Westport Public Schools named “Best Community for Music Education” Ninth Year in a Row
The Staples High School Jazz Band prepares a pre-recorded piece for America’s Voices performances. Press ReleaseThe Westport Public Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for the ninth year in a row. Recognized for its outstanding commitment to music education, Westport joins 623 districts across the country in receiving this prestigious award for 2021.
The Best Communities Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. Districts that have been recognized by the NAMM Foundation are often held up as models for other educators looking to elevate their own music education programs.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Westport answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. The Music Department has been fortunate to forge partnerships with community organizations such as the Westport Library, the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, PTA Cultural, WestPAC and Westport Arts Advisory Committee, all who recognize and value the importance of the arts in education.
This award also recognizes that Westport is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the new federal education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA recommends music and the Arts as important elements in a well-rounded education for all children.
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.
NYC Public Schools: No More Snow Days, “Plan on Participating in Remote Learning”
The New York City Department of Education announced yesterday that snow days will be a thing of history for the next generation of new yorkers.
With the release of their 2021/2022 academic calendar, families and educators noticed the bullet point that confirmed a fear for many in the education community. The NYC DoE stated: “On ‘Snow days’ or days when school buildings are closed due to an emergency, all students and families should plan on participating in remote learning.”
Days filled with hot cocoa, playing in the snow, and no worries remained this year for Westport students, as Westport Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice described himself in a December 14th, 2020 email as a “purist”, saying “ I do believe that for most children, the experience of a snow day can be an unforgettable part of childhood and a unique opportunity for unstructured play.”
Staples High School Welcomes Dr. Proskinitopoulos as New Assistant Principal
Press ReleaseThe Westport Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Parthena Penny Proskinitopoulos as an Assistant Principal at Staples High School, effective July 1, 2021.
Dr. Proskinitopoulos is seen as a talented educator who has excelled in the area of school leadership. Her career as an educator began in 2006 as a social studies teacher with the Fairfield Public Schools. Dr. Proskinitopoulos continued in that role until 2014 when she assumed the role of Technology Integration Specialist. This past year she served as an Interim Assistant Principal at Roger Ludlowe Middle School.
As an educator who embodies the belief in a growth mindset, Dr. Proskinitopoulos is seen as a true leader who inspires the best from those around her. Her work in providing professional development for teachers and fellow administrators has always been a focus of her work. While these efforts have proven invaluable over her career, they have been particularly recognized as critical to the success her colleagues have had in navigating the difficulties of teaching and leading during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ultimately the needs of students are at the heart of her work, and Dr. Proskinitopoulos’s commitment to children will serve as an asset to the Staples High School community.
Dr. Proskinitopoulos holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. John’s University and both a Masters of Arts in Teaching and Sixth Year Diploma in Educational Leadership from Sacred Heart University. In addition, she has a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport.
A colleague of Dr. Proskinitopoulos shared, “Simply put, she is one of the finest educators I know. This is because she is smart, passionate about learning and instructional improvement, eager to collaborate, a consummate problem solver, committed to her work, and genuinely thoughtful and kind.” Another colleague wrote, “She ranks in the top tier of educators that I have had the pleasure to work with in my career in education. I know that she can make a significant impact at the high school level in an administrative role.” These comments are echoed by Stafford Thomas, Principal of Staples High School who noted, “Penny was the standout candidate out of a very large and talented administrator pool this year. She is absolutely thrilled to be joining our team at Staples and I am excited that her arrival will coincide with our team’s summer efforts to create an exciting and fulfilling 2021-2022 school year for our Wreckers!”
Superintendent: No COVID-19 Cases to Report ahead of Weekend
From Superintendent Thomas ScariceDear Westport Families and Staff,
I am pleased to share that we have no new cases of Covid-19, associated with our schools, to report today.
As a reminder, families are asked to report positive COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or in-person models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting.
Additionally, we want to remind families that students with pending Covid-19 tests should not return to school until receiving negative results. This approach is critical in helping us continue minimizing the potential for transmission in our schools.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools