Board Chair Jennifer Dzen shared her Commencement Address
"One kind deed is more beautiful than one-thousand intentions...Ellington is rooting for you always", said Board Chair Jennifer Dzen. Ms. Dzen elaborated on five principles to guide the Class of 2023 in their future endeavors:
- Fine-tune your moral compass
- Own your actions
- Make meaningful mistakes and mistakes that are meaningful
- Respect the most and the least powerful person in the room
- Give back - your time, talent, knowledge, and gifts
You can watch the full Commencement address HERE.
New Assistant Principal at Windermere!
I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Ellington Public Schools and the community at Windermere School! I am excited to build upon the amazing work that is being done within the district to educate and prepare the whole child to become successful and reflective adults. As a leader, I operate from a strengths based mindset and I believe that every child can and will be successful when their educational spark is lit. I can't wait to join this amazing district and become part of the team that makes school a gateway to success for every child.
New Crystal Lake Principal!
I am thrilled to be joining Crystal Lake Elementary School and Ellington Public Schools. From the moment I learned about the school district's deep commitment to community-mindedness, I knew this was the perfect fit for me. The enthusiasm and passion for education that emanates from the Ellington learning community is inspiring, and I am honored to be a part of it. I firmly believe that education is a collaborative endeavor, and I am excited to work hand-in-hand with dedicated teachers, parents, and staff to create an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. Together, we will foster a sense of belonging and ignite a love for learning that will have a lasting impact on our students through to middle and high school as well as the wider community. I am genuinely excited to embark on this remarkable journey with all of you, and I cannot wait to see the incredible things we will achieve together at Crystal Lake Elementary School.
30 Years of Service - Board Member Gary Blanchette
At the June meeting, Gary Blanchette was honored for 30 years of service to the Ellington Public Schools and the Town of Ellington. In honor of his time and dedication, the Ellington Public Schools sign has been officially dedicated to Mr. Gary Blanchette. Many thanks!
Ellington High School "Good Knight" Leadership Award
Awards presented by Principal John Guidry. Congratulations to Natalie and William for being recognized as exemplary members of the EPS Community! You can watch the presentation here.
Ellington Middle School Leadership Award Recipient
Awards presented by Co-Principal Michele Murray. Congratulations to Grace and Hank! Thank you for representing the EMS Community so well and for all your hard work! Watch the presentation here.
Nicole Bolduc, Science Teacher
At the May meeting, Mr. Barton shared that Nicole was nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. In Ms. Bolduc's presentation, you could feel her passion and excitement for teaching! You can watch it here.
Middle School Chorus at May BOE
The Board welcomed Mary Walsh and the Middle School Chorus at the May meeting for an in-person performance of the National Anthem! They were awesome! Watch HERE.
What does it mean to be a KNIGHT?
EHS Climate and Culture Student Leaders shared with the Board and Community, "What it means to be a Knight". Through professional development for staff and many student advisory meetings, a journey to "Knighthood" has been defined!
⭐SUIT UP, STAND UP⭐
"When we SUIT UP, we are preparing ourselves with the necessary strategies for the challenges to come.
When we STAND UP, we are using our acquired strategies to face those challenges."
⭐SUIT UP, STAND UP⭐
"When we SUIT UP, we are preparing ourselves with the necessary strategies for the challenges to come.
When we STAND UP, we are using our acquired strategies to face those challenges."
Revolutionary War Day 2023
The elementary school made their way to Windermere for the annual Revolutionary War Day! Always an amazing day for our students to "go back in time" while learning about the history of the Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary War Day 2023
We appreciate all those who volunteered to make this day an amazing one! Board Member Steve Viens had a great time visiting and shared that the event was a success during his liaison report at the regular Board meeting!
April Recognition - FBLA Students
Teachers Kim LaDuke and Tim Bifolck and FBLA representatives shared their experience at the state conference. 11 of 15 students who attended placed in their respective categories. Student liaison Rik, also place and spoke at the April meeting. Congratulations to the Future Business Leaders of America Club members!
Paint Night for Neurodiversity Awareness!
EHS students held a Paint Night in April. What a fun event! An awesome Education in Ellington video was created to share all about Neurodiversity. I spy Board Member Kerry Socha creating a masterpiece in this pic!
Board Member Appreciation Month!
March was Board Member Appreciation Month! We are so grateful for the handwritten notes shared with us from Ellington students!
Thank you Students!
March was Board Member Appreciation Month! Thank you to all the students involved to make this meeting special!
Spring Sports Wrap-Up
Congratulations to all the student-athletes whether on Freshman, JV, or Varsity teams, on their Spring seasons and to the teams with a successful conference and state tournament run!
Congrats to our graduating senior athletes on a memorable senior year! Board Members Jenn Mullin, Angie Moser and Kerry Socha were spotted on the sidelines cheering on our student athletes!
2023 Sportsmanship Award!
Mr. Anderson Rawlins, Director of Athletics and Wellness, shared at the June meeting that the Boy's Basketball team received the IAABO recognition for their sportsmanship on and off of the court. This is a special recognition awarded by the CT Officials Association that is an honor to receive. Congratulations Knights!
Wellness Committee Updates
An amazing all-staff raffle was sponsored by the Wellness Committee as well as Wellness Demos in all of our building for staff. Board Member Angie Moser was spotted checking out the great recipes at Windermere School and Marcia Kupferschmid attended the BASES presentation! Check them out below! Board Member Miriam Underwood shared all about it in her May liaison report at the May BOE meeting!
Center School Awarded!
Board Member Marcia Kupferschmid presented Center School with their BCME Award at the Chorus Concert on May 9th!
Ellington Middle School Awarded!
Board Members Kerry Socha and Angie Moser presented EMS with their BCME Award at the Vocal Concerts on May 11th!
Ellington Awarded Grants for HVAC Projects!
EPS welcomed Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Senator John Kissel, Representative Jaime Foster, and First Selectman Lori Spielman for their time at today's Press Conference at Center School! It was a beautiful day to share with the community about the $3.7 million awarded to EPS for HVAC system upgrades at three of our schools!
Board Treasurer Liz Nord!
At the April Board Meeting, Chair Dzen acknowledged the Board Treasurer, Liz Nord for her work dedicated to the budget season this year. Liz was "relentless in her pursuit and commitment to finding savings while maintaining teaching and learning". You can watch the special recognition here.
Chair Jennifer Mullin
Thank you for your support and engagement with our newsletters! With over 14k views, we love to see and hear that you are loving the updates! Please let us know of events you would like featured!
Contact: jmullin@ellingtonschools.net
Marcia Kupferschmid
Thank you to all who read our updates, we are so happy to share all the amazing things happening in the district that the Board is a part of both in public and behind the scenes!
Contact: mkupferschmid@ellingtonschools.net
Angela Moser
Thank you to all of our readers for making this newsletter a success! We are glad you are enjoying the content, please visit the channel and our website often to stay up to date!
Contact: amoser@ellingtonschools.net