Superintendent Willett's Bulletin

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HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

Reading Citizen Soldiers by Stephen Ambrose, I was moved by the stories of the people who left their families, their work, and the lives they knew to confront Nazi tyranny. Their stories remind us that behind every uniform is a person with hopes, loved ones, and a future they were willing to risk in service to others. This Veterans Day, we honor the women and men of every generation who have answered the call to serve, including the veterans among our Tolland families, staff, and neighbors. As Superintendent, I believe one of our most meaningful responsibilities is to help our students understand the human stories behind our history and the courage, sacrifice, and responsibility that sustain our freedoms. Accordingly, there will be programs in every school today recognizing and honoring our veterans. I thank the administrators and staff in all buildings that are helping to make this happen.  To our veterans: thank you for your service, for the burdens you have carried, and for the example you offer the generations who follow you.

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Superintendent Budget Workshop

Tuesday, December 1, 2026

6:30 pm

Town of Tolland Library – Library Program Room

We invite our community members to join us for a Budget Workshop to learn more about the school district's budget, discuss priorities, and gain insight into the budget planning process.

Your involvement and input are important as we work together to support the future of Tolland Public Schools.

We hope to see you there!

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K-5 LITERACY NEWSLETTER for NOVEMBER!

Check it out here!

https://canva.link/dmq0usha86gieyu 

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Lincoln’s Guide to

Paw-some Attendance!

Click link below for more information:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12HXax9ivSKl2DuUq7nz8_Gla_n82M940/view?usp=sharing

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The Advanced Pottery class went on the annual workshop to Vicente Garcia's studio to learn about alternative firing techniques. Students did a smoke fire, saggars, raku glazes, and an obvara finish. Check out our video! 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kekGMbZJRfavjgtjn6WXG0eiu9WfY-M9/view

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The THS Art Dept is proud to congratulate Marissa Donath for placing in this year's Celebration of Young Photographer's annual exhibition

 This year's theme was Traditions. Marissa's photograph, "Cranberry On”, will be hung in the Silpe Gallery at Hartford Art School with the other selected pieces. For more information about ASAP, an amazing non-profit that creates opportunities for young artists, click here: 

https://asapct.org/programs/celebration-of-young-photographers/

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TPS Instagram 

Stay connected with Tolland Public Schools! Follow us on Instagram @tollandpublicschools for school highlights, exciting events, and updates from across our district!

💙❤️ We can't wait to connect with you!

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Wear PJs—Support Kids with Cancer

December 11, 2026

We are excited to raise money for kids battling cancer at Connecticut Children’s! We look forward to joining with other schools and businesses across the state to honor patients who must wear their pajamas for days, weeks, or longer while fighting cancer or other serious illnesses.

We hope you will consider making a donation in honor of the young patients who turn to Connecticut Children's for hope.

Want to help?

Support by joining our team or making a donation. The process is fast, easy, and secure... and you can be sure that it will benefit local children and families!

Click the link below to make an online donation or bring a $1.00 donation on December 11, 2026. 

·      We kindly ask that you avoid bringing loose change.

·      Online donations are preferred.

https://give.connecticutchildrens.org/team/841460

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Behind the Screen Workshop: 

RESOURCES FOR Parents to Learn About Emerging Online Threats

Information from Evan Allard, Director of the Connecticut Intelligence Center

Check out his presentation here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sQz4fL6yt6FEs2WRmwBrWdEcjDYzmESR/view?usp=drive_link

See resources he shared here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hsFPBPjivnHzQQ3BlAcx9eqvQyu4Jqus/view?usp=drive_link

Would you know if someone dangerous was communicating with your child online?

The FBI is warning families about violent online networks that seek out children and vulnerable teenagers through social media, gaming platforms, messaging applications, and online communities. What may begin as friendship, attention, or acceptance can develop into grooming, blackmail, sexual exploitation, threats, self-harm, violence, or pressure to victimize others.

And this is not simply a national concern. Investigations involving these types of networks have occurred here in Connecticut.

Tolland Public Schools invites parents and caregivers to join Evan Allard, Director of the Connecticut Intelligence Center, shared the above information on the Nihilistic Violent Extremism, online exploitation, and emerging threats facing young people.

Check out these resources and learn how these networks operate, how children can become targets, what warning signs parents should recognize, how to talk with children about online safety, and what to do if you believe a child is being exploited or threatened.

Awareness is one of the strongest tools we have to protect our children.

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Lockdown and Secure Building Drills

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kAHgXnPNJNhy9cGPavraIz7XYkIaWVIVfZNc_u-x2vQ/edit?usp=sharing

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DONATE NOW - PLANET AID!

Thank you for your continued support of our Planet Aid bin at Tolland High School. So far in 2026 we have earned almost $700 from your donations. We have collected so many pounds this year we now have two bins! By donating you are helping to keep items out of landfills, repurposed for others in need and all money earned goes back into protecting the environment. This year's Oceanography class has voted to donate our funds to Sharktrust.org an organization that protects rays and sharks through species protection, education and fishing management. Thank you again! Kate Case Science Teacher 

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ATTENTION TOLLAND PARENTS

Preschool Screening

The Tolland Public School System is offering preschool screenings for current Tolland resident children ages 3 to 5 years, to ensure all children receive developmentally appropriate services and support prior to entering Kindergarten.

Click the below link more information

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ye-b302w-cJVu9SwjDMQOYQii651M7-l/view?usp=sharing

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Get ready for the season, check out the 

TPS Snow Procedures

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D76yPdJb297uNAsE4UDoRmVvOxKM4nhD/view

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Want the First View APP to track your student's bus?

Use this year's FirstView App Code: (Changes every year)

2026-2027 Code B4W9C

First View App Site:

https://sites.google.com/tolland.k12.ct.us/tps-firstview/home

Please see sign up letter:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1753fLjKIvshphM7bchldGGb9CJNqac2P/view

PLEASE NOTE - IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE TOLLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS YOUR STUDENT'S NAME MAY NOT SHOW UP UNTIL THE BUS LISTS ARE COMPLETED. These should be available early the week of 8/24.

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Superintendent Community Forum Meeting – Zoom

Come with you questions, ideas, and thoughts!

4:00 pm

Dates:

January 28, 2027

February 25, 2027

March 25, 2027

April 22, 2027

May 27, 2027

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87375511973?pwd=eTZGUEZzNDlaYkl6N3lxdnA3UlprZz09

Meeting ID: 873 7551 1973

Passcode: 5sC9ud

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BREAKING NEWS ABOUT BREAKFAST!

One Breakfast Daily is free for all students this year! 

If you have a restriction on your student's account that they are not allowed to purchase breakfast, and would like them to be able to receive breakfast this year, please update your Meal Magic Portal restrictions or contact the Food Services Department for assistance at (860)870-6821, ext. 10807 or mmcgrath@tolland.k12.ct.us

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Help Wanted at the Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center is seeking help for the before and after school program.  The Family Resource Center runs out of both Birch Grove Primary School and Tolland Intermediate School.  Hours would be from 3:00pm – 5:30pm.   Starting hourly pay for Aides is $16.94.

Questions can be direct to Carol Hiller at Tolland Intermediate School 860-870-6885 or chiller@tolland.k12.ct.us

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OPEN HOUSES

THS

Thursday, February 11 - 6:30 pm -7:30 pm

Thursday, February 18 - 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm (snow date)

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Job Openings

·         1.0 FTE Paraeducators are needed at Tolland Intermediate, Middle and High Schools. 

·         1.0 FTE Associate Behavior Intervention Specialists

Positions are offered health, dental, vision and life insurance coverage as well as a retirement plan.

For more information and to apply visit our website at

www.tolland.k12.ct.us

District Offices/Human Resources/Employment Opportunities

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988 Suicide & Crisis Prevention 

Mental Health Distress? Substance Abuse? Thoughts of Suicide?

Whatever the time, or reason, you can call.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TDt6y9vVfyfiTLoQwHMjSUyZnLCypATg/view?usp=drive_link

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Go Guardian Parent – Home Web Filtering & Monitoring

The district has received many requests from parents and guardians to provide tools that will

allow them greater insights into the browsing habits of their students on district-issued devices, as well as the capability to provide stronger at-home web filtering on those devices.

Click the link below for more information

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10gpHXdHMBOsC6rrOqScNuNSfh0ik3wz1/view?usp=sharing

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Tolland Public School Annual Notifications

https://www.tolland.k12.ct.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=891651&pageId=48325998

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MEAL CHARGING POLICY

5402 Meal Charging Policy

5402 Regulation 

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ATTENTION PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

Supplemental Student Accident

Insurance is Now Available

Click the link below for more Information

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18y4fiBXIRt10PifaFK4FhmX_5MOcTKTI/view?usp=sharing

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School Nurse Contacts 

School Nurses

THS- 

Cindy Davidson, RN

cdavidson@tolland.k12.ct.us

860-870-6838

TMS- 

Laura Dolcelli, RN

(District Nursing Coordinator)

ldolcelli@tolland.k12.ct.us

860-870-6868

TIS-

Karen Tirgrath, RN

ktirgrath@tolland.k12.ct.us

860-870-6891

BGP-

Victoria Lawhon, RN

vlawhon@tolland.k12.ct.us

860-870-6755

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FREE & REDUCE LUNCH NEEDED - Please see this 

MEAL APPLICATION

The free/reduced meal application for the school year has been added to the Tolland Schools website.  To access the application and all related information please use this link:

Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application Information

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Please see our community notices links at the bottom, and included here as well:

Recent community notices & information 

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Connecting Schools to Care IV Students: School Mental Health Resource and Support Guide

Click link for more Information

Mental Health Support and Services

Click link for more Information

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We would love to have you volunteer in our Tolland Public Schools!

Please contact the Central Office with any questions. For those already volunteering, and those new to the game, the BOE will now do background checks every three school years. If you will be volunteering for the first time in the upcoming school year, please complete the volunteer form After you have submitted your application, please call 860-870-6850 extension 2 to provide your social security number. You can check with the school secretaries to verify your status.

Please note these procedures are required for safety and legal reasons. A person will not be permitted to join trips, work in classrooms, or do other work associated with the students in the schools without completing this process. Doing paperwork in advance and in a timely manner will prevent applicants from missing important events and avoids unnecessary disappointments and exclusions. 

Click Here to Volunteer

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FMX system Building Use Reservation/Sign Up Information

Click Here for More Information

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FMX Sign in and Use by Community Members 

FMX is our new software platform for the Tolland Public School schedule requests and replaces our former Building Use request process.  Community Members wanting to request a school space for functions (not already scheduled and approved) can access the platform via the link below:

https://tolland.gofmx.com/login

You will be asked to create an account on this screen that includes a log-in and passcode that will be exclusively your own when accessing this system.  You will also be required to submit proof of liability insurance upon initial sign-up.  If you are not required to have insurance an FMX Administrator will be able to approve the account without it when they approve the initial account creation request.  

FMX is a cloud-based system so you can access from anywhere that has access to the web.

For all previously submitted schedule request (via the old method) to make any changes, cancellations or adjustments to that event requires you to contact the school directly via phone, email, etc. All new schedule requests starting December 2nd, 2024, should be submitted via the FMX method as listed above. 

Any questions regarding account activation can be made to the School Administrative offices at whichever school you are requesting to use:

Birch Grove Primary School- phone, 860-870-6750

Tolland Intermediate School-phone, 860-870-6885

Tolland Middle School-phone, 860-870-6860

Tolland High School-phone, 860-870-6818

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SUBSTITUTES ARE NEEDED DISTRICT WIDE

We need teacher, paraeducator, custodial, nurse, and food service substitutes.

You can choose what position, where and how often. Paper applications are available at the BOE office or can be printed from our website:

https://www.tolland.k12.ct.us/DistrictOffices/human_resources

Do you know someone that might be interested such as a college student (there is plenty of work over the winter break and/or mid May through end of year) or retired family member?

Please send them our way. 

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Notice from Tolland Food & Nutrition Services - MEAL MAGIC!

Dear Tolland Families,

The Tolland Food & Nutrition Services Department is writing to inform you of this software. It requires a new biometrics scanning system for identification purposes at the point of sale.  Therefore, we will need to rescan all students’ fingers for use with the new system.  The rescan will occur at the beginning of the new school year.  See additional information about biometrics below.

Meal Magic has a family portal where parents can create a free account to access the student meal information.  On this portal, there are instructions and videos that walk you through your new account.  Just click here to be directed to that portal system:  https://tolland.familyportal.cloud/  The identifying piece of information that you will need to link your child to your parent account is their student identification number.  If you do not have this number, it is the 5 digit number on the end of your student’s Tolland email address or you can contact us for the number.

The Meal Magic Family Portal will replace the My School Account system that is currently in use for online payments.  You can use the Meal Magic Family Portal to view balances, see account and purchase histories, make deposits, transfer money among family members, and set parental controls.   

You may still send in cash or a check made payable to “Tolland Food Services” to your child’s school if you choose not to make online payments to the account.  Once you have created an account and accessed the system, you will see that your student’s balance has been transferred from the old system.

Tolland Public Schools have been using a finger scanning ID system for many years and have found it successful in allowing the students to optimize their time in the cafeteria.  Here are some pieces of information for you about this system:

• Nothing in the process of purchasing lunch will change for the students. However, each student will need to have their finger rescanned. This will be done in school with as little disruption to instruction as possible.

• Being part of the system is voluntary and you may OPT OUT if you don’t want your child to participate.  Also, if you have already OPTED OUT your child, you will not need to contact us again.  Those students who have already opted out of participation will continue to be opted out in the new system.

• There are no images of any fingerprints taken. The initial finger scan is converted to an encrypted string of numbers - the template. The template is only associated with the student’s name, student ID number, grade and school.  

• All templates are located behind the school district’s firewall with all the security protections currently in place for all our data. The vendor providing the software for the finger scanning does not host or have access to any of our data.

• The templates are only being used to identify students who are enrolled in our system.

How does finger scanning ID work? 

We will be using finger scanning ID similar to many smart phones. Using a finger scanner, the software scans certain unique points on the finger to create and store individual numerical templates that identify each student. When the student returns, the software again scans the finger and looks for a numerical template match in the database. When a match is found, the student is identified. This all happens in about a second. 

What about the privacy of our students?

The software scans the finger for identification. It does not store a copy of the fingerprints. Instead, the software creates a template of the unique points on the finger. The template is converted to a unique number and is stored in the school district’s database with the same high level of security of all our records. 

It is important to understand that we are NOT fingerprinting students. In addition, fingerprints cannot be recreated or delivered to any agency - governmental or otherwise.

It is important to us that your child’s experiences in school are educational and rewarding. This way of identifying our students is safe, easy, accurate, efficient and secure. If you have any questions or do not want your child to participate and opt out of the system, please contact me at the number or email below.

Sincerely,

Kim Mecteau

Food & Nutrition Services Director

860-870-6854, ext. 2

kmecteau@tolland.k12.ct.us

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Please see this important information regarding Medication Administration on field trips:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tie3f5oIfl972l86NY1X2OaJy8Ir4ttbdxsRGyzOqc4/edit?usp=sharing

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