Weekly Message from the Superintendent
Dear Staff and Families,
A quick reminder that parent-teacher conferences are next Wednesday-Friday. Please take advantage of this opportunity to review your child(ren)’s academic and social-emotional growth with their teacher(s) as we head into the final three months of the school year.
National Speech Pathologist Day
Monday, March 18 is National Speech Pathologist Day. If your child has benefited from this important service, please join us in celebrating and thanking our Speech Pathologists for all they do to support students.
Westover Magnet School Grade 6 Lottery for Fall 2024
The Westover Magnet School Grade 6 lottery opened today and closes on Friday, April 5. Families of fifth-grade students who are not already at Westover and would be interested in having their child attend Westover for middle school are invited to enter the lottery. The lottery drawing will be announced on Friday, April 26. Please click here for more information.
Climate Survey
The annual SPS Climate Survey opens on Monday. This is an opportunity to share feedback about your child(ren)’s school(s). The family survey will be available in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole and Ukrainian. The deadline to complete the survey is Wednesday, April 3. Links to the survey will be shared next week.
Budget Update
The next step in the FY25 budget approval process takes place on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 pm when the 2024-25 BOE Proposed Operating Budget is presented to the Board of Finance (BOF). The public is invited to join and watch this meeting via zoom.
Following the presentation of the BOE budget to the Board of Finance, the BOF and Board of Representatives will host a joint Fiscal Committee Hearing on Wednesday, April 3 via zoom. This is the meeting where members of the public may sign up to address the BOF and BOR regarding the BOE and City budgets. Sign up details to follow in next week’s message.
High School Course Selection for 2024-25
Next Friday, March 22 is the deadline for students in grades 8 through 11 to select their 2024-25 high school courses. Please make sure to review the Program of Studies for AITE, Stamford High, and Westhill to explore the academic opportunities available to our 4,000+ high school students. For those interested in learning more about our career pathways, check out these videos about the Public Safety Pathway, Construction Pathway, and Manufacturing Pathway.
SPEF Excellence in Education Awards
The Stamford Public Education Foundation is hosting its annual “Excellence in Education Awards” on Thursday, March 21 at the Stamford Marriott. This event, which is a fundraiser for SPEF, recognizes outstanding SPS educators nominated by each school’s Parent-Teacher Organization. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.
Please join me in congratulating the 2024 SPEF Educator of the Year nominees, listed here.
Kindergarten Orientation and Play & Learn Nights
Children entering kindergarten in Fall 2024 and their parents are invited to join us for Kindergarten Orientation and Play & Learn Night. Every K-5 and K-8 school will host its own event. View the flier (English / Spanish) to see the dates and times for each school.
Building a Better Future for Stamford Public Schools
Matthew Quinones, Director of Operations and Katherine LoBalbo, Director of BOE School Operations joined the February Board of Representatives Education committee meeting and gave a school construction update. The city provided the education committee with a projected school construction schedule update, as well as previewed a new city website “Building a Better Future for Stamford Public Schools”.
Stay Safe and Healthy!
Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent