Norwalk Superintendent of Schools Alexandra Estrella, just two months into her new job, sat down with NancyOnNorwalk to discuss starting work here during a pandemic and the Board of Education’s strategic approach to defining new goals for the future.
Estrella, former superintendent for Community School District Four in East Harlem, described herself as hands on, making it a priority to visit every school and have in-depth conversations with each principal in the weeks prior to the schools reopening, so she could get to know them. She also sought information about the district and advice on what she should continue doing or keep in mind as she transitions into her new role.
…the district is working toward drafting a new strategic operating plan, “hopefully at some point between January and February.” The listening and learning tour guided by Temple University Associate Professor Edward Fergus, Ph. D., as part of the equity initiative is part of that: “We are starting off by building the capacity and building a common language and understanding of what, what implicit bias is what does it mean? And how do we, as individuals contribute to the largest system around some of these challenges?”
MISSION POSSIBLE! Darien youth to undertake a campaign to support Carver kids
Organized by the Community Fund of Darien, Darien youth are about to undertake a campaign to gather PPE supplies for Carver students!
The weeklong MISSION POSSIBLE! drive will be to collect as many new reusable and disposable face masks for Carver kids as possible. MISSION POSSIBLE! runs from Saturday, September 19th to Saturday, September 26th. We will have a collection bin at the Darien Sport Shop at 1127 Post Road in Darien to collect the donations.
Carver kids are back to school!
All of our K-12 before and after school programs are operating with the goal of achieving full enrollment by November 1st. Students and teachers are adjusting to the new public health challenges and rules. All our students have computers. Transportation is adjusted with more bus monitors. Carver also operates one of the two Community Pods for Norwalk public middle and high school students on their virtual learning days.
Thank you for your generous support!
Norwalk Educational Equity Initiative: Survey & Focus Groups Begin
The Norwalk Public Schools (NPS) district has undertaken a comprehensive initiative designed to examine and address educational equity in Norwalk.
This ongoing project consists of four phases of work: an examination of disproportionate representation that looks at where children of color are under-represented or over-represented in programs and situations; a community survey and focus groups; presentations to the Norwalk community on findings and recommendations; and equity literacy development of district leadership.
Recommendations from the work will also include plans for a year-long program of professional development for employees that will focus on strategies for reducing implicit bias-based beliefs.
To get a deeper perspective from the community on equity, NPS and partner Temple University will kick off a “Listening and Learning Tour” over the next several weeks. It will include surveys for parents, students and staff, as well as focus groups that will explore equity as a pillar of the conversation. A variety of focus groups will be held both virtually and in-person for staff, parents and educators.
Back to school updates!
We are back to school!
REGISTER HERE FOR ALL CARVER K-12 BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
Make arrangements directly with the school to register your child in Carver’s after school program at Side By Side Chater School in Norwalk or the Classical Studies Magnet Academy in Bridgeport.
Our before and after school programs are operating with the goal of achieving full enrollment by November 1st. Students and teachers are adjusting to the new public health challenges and rules. All our students have computers. Transportation is adjusted with more bus monitors.
Throughout Connecticut, the governor announced that since last Friday, another 136 residents had tested positive for COVID-19 and 10,790 tests had been conducted, bringing the total number of cases to 55,031. No additional deaths from coronavirus-associated causes were reported, keeping the total at 4,485. The number of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 increased by 7 bringing the total to 71. The governor signed his 70th executive order.
Read the governor's latest update as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15
Indicators for School Learning Models released Aug. 20
Reopening Rules - Phase Two (English and Spanish)
Many hospitals and healthcare providers around Connecticut are now offering COVID-19 testing without a doctor's order. Check 211 for the list here.
Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center: Desktop & Mobile
Carver celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month!
Google's search website was updated Tuesday for the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month with a new Doodle to honor Puerto Rican civil rights pioneer Felicitas Mendez. Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week. Hispanic Heritage Week was established by legislation sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. In 1988, the commemorative week was expanded to a month (September 15 to October 15) by legislation signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.
William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty offers tremendous financial support and expressions of solidarity
The Carver community received a generous gift of $7,800 from William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty today to support our students as they return to school this week.
There was an “outpouring of generosity” from the company’s real estate agents and employees contributing to this effort “…to promote the advancement of racial equality and social justice,” said the William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty President and CEO, Paul Breunich. The company raised a total of $39,000, distributed equally to five charities.
Additionally, Carver will receive a gift of $15,000 from the estate of Joan Toepfer and her Executor, Alix Prince, as will the other four beneficiary charities.
Breunich said his company is committed to “…stand in full solidarity and support of people of color. …Together, we are all called to do better.”
Finding the right words to accurately capture the current challenges our children and their families face is nearly impossible. But we are greatly heartened by these generous gifts and expressions of solidarity. It is with inspiration from partners like William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty that we are able to boldly continue to support our students in these uncharted circumstances.
Carver’s mission has never been so critical. Please join us in thanking William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty for joining us in our work towards providing an excellent education for all students.
Dr. Alexandra Estrella visits Robert Pennington, Principal, Rowayton Elementary School
Dr. Alexandra Estrella visits Robert Pennington, Principal, Rowayton Elementary School, who is also a Carver board member. It was also his brithday!
The Hour: Carver included in "5 things to know about schools reopening in Norwalk"
NORWALK — Tuesday marks the first day of school for the city’s public schools. By now, most families have decided whether to send their children back into the classrooms or keep them home for virtual learning. They know the rules around masks, washing their hands and being in the classroom while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Norwalk Public Schools has also initiated some of these new protocols and programs to help ease families back to school, many returning to the building for the first time since March.
Community pods for virtual learning
Superintendent Alexandra Estrella said the Norwalk Public Library and the Carver Center will offer support for middle and high school students on their virtual learning days. Each pod will contain up to 12 students who will be part of the group for the entire semester. A paraeducator will be assigned to each pod.
For more information, see the district’s Reopening Handbook for Parents.
Free meals still available at Carver
Families with children between the ages of 2 and 18 can pick up free meals at the Carver Community Center and around the city through the end of 2020, thanks to the USDA extending its Summer Food Service Program. The district began meal pickup when school buildings closed due to COVID-19 in March. It’s available to all children in the city, not just those with Norwalk Public Schools.
Free Digital Standards-Aligned Learning Resources
Discovery Education offers free standards-aligned digital resources that you can use to engage and introduce young people to careers and new experiences.
Resources focus on hands-on STEM activities, social and emotional learning, health and wellness, career exploration, and financial literacy.
Virtual Field Trips
Join host Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and president of RFK Human Rights, for an inspiring conversation about activism. Defenders will share their inspiring stories and answer questions about what sparked their passion for activism and what "speaking truth to power" means to them. Young people can tune in to see how they can defend human rights in their communities and the world. Take a Virtual Field Trip to meet:
Kailash Satyarthi, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Van Jones, social entrepreneur, CNN political contributor.
Jazz Jennings, LGBTQ rights activist and star of TLC's I Am Jazz.
Darrick Hamilton, Executive Director of the Ohio State University's Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity.
Ibtihaj Muhammad, Olympic fencing bronze medalist.
Science Fair Central
The maker spirit is all about "learning through doing." Infuse this spirit into your programs with these standards-aligned, hands-on activities designed to encourage exploration and spark curiosity with your students.
Siemens STEM Day
This easy to navigate platform has over 150 hands-on STEM activities that are available for "grab and go." There's also a Train the Trainer toolkit for a professional development component.
Girls Get STEM
This resource, available in English and Spanish, provides a standards-aligned curriculum that aims to address gender equity in STEM education across the through a series of girl-led, girl-tested, and girl-approved resources for young people in grades two through five. While the material is girl-centric, it's suitable for all genders.
3M Young Scientist Lab
This interactive portal is filled with engaging activities—which could be done alone or with a group—and standards-aligned teaching tools, anchored by the award-winning annual Young Scientist Challenge.
Soar with Wings
This platform provides standards-aligned digital resources that incorporate academics and fun while building key social and emotional skills for youth in grades K–5. Soar with Wings also strengthens the skillset of parents and afterschool professionals, so they can equip students with the resources and support they need to fly high.
LG Experience Happiness
Ideal for older youth, this platform offers self-paced modules and virtual experiences youth could walk through in their own time. It's also organized so you could easily find what type of activity you're looking for right on the website, along with professional development tools for afterschool professionals.
Ask. Listen. Learn.
Uncover the science behind how alcohol affects developing brains, bodies and behavior. This platform helps equip youth with vital resources to dive deep into the science, data, and facts that are critical to understanding the effects of alcohol, leading them to say "YES" to a healthy lifestyle and "NO" to underage drinking.
Operation Prevention
The DEA and Discovery Education have joined forces to combat a growing epidemic of prescription opioid misuse and heroin use nationwide. On this platform, young people could hear impactful conversations about how addiction can start through virtual field trips, while afterschool professionals could access resources grounded in science, health, social studies and ELA standards.
AHA and NFL Play 60
With this resource, young people could stay active inside their afterschool programs and out. Lessons and activities—which include virtual field trips with NFL players—are aligned to National Physical Education Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards.
Cha-Ching
Though videos, educational resources, games, and more, this engaging and fun financial literacy program prepares young people in grades K-6 with the knowledge, tools, and practice they need to make informed decisions to reach their goals and dreams.
Pathway to Financial Success
This platform, ideal for older youth, offers the skills needed to set and reach goals with videos and interactive modules. Afterschool professionals can also access key financial success skills, including lessons, guides and videos.
See even more offerings at Discovery Education.
Family Guidebook and other Help for a Safe & Informed Return to School
FAMILY GUIDEBOOK: Click to see the Norwalk Public Schools (NPS) Family Guidebook for 20920-2021.
SCHOOL START TIMES: The list of school start times and end times for 2020-21 is available on norwalkps.org. Please contact your principal directly for any questions.
SCHOOL SCHEDULE NEWS: School delays, closures, early dismissals and after-school cancellations are communicated on the Norwalk Public Schools website: www.norwalkps.org; NPS Social Media: Facebook and Twitter; NPS automated School Messenger phone and text message system; NPS Info Line recording: (203) 854-4123; and local TV, radio and online media outlets.
REMOTE LEARNING SUPPORT APPLICATION: Norwalk Public Schools plans to provide supervised work space for a limited number of middle and high school students who are on the hybrid schedule in their schools, and who need support during the days they are not in school. Students will be placed in Pods, each consisting of twelve students. They will meet at either the Carver Community Center, the main Norwalk Public Library on Belden Avenue, and the South Norwalk Library. If you are interested in having your child participate in one of the Pods, please click on this link. Space is limited so please return your application NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. Decisions will be made by September 14th. Transportation is not provided.
PARENT UNIVERSITY: Parent University is a virtual learning experience for parents, guardians, and all Norwalk community members. This NPS resource is designed to help parents learn skills to work with their students and help them achieve. Families enrolled in Parent University have the opportunity to attend collaborative learning sessions with their students. Sessions are designed to be either live presentations with Q&A or pre-recorded informational sessions about the various technologies and activities students are using at Norwalk Public Schools. All sessions are family oriented and can be attended by all members of the family. Supporting Students in K-2 Reading, Wednesday, September 9 @ 6pm — Register here. Supporting Students in 3-5 Reading, Wednesday, September 9 @ 7pm — Register here.