Julian Curtiss Elementary School
September 26th, 2025
What an incredible morning we had celebrating our newest JC eagles at our special "Ringing In" ceremony! This wonderful tradition has been happening at Julian Curtiss for over 30 years, and it's always one of our most exciting days. We officially welcomed our kindergarten scholars—who will be the JC graduating class of 2031 and will one day graduate from Greenwich High School in 2038! Each kindergarten scholar got to come up, shake hands, and ring our special bell, which means they are now officially part of our JC family. This ceremony isn't just about starting school—it's about joining a community where everyone will support them, challenge them to do their best, and celebrate with them as they become amazing readers, writers, scientists, artists, musicians, and kind, curious learners.
It was so inspiring to see all our older students in grades 1-5 cheering on the kindergarteners! Many of them remembered ringing that very same bell when they were little, and look how much they've grown and learned since then. Our kindergarten friends now have such great role models to look up to. We're so thankful for our fantastic kindergarten teachers, Ms. Comerford and Ms. DiLascia, and our wonderful paraprofessionals, Mr. Walsh and Ms. Heredia, who will take such good care of our newest eagles. To all our JC families, thank you for letting us be part of your children's journey—we're so excited to watch them spread their wings and soar!
Soar like Eagles,
Eduardo CalderĂłn and Claribel Michilena
Today our 5th grade scholars had an incredible educational adventure at SoundWaters, where they became marine scientists for the day! Students conducted hands-on investigations to determine pH levels and got up close with the fascinating creatures that call Long Island Sound home. They learned about the special adaptations that help each animal survive in its unique habitat, then had the amazing opportunity to touch and hold living animals while discovering clues about their ways of life. Many of these creatures can actually be found right along our local shores, giving our students a wonderful new perspective on our own coastal environment. The excitement was contagious as they sketched pictures of all the animals they explored, capturing their learning through art as well as science. We're so grateful to our dedicated teachers Mrs. Grandinetti, Ms. Breen, and Mrs. Gillam, our wonderful paraprofessional Mrs. Feeney, and all of our amazing parent chaperones who made this enriching experience possible for scholars.
We are grateful and excited to have our new playground! As our scholars explore and enjoy the new slides, we want to remind all families who use the playground after school hours to please supervise children closely while they play. To ensure everyone's safety, we ask that slides be used one person at a time and that children follow safe playground practices. During school hours, our staff is also maintaining close supervision to help prevent any potential injuries or accidents.
Each month, all of our students in grades PreK–5 share a common story through our Book of the Month program. Reading the same book across grade levels fosters a shared experience, sparks meaningful conversations, and builds a strong sense of community around literature.
This month, our students are reading Not Perfect, a heartfelt story about Dot, a girl who feels like she just can’t measure up to the “perfect” talents of her family and friends. From messy cupcakes to off-key piano notes, Dot discovers that what truly matters isn’t being perfect, but being yourself and celebrating the people you admire. The story encourages children to embrace mistakes, build resilience, and recognize the beauty in trying.
Not Perfect has received national recognition, including being named A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year.
We invite families to join the conversation at home by asking children what Dot learns about herself, sharing stories of times when “not perfect” moments turned into learning opportunities, and celebrating the small victories that come from persistence and creativity. Together, we can help our children see that imperfection is part of growth- and sometimes even the best part of the story.
