The full May and June calendars and the buzz of excitement from our students tells us that the end of the school year is approaching. The activities and enthusiasm of our students and staff are high energy right now as everyone is focusing on exciting end-of-year activities, spring sports, field trips, prom, concerts, senior outings and awards celebrations. We are so happy to open our doors to parents and family members for these important traditions and celebrations for our students of all ages. Please check out school websites for all the details.
Spring is also the time of year for summative assessments and state testing. Students in Grades 3-8 participated in Smarter Balanced State Assessments in April and May. Students in Grades 5, 8 and 11 also took the Next Generation Science Standards assessment this spring and both Granby Memorial Middle School and Granby Memorial High School students participated in PSAT and SAT.
Granby students worked hard to demonstrate their knowledge and skill and we will use this important data to measure growth and plan for instructional improvements for the coming school year. We are carefully analyzing individual student growth to personalize goals and optimize learning for each child.
This year our Granby Bears Class of 2024 will graduate on Friday, June 7, with a rain date of June 10. We are thrilled to take part in this proud milestone for students and their loved ones. As my first cohort of graduates as Granby’s Superintendent of Schools, this class will always hold a special place in my heart. Each graduate has taken their own unique pathway to cross the stage and we look forward to celebrating with them. I extend my gratitude to family members, friends, mentors, and the entire community of Granby for supporting these impressive young people on their journey. I know you join me in wishing them well!
Keep those celebrations coming!
Our district is in the process of identifying our Teacher of the Year and our Staff Member of the Year for 2024. The selection committee is hard at work to identify the individuals that will be selected for this special recognition. The Teacher of the Year will be announced during our professional development day on May 24 and our Staff Member of the Year will be announced at convocation in August.
In April, the Connecticut Library Association presented Granby Public Schools and Granby Public Library with the 2024 Faith Hektoen Award for Outstanding Programs. The group was recognized for the collaborative event, “Granby Children’s Book Festival” that was held at Wells Road School this past November. Congratulations to our outstanding library media specialists and a huge thank you to Granby Education Foundation for funding this event!
We had a tremendous response from the community to our all-call for positive messages of appreciation for teachers and support staff in Granby Schools. The staff enjoyed these so much so we would like to keep them going through the end of the year. Please use the email address Letkindnessripple@granbyschools.org to share a positive “shout out” for a Granby Public Schools staff member that you wish to thank. We will share your messages with our educators and post to our social media @Superintendent-Burke on Instagram and Facebook.
I wish everyone a wonderful summer and look forward to welcoming all students in the fall to the Granby Public Schools!