Curriculum Connections in Region 15

We are proud to share the second issue of the newly launched Curriculum Connections, a district-wide newsletter that highlights the meaningful learning taking place across Region 15. Grounded in our mission to educate every student to be productive, ethical, and engaged in a global society, this publication celebrates the curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices shaping our schools. Thank you for joining us as we continue to share the excellence and engagement that define Region 15.

As the school year winds down, our K–8 literacy team has been focused on supporting strong transitions between grade levels. In grades K–4, students have been preparing momentum baggies—collections of their current reading materials—to carry forward into the fall. In grade 5, students are reflecting on their favorite genres and titles to share with their future teachers. These practices give educators meaningful insight into each child’s reading identity and help create a joyful, connected, and informed start to the next school year.

Students in PHS English teacher Jenna Brooky’s Honors Criminal Judgments class recently completed a creative and rigorous Unit Two Summative Assessment by crafting original crime fiction. Each student wrote an opening chapter and a compelling letter to a publisher, demonstrating how their understanding of investigative psychology and authorial style shaped their work. The project culminated in a celebration where students shared their book pitches and custom cover art. Senior Addison Batoon generously shared her work with the Region 15 community, offering a glimpse into the powerful connection between academic learning and creative expression. Mrs. Brooky shared how proud she is of the students' thoughtful storytelling and believes it’s only a matter of time before one of them becomes a published author.

Looking for a fun and engaging way to build your child’s math confidence over the summer? The 2025 Commissioner’s Summer Math Challenge is a great opportunity for students entering grades K–6 to stay connected to math in meaningful ways.

Families can simply download and print a Summer Math Passport along with the task sheet for the grade their child will be entering this fall. Students who complete the challenge and return their passport in August will receive a special certificate celebrating their participation!

• Kindergarten / Kindergarten (Spanish)
  

• Grade 1 / Grado 1 (Spanish)
  

• Grade 2 / Grado 2 (Spanish)
  

• Grade 3 / Grado 3 (Spanish)
  

• Grade 4 / Grado 4 (Spanish)

• Grade 5 / Grado 5 (Spanish)

• Grade 6 / Grado 6 (Spanish)

It’s time to kick off CONNECTICUT READS, the 2025 Governor’s Summer Reading Program! This annual statewide initiative encourages students of all ages to continue reading over the summer to maintain literacy skills, discover new interests, and develop a lifelong love of reading.
Click here for the Connecticut Reads Website

• Summer Reading List (PDF)

• Summer Reading Journal (PDF)

• Summer Reading Game Board (PDF)

• Summer Reading Bingo Board (PDF)

Southbury Library Summer Reading Website

The Southbury Public Library offers a vibrant summer reading program. The 2025 theme, “Level Up at Your Library”, invites participants of all ages to engage in reading challenges and activities. The program runs from June 7 through August 15, 2025.

Middlebury Library Website

The Middlebury Public Library invites readers of all ages to participate in their summer reading program, “Reading Under the Stars”, running from June 2 to July 19, 2025.

This spring, Grade 6 and Grade 8 students across both Region 15 middle schools are diving into the power of data with a dynamic statistics unit that blends problem-based learning, project-based performance tasks, and student self-assessment. These rich learning experiences help students make real-world connections while building essential skills in analysis, problem-solving, and communication.

Personalizing Math Through Meaningful Data

In Grade 6, students become researchers by crafting a statistical question based on a topic of personal interest. They collect real-world data, analyze it using measures of central tendency, and visually represent their findings through dot plots, histograms, or box plots. Their final product includes a written summary explaining patterns and conclusions drawn from the data. This unit encourages student voice, ownership, and real-world relevance—hallmarks of deeper learning.

Making Predictions with Math

Eighth graders take data analysis a step further by exploring relationships between two variables of their choice. They collect 20–50 data points and create scatter plots, drawing lines of best fit to determine and explain correlations. Projects range from sports performance to college outcomes—authentic questions that pique curiosity and support critical thinking. Final presentations showcase students’ findings with visual displays, graphs, equations, and thoughtful analysis.

Empowering Student Reflection

Throughout the unit, students use detailed rubrics to self-assess and revise their work—an important step in developing independence and ownership of learning. We’re proud of the creativity and insight students are bringing to their projects and excited to see how math continues to help them make sense of the world!

Offered through the PHS Math Department, the Personal Finance course gives juniors and seniors an opportunity to explore essential real-world skills through a hands-on, end-of-course project. As a culmination of the year’s work, students create a “model life” by selecting a career, determining where to live, and making decisions about housing, transportation, and lifestyle.

Using Microsoft Excel, students build monthly budgets that account for salary, taxes, rent or mortgage, car payments, food, utilities, and other expenses. The project brings budgeting to life in a meaningful way, helping students understand the lasting impact of financial choices—and often uncovering surprising realities.

Some reflections from students include:

“I didn’t realize how much food costs. I just spent $630 on food last week and I can’t afford that!”

“It would be a lot easier to live with a roommate who could help with some of the monthly expenses.”

“I just put myself in major debt after I purchased that brand new truck!”

This project empowers students with foundational financial literacy skills while reinforcing core math concepts. It’s an engaging, authentic learning experience that prepares them for life beyond high school.

On May 21, Gainfield Elementary students, staff, and families came together for a meaningful day dedicated to honoring the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity and Dialogue. The schoolwide event focused on celebrating the rich cultural backgrounds that make our community stronger and more vibrant.

Through interactive activities and thoughtful conversations, students explored both the similarities and differences among us, learning how embracing cultural diversity fosters more peaceful and sustainable communities. Over 30 classrooms welcomed guest visitors—including students, families, and community members—who shared stories and traditions from around the world.

The day’s highlight was a lively cultural arts assembly featuring Kathak dance from India, captivating the entire school and enriching everyone’s appreciation of global cultures. This special event underscored Gainfield’s commitment to building understanding and respect within our diverse school family.

How do our economic choices impact the community? This was the central question driving Pomperaug Elementary’s 4th graders during their recent Social Studies unit on Economic Choices. To bring their learning to life, students took a walking field trip on May 29 to visit local financial institutions and small businesses, deepening their understanding of how the local economy connects to their daily lives.

During the tour, students visited two of several stops including Newtown Savings Bank, Union Savings Bank, Kru Juice Bar, World Championship Taekwondo, and Riverview Cinemas. They also had a special conversation with Mr. Arcuri, PES parent and owner of Roller Magic, gaining firsthand insights from a local entrepreneur.

At each location, students learned about why these businesses chose Southbury, the challenges they face, how they overcome obstacles, and the successes they’re proud of. In the afternoon, students gathered with peers who visited different sites to share their experiences and reflect on what they discovered.

This immersive experience helped students appreciate their role in the economy and how thoughtful choices can positively impact their community now and into the future.

In Conversations on Race, a Social Studies elective at Pomperaug High School, students are engaging in thoughtful and courageous final projects that examine the ongoing impact of racial issues in society. Topics range from racial profiling and housing discrimination to the effects of boycotting and racism in sports. Each presentation includes a national lens, a personal or local connection, and practical steps for creating change.

As part of the assignment, students design interactive elements—such as discussions, surveys, or hands-on activities—to engage their audience meaningfully. Along the way, they are refining their research, public speaking, and civil discourse skills while building powerful presentations for their peers and teachers.

Through this project, students are not only developing a deeper understanding of systemic inequality—they’re learning how to use their voices to promote justice and equity in their communities.

In Gender Studies in Literature, a senior English elective at Pomperaug High School, students recently completed an immersive, interdisciplinary project inspired by Judy Chicago’s iconic feminist art installation, The Dinner Party. Using the original piece as a springboard, students—under the guidance of teacher Ms. Gordon—co-created criteria for modern nominations and curated their own updated version of the dinner table.

Through rigorous research and application of core course concepts, students selected three influential women to honor, constructed symbolic 3D place settings, and authored exhibit guidebook entries. The learning experience culminated in a public exhibit, where students acted as docents, and a reflective in-character “dinner party” discussion representing the voices and perspectives of their chosen figures.

This powerful sequence blended literary analysis, informational writing, artistic expression, and civic engagement—highlighting students’ ability to synthesize knowledge, make meaning through creative choices, and reflect thoughtfully on gender and representation in society.

Multilingual learners at the high school level have been strengthening their academic vocabulary through a creative, hands-on learning sequence that culminated in the design of original educational games. Using tools like concept maps and word analysis strategies, students mastered Tier II vocabulary and then applied their knowledge by building board games, card games, and interactive challenges. These games not only reinforced key terms but also encouraged peers to use vocabulary in context. Students later adapted their games to support review for final exams in core academic classes—an engaging and effective way to prepare for year-end assessments while practicing meaningful language use.

At the middle school level, multilingual learners are diving into high-utility vocabulary that appears across content areas including ELA, science, social studies, and math. Through activities like exploring word origins, comparing English words to those in their home languages, and applying new vocabulary in conversations and writing, students are developing language that supports comprehension and communication across all subjects. These transferable academic skills are helping students grow as confident learners and contributors in every classroom.

Enjoy some pictures from the recent Multilingual Learners Family Ice Cream Social!

This year, the SRBI (Scientific Research-Based Interventions) team worked diligently to support student growth across all tiers of intervention. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of teachers, coaches, and dedicated tutors—and the continued partnership of families—targeted interventions were implemented that led to measurable academic gains. We are proud of the data showing increased proficiency in reading fluency, comprehension, and math, but even more proud of the perseverance and progress demonstrated by students. Their hard work and commitment during SRBI sessions have led to meaningful growth and laid a strong foundation for future success.

Why do some storms produce hail and others don’t? Sixth graders in Mrs. Cimelus’s class explored this question as part of their unit on weather and the water cycle. As a culminating review, students worked in collaborative groups to create scientific posters demonstrating their understanding of key concepts: how clouds form, how hail develops and grows within a cloud, and what causes it to eventually fall. Students practiced building accurate scientific models that included clear titles, labeled diagrams, color-coded keys, and concise symbolic representations. Their impressive work showcases not only their content knowledge but also their growth in scientific communication.

To prepare for final exams, Integrated Earth and Physical Science teachers are using hands-on review strategies like practice problem workstations and vertical whiteboards to deepen student understanding. These collaborative methods promote active learning, critical thinking, and peer-to-peer problem solving—helping students make meaningful connections across key concepts.

In Physics, students brought science to life by analyzing scenes from their favorite movies—such as Lego Batman, Up, Aladdin, Fast & Furious, Home Alone, and Spiderman. By applying what they've learned to evaluate the realism of stunts, forces, and motion, students are engaging in a creative and thought-provoking review that blends entertainment with academic rigor.

This year, fourteen Pomperaug High School juniors and seniors participated in the EdAdvance Regional Healthcare Shadowing Program—an immersive learning opportunity that allowed students to explore a variety of medical and health science careers through hands-on clinical experiences.

Organized through a collaboration between EdAdvance and the PHS Career Center, the program offers 9-week shadowing placements in real healthcare environments. Students also completed related online coursework and attended after-school workshops throughout the school year, deepening their understanding of healthcare systems, ethics, and professional practices.

Student placements included surgical units, nursing floors, rehabilitation clinics, veterinary offices, and more. These diverse settings gave participants the opportunity to observe patient care, build communication skills, and connect academic learning with real-world application.

Senior Lucas Palmas described his experience in the OR as transformative, noting that it led to a summer job as an operating room assistant. Amelia Walker. shared how shadowing in a nursing unit confirmed her desire to pursue nursing, while Katherine D'uva. reflected on the emotional impact of witnessing an honor walk for an organ donor—an experience that highlighted the human side of healthcare.

“The program demands a high level of maturity and commitment from students,” said Karen Moore, Program Coordinator at EdAdvance. “They not only gain career insight but also develop soft skills that will serve them well in any future path.”

Students were recognized this spring in the PHS College and Career Center for their professionalism, growth, and dedication throughout the year.

The Connecticut Southern New England (SNE) Rosen Publishing Awards Committee has named Michelle Schwenger, Library Media Specialist at Gainfield Elementary School, as the School Librarian of the Month for April 2025.

Mrs. Schwenger was honored for her innovative “School-wide Virtual Announcements” program, which integrates technology, student voice, and communication in a dynamic, school-wide format. This project will now be added to SNE’s statewide best practices bank to inspire other educators across Connecticut.

As part of the recognition, Mrs. Schwenger will be honored at the 2026 CASL Conference and receive a complimentary set of books for the GES library, generously provided by Rosen Publishing.

Her work is a shining example of how school libraries can foster student engagement, leadership, and community—and why the role of the school librarian remains essential in today’s learning environments.