Looking forward, our schools are excited to host upcoming open houses, where parents will be invited to learn more about the curriculum, what their children will be exploring, and the expectations for a successful school year. These events aim to strengthen the partnership between families and schools, ensuring that students are supported both in and out of the classroom.

With a strong start and a community that continues to come together, we are confident that we will have a wonderful school year ahead!

Region 12 has a new K-5 literacy resource! ARC Core is an award-winning, high-quality program that supports student reading development with engaging texts, authentic research, and foundational skills instruction. The program was built on the Science of Reading.

The program immerses students in a large literacy-rich ecosystem and provides educators with an intervention structure that has been proven to support the long-term reading success of students. K-5 teachers and students are diving into ARC books and lessons. Soon they will begin using the ARC Independent Reading Level Assessment to find out more about students strengths and areas for growth. For more information, check out this video.

Ninth grade students “dated” one another’s summer reading books last week. After reflecting on their chosen summer reading books, students pitched one of these books to fellow peers—speed dating style. Students were randomly paired and had 2.5 minutes to convince the other to read their book, and questions were encouraged to keep the literary conversation going.

This was the loudest the Shepaug Library has ever been! Students came alive sharing their analyses, connections, insights, and questions about their reading. Everyone was fully invested in selling their books, and taking recommendations from their peers. Students continued the literary fun by creating digital bulletin boards to showcase their reading journeys and make book recommendations to others. These will become an integral part of our literacy community here at Shepaug. This experience started the 2024-2025 year off with some serious book joy, and we can’t wait to continue the fun!

The after-school Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) club at Shepaug gives students the opportunity to create their own stories and characters. Whether exploring new worlds or facing challenges, club members work together to develop strategies, solve problems, and navigate tricky situations. D&D is more than just a game—it's a way for students to improve their critical thinking, collaborate with others, and enjoy shared adventures.

With the start of the school year, now is a great time to join! Shepaug’s clubs are in full swing, and the D&D club offers a fun and creative outlet for all students. Whether you're new to role-playing games or a long-time fan, everyone is welcome. For more information, follow this link and get involved!

Sixth-grade students are working on an exciting project to create a "Trails Passport" for Steep Rock Preserve in Washington. As part of this initiative, the students are researching the preserve’s history and adding creative elements like drawings, games, and puzzles to make the passport both educational and engaging for visitors.

In addition, some of the photos taken by the students will be transformed into brass plaques that will be installed at various locations throughout Steep Rock. These plaques will allow visitors to make rubbings, creating a unique keepsake from their hike. This project is a great way for students to connect with their local environment while contributing something meaningful to the community.

In Mrs. Hurley’s Health II class, students are learning about the effects of stress on the body. They explored how stress can show up both emotionally—like feeling overwhelmed—and physically, with symptoms such as headaches or tension. The students mapped out where in the body these feelings occur, helping them understand the connection between stress and their well-being.

As part of the lesson, they also looked at common stressors, from school and friendships to family life and activities. To wrap up, the class discussed the fight-or-flight response and how stress can lead to physical symptoms that might last for minutes, hours, or even days. This activity helped students recognize the importance of managing stress for both their mental and physical health.

Sixth-grade students are embarking on an exciting journey into engineering. They’re learning how to ask their own questions about engineering topics and find answers through research using credible sources. This approach helps them develop a deeper understanding of engineering principles by allowing them to investigate topics that interest them. Working together in teams, the students use a shared document to explore their questions and gather information.

This hands-on approach is helping students build critical thinking and research skills while promoting collaboration. It’s a fantastic way for them to engage with engineering concepts and learn how to tackle complex problems in a supportive team environment.

Order your High School Yearbook today!

Orders close May 31st

Early birds get FOUR FREE ICONS with any name personalization order until 10/25!

Graduation and business ads that appear in the back of the yearbook can be ordered until February 13th. All ads must be placed through the online system. No exceptions.

Place your ad here.

High School Photo Share: Share your 2024-25 photos here:

https://photos.jostens.com/NHDU6W

September 21 - Board of Education Retreat, The Heritage Hotel, 8:30am

September 23 - BOE Policy Committee Meeting, SVS, 6pm

September 23 - Board of Education Meeting, SVS, 7pm

September 26 - Early Dismissal for Students - Half Day Professional Development

September 26 - Open House, SVS, 7pm

October 2 - Booth Free School PTO Meeting, BFS, 3:30pm

October 7 - BOE Finance & Operations Committee Meeting, SVS, 5:30pm

October 7 - Shepaug PTO Meeting, SVS, 6pm

October 7 - Board of Education Meeting, SVS, 7pm

October 8 - Washington Primary School PTO Meeting, WPS, 6:30 - 7:30pm

October 14 - Columbus Day - No School

The Region 12 community educates, challenges, and inspires all learners to become compassionate, creative, and courageous individuals who are empowered by the knowledge, character, and perseverance to achieve their greatest potential within the global society.

Email: rir@region-12.org
Website: www.region-12.org
Location: 11A School Street, PO Box 386 Washington Depot, CT 06794
Phone: 860-868-6100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Region12Schools

Instagram: www.instagram.com/region12schools