🎉 A Huge Success: WPS 1st Annual Transition Fair! 🎉
What an incredible day at the 1st Annual WPS Transition Fair! Families & students with disabilities (PreK-12+) gathered to connect with vital resources, explore outside agencies, and gain valuable support for the future. With engaging vendors, exciting giveaways, informative tours, and delicious food, this event truly embodied our commitment to empowering every student.
A HUGE shoutout to Mary Cristafaro, Director of Pupil and Special Education Services, whose transformative leadership continues to elevate the way we serve our students and families. Her vision, along with the dedication of her outstanding team, made this event a resounding success! 👏🏽👏🏽
To all the families who joined us—thank you for being part of this important conversation and for trusting us to support your child’s journey. This is just the beginning! ❤️✨
#weareWINdsor 👐🏽 #TransitionFair #SupportingEveryStudent
Sometimes the best learning happens in the most unexpected places—like a math walk down the hallway! Ms. Brown’s students are using inference and inquiry-based learning to calculate their steps back to the classroom. Problem-solving, critical thinking, and real-world math in action—we love to see it! 👏🏽✨ This is the Instructional Core Wheel at work, making every moment a learning opportunity. #weareWINdsor 👐🏽 (Happy Thursday from POQUONOCK ❤️)
📢 WPS Families: Don’t miss our 1st Annual Transition Fair! Families & students with disabilities (PreK-12+) are invited to connect with agencies, explore resources, & get support. With so many changes and uncertainties in education and services, this is a great opportunity to get answers to important questions.
📅 April 1, 2025 ⏰ Stop by anytime between 2 PM - 6 PM 📍 LP Wilson
Join us for vendors, giveaways, tours, food & more! 🍽️🎁
🔗 RSVP today: https://tinyurl.com/uxhm4hb9
#weareWINdsor 👐🏽
☕️A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for an insightful and engaging March Coffee Talk with Dr. Hill. As always, the conversation was authentic, transparent, and informative—we appreciate the thoughtful questions and dialogue.
Chief of Operations Danielle Batchelder provided clarity on Cabinet’s response to the BOE’s 1% budget reduction request. With limited options, the difficult decision was made to phase out full day Pre-K, a program that was originally funded by a grant that is no longer fully supported. While this was not an easy choice, it allowed the district to honor Dr. Hill’s commitment to protecting jobs and keeping class sizes small—both of which remain top priorities.
We recognize that changes like this impact families, and we remain committed to supporting all of our students through this transition. Thank you for being part of the conversation and for your continued engagement. We look forward to our April 23rd Coffee Talk with Dr. Hill! 🫶🏽
#weareWINdsor 👐🏽
✅ March BOE Recap ✅
✔️ Huge shoutout to Windsor Education Foundation (WEF) and President Daniell Hynes for providing over $14,000 in mini grants to Windsor Public Schools educators! These funds will enrich curriculum and extracurricular activities, ensuring learning remains accessible to all students.
✔️ The AI Taskforce, led by Dr. Abdel-Hady, along with her tech team and district administrators, presented exciting updates and next steps to the Board, pioneering the intentional integration of AI with our WPS Graduate Attributes.
✔️ Superintendent Dr. Hill stood on business last night, taking a clear stance on his unwavering commitment to protecting WPS students and staff.
✔️ The Board’s budget—reflecting a 1% reduction—will go to the Town as is, with no adjustments or shifts. Dr. Hill’s top priority? Keeping jobs.
✔️ Windsor Public Schools is set to be among the first districts to align graduate attributes with AI learning, ensuring our students are prepared for a future where AI literacy is essential. 🎓
#weareWINdsor 👐🏽 #stayinformed
🎉Celebrating Danielle Franklin – Windsor’s District Paraeducator of the Year! 🎉
For 11 years, Miss Franklin has been a guiding light at Windsor Public Schools, dedicating the last 8 years at Poquonock Elementary. Her compassion, patience, and commitment to building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues make a lasting impact every day. From helping students find their confidence to fostering independence, she embodies what it means to be an exceptional paraeducator.
Join us in congratulating Miss Franklin on this well-deserved recognition! 👏🏽💙
🔗 Read more about her impact here: https://www.windsorct.org/article/2091468
#ParaeducatorOfTheYear #weareWINdsor 👐🏽 #StudentSuccess #ThankYouMissFranklin
We are stepping into the third week of #WHM and the holy month of Ramadan. As our Muslim students, teachers, and families observe this sacred time of reflection and renewal, we recognize the strength, discipline, and devotion it represents. We, too, are in a season of renewal—embracing growth, curiosity, and new possibilities. Our educators are working hard to spark wonder and capture the essence of exploration within our classrooms. Let’s continue to inspire, uplift, and empower one another to make this a great week! #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
Fighting for Windsor’s Students at the State Level!
CABE President and Windsor BOE member Leonard Lockhart is leading the charge for fair teacher pay, sustainable funding, and critical special education resources for Connecticut’s students. At CABE’s annual Day on the Hill, Lockhart was joined by Windsor High School students, Superintendent Dr. Terrell Hill, and Windsor BOE President David Furie as he addressed key legislative issues, including:
✅ Fair Teacher Pay – Supporting competitive salaries while ensuring a sustainable funding plan for districts.
✅ Special Education Funding – Advocating for increased state support as WPS faces $23M+ in special education costs.
✅ Unfunded Mandates – Pushing back against financial burdens placed on school boards without full state funding.
“With 756 students on IEPs in Windsor alone, we need state-backed solutions to ensure every child gets the support they deserve,” Lockhart emphasized.
In today’s national climate, advocacy matters more than ever—and we’re proud to have a leader fighting for Windsor’s students! Huge Thank you to CABE President Lockhart and our WHS students for showing up!!! We ♥️ to see it!
#weareWINdsor 👐🏽 #EducationMatters #AdvocacyInAction
Happy Friday, #WINdsorNation! 🎉 Can you believe it’s been 4 years since Dr. Mallery and his Social Emotional Learning team hit the ground running at WPS? Now, SEL isn’t just something we do—it’s in everything we are.
Today, you could see it in action across the district during #SELDay. When student mental health is a priority, success follows—together, we’re building a stronger, more supportive community. #weareWINdsor 👐🏽 #SELfcare #SELitswhatwedo
Sending a big shoutout to Principal Jay Mihalko and our amazing Poquonock School community! Last week, they hosted the CT Association of Schools, and Principal Mihalko had the chance to showcase Poquonock’s greatest treasure—its incredible students and staff!
🤞🏽 Best of luck, Jay, as a finalist for CT Principal of the Year! #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
Wishing our students, staff, and families observing a peaceful and blessed Ramadan! 🌙✨ May this month be filled with reflection, kindness, and community. Let’s continue to celebrate the cultures, traditions, and beliefs that make our district so vibrant. Ramadan Mubarak!
#RamadanMubarak #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
#IssaMonday check-in, #WindsorNation! How’s everyone feeling? The ✨ magic of February is still going strong, and our students and educators are making the most of every moment! While we’re all looking forward to warmer days ahead, this season brings a focus on research projects, hands-on learning, and incredible opportunities to engage in deeper exploration. A huge shoutout to our Windsor High School students who have been inspiring the next generation—bringing our award-winning music program to elementary schools and delivering powerful performances that honor the past, embrace the present, and inspire the future! 🎶🎭 (📸We ♥️ to see it POQ!) #weareWINdsor👐🏽
Happy Friday #WINdsorNation! ✨Black educators do more than teach—they inspire, uplift, and create spaces where every student feels seen, valued, and capable of greatness! From the classroom to leadership, they challenge narratives, break barriers, and showcase Black excellence in action.
To every Black educator shaping the future—your impact is powerful, your work is seen, and your joy is a revolution! 💛🙌🏾 (📸We ♥️ to see it JFK & POQ!)
#HappyFriday #BlackJoy 🖤✨ #RepresentationMatters #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
Educators and staff left #WindsorNation energized and empowered! 🔑 Armed with key data trends, we celebrated student #wins and refocused on growth. As Dr. Hady declared, “Nothing can stop us—we’re on our way up!” 🚀 Here’s to even greater success in the second half of the year! #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
At WPS, we PD different. 💡 Another inspiring #WindsorNation PD under the leadership of our North Star Navigator, Dr. Noha Abdel Hady, centered on Student Voice. From the award-winning WHS Gospel Choir to insights from Dr. Hill’s Student Advisory Council, our students showed up and spoke powerfully. We also saw our #LeadLearners, AKA building principals, take center stage, leading powerful PD sessions. 🗣️ #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
Super shoutout to our incredible students and families who joined us on their day off for #WindsorNation! When everyone is invited to the table, true growth happens. Thank you for helping us continue to elevate both culture and academics at WPS. ♥️ #StudentVoice #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
📢 BOE Recap: Last night, the Finance Committee, led by Chair Leonard Lockhart, wrapped up its 2nd Special Meeting/Public Forum. 💡 Dr. Hill clarified a clerical error, lowering the proposed budget increase to 6.88% (down from 7.55%) thanks to a tech reevaluation, reducing costs from $1.8M to $1.3M. 🖥️ Dr. Hady presented on Technology & Instructional Services, highlighting her strategic focus on reducing frivolous spending by keeping only essential software that truly benefits students and teachers. For instructional services, she emphasized sticking to Dr. Hill’s focus on academics and culture—steering clear of fleeting buzzwords and trends in education. 📚 Dr. Hady emphasized that Instructional Services Budget increases stem primarily from the new state reading mandate, which required the district to purchase “Bookworms” and “DIBELS.” #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
💭 Midweek check-in: How are you moving today, Windsor Nation? 👐🏽
Physical Education has always been about more than just sports—it’s where teamwork, perseverance, and self-regulation are built. Long before “SEL” was a thing, PE classes were already teaching life lessons that shape confident, empathetic learners.
This ties right into our Instructional Core Wheel: nurturing the whole child through mind, body, and heart.
So here’s your hump day challenge: Move with purpose, check in with yourself, and encourage someone else to do the same! (📸 We ♥️ to see it POQ!)
What’s your favorite way to get moving? Drop it below ⬇️
#PhysicalEducationMatters #SELinAction #MovementIsMedicine #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
🚨🔥 Issue 7 of The Windsor Pulse is here, featuring insights from Dr. Hady along with all the amazing work the Instructional Services Team has been leading! 🧠📚 Halfway through the school year, there’s so much to celebrate: ✨ Student Success: Impressive growth from fall to winter diagnostics — a huge shoutout to our hardworking students, dedicated teachers, and supportive families! 🎯 Staying Grounded: Dr. Hady and her team continue to use the Instructional Wheel as a guide toward high-quality instruction and critical thinking development. ✍🏽 Back to the Basics: Balancing technology with foundational skills — think paper, pencil, and strong math/writing fundamentals. 🚀 What’s Next: From Strategic Operating Plan development to Dr. Hady and her team’s exciting exploration of AI in education, the future looks bright! Let’s keep pushing forward and taking Windsor to new heights. ♥️♥️#weareWINdsor 👐🏽 👉🏽 Check out the full issue now! https://5il.co/36qlc
🧧 Wishing a joyful and prosperous Lunar New Year to all who celebrate! As members of our Asian American community and many cultures around the world celebrate the Year of the Snake, we honor the wisdom, transformation, and resilience this symbol represents. Wishing joy, prosperity, and continued growth to all who celebrate! #weareWINdsor 👐🏽
