Faculty Portal

August 12, 2019

Hello to the Seymour Public Schools Community,

We hope that you all enjoyed your extended summer break this year and got to spend time doing the things that make you happy and refreshed. Hopefully, the summer months provided you and your family time to reconnect and relax.

Summer is a great time to reflect and recharge and we sincerely hope that each and every one of you took the time necessary to do that.  However, as you also know, summer time is also a time for a lot of hard work to get things prepared for the upcoming school year.  We want to thank our wonderful custodial staff for their hard work throughout the summer.  We appreciate their commitment to getting our facilities ready on time even though there was a great deal of activity going on at some of the buildings this summer.  Our buildings look amazing and are ready to welcome back our students.  We also want to thank Mr. Dyer and his staff for getting all of the technology throughout the district updated and ready to go.  Their hard work is to be commended. Another group to thank is our building Administrators, who along with the Central Office Team have worked hard in order to properly screen, interview, and hire needed staff. We would be remiss if we did not thank all of the members of our staff who did a phenomenal job during summer school. During the summer, our teachers assembled to work on and improve current curriculum across all grade levels and this work with continue throughout the year in order to enhance the learning experience for all students.

As educators and fellow parents, we too know the anxiety and excitement that come along with the start of a new school year and while this can at times be unsettling and cause some students and parents to lose some sleep, we encourage you to remember that all of us here in Seymour have your children’s best interest at heart.  It is our mission to help each and every one of your children to learn and grow as individuals both intellectually as well as socially. We once again say THANK YOU for your hard work as a parent and as an advocate for your child and we are happy that you choose to share your children with us and we look forward to assisting them throughout this new school year.  As professionals who chose this wonderful educational career pathway, we get to see firsthand the direct impact that learning has on your child and we are here to watch your children flourish and mature with every passing day.

As you have heard me say many times, our students are always our number one priority and we will continue to build and cultivate our partnerships with you in order to help your children succeed.  We will continue to work together for all of Seymour’s students during the 2019-2020 school year. 

Last year, our students did very well on the various assessments (MAP, SBAC, SAT, and AP) administered to them and we have continued to see growth across the K-12 spectrum. This growth is a direct result of your student’s hard work and effort as well as their teacher’s hard work and dedication in getting them prepared.  My team of administrators and teachers are confident that this growth will continue this year and beyond because of the support that you give to your children and to our schools.  Please always remember that true learning happens as a team, and as such, you are an integral part of this process.  As parents, you are to be commended for being your child’s biggest fan and educational advocate.  It is that support of your children as well as your support of their teachers and the learning process that we can and truly will succeed at the highest possible level.   

Seymour is a great learning community where academics and extracurricular activities flourish.  The amount of time and dedication that your children place into learning as well as into extracurricular activities and community events is beyond amazing.  Our students know what it means to be well rounded because they are so heavily engaged and involved.  Their hard work and dedication is impressive and this will truly carry them far in life. My team and I are fortunate and honored to serve your amazing children and to serve a community that values education and supports our school system.

Our expectations are very high for another great school year where our students shine in the classroom and in the community.  We are excited to greet your children on our first day of school on Wednesday August 28, 2019.  Please remember to visit the district’s website at: http://www.seymourschools.org as well as our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/SeymourPublicSchools in order to keep up to date on all activities and events.

With great pride,

Michael Wilson, Superintendent

Go Wildcats!

 

September 7, 2018

 

Hello to the Seymour Public School Community,

 

As a result of the recent extreme heat as well as with the winter season approaching, I feel like now is a good time to share with you how some of these decisions are made.  I first want to reiterate that your children’s safety is always our number one priority.  While you may choose to agree or to disagree as to whether or not we have an early dismissal or have to close school, please realize that all decisions revolve around the safety of your children. I recognize and understand as a father myself, that our decision to dismiss early or to open or close schools in inclement weather has a direct impact on our families within the community. While we also realize that our students are better served - both academically and socially - by being in school, this is not always possible due to Mother Nature.

 

HOW IS THE DECISION MADE?

This decision is taken very seriously and requires a lot of time and analysis.  Please understand that we make the decision to dismiss early, open or close the schools in inclement weather based on a careful analysis of all relevant factors, such as:

·         The heat index as it relates to both heat and humidity.  Typically when the heat index reaches an extreme number is when the decision to dismiss early or to close is rendered.

·         Building conditions (such as overall building temperatures as they pertain to all seasons and the condition of parking lots and sidewalks)

·         Several weather maps are researched and analyzed from the night before and continuing on into early in the morning.

·         The amount of precipitation that either has or is predicted to fall. We prefer not make our decision based on weather predictions, which are not always accurate. But sometimes this is unavoidable.

·         The Director of Public Works is contacted as well as the Director of the bus company in order to obtain information on road conditions as well as on the conditions of our student drop off and pick up areas and our parking lots.  We must give careful consideration to the most dangerous roads in the district. Even if your street looks clear, travel elsewhere in the district may be dangerous. Also, we must also consider that some of our students drive to school.

·         Temperature and wind chill. Please remember that some of our students walk to school and some must wait outside for the bus.

·         The Superintendent is in constant communication with other local districts in order to see what position they are taking.  However, all of our district decisions are based on the roads and weather conditions in Seymour. 

 

WHO MAKES THE DECISION?

As Superintendent of Schools, I am responsible for the final decision.  But once again, please be reminded, that a team of people are contacted (such as the Director of Public Works and the Director of the bus company) prior to making any final decisions that impact the closing of schools.

 

HOW DO WE NOTIFY OUR FAMILIES?

All decisions are sent out via phone, email, website, our Facebook page, and various news outlets such as Fox61, WTNH, and WFSB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inclement Weather                                                                             -2-                                                                     September 7, 2018

 

 

WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE?

When bad weather is predicted, I rise very early in the morning to assess the situation. I try to make the decision as early as I can in order to have our families plan for student care.  If I can responsibly make the decision the evening before, that is what I will always try to do, however as you are aware, the weather is always unpredictable.  In most cases, the final decision is rendered at 5:30 am or earlier. This gives us the time needed to post the information on our website, our Facebook page, various news outlets, the phone system, and emails.

 

ARE THERE TIMES WHEN WE WILL CLOSE SCHOOL IF CONDITIONS WORSEN?

Keep in mind that, even if weather conditions worsen, we cannot reverse our decision in the morning without endangering students. Once we make the decision to open the schools, many parents rely on it and leave for work. If we then send students right back home, many will return to unsupervised bus stops and empty houses. If conditions get worse during the school day, we may need to have any early dismissal, but we will give adequate notice to all parents first.

 

Please realize that while my team and I try to do our absolute best in this process, we know that often no perfect decision exists. In the event that based on current weather conditions, you do not feel safe enough sending your child to school, we recognize that it is your right as a parent to keep your child home, however, you must remember to call your child out of school for that day in order for us to maintain proper attendance records. Also, discourage your teenagers from driving in bad conditions and offer them alternatives if weather conditions worsen.

 

It is my hope that this new insight into the process helps everyone to better understand what goes into the decisions made around inclement weather.

 

With great pride,

 

 

 

Michael Wilson

Superintendent of Schools

 

Go Wildcats!

 

March 2, 2018

 

Dear Parents, Students, Teachers and Staff:

 

It is now time for your nominations for Seymour’s Teacher of the Year 2018-19.  Any staff member, parent, or student who feels that he/she would like to recognize an outstanding teacher, can do so now.  Nominees should be teachers with at least five full years of experience in Seymour and must be teaching now at least 50% of the time.  Former Seymour Teachers of the Year are not eligible.  (Names of those so honored are attached to this letter).

 

In order to nominate a teacher, please complete the nomination form here.  You may email your nomination form to ldauerty@seymourschools.org or mail to:

Teacher of the Year

Superintendent’s Office

Seymour Public Schools

98 Bank Street

Seymour, CT  06483

 

Nominations will be accepted from March 2, 2018 to April 3, 2018.

 

This is a very important event for any teacher.  Please take the time to consider recognizing a teacher for his/her contributions to the students of Seymour.

 

Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Michael Wilson

Superintendent of Schools

Did you miss our presentation on PSAT, MAP, and KHAN Academy?  You can view the entire presentation below!

PSAT, MAP, KHAN Academy