Dear Middlebrook Parents and Friends,

Welcome to the 2008-09 school year! This year our Middlebrook community includes approximately 475 very engaging and committed students in our K-5 program. The Middlebrook campus has expanded and now includes our new neighbors the Trumbull Early Childhood Education Center. We are a K-5 school with two specialized programs in our building. Our Middlebrook community truly has developed a very diverse student population. In addition to our special education programs, our school provides a program for our non- English speaking population as well as a deaf education program for our hearing impaired students. The diversity of our school population is a definite strength in that it helps to promote understanding and respect for the differences in our cultural backgrounds.

This year we are using three guiding questions to help us improve student learning. What do we want our students to learn? How do we know they learned it? What do we do if they did not learn it? In response to these questions, we are in the process of moving our curriculum initiatives to the next level of implementation. A balanced literacy program is the model for our Language Arts Program. This year we are implementing guided reading at all levels K-5 and Reader’s Workshop in grades 3-5. Our goal is to develop independent readers and proficient writers. The implementation of the Math Curriculum continues to expand at all levels as our district assessments improve and provide better data that is used for instructional planning. Both Math and Language Arts have assessments that are comprehensive and consistent for each grade level, the information gathered from these assessments is essential for teachers to plan instruction. By following our curriculum, which is aligned to the state standards, continually monitoring the student’s progress through assessment and planning based on the data gathered from the assessments the teachers will be better informed and able to provide the correct instruction for our students.

Our Professional Development activities support the implementation of the curriculum. Our Reading Consultants, Math Specialists, Resource Teachers and Library Media Specialist provide ongoing support to our teachers by providing model lessons, demonstrations, workshops and direct assistance with planning. Our media center is developing into a true focal point for student learning. Flexible scheduling offers our students the opportunities to use technology as well as other library resources to improve their learning. Together we are striving to develop our students into independent readers who are critical thinkers, can solve problems and can express their thinking.

Another indispensable support to improve student learning is the parent community. We are very fortunate to have an active PTA/Father’s Club, which provides the students, staff, and parents with support in many ways. Their projects add to the quality of our school, there is a wide variety of after school programs, the Father’s Club purchased and will install a new dome to the Observatory and the Enhancement Committee together with the Father’s Club is well on their way to restoring the courtyard for student use. These are just a few of the ways that the PTA supports the students at Middlebrook School. Improving school and parent communication is another way the PTA helps student learning. The PTA Newsletter is a means of communication with parents and community. In addition to their very comprehensive newsletter, the PTA has established its own website, which is updated daily!

On another note, with the building of the new Pre School the playground for Middlebrook needed to be relocated and redesigned to re capture the space taken by the new school. The PTA, the Pre School Building Committee and the First Selectman’s office were instrumental in the redevelopment of the Middlebrook playground.

I know this year the students and staff will have many opportunities for new learning and I anticipate this year to be one of discovery for all of the Middlebrook community.

Sincerely,

Patricia Colello
Principal