– Henry Ford

It is hard to believe that spring is upon us. The school year is moving quickly again. We know that everyone has such a busy schedule which is why we appreciate even more the time that you took to join us for Parent/Teacher conferences. Thank you for partnering with us as we strive to offer the highest quality education for all our learners in Lebanon. While your presence at these meetings may seem routine, the connections we foster between home and school within our community are truly something special. Not all districts have the type of active participation from families like we do here in Lebanon. We are grateful and appreciate your support.

The Board of Finance reviewed and made decisions on individual departments and the overall town budget at its special meetings on March 26th and 28th. The next opportunity for discussion will be the Public Hearing on April 15th.

The LPS 2030 Strategic Plan Committee met in early March to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2019-2024 plan, review stakeholder survey data and begin to develop vision statements to support our core values. At our next meeting in early April we will fine tune those statements and do a cross walk of survey data to ensure we have represented the voice of our community in creating these statements. Then the committee will begin setting goals for the plan.

Legislative Mandate: Public Act 23-167 Section 10 (Effective July 1, 2023)

(a) Not later than March 15, 2024, each local and regional board of education shall submit the increasing educator diversity plan described in subsection (a) of section 10-220 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, to the Commissioner of Education for review and approval.

(b) The Commissioner of Education shall review each increasing educator diversity plan submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

For the school year commencing July 1, 2024, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall implement the increasing educator diversity plan approved by the commissioner.

This plan was submitted to CSDE in a timely manner and we are awaiting feedback.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of everyone in our community has been our top priority and has guided our decision making. We have collaborated and consulted with the Uncas Health District and the Connecticut Department of Public Health to develop our Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service Plans. We have made adjustments to district protocols following guidance from the Center for Disease Control and recommendations from the aforementioned agencies. I have been thoroughly impressed by our district’s ability to mitigate the spread and manage the impact of COVID-19 in our schools.

Thank you for once again demonstrating agility and pivoting to follow the newest guidance. Here is some important information about the change.

Why has CDC changed the “isolation” period for COVID-19?

Prior Guidance: The previous COVID-19 guidance recommended a minimum isolation period of 5 days plus a period of post-isolation precautions and was created during the public health emergency with lower population immunity, fewer tools to combat respiratory viruses, and higher rates of severe illness, including hospitalizations and deaths.

Updated Guidance: The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Note that depending on the length of symptoms, this period could be shorter, the same, or longer than the previous guidance for COVID-19.

It is important to note that the guidance doesn’t end with staying home and away from others when sick. The guidance encourages added precaution over the next five days after time at home, away from others, is over. Since some people remain contagious beyond the “stay-at-home” period, a period of added precaution using prevention strategies, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses can lower the chance of spreading respiratory viruses to others.

In summary, the Lebanon Public Schools will now follow the latest CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance- stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever.

*This decision has also been endorsed by our district medical advisor.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact:

Kelsey Konow- LES Nurse- 860-642-5765

Jennifer Rahl- LMS Nurse- 860-642-5630

Madison Doucette- LMHS Nurse- 860-642-7673
Andrew Gonzalez- LPS Superintendent- 860-642-7795

We had 465 students across the district who had perfect attendance in March!

Two years ago, Lebanon Public schools adopted the I-Ready Classroom Mathematics curriculum program for Grades K-8. The purpose was to improve vertical alignment across grades, align diagnostic assessment with instruction and increase classroom engagement, discourse and rigor. We are excited to share that 2024 I-Ready Classroom Mathematics was recently recognized for getting ALL green on EdReports. This indicates that the program has met rigorous standards for quality and alignment to standards. The following are key factors in this recognition:

• Alignment with Standards: EdReports evaluates educational materials to ensure alignment with state and national standards. I-Ready Mathematics has been found to align well with these standards, which is crucial for ensuring that students are learning what they need to succeed academically.

• Quality of Instruction: EdReports also assesses the quality of instructional materials. I-Ready Mathematics has been recognized for providing high-quality content and resources that support effective classroom teaching and learning.

• Student Success: There is a strong connection between high-quality instructional materials and improved student success. When students have access to well-aligned and engaging resources like those in I-Ready Mathematics, they are more likely to make meaningful progress and achieve academic goals.

• Transparency and Accountability: EdReports offers transparency and accountability by providing detailed reviews and ratings based on evidence and criteria. All-green ratings for I-Ready Mathematics reflect a thorough and rigorous evaluation process. Here is the link to access details on the report - EdReports Rating for I-Ready Classroom Mathematics

Wednesday, April 3 is Paraeducator Appreciation Day! In Lebanon, we are fortunate to have dedicated, caring paraeducators who support all students and staff. While we appreciate them everyday, April 3 gives us a chance to celebrate and say, “Thank you for everything that you do to support our exceptional learners!”

If a student does not receive the services that are outlined in his/her Individualized Education Plan (IEP), the student is entitled to compensatory services. This is when the hours are made up in addition to continuing to receive the mandated hours. This became a topic of discussion last year when districts were scrambling to fill positions. Our district faced this dilemma when one of our Speech and Language Pathologists was on leave. It was a challenging position to fill so we went weeks without a service provider. The district kept track of missed hours and has been working to fulfill our obligations. We may run into a few missed hours again with another Speech and Language Pathologist out. We have secured a wonderful SLP, but the baby was early. Our speech department is all hands on deck making sure students receive their scheduled services.

March is Board of Education Appreciation month. We gifted our Board with a keychain and a small message thanking them for being a "key to the success" of our schools. This small token of our appreciation does not come close to fully conveying our feelings about their contributions. We have a deep gratitude for their unwavering dedication and tireless volunteer efforts in supporting education. Through their leadership, collaboration, and countless hours of hard work, they have helped shape the educational landscape of our community. Thank you, Sarah, Alexis, Danelle, Dawn, Nicole, Brian, Rachael, Andrew and Sherry for your invaluable service and profound impact on the future of our students.

Earlier in March we also celebrated our district Maintainer, Chris Daniels.

Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day is a special day dedicated to honoring the hard work and dedication of maintenance workers who play a crucial role in keeping our educational facilities safe, clean, and functional. Many times their work hard is done behind the scenes but they are essential to maintaining an environment conducive for learning.

Chris joined us only a few months ago when John Jarvis moved into the Facilities Director role. Chris has done a great job acclimating to his new role. He has brought a positive attitude and smile to work each day and has demonstrated an eagerness to learn and a willingness to take on challenging tasks. Thanks for all you do Chris!

Congrats to James Hiltz, Hannah Gonzalez, Becca Ziegler, and Jenny Lopez for completing the Seal of Biliteracy Assessment which is a testament to a student’s dedication to building literacy skills in both English and another language, and how that skill relates to post-secondary education and the workforce. A big thank you to Sandra Rios, Spanish teacher, who instructs them.

Some of our ASTE students participated in a Chapter Public speaking event earlier this month. The top two students for each category will be moved onto the district contest that was held at Nathan Hale Ray on March 20th. Congratulations to Kaytlyn Howard and Katelyn Macht for Prepared Public Speaking, Christopher Sarnik for Extemporaneous Public Speaking and Abigail Sears for Creed. Also, a shout out to Erin Grossman who placed 3rd, Brianna Doyle who placed 4th and Alyssa Szemreylo who placed 5th.

Lebanon Elementary School celebrated Read Across America Day on Monday, March 4th. Read Across America was launched in 1998 By the National Education Association as a way to encourage a love of reading. LES had some special visitors read to different classes to help celebrate this fun day. State Representatives Tim Ackert and Mark DeCaprio read to the first grade classes. LMS Principal, Chad Johnson, read to the fourth grade classes. Superintendent Gonzalez read to the second grade classes. Hero the Husky made special visits to PreK, Kindergarten, and 3rd grade, handing out special Read Across America bookmarks or pencils.

What a spectacular performance! Congratulations to all the staff and students who contributed to this show. I was in awe watching our students. Our drama productions are such a great community events. We had 4 sold out shows! This is a true testament to the hard work, dedication and collaboration of our students.

LMS cookie monsters stayed after school to bake cookies. Students baked dozens of cookies to share with their teachers and IAs and to donate to the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic. Students even managed to make enough cookies to take some home to share with their families! Seventh and eighth grade volunteers gave extra time to help with cleanup. Thanks go to Mrs. Picard for working alongside these students and for providing this write up.

Last spring we surveyed our community to find out if there was a need for our schools to provide a school day preschool option. Subsequently, the state legislature passed the new Kindergarten entry age requirement. As a result of both we began plans to create a school day PK classroom. We have worked with an Eastconn consultant and made nice progress towards beginning this new and exciting endeavor. Much of what has been done thus far has been behind the scenes work to conduct an inventory, develop enrollment paperwork, establish a scoring rubric for entrance criteria and create communications to be shared with families. We are at a point now that information is going home/out to the community and we will begin accepting applications. The staffing for this position will be done through an internal transfer as we will be reducing a Kindergarten section due to low enrollment.

Lebanon Public Schools actively seeks to assist children and families by locating, identifying, and referring children from birth to age 22 who require special education and related services. If you are concerned about a child's development, you are encouraged to contact Lebanon Elementary School to receive information about Early Childhood Screenings.

If the child is younger than 3 years of age, you may choose instead to contact the Connecticut Birth to Three System at 1-800-505-7000.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact 860-642-5636.

House Bill 6880 raised the Kindergarten starting age from age 5 by January 1, to age 5 by September 1 of a given year.

General Statute 10-15c(a) reads "A student may be admitted early upon a written request by the parent or guardian of such child to the Principal of the school in which such child would be enrolled and following an assessment of such child by such Principal and an appropriate staff member of the school to ensure that admitting such child is developmentally appropriate"

We understand that we have families and students that this will impact. We have already met several times as an administrative team to discuss supporting our community with this change. More information about plans that are in progress will be shared at future preschool screenings, kindergarten orientations, during the registration process and in ongoing Superintendent Updates.

Families, please feel free to send photos of our students in action so that I can celebrate them in the Superintendent Updates. Thanks for helping share our Lebanon Pride! andrew.gonzalez@lebanonct.org

The 3/4 grade girls basketball team had an impressive rec season! They went undefeated for the regular season and came up short in their championship game. Congratulations to Coach Stephen Stonoha and his team Savanna, Neave, Norah, Gabriela, Natalie, Aubri, Haelyn, Sylvia, and Emme.

Sabena Escott, MSW sabena.escott@lebanonct.org

Lyman Memorial High School Social Worker and District Family Care Coordinator

With legislation over the summer, a family care coordinator has been added to the growing number of mental health staff that CT recognizes will further support our children and families in the school setting. The family care coordinator role already encompasses what our Lebanon school district mental health teams provide for students and families. Providing students with access to mental health resources within the community and bringing mental health services to students inside of the school has always been a priority in our district. Please reach out if there are any specific mental health topics, community programs, therapeutic referrals or town programs and resources that you would like to know more about. Below are a few programs and resources for students and families.

The Lebanon School District is excited to announce a new resource for any family that sends a child to a school in the Lebanon district, as well as the agencies/businesses/staff in those towns. Through our middle and high school School Based Diversion Initiative grant, we are excited to offer for free, the Peace at Home Parenting program through June 30, 2024. In partnership with Colchester, this community parenting, education and support program, utilizes an online subscription which provides a series of monthly workshops for parents/guardians, including, parenting children and teens, parent self-care, understanding developmental milestones, sibling communication, balancing children’s academics and after school activities, and many more. Classes are designed to cover age ranges from birth to young adults, so there is something for everyone!

All of these classes are FREE! Once registered, you can join any monthly live interactive class and attend recorded 10 Minute Videos through your smart phone, tablet or computer. During live online interactive classes you will be able to ask questions, get practical, evidence-based solutions and receive handouts with important learning points. There is even access to over 150 on-demand videos, monthly Q&A and private Facebook group resources.

Working together, our hope is that students continue to thrive at home and come to school more resilient and ready to learn!

Lebanon Social Services Office offers a variety of services to Lebanon children, adults, and seniors. Social Services Administrator Shelly Ashcom works with federal, state, and local organizations to provide assistance to Lebanon residents in need. Town of Lebanon Social Services

*The use of the resources/programs in this section are not required by LPS to be used by parents/guardians. They are recommendations only.*

Call or text a trained crisis counselor to talk:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. They’re free and available 24/7:
  Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

• Trevor Project (crisis intervention & suicide prevention for the LGBTQ community): 1-866-488-7386 or Text 678678

• Crisis Text Line: text CTL to 741741

NIMH offers brochures and fact sheets on mental health disorders and related topics for children, adolescents and their families. Printed materials can be ordered free of charge. Brochures and fact sheets in English and Spanish.

Housing and Homeless Services can be accessed through Coordinated Access Networks (CAN). Persons are prioritized for housing services based on an assessment to be completed after calling 211.

Housing and Homeless Services

Lebanon Public Schools is now in the App Store. On your phones, in the "app store" you can search Lebanon Public Schools and you should see our logo. Please install as another way to get notifications and news from our school district.

Scan these QR Codes and be brought to our Lebanon Public Schools webpage or the Superintendent Instagram page!

The Lebanon Public Schools, in partnership with families and the community, will prepare students to be contributing members of a diverse global society. We will provide a safe, nurturing, rigorous, and student-centered learning environment.

The school community of Lebanon is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Lebanon Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment and the District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, alienage, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other category protected under state or federal law in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its program or activities. The District also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups and is specifically required by Title IX not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs and activities. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for individuals with identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

The following person has been designated to handle inquires regarding Title IX sex discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, Title IX Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding other non-discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, 504/ADA Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

Email: andrew.gonzalez@lebanonct.org
Website: https://www.lebanonct.org/
Location: 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT, USA
Phone: 860-642-5637