Student & Staff Achievements
SPS Shout Outs
AITE siblings perform at the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra (GCTYO) Winter Concert
On Sunday, March 3, music aficionados were treated to a mesmerizing evening at the Winter Concert 2024 presented by the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra at The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport, CT. Part of the GCTYO were AITE’s senior, James Quispe, who performed on the violoncello while his sister, a sophomore at AITE, Jaimie Quispe, performed on the violin. The concert featured a repertoire of both Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto that left the audience in awe.
AITE teacher Anna Koltypin, who was in attendance, remarked that the concert served as a poignant reminder of the transformative and healing nature of music in a world marred by conflicts and turmoil.
AITE is a UConn ECE Top 10 High School
AITE has one of the largest percentages in the state of high school students taking UConn Early College Experience courses for the 2023-2024 academic year! 29% of our students are taking UConn ECE courses, placing us at number 8 on the list.
National History Day
AITE had a strong showing of six students at National History Day, which took place on March 11. The exceptional work of Maggie Fleischer, Lorena Pergjoni, Eric Karwowski, Maryori Martinez Velasquez, Bianca Rascon, and Raniah Imran earned them the honor to compete at this annual event. Maggie and Raniah placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the Senior Paper category. Lorena placed 2nd in the Senior Individual Documentary category. These three students move on to the state competition. We wish them the best of luck!
AITE Student Wins Greenwich Town Hall Debate
Congratulations to AITE junior, Maggie Fleischer, who won the Debate for Democracy at Greenwich Town Hall sponsored by the First Selectman’s Youth Commission. Maggie debated the topic of affordable housing against five students from Greenwich.
AITE Students Move onto FBLA National Competition
On Tuesday, March 12, thirteen of our Future Business Leaders of America members attended and competed in the CT State Conference. Congratulations to the following students who are now eligible to compete at Nationals in Orlando this June: Vanessa Amsellem - 1st place in Introduction to Marketing Concepts; Aris Johnson - 1st place in Computer Problem Solving; Samantha Mattis - 4th place in Journalism; Teji Rawat - 4th place in Marketing; and Hamza Fayyad, Jermin Montenegro and Ayaan Sadiq - 5th place Introduction to Business Presentation.
Submitted by Tina Rivera
Scientist Visit at Hart Magnet
Hart Magnet Elementary School is delighted to continue our Scientists Like Us series supported by our PTO. Our third, fourth and fifth grade students were provided an amazing opportunity from one of our parents, Andrea Baden, who invited scientist Dr. Carter Clinton to speak to our students about his work as a genetic anthropologist and professor at North Carolina State University. Dr. Clinton has become one of the scientists who studied the underground railroad using ancient DNA collected from soil through the southern US. Our students were astounded by his research and fascinated beyond words.
Hart Magnet Elementary School celebrates “Start with Hello”
Hart Magnet Elementary School celebrated “Start with Hello.” A huge shout-out to Nancy Stanton, Mark Martini, Lauren Gisolfi, Cynthia Santini, Carissa O’Leary, Maria Guzda, Jennifer Fabozzi, Nicole Granata, Alex Lerchen, Jennifer Smyth, administration, office staff, custodians, teachers, staff members, and students. We could not lead off a spectacular event without all of you!
This program from Sandy Hook Promise “Know the Signs” teaches children how to minimize social isolation, empathize with others, and create a more inclusive and connected school culture. The “Start with Hello” Program uses three simple steps to recognize someone who may be lonely:
1) See someone alone
2) Reach out and help
3) Start with “Hello”
On Friday, March 8, as part of our “Start with Hello” assembly, we honored Stamford Citizen of the Year, Sergeant Adriana Molina, for being a trusted adult in our community. We presented Sergeant Molina with a certificate honoring her achievements. Among the many trusted adults in our community, we were honored to have Mayor Caroline Simmons and Dr. Tamu Lucero celebrate this special event with us. Our “Start with Hello” goal is to continue to show kindness, respect for others, and ensure a socially connected school community throughout the school year!
Submitted by Maria Guzda
TOR Boys Basketball Wins City Championship
The TOR Boys’ Basketball Team won the city championship against Rogers in an intense game that ended in an overtime win of 37-34. The boys’ hard work has certainly paid off - they haven’t won a championship since 2013! Congratulations to the entire team and to Coach Woods and Coach Parish!
Submitted by Sherri Prendergast
Turn of River New Arrivals Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday!
Mr. Escobar celebrated Dr. Seuss Day with the New Arrivals Program. Students read the biography of Dr. Seuss and discussed how he “Never Gave Up” on getting his book published. Each student also read one of his 46 books and completed a book report. It was great to see the kids being kids and laughing while playing Pin the Tie on the Cat, Dr. Seuss Character Bingo, and much more.
Submitted by Elba Sims
Northeast Science Fair with STEM Activities
The PTO sponsored the 2nd Annual Science Fair on March 7 at Northeast School. Students in grades 3-5 were invited to pick a topic, design the experiment, test their theory, and display their data. Winners were announced at each grade level. Mrs. Goad, Northeast’s STEM Liaison, also distributed STEM activities for the students to participate in. They were challenged to build towers, work with pattern blocks, and more. A successful night for everyone who came out!
Congratulations to our Science Fair Winners!
5th GRADE
1st Place: Sasha Simblist and Julianna Sanchez, 2nd Place: Elena Passaro, 3rd Place: Madelyn Studebaker
4th GRADE
1st Place: Cooper Simblist, 2nd Place: Natasha Lolis, 3rd Place: Braden Franchi
3rd GRADE
1st Place: Olivia Surerska, 2nd Place: Andrew Aprea, 3rd Place: Clara Studebaker
Northeast School Loves to Read!
Under the guidance of Natalie Betancourt, Ellen Suarino, and Patty Mould, Northeast School celebrated Read Across America Week. Students and staff wore crazy hair & socks to show “how crazy we are about reading,” dressed up like superheroes because “reading gives us superpowers” and more. We ended the week by all sitting together in the hallway and enjoying our favorite books. Another successful week!
Submitted by Emily Fields
Kindergarten Adventures
Northeast kindergartener’s recently went on two exciting field trips. Students in Mrs. Keller, Ms. Blackwell, Ms. Michaels, and Miss Kanel’s kindergarten classes visited the Stamford Museum and Nature Center to learn how maple sugar and syrup is made. Students had a wonderful time learning from the Stamford Museum and Nature Center staff. Northeast’s kindergarteners also visited the Stamford Palace Theatre to see The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle stories. Thank you to the Stamford Museum and Nature Center and The Stamford Palace Theatre for giving our students a fantastic experience!
Leprechaun Shenanigans!
Mrs. Florio’s fifth grade students collaborate monthly with Miss Kanel’s kindergarteners. For our March activity students worked with their buddies to brainstorm, plan, and create a trap to catch the sneaky leprechaun. The students did an amazing job collaborating and displaying their creativity! The students had many materials to choose thanks to the support and donations from our class families. It was a fun STEM challenge as well as an opportunity to work with their buddies.
Submitted by Laura Kanel
Royal Ball and Tea Party
Kindergarten teachers, Judy Kinzler, Amy Colandro, Lindsey Colandro, Tracy Chichester, Patrice Martin, and kindergarten paras collaborated with PE teachers, Jenny Annosier and Tina Batton to provide kindergarten students with a Royal Ball experience, including ballroom dancing and a royal tea party. Graham Leftwich welcomed students with a regal introduction on the trumpet. This was the culminating activity of the CKLA Unit where kindergarten students listened to read-aloud texts about kings, queens, and royal families, which built students’ understanding of royal customs.
First Grade Kindness Concert
First grade teachers Toni Fox, Shira Mandel, Danielle Bryant, Maggie Peterson, Michelle Williams, and first grade paras collaborated with music teachers Greg Herrmann, Francesca Gennusa, and Graham Leftwich to showcase the musical talent of our first grade students. They sang songs about kindness and compassion and students spoke about what it means to be kind and have empathy. This performance showcased Stark’s Character Strengths program which highlights important traits to help us be better citizens.
Courageous Stark Students
As part of Stark’s Character Strengths program, our Stark SEL Committee, including Tina Batton, Katelyn Tavolccai, Maura Mena and Nicole Palomba, organized assemblies to celebrate our Stark Star Students who showcased courage. Students were invited on stage and received certificates for different courageous acts, such as standing up for other students, doing what is right, taking academic risks and stepping out of their comfort areas.
Submitted by Angela Plateroti
Layers of Love at Strawberry Hill
The First Grade team at Strawberry Hill School organized a “Layers of Love” clothing drive in February! Students in Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Fajt, Mrs. McGovern, Mrs. Raymer, and Ms. Taylor’s classes hand-decorated donation boxes and encouraged the school community to donate much needed items to Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County (CTKF), a local nonprofit that provides new and gently used clothing and shoes free of charge to children in need in grades K-12 in Fairfield County. The Strawberry Hill community generously filled those boxes with 500+ new and gently used clothing and shoes. This outpouring of love and support will make a big impact on the lives of children in need in Fairfield County. Every child that CTKF serves receives a week’s wardrobe for school free of charge twice a year.
The overflowing donation boxes provided enough tops and pants for fifty wardrobes plus undies, socks, and accessories for thirty! Through the “Layers of Love” drive, CTKF will be able to help 50 children in need choose quality clothing that fits in their favorite styles and colors, so they can attend school with the self-esteem needed to achieve academic success!
Submitted by Tressa Kinahan
Fizz, Foam, and Fun: 8th Graders Master Chemistry with Elephant Toothpaste!
Students at Cloonan Middle School embarked on an exciting journey into chemistry as they tackled an experiment they had wanted to do since the beginning of the school year, the Elephant Toothpaste experiment! Under the guidance of their teacher, Mr. Russo, this hands-on activity served as a platform for the eighth graders to merge their understanding of matter and chemical changes with real-world applications, leaving them both enlightened and exhilarated.
The Elephant Toothpaste experiment, known for its visually striking reactions, captivated the students as they witnessed the magic of chemical transformations firsthand. Guided by Mr. Russo’s infectious enthusiasm, they carefully mixed hydrogen peroxide with catalysts (yeast and water mixture) and a bit of color, igniting a cascade of colorful foam and bubbles.
“Our budding chemists not only rocked the lab, but also rocked their understanding of chemical changes and matter! With each explosion of foam, they showed that learning can be as exhilarating as it is educational. The students had asked earlier in the school year if we could do an elephant toothpaste lab. With how hard they’ve been working, it was a well-deserved reward that enabled them to have fun and connect the knowledge they gained during the chemistry module,” said Mr. Russo.
Through their participation in the experiment, the students not only deepened their knowledge of chemical reactions but also cultivated critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By bridging theoretical concepts with practical application, they demonstrated their ability to thrive in the realm of science.
As Cloonan Middle School remains committed to providing enriching educational experiences, initiatives like the Elephant Toothpaste lab underscore its dedication to fostering curiosity and innovation among its students.
Submitted by Jamie Russo
Toquam Scholars Showed Off Their Spelling Skills in Classroom Spelling Bees!
Toquam Scholars participated in classroom spelling bees to prepare for the schoolwide spelling bee next month! Our scholars have worked so hard over the last few months practicing their spelling words and getting ready for the main event! Congratulations to all our classroom spelling bee winners!
Submitted by Jenna Cinelli
Filling In The Blanks Food Drive
Steps Program welcomed guest speaker Caryn Kelly from Filling In The Blanks Food Program to teach students about food insecurity in Fairfield County and its impact on children. Steps students are organizing a food drive to assist Filling In The Blanks and contribute to the community.
Submitted by Laura Marino
SPS Represents at INTED2024
The 18th annual International Technology, Education, and Development (INTED) Conference was held in Valencia, Spain on March 4 through the 6. Rob de Andrade, Assistant Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Secondary Schools applied to present at the INTED2024 conference and his research was accepted!
Mr. de Andrade’s project entitled “EQUITY: Restoring Achievement in Mathematics” discusses disparities in math achievement among students of different ethnic groups in a Connecticut school district. It highlights how students of color perform below expectations compared to their peers, leading to underrepresentation in advanced classes and overrepresentation in intervention classes. He was also awarded a grant from Mary L. Fitch Trust for this conference. Congratulations Mr. de Andrade for representing Stamford Public Schools at one of Europe’s most notable educational conferences!
Submitted by Colleen Weiner
Math Can be Delicious!
With a helping hand from our fabulous parent volunteers, Springdale kindergarteners were able to watch how math can become edible! Making Irish Soda Bread has become an annual tradition at Springdale. Students carefully read and followed directions to measure and mix ingredients. While Irish Soda Bread may be considered a “Quick Bread” students needed to show patience as they waited for their creations to bake and cool before they could sample them. Thank you to Springdale’s kindergarten teachers and paraeducators for bringing math and literacy to life for their kids. Thank you also to the volunteers who came out to make this event a success!
Submitted by Becky Chuhta
Westover Reads 74,343 Minutes and Raises $27,937
Westover’s Read Across America and Read-A-Thon week took place from March 1-8. This year’s theme was Westover Chooses Love! The school kicked off the week-long event with a live news broadcast where students learned about schoolwide reading goals and listened to Ms. Maxelix read Whoever You Are. The event also included a visit from the PTO to review the many prizes students could earn. Daily prizes for participation included: Westover swag, extra recess, Gopher ice cream certificates, and choosing from a prize box. Raffle ticket grand prizes for reading minutes included opportunities to pass out Lexia Certificates, do the morning announcements, attend an extra gym class, serve as a special guest in a drumming class, have lunch with administration, and a surprise bonus prize of donuts with Lizzy Love.
The homeroom from each grade level that raised the most money also earned watching a movie in the auditorium. Westover was so excited to incorporate Compassion in Action into this year’s Read Across America and Read-A-Thon Week Activities. Families were asked to bring in new toiletries to be donated to local families in need. Dozens of donations of toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, dental floss, soap, lotion were brought in to fill our “Westover Giving Tree.” The week featured daily spirit days and read-alouds related to social emotional learning. Westover read 74,343 minutes and raised $27,937! Congratulations to our top reader fifth grader Tarushi P. (1,665 minutes) and our top fundraiser third grader Marte D. ($900). Thank you to all of Westover’s staff, students, families, and PTO members that helped make the week such a success!
Submitted by Larissa Weir
Congratulations to our Westhill Future Business Leaders of America
On Tuesday, March 12, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members from Westhill HS and AITE attended the CT State FBLA Conference at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury to compete in various business disciplines.
Congratulations to the following students who placed and are now eligible to compete at Nationals in Orlando this June:
Charles Bordon, Berke Ceken, and Aaryan Marathe - 1st place Banking and Financial Systems; Mritikia Omkumar - 1st place in Public Speaking; Matthew Quaglino and Austin Eisenstein - 1st place in Sports and Entertainment Management; Rhea Malhotra - 2nd place in Business Plan; Mahathi Uppuluri - 2nd place in Economics; Sylvia Marciczkiewicz - 2nd place Personal Finance; Katherine Cognetti, Sabrina Weisel, and Madeline Rosenhaft - 3rd place in Social Media Strategies; Defne Ceken and Katelin Zhao - 3rd place in Graphic Design; Nouha Benhakki - 4th place in Coding and Programming; Keeran Giritharan - 5th place in Introduction to Business Concepts
Submitted by Juan Pazmino
What is an SPS Shout Out?
An SPS Shout Out is a special recognition that acknowledges school communities, staff members or students who have inspired us with a unique project, an outstanding job or a special effort that had a positive impact on our students or community. Each week we will celebrate a few by sharing with all SPS staff and posting on the district website. Please share any or all of these with your friends and families.
SPS Administrators can submit Shout Outs for consideration through the form shared with them in the Administrators’ Weekly.
High School Honor Roll
Stamford Public Schools believes in recognizing students who demonstrate significant academic achievement through hard work and commitment. To earn honors in a marketing period, a student must be taking a minimum of three credits in that marketing period.
There are three levels of Honors:
- Honors with Distinction: Straight As (includes A and A-)
- High Honors: All As with the exception of one B (includes B+, B and B-)
- Honors: All As and or Bs with the exception of one C (includes C+, C and C-)
All course grades are included in the calculation for qualifying of Honor Roll. Honor Roll status will be indicated on report cards quarterly. Honor Roll does not take into consideration GPA, only current semester grades.
Board Recognitions
Stamford Public Schools is proud of the many achievements and successes of our students and staff. Each month at the Regular Board of Education (BOE) meeting, the District celebrates accomplishments of students and staff members. All community members are invited to attend the monthly meetings to join in our recognition. If you cannot attend the meeting, you can always read about those we celebrate here.
2021-2022 School Year
September 2021
2020-2021 School Year
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
2019-2020 School Year
March 2020 and April 2020 Board meeting agendas did not include Student & Staff Recognition due to revised format as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2020
May 2020
February 2020
January 2020
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
July 2019