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It's National Hispanic American Heritage Month!

It's a national celebration to honor the history, culture, and influence of past generations who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central, and South America. The observance started in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson's administration as a one-week celebration called Hispanic Heritage Week.

This year, the theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is "Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope."

Norwalk Public Schools will recognize Hispanic Heritage Month with a proclamation during the September 21 Board of Education meeting.

The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Hispanic and Latino are often used interchangeably though they actually mean two different things. Hispanic refers to people who speak Spanish or are descended from Spanish-speaking populations, while Latino refers to people who are from or descended from people from Latin America. Latinx is a gender-neutral English neologism, sometimes used to refer to people of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity in the United States.

On September 14, 2021, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month:

“During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize that Hispanic heritage is American heritage. We see it in every aspect of our national life: on our television and movie screens, in the music that moves our feet, and in the foods we enjoy. We benefit from the many contributions of Hispanic scientists working in labs across the country to help us fight COVID-19 and the doctors and the nurses on the front lines caring for people’s health. Our Nation is represented by Hispanic diplomats who share our values in countries all over the world and strengthened by military members and their families who serve and sacrifice for the United States. Our communities are represented by Hispanic elected officials, and our children are taught by Hispanic teachers. Our future will be shaped by Hispanic engineers who are working to develop new technology that will help us grasp our clean energy future and by the skilled union workers who are going to build it.”

Resources:

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

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On August 23, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave FULL approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. More info at  fda.gov.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A NORWALK VACCINE SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK (September 13-19, 2021) 

The State of Connecticut controls the vaccine distribution schedule. Full details from the State can be found at ct.gov/covidvaccine.

Norwalk residents who wish to receive email or text updates regarding the COVID-19 vaccine from the City can now sign up at norwalkct.org/vaccineupdate. Residents can enter their email address and/or cell phone number to be alerted of changing news, updates, and vaccine eligibility.

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Vaccine Clinics 

To receive alerts of newly-posted clinics, enroll for notifications at norwalkct.org/vaccineupdate.

Pfizer is available for anyone 12 or older. Those 12-17 must have parent/guardian consent. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are available for those 18 years of age and older. 

Wednesdays in September
5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Maritime Aquarium
10 N. Water Street
Vaccine: Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson

The City of Norwalk has partnered with Community Health Center, Inc. to provide free COVID-19 vaccine clinics at Veteran's Park. Pfizer (first or second dose) and Johnson & Johnson is available. Pfizer is available for anyone 12 or older. Those 12-17 must have parent/guardian consent. Johnson & Johnson is available for those 18 or older. All clinics are 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. No appointment needed.

Who's Eligible? 

All Connecticut residents, workers, and students ages 12 and older are now eligible. Please note that Pfizer is the only vaccine currently authorized for individuals ages 12 - 17, so individuals in that age group must find a provider who offers Pfizer. For more information about eligibility, visit: https://portal.ct.gov/vaccine-portal/COVID-19-Vaccination-Phases.

I am Eligible. How do I get the Vaccine?

Eligible individuals have many options for scheduling an appointment to get a vaccine. Click HERE for instructions in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole on how to schedule appointments.

You can visit www.ct.gov/covidvaccine and search by zip code to find: 

  • a list of vaccine providers near you

  • how to schedule an appointment with each provider

  • whether appointments are available

  • which brand vaccine is offered at each location

Some vaccine providers use CDC's VAMS system to schedule appointments. For more information about VAMS, visit: https://covidvaccinefinder.ct.gov/vams/170. 

Phone Assistance 

If you can't make an appointment online, you can call the Connecticut Vaccine Appointment Assist Line (877) 918-2224 to find an appointment. This line is open seven days a week, 8 am to 8 pm. 

If you have additional questions, you can call the Health Department's Vaccine Info line at (203) 854-7985.  

The City of Norwalk has partnered with the Norwalk Senior Center and Senior Services Coordinating Council to launch phone assistance lines for Norwalk seniors seeking information regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Seniors may call the Norwalk Senior Center at (203) 847-3115 (English) or (203) 299-1500 (Español), or Senior Services Coordinating Council at (203) 434-3085 or (203) 434-1876 for assistance.

COVID-19 Vaccinations at Home

If you or someone you know is unable to make it to a COVID vaccine clinic, they may be eligible to get their vaccine at home. We’re partnering with Community Health Centers Inc. (CHC, Inc.) to offer Norwalkers free vaccination at home. Call CHC Inc. at 475-231-7706 if you are interested or have questions. For a printable flyer about at-home vaccinations (in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole), click here. 

Community Conversations 

Mayor Rilling hosted a series of Community Conversations around the COVID-19 vaccine.

The first conversation, "Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Communities of Color" from March 3, 2021 featured Dr. Priscilla Agyemang, with Norwalk Hospital and Dr. Tichianaa Armah, with Community Health Center, Inc. Watch the video HERE.

The second conversation, "COVID-19 concerns within the Hispanic/Latinx Community" from March 17, 2021 featured Dr. Luis Fuentes, Amistad Community Health Center, Lucia Rilling, First Lady of Norwalk, Orlando Aquino, Patient & Community Engagement Manager with the Norwalk Community Health Center, and Maria Escalera, Director of Human Services for the City of Norwalk. Watch the video HERE.

The third conversation, “COVID-19 Vaccine Supply, Demand, & Access” from March 31, 2021 featured Dr. Reginald Eadie, President & Chief Executive Officer at Trinity Health of New England, and co-chair of Governor Lamont’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group, Greg Burnett and Dominique Johnson from the Norwalk Common Council, and Deanna D’Amore, Director, Norwalk Health Department. Watch the video HERE.

The fourth conversation, “COVID-19 Education, Communication & Outreach” from April 14, 2021 featured Kenneth Waller, CEO of Norwalk Community Health Center, Amy Taylor, VP Community Health Center, Inc., and Deanna D’Amore, Director, Norwalk Health Department. Watch the video HERE.

More Questions? 

Email COVID19TaskForce@norwalkct.org with questions or concerns or call (203) 854-7985. A member of the Mayor's Task Force will respond within 48 hours.

Mental Health is a Priority as We Return to School

Yesterday, a confirmed case of COVID-19 within Norwalk High School and the P-TECH Norwalk school community put students and staff on a temporary remote learning schedule while the district conducts contact tracing. This is the first time a Norwalk school has gone to a remote model since students returned for full in-person learning on August 30.

There is no doubt that the last year and half has been difficult, and the COVID-19 pandemic changed what many of us consider to be “normal.” That’s especially true for schools, which switched to virtual learning at the outset of the pandemic almost overnight — an adjustment that was harder for some than others.

Resuming in-person learning is eliciting a wide range of emotions, from excited to apprehensive. Anxiety around a big change is typical, and there are ways Carver and our schools help students cope.

We call this practice Social Emotional Learning.

Fears about the potential spread of COVID-19 are still a reality for many, especially as the World Health Organization identifies new variants of the virus. Some parents may be caught between the pros and cons of sending their kids back to school: Children and teens benefit from learning and interacting with their peers in person, but COVID-19 is still a concern.

It’s important to know the facts and stay up to date on the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Centers for Disease Control is a great resource.

Regardless of whether a child is vaccinated, they may be required to wear a mask and take additional safety precautions like maintaining social distancing and practicing proper hand hygiene. It is also necessary to know each school’s protocol if a student does test positive — and prepare our children for any contingencies.

Remember that any disruption to a routine can cause feelings of anxiety and stress, so Carver staff are sure to check in with our students often.

According to mental health experts, symptoms of anxiety can occur when someone feels very worried, nervous or fearful. Signs of depression or stress may also arise as children transition back to school.

Mental health challenges can negatively affect our children’s learning and social development, so it’s important that we check in often and are equipped with the tools and skills to support them in the best way possible. Their feelings are valid no matter what they are, and we can help them work through their emotions in a healthy way.

Returning to in-person learning may not be easy for all students, but maintaining an open dialogue, having a contingency plan, and managing our expectations are just some of the ways we can make this transition easier for our families.

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L.O.V.E. Unit: A new Carver initiative combining basketball, character-building, and community.

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Leadership Overcomes Violence Everywhere: That’s what Carver’s new L.O.V.E. Unit stands for. Led by Tremain Gilmore, Carver Teen Center Director and Co-Executive Director of Ej's H.E.A.R.T. Inc, L.O.V.E. Unit provided free basketball training and mentorship at Roodner Court and Columbus Court in Norwalk this summer, giving children the opportunity to learn one-on-one with local professional basketball players in a supportive, empowering community environment.

L.O.V.E. Unit is a part of Summer Run, an all-summer co-ed program that has been engaging youth through basketball since 2009. Held in the evenings at the Carver Community Center, Summer Run teaches participants the basics of basketball, strengthens their athletic abilities, and builds their teamwork and leadership skills. Youth are provided with rewarding activities and experiences in a safe, inclusive environment surrounded by friends and mentors.

Countless Carver alumni have sharpened their basketball skills at Summer Run, with some going on to play at the collegiate and professional levels. On Friday nights, some return to flaunt their talents, serving as inspiration for the younger players.

Summer Run and its new mobile L.O.V.E. Unit build inclusive communities of support and encouragement, giving children and youth positive role models to help them develop not only their basketball skills, but their confidence and character as well.

Watch the video below to learn more about L.O.V.E. Unit!

Positioning social and emotional learning (SEL) as foundational to our priorities

All the schools in which Carver operates infuse SEL into every aspect of students’ learning—across all classrooms, during all parts of the school day (and after school), among administrators and staff, and in partnership with families and communities. When fully implemented, schoolwide SEL creates a foundation for all other educational goals.

10 KEY ELEMENTS FOR SEL IN SCHOOLS

CASEL has developed a list of 10 indicators—interconnected structures and practices you’d expect to see in a school that has focused on high-quality, systemic SEL implementation:

1. Explicit instruction: Dedicated time for learning and practicing social and emotional competencies.

2. Integration with academic instruction: Students practice SEL while learning academic content.

3. Youth voice and engagement: Students engage as leaders, problem-solvers, and decision-makers.

4. Supportive school and classroom climates: All students feel a sense of belonging and affirmed in their identities.

5. Focus on adult SEL: Adults also cultivate their own social, emotional, and cultural competence.

6. Supportive discipline: Response to behaviors is instructive, restorative, and equitable.

7. A continuum of integrated supports: SEL is integrated throughout student support services.

8. Authentic family partnerships: Families understand, support, and shape the school’s approach to SEL.

9. Community partnerships: School staff and community partners align on strategies and communication around SEL-related efforts.

10. Systems for continuous improvement: The school collects and reflects on SEL-related data to improve practice.

Welcome Back to School next Monday!

We are so excited to see all our students return to school on Monday, August 30 for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year!

New school bus routes will be posted on the NPS website by August 27. The K-12 bus pass system that launched last year will be used again. Students will swipe in with their bus pass upon entering the bus. The equipment works in cooperation with the GPS tracking system installed on the buses. There is a digital dashboard, which provides the district with reports of students’ daily attendance on buses. Stay tuned for information on the new parent tracking app that will roll out in September.

To find out what time your child's school begins and ends click here. Students may arrive 15 minutes prior to the bell times that are listed on the website.

Periodic health assessments are required of all students attending Norwalk Public Schools in accordance with Connecticut State law. If the student already had a physical exam and met the requirements, the appropriate BLUE or YELLOW State of Connecticut Health Assessment Record (HAR) should be given directly to the school nurse as soon as possible. Please call your school nurse with any questions about the required health assessments or immunizations. You can access the NPS Nurse Directory by clicking here.

The Connecticut Department of Education has mandated that all schools return to full in-person instruction. No hybrid or remote learning is planned at this time. State requirement remains in place for masks in all school settings and Norwalk has an indoor mask requirement.

On Thursday, August 19, NPS Superintendent Dr. Alexandra Estrella and other district leaders presented a Town Hall meeting to discuss opening plans for the upcoming school year. The NPS Town Hall was recorded and uploaded to the NPS YouTube Channel, which you can access by clicking here. If you would like to view a copy of the PowerPoint presentation that was shown during the Town Hall, please click here.