Weekly Message from the Superintendent

Superintendent's Weekly Message - April 17, 2026

Dear SPS Community:

Earlier this week, the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) announced the recipients of its 2026 NSTA Awards program, which honors K-12 teachers, principals, professors, and other science education professionals for their outstanding work and achievement in science education.

We are thrilled to share that Swapnila Pawar, a 7th grade science teacher at Strawberry Hill School, was named one of 10 recipients of the Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers. Ms. Pawar was awarded up to $1,000 to attend the annual National Conference on Science Education in Anaheim, California, where she is currently attending a variety of workshops and presentations for new science teachers.

Ms. Pawar and her peers will be honored during a special teacher recognition event tonight at the NSTA National Conference.

Congratulations Swapnila!

Seussical the Musical Opens this Weekend!

It’s time for the curtains to rise on the annual spring high school musical productions! Westhill High School’s Northstar Playmakers get things started tonight with the premiere of Seussical. More than 55 students are participating in this production as actors, crew members, and pit musicians.

Get your tickets now for one of five upcoming performances:

Friday, April 17 at 7 pm
Saturday, April 18 at 7 pm
Sunday, April 19 at 2 pm
Friday, April 24 at 7 pm
Saturday, April 25 at 2 pm

Tickets are $22.50 for adults and $17.30 for students and seniors. Purchase tickets online up to 3 hours before showtime (credit card) or purchase at the door (cash or Venmo).

Thank you to Westhill teachers Nicole Kittleman and Adrian Corbo and Westhill Assistant Principal Claudia Obas for supporting this opportunity for our students to shine!

Café con la Super is Monday, April 20

Please join us for Café con la Super on Monday at 6:30 pm at the SPS Welcome Center. Click here to register.

This month’s presentation is Clear the Air: A Parent’s Guide to Vaping Prevention. Presenters are Ingrid Gillespie from Liberation Programs and Corina Restrepo from Kids in Crisis.

Café con la Super is open to the entire school community. Simultaneous interpretation is provided.

Filling in the Blanks Mobile Food Pantry in Stamford on Saturday

The Filling in the Blanks Fresh Food on the Move Mobile Food Pantry will be at St. Mary Parish (566 Elm Street) on Saturday, April 18 from 6:30 to 9 am. The mobile food pantry is first come, first served, and there is no cost for the food provided. Please bring any form of ID to register.

Play & Learn Night for Fall 2026 Kindergarten Students

Play & Learn Night for incoming kindergarten students and families is happening soon! Families should register to attend Play & Learn Night at the school their child will attend in Fall 2026.

Please note the event dates and times for each school:

Wednesday, April 22 at 5 pm: Strawberry Hill
Wednesday, April 22 at 5:30 pm: Davenport Ridge, Hart, Julia A. Stark, K.T. Murphy, Newfield, Northeast, Roxbury, Springdale, Stillmeadow, Toquam, and Westover
Tuesday, April 28 at 5 pm: Rogers International

SPEF Excellence in Education Awards

The 19th annual Excellence in Education Awards event is next Thursday, April 23 at 5:30 pm at the Italian Center of Stamford. The Excellence in Education Awards supports the Stamford Public Education Foundation, which provides mentoring, tutoring, early childhood programs, and other services. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

This year’s event will recognize 20 outstanding SPS educators, each of whom was nominated by their school’s Parent-Teacher Organization.

College & Career Fair is April 30 at Stamford High

High school students and families are encouraged to attend the All-City College & Career Fair on Thursday, April 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Stamford High School. This FREE event is open to all students and is a great way to begin or continue post-high school planning. Representatives from colleges, universities, trade programs, military branches, and other organizations will be on hand to share information and answer questions. Thank you to school counselors Andrena Forlenzo (Stamford High) and Christine Mitchell (Westhill) for planning this annual event.

Administrative Professionals Day

Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday, April 22. Thank you to our office support staff who provide valuable assistance to administrators, teachers, staff, students, and families every day.

National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is a great time to recognize and thank the many hundreds of people who volunteer their time and talents to Stamford Public Schools. We are grateful for the support our parent and community volunteers provide to our teachers, administrators, staff, and students!