August 1, 2019
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year. We know it is going to be a wonderful one and we are looking forward to the return of our students and families. I hope that you and your children had a great summer and are looking forward to the many great activities we have planned for the upcoming school year. Our “School Opening” packets are posted on our school website as they become available to us - (https://ns.fairfieldschools.org/parents). Please make sure to check this often for current information and updates.
It has been a productive summer at NSS and our school team continue to work together to make sure the building is ready for the first day of school. A special thank you to our wonderful PTA for the exciting school gift of a Gaga Pit for students on the intermediate playground (to be installed soon). Gaga is a game played in an octagonal pit. It is considered a kinder gentler version of dodge ball and is played with a soft foam ball. It is fun and easy and primarily for our older students. I know the children will enjoy having an additional game to play during recess. Another thanks to Mr. Charlie Dias and Mr. Paulo Ossa for their hard work preparing the building for the arrival of staff and students. Many teachers have already started getting their classrooms ready.
As you prepare for the upcoming school year, please make sure to visit your Infinite Campus (IC) portal and make sure all information is current. This is essential so that you can receive important information (i.e. classroom placement; progress reports) throughout the school year. You can access information about IC on the district website – https://campus.fairfieldschools.org/campus/portal/fairfield.jsp. We will be releasing student placements through IC at the end of the day on Wednesday, 8/21/19. You will see a new version of a parent handbook also posted on the website shortly. It contains consistent information for all of our elementary schools with additions (in blue) that pertain directly to NSS.
We have some faculty changes to announce for the upcoming school year. It is always bittersweet to say good-bye to our fine faculty members while welcoming new additions to our school team. I know you will join me in welcoming our new faculty members. Many have visited already and look forward to meeting you and your children. I know you will join me in wishing Ms. Inara Coleman the best of luck as she moves to Burr Elementary School as a member of their grade 4 team. Here’s the most current list of our classroom teachers. Changes and new faculty members are in bold print:
Grade K – Mrs. Paula Healey, Mrs. Elizabeth Keresey, Ms. Nicole Monahan
Grade 1 – Ms. Joanne Belko, Mrs. Nicole Hackney, Mrs. Kayla Onderko
Grade 2 – Mrs. Karen Myers, Mrs. Kristin Rollinson, Mrs. Kathleen Kane
Grade 3 – Mrs. Cheryl Banner, Mrs. Muriel Dushok, Mr. Harry Bartlett
Grade 4 – Ms. Kristin Mancini, Ms. Gina Marcheschi, Mr. Steve Porricelli
Grade 5 – Mrs. Jessica Furey, Mr. Robert Gillen, Mr. Matthew Wendin
Special Education – Mrs. Tracy Alley, Ms. Erica Murray, Mrs. Ruth Prins,
Mrs. Pamela Sevilla, Ms. Monica Gorton*
Library Media – Mr. Gregory Foschi
Spanish – Ms. Marta Mwmbulukutu*
Art – shared by both Mrs. Brittany Mansi & Mr. Robert Matarazzo
Physical Education – Ms. Kim Rasmussen Music – Ms. Ashley Zadravecz
Gifted – Ms. Tanya Rahn*
STEAM – Ms. Val Saltzman*
Intern – Ms. Jasmeen-Desiree Phillips
Building Substitute – Mrs. Caitlyn Corrigan
Student Teacher – Ms. Emily Spoto (with Mrs. Karen Myers)
*Ms. Monica Gorton is joining our special education teaching team to total five at NSS. She is certified in both regular and special education and comes to us from previous experiences in Rhode Island. Mrs. Brittany Mansi will be at NSS for 4/6 day cycle this year and Mr. Robert Matarazzo 2/6 day cycle. They will share the position of Art Teacher. Mr. Matarazzo was a long term substitute for art at NSS several years ago and we are happy to have him returning to the building. Ms. Marta Mwmbulukutu is an experienced Spanish Teacher here in Fairfield and we will share her with Riverfield School. Ms. Tanya Rahn has been a Gifted Teacher in the district for several years and we share her with Osborn Hill School. Ms. Val Saltzman is new to Fairfield and she comes to us from past experiences in Trumbull and Bridgeport Public Schools.
Please make sure you read the 2019-2020 Parent Handbook (Under Documents), and welcome back lists posted on the NSS website as they contain important information that will help make your child’s transition back to school a positive one. We update this site as information becomes available to us. I have attached a list of important upcoming dates you can review.
We look forward to seeing you and your children soon!
Best regards,
Debbie