Embedded Files
Family Newsletter
May 2026
Schoolwide Expectations:
Schoolwide Expectations:
R: Respect Others
O: Own Your Actions
A: Act Safely
R: Rise to Challenges
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Important Links:
Stamford School Important Dates and Events
2025-2026 School Year Calendar
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Hello Stamford Families 💚
Another month has come to a close, and we are one step closer to the end of this amazing school year. May is always an exciting time, filled with celebrations, activities, and a great deal of energy as we head into the final stretch.
As I reflect on all that has been accomplished this year, I am filled with pride. Our staff and students have worked incredibly hard and made tremendous progress. The learning, collaboration, and growth happening each day within the walls of our school is truly something special. I also want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support, as you are such an essential part of our students’ success.
Before April break, our students in grades 3–8 spent three weeks engaged in state testing. I am incredibly proud of the effort and perseverance they demonstrated throughout that time. Thanks to the strong partnership we have with our families, we did not need to spend additional time after the break completing make-up testing. Your support in ensuring that students were here each day, ready to try their best, made a tremendous difference. What stood out most was the focus and determination our students showed. The effort we witnessed was remarkable, and I am eager to receive the results later this year. When the state permits, I look forward to sharing those results with all of you and celebrating our students’ growth together.
As we move into the final months of the school year, it is especially important that we continue to emphasize kindness, both in the big moments and in the small, everyday interactions. Simple acts such as including someone at recess, offering encouragement, showing patience, or using respectful language can have a powerful impact on a student’s sense of belonging and well-being. Research consistently shows that when students feel safe, valued, and connected, they are more engaged in learning and better able to manage their emotions.
At the same time, the end of the school year can be challenging. Routines begin to shift, excitement builds, and students may experience a mix of anticipation and anxiety about transitions. These changes can sometimes lead to increased frustration or conflict. This is why it is so important that we remain intentional about reinforcing expectations and modeling kindness each day. By continuing to work together at school and at home, we can help ensure that all students feel supported as we finish the year strong.
We are also incredibly excited to share a wonderful opportunity coming up in May for our students. Our school applied for and was awarded a full scholarship for all students in grades K–8 to attend Ramblewild Adventure Park. This is an amazing experience that typically costs around $100 per person, and we are so grateful that the scholarship will cover the cost for all students and chaperones. As a result, the only expense to the school will be transportation, but there will be no cost for students or families.
This trip will provide students with a unique opportunity to engage in outdoor adventure, build confidence, and strengthen teamwork skills in a beautiful natural setting. Please note that electronic waivers will need to be completed for each child before the trip. We will be sharing more detailed information, including schedules and waiver instructions, in the coming weeks.
Thank you again for being such an important part of our school community. I’m excited for all the wonderful things still to come as we close out the year together!
WINGs Summer Program/Camp: Registration is open and is first-come, first-served. Please see the email I sent early Friday morning or scan the QR code below.
📊 State Report Card
We are proud to share that Stamford School’s recent State Report Card reflects continued growth and progress. Stamford was recognized as Excelling in Growth, highlighting the meaningful academic gains our students have made over the past year. While we continue striving toward meeting and exceeding all state benchmarks, our upward trajectory demonstrates that the instructional systems and supports in place are making a real difference for students.
🏃♀️ Physical Education Expectations
Students have Physical Education on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If the weather permits, classes may participate in outdoor activities, so students must be dressed appropriately for both indoor and outdoor movement.
Please ensure your child wears appropriate footwear, such as sneakers with secure soles. Crocs, sandals, boots, or slip-on shoes are not safe for physical activity and may prevent full participation.
Physical Education is part of our academic program and supports students’ physical health, teamwork, and overall well-being. Unless a student has a documented medical reason, they are expected to participate and are not able to opt out.
Thank you for helping your child come prepared and ready to move!
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Earn Cash For Schools With Box Tops: Together, We Can Make a BIG Difference!
For over 25 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn for schools with products they already buy. Today, you can find hundreds of participating products throughout the store - and all you need is the Box Tops app.
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Attendance Reminder:
To best support our students as learners, they must attend school regularly. While missing a day here or there might seem insignificant, school absences can add up quickly. Missing just two days each month, excused or unexcused, can significantly impact a child’s academic achievement.
Some reasons for missed school days are unavoidable, but if your child is missing multiple days, especially a few days every month, it’s important to consider how this adds up in lost instruction time and its long-term effects on their education.
In addition to attending school every day, students must arrive on time. Our school doors open promptly at 8:00 am each morning, and our daily announcements are made at 8:25. When students arrive late, they miss these important announcements. They may also miss academic activities that are key to starting the day in their classrooms. Being late also means missing out on opportunities to connect with their peers at the beginning of the school day.
However, with that being said, we also recognize that this is the time of year when illnesses are circulating in the community, including strep throat, influenza, viral colds, COVID-19, and stomach viruses. Even though school attendance is extremely important, we ask that students and staff stay home if they are showing any symptoms of a potentially contagious illness, including:
Vomiting or diarrhea – must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to school.
Fever of 100.4°F or higher – stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without medication
Any infection requiring antibiotics – keep your child home until they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours
Persistent cough that disrupts normal activities
Influenza or COVID – stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without medication
Any other symptoms that make it difficult for your child to learn or for staff to work
Students can return to school once they feel well enough to participate and are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications.
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Winter Weather:
As the weather gets colder, please remember that children will go outside for recess each day unless the temperature, including windchill, drops below 20 degrees. Students must wear the appropriate outerwear and footwear to stay warm and healthy. T-shirts, shorts, Crocs, or sandals are unsuitable for winter weather.
Please ensure your child has a warm jacket, hat, gloves, and sturdy shoes for outdoor play. We have extra coats and mittens for children to use during outdoor play if needed. Students should also bring a pair of indoor shoes to change into if they wear winter boots to school. It might be wise for younger students to have extra pants in their backpacks if they get wet during recess.
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PTG News:
We need your partnership and involvement to ensure our students' success. This year, we are working to rebuild participation with our Parent-Teacher Group (PTG) to support our school community. We warmly invite all parents to be active members of our PTG. Every parent is already a valued member, and we encourage you to participate in whatever suits you and your family best. We'll hold monthly meetings to collaborate and support our students and school community. Our meetings will occur on the first Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:00 PM in the School Library. Please join us for an evening of discussion, connection, and community-building! We'll provide pizza, and you can bring your children along. Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 5th. I hope to see many of you there!
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Important Safety Reminder: Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
For the safety and efficiency of our drop-off and pick-up process, please remain in your vehicle at arrival and dismissal times, regardless of your child's grade level. Students riding the school bus are dismissed first, and carline dismissal begins once the bus departs.
Key Reminders:
Stay in your car to keep the carline moving and prevent congestion.
Allow staff members on duty to assist students in safely entering and exiting vehicles.
Safety First: The well-being of our students is our top priority. Your cooperation helps ensure a smooth and secure process for everyone. Thank you for your support.
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CORE Values: Windham Southwest Supervisory Union Mission and Vision Statement: Windham Southwest Supervisory Union creates pathways for our students to become powerful communicators, critical thinkers, and collaborators who use empathy and take responsibility for relationships, lifelong learning, and adaptability in our changing world. Stamford School prepares students with the essential competencies identified by our Portrait of Student Success Design Team. Our core values guide us as we ensure our students’ success.
The Stamford School prioritizes the following competencies:
ADAPTABILITY: Demonstrate agility, creativity, and flexibility in thoughts and actions to negotiate a range of different views, roles, and situations
COMMUNICATION: Articulate thoughts and ideas, listen and respond effectively, decipher meaning, and build on others’ ideas for a range of purposes and audiences
COLLABORATION: Build collective commitment and action to achieve group goals by leveraging strengths, defining roles, sharing feedback, seeking diverse perspectives, and debating respectfully
CRITICAL THINKING: Analyze and evaluate meaning, significance, and impacts using evidence and inference while considering multiple perspectives
EMPATHY: Listen to, engage with, and care for the feelings, emotions, and experiences of others by practicing awareness, consideration, validation, respect, and sensitivity
RESPONSIBILITY: Act honestly, demonstrate care, honor commitments, seek help, repair harm, resolve conflicts, and consider consequences for risks while contributing to the community and the greater good.
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