Dear BPS Community:

I hope that everyone has had a great week.  Please find my Superintendent's Weekly update below.  

In partnership,
Iris White
Superintendent of Schools

Joint Meeting of City Council and Board of Finance Meeting: There will be a Joint Meeting of the Bristol City Council and Board of Finance on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 5:30 pm in City Hall Council Chambers, 111 North Main Street, Bristol.  Please see the attached agenda, which includes the Zoom meeting link.  On this agenda is the adoption of the 2025-2026 budget.  

No Child Left Inside (NCLI):  NCLI Families in the Parks Program 2025 “Family Day in the Park” (Kids to Parks Day recognized nationally) on May 17, 2025, at Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury, CT, from 10 am to 2 pm.  This event is free and open to all. The event will offer hiking/walking, outdoor activities, field games, activities under the pavilion, partner tables, and more.  Be sure to pack snacks/lunch and a picnic in the park (at one of their picnic tables or blankets.)  An ice cream truck will be at the event between 11 am and 1 pm. Cash, credit card, Venmo, Cash App, and Apple Pay will be accepted.  Please see the attached CT DEEP State Park Programs document for more information about other programs.


Best Community for Music Education-2025:  Bristol Public Schools has once again received the Best Community for Music Education designation from the NAAM Foundation!  This award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education.  Thank you to all the music teachers who inspire and bring out the best talents of Bristol's student musicians.


Northeast Middle School (NEMS) Beam Signing Ceremony: On Wednesday, May 14, a beam signing ceremony celebrated another milestone in the construction of the new NEMS.  Every signature on this beam represents a unique contribution—a Mayor, a Commissioner, a student, an administrator, a teacher, a parent, a neighbor—each playing a role in building a place where learning, inspiration, and opportunity will thrive for generations.  Thank you to our school board, the design and construction teams, the building committee, our community partners, and every individual who has supported this project from day one. Your dedication and belief in this vision have helped turn blueprints into reality.  

BAIMS Partnership with the Bristol Department of Public Works (DPW):  BAIMS has partnered with the DPW on a pilot program to prevent compostable food waste from ending up in landfills. Students separate their lunch leftovers into a waste compost bin and their paper and plastic into the regular garbage daily.  In April, the students and staff at BAIMS saved 385 pounds of waste from ending up in our landfill. Please see the infographic below to see how that helps mitigate our CO2 emissions.  The public can also learn more about joining the composting program by going to the DPW website.



BPS Art Show: It was a packed house last week at the BOE building, where we held our annual BPS Art Show. Throughout two evenings, hundreds of students and family members attended.  Walking around the art show and listening to the students speak to their parents about their pieces was a special treat.  The pride on the parents' faces as they spoke was priceless.  Seeing how their unique voices came to life through their art was truly inspiring. Thank you to Mr. Bagley and our fantastic art teachers for using their talents to inspire students and for all the hard work they put into preparing for the event. 

The art will be displayed at the BOE building through the end of May. It has brightened the walls of our Central Office building and transformed it into a student-centered environment.  If any student would be willing to allow their piece to remain on display until next year's art show, we would be honored to continue showcasing their incredible talent.


RAPID Survey Project:  Parents/Guardians with children under six will receive a $10.00 gift card for completing this survey.  If you also send a screenshot of your completed survey to Donna Koser, dkoser@uwwestcentralct.org, you will be entered to win a $50.00 gift card to Amazon.  You are eligible to participate in all 4 surveys provided throughout the year.  Please note that no personal information is shared with their organization. The sole purpose of this outreach is to raise awareness and encourage participation to help inform the project’s statewide efforts. The survey will be available through June 2.  Please see the attached flyers for additional information.

 Shout out:  I received an email from a district staff person who asked that I share this acknowledgement of the  Greene-Hills Custodial Staff:

I’m writing to express my sincere appreciation for the incredible custodial staff at Greene-Hills School. Their impact on our school community goes far beyond keeping the building clean and safe. They are deeply invested in the well-being of our students and truly exemplify what it means to be part of a school family.

What sets them apart is their meaningful connection with the students. They know them by name, greet them warmly, and regularly engage in positive interactions throughout the day. They even attend middle school athletic events to cheer our students on, demonstrating a level of care and dedication that is both rare and inspiring. These kids look forward to seeing them and involve them in their daily school life.

On a personal note, my own 6th-grade son frequently talks about one of the custodians who checks in on him regularly. These kinds of relationships matter. They provide students with another support layer and a sense of being seen and valued.

We are truly lucky to have such compassionate, committed individuals on our Greene-Hills team. Their contributions, though sometimes behind the scenes, make a powerful difference in our children's lives every day.