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Expanded Summer Learning Programs
Reduce Summer Learning Loss
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Norwalk Public Schools marked a
successful summer of learning during the October 3 Board of Education workshop. Under the NPS Strategic Operating Plan, effective summer learning programs are a crucial element in helping to close the achievement gap. Research shows that summer learning loss occurs when there is more than a three-week gap in instruction. The impact of summer
learning loss is cumulative; a student who goes year after year with summer learning loss is considerably behind by grade 8.
Last summer, data showed that a significant number of students who attended summer programs made progress towards reaching grade level benchmarks. NPS administrators and staff have begun to analyze beginning of the year (BOY) testing results, compared with data from end of year 2016 tests, to identify student progress from this year.
Click below for more information.
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Lunch is Served! Chef Smitty Joins NPS
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NPS is pleased to welcome Chef Robert Smith, known as Chef Smitty, to the district. Prior to joining Whitsons Culinary Group, the food service provider for NPS, he worked as Food Service Director in Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Chef Smitty’s role includes ensuring that food served across the district tastes delicious and is visually appealing. He will also create development opportunities for food services staff to learn new cooking techniques, and be a part of menu writing for all NPS schools. Chef Smitty plans to expand school tastings to give students the opportunity to try healthy foods prepared in simple, but appealing ways.
Chef Smitty is a food service industry veteran whose experience ranges from working in private industry, senior living centers, colleges and K-12 school environments. He also helped to serve over 10,000 people a day during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah.
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NPS To Launch Peachjar Digital Flyer System
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Tired of digging around in the bottom of your children’s backpacks for crumpled up flyers? Beginning November 3, NPS will send school-approved digital flyers directly to your inboxes through a flyer management system called Peachjar.
Peachjar flyers will also be available on the school websites. Now, families can easily find and view flyers and take action immediately to sign up for activities and events.
In addition to being eco-friendly, Peachjar helps cut costs and save time. On average, school districts using Peachjar have saved $36,000, 740 hours of manpower and 84,000 sheets of paper.
If your organization is interested in submitting a flyer for a nonprofit or free event, you may register with
Peachjar
as a “Program Provider” and upload your flyer for distribution to your desired school(s).
After your flyer has been submitted, it will be routed automatically to the school district office for approval, and then emailed as a visually engaging image to all parents who have their email address on file at the district.
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PSAT/NMSQT Testing Dates
On Wednesday, October 11, all grade 9, 10 and 11 students at Brien McMahon High School and Norwalk High School will take the 8/9 PSAT or PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
Testing will begin promptly at 7:30 am and conclude at approximately 11:30 a.m. Students who arrive late may not be admitted into their testing room,
so please make sure your child arrives to school on time.
Seniors may enter the building at 11:30am after the testing period has ended. Seniors who ride the bus should be at their usual bus stops four hours after their usual pickup time.
Eighth graders across the district will also take the 8/9PSAT on October 11. Please check with your specific middle school for exact start times.
On the morning of the test, students should arrive at school with #2 pencils and an approved calculator. Please note that cell phones are prohibited in the testing areas.
Save the date! March 21 will be SAT day in Norwalk for all juniors.
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October NPS Board of Education Proclamations
The Norwalk Board of Education has recognized October as Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15, 2017), Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month, Down Syndrome Awareness Month and ADHD Awareness Month. For full details on these proclamations, visit
Board of Education Proclamations.
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Recently, the Norwalk Police Department requested that families speak with their children about reckless bicycling, and to practice safe, common sense riding habits on our city streets. The NPD has received dozens of calls over the last six months reporting middle school and high school students riding in the middle of the street and doing dangerous stunts and tricks. According to the NPD, these actions may be inspired by online videos called “Bike Life Takeover.” Norwalk Police will continue to crack down on this behavior throughout the city. Please have a conversation with your bike-riding children!
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Tuesday, Oct. 10
, Ad-Hoc SpecEd Committee Meeting, 5:30-6:45pm, Room 322
Wednesday, Oct. 11,
PSAT Testing for Grades 8, 9, 10 and 11
Thursday, Oct. 12
, Finance Committee Meeting, 6-7pm, Room 333
Tuesday, Oct. 17
, Curriculum Committee Meeting, 6-7pm, Room 333
Tuesday, Oct. 17
, Board Business Meeting, 7-9pm, Common Council Chambers
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A New Look For The NPS District Newsletter
The NPS District newsletter has a new look! We are transitioning to a different format to provide a more user-friendly way for families to access timely districtwide news, important reminders, upcoming events and recent NPS accomplishments.
The NPS newsletter is an integral piece of the district’s Strategic Operating Plan and communications goals. The purpose of the newsletter is to share useful information with families about what is happening across the district.
In order to help us do that, we want to know which topics you are most interested in hearing about.
Please take a moment to weigh in on these areas of focus through a brief survey. Your feedback is important to us. Thank you for your time!
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Norwalk Public Schools
125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06852
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This newsletter is compiled & published by the NPS Communications Department.
Have a question about our school district or an item to share?
Contact Brenda Wilcox Williams, Chief Communications Officer, williams@norwalkps.org, or call 203-854-4003.
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