Weekly Message from the Superintendent

Superintendent's Weekly Message - September 27, 2024

Dear Families and Staff,

I would like to thank Pilar Pelaez from the Stamford Public Schools (SPS) Office of Family & Community Engagement for inviting my husband, John, and me to the Latino Foundation of Stamford’s Hispanic Heritage Festival last Sunday. It was a wonderful afternoon with an art exhibition entitled "I am Frida" and live music and dance performances by talented artists from Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, México, Paraguay and Venezuela.

The Festival also celebrated the launch of the 29th edition of Latincolors Magazine, a bilingual magazine widely circulated throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties. The latest edition of Latincolors features a cover story entitled "Small Entrepreneurs, Big Impact" about young people making a difference in their communities. Five of the six young entrepreneurs featured in the cover story are SPS students! It was so nice to meet each of the students and learn more about their businesses. In addition, TOR Principal Dr. Mark Bonasera was featured in the Honor Roll section in recognition of his family engagement work.

Family Day Health and Safety Fair is Tomorrow

The Department of Health and Human Services is hosting Family Day, a health and safety fair, tomorrow, Saturday, September 28, from 10 to 2 pm at the Yerwood Center (90 Fairfield Avenue). This FREE event is open to all members of the community. There will be food, entertainment, prizes, and information about community health and safety resources. Look for the SPS information table staffed by members of the Office of Family & Community Engagement and Parent Facilitators.

Custodian Recognition Day is Wednesday, October 2

Wednesday, October 2, is National School Custodial Workers Appreciation Day. Our 120 custodians work hard year-round to maintain 23 school buildings and program sites which include more than 3 million square feet of building space on 300+ acres. School custodians do so much, including maintaining mechanical equipment and HVAC systems, landscape maintenance, snow plowing, cleaning, painting, repair work and more. Please take time next week to say thank you to a custodian!

5K Walk & Run for Education is October 6

Please join the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) on Sunday, October 6 in Mill River Park for their annual 5K Walk & Run for Education.

This event benefits SPEF, which supports SPS through programs including the Summer Start Early Education Program for incoming kindergarten students and the Books Across Stamford initiative to support student literacy.

SPS students under the age of 18 can participate in the 5K for free, while the race fee for adults is $35. In addition to the 5K Walk & Run, kids under 12 can take part in SPEFy’s Fun Run, a shorter course with a few surprises along the way.

For more information and to register, click here.

Afterward, join in the fun at SPEF’s family-friendly FallFest, featuring dance performances presented by the Mayor’s Multicultural Council, hands-on activities for kids, SPEF’s Books Across Stamford book giveaway, tasty fall treats—and more!

Cafe con la Super is October 7

Our next Cafe Con La Super—the monthly Spanish Language Community Conversation—is Monday, October 7 at 6:30 pm in the Government Center 4th Floor Cafeteria. Please join us as we review safety and security. Our guests will include SPS Director of Security Joe Kennedy and Lieutenant Jerry Junes of the Stamford Police Department.

Everyone—families, staff, and community members—are welcome at Cafe con la Super. Interpretation to English is available for those who do not speak Spanish. Please register to let us know you will attend.

Meeting for Families of Students with Special Needs is October 9

The Stamford Coalition of Parents Expecting Success (SCOPES) will host its next meeting on Wednesday, October 9 at 6 pm at AITE. Attendees will learn all about CT Developmental Services (DDS), a state agency committed to helping individuals with intellectual disability live full lives. DDS representative Kaitlyn Drenzek will discuss how DDS can help families, how to register, and what to know about transition planning. The October SCOPES meeting will be presented with simultaneous Spanish and Haitian Creole interpretation. Please register to let us know you will attend.

News 12 Live from Rippowam

In case you missed it, News12 recently funded a DonorsChoose project submitted by Rippowam instrumental music teacher Amy Gibson. In recognition of this grant, the News12 weather team broadcast live from Rippowam on Tuesday. Click here to watch the segment featuring our students.

Monthly Student Voice Sessions

On Tuesday evening, I hosted the first Student Voice session of the 2024-25 school year with high school students from the Mayor's Youth Leadership Council (MYLC), DOMUS, ALTA, RISE and other student-led organizations. We discussed the updated cell phone regulations and efforts to improve students’ sense of belonging. Student Voice sessions will take place monthly before the regular meeting of the Stamford Board of Education. Thank you to Juan Pazmino who leads the SPS Office of Family and Community Engagement, for coordinating these opportunities for students to share their ideas and feedback with me.