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salmenzo · 4 years ago

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Weekly Update - Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Commitment - Conviction - Consideration

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.

Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Good Morning,

I hope that everyone enjoyed the long weekend and took time to remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I am not sure there has been a time in recent history where his work and commitment to equality resonated more. As I shared on Thursday, the Town usually coordinates a wonderful ceremony in which our students, myself, and the Mayor participate. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions of COVID-19, we are unable to hold the ceremony. To not forget the significant accomplishments and contributions of Dr. King, Jr. in our nation and in the world, the Town has put together some reflections that will be posted on our website, the Town website, and Public Access Channel 19.

Here is a Press Release from the Mayor.

Here is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Packet - 1 18 21.

COVID-19 Vaccination Update

As I shared in my update Friday, it is the intention of the Town to begin to vaccinate school personnel as soon as possible. I did receive the statement below from the Commissioner's Office on behalf of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Each district received this twice.

Re: Critical update regarding Connecticut’s Vaccine Implementation Phase 1b

Dear Connecticut School Leadership,

Thank you for your patience as the State rolls out the COVID-19 Vaccine to its residents. This email is meant to clarify a number of aspects of the vaccine roll-out.

Throughout much of the summer and fall, the planning assumption was that teachers and other educational staff would be part of “Phase 1b” as frontline essential workers. This is still the case – however, given the current composition of Phase 1b, which also includes those 75+ years of age, 65-74 years of age, and 16-64 with comorbidities, there are a large number of individuals in this phase of distribution. There is currently not enough vaccine for all members of this group, so we will be focusing on individuals 75+ to start, and adding in others in the coming days and weeks.

As such, we are asking that teachers and other school staff not schedule vaccine appointments at this time. We understand this is a change of plans for many. If existing appointments have been secured, they can be kept. If they have not, then we ask that teachers and other education sector employees hold off on scheduling clinics until further announcements have been made from the State.

We understand that these changes to plans are frustrating, but also appreciate everyone’s support in helping ensure our initial roll-out of vaccines is targeted at those residents who are facing the highest burden of infection and death from the COVID-19 crisis.

In short:

+ The focus of our roll-out is currently on people over 75 years of age

+ Teachers and other school staff should not schedule appointments

+ Teachers and other school staff with appointments can keep these

+ We look forward to a future time when everyone can get vaccinated

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. Your e-mail will be distributed to the appropriate contact person based on the nature of the question.

Thank you,

Connecticut Department of Public Health

With this stated, we will continue to work collaboratively with the Wallingford Health Department and keep you posted.

Budget Update

Tomorrow evening at 6 p.m., I will present the Central Office 2021-2022 Budget Proposal to the Board of Education. I want to thank the entire team for all of their hard work in pulling this presentation together. I especially want to thank Karen Veilleux, Danielle Bellizzi, Aimee Turner, and Carrie LaTorre for helping finalize the Budget Introduction. I also want to extend thanks to David Bryant, Dominic Barone, Marc Deptula, and James Bondi, and their teams for their hard work as well.

As I always say, the budget process is a marathon. Please do not get too excited about the initial presentation. I do believe that it is a strong budget that has no negative impact on students. I am confident that the Board of Education will move through the process successfully and present to the Mayor their budget of which we will all be proud.

I will include the link for tomorrow night’s meeting in my parent communication this afternoon that you all receive as well. Please feel free to tune in.

Commitment - Conviction - Consideration

I wanted to offer a special “shout out” to the Voluntary Distance Learning Teachers this week. You have really done an incredible job keeping students engaged and learning. To honor you, we compiled this short video in your honor. Thank you again!

Voluntary Distance Learning - Thank You Video

Here are the latest spotlights from parents. Thanks again to all the staff for their hard work in these challenging times.

Karen Ruszkowski is a kindergarten teacher at Moses Y Beach School. She is the perfect example of the master educator. Her virtual classroom comprises twenty students, and she continually exercises a warm, nurturing virtual

environment. Obviously, this is not an easy task. Her lessons are well developed and she implements them so easily that the lessons inspire students to achieve. She is able to engage the students, motivate them, and encourage them to go beyond the stated objectives.Ms. Ruszkowski has provided the students in her classroom with an excellent beginning as they journey through their formal education. Our family is indeed thankful for her efforts, and we are grateful that our little man has Karen Ruszkowski as his teacher!

I really want you to know that Kristen Wynus and her staff have been absolutely amazing with the Wallingford Transition Program. I don't want to see this team of teachers & staff to go unnoticed! PLEASE! As you know, this program is not run like a traditional classroom. Times have been extremely difficult on all....but I'd say even more challenging for our Transition team & students! Please do not forget about this amazing program and Kristen Wynus who runs it! She deserves SO much credit!

I am writing to give praise to many teachers & staff at Cook Hill Elementary.

Our daughter is in first grade in Mrs. Sorrentino’s class. When we heard that was who she was having this year, I can’t tell you how many people said “oh you’re so lucky.” We have quickly learned as to why people say that! She has been amazingly adaptive and innovative in navigating this new educational journey. As a parent who was frequently in the classroom last year, I very much wish I could be in there again to lend a hand. However, she has fostered and maintained an amazing relationship even from a distance with the parents of the class. To me, that speaks volumes as to what kind of educator she is. Communication has always remained open from day one.

In addition, the para in our class, Mrs. Knight, has really bonded with my daughter over her love of art. There isn’t a day that we don’t hear about Mrs. Knight from Sophia.

Lastly, I have to mention many staff at Cook Hill in which I think play an integral role in our positive in person learning experience this year. Principal Friend has been working tirelessly and her efforts have not gone unnoticed. In addition, the friendly faces at the pickup loop every day have helped to make the drop off/pickup process run very smoothly. I would particularly like to mention Mrs. Niezgorksi who goes out of her way to say hello to my younger daughter in the car every day.

Our daughter’s love for school is literally infectious. She could not wait to get back to in person learning and I commend everyone involved who had a hand in making that successful. Our family is incredibly appreciative of everything Dr. Menzo and the board of education have done to keep the elementary age children in school as long as they can safely do so.

I would like to say that Mrs. Stewart has been nothing short of AMAZING! My son is doing in-person learning with her, and she is such a special, happy, helpful, understanding and FUN teacher. He looks forward to going to school everyday, and asks why he can't also go on weekends! Haha. We love Mrs. Stewart!

My daughter is in Mrs. Kusza’s 1st grade class at STEVENS. She has made an extremely challenging year seem very normal. She loves going to school everyday. She is learning a ton, and never talks about or is sad about any of the new restrictions from Covid. I sincerely believe this is due to the great work of the Stevens staff and especially Mrs. Kusza. She is always kind and upbeat. She follows safety protocols, while still differentiating and pulling small groups. She seamlessly transitioned into distance learning after a positive case in her class. She was well equipped and well prepared for this transition with all the work and practice they had done in school.

I am a working teacher in another district and I cannot express what a weight it is off my shoulders to send [my daughter] to Mrs. Kusza’s class each day knowing she will be safe, loved, and taught well each day. Thank you for all the work the district, school and Mrs. Kusza has put into keeping this year as safe and normal as possible.

We would like to thank and show our appreciation for our son's first grade teacher Mrs. Cartier. As parents we were nervous that our son wasn't going to be engaged and learn. He was diagnosed with adhd last year and school was rough. Last year distance learning became a struggle but we survived. With Mrs. Cartier she has our son engaged, learning and thriving. She has the patience of a saint and is very caring and attentive. The live learning is amazing and his teacher doesn't lean on the parents to help much at all. We were afraid we would be sitting with our child everyday to assist him but Mrs. Cartier has everything under control.

Make it a great week!

Sal

Dr. Salvatore F. Menzo

Superintendent

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - @SalMenzo

Wallingford Public School District

Wallingford Public School System Mission

To inspire through innovative and engaging experiences that lead all learners to pursue and discover their personal best.

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