From the Superintendent
June, a time of endings and beginnings. For eighth-grade students, their graduation on June 12 marks the end of their years at Eastford Elementary School. For everyone, June 21 signals the first day of summer. In celebration of the ending of another great school year and the beginning of summer, I share this thought: “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees … I had the familiar conviction that life was beginning all over again with the summer.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
As with leaves bursting on trees, the ending of the school year is filled with its own bursts of renewed activity. Grade 8 students are preparing for their trip to Washington D.C. on June 3-6. Teachers are planning their final lessons and students are enjoying outside activities and end-of-year field trips with their friends. The Board of Education (BOE) is busy assessing, approving and overseeing facility needs that must be addressed in preparation for a new school year. In addition, at their April and May meetings, the BOE:
- Voted to comply with the Connecticut Nutrition Standards during the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
- Set the date for the end of the school year as June 13 for students and June 16 for staff.
- Set the graduation date for June 12.
- Accepted several new policies to be consistent with recent legislative changes.
- Allowed the administration to move forward in utilizing the Putnam YMCA as our before- and after-school provider.
- Supported the Scholarship Committee’s recommendations regarding the Ethel Cushing Gardner Music Scholarships as well as the scholarships provided through the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.
The state is also launching new initiatives. One initiative that is important that all community members become familiar with is Early Start CT, a new, state-funded early care and education program that's targeted to start on July 1, 2025. Early Start combines 3 existing programs: Child Day Care Contracts, School Readiness Grants, and State Head Start Supplement Grants, into 1 new program. Early Start CT requires the formation of local governance partnerships (LGP). Districts are encouraged to form LGPs that include membership from more than one town. LGPs bring community stakeholders together to:
- Assess the early childhood needs of families;
- Implement strategies, share resources, and engage the community in improving the well-being and development of children;
- Improve access to high-quality early childcare and education programming;
- Increase family engagement by connecting families with early childhood services and programming.
Click here for additional information. Updates regarding this initiative will be provided in in upcoming issues of the Communicator and in administrative reports to the BOE.
Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” As we transition from the ending of one school year to the beginning of another, I once again thank the Eastford community for providing our students with high-quality access to the power of education. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me to share ideas, questions or concerns about the programs, protocols and processes of the Eastford School District, at [email protected]. Enjoy the summer!