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Northeast Middle School

Superintendent's Weekly Update- November 1, 2026

Posted Date: 11/01/26 (08:00 PM)
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Dear BPS Community,
I am proud to share some exciting news about the progress taking place across Bristol Public Schools!  Connecticut's Accountability Index measures school and district performance across multiple indicators of student achievement and success, providing important insight into how well we are serving our students.
This year, Bristol Public Schools' overall Accountability Index increased from 70.7 to 71.1.
We are especially proud to recognize seven schools that demonstrated improvement in their Accountability Index!
School Accountability Index: 2024–25 → 2025–26
  • ⭐ Bristol Central High School: 71.2 → 73.4 (+2.2)
  • ⭐ Bristol Eastern High School: 72.8 → 75.2 (+2.4)
  • ⭐ Greene-Hills School: 64.7 → 66.8 (+2.1)
  • ⭐ Hubbell School: 68.5 → 73.4 (+4.9)
  • ⭐ Ivy Drive School: 68.0 → 73.0 (+5.0)
  • ⭐ Mountain View School: 63.1 → 68.8 (+5.7)
  • ⭐ West Bristol School: 57.5 → 59.8 (+2.3)
Additional Reasons to Celebrate! 🎉
  • Bristol Eastern High School, Hubbell School, and Ivy Drive School improved from School Category 3 to Category 2!
  • Ivy Drive School was recognized as a Connecticut School of Distinction for High Growth among High-Needs Students in Mathematics!
  • Mountain View School demonstrated the largest increase in its Accountability Index, improving by 5.7 points!
  • Bristol Eastern High School had the highest overall Accountability Index of all schools in the district, 75.2.
These accomplishments represent much more than numbers. They reflect the dedication, expertise, and hard work of our teachers, paraeducators, administrators, and support staff, who work every day to meet the diverse learning needs of our students. I want to extend special congratulations to the educators at each of these schools. Improving student outcomes requires planning, strong instruction, collaboration, and an unwavering belief that every child can learn and grow.
We also celebrate our students for their hard work and perseverance and thank our families for their continued partnership.

While we recognize these important accomplishments, we know there is more work ahead. Our commitment remains focused on continuous improvement and ensuring that every student, especially those with the greatest needs, has the support and opportunities necessary to succeed.
Congratulations to all seven schools!
You can explore the district's accountability results on the CSDE EdSight Accountability Dashboard.

Reminder: This Tuesday, November 3rd, is Election Day. All Bristol Public Schools will be closed. We will reopen on Wednesday, November 4th.



Better Together!

Iris White
Superintendent of Schools

 School Bus Cameras-Bus Patrol Update

The City of Bristol, in accordance with Connecticut state law, has officially adopted an ordinance authorizing the use of a municipal school bus violation enforcement system. This automated safety program is designed to enforce the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-279(a), which requires motorists to stop for school buses that display flashing red signal lights.

To combat the dangerous problem of motorists illegally passing school buses, the City of Bristol and Bristol Public Schools are partnering with BusPatrol. Under this initiative, school buses serving Bristol students are being equipped with advanced violation detection systems. These cameras use artificial intelligence to detect vehicles that break the law, capturing video evidence that authorities review before issuing a citation.

Key details of the program rollout include:
  • Warning Period: A public warning period will begin on Monday, November 2, 2026, and run through Friday, December 4, 2026. During this time, registered owners of vehicles in violation will receive warning notices in the mail without financial penalties.
  • Go-Live Ticketing: Live enforcement and ticketing will officially begin on Monday, December 7, 2026.
  • Penalties: Following the warning period, failure to stop for a school bus displaying flashing red signal lights will result in a citation issued to the vehicle's registered owner, with a minimum civil fine of $250.
The primary goal of the School Bus Safety program is to reduce reckless driving around school buses and safeguard children during their daily commutes. Data from similar programs indicates that over 90 percent of first-time violators do not commit a second offense, proving the system's effectiveness in changing driver behavior and keeping local roads safer.  Ensuring that our students arrive at school safely and return home safely each day is a responsibility we all share. This initiative reinforces the important role every driver plays in protecting children by stopping when a school bus has its red lights flashing. We are grateful to the City of Bristol and BusPatrol for partnering with Bristol Public Schools to help make our roads and communities safer for all students

For additional information regarding the program, please visit the official website at https://www.bristol.k12.ct.us/bussafetyprogram  or contact the school bus safety program information line at 1-877-504-7080. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET.
 




NEMS Claw Club Gives Back!
Students at Northeast Middle School are demonstrating that kindness, compassion, and service are important parts of being a school community!  The NEMS Claw Club has been working hard to collect donations for a local animal shelter. Recently, Mrs. Killiany delivered the items students had collected, and the shelter staff were incredibly grateful and impressed by the generosity of our middle school students.  Please see their message to NEMS below. What makes this effort so meaningful is that our students recognized a need in their community and took action to make a difference.
A special thank you to Mrs. Killiany for encouraging students to think beyond themselves and for helping them experience the joy of giving back.  Congratulations to our NEMS Claw Club students! You are reminding all of us that no one is too young to make a positive difference!



Better Together: Team IMPACT All In 5K!

What a beautiful day for an incredible cause!
On Sunday, October 25, our Bristol community came together at Bristol Eastern High School for the Team IMPACT All In 5K, supporting Team Bristol and Team IMPACT's amazing work.  Team IMPACT creates life-changing opportunities for children with disabilities by connecting them with college athletic teams, helping to build friendships, confidence, a sense of belonging, and lasting relationships.  A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, participated, volunteered, or donated to support this worthy cause. Your generosity and kindness are wonderful reminders of what makes the Bristol community so special.  A special thank you to the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame for its partnership and support in making this event possible. Thank you to Punya Mohan, McKenna Bell, Haley Powers, and Brooker Werner, who were true student leaders on this.
Most importantly, I want to recognize Jensen and Mariska, who continue to be such an inspiration and source of joy to all of us. Their smiles, determination, and enthusiasm remind us of the importance of creating opportunities where every child feels valued, included, and connected.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this day so special! Please see this video from the day, as well as photos below. 





Congratulations to the Stafford Hawks — October Attendance Champions! 

A huge congratulations to the Stafford Hawks for soaring into first place and earning the October District Attendance Trophy! Stafford achieved an impressive October chronic absenteeism rate of just 8.66%, while also holding the #1 spot districtwide with a year-to-date chronic absenteeism rate of 8.53%!
Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors in supporting student success. Every day in school provides opportunities for students to strengthen their academic skills, build friendships, develop positive relationships with teachers and peers, and grow socially and emotionally.
I also want to remind our families of something very important: When your child is not in school, we miss them! Their presence matters. Every student brings something special to their classroom and school community, and we want every child to feel supported, connected, and engaged.
Thank you to Stafford's students, families, teachers, staff, and school leadership for working together to make regular attendance a priority. This achievement reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that our students are in school, learning, and thriving!
Keep up the great work, Stafford Hawks! The Attendance Trophy is yours to proudly display throughout November!
But here's the big question: Will the Stafford Hawks hold on to first place next month, or will another BPS school rise to the challenge and capture the trophy? 
Let the friendly competition continue! Remember, every school day matters, and every student matters!

Celebrating Principal Brandon HuBrins: Leadership Beyond the School Walls!
This past Friday, Bristol Central High School Principal Brandon HuBrins pulled double duty, proudly representing Bristol Public Schools at two important events!  He began his day in Mystic, where he participated in a panel discussion titled “Bright Ideas That Spark Change” at the School Nutrition Association of Connecticut's Annual Conference.  During the discussion, he highlighted how Bristol Central's Early Entry Pilot has transformed the student experience through cross-team collaboration, creating a more positive and supportive start to the school day.  Later that evening, Principal HuBrins delivered the keynote address at the NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Dinner.  The theme of this year's dinner was “We the People,” a powerful reminder of the importance of unity, inclusion, shared responsibility, and the collective power of the people. These principles are especially meaningful in public education, where our responsibility is to create school communities in which every student feels supported, connected, and engaged.  Thank you, Principal HuBrins, for representing Bristol Public Schools with pride and demonstrating that leadership and service extend far beyond the school walls!





BPS Educators Learning Together to Strengthen Literacy! 
Last Thursday, Zach Maher, District Instructional Supervisor of Elementary Humanities and TESOL, and members of our BPS Elementary Literacy Instructional Support Teacher (IST) Team attended the statewide Connecticut Literacy Conference, “From Connection to Impact: Creating Stronger Early Literacy Outcomes Together.” The conference was hosted by the Connecticut Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success in partnership with Central Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut.
Throughout the day, our educators participated in sessions focused on strengthening literacy systems, implementing effective reading interventions, supporting students with dyslexia, and engaging families as partners in literacy development.
I am incredibly proud of our educators for their commitment to continuous professional learning and their dedication to improving literacy outcomes for all students.
What makes this experience especially meaningful is what happens next. Our team will bring this learning back to Bristol, share new ideas with colleagues, and work collaboratively to strengthen and align literacy instruction and interventions across our elementary schools.
Strong literacy skills are foundational to student success. Ensuring that every child has the instruction, support, and opportunities needed to become a confident, capable reader remains a priority for Bristol Public Schools.
Thank you to Zach Maher and our Elementary Literacy IST Team for representing Bristol so well and for the important work you do every day to support our students and teachers.






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