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Superintendent Weekly Update #14

Posted Date: 12/07/25 (06:10 PM)
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Superintendent's Update

Weekly Update #14 December 7, 2025

Diverse students

Leveling Up Culturally Responsive and Engaging Pedagogy "With a Little Help from our Friends"

District Intended Outcome: That we maintain the high performance of students meeting and exceeding district standards/expectations, increase performance of students performing below district standards/expectations, and reduce the predictable performance gap between groups of students performing at or above standards/expectations and groups of students performing below standards/expectations.

Our Educators and Students are Doing Amazing Things!

FoodShare Donations from Anna Reynolds
During the Anna Reynolds November School Families Lessons, students read "Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Peña, and learned that being inclusive means making space for all and making sure everyone in our community gets what they need. In conjunction with this lesson, the AR Student Council hosted "Coin Wars" to benefit Connecticut FoodShare to provide meals for those experiencing food insecurity. They collected the money, sorted it, and then counted it, and the grade level that collected the most money, earned an extra recess (which was 1st grade). The AR Community donated $1,657!!! Pictured are some of our 4th grade student council members.
Stars
AR Student Council
Newington Nor'Easters Move to CIAC Semifinals
The Newington Nor'Easters football team defeated Middletown on Wednesday night 12-0! We have moved on to the CIAC Semifinals for the 2nd year in a row. The team is set to travel to Windsor High School on Monday, 12/8 at 4:30 p.m. If you can, please come support the team as they look to advance to the state finals!

All tickets must be purchased digitally here. 
John Paterson Winter Concert
The winter concert at John Paterson under the direction of Amy Stern was held on Thursday, December 4th. Students in the band and chorus performed for the school during the day and held a separate concert for parents in the evening. It was a wonderful show put on by our talented students! Bravo!

Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday Night

Under the direction of Chris Civitello, Sooran Sim, and Jason Stamenn, students from both middle schools and NHS sang holiday carols in downtown Newington for this annual event. Here is their rendition of Frosty the Snowman.
Pictured below is the big arrival of Santa on a fire truck. It was a chllly, but fun night.
Santa arrival
helping hands

Everyday Hero 2025-26

Linked here is the Everyday Hero nomination form for this school year.

Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions

Equity

Equity

Celebrations and Condolences

Celebrations:
Erika Pilz, 7th grade science teacher at Martin Kellogg, welcomed a baby girl. Méabh Catherine Pilz was born on Thanksgiving morning, 8.2 lbs, 19.5 inches.

Condolences:
Be Well,

Maureen