Superintendent’s Update
Superintendent Thomas Scarice:Good afternoon,
Just before we crash into a blast of summer weather for a couple of days, I’d like to share a couple of updates with the community.
06880 Podcast
One of my priorities as superintendent is to communicate as effectively as possible with the school community, but also with the broader Westport community. I’ve used a number of strategies in this regard. I’ve spoken to community groups, shared messages with the town in writing and video, and participated in a few podcasts, often with Dan Woog and the spectacular facilities in our public library.
In this latest 30 minute podcast, Dan and I covered the work of our equity study and the district’s facilities plans. Perhaps you might enjoy the informal dialogue, as opposed to the recent formal presentations.
In light of the recent racially motivated massacre in Buffalo, and the nearly 200 mass shootings in our nation just this year alone, schools, as a community focal point, can serve a foundational role in establishing true affiliation, belonging, and understanding for students. Continually building this sense of belonging and affiliation is a primary goal of the equity study work, which is covered in my discussion with Dan. If you are interested in hearing our discussion, click this link: https://06880danwoog.com/2022/05/17/06880-podcast-tom-scarice/
Holocaust Survivor Judith Altman Visiting Our Middle Schools
For over ten years I had the most incredible opportunity to host Holocaust survivor, Judith Altman to speak to my middle school students in my prior district. In that time I was fortunate enough to develop a friendship with Judith, quite frankly, a life changing friendship. I am so pleased to share with the community that Judith has made herself available to speak to our BMS and CMS 8th graders on Wednesday May 26. On the heels of their studies on genocide and the Holocaust, our 8th graders will not only hear directly from one of the few remaining survivors, but I assure you they will leave inspired and full of hope.
Since the pandemic Judith has moved her presentations to a remote format, yet I am confident that her story will pierce our screens and fasten our students’ attention to a truly once in a lifetime experience.
We are working on recording this very special event. If that is successful, we will post the presentation to our website and share with the community.
To learn more about Judith and her story please click here: https://hhrecny.org/holocaust-survivor-speakers/judy-altmann/
Curriculum at Glance
You might have seen a message from Dr. Anthony Buono, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, sharing our “Curriculum at a Glance” documents. Developing parent-facing curriculum documents, mostly during the pandemic, is a truly remarkable feat from our accomplished Curriculum Coordinators and faculty. These documents are intended to reflect what is currently being taught in each course or at each grade level, with a narrative overview and a unit by unit description of learning outcomes for students.
Under the leadership of Dr. Buono, I am confident that these documents will help families become familiar with the content covered and intended learning outcomes for students. For additional information, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
You can access this information via the Teaching and Learning Department link on our district website or by following the link below:
https://sites.google.com/westportps.org/curriculum-guide/home
Enjoy the summer weekend, but remind your children that we still have about a month left in the school year!!
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
