Julian Curtiss School is proudly accepting magnet applications for the upcoming school year. As Greenwich's "United Nations School," we offer a unique educational experience with foreign language instruction from kindergarten through fifth grade. We are particularly distinguished as the only elementary school in the district that offers French language instruction beginning in kindergarten. Our intimate school environment fosters a true family atmosphere, enabling us to develop deep, personal connections with each of our scholars. While we may be small in size, we are big in heart and commitment to excellence, "small school, big family". Our community celebrates the rich diversity of our student body while maintaining high academic expectations for every scholar. This combination of cultural appreciation, language immersion, and academic rigor creates an exceptional learning environment.
We encourage you to share this opportunity with families seeking a special school community where every child is valued, challenged, and supported in their academic journey. For those interested in joining our school family, we welcome you to learn more about our magnet program and experience firsthand what makes Julian Curtiss truly unique.
Thank you,
Eduardo Calderon and Claribel Michilena
Students who will turn 3 years old but will NOT turn 5 years old by September 1st of the following year are eligible to apply for entrance to the GPS Preschool Program.
The GPS Preschool follows state guidelines for kindergarten entrance the year that the student reaches their fifth birthday.
Students will be accepted based on maintaining balanced classes (age and gender).
First Priority - Siblings of youngsters who are presently enrolled in the preschool program (and will continue in the program as a 4 year old for the next school year) and siblings of Magnet K-4 students presently enrolled at Julian Curtiss School will have priority status for a vacancy in a preschool class. These students are not placed in the lottery system.
Second Priority - Remaining vacancies in the Julian Curtiss Preschool classes will initially be filled with youngsters who live within the school's attendance areas.
This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Jen Behette, a member of the Greenwich Board of Education, to Julian Curtiss School. During her visit, she immersed herself in our school community, observing classroom instruction and engaging with our scholars. Her visit offered a firsthand look at our vibrant learning environment and the strong sense of community that defines our school. A particularly touching moment came when our third-grade students enthusiastically shared why they believe JC is the best school and what makes it so special to them. While observing a fifth-grade gymnastics class, Jen was moved by the students' supportive behavior, noting how they cheered for one another - a simple yet powerful reflection of our school's nurturing culture. Her observation captured the essence of what makes Julian Curtiss unique: a community where students actively support and celebrate each other's successes.
This week, we were delighted to welcome Kim Paladino, our district ELA coordinator, to Julian Curtiss School. Kim led a valuable professional development session with our K-2 teachers, focusing on analyzing student writing through the lens of Connecticut Common Core standards and writing progressions. This collaborative work enabled our teachers to form targeted small groups based on specific student needs and learning objectives. The session exemplifies our school's ongoing commitment to strengthening instructional practices and enhancing student achievement in writing. Through this focused analysis and strategic grouping, our teachers are better equipped to provide differentiated instruction that meets each student at their level while moving them forward in their writing development.
It's time for our mid-year check-in. We will be administering the assessments below to collect data that will help teachers know how to plan targeted instruction for each of their scholars. This data is not used for grading, it is used as a resource to identify the specific needs of our scholars.
Mid-Year Assessments Windows
DIBELS window is open Jan 3 - 24th (K-3)
LAS Links window is open Jan 2 - March 7th (ESL students)
Link it Form B window opens for January administration (K-5) - Jan 21 - Feb 7
Do you have a love for teaching and learning? Want to be part of an amazing school community? JC is the place for you! We are seeking enthusiastic, flexible individuals to join our dynamic team - help shape young minds and make a meaningful impact, one day at a time!
If interested, please contact Mr. Calderon at (203) 869-1896 and click on this link https://www.applitrack.com/greenwich/onlineapp to apply.
Feel free to pass this message along.
