Dear ISD Parents, 

I am very excited to announce that Gr. 5 teacher, Mrs. Esra Murray, was included as a recipient in this week's announcement of Distinguished Teachers of 2013.  She was the only teacher in the group of six representing the elementary schools.  Mrs. Murray, who has been teaching 5th grade for the past four years, is well deserved of this honor and joins our other distinguished teachers.  I know you join the staff and me in congratulating Mrs. Murray on this very special recognition. Congratulations, Esra!  The official ceremony to honor the recipients will be held on Tuesday, May 7th at 4:00 at Western Middle School.  Everyone is invited.

We enjoyed another busy spring week.  The PTA sponsored two special events this week that included a Puppet show for our kindergarten and first grade students and an author for our older students.  The puppeteer, Deborah Costine, incorporated science information and storytelling in a puppet performance that was well received by our students.  Our fourth and fifth graders were enthralled by author, Beverly Patt, who wrote the book, Best Friends Forever.  She not only spoke about the publishing process, but shared her research on Japanese internment camps which the students were very interested in.  (This book was chosen by Greenwich Reads as the corresponding book for elementary and middle school students to their adult choice, When the Emperor Was Divine.)

We are ending the week with a joint celebration the staff and I are hosting for the staff at New Lebanon School.  They went through the IB Authorization process with flying colors and we thought sharing a social event would be a great way to celebrate with them.

Many of you have probably heard that our former Assistant Principal, Mr. Gene Schmidt, has been appointed Principal of Cos Cob School starting July 1st.  Mr. Schmidt was one of the original teachers who helped launch ISD in 2000 and later became the assistant principal.  We wish him well in his new "and well-deserved" assignment.

One more thing, thank you, thank you, thank you to the beautification committee for planting the beautiful and colorful flowers at our front entrance.  Everyone is noticing them and offering compliments. 

Lastly, I have cleared a block of time on Tuesday morning, April 30th, for "open office hours".  If you have a need to see me for a brief time to have a question answered or to share something with me, please stop by between 9 and 10:30.  No appointment is necessary.