Glad to be Back: A New School Year Begins

Our students and staff returned to school with great energy and enthusiasm. The first two weeks have been spent refreshing skills and getting reacquainted. The overall consensus is that “it’s great to be back!” View the slideshow!

We welcomed a new teacher, Rosemary Lara, who brings many years of experience in elementary and special education to the position. Most recently, Ms. Lara was a teaching assistant at South School in New Canaan. “I’m excited to form a routine and watch the students get comfortable and respond,” she said. “While it looks different for each of them, I can see that they love to work hard.”

Sr. Cheryl Driscoll has found her students eager to be back. “They are definitely more independent, especially in their academics,” she said. “They remembered the routine and last year’s work.” Everyone was glad to see Sr. Maureen Ulatowski, SSND, who has returned to Sr. Cheryl’s classroom after a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic.

Students in Joanne LaPorta’s class have returned with a new level of confidence. Formerly quite shy, Tanisha is now playing games and puzzles with her classmate, Kari. She is also counting and writing numbers. “The students have adjusted quickly to the classroom routine,” said Mrs. LaPorta. “It’s wonderful to watch the interactions with each other as they make new friends.”

“My students have gotten taller!” said Jim Winebrenner about his class. “They’re ready to learn and have some fun.”

Class goals for the year include improving academic and life skills; getting out into the community again to go grocery shopping and return to vocational sites; and, of course, having fun.

“Our students come in smiling and they leave smiling,” said Eric Spencer, Director of Education. “That is evidence to me that they’re happy to be back.”