Dragon Passport

With the uncertainty of school closures, text messaging is the easiest and fastest way for the school to communicate with you. Receive text messages from the school for immediate access to what is going on!

Important messages
Upcoming Events
Announcements
School Cancellations and Delays

2025-26 CREC DISTRICT CALENDAR

CALENDARIO DEL DISTRITO DE CREC 2025-26

Knowledgeable & Balanced Learners in Action!

Our classrooms and activity spaces are buzzing with excitement as students dive into learning and creativity across all grade levels!

DP Math in Action: Students are sharpening their skills by tackling complex equations, exploring problem-solving strategies, and mastering equation-solving techniques.

Music in Motion: Our talented band students are practicing for their upcoming concert — blending focus, rhythm, and teamwork to create beautiful music.

Active & Engaged: In gym class, students are staying active and having fun while playing badminton — strengthening coordination, teamwork, and fitness all at once.

Graduation Prep & Post-Graduation Success: Our seniors completed another round of workshops focused on graduation preparation and planning for success beyond high school, keeping them motivated and on track for their future goals.

Career Exploration in 6th Grade: Our sixth graders participated in career day workshops, learning about self-awareness, financial budgeting, and career exploration — helping them dream big and plan for their futures!

It’s truly inspiring to see students learning, creating, and staying active in every corner of our school community!

Inquirers in Action!

Ms. Katzman’s Black and Latinx Studies class had an incredible visit from the Connecticut Museum of History and Culture!

Students participated in an engaging lesson on Slavery and Resistance in Connecticut, diving deep into the history that shaped our state and nation.

What made this experience even more special? The museum brought in primary source artifacts from their collection, allowing students to analyze, explore, and connect with history firsthand.

It’s inspiring to see students learning about the past in such a hands-on and meaningful way!

Risk-Takers & Communicators in Action!

Our 7th grade Design students have been exploring the world of art and expression through two exciting projects! They learned about the history and techniques of graffiti art, experimenting with bold lettering, color, and style to bring their ideas to life.

Then, they shifted gears to create beautiful stained glass–inspired pieces using crinkled paper, light, and color to mimic the look of real glass.

Both projects challenged students to think like designers — using texture, color contrast, and creative problem-solving to express their unique visions.

Art in the Making!

We’re excited to share that local artist Sophie Groenstein is bringing her incredible mural design to life right here on our campus!

Sophie’s mural beautifully captures the spirit of our community and the values our school represents — unity, creativity, diversity, and growth. Her work is a reflection of the vibrant energy our students and staff bring every day.

We can’t wait to see the final masterpiece come together — a lasting symbol of who we are and what we stand for!

Caring & Principled Leaders in Action!

Our 11th graders had the incredible opportunity to visit LEVO International, a nonprofit organization based right here in Hartford! LEVO is making a big impact by not only growing food that can be sold in the city, but also by creating critical access to healthy and affordable food for local communities.

Students learned how LEVO relies on community support and volunteers to help sustain their mission — and they even got to see firsthand how urban farming can bring people together to make a difference.

We’re so proud of our students for engaging with community partners who are leading the way toward a more sustainable and equitable food system!

Risk-Takers & Communicators in Action!

Students from our school recently attended a Student Empowerment and Leadership Conference, where they connected and collaborated with other student leaders from across Connecticut.

This inspiring event focused on leadership, community building, and using your voice to make positive change. We are especially proud of our Men of Vision and Excellence leader Maicen L., who was selected to serve as a moderator for the conference — representing our school with confidence, professionalism, and pride!

Our students walked away motivated, empowered, and ready to continue making an impact both in and outside of school.

Stop the Silence! Bring the Noise!

At our school, we believe every student’s voice matters. If you see something that doesn’t feel right, or if you’re facing a challenge, don’t stay silent — speak up! Talking to a trusted adult — a teacher, counselor, or staff member — can make a real difference.

When you use your voice, you help make our school a safer, kinder, and stronger community for everyone!

Let’s get loud about what matters. Let’s stand up for ourselves and each other.

💛

Bring the NOISE, break the SILENCE!

October- Knowledgeable

October's International’s featured IB Learner Profile trait is Knowledgeable. As knowledgeable people, we “develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.”

Interested in ways to bring this trait to life outside of school? Here are a few ideas!

Ask your student about what they are learning and why it matters:

“Why do you think that is an important thing to know about?”
“Can you think of anything happening in the world today that might be similar to that aspect of history?”

Foster any area that your student expresses an interest in with books and activities, but also be sure to encourage them to explore other areas (so they expand their horizons).

Encourage your student to become familiar with current events and to read and watch the news and watch the news - from reputable news outlets.

November- Risk Taker

For November, the IB learner profile trait we are highlighting is risk-taker. What does it mean for us to be risk-takers? “We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.”

To develop this trait at home, consider the following responsible risk-taker activities:

Explain the difference between being a risk-taker by trying new things (yes!) and doing dangerous things (no).
Ask about your student’s day: “What did you try that was new today?” and chat with them about it.
Share your own success stories of being a risk-taker: when you tried new things, had to face a struggle, and what you did to manage your feelings and effort.
Encourage your student to step out of their comfort zone to try something new (a new role, a new activity, a new way of doing something) - and afterwards, check in with them about how it went and how it felt.

Attendance Matters ALL YEAR LONG!

The school day is from 7:30-2:05.
Scholars missing school for 3 cores or more will be considered absent for the day.
Absences for more than 20 minutes from a class is considered an absence. Time will be noted in PowerSchool.
Attendance matters for all classes so if a scholar can only attend 1 or 2 cores for an excused reason, we highly recommend they do.

Scholars absent more than 10% of the school year (18 days) are considered CHRONICALLY ABSENT by the State. The first 9 absences are excused with parent communication to the school. Ten and over will require specific documentation for reasons listed in the handbook (located on our website).

Scholars are allowed 2 mental health days that have to be reported as such when reporting the scholar's absence. These absences are in addition to the 9 excused by the State.

High School Scholars: Loss of credit for a class can occur after 12 absences (Half Year Courses) or 24 absences (Full Year Courses). Please contact your Counselor to discuss how credit can be recovered.

Please remind your child of the importance of waking up early and being in school daily. If you need support and resources please contact Ms. Gibson at sgibson@crec.org or their school counselor (listed below).

Need to report an absence?

Call (860-242-7834) or Email the Main office with your student's name, your name, and the reason for the absence.

FALL SPORTS

FALL SPORTS ARE UNDERWAY! If you have not made it to a game, there is still time! Come on out to support our Dragons!!!!! Click on the picture to see more information on Athletics!

Coaches use Final Forms to as a way to communicate with families to give updates, and even send last minute cancellations.

If you have sport questions or concerns please email:

High School Faculty Manager: Mr. Chaylyn Martin

Middle School Faculty Manager: Mr. Ryan Aeschliman ext. 2404

Click the picture to access CREC Athletics for Final Forms, Full Schedules and More.

Make sure to check CREC Athletics for updated schedules to include times and locations!

Soccer Senior Night

What an unforgettable night for our soccer team! We celebrated our incredible seniors —Emmanuel #31, Kestrel #11 and Spencer #13, — for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to the game. Each of them has been a vital part of the team’s success and spirit this season.

The night was made even better with an exciting 6–4 victory over Innovations! The energy, teamwork, and sportsmanship on the field truly reflected what makes this team so special.

Congratulations to our seniors — we’re proud of you and can’t wait to see all the great things ahead!

Volleyball Senior Night

What a night to remember! We proudly celebrated our amazing Lady Dragon volleyball seniors — Aaliana, Angie, Ihsan, Kaylee, Olivia, Sirenity, and Xianna —not just for their talent on the court, but for the strong bond and friendship they’ve built as a team. Their love for the game of volleyball shines through every serve, spike, and cheer, and it’s been amazing to watch them support each other all season long.

The night was made even more special as our team secured a 3–1 victory against Aerospace! Together, these seniors have led the team to an impressive 15–3 season, with just three games left before heading to States! Their dedication, teamwork, and passion are inspiring to everyone around them.

Congratulations to our seniors — your friendship, leadership, and love for the game have made this season unforgettable!

Middle School Soccer Teams Meet Hartford Athletic Player!

Our middle school soccer teams had an exciting afternoon meeting a member of the Hartford Athletic soccer team! Players had the chance to hear firsthand about what it takes to play professionally — from dedication and teamwork to setting goals and staying focused on and off the field.

Students asked great questions, shared their own experiences, and even picked up a few new tips to bring back to practice. It was an inspiring visit that reminded everyone how far passion and hard work can take you!

Clubs are Back in Action

Last Thursday marked the exciting start of our after-school clubs, and students jumped right into learning, creating, and connecting!

Robotics Club (pictured below) is hard at work building and coding their robot as they prepare for the upcoming FIRST LEGO League Tournament. Their teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills are truly impressive!

Meanwhile, our YESS! (Young Educated Soulful Sisters) group focused on getting to know one another, sharing affirmations, and creating personal goal worksheets — setting the tone for a year filled with empowerment, sisterhood, and growth.

Other exciting clubs that kicked off include Dungeons & Dragons, Latin Dance, Drama, and Fiber Arts — giving students plenty of opportunities to explore their passions and express their creativity!

Stay tuned to our upcoming Passports and social media to learn more about each club and the amazing things our students are doing!