Annual Report of the Superintendent - North Branford Public Schools

• Four fifth grade students testified in Hartford before the Select Committee on Children on a proposed bill to ban
smoking in automobiles if a child is present.
• One fifth grade student was recognized for participation in the Scholastic Kids Are Authors program.
• 302 students participated in the 2006 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge by reading a total of 3,286 books over
the summer.
Character Awards and Recognition
• The Principal’s Character Award, new this year, recognized one student from each of the fifth grade classrooms for
demonstrating respectful, responsible, and caring behavior.
• Three fifth grade students were selected as DARE essay finalists at the annual DARE celebration.
• Sixteen fifth grade Friendly Helpers were recognized at Honor Night for their service to the school community.
These students assisted other students at the end of the school day and were responsible for collecting all recycling
throughout the school year.
• Four students received the Northford Women’s Club Student Service Award for completing at least 25 hours of
volunteer service within the 2006-2007 school year.
Student Artistic Achievement
• Two fifth grade students attended the Elementary Schools Arts Festival sponsored by the Connecticut Association of
Schools (CAS) and were recognized for excelling in the visual arts and for exhibiting high levels of citizenship and
cooperative skills.
• Two fifth grade students received the Art Assistant Award for helping the Art Teacher with displays throughout the
school building.
• Three students from each classroom in all three grades were recognized by the North Branford Fire Department for
their Fire Prevention posters.
Educator Achievements/Awards
• Third grade teacher, Deborah Welton, became Lead Teacher. In this role she supported new staff, developed
schedules, conducted observations, and assisted with a variety of administrative tasks.
• Three teachers, Elizabeth Siena, Jeremy Rice, and Agnes Kulas trained and served as K-5 Science Leaders for the
District. They participated in inquiry, content and coaching training and supported other teachers with science
instruction.
• Life Skills teacher, Tina Acampora, was selected to serve as the TVES Teacher of the Year.
• Fourth Grade teacher, Jean Gresham, served on the Board of Trustees, Education Subcommittee of the Mystic
Aquarium.
TVES Accomplishments
The Leadership Team completed four Action Plans this year:
• Implementation of a new dismissal procedure for our students. Students are now escorted to the gymnasium prior
to loading the school buses. This new procedure allows teachers not on dismissal duty 15 minutes of additional
planning time.
• A Science/Social Studies Co-Teaching pilot program. Eight fifth grade teachers and two fourth grade teachers
teamed to teach Science and Social Studies. Students traveled to their “other” teacher twice a week for either Science
or Social Studies.
• Creation of a Code of Conduct which reflects Responsive Classroom techniques and encourages respectful and
responsible behavior by our students in their classrooms, the hallways, the cafeteria, during recess, and on the
school bus.
• Creation of a Staff Handbook which outlines all procedures germane to Totoket Valley.
32 Annual Report to the Community www.northbranfordschools.org