Julian Curtiss Elementary School

This afternoon, JC's third grade scholars gathered for a special Writing Celebration where both classes came together to share the informational writing pieces they had been working on throughout the unit. Each scholar had selected a topic of personal interest, resulting in an impressive variety of subjects that showcased their research skills and creativity. As they took turns presenting their published pieces, their classmates listened attentively and offered thoughtful, specific compliments about strong word choices, interesting facts, and clear organization. The pride on our scholars' faces as they held their published work and received positive feedback from their peers was truly heartwarming, reminding us of the power of celebrating student achievement in meaningful ways. We are incredibly proud of all our third grade authors for their dedication and willingness to share their writing with others! Thank you to Mr. Hohl and Ms. Fabion, 3rd grade teachers, for guiding our scholars through this meaningful writing experience!

Soar like Eagles,

Eduardo Calderón and Claribel Michilena

On Thursday, our JC staff engaged in a productive Teachers College Professional Development Day focused on implementing new writing units for grades 3-5. Alicia Luick facilitated the learning sessions and provided model writing lessons tailored to each grade level, offering our teachers practical strategies and insights they can immediately apply in their classrooms. The collaborative approach of this professional learning was noteworthy, as general education teachers, special education teachers, ESL teachers, ALP teachers, and administrators all participated together, ensuring a cohesive and inclusive approach to writing instruction across all student populations. This investment in high-quality professional development reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthening instructional practices and supporting every scholar's growth as a writer.

We will be having our annual Halloween Parade on Friday, October 31st at 2:15pm. As you prepare, we ask that students choose fun, school-appropriate consumes. Please avoid costumes with blood, gore, monsters, weapons or any themes that may considered scary, evil or inappropriate. Refrain from masks that obscure the entire face as it inhibits the teacher's ability to supervise their students.

We want to ensure that everyone enjoys a festive and safe celebration.

Thank you for you partnership and attention to this request.

DIBELS Score Reports

For families with children in grades K-3, grade 4 & 5 intervention (MTSS) and grades 4-6 with reading goals on their IEP, DIBELS Beginning of Year Home-Connect report will be sent home in student folders Friday, 10/10/25. DIBELS is GPS’s universal reading screening assessment tool that measures early literacy skills aligned to the five pillars of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The Home-Connect report reviews the skills your child was assessed on in September and makes suggestions on things you can do at home to support their continued progress as a reader. If you have questions about your child’s scores, please reach out to your child’s teacher or building administrators. For more information about DIBELS, please read the parent guide in English or Spanish. You can watch a past PTAC informational video on “What You Need to Know About DIBELS Scores” from the fall of 2024 here.

Greenwich will be giving all Grade 2 students the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) in October, in advance of ALP Enrichment placement. Because these abilities are closely related to an individual’s success in school in virtually all subjects, data gathered from the CogAT is included as one aspect of the multiple measures that help the staff make decisions regarding students’ instructional needs.

The assessment will be given between October 13 and October 31. Scores will be made available to parents on or before November 7. More information regarding the CoGAT Assessment is available at https://riversideinsights.com/cognitive_abilities_test.”

We are thrilled to celebrate Mrs. Colleen Mastroianni as our Difference Maker for October! In just a few short weeks, she has shown an incredible gift for truly knowing her second-grade students—their unique personalities, strengths, and needs. Mrs. Mastroianni masterfully blends warmth and structure in her classroom, creating a space where children feel both cared for and guided with clear expectations. Her classroom hums with energy and purpose, as students engage confidently in their learning.

Congratulations to Mrs. Mastroianni!

This month, our school is celebrating United Nations Day by exploring how food connects people and cultures around the world. Our Book of the Month, Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley, reminds us that while families may come from different places, we often share more in common than we think.

In this heartwarming story, a young girl named Carrie goes on a neighborhood adventure to find her brother at dinnertime. As she visits homes from many cultures, she discovers that every family is cooking rice—each in their own unique way. From curried rice to rice and beans, every dish tells a story about home, heritage, and community.

Through Carrie’s journey, readers see that rice is more than just food- it’s a symbol of connection, tradition, and love.

To celebrate our shared reading, throughout the month of October, in partnership with our amazing JC PTA, we will:
🍚 Collect and share family rice recipes for our JC Rice Around the World Cookbook
🎙️ Record family stories and memories about rice for our Rice Stories Podcast
🎨 Explore rice-inspired artwork and musical rice sticks as part of our United Nations Day celebration

Together, we’ll discover how something as simple as rice can bring the whole world to one table.

Monday, October 20th - Friday, October 24th - UN Week

Thursday, October 23rd - UN Parade @ 12pm

Friday, October 24th - International Food Night - 5:30-7:30pm

Friday, October 31st - Halloween Parade @ 2:15pm