We are excited to introduce Curriculum Connections, a district-wide newsletter designed to keep our community informed about the learning experiences happening every day across Region 15. Grounded in our mission to educate every student to be productive, ethical, and engaged in a global society, this publication highlights how our curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices are supporting that goal.

This initiative allows us to celebrate our successes, share best practices, and keep our community informed about curriculum advancements across the district. We look forward to sharing the journey with you—and showcasing the excellence and engagement that define Region 15.

Across our district, math teachers have been stepping into each other’s classrooms — and it's making a big impact! Through a series of vertical visits, teachers from elementary, middle, and high school are working together to ensure students experience a smooth, connected math journey from one grade to the next. Vertical visits allow teachers to observe lessons, share strategies, and align curriculum and expectations across all levels. This year, with the rollout of the new Illustrative Mathematics curriculum in our elementary schools, math coaches, administrators, and instructional leaders visited all four elementary buildings and observed students showing more engagement, confidence, and collaboration in classrooms.

At the middle schools, teachers teamed up for learning walks, planning lessons together, and reflecting on instructional strategies to enhance math pedagogy and student learning for ways to make math instruction even stronger.

At the high school, the PHS math department recently welcomed 8th-grade teachers for a day of classroom visits to maintain strong vertical alignment in curriculum rigor and class expectations as students prepare for the transition to high school; in the coming weeks, PHS freshman teachers will complete the cycle by visiting the middle schools.

The focus on connection and collaboration doesn’t stop with math. This spring, K–8 literacy teachers also participated in vertical visits across the district. Teachers from each grade level came together to observe literacy instruction in action, reflect on best practices, and deepen their understanding of how reading and writing skills grow from kindergarten through middle school. These visits are helping teachers ensure that students’ literacy experiences are consistent, challenging, and supportive at every stage. By building these bridges between classrooms, our teachers are making sure that every student’s learning journey is stronger, smoother, and more inspiring than ever.

Together, these efforts are helping to ensure that every student experiences meaningful, connected learning throughout their academic journey.

Students from the PHS LeadHERship Club visited LMES this spring for Women’s History Month to share interactive read-aloud picture books and for discussions with elementary students. The focus of the LeadHERship Club is to honor and celebrate women's achievements and leadership, so the PHS students chose biographical books to share and converse with their younger peers about. This learning experience was reciprocal; it was an important opportunity for high school students to plan and prepare with a common purpose in support of their club’s mission, and for both the younger and older peers alike to engage analytically with notable women and think critically about the texts and women who they chose to focus on.

Many elementary students and educators have been trying out an instructional approach to grow deep listening and dialogue in their classrooms through the use of “hands down conversations.” Hands-down conversations are a discourse structure in which students are positioned as leaders amongst one another in a whole-class, small group, and/or partner conversation and educators are focused on listening and facilitating. In this shared focus, educators’ and students’ goals are to cultivate talk communities that are very intentionally accessible to everyone, and analyze class conversations to responsively plan and implement next steps that further develop the talk community.

Students in international cuisines launched their semester by actively participating in conversations and exercises to set class working agreements that are founded on cultural competency, sensitivity, and mutual respect for one another and for global cuisines. They collaborated to name the values and ways of interacting with one another that they think are most important in International Cuisines in order for everyone to demonstrate. After setting this foundation at the start of the semester, students and Mrs. Keane have been metaphorically traveling the world, studying cultural elements, cooking, and culinary traditions across continents and countries. Some of the foods and dishes students have studied and cooked this semester so far include (from South America and North America): Pao de Queijo, churros, corn tortillas, jerk chicken, rice and beans, cornbread, beignets, biscuits, Philly cheesesteak, and so many more to come!

Students enrolled in International Cuisines with Mrs. Keane and Italian 3 with Mr. Belvedere participated in a cross-disciplinary learning experience where they dug into the history of pasta, and made pasta including content-specific vocabulary in Italian related to making pasta and application of culinary arts skills. In this co-taught lesson, Mrs. Keane facilitated culinary concepts while Mr. Belvedere instructed on the same content completely in Italian! Students made and enjoyed fettuccine and farfalle pasta.

This spring, multilingual learners (MLL) at Pomperaug High School took center stage for a special event celebrating the voices and stories of multilingual learners. Students presented podcasts they created in their English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class to showcase their language growth, creativity, and personal experiences. Students researched, wrote, and recorded podcast episodes on topics ranging from personal passions to cultural traditions. Their work premiered at a recent Listening Session, where families and staff will celebrate their creativity and storytelling.

As part of their genetics unit, students in Ms. Wojcicki’s 8th grade science class at Memorial Middle School worked together to create and interpret pedigrees. The lesson represented one part of their journey to understand why living things are different from one another and, specifically, why there is a large range of musculature in different animals. Fostering students’ curiosity about their world and developing students' skills in the areas of collaboration, communication and critical thinking are goals embedded in the middle school science program.

This spring, the students in the Marine Biology class at PHS will be traveling to the Norwalk Maritime Center to conduct hands-on sampling of marine organisms in Long Island Sound. This field trip is an exciting opportunity for students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom about marine ecosystems and biodiversity. By observing and studying the organisms in their natural habitat, students gain a deeper understanding of the delicate balance of marine life and the importance of preserving ecosystems like Long Island Sound. This real-world experience enhances their scientific knowledge and helps them connect theory to practice, sparking curiosity about the environment and inspiring future careers in science and conservation.

The HEAT Model is an instructional framework used to enhance student learning and engagement, often applied in the context of technology integration in the classroom. It stands for:

1. H - Higher-Order Thinking: Encouraging students to engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and analysis, rather than just recall or simple tasks.

2. E - Engagement: Ensuring students are actively involved in their learning process, with opportunities to explore, create, and collaborate.

3. A - Authenticity: Making learning relevant to real-world experiences, allowing students to see the practical applications of their skills and knowledge.

4. T - Technology: Using technology as a tool to support learning, making the learning experience more interactive, dynamic, and tailored to students' needs.

In early April, Region 15’s Physical Education (PE) department made a strong impact at the SHAPE America 2025 National Convention & Expo in Baltimore, MD. This prestigious event brings together health and physical education professionals for a week of learning, networking, and collaboration.

Pictured L-R: Brad Hunter, SHAPE America 2025 Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year, with RMS Physical Education Teacher Jeff Craig

At the convention, RMS PE teacher, Jeff Craig, earned certification as a Trainer of Trainers for SHAPE America, enabling him to teach best practices in adapted physical education across the Northeast. His workshop focused on effective strategies for adapted PE, using the latest equipment and technology to ensure that all students have access to quality physical education.

PHS Physical Education teacher and coach, Anthony Pereira, also took the stage, presenting on how health and PE teachers can inspire students to make a positive impact both in and outside the classroom. His session emphasized the importance of building character, leadership, and lasting community impact.

PHS Physical Education Teacher Anthony Pereira, Craig DeAngelis Ed.D., C.S.C.S Ed.D., a faculty member at Manhattanville College, Kimberly Longbucco, Ed.D, Principal at Newtown High School in Newtown, CT, and Daniel Farina, Football Coach at Newtown High School, presented a session titled Achieving Excellence as a Health and Physical Education Teacher and Coach at the SHAPE America 2025 National Convention & Expo.

Recently students from PHS participated in the annual Construction Career Day, hosted by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Connecticut (ABC CT) in Wallingford, CT. This hands-on event introduced students to a wide range of careers in the skilled trades, including carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, and heavy equipment operation.

Throughout the day, students engaged directly with industry professionals and participated in interactive experiences- operating machinery, using professional tools, and exploring what a day on the job looks like in various trades.

The annual Region 15 District-Wide Art Show is more than just a showcase—it's a celebration of our students' creativity, growth, and learning. Held at Pomperaug High School’s Gymnasium and All-Purpose Room at the end of April it is an opportunity for the district to invite families and the community to experience the incredible talents of our student artists.

As you walk through the exhibit, you can see the progression of skills, creativity, and artistic expression as students move through different grade levels and courses. This event highlights the strength of our art curriculum and the dedication of our educators, who inspire students to develop their artistic voices year after year. With thousands of selected works on display, the Art Show is a powerful reminder of how art enriches student learning, encourages critical thinking, and nurtures a lifelong appreciation for creativity.