Weekly Message from the Superintendent

Dear SPS Families and Staff: 

This week we welcomed more than 16,400 PreK-12 students into our schools for the start of the 2024-25 school year. It was wonderful to see our students returning to the classroom to embark on a new year of academic opportunities. A huge thank you to our families, teachers, administrators, and staff for helping to make these first few days a positive experience for our students. Thanks, also, to the families, staff, and community organizations that helped ensure students began the year with new clothes, backpacks and school supplies. 

Earlier this week, we announced that the 2024-25 SPS Family Guide is available now to provide families with essential information about Stamford Public Schools. The guide is available in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole, and Ukrainian and may be accessed at any time from the SPS homepage.  

If you haven’t already done so, please take time this weekend to review the SPS Family Guide as well as any student or family handbooks provided by your child’s school. Also, please complete all required forms in PowerSchool, including the Educational Technology Device Agreement and the Responsible Use Agreement. These forms must be completed in order for your child to have access to school technology.  

If you do not know how to access PowerSchool, contact your school’s Family & Community Engagement Facilitator. 

Updated Bus Assignments Available September 2

The SPS Transportation Department will be updating bus assignments and bus routes this weekend.  Please check PowerSchool on September 2 for any updates to your child’s bus number, bus stop location, or pickup time. This update will include bus assignments for eligible students who registered after August 14 as well as any approved modifications to existing bus assignments. If there is an issue with your child’s bus assignment, please complete this form and a member of the transportation team will get back to you. 

All-School Musical Auditions

Auditions for the 2024 Stamford All-School Musical are September 5 and September 6 preceded by an optional audition workshop on September 3. This year’s production of “Anything Goes” is open to Stamford students in grades 6-12. In addition to the cast, students may participate as members of the stage crew or pit orchestra (experienced musicians only).

To sign up for the audition workshop, schedule an audition time, or to indicate interest in stage crew or the  pit orchestra, complete this form. 

Meeting about New Westhill High School 

Please join us on Thursday, September 5 at 6:30 pm in the Westhill High School auditorium to learn more about the design of the new Westhill.  As many of you know, the City of Stamford was able to secure an 80% state reimbursement rate for the construction of the new Westhill, which is scheduled to open in 2029. During the meeting, representatives from the City of Stamford and the project team will share designs for the new school building and campus. This is the first of several community engagement meetings that will occur as the design work advances. To learn more about this and other projects in the long-term facilities plan, visit https://www.spsbuilds.com.  

Cafe con la Super is September 9 

Café con la Super - the monthly Spanish language Community Conversation - returns on Monday, September 9 at 6:30 pm at the Government Center. This month, we will review the SPS Family Guide and Community Health Services. Please register to let us know you will attend.  

 

SCOPES Meeting is September 11 

The Stamford Coalition of Parents Expecting Success (SCOPES) is hosting its first meeting of the school year on Wednesday, September 11 at 6 pm at AITE. SCOPES is a special education support network for parents sponsored by the Stamford Parent-Teacher Council in partnership with SPS. Attendees at the September meeting will have an opportunity to meet the SPS Special Education Team and learn about CT-SEDS. 

Please click here to register for the September SCOPES meeting. This meeting will be presented with simultaneous Spanish translation. 

 

2024-25 Magnet School Waitlists

If your child is on a magnet school waitlist for the current (2024-25) school year, those waitlists will remain active until December 1, 2024. If a spot opens up before December 1 for which your child qualifies, you will be contacted by a member of the central office staff. The individual schools do not manage the waitlist process.  

 

2025-26 Magnet School Lottery Opens September 16 

The 2025-26 Magnet School Lottery Application opens on Monday, September 16. We’ve streamlined the process this year so the application deadlines, lottery drawing dates, and acceptance deadlines are the same for all seven magnet schools. Click here for complete details.  

 

No School on Monday              

All Stamford Public Schools are closed on Monday, September 2 in recognition of Labor Day. I hope you and your family enjoy the long weekend. 

 

Stay Safe and Healthy!

Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent

Spanish

Creole