| | Upcoming Events: BOE Meeting Tuesday, April 1st
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
SMS Media Center Autism Awareness - Wear Blue Wednesday, April 2nd Family Game Night - Brain Challenge Friday, April 4th
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
McAlister Gym Suffield Idol Rehearsal Tuesday, April 8th
3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
SHS Auditorium Partnering with Parents Wednesday, April 9th
6:30 p.m.
Suffield High School Suffield Idol Friday, April 11th
Segment 1 4:30 p.m.
Segment 2 6:30 p.m.
SHS Auditorium Spring Fitness Day Saturday, April 12th
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Spaulding Gymnasium No School April 14th - April 18th
April Vacation BOE Meeting Tuesday, April 22nd
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
SHS Media Center
If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, the excitement, and the mystery of the world we live in.
-Rachel Carlson
 2013-2014 School Calendar 2014-2015 District Calendar School Lunch Menus Spaulding Before and After School Program for Grades K - 5 Suffield Elementary PTO Calendar 2013-2014 Suffield PMC Kids Bike Ride Summer Camps and Recreational Activities for Children with Special Needs College for Kids at Westfield State University Community Farm of Simsbury Summer Programs Egg Hunt & Bunny Visit - Saturday, April 5th, 2014 Enfield Challenger Baseball - Starting Soon Family Game Night BRAIN CHALLENGE! - Friday, April 4th March Curriculum Newsletter Munsons Order Pick up North Central Community Collaborative Support Groups Park & Rec Spring Brochure Partnering With Parents - 21st Century Skills - Wednesday, April 9, 2014 PTO Help Wanted 2014-2015
Spaulding Principal Conversations
An opportunity for parents to :
- Meet with the principal Scott P. Dunn
- Hear about the latest school and district initiatives
- Discuss important events
- Solidify the home-school connection that is so important to the success of our students.
Please join us for our next meeting in the Spaulding Library Media Center: Due to Mr. Dunn attending a state conference to share and discuss our successful Spaulding STARS program, he will not be able to hold the monthly Principal Conversations on Tuesday, April 1st at 8:15 a.m. as usual. Thank you for your understanding. | |  A Message From The Principal The Director of the Early Education for All campaign, Amy O’Leary, commented that planning for the full day kindergarten experience is not just about doubling the time, it is about being intentional with the time. That quote continues to serve as a goal for our kindergarten team throughout the transition process. For the last two years, A. Ward Spaulding School has been engaged in a collaborative, informative, and reflective process in planning and implementing a full day program that ensure success at high levels for all learners. Two weeks ago, kindergarten teachers, Megan Blais and Martha Wassall, and I presented to the Board of Education on the progress relative to the program and our continuous improvement efforts. We reviewed our guiding beliefs of creating and maintaining a strong foundation for learning in these early years in a safe and caring environment that promotes not only the cognitive and academic development of all children, but also their physical, social, and emotional development. We highlighted the alignment of our full day kindergarten program to Suffield’s Theory of Action Coherence Framework. We identify quality tier 1 instruction as an essential core approach to our district work. We shared data that reflected an impressive, continued increase in student learning, and such data demonstrates the work being done in a purposeful, thoughtful, and systemic manner. Our full day kindergarten program boasts many components that impact student learning. Ninety minutes per day is dedicated to reading, its daily instruction, and increased opportunities for differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all learners. In writing, sixty minutes is dedicated daily to such instruction, and the time frame allows for personalized learning opportunities and more time for independent and guided practice. Students possess a higher comfort level with writing and their independence and confidence continue to increase. Our sixty minutes of daily math instruction offers time to explore mathematical concepts using hands-on materials, technology integration, and diverse assessment plans. For students who display a continued level of challenge with the content, effective academic interventions with support staff instruct them on targeted skill areas towards improvement. We administered a mid-year survey to parents/guardians to obtain their thoughts and opinions regarding the full day experience. We received an impressive number of completed surveys, which focused on transition, academics, social/emotional supports, and readiness for first grade. Over ninety-five percent of adults who completed the survey believed that the full day program enhances their children’s learning experience. Additionally, 100% believed that their children will be ready for first grade as a result of this program.
Specifically, we asked parents who had other children enrolled in the half day program of their thoughts. Ninety-one percent believed that the learning experiences that their children in the full day program had promoted more readiness and transitional ease than the half day program.  Indeed, we have much of which to be proud. Through team collaboration and the partnership that we share with you, our students in kindergarten are successful and will continue to be as they transition to first grade. We will continue to focus on our improvement efforts to ensure that all students succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and physically at high levels.
Thank you for your support. 
Scott P. Dunn READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY! In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, A. Ward Spaulding School celebrated Read Across America Day on Monday, March 3rd. Many staff and students joined in on the fun by wearing their pajamas and reading a good book with a favorite stuffed animal by their side. Students engaged in various classroom activities that revolved around Dr. Seuss, reading, writing, and math. Superintendent Karen Baldwin was a guest reader, adding to the festivities that occurred throughout the day. Read Across America Day is held nationally every year as an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association. 
Spaulding Stars: Mr. Dunn and Students Read and Learn Together  Recently Mr. Dunn read the book Say Something to all kindergarten, first, and second grade students. In the story, there are some children who display mean behaviors, such as pushing, excluding, or making fun of others. The girl in the story witnesses these mean behaviors, but she would never do these mean things herself. Then one day something happens that shows her that being a silent bystander is not sufficient. She realizes that everyone needs to say or do something when someone is in need of help. After reading the book, Mr. Dunn and students discussed the feelings that come as a result of mean behaviors such as teasing or bullying and the impact that our words and actions have on others. Our Spaulding Stars program with its focus on recognizing and celebrating respectful, responsible, and kind behavior effectively aligned with the book and related class discussion.
SPAULDING SCHOOL SPIRIT ALIVE AND SHINING!  Our school continues its monthly school spirit days with energy and enthusiasm. On March 13th, the school community participated in Sports Shirt Day. Many students and staff members adorned shirts that spanned myriad sports, such as football, baseball, hockey, and more! We thank all who participated. Our next school spirit day is on Friday, April 11th…Hat Day!
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Our kindergarten students and their families enjoyed bowling at Bradley Bowl in Windsor Locks on February 22nd.
