Emergency Information Guide
We are at the midpoint of the school year, and it is hard to believe that we are already heading into the month of February. At this time, I would like to take a moment to share with parents the continuous work of the leadership team to refine our safety protocols. We regularly review our safety measures, provide training to staff and conduct drills in our schools. I would like to share our District’s Emergency Information Guide with you, which highlights our daily security measures and how you can help us keep our schools safe. Please take a moment to peruse this information and keep it accessible as a quick reference guide.
Internet Safety Education
As an educator and parent of teenage daughters, I know how challenging it is for families to navigate the ever-changing landscape of social media and technology. Finding the right balance in providing children with access to the positive benefits, while protecting them from the inherent risks continues to be a daunting task for families. As a district, we have been planning a number of opportunities to educate students and assist parents.
The district is pleased to partner with Scott Driscoll of Internet Safety Concepts to provide a series of informative presentations on Monday, March 13. Mr. Driscoll is former law enforcement officer specializing in cybercrimes, and he will present to students in grades 4 through 12 during the school day regarding internet safety and the responsibilities of using social media safely. The day will culminate in an evening presentation for parents in the Consolidated/Meeting House Cafeteria at 6:30 p.m. We hope to see you there.
On January 5, the NFHS Start and End Time BOE Subcommittee resumed discussions regarding a healthier high school start time, which were tabled during the construction of the new high school. The Subcommittee discussed the possibility of shifting the high school start time to 8:00 a.m., beginning with the start of the 2024-25 school year. Public participation and parent perspectives shared at the meeting were greatly appreciated. There will be future opportunities to learn more about this study and provide input into the decision-making process. The next meeting of the BOE subcommittee is on March 2.
The health and learning benefits of a later start time are well documented. The current start time for New Fairfield High School is 7:15 a.m., which is the earliest start time in the region. There are logistical considerations, including but not limited to, transportation, traffic management, budget, and athletics that will need to be addressed throughout the review process.
Please note that the high school school start time change is the only start time change under consideration in this process. In the coming months, you may refer to the quick link at the top of the NFPS website to access any documents, presentations and meeting videos generated in conjunction with this topic.
A day in the life of S.T.R.I.D.E.S. at The Summit from a student’s perspective
Author: Cheyenne Dupre
Upon arrival at The Summit in Danbury first thing in the morning, the team of staff and students meet for a morning meeting, where we debrief about our night, discuss our goals and checklists for the day as well as review worksite assignments including
our co-workers and supervisors.
After the morning meeting, one team heads to the Marketplace Cafeteria where they work on a variety of tasks such as assembling french fry and cake boxes, filling condiments, and the concession stand to name a few. Another team heads off to Good Guys Barbershop where they sweep the barbershop, dry and fold towels, as well as light cleaning of the customer area.
Additionally, a team of workers checks in at Autism Behavioral Health Center where they deliver mail, clean common areas around the program, water plants, as well as create and send daily motivational emails for the staff. Last but not least, a team of students works in the Liberatto’s Cafe where they stock pastries as well as take customer orders and make many yummy drinks!
