Black History Month

at Waterside

In the last week of January, Waterside hosted its annual assembly to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It served as an opportunity for all grade levels to learn more about Dr. King along with other Civil Rights Movement leaders preparing the Waterside community for Black History Month.

This year’s Black History Month theme was “Our Five Senses,” allowing students to become fully immersed in Black history. On a daily basis, students learned through lessons from teachers and conversations with peers. Adding to regular lessons taught about historic and present-day Black figures, students learned about themselves. Junior kindergarteners were able to feel by learning to embrace their hair (thick and curly, long and straight, short, wavy, or buzzed). In first grade, students studied George Crum, the inventor of the potato chip, and put their senses to the test in a blind chip tasting. Finally, Chef Victor taught all students how to make cornbread and sweet potato butter. This culminated in a gathering which brought the community together over a shared love of food that nourishes the soul.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly Video

Chef Victor's Cornbread Tasting Video

Literacy Curriculum Becomes Model for Others

Waterside uses the prestigious PAF Reading Program throughout our literacy curriculum. Recently, our School was selected to be a model for demonstration videos made by PAF, which will be used to instruct other schools and teachers. As Waterside Reading Specialist Elizabeth McGoldrick explained, this curriculum is “a multi-sensory approach to reinforce the building blocks of written language, because reading and writing are two sides of the same coin.” We are honored that PAF believes we are a shining example to share with others!

Like most activities at Waterside, our approach to literacy extends to parents. Families play a huge role in how their child's education transfers from the classroom to real life. To ensure that families make the most of a Waterside education, the School hosts Parent Academy seminars twice a month. These programs teach parents tips on how to enhance their child’s learning experience at home. This allows students to advance their listening and reading comprehension and stay in constant practice to achieve literacy prowess.

“The evidence of the success is in every classroom,” said Mrs. McGoldrick. “If you listen to the guided reading lessons, you can see and hear young children discussing and engaging with stories and text authentically. They are talking about language in such a sophisticated way. You see it in their flexibility with written language, and the confidence they have when reading and writing. Waterside is a place where students feel successful and empowered because we give them the keys to unlock the doors of literacy early on and with confidence.”

Save the Date!

The Lion King, Jr.

May 24, 2023

6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Join us to see third through fifth grade perform this year's spring musical!

Alumni Support

On Thursday, April 20, Waterside School welcomes back eighth through eleventh grade students for an exciting and informative event titled “Roadmap to College.”

Led by the Waterside alumni team, along with counselors from local independent schools, the program will provide alumni and their families with resources to prepare for the college application process. The evening includes a workshop on financial aid and breakout sessions designed with accessible information about applying and getting into college. The event lays the groundwork for College Boot Camp, a three-day program in June designed for rising juniors and seniors. Roadmap to College is just one of the ways Waterside continues to help our alumni gain access to superior academic opportunities.

Kindness Mural

Art plays an integral role in the School’s culture. It allows for self-expression and introduces the creative process to our young scholars as they grow. Students in fourth and fifth grade were recently given the chance to collaborate with Brooklyn graffiti artist Owen Jones while he created a mural at a new apartment building on Henry Street. Stamford’s mayor, Caroline Simmons, was on hand to see the students’ work in action. The mural displays the word “kindness,” which is particularly appropriate for our students because of their commitment to “work hard, be kind, and respect learning” every day. As Mayor Simmons reflected, “this is a wonderful community project reinforcing the importance of good deeds and collaboration in our daily lives.”

“This experience was special for our students,” said art teacher Mike Bazelais ‘07. “They were introduced to a new art style they have never seen or done in school before, so students who previously struggled to find joy in art were able to foster a new fondness in spray painting thanks to Owen and the Kindness Mural.”

We are grateful to community member Dorothea Donelan-Avery for providing this opportunity to our students and allowing them a chance to explore a new form of art to widen their imagination.