Dr. James Thompson, Jr.

Dear Bloomfield Public Schools family:

Congratulations to a Global Experience Magnet School students Caden Jolly, Ayla Green and Daylin McKim. They recently won 1st place in a business competition, hosted by SuitUP. The non-profit organization offers students the opportunity to see what it’s like to work in a corporate environment.

For this competition, the GEMS students traveled to New York City to work at the corporate offices of Kearney, a global management consulting firm. The students pitched to the judges of Kearney employees their idea of “Swish Juice”, a vending machine that allows customers to mix and match juices to make unique flavors.

The district’s emerging gifted and talented program, known as SOAR, will participate this month in a virtual global- collaboration project with students from the Colégio Mãe de Deus in Londrina, Brazil

The initiative is sponsored by Renzulli Learning. The first interaction will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, October 25th. Carmen Arace Intermediate School fifth and sixth- grade students will talk with the Brazilian students about launching a project focused on culture.

Bloomfield High School's freshman class and a contingent of students from Carmen Arace Middle School attended the NAACP's 11th Annual Great Debate in Bridgeport. A debate team from Yale competed against Howard University's debate team. The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater event was moderated by White House Correspondent April Ryan. It provided students the opportunity to learn more about the value of research, oral argument, civil debate, critical thinking and sportsmanship. About 5,000 students from around CT were in attendance.

It was PSAT/SAT Day las week at BHS. Students in grades 9-11 participated in the rigorous standardized tests most of the day. 

For the second year in a row, BHS' Athletic Department has been awarded the Fred Balsamo Sportsmanship Award. It honors BHS' commitment to sportsmanship and the work of the Warhawk Class Act Council. This year, the BHS Athletic Department will focus on a mental health initiative as it relates to good sportsmanship and being a positive role model. This award affirms that BHS is not only an athletic powerhouse in Connecticut, but a school in which student-athletes are recognized for their citizenship and respect for others.

This week, Oct. 16-21, is Homecoming Week at BHS. On Thursday, Oct. 19, there will be a students-only pep rally for the 7 p.m. football game vs. Northwest Catholic. The following day, there will be a home girls flag football game at 7 p.m. A school dance caps the spirit-filled week Saturday, Oct. 21.

Wintonbury Early Childhood Magnet School’s Fall Festival will take place Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Auer Farm, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will be pizza, fruit and fun activities for Wintonbury families.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence is seeing more domestic violence cases this year, including more cases of family violence involving children. A community forum, hosted by the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District, is being conducted today, Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the town's community center, 330 Park Ave. Attendees will learn how to spot signs of domestic abuse and how to help - including available resources.

We are continuing to remind families and members of our community about the district’s re-designed website and launch of our new mobile App. A brief instructional video on how to download the app via the QR code is available on our website: www.bloomfieldschools.org/ and social media platforms.

Sincerely,

 Dr. James Thompson, Jr.

Superintendent of Schools