Principal's Update 4/26

Posted Date: 04/26/26 (09:00 AM)

Principal's Updates

Ruth L. Chaffee

Around the School:

Author Visit by Jarrett Krosoczka

Yesterday, the Ruth L. Chaffee School was buzzing with creative energy as we welcomed New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka! It was a thrill to have such an amazing author share the secrets behind his storytelling process. Jarrett captivated our students by diving into the worlds of his most beloved works, including the action-packed Lunch Lady graphic novels, the rock-and-roll fun of Punk Farm, and the charming friendship found in Peanut Butter and Jellyfish.

You can take a look at what your student saw during their presentation.

https://studiojjk.com/hello

This would of not been the success that is was with out our Chaffee Loves to Read Committee. They worked extremely hard to make it a success and so enjoyable for each and every student. We hope your student enjoyed it as much as the staff did.

Chaffee Beyond the Bell

On Monday, April 20th, Ruth Chaffee's Beyond the Bell program held their first showcase at Puerto Vallarta. This exciting event gave our first, second, and third graders participating in the program an opportunity to show off their clay creations of a meal special to them and their families. This event culminates several weeks of exploring what makes our community special, teaching about ourselves and learning about others, and learning about food production and ingredient sourcing from Michael Orozco, owner of Lucy's Luncheonette in Middletown and son of our very own building sub Anita DalPonte! Families, staff, students, and Michael came together at Puerto Vallarta to see the creations and enjoy some delicious treats!

Showcase Clay Project Video

Martin Kellogg Student Council Visits Rm. 4

The student's came into the afternoon preschool program in room 4 to teach them about earth day! They read The Bad Seed and planted flowers.

Important Date Change

At Wednesday, April 8th Board of Education meeting they approved a date change for the last day of school.

The last day of students will be Monday, June 22nd. Students will still be dismissed at 1:40pm.

SBA Testing Letter & Information This letter was shared via ParentSquare to 3rd & 4th Grade parent on 4/8

April 8, 2026

Dear Parent or Guardian:

As you may already know, Newington Public Schools, along with all public school districts across the state of Connecticut will soon be participating in the required statewide assessment, Smarter Balanced. This assessment is given each spring to all public school students in grades 3 through 8. The Smarter Balanced Assessment system utilizes online computer-adaptive tests and performance tasks that allow students to demonstrate their skills and understanding and are aligned to the Connecticut State Standards for English-Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics.

Administration of the Smarter Balanced Assessment will take place during May 2026. Each school has established their own testing schedule to minimize the impact on our students’ daily schedule. The schedule for your child’s school is outlined below. You can also click this link to see the testing schedule for your child(ren)’s teacher.

Ruth Chaffee Schedule

May 12-15

SBA Reading – Computer Adaptive Test – Grades 3 & 4

May 19-22

SBA Math – Computer Adaptive Test – Grades 3 & 4

May 27-28

SBA Math – Performance Task – Grades 3 & 4

Please contact your child’s principal or me if you have questions regarding the purpose or use of the Smarter Balanced Assessment information.

Sincerely,

J. Seth Korn

J. Seth Korn

Director of School Counseling and Student Testing K-12

Class Placement Letter - Shared Via ParentSquare on 4/10

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Believe it or not, the end of the school year will soon be here. Around this time, we start the process of grouping students for next year’s classes. The process involves many staff members: including your child’s current teacher, specials’ teachers, special educators, and support staff members and me. Since the placement of students in classes is a fundamental interest to both staff and parents, we want to share how these decisions are made.

The Ruth Chaffee staff will work to group students together in appropriately sized classes. Teachers ensure that students are placed with one or two familiar peers and that known student conflicts are separated. Parents may request a separation for one year, as students grow and mature over time. Issues in kindergarten may not persist, so placements are reviewed annually to reflect each child’s current needs. Our ultimate goal is to place students in environments where they will learn best, while also ensuring balanced classes throughout the grade. Some of the other criteria that are considered for these placements include:

Demographic ratios
Academic performance
Special learning needs
Work habits
Social-emotional interaction and development

Parents are also an important part of this process. Knowing your child best, we welcome your input. If you have additional information that you would like considered as part of the placement process, please write a letter/email addressed to your child’s classroom teacher and me (jmarciano@npsct.org) highlighting these considerations. Topics may include changing home situations, learning environment preferences, and/or separations we may not be aware of. Please know that requests for specific teachers will not be honored. Parent letters/emails will be accepted until May 2. Letters/emails received after May 2 will not be considered.

The end of the year is always an exciting time for students and staff. The anticipation of what is to come, combined with what has been accomplished, leaves us all feeling a bit euphoric. We take comfort in knowing another school year will soon begin and look forward to making it a successful year for all. As always, we appreciate your continued involvement and support.

Sincerely,

James Marciano

Principal

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