Kindergarten Students Celebrate Summer During the Highcrest Morning Meeting

The kindergarten students treated the entire Highcrest community to a little taste of summertime during the

Schoolwide Morning Meeting on Thursday, May 26, 2016. After leading the school in the Pledge of Allegiance and

the Highcrest Pledge, the students turned their focus on the

celebration of summer and the impending school vacation.

The students provided the school with some good

reminders about summertime health and safety,

highlighting the importance of staying hydrated as well as

the application of

sun screen. The

students also

sang the ever

popular tune,

“Mr. Sun”. Additionally, our bus drivers were invited to attend and the

students honored their hard work throughout the school year with thank you

gifts and a special rendition of “The Wheels on the Bus”. It was a pleasure

to see so many parents in attendance for this very special Morning Meeting.

Mary Jo Bronson– Recognized by the Board of Education

Mary Jo Bronson was recognized by the Board of Education on Tuesday evening. After teaching for more than 30

years, she has made the difficult decision to retire. Mary Jo began teaching in Wethersfield in 1982. She began her

educational career as a fourth grade teacher at Corpus

Christi School. In 1985, Mary Jo began working for

Wethersfield Public Schools teaching Kindergarten at

Charles Wright School and Emerson-Williams School.

Since 1987, Mary Jo she has taught first grade at Highcrest

and Emerson-Williams. She returned to teach full time at

Highcrest School in 2011.

Mary Jo has been active in supporting and serving the

district. She has served on the Districtwide Math

Highcrest

Elementary

School

WEEKLY UPDATE – MAY 26, 2016

Curriculum Committee, Districtwide Science Curriculum Committee, Faculty Advisory Committee, and was the

Emerson-Williams Teacher of the Year in 2007-2008.

Throughout Mary Jo’s career, service to the children and families of Wethersfield has been exceptional. Colleagues

and parents note that Mary Jo’s warm personality and thoughtful preparation, supports student growth in the

classroom. She has always appreciated the time that was provided, during the course of the busy school year, to work

with her grade level colleagues; designing and implementing instruction based on the changing needs of her students.

Additionally, throughout her many years of service, Mary Jo has remained flexible and open to the many changes that

continue to transform the field of education. As a master teacher, she has fine-tuned her craft and become deliberate

and thoughtful in providing differentiated support for children of all ability levels. Mary Jo truly became a teacher for

the right reasons, believing deeply that all children can and will succeed. With high expectations and a kind smile,

she has always provided a welcoming environment for every child. Mary Jo will be missed tremendously; however

her compassion for the students and her dedication to the Wethersfield School District will remain as a shining light

We wish Mary Jo and her family all the best in her retirement.

Highcrest Musicians Dazzle During the Annual Spring Concert

Highcrest parents, family members, and friends streamed out of the

Silas Deane Middle School auditorium offering their thoughts about

another superb musical performance. “Outstanding,” said one parent.

Another community member noted that they could not believe that

these young performers were only in the fourth through sixth grades.

And still one more parent sadly stated, “This is our last one at

Highcrest. I guess that we are on to bigger and better things at the

middle school.” Despite the bittersweet feeling that some students and

parents had as they were reminded that their elementary school

career is drawing to a conclusion, the vast majority of students

and patrons were sparked by the impressive and energetic

performances. Indeed, the energy was palpable on Tuesday

evening. The students represented the school and the community

in such a positive manner. And as always, Mr. Perry and Mrs.

Alexander provided the inspiration for the growth of our student

musicians. The spring concert began with the Highcrest

Beginning Band playing a Brian Balmages piece entitled,

“Fanfare Heroica”. That was followed by a terrific performance

by the Highcrest Beginning Orchestra playing Elliot Del Borgo’s, “Entry of the Tumblers”. Although these students

have only started to tap in to their potential, it was obvious that there is a lot of talent in the beginning groups. The

beginning band and orchestra was followed by the Highcrest Concert Orchestra. Each song was unique and

impressive, however a Rob Grice tune entitled, “Dragon Slayer” truly stood out. You could almost envision the

darkness surrounding the stage as a massive fire breathing dragon slithered and swirled above the head of the heroic

dragon slayer below. The Highcrest Concert Band treated the audience to “Carnaval” and wrapped up their

performance with an improvisational blues jam entitled, “Blues By Five” by Red Garland. Student after student

bravely brought their instrument to the microphone to play a little riff for the toe tapping audience. The blues

progression was put down by Anisa Zoto on the piano,

Lindsey Aglieco on the stand-up bass, and Rowan

O’Connor and Nathan Stabach on the drum set. The

instrumental musicians clearly set the tone for a

wonderful performance, however our talented singers

did not disappoint. The Grade 5 Chorus led with a Julie

Garner Bray song entitled, “Calico Pie”. The

performance concluded with a song popularized by the

band, American Authors entitled, “Best Day of My

Life”. Soloists came forward to support the entire

ensemble. The evening wrapped up with a finale

delivered by the Grade 6 Chorus. Singing the ever-popular song, “Over the Rainbow” many audiences members were

moved to tears. The concert reached a crescendo with a fun piece entitled, “Jazz Cantate” by Andy Beck. Once

again, we are so proud of the Highcrest music community and we are already excited about next year.

Sister School Connection Continues – Nagayo, Japan

Fifth grade students at Highcrest were introduced to their sister school in Nagayo, Japan on Wednesday afternoon.

With special presentations from Mrs. Kopecki and other members of the Wethersfield community including Mayor

Montinieri, the students learned a little bit about the special connection that we share with the students and

community members of Nagayo, Japan. Nagayo (長与町 Nagayo-chō?) is a town located in Nishisonogi District of the

Nagasaki Prefecture.  In the Edo period of the late 18th

century, Nagayo ware was produced and gained great fame

through the end of the 19th century. Currently, the town has an

estimated population of 42,215. The town is also famous for

tangerines and members of their community have invented a

character with the likeness of a tangerine on it. A character with

the image of the red onion, a famous Wethersfield agricultural

product, was unveiled alongside the tangerine character from

Nagayo on Wednesday. As the students were delighted to view the

characters for the first time ever, they were also provided with the opportunity to listen to stories of how the red onion

of Wethersfield became such an iconic representation of the town and how the relationship developed with Nagayo,

Japan. The connection with the Town of Nagayo and the Town of Wethersfield began as Sister Cities in 1997. As a

result of this relationship, a deeper understanding of our cultures has developed. In a very warm letter to the members

of the Wethersfield community, Mayor Hayama of Nagayo stated, “I truly believe fostering ideas of world peace and

international harmony are vital to our society. This is why our relationship is so important. I also believe that we can

encourage these ideas through education. Our administration is focused on education and enriching culture of

Nagayo. We can do this with your support and we look forward to the continued relationship in the future.” A

student within the Nagayo school system also noted, “I learned about things in Wethersfield at the time of the fifth

grade. Look at the photographs and pictures that you had sent and I wanted to

go to Wethersfield. We become the sixth grade, I am new learning English. In

the learning, it is possible to learn many new things and it is so much fun. I

made a brochure of the Nagayo Elementary School and it is written in Japanese.

Please work hard even when the new school year begins. Please be in good

spirits everyone.” We appreciate the opportunity to participate in a program

that provides an authentic connection to students from around the world.

Fifth Grade Students Offer Their Expert Opinions – “Why I Should Be The Next President…”

In stirring voices that echoed the great orators of our time, fifth grade students in Mrs. Byrne’s classroom outlined the

reasons why they believe they would be a good candidate for president. No, they do not plan on running as

Independent challengers to Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, or

Donald Trump; but instead promoted and outlined their

reasons as to why they would be a good fit to become the next

President of the Student Body at Highcrest Elementary School.

Many of the students clearly noted that the students need more

time for recess as exercise promotes healthy bodies and minds.

One fifth grade

student stated, “As

President, I will

work hard to

convince Mr. Bean that we, the students of Highcrest Elementary School,

require more recess. By providing more opportunities for play, students at

Highcrest will be able to develop more relationships with other students in

their grade, get additional exercise to build strong bodies and minds, and

allow students to release energy so that they will be better focused on the classroom work.” Other opinions offered

included promoting healthier school lunches and helping out students new to the school by providing them with

An example of Nagayo ware

opportunities to make new friends with the help of support staff members like our school psychologist and social

worker in the building. The student writing was impressive and followed the most important components of the

Columbia Teachers College Writer’s Workshop Model. Moreover, the students took their writing to the next level by

creating Google Slides that corresponded with the most important parts of their speeches and writing assignments.

Many students also dressed for the occasion and looked downright Presidential. Thank you for sharing, best of luck

with the campaign, and we are absolutely sure that there is a future for many of our fifth grade students in the field of

politics.

Gardening at Highcrest

At the end of September 2015, the Highcrest community came together with a nonprofit organization based in

Hartford to construct four raised beds adjacent to our staff parking lot.

Summer of Solutions is a Hartford based fellowship program that

supports young leaders and their work with the community. The goal of

the program is to create self-sustaining, environmental, and economic

solutions to the problems that plague communities. Summer of Solutions

fellows literally get their hands dirty by supporting local organizations,

including schools, to create solutions and show the world what’s

possible.

The Hartford based Summer of Solutions program, focuses their efforts on improving food security in and around

Hartford. The grassroots program advocates for “food justice” or the belief that all

people have a right to food that is nutritious, delicious, and culturally appropriate.

Summer of Solutions believes that this can be achieved through food systems that

provide for healthy people and healthy land. Food justice activists are changing the

way the food system works to

increase access to healthy food and

support local, sustainable

agriculture.

Using innovative strategies,

Summer of Solutions is helping to

build up Hartford’s local food system while providing job

opportunities for local youth and encouraging community

development through sustainable grassroots projects.

Each year, Summer of Solutions Hartford gives away free seeds and raised beds to anyone who wants to till the soil

and tend to the weeds. The beds are located at the Zion Street garden

location. There are many varieties of seeds and seedlings that are also

provided to individuals with a raised bed. The Summer of Solutions staff has

worked closely with two local Wethersfield companies, Comstock, Ferre &

Co. and Charles Hart Seed Company. Both businesses have generously

donated supplies to support the

program.

This spring, students and staff will have the opportunity to dig in and

plant Highcrest’s first garden. Guided by

interns from Summer of Solutions Hartford,

students will have the opportunity to learn

about gardening, soil, and the insects that support healthy and sustainable growth. We

hope to plant tomatoes, beans, squash, kale, and pumpkins. This wonderful project is

being supported with the help of the PTO. The four raised beds will be dedicated to the

memory of Mary Beth DelSole, a wonderful

Highcrest paraprofessional who passed away at the beginning of this school year. She

is fondly remembered as a dedicated educator and a terrific gardener.

The Second Annual Highcrest Spring Clean Declared A Success

Members of the Highcrest community gathered on Sunday, May 15th to

complete the second annual spring cleanup around the outside of the

school. Last spring, community members cleaned up trash and debris

around the front and southern entrances of the building and perimeter of

the campus. The

focus for the

cleanup this spring

will be in the

surrounding wooded area on the western side of the building.

Last school year, the team removed around 20 to 25 bags of trash

and debris. The initiative began when Mr. Bean was approached

by several students who were concerned that the trash around the

building had been piling up for years. They wanted to do

something to help and thought that a spring cleaning would help to spruce up the school. Students and parents

gathered on Sunday and filled a number of trash bags with paper and debris. There is still a lot of work left to do, but

the community is committed to doing their part to make our school shine inside and out.

Crayon Collection Continues for Grade 2

Students in Mrs. DeJohn’s classroom are learning about the Earth and the impact that recycling can have on

preserving our planet’s resources. By reusing crayons rather than throwing them away at home or school, these

second graders are providing other children in needier schools

with crayon supplies to help develop their artistic skills. Some

kindergarten classrooms have

also joined in and are currently

helping this intrepid group of

second graders. Collection

bins for the crayons are located

in the second grade pod. The students are beginning to sort and

bag all of the donated crayons. They will help to package them and

will top them off with special notes and ribbons. Way to go, second graders!

Ready, Set, Read…Highcrest

Summer vacation is quickly approaching and Mr. Bean and his good friend Joe the Referee want to know what books

you will pick up for reading this summer. That’s right; the Summer Reading Challenge through the Wethersfield

Public Library is just around the corner. Soon you will be asked to sign up for

the challenge and attempt to read as many books as possible during the summer

vacation. Last year, Highcrest students came in a very close second place to

Emerson-Williams. Mr. Bean was so proud of the hard work that the students of

Highcrest demonstrated during the summer of 2015, but knows that we can do

even better in 2016. In fact, he believes that we can break the record for reading

this summer and needs your help. Please sign up for the Summer Reading

Challenge and read, read, read. Joe the Referee and Mr. Bean will see you at the

end of the summer. We are both hoping to announce that the reading record has

been broken.

South Park Inn and the Sixth Grade – A Winning Combination

Led by sixth grade faculty members…Lori McDermott,

Ginette Winiarski, Ryan Boothroyd, Anthony Sanzaro, and

Lynn Major; sixth grade students have helped those most in

need. As a team, the sixth graders have dedicated their final

weeks at Highcrest to supporting the South Park Inn located in

Hartford.

South Park

Inn’s mission is

to assist those

who are homeless

and to improve their life situation by providing temporary and long-

term housing and supportive services.  Formed in 1982 to assist the

homeless, the former South Park Methodist Church was purchased and

renovated for the Emergency Shelter.  It was soon discovered that a

severe lack of affordable housing and services made it difficult to find permanent housing solutions.  The church

sanctuary was converted to a Transitional Living program in 1989, which allows men to stay for up to 2 years while

they engage in education, job training, mental health or substance abuse treatment which increases their skills and

income.  For those with severe limitations and in need of ongoing support, Plimpton

House was opened in 1995.  This program provides a permanent housing option for 35

women and men who benefit from in house support services.

The sixth grade students listened attentively to the presentation delivered by Brian Baker,

the Assistant Director of the South Park Inn on April 21st. He described the issues and

challenges surrounding homelessness and the role that his

shelter plays in supporting those in need. The sixth grade students responded with

thoughtful questions about the shelter, independent living and the future of homelessness,

and how they as students and citizens can help. The students and staff then sprang into

action have deciding to focus their efforts on the implementation of a drive to collect

hygiene items. A list of the items was developed and the students encouraged staff and

students to participate in the drive through our morning announcements and by creating

posters advertising this community service project. The drive took place during the first

two weeks of May. In total the students and staff donated so many items to support the

work of South Park Inn. In the end, the students traveled to the South Park Inn to deliver the needed resources and

received a tour of the facility. In an interview with two sixth grade students, Meghan Sousa and Jaime Condon noted

that the tour of the facility was terrific. They were able to see how their efforts will help those in need. Meghan said,

“It is great knowing that the socks, shirts, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and towels will be used by those who really

need it the most.” Jaime went on to say that, “…it is important because I was able to see what was going on and it

helped me to understand how lucky we are. It also helped me to realize that I could continue to help those in need in

the future. That makes me feel good.” We are very proud of their efforts and understand that they truly abide by

Spike’s three simple rules…Safety, Respect, and Responsibility.

Writer’s Spotlight – May 2016

Highcrest students continue to produce incredible writing pieces. Nine students

were honored on Friday, May 13, 2016 and they were able to share their writing

with Mr. Bean. The following students participated in Writer’s Spotlight on Friday:

Grade 2: Avery Weaver, Ian Daigle, and Megan Johannes

Grade 4: Brandon Ramirez, Michael Jylkka, Taylor Powell, and Judah Johnson

A couple of excerpts from these writing pieces can be found below. Nice work, writers! The next Writer’s Spotlight

has been scheduled in June.

“Dominican Republic” by Brandon Ramirez (4th grade)

One day there was a boy that wanted to go to the Dominican Republic (DR). His name is Nick Jones. He went on February 23, 2014. The day began as Nick was catching his flight, tired and drowsy still from waking up so early.

After packing up the car, they needed to go to the airport in Florida. They were in their house where Jones lived with his Mom. Jones lived with his Mom, Dad, and his silly brother. It felt like summer and the sun was high in the sky already. They were pulling out of the driveway and finally on the road. As they approached the airport Nick thought, “I have lots and lots of walking to do.”

Finally, Jones was in the airplane. It was Jet Blue and he was so scared. He was feeling so scared that he decided to focus on reading the safety manual. When they were in the air they took a turn and suddenly his feet felt like they were falling down, but really they were flying up. He saw the blue ocean and lots and lots of land. He saw the clouds being so colorful like a rainbow in the sky. The ocean was turquoise and light blue with some dark blue mixed in.

To read more of what happens to Nick Jones on his exciting trip to the Dominican Republic, you will have to visit with our famous fourth grade author Brandon Ramirez.

“Pet Stolen” by Judah Talik Johnson (4th grade)

One hot, normal…wait, did I say “normal”? No, it was not a normal day. Hi, I’m Dave Leemous (pronounced L-E-E-M-O-O-S) and something weird happened today. My dog, Gator, was stolen! I’ll tell you how, but please don’t tell anyone, not even your best friend Nick or Julie or whatever his or her name is. Anyway, I was walking to the bus stop with my best friend Robert.

“I just got a new dog today,” said Dave without thinking.

“Really? I’ve always wanted one…what kind is it?” Robert replied.

“Yellow Lab”, he said with a shocked, but happy expression on his face.

“I’ve named him…” I’m pretty sure that he knew I haven’t come up with a name yet, but anyway I said, “Gator”. Robert cocked his head like I told him to get a green skirt and hula like the one the driver has on the dashboard of our school bus.

“Gator? What about, ‘Sky’ or ‘Brook’, Robert suggested.

“Nah. I like Gator,” I said as the bus pulled up to bring us to school.”

To read more of what happens to our friend, Dave Leemous (pronounced L-E-E-M-O-O-S) and how his dog Gator was stolen, you will have to visit with our famous fourth grade author Judah Talik Johnson.

The Great Connecticut Caper

In more writing news, our multi-talented and revered Library Media Specialist – Michelle Manning, has published a

chapter in The Great Connecticut Caper. Originally published online as a serialized story, a new chapter appeared

every two weeks from January through June 2015. The chapters were written

by twelve different Connecticut authors and illustrated by twelve different

Connecticut artists. Authors could only read the chapters before theirs and then

add on to the tale – no one knew where the story would go next. Mrs. Manning

was responsible for creating Chapter 10, a chapter entitled, “Mayhem in the

Mansion”. Signed copies of The Great Connecticut Caper were available for

sale at the most recent book sale. We appreciate all that Mrs. Manning does to

support the students and staff of Highcrest and are exceptionally proud to have

her as a member of our staff.

The mystery of The Great Connecticut Caper is complete! Gillette Castle vanished from East Haddam,

Connecticut and Thomas and Li-Ming put their detective skills to work solving this magical mystery.

Each chapter of the story was written and illustrated by a different Connecticut author and artist. Meet

the authors and illustrators here. Take the opportunity to read The Great Connecticut Caper again!

Chapter 10: Michele Manning A wanderer at heart, Michele has lived and worked in

New England, California, and Ireland. Settled (for a while now) in Amston, CT with her

husband and two children, she shares her passion for kidlit and writing as a librarian at

an elementary school in Wethersfield. Follow her blog

at www.michelemanningwrites.wordpress.com

The Art of Poetry

On Thursday evening, poets from the Highcrest community came together in a creative tour de force. The second

annual art of poetry night was a cool treat on a hot, pre-summer evening.

Original student poems and songs were shared and families and friends

had the opportunity to enjoy each one from the comfort of their cabaret

seats. The cafetorium was transformed into a super cool cabaret style

cafe. With lights dimmed and voices raised, it was a lively evening. The

organization of this event is a collaborative effort between Leanne Silver

(reading consultant), Pam Guida (language arts curriculum specialist),

and Steve Perry (band and orchestra director). We appreciate all that they do to support the Highcrest students.

An example of one of the poems that was shared last evening is included. Way to go poets!

“A single shade of black”by Holden Escabi

Black many may say is the absence of life,

The heart of a demons soul

The chariot bearing darkness

For this is a fallacy

Black is the concentration of dreams

The passage to Nirvana

The pinnacle of the night sky

The fabric of the cosmos

And there is but one single shade of black, a single shade of black

PBIS – Making A Positive Impact

The Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support program is certainly making a positive impact on the Highcrest

community. Members of the PBIS committee spent an afternoon at

Steven’s Elementary School in Rocky Hill to pick up a few pointers

about how to more effectively implement the Highcrest program. In

the second year at Highcrest, staff members have created a schoolwide

matrix focused on Respectful, Responsible, and Safe behavior

expected in all settings around the building. Each month the

committee has met to discuss and collaborate with colleagues in an

effort to continue to effectively implement this research-based

program. The research completed by Dr. George Sugai (Professor of Special Education for UCONN’s NEAG School

of Education, the Carole J. Neag Endowed Chair, Director of

the Center for Behavioral Education & Research, and Co-

Director of the Center of Positive Behavioral Interventions &

Supports) has been highlighted during these discussions.

During the course of the school year, members of the committee

have introduced and described the implementation of this

program with Highcrest families. Additionally, they have

introduced the new and improved “Spike Ticket” and have

supported monthly celebrations for students highlighting all of the

positive results of the program.

PBIS programming seeks to systematically teach appropriate behavior to all children. It is founded on the belief that

all children can exhibit appropriate behavior and it is the responsibility of the

teaching staff to identify the contextual setting and environmental conditions that

allows students to be most successful. PBIS programming supports a multi-

tiered model of service delivery and dovetails with our current approach to the

SRBI (Scientific Researched-Based Interventions). It is a school-wide system

that utilizes behavioral data to effectively deploy and match school-based

behavioral resources with student need. What the team discovered through their

visit of Steven’s Elementary School in Rocky Hill, a school that is currently in

its’ fifth year of implementation, is that many of the foundational parts are currently in place at Highcrest. As we

move towards the 2016-17 school year, the committee continues to think about ways to improve the current program.

Kindergarten students celebrate their positive accomplishments this school year

with a Bubble Party

Upcoming Events

May 26, 2016 The Art of Poetry Night

May 26, 2016 Wacky, Tacky Spirit Day

May 31, 2016 PPT/504 Meetings (8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

May 31, 2016 Summer of Solutions – Gardening Project (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

June 2, 2016 Field Day

June 2, 2016 DARE Graduation (5th Grade)