May 3, 2018 Dear Families,

One of the most special things about our community is the consistent effort we make to be grateful, show compassion, and celebrate any chance we get! These efforts create the foundation of a strong, positive climate. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for making National School Principal Day so special. The flowers and heartfelt notes were amazing, but the best part of Tuesday was the few minutes of connection I had with each and every Duffy Dragon. It was a day I will never forget!

Please take a moment to complete our annual School Climate Survey. This information is very important as we reflect on our work this year, and begin planning and goal setting for next year. The survey will be available through Friday, May 11th and all responses are anonymous.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-PL6CX5JKL/

Over the past month, all Duffy students enjoyed the engineering and design challenge of creating a kite. Today, we went outside to test them out as our second schoolwide PBIS celebration! Enjoy the pictures from this special event on the next page

Sincerely,

Kristi Laverty Principal

Curriculum Corner Christine Mori, Curriculum Specialist

ear Duffy Families,

Beginning this month, Duffy Dragons will be taking assessments in ELA and Math. Grades K-5 will take the aimswebPlus benchmark assessments, and grades 3-5 will take the State Assessments, related to the Common Core Standards. As you know all year long, we have been preparing and reinforcing the skills necessary for students to demonstrate their learning. It is important to assure your child that these tests are simply one measure of what they are learning. The more relaxed and prepared a student is about an exam, the more likely they are to perform their best and truly demonstrate their best learning. How can you help at home? Before testing: Be positive and communicate that this is your child’s chance to show what he/she knows. The most important thing you can do right before the test is to build confidence about doing his/her very best. After the test: Talk to your child about his/her feelings about the test and discuss what was easy and what was hard. Explain that performance on a test does not define him or her as a person. It is just one opportunity to demonstrate learning. Each child is unique and it is important to us that we look at the whole child in school, not how they perform on any single assessment. If you have any questions about other ways you can assist your child at home or questions about the testing, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, or reach out to me directly at christine_mori@whps.org. Thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, Christine Mori Curriculum Specialist

Statewide testing (grades 3-5) and spring benchmark assessments (K-5) are

underway! Here is the Duffy Testing Schedule:

K Literacy: During the week of 5/1 K Math: During the week of 5/14 Grade 1 Literacy: During the week of 5/1 Grade 1 Math: During the week of 5/14 Grade 2 Literacy: During the week of 5/1 Grade 2 Math: During the week of 5/7 Grade 3 Literacy: During the week of 5/7 Grade 3 Math: 5/2, 3, 4 (State testing) During the week of 5/22 (Benchmark testing) Grade 4 Literacy: During the week of 5/1 Grade 4 Math: 5/9, 11, 16 (State testing) During the week of 5/22 (Benchmark testing) Grade 5 Literacy: During the week of 5/1 Grade 5 Math: 5/15, 16, 17 (State testing) During the week of 5/7 (Benchmark testing)

Spectacular Quest News!

Our fourth grade Math QUEST kids (Jake W., Nathan P., Elise M., and Liam H.) won 2nd place - out of 146 teams in CT - in the spring Stock Market game. They will go to an award ceremony on Wednesday, May 30th from 11 - 1 pm at the Hartford Courant building in Hartford. Also, there will be a winning ad in this Sunday's Hartford Courant. We have some great young financial minds at Duffy School!

May 2018

Date Time Event Thu, May 3 All Day PBIS Kite Day!

7:45-8:20am 4th GR Strings 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR 3-5 - Room 23 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR K-2 - Room 6 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports GR 3-5 - Gym 3:30-5:00pm Inter-El Band Rehearsal – Auditorium 6:00-7:30pm Family Fitness Night Fri, May 4 7:45-8:20am 4th GR Band 7:45-8:15am Before School Gym 9:00-1:45pm Gr 1 to Lupa Zoo 3:20-4:20pm Hobby Quest - Fashion Design - Rooms 6 & 23 3:30-4:30pm Chess Club - LMC Mon, May 7 All Day Teacher Appreciation Week

All Day Sports Spirit Day 7:45-8:20am 5th GR Orchestra 7:45-8:15am Before School Gym 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports - GR K & 1 (ages 5-7) – Gym 3:30-4:30pm Safe School Climate Committee – Library 6:30-8:00pm Cub Scout Meeting GR 4 (Den #5) – Café Tues, May 8 All Day Teacher Appreciation Week

7:45-8:15am Before School Gym 7:45-8:20am 4th/5th GR Choir

9:30-10:30am Spring Concert - Auditorium 3:20-4:20pm Hobby Quest - Magic - Room 6 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports - GR 1 & 2 (ages 6-8) - Gym 5:00-6:30pm Art Show Opening 6:15-7:00pm Cub Scout Meeting GR K (Den # 2) - Room 6 7:00-8:00pm Spring Concert, Auditorium Wed, May 9 All Day Teacher Appreciation Week! All Day Art Show on display through 5/18 All Day National Bike To School Day

7:45-8:20am Enrichment Committee Meeting - Conference Room 9:00-12:30pm Gr 2 to Westmoor Park 2:00-3:00pm Hobby Quest - Aviation - Room 6 6:15-7:15pm Cub Scout Meeting GR 1 (Den #6) – Café 6:30-7:30pm Daisy Girl Scout Meeting (GR 1) Troop #10429 - Room 6

Thu, May 10 All Day Teacher Appreciation Week

All Day Author Visit - Dana Meachen Rau GR K-5 3:20-4:45 Girl Scout Meeting GR 4 (Troop 10425) - Room 28 3:20-4:30pm Girl Scout Meeting GR 2 (Troop 10424) - Room 15 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR 3-5 - Room 23 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR K-2 - Room 6 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports GR 3-5 – Gym 3:30-4:30pm Site Council - Conference Room 6:00-7:30pm Family Fitness Night - Duffy Front Lawn (Rain Date)

Fri, May 11 All Day Teacher Appreciation Week

All Day Lupa Zoo Rain Date 7:45-8:15am Before School Gym 3:20-4:20pm Hobby Quest - Fashion Design - Rooms 6 & 23 3:30-4:40pm Chess Club – LMC Mon, May 14 7:45-8:15am Before School Gym 8:00-8:20am Student Council Meeting - Room 26 9:00-3:00pm Gr 5 Field Day 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports - K & GR 1 (Ages 5-7) – Gym 6:30-7:30pm Cub Scout Meeting GR 3 (Den #1) – Café Tues, May 15 7:45-8:20am Garden Committee - Room 12 7:45-8:15pm Before School Gym 9:00-3:00pm Gr 3 Field Day 3:20-4:20pm Hobby Quest - Magic - Room 6 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports - GR 1 & 2 (Ages 6-8) – Gym 6:30-7:30pm Cub Scout Meeting GR 2 (Den #4) - Cafe Wed, May 16 All Day Egg Drop

2:00-3:00pm Hobby Quest - Aviation - Room 6 Thu, May 17 All Day Gr 4 Field Day 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR 3-5 - Room 23 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR K-2 - Room 6 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports GR 3-5 – Gym 6:30-8:00pm Girl Scout Meeting GR 5 (Troop 10422) - Café Fri, May 18 All Day Last Day of Art Show on display All Day Inter El Tour Day! All Day Gr.4 Field Day Rain Date 7:45-8:15am Before School Gym

3:20-4:20pm Hobby Quest - Fashion Design – Rooms 6 & 23 3:30-4:40pm Chess Club – LMC Mon, May 21 7:45-8:15am Before School Gym 9:00-3:00pm Rain Date for GR 3-5 Field Day 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports - K & GR 1 (Ages 5-7) – Gym Tues, May 22 7:45-8:15am Before School Gym 9:00-1:45pm Gr 4 to Spice Bush/MDC 9:00-11:00am GR 5 to Real Art Ways 3:20-4:20pm Hobby Quest - Magic - Room 6 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports - GR 1 & 2 (Ages 6-8) - Gym Wed, May 23 2:00-3:00pm Hobby Quest – Aviation - Room 6

6:00-8:00pm Boy Scouts Duffy Pack 161 Meeting Thu, May 24 9:00-12:00pm K- 2 Field Day 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR 3-5 - Room 23 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR K-2 - Room 6 3:20-4:05pm After School Sports GR 3-5 – Gym 7:30-9:00pm Inter El performance at Bushnell

Fri, May 25 7:45-8:15am Before School Gym 9:00-12:00pm Rain Date K-2 Field Day 3:20-4:20pm Hobby Quest - Fashion Design – Rooms 6 & 23 3:30-4:40pm Chess Club – LMC Mon, May 28 No School - Memorial Day Tues, May 29 7:45-8:15am Before School Gym 3:20-4:20pm Hobby Quest - Magic - Room 6 Wed, May 30 2:00-3:00pm Hobby Quest - Aviation - Room 6 6:15-7:15pm Cub Scout Meeting GR 1 (Den #6) - Cafe Thu, May 31 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR 3-5 - Room 23 3:20-4:20pm Mad Science GR K-2 - Room 6 6:00-7:30pm Literacy Night - Gym & Café

Spring Concert

You are cordially invited to attend our Duffy Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 8th. Please come hear the wonderful program the children have been preparing since January. We ask that parents stay until the conclusion of the entire concert.

. Concert dress:

Our concert dress for the 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. performances will be: Dark bottom, white dress shirt, tie and shoes No sneakers, if possible

Arrival times:

Please have your Orchestra member arrive at 6:30 p.m. Choir members should arrive at 6:40 p.m. If only in Band, have your child arrive at 6:45p.m.

For Parents:

The concert is about an hour in length. We look forward to performing for you on Tuesday, May 8th.

Thank you, Cheryl Tierney and David Thomas

Crazy About Sports Camp

Crazy About Sports is a program that will provide kids the opportunity to play hard and have fun. This program gives kids the chance to develop the skills, confidence, and desire to be active with Mr. DeVeau Duffy’s PE Teacher. Kids will be introduced to a variety of games and activities that encourage great competition, great sportsmanship, and great FUN! Let’s have a summer filled with GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY!

Activity Description Dates Days Times Location Fees Ages

411343-A

CRAZY

ABOUT

SPORTS

06/25/18 - 06/29/18 M-F 9:00A - 12:00P Duffy

School

$134/$1

45

5 to

under

14

411343-B

CRAZY

ABOUT

SPORTS

07/16/18 - 07/20/18 M-F 9:00A - 12:00P Duffy

School

$134/$1

45

5 to

under

14

411343-C

CRAZY

ABOUT

SPORTS

08/13/18 - 08/17/18 M-F 9:00A - 12:00P Duffy

School

$134/$1

45

5 to

under

14

West Hartford Special Education PTO

May 2018 Events

Friday, May 4 @ 9:30am Coffee & Conversation Come join some members of SEPTO for a casual get together to meet other people in town. Sit down, grab

a cup of coffee or a bite to eat and mingle with other parents, caregivers or family members of children receiving special education services in West Hartford.

LOCATION: Panera, Bishops Corner Saturday, May 19 @ 7-9:30pm “Silent” Spring Fling Dance Join us at The Underground on Saturday, May 19th from 7 to 9:30 for an all-inclusive dance party

experience designed specifically for individuals with sensory sensitivities. The DJ will spin dance favorites through wireless Bluetooth headphones allowing attendees to control their own volume levels.

All students (typical and non-typical) 10 years of age and older are invited to attend.

Tickets are $5 each for students. Tickets available online now at http://bit.ly/silentspringfling

Parents are strongly encouraged to attend for free and a parent lounge is provided for families to relax and connect with other members of their community during the event.

www.WHSEPTO.org

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/whsepto/ Follow us on Instagram at @whsepto

Duffy Dateline Print and Submission Dates

Submissions are due the Monday before publication dates and can be sent to Kristi Laverty at Kristi_Laverty@whps.org and/or Ernestine Nobou at Ernestine_Nobou@whps.org

Print date Submission deadline

May May 17th May 14th May 31st May 25th June June 7th June 4th

Last Day of School June 20th

Next dateline publication date: May 17, 2018.