, she has served as the assistant principal and building special education supervisor at Naubuc Elementary School in Glastonbury.

She received her bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph College, and a master’s degree in reading/language arts and a sixth year certificate in educational leadership from Central Connecticut State University. Teachers describe her as nurturing, visionary, energetic, a morale

builder, organized, collaborative, calm and professional, with a strong instructional background. Families say she is approachable, responsive, confident, and very personable at events, and that their children enjoy working with her. Students view her as thoughtful, caring, fun, generous, and as someone who seems to know everyone, makes them feel important and brings out their confidence.

We are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Derick back home. She is a life-long learner dedicated to continuous improvement and the development of others.

There is a bottom line here, of course, and I will share a little story about the Native Americans that I heard recently that pertains to that bottom line.The Cherokees had a leadership group called the Council of Elders, and whenever an issue or important idea arose, the Council would listen to the opinions of the entire community, then withdraw to discuss what they had heard. Finally, the chief elder would ask the rest of the group one question: “Is it good for the children?” even if the decision didn’t seem to have anything to do with children. West Hartford has quite a bit in common with the Cherokee Council of Elders. We have looked to the future when making decisions, always asking – “Is it good for the children?”

I don’t know what is in front of me, but I have learned to plan for the future as I cherish the present. I want to thank the West Hartford community. I thank heaven – and all of you – for all of these wonderful days, months, and years – because your support made them happen for me, and because the love, inspiration, and courage that I felt every day came from you.

Thank you.Dr. Karen L. List