Principal's Update

DePaolo families,

I hope to see some of you at the Festival again this weekend. 

Here is this week’s update.

Monday:

Just a reminder that there is no school on Monday. This is noted on the district calendar. 

 

Alex’s Lemonade Stand at the Apple Harvest: 

If you are at the Apple Harvest Festival this weekend, please be sure to stop by our booth and support our students. We are located at the corner of Main Street and Riccio Way. 

 

We STILL need some help for some of the scheduled shifts. PLEASE encourage your son/daughter to volunteer if they can to assist us! 

Registration is still open to any interested student through the online link available in the Volunteer Information attachment. It really is a great experience for our students. 

In addition to lemonade, we will still be selling our ALS school T-shirts for $13 at the festival.

 

If paying by check, please make it out to JAD Activity Fund. 

 

Last call. Students may also still participate in the Alex's Lemonade Stand Student Collection Challenge. See attached for more information.

Leadership Program:

If your child was assigned to Zion Nursery School Assistants, Elementary School Helpers, Calendar House Volunteers, or Animal Helpers, please be sure to ask them for the permission slip they received and return those as soon as possible. 

 

Apple Harvest:

I hope all our students enjoy themselves and stay SAFE this weekend if attending the Apple Harvest. Please help us by asking your son/daughter not to get involved should there be any drama. Just a reminder that any incidents that happen over the weekend and carry over into school can result in disciplinary consequences. 

 

Read-a-Thon

Attention 6th Grade Parents. We are very excited to announce our 6th grade Read-a-Thon fundraiser! The start date for our Read-a-Thon kicks off on October 12th. All funds raised will help raise funds for school library activities and programs. All students have received a registration sheet from their Language Arts teacher. Please reach out to Mr. Carvalho if you have any questions!

 

Picture Day:

Art Rich Photography will be here Friday, October 16. Flyers will be sent home with students, but a copy is attached for your convenience. We will also have extra copies available in the main office. 

 

Red Ribbon Rally

 

I would like to invite all students that are in our Leadership Program and/or who volunteered at Alex's Lemonade Stand at the Apple Harvest Festival to attend the Red Ribbon Rally on October 20. 

 

This is a great opportunity to showcase how involved our students are with positive activities in our school and in our community. I hope they can make it! Students can meet me directly on the Town Green for the event. If they are involved with other groups, they can gather with that group and then just go on stage when DePaolo’s groups are called.

 

Math Olympiad:

Does your child enjoy puzzles, problem solving, and figuring out creative ways to tackle challenging math problems? Then Math Olympiads might be for them!

Math Olympiads is a club for students in Grades 6–8 who want to challenge themselves, strengthen their problem-solving skills, and have fun thinking about math in new ways.

 

Students do not need to be the fastest at math or know advanced math to participate! Math Olympiads is about thinking, trying different strategies, noticing patterns, and tackling problems that make you think.

 

🏆 What will we do? We’ll work together on interesting and challenging math problems, share different strategies, practice competition-style questions, and participate in Math Olympiad contests throughout the season.

 

📅 When?
 The club will meet approximately 3–4 times each month on Wednesdays from November through the end of March.

 

⏰ Time: 3:00–4:00 PM 

 

👥 Who can join? Students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 who enjoy a challenge and are willing to think, persevere, and try new approaches.

 

⭐ Space is limited to 25 students. Interested students are encouraged to sign up! First come, first served.

 

Sign your child using this link:JAD Math Olympiads (6-8)

 

Unity Day:

UNITY DAY is coming! On Wednesday, October 21st we will encourage ALL students and staff to wear Orange to support National Unity Day showing DePaolo believe in encouraging kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Orange BE UNITED t-shirts are available in the school counseling office for $10 per shirt, and Unity Day will not be the only day students wear them throughout the year. 

 

Light A Pumpkin:

Our annual Light A Pumpkin night will be held on Thursday, October 22nd. There will be games, refreshments, prizes, and pumpkin decorating. In addition, the pumpkin creations done by DePaolo students and staff will be on display for all to see and you can vote on your favorite pumpkin. Come out and bring your whole family!

 

Lost and Found:

Lost and Found is in the café and it is full of water bottles , clothing and miscellaneous items. Please remind your children to check during lunch time if they are missing any items. We will donate any unclaimed items after 10/16. 

 

Bikes & Scooters:

Students may ride bicycles, skateboards, scooters, or roller blades to school. When riding bicycles, skateboards, scooters, or roller blades to and from school, students should exercise caution: Ride single file, keep to the right, and observe all rules and regulations pertaining to automobiles. For safety, helmets must be worn, and students must walk their bicycles or scooters while on school property. Bicycle racks are available for storage; however, students should provide their own locks. The school is not responsible for objects stolen or damaged while stored on school grounds.

 

Help Brighten the Holidays for DePaolo Families:

As the holiday season approaches, we are once again organizing our DePaolo Cares Holiday Giving Program to support families in need. Each year, more families find themselves in challenging economic situations and your generosity is more appreciated than ever before. Again this year, we are collecting gift cards to offer families the flexibility to purchase exactly what they need most. If you are able to contribute, please fill out the Google form provided in the link below. Please drop off gift cards addressed to Mrs. Stiebel, School Social Worker, by November 18th. 

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference and helps spread kindness within our school community. 

 

Link to donate gift cards:

https://forms.gle/14g142zrNMDTKLjt9

 

If you are a family that would benefit from this program this year and you are not already receiving assistance from another school or from the Southington Community Services Department, please complete the google form below by November 6, 2026. 

 

Link to request assistance:

https://forms.gle/yn5wyUYn4z5Z52d46

 

8th to 9th Grade Information:

Grade 8 parents are encouraged to review Mrs. O’Neill’s canvas page regularly for information pertaining to 8th grade programs and activities. See below for Technical School information:

• • Kaynor Technical High School open house is scheduled for October 22 from 5:30-7:30 pm. For more information visit kaynor.cttech.org/apply.
  • Goodwin Technical High School open house is scheduled for November 10 from 5:00-7:00 pm. For more information visit goodwin.cttech.org/appl
  • Wilcox Technical High School open house is scheduled for November 18 at 5:30pm. For more information visit wilcox.cttech.org/apply

 

PTO News:

Please consider joining our PTO. More information is available in the attached flyer. 

 

Our Scholastic Book Fair will be from Oct 19th – Oct 23rd. More information to follow. 

Please see attached for information on our Chipotle fundraiser.  

 

 

I hope this information is helpful and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.