Dragon Passport
We’re looking for families who want to have a voice and play an active role in strengthening our school community!
We need Parent Senate Alternates for the 2026–2027 school year.
If you’re interested in representing families, sharing ideas, and helping support our school community, we’d love to have you join us as an alternate.
Looking ahead to 2027–2028…
We are also seeking 1 suburban parent/guardian and 1 Hartford parent/guardian to join our Parent Senate. Our current representatives are parents of seniors, so we want to begin preparing for a smooth transition and ensure continued family representation.
Parent Senate is a great opportunity to:
Share family perspectives and ideas
Help strengthen communication between families and the school
Support family engagement and school initiatives
Connect with other CREC Academy of International Studies families
Be an active voice in our Dragon community
If you are interested in serving as a 2026–2027 alternate or would like to be considered for a 2027–2028 Parent Senate position, please reach out to Ms. Gibson at sgibson@crec.org.
¡Hasta luego, friends from Spain!
Today we said “hasta luego” to our exchange students from Spain after three amazing weeks at CREC AIS!
Our visitors became part of the Dragon community by shadowing students in similar grade levels and with shared interests. They attended classes, participated in schoolwork, and experienced our IB learning environment while building friendships and learning about student life in America.
Their experience also included exploring beyond the classroom — enjoying a Yard Goats game, visiting Boston and New York, attending concerts, and spending time with their community families and staff.
We’re grateful to everyone who helped make their experience so special.
We’re thrilled to announce that our 2028 student trip is to Australia!
The trip is open to students who will be in grades 9–12, including current 8th graders.
Students will experience new cultures, gain global perspectives, and create unforgettable memories.
Informational Zoom Meetings
To learn more about the trip itinerary, safety protocols, pricing, and expectations, please join us for one of our upcoming Zoom informational sessions:
- Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00 PM or
- Friday, September 11 at 7:00 PM
Zoom Meeting Link Meeting ID: 967 6296 5451 Passcode: 859492
If you are unable to attend either session but would like more information, please contact me directly by email at mcapellanpolanco@crec.org
Registration & Payment Details
● Registration Opening: The registration portal will officially open following the parent informational meetings.
● Payment Plans: Flexible payment plan options are available to help fit your family's budget.
● Early Registration Lock-In: Register by September 24th to lock in the current trip price before any potential fee increases.
With the uncertainty of school closures, text messaging is the easiest and fastest way for the school to communicate with you. Receive text messages from the school for immediate access to what is going on!
- Important messages
- Upcoming Events
- Announcements
- School Cancellations and Delays
We encourage you to add "International Studies" to your phone contacts and email contact list. This will help ensure that our messages are recognized and don't end up in your spam or junk folder, so you never miss important communications from the school.
In September, our IB Learner Profile trait is Inquirer. Inquirers “nurture curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. They know how to learn independently and with others. They learn with enthusiasm and sustain their love of learning throughout life.”
Here are suggestions for how you can encourage your student to be an inquirer. Enjoy!
Ask your student about what they are doing in their classes that makes them think.
Ask your student what they are curious about (and why!), and share your wonders with them.
Talk through your “inquiry process” as you figure something out, so that your student can “see” inquiry skills in action in the real world.
Share what you love to learn about, and how you continue to learn, with your student.
Encourage your student to become more independent through things like emailing teachers themselves, completing their homework, and organizing their materials for school.
Attendance Matters: Every Day Counts!
A strong school year starts with showing up—and it continues with being present every day. Regular attendance helps students stay engaged, keep up with their learning, build meaningful relationships, and make the most of their experience at CREC Academy of International Studies.
Now that we are well into the school year, we encourage families to make daily attendance a priority. Every school day is an opportunity to learn, connect, participate, and grow.
Let’s work together to keep our Dragons engaged, connected, and on track for a successful school year. Every day matters. Every student matters.
Excused absences may include:
- Student illness or medical appointments (with appropriate documentation when required)
- Family emergencies
- Religious observances
- Other absences approved by the school in accordance with attendance policies
Unexcused absences may include:
- Vacations or trips taken during the school year
- Staying home for non-medical reasons
- Oversleeping
- Other absences that are not approved by the school
If you need support and resources during the summer, please contact Ms. Gibson at sgibson@crec.org
Main Office: 860-242-7834
Cindy Agosto - 📧cagosto@crec.org 📱ext. 2316
Blanca Perez - 📧bperez@crec.org 📱ext. 2344
Taniesha Mendez - 📧tmendez@crec.org📱ext. 2305
To report an absence email: AISAttendance@crec.org
Transportation: 860-524-4077
Athletic Managers:
Middle School Athletics
Harry St. John 📧hst.john@crec.org
High School Athletics
Ryan Aeschliman - 📧raeschliman@crec.org
School Counselors:
Grades 6-8 Last Name A-L
Taylor Clarke -📧tclarke@crec.org 📱ext. 2358
Grades 6-8 Last Name M-Z
Tania Thibault -📧tthibault@crec.org 📱ext. 2364
Grades 9-12 Last Name A-L
Mark Field - 📧mfield@crec.org 📱ext. 2365
Grades 9-12 Last Name M-Z
Monika Chudy - 📧mchudy@crec.org 📱ext. 2307
Family Engagement
Shontay Gibson - 📧sgibson@crec.org 📱ext. 2394
Administration
Middle School Dean of Students
Middle School Assistant Principal
Jennifer Rizzo -📧jrizzo@crec.org
High School Dean of Students
Raynette Holmes- 📧raholmes@crec.org
High School Assistant Principal
