Woodbridge School District Principal's Message
Dear BRS Community,
I hope that the break provided you with the opportunity to take a deep breath, enjoy some outside time and maybe tackle that home project you've been meaning to get to! Teachers and students resumed Distance Learning this week and we are finding new and creative ways to connect with our students! From slide shows highlighting our pets or favorite stuffed animals, to videos of ways we are helping the Earth to celebrate Earth day, to greetings between students and teachers—we are all connecting and learning in new ways every day! If you haven't had a chance to see it, check out the district webpage, where you will find read alouds and slide shows. We thank you for your continued support! Finally, I can't say it enough: I miss you all so much! For all parents interested in the Multi-Age Group Program Prior to social distancing, an Information Night followed by a Q & A night was held in the MAG classrooms each year. Prospective parents were also welcome to visit the classrooms to observe MAG in action. In lieu of this, the MAG team has arranged a new setup for a presentation. We hope this format will help families gain an understanding of the program.
MAG teachers have provided material: MAG Information 2020 for you to read and view to begin to understand the MAG program. This material provides historical reference to, and information about, the program. You are encouraged to read the material to become familiar with the overview, lingo, traditions, philosophy, and pedagogy of MAG.
In place of MAG's in-person Q & A night, on May 7th, the MAG Team, together with parents, are excited to host a virtual Google Meet Q & A from 6:30-8:00 pm. If you wish to attend the Q & A virtual meeting, please submit the Google Form: MAG Q & A Night and a link to the Meet will be emailed to you. There is a place on this form to submit a question that you may have ahead of time. You may also type questions that evening using the "Chat" feature.
Reading the material and participating in the Q & A night will help you make an informed decision concerning whether or not to fill out the application to enroll your child(ren) in the MAG program.
Reminder about the Acceptable Use Policy Students are expected to follow the Acceptable Use Policy, even while engaging in Distance Learning. A few specific reminders include to utilize their own Google sign-ins to access their work, only create and share documents if given the explicit permission of the classroom teacher and maintain appropriate etiquette while typing.
We are hopeful that our summer Extended Day and Summer Enrichment Program will run. Of course, this will be dependent upon guidance from the CDC and the Governor. The program dates are June 29th through July 31st. As always, children will be provided with a variety of activities that are engaging, challenging and fun! For more information, and to register for Extended Day and Summer Enrichment please click here.
We are excited to share that the Community Art Project "Woodbridge Finds Heart" initiated by Ms. Wagner and Ms. Crocco is becoming a town wide "event." All Beecher and Woodbridge Community members are asked to create and display hearts in windows, mailboxes, doors and/or yards so that others can search for them as they take walks or drive through town. Hearts can be constructed from whatever materials people have at home. We are collecting photographs of the hearts to display in the Library when we return to school Please email any photos to Ms. Crocco: lcrocco@woodbridgeps.org
Our Beecher Road School community is looking to involve students and their families in our next distance learning community activity. Similar to our 'distance learning car and bus parade' we are putting the finishing touches on the next community event to be held in May. More information to follow.
Please continue to call the North Office Attendance line if your child is ill and unable to participate in Distance Learning. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school nurses! You can reach them at: Stacey Katz: skatz@woodbridgeps.org Aisling Fagan: afagan@woodbridgeps.org We are here for you and your families!
Several new follow requests have come in to the BRS Instagram account and we couldn't be happier! However, to confirm that only current parents are asking to join, we require some information. Once you go to Instagram and request to follow BRS Owls, you need to email instagram@woodbridgeps.org and include your name, your Instagram name, the name(s) of your child(ren) and their grade levels. Final approval won't be given to follow the Instagram account until that email has been received. Beecher Road School reserves the right to deny access to any party for the protection of students.
From Superintendent Bob Gilbert 2020-2021 Budget Information for Town and Beecher Road School The Preliminary Budget Hearing for the 2020-2021 (FY21) Town of Woodbridge Budget was held online this past Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7:30 PM. Residents and taxpayers participated remotely. (The complete town budget is available for review under Finance Department on the Town website). Earlier in the budget process, the FY21 Beecher Road School Budget, originally presented at .76% was reduced to a zero % increase ($115,000) by the Board Of Finance (BOF). The BOF will set the final FY21 budget sometime in May after receiving final information on the Amity budget. For Beecher Road School, current plans to achieve a zero increase include reducing a Library Media position and an Art position each by 0.3 FTE, hiring only a .5 Psychologist (instead of full-time) and further reducing professional development, technology and supplies. This is in addition to the reduction/elimination of the current .5 social worker position. The Board will continue the discussion on the FY21 budget at their May 18 meeting.
Please see staff highlights from our April 21st Board of Education Meeting:
Quicklinks
Parent Information Please be sure all demographic information has been updated. This includes phone numbers and email addresses.
Upcoming Events Individual Classroom Events and Field Trips are not posted here. Please look for communications from your child's classroom teacher regarding field trips and class events.
Dates to Remember:
5/7 - MAG Question and Answer Night, 6:30-8 PM
5/15 - MAG Application Due
5/18 - MAG Lottery (if needed)
5/25 - Memorial Day: No School
6/15 - Last Day of School
The Woodbridge School District does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability (including, but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability or learning disability), genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by Connecticut state and/or federal nondiscrimination laws Woodbridge School District, Beecher Road School |