This powerful message is on a sign outside of a classroom in our district. It serves as a great reminder to the important work our teachers and staff engage in with our learners each and every day.

The 2023-2024 budget passed at the Town Meeting. The Board of Education had adopted a 4.61% increase and the Board of Finance moved a 4.32% increase to Town Meeting. The audience overwhelmingly supported the proposed budget.

The 4.32%, while not fully funded to the Board of Education budget, is extremely supportive of our schools.

I would like to thank the Board of Education for adopting a robust budget that supports our learners and staff. Thank you also to all of you who participated in the budget construction, from making thoughtful requests, asking tough questions and even providing creative solutions to help pass the budget. Thank you to the Board of Finance for being open to considering our requests and understanding of our position. I think I speak for everyone when I say we felt heard and valued throughout the budget process.

This, like all that we do in Lebanon, was a total team effort. The budget meetings were well attended and the tone of each session was positive. We all know that we are living through tough economic times but it was great to hear that investing in our schools is still a top priority in Lebanon.

With the budget passed we can begin planning for next year. I know we have a lot to still do in 2022-2023 but it is exciting to think about what lies ahead in 2023-2024.

Best,
Andy

Each Monday I do the morning announcements with students at Lebanon Elementary School. I am part of a segment called Super-interesting Facts with Mr. G. The category that was selected to share a fact from for the week of May 8-12 was "Education".

I thought it was fitting to look for a fact about teachers. Here it is... Did you know that there are 4,007,908 teachers in the United States? Teachers account for about 2.5% of the total working population of our country.

And we have the best educators right here in Lebanon! Please join me in celebrating our excellent educators.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week and know that you are appreciated each and every day for your tremendous efforts.

Kami Dempsey

In this article the author is talking about big projects at work but we can draw a comparison to schools. You are staring down the finish line of another school year. Make having a great finish a priority. Keep working hard towards the goals you have set and take pride in accomplishing them.

Have you ever felt super excited about the start of a project, but as time went on your excitement (and motivation) started to wane?

Unfortunately, not all work is created equal. It is often the work through the bulk of a project that is not remembered or recognized.

The work that tends to be remembered from any given project is the work that happened last. It is the final step that most people will think of, because it happened most recently. This is especially true of the people who have the most power over your promotions and future opportunities, who don't see what you accomplish day to day. They just see the results.

I have worked with hundreds of engineers during my career, and I have seen this happen over and over again. Projects start with a bang and end with a whimper, and the people on the team are surprised when their hard work isn't viewed as positively as they think it should be.

How can you make sure that you are recognized as a valuable member of your team, whose work is seen as critical to the team's success?

You have to finish strong, every time.

Here is how to keep your momentum up and make the right moves to be a visible contributor to the final success of every project.

The Psychology of a Strong Finish

Humans tend to remember the ending of a thing far more clearly than any other part—even if other parts were more significant or important. Why is that?

Essentially, our brains can process only so much. We take in so much information every day that it is impossible to remember everything completely. As a result, our brains have to give priority to certain pieces of information over others.

This means that we usually have the clearest recall for things that were associated with strong emotions and things that happened most recently. This is known as the Peak-End Rule.

This applies to all areas of our lives. It's why you should always stay at the nicest hotel at the very end of your vacation—it's the one you will remember most when you think about that trip.

At work, your performance reviews are usually weighted toward the work you did most recently. Why? Because it is freshest in your manager's mind.

So, when you are working on a project, think about how it will be perceived by your leadership, keeping in mind the importance of the end result.

While you might remember the long hours you worked to build a new feature one night, your boss may have a different perspective. If, for example, that feature you built had bugs that had to be fixed at the last minute, or operational problems that generated negative attention, that's what the boss will remember more than the many hours you put in.

Therefore, if you want to make a big impact at work, you need to take advantage of the Peak-End Rule by ensuring that every project you work on has a successful, strong conclusion. If you are in a position to present the project to your leadership, make sure they see how your hard work applies to their goals and the things that are most important to them.

Why So Few People Finish Strong

Starting work on a new project or goal is usually an exciting time. In the beginning, there is a lot of momentum. You are excited to tackle a big problem, and energy is high in meetings. The first 80 percent of a project is all about building up; there is a thrill in creating something new.

By the end, though, energy is low. You push to get things done by a deadline, and you procrastinate on the boring stuff that still has to get done, like extra testing, polishing, documentation, and boundary cases you missed earlier.

The less elegant work isn't as much fun to work on, so people don't really work on it. Plus, there's very little recognition for this kind of work.

Our brains are resistant to working on tasks that don't seem to offer some kind of reward. They seem too small, or too tedious. It can be mentally, and even physically, taxing to spend time on a job that you don't want to do or know you won't be directly rewarded for.

These mundane tasks, when done correctly, make the problems they are solving invisible. You would only ever notice if that work hadn't been done because you would have a buggy, clunky product. When the details are done right, it looks seamless and you forget about how much work went into finishing.

Unfortunately, letting these boring details go is akin to undoing all the exciting work you already put in on the project. If you want the beautiful thing you built to stay standing, you have to finish it out right.

How to Make a Great Finish a Priority

The next time you are hard at work on a big project, make sure you allot time and energy for a strong finish. Set aside time in your project plans for the boring detail work; that way, it won't catch you by surprise. Make it seem just as important as all the rest of the work you do—because it is.

As you get to work on your next big goal, keep in mind these three ways to make sure you finish strong and make the biggest possible impact with your work.

1. Think big picture

When you are working on a project, always keep the bigger-picture goals in mind. What is the overall impact of this project on your company? What does your manager see as your team's biggest goal?

You may remember an amazing solution you came up with early in the project, but your manager or executive team—who weren't in the trenches with you every day, and who instead are making judgments based on limited information channeled up to them—have only so many details to go on. One of the biggest factors they use to determine success or failure is how a project wrapped up.

Did the project miss the deadline? Were tons of bugs reported right after the launch? Did your team have to explain to the boss why x,y,z didn't work?

Whenever you are choosing what to work on or where to apply your best efforts, take a moment to step back. Zoom out from your own preferences and remind yourself what the bigger-picture goals are. Where will your work mean the most to the people in charge?

If you're not sure, ask. Go to your manager and say, "I am thinking about working on A or B next. Which is most important? Or is there another place I should be focusing?"

It may seem counterintuitive—you might worry that asking about priorities might make you look silly—but checking in with your manager is actually really smart. Not only do you ensure you are working on the right priorities, but it is also a great way to keep your manager up to date about your contributions and show that you are focused on the big-picture goals that matter most to managers.

2. Make the unglamorous a priority

When people lose momentum on a project, it is usually right around the time that the shiniest, most interesting work gets completed. Don't let this happen to you.

One way to approach the boring details of a project—bug fixes, use cases, etc.—is to reframe them in your mind. Tell yourself that this is actually some of the most important work you'll do because you will be helping the outcome to be as perfect as it can be.

Look for opportunities to make these tasks more challenging or interesting. Instead of slogging through boring details, try to bring new energy to them.

Although this work may not be all that visible, it is still important. Remember that a rising tide lifts all boats. Even if you don't get the glory for fixing small final details, your work will make the overall project more successful in the end, and you will have been part of a team that executed well. In time, you will become known for always being on the team that succeeds.

3. Channel your ability to keep going

Have you ever heard a story about a mother who lifted a car to save her child? What about marathon runners who talk about having "nothing left" but go on to finish the race?

We all have extreme strength within us; we just don't usually see it because it comes out only in extreme circumstances.

In normal life, your brain communicates with your body about what you can and cannot do. Your brain says, "Hey, that will hurt," and your body slows down. In most situations, this serves you well. You can't actually lift a car every day, and you wouldn't want to try.

However, the ability to power through challenges that you normally don't face is in your toolkit. Remember that the next time you are nearing the end of a long, exhausting project. You can do it. You might feel like you have nothing left, but the end is the most important part—so, draw on your resources and make the last steps count.

If you work hard on a project, your hours won't be worth as much if you aren't seen delivering a strong finish. So, make all that work worth it, and follow through on every single step. Dot your i's, cross your t's, and deliver amazing results that will take you far in your career.

Senior Caroline Nettleton was accepted into the Connecticut All State Music Festival as a Soprano in the Mixed Choir for the second year. This is an auditioned festival sponsored through the Connecticut Music Education Association that students get the opportunity to audition for if they make Eastern Regionals which was in January. From March 30- April 1 she spent three days at the festival working with a well-accomplished conductor to learn music with students from all around Connecticut.

Mrs. Shuman has taught music in our district for 17 years. She has primarily provided music instruction to our elementary learners but has also led the chorus program at Lebanon Middle School.

Mrs. Shuman is passionate about the important role music plays in education. She also feels that understanding how to consume music is important for life outside of school. She enjoys building students background and understanding of music while also developing their skills and confidence to perform musically.

Mrs. Shuman recently conducted the 3rd grade concert on May 4th that contained some Star Wars themed music. Our learners demonstrated their acquired knowledge of how to play the recorder and xylophone during the show.

As we move into the home stretch of the school year, Mrs. Shuman will be leading our students during a band & chorus performance on May 31st. This will be the first time this year that the whole band will perform together and will feature the song "Baby Shark". The chorus will be showing off their newly acquired ability to sing in Spanish. It will no doubt be a great show, join us if you can!

Mrs. Shuman couldn't help but smile as she talked about her position. She loves how excited our students are to learn music and feels completely supported by families in our district.

Thanks Mrs. Shuman for all you do to support music in our schools!

Ms. Johnson starting teacher in Lebanon in 2017. She currently teaches Photography at the high school and grades PK-4 at LES. Teaching runs in her family and she truly feels it is her calling. She loves being an Art teacher and feels she offers students diverse, out of the box opportunities to be creative.

I recently had the pleasure of watching a unit called "Art in the Dark". The students were engaged and excited about this opportunity. The unit grows each year and so does the excitement of our learners.

Ms. Johnson has worked extensively to support the curriculum Studio Habits of Mind. This approach fosters independence with our students and while giving them a framework to work from. She feels our curriculum and activities make learning meaningful to the students and has them really being "thinkers" and "doers".

She is very excited about the new Mac lab at the high school and how this technology will enhance the work that the high school students are able to immerse in and ultimately the work they will produce.

Ms. Johnson is looking forward to attending the TAB institute this summer to collaborate with other teachers and grow her own skills.

She is thankful for the opportunity to work in Lebanon. She says she feels treated as a professional and trusted to try new things. She loves the family feel of our community!

Nikki, thanks for all you do to provide art instruction and inspiration to our students!

May-

LES

• May 22-26 PTA Scholastic Book Fair, May 25, 26 - Goodies with Grandparents-7:30am

• May 26 - Get Outside for Children’s Mental Health Day

• May 26 - PTA Outdoor Family Game Night

• May 30 - Grade 3 Colonial Day

• May 30 - K Field Trip to Mystic Aquarium

• May 31 - Grade 1 Field Trip to Air Museum

• May 31 - LES Band and Chorus Concert 2:15 p.m., 6-7 p.m.

LMS

• May 31- 7th Grade Bike & Hike, 8am

LMHS

• Field Day: May 26 ½ Day

• Senior Outing- Block Island May 30th

June-

LES

• June 1 - Grade 3 SBAC Picnic 12 p.m.

• June 1 - LES Art Show 6-7:30 p.m.

• June 1 - Last PBIS assembly/summer reading challenge 9:15 a.m.

• June 2 - LES Field Day (rain date 6/2)

• June 5 - Fourth Grade Celebration

• June 5 - PreK/Mystic Aquarium visit

• June 7 - BMX assembly-9am and 10am

• June 12 - 4th Grade Moving Up Ceremony-6-7 pm

• June 13 LES Honors Flag Day 9am

LMS

• June 2- PTO 8th Grade Celebration

• June 7- 8th Grade Field Trip-New London, 8:45am

• June 9- 8th Grade Promotion

• June 9- 5th & 8th Grade Field Day

• June 12- 6th & 7th Grade Field Day

LMHS

• Pops Concert- June 1st 7:00 pm

• Post Grad Bulldog Bash Concert June 3 6-10 pm /Post Grad Celebration 10:30pm-6:00am

• Senior Walk 11:40-12:45 at LES

• Senior Banquet June 5th 4:00 pm

• Evening Awards Ceremony: June 6 at 6:30

• Tennis Banquet June 8th 12:00 pm

• Graduation: June 13 at 6:00pm

Curriculum Update - Mental Health Awareness

By: Rita Quiles-Glover, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Since 1949, May has been designated as National Mental Health Awareness Month. As educators, mentors, parents, colleagues and friends, we must recognize a difficult truth: according to the National Institute of Mental Health, Nearly one in five Americans lives with a mental health condition. As part of continued efforts to support children’s mental health, Governor Ned Lamont declared May 26th of each year to be Get Outside and Play for Children’s Mental Health Day; 2023 is the inaugural year. The goal of this day is to promote awareness of the benefits of outdoor activities on children’s mental health and wellness. On May 26th, Lebanon schools will engage in lessons and cooperative play that incorporate outdoor activities shown to improve mental well-being and play a key role in resilience to stressors for youth. Some activities might include a shooting hoops multiplication game, creating a nature poem outside, chalk art, nature observation journal and rock painting. In addition, teachers will engage in afternoon professional development aligned with the importance of physical and mental health. Activities planned include dog therapy, splatter painting, summer book talks and folk music playing. In addition, Emotion into Art, an inspiring artist presentation will further engage staff with motivational and encouraging messages.

Staffing: LES welcomed SEALS (Special Education Alternative Learning Site) teacher Leah Marouski on April 17.

2024 Paraprofessional of the Year: Would you like to honor an instructional assistant who has made an impact on your child’s life? Nominations are now being accepted for Lebanon Public Schools’ Instructional Assistant of the Year through May 26, 2023. To nominate a deserving IA, please complete this form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDKfT0TdubwV0PdsCQ5hfnlYpnLxJe0GCjOZATQtnqQqg6Eg/viewform?usp=pp_url

ESY (Extended School Year): The Department of Pupil Services is currently planning for our Extended School Year (ESY). This program is designed for special education students who may experience regression over the summer vacation. ESY runs three days a week from July 5 through July 27 from 8:30-11:30. Recommendations are made through the PPT process and may include one, two, or three day sessions. Transportation is provided. Participants will receive confirmation letters with specific programming details during the first full week of June. If you have questions, please contact your child’s case manager or the Pupil Services Department at 860-642-5636.

Lebanon Public Schools actively seeks to assist children and families by locating, identifying, and referring children from birth to age 21 who require special education and related services. If you are concerned about a child's development, you are encouraged to contact Lebanon Elementary School to receive information about Early Childhood Screenings.

If the child is younger than 3 years of age, you may choose instead to contact the Connecticut Birth to Three System at 1-800-505-7000.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact 860-642-5636.

Click "buttons" throughout update to view articles & important documents

Families, please feel free to send photos of our students in action so that I can celebrate them in the Superintendent Updates. Thanks for helping share our Lebanon Pride! andrew.gonzalez@lebanonct.org

On Wednesday May 17th the Ag Science department welcomed the high school, faculty and staff and the Elementary school students between 10 and 11 am. to our 11th annual Ag Expo. Students made posters, created displays, brought in tools and supplies and animals to educate our visitors about their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects. We had lawn mowers, a horse, dogs, student chickens, chicks that were hatched here at school, woodworking demonstrations, fitting demonstrations and more.

Earlier this month Lyman Memorial High School held its Spelling Bee. Mrs. Ayer coordinated and ran this event. Below is a write up from her highlighting the experience.

Aria Nowasad won the final round with her correct spelling of "aerodynamic" after having correctly spelled "beneficiary" and "xenophobia" earlier.

Kudos to all of our contestants for qualifying and for bravely spelling words in front of a crowd: Keegan Tardiff*, Genevieve Gardella*, Jaiden Lopez, Liv Michael, Brian Hubble, Emma Melia, Lindalis Mercado, Sadie Seagrave, Nora Rodgers, Nora Erisman, Alyssa Semrelyo, Tyler Pannone, Aria Nowosad, Sadie Boothroyd, Wyatt Fugedi, Chris Sarnik, and Will Daniels*. (*Kudos especially to those who made it through the double-elimination rounds without a single error*)

Thank you to all of the teachers who allowed their students to participate and also to those who attended with their class; it was by far the largest crowd we've ever had.

We recently were made aware that a few of our learners advanced to the Connecticut Invention Convention Finals!

Baily's Handle Helper, Jai's Mess Minimizer, and Alanna's Bug Out were all selected to advance to this in person event taking place at UConn on June 10.

The Market on the Green (formerly The Green Store) supported the Spring Break Reading Challenge at LES by giving all 103 participants a free scoop of ice cream.

On Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023, Emotion Into Art™ visited Lyman! This program consisted of choreographed speed painting that comes with an inspirational speaking performance. It is a nationally recognized show with the goal of inspiring students to follow their dreams. The performances by Tom Varano entertain and capture the students’ attention, while instilling a message of hope and encouragement into their lives.

The shows at LMHS consisted of four paintings created live and set to powerful music. In between each painting, an inspirational message, ranging from a variety of topics, was covered.

One of the paintings from each show was donated to the school as a reminder of Tom’s amazing performance and powerful message. Our chosen themes for LMHS were based on topics related to having courage, working through anxiety, race, education, following your dreams, living life with passion and overcoming adversity.

Sabena Escott, MSW sabena.escott@lebanonct.org

Lyman Memorial High School Social Worker and District Family Care Coordinator

With legislation over the summer, a family care coordinator has been added to the growing number of mental health staff that CT recognizes will further support our children and families in the school setting. The family care coordinator role already encompasses what our Lebanon school district mental health teams provide for students and families. Providing students with access to mental health resources within the community and bringing mental health services to students inside of the school has always been a priority in our district. Please reach out if there are any specific mental health topics, community programs, therapeutic referrals or town programs and resources that you would like to know more about. Below are a few programs and resources for students and families.

Lebanon Social Services Office offers a variety of services to Lebanon children, adults, and seniors. Social Services Administrator Shelly Ashcom works with federal, state, and local organizations to provide assistance to Lebanon residents in need. Town of Lebanon Social Services

*The use of the resources/programs in this section are not required by LPS to be used by parents/guardians. They are recommendations only.*

Regular attendance is vital for student success. When students attend regularly they the best chance to achieve academically and thrive. Every day a student is in school is an opportunity to learn, build relationships and access supports. We look forward to partnering with you to make sure our learners are present and prepared to grow each day. We understand that students are more likely to attend school when they feel safe, connected and supported. We will continue to work hard to motivate students to attend by fostering a belief among students that they can achieve at high levels .

Research shows that when students are chronically absent- missing more than 10% of the school year, or 18 days over an entire year- they are less likely to read proficiently by 3rd grade, achieve in middle school and graduate from high school.

E-Cigarettes/Vapes Quick Facts

• Fact Sheet for Parents Download the PDF

• Get the Talk With Your Teen About E-cigarettes tip sheet for parents. Start the conversation early with children about why e-cigarettes are harmful for them.

• Encourage your child to learn the facts and get tips for quitting tobacco products at Teen.smokefree.gov

Call or text a trained crisis counselor to talk:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. They’re free and available 24/7:
  Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

• Trevor Project (crisis intervention & suicide prevention for the LGBTQ community): 1-866-488-7386 or Text 678678

• Crisis Text Line: text CTL to 741741

NIMH offers brochures and fact sheets on mental health disorders and related topics for children, adolescents and their families. Printed materials can be ordered free of charge. Brochures and fact sheets in English and Spanish.

Depression is a common mental health condition that causes someone to be in a sad or irritable mood for an unusually long period of time. It’s normal for children to feel down when bad things happen, but a child with depression doesn’t feel better if things change. There are different types of symptoms with depression and mood disorders. Understanding how depression is diagnosed and treated, the impact that social media has on depression and strategies parents can use to help their child, are critical to supporting children and teens. Click here for more information

Housing and Homeless Services can be accessed through Coordinated Access Networks (CAN). Persons are prioritized for housing services based on an assessment to be completed after calling 211.

Housing and Homeless Services

Please remember you can see our COVID-19 data that is updated in real time at https://www.lebanonct.org/ There is a "button" on the main page that links directly to our dashboard.

The Lebanon Public Schools, in partnership with families and the community, will prepare students to be contributing members of a diverse global society. We will provide a safe, nurturing, rigorous, and student-centered learning environment.

The school community of Lebanon is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Lebanon Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment and the District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, alienage, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other category protected under state or federal law in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its program or activities. The District also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups and is specifically required by Title IX not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs and activities. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for individuals with identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

The following person has been designated to handle inquires regarding Title IX sex discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, Title IX Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding other non-discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, 504/ADA Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

Email: andrew.gonzalez@lebanonct.org
Website: https://www.lebanonct.org/
Location: 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT, USA
Phone: 860-642-5637