February 13, 2026

First graders earned a day to play in the snow. Miss Thornton's class is all bundled up to go outside.

Today was the 100th day of school! Students celebrated across GFS/JWL by completing 100th day activities with buddy classrooms and showing different collections of 100.

GFS and JWL students joined each other for PBIS buddy classrooms today. Students engaged in a variety of activities focused around the 100th day and being kind.

Just a few of the fun hairstyles students had on our crazy hair and hat spirit day.

Our next Reading Challenge has been sent home with students. Read each day over the Presidents' Day break for a chance for a prize!

A regular reading practice makes all the difference...Here and now and in the future. The vision for our school is that "Each and every individual will make at least one year's growth in Reading and Math." This isn't just so students are successful in elementary school, middle school, or high school. In a society where literacy is critical to life success, five minutes reading or five minutes extra reading regularly is a springboard to success. It doesn't have to be just fiction books. Read magazines. Read recipes. Read graphic novels.

February 16th-17th: President's Day Recess

February 20th: Black History Month Posters Due

February 23rd: PTO Meeting at 5:00

February 27th: PTO Family Movie Night at 5:30-7:30

Save the Date: March 5th is Literacy Night - See the Flyer Below!

If there is a snow day, the day we come back to school will follow the original letter day. The letter day that was missed will be made up at the end of the year.

Please find the following links with helpful Math program information, Bridges, for your students' grade level. Each link will give an overview of the topics covered for the year with a more in depth strategy page based on the unit your students class is currently working towards mastering.

The 2026 Black History Month theme is: From History to Responsibility: The Legacy We Carry, the Future We Create

Contest: Black History Month helps students learn about important people and events from the past. These stories form a legacy that teaches kindness, fairness, and respect. Students are invited to create a poster based on one of the two prompts below:

1. The Legacy We Carry: Create a poster showing a person, event, or story from Black history that you think is important to remember.

   or

2. The Future We Create: Create a poster that shows something we can learn from Black history that helps people do the right thing today.

Contest Details:

• Duration: Now through February 20, 2026

• Eligibility: Elementary students (Grades K–5). Open to all students residing in Ledyard, including those who are home-schooled or attending private or technical/magnet schools.

• Submission Guidelines:

  • Only one poster submission per student. No Group Projects

  • Student’s name, school, and grade must be written on the back of the poster

  • Posters should be held in the main office for pickup by Town Council Chairman Gary St. Vil on February 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM

• Prizes: Submissions from Gallup Hill and Gales Ferry Schools will be combined, with first, second, and third place winners selected.

  • Grades K–2: Store gift cards — 1st ($50), 2nd ($25), 3rd ($10)

  • Grades 3–5: 1st – Store gift cards — 1st ($50), 2nd ($25), 3rd ($10)

Winners will be notified by February 27 and formally recognized by the Town Council at an upcoming Town Council meeting.

Cajun Cook-off returns for 2026

Calling All Cajun Chefs! LEAF’s Cajun Cook-Off Returns on 2/15/26

Not a chef? We need taste testers/judges too!

Dear Ledyard Community,

Last year’s Cajun Cook-Off was such a hit that we simply had to bring it back—and we’re turning up the heat for 2026!

LEAF is excited to announce that our 2nd Annual Cajun Cook-Off will take place on

Sunday, February 15, 2026, from 3–5 PM

Location: Gales Ferry Fire Company

1772 Route 12, Gales Ferry, CT

We are now accepting entries for both competition categories:

• Main Dish (12 spots available)
• Dessert (6 spots available)

Whether you’re a seasoned home chef or someone who just loves to cook for fun, we’d love to have you join the lineup. This event is all about flavor, creativity, and community—and of course, a little friendly competition.

Awards will be given for:

Best Overall

Most Unique Dish

Best Dessert

Tasting & Entry Details:

• $10 entry gives attendees a taste of every dish
• $5 add-on for a full-sized portion of your favorite
• All proceeds support LEAF’s Spring Cycle grant recipients, helping us fund innovative projects across Ledyard Public Schools
• Dish contributors receive a VIP bracelet, which includes event entry and one full-sized portion as our thank-you for participating

If you’d like to compete, please sign up using the link below. Spots are limited and will go quickly!

We can’t wait to see what our talented community cooks up this year. Thank you for supporting LEAF and for helping us make this event a delicious tradition.

Warmly,

Adrienne Parad

President, Ledyard Education Advancement Foundation (LEAF)

Facebook Event Page/RSVP

Click the links to view the menus for January.