Welcome & Welcome Back Paterson Families!
August 19, 2026
Dear Paterson Families,
Welcome to the new school year! I hope you have had a wonderful summer and are feeling rested and refreshed. A warm welcome to all of our new families joining the Paterson Community, and a BIG "Welcome Back" to our returning students. Our staff has been hard at work all summer preparing for an exciting year ahead. To help your family get off to a smooth start, please review the key information below. Additional details will be sent home during the first week of school.
✨ New Faces at John Paterson
Mrs. Mary Gwiazdowski, Instructional Coach. Mary joins Paterson after working in Newington Public Schools in a variety of roles, including Special Education and Kindergarten Teacher at Ruth Chaffee Elementary School. Mary is excited to join our school community and collaborate with staff regarding mathematics instruction.
Miss Jordyn Bowler, Kindergarten Teacher. Jordyn comes to us from Rocky Hill Public Schools after completing her student teaching and a long-term substitute position in first grade. Jordyn is excited to join the Kindergarten Team at Paterson and begin the year with her young learners.
Ms. Sarah Barnard, Grade 4 Teacher. Sarah joins our school community with experience as both a special education paraprofessional and classroom teacher. Sarah is excited to return to the classroom and be part of Paterson and the Newington Public Schools.
Angelica Nucifora, K-4 Extension Teacher. Angelica comes to Paterson from Ruth Chaffee Elementary School, where she served as a Special Education Teacher. Angelica went through Newington Public Schools as a student and is eager to return to our amazing school community and begin her work with our little learners.
👋 Kindergarten and Preschool Meet and Greet
On Tuesday, August 25, our incoming kindergarten and preschool students will have an exciting opportunity to meet their teacher and explore their new classroom. Kindergarten families should arrive at the main entrance by 2:45pm and will be directed to your child’s classroom to meet your teacher and see the classroom. Preschool families should arrive at the PreK Entrance, under the overhang by the playscape, at 3:00pm and will be directed to your classrooms. It is important that you know your child’s teacher’s name so we can assist you in getting to the right location.
🐾 School Families - Paterson Pride!
At John Paterson Elementary, we embody our “Paterson Pride” through three core expectations: Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. A key part of living these values is our "School Family" initiative, which pairs staff leaders with small groups of about 10 students across grades K-4.
Once a month, these family units meet for 30 minutes to participate in guided activities focused on building character and community. By bringing students of different ages together, we foster a caring, cooperative environment that celebrates what makes every learner unique. Rooted in a Responsive Classroom approach, our School Families work hand-in-hand with our school-wide expectations to ensure John Paterson Elementary remains a positive, inclusive place for all students to grow.
📅 First Day of School
The first day of school is Thursday, August 27 and it will be a full-day (8:40am - 3:30pm)
Arrival & Line-Up: All students (buses, walkers, and parent drop-offs) will head to the blacktop to meet their teacher and classmates. Following a brief opening message, teachers will guide students to their classrooms.
Inclement Weather Plan: In the event of rain, preschool students will line up under the overhang near the playground. Students in grades K-4 will enter through the second set of front doors, where staff will assist them to their classrooms.
Safety & Drop-Off: To ensure student safety and a smooth transition, please say your goodbyes at the door. Extra staff members will be on hand throughout the building to help all students find their way.
🕒 Attendance
As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, we want to emphasize the importance of daily attendance as every day matters and every minute counts! In the classroom, your child learns new concepts, collaborates with friends, and engages with teachers in key moments that build success. Missing just two or more days a month can quickly add up and make it difficult for students to stay on track. By prioritizing regular attendance, you give your child the best opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive all year long.
🚌 Transportation
All eligible students will be assigned to a bus run with one designated morning pick-up point and one afternoon drop-off point. Because initial bus routes are fully finalized for the start of the school year, any new requests will be held for review until after September 15.
If you need to request a permanent transportation change for daycare, please submit a written request to the Transportation Supervisor. For temporary changes during the school year, written requests must be submitted at least 5 days in advance; please note that temporary updates are approved for emergency circumstances only.
🚙 Pick-up Information
To maintain a safe and orderly dismissal, regular daily pick-ups require a written note sent to the school office in advance. Whenever possible, we strongly encourage families eligible for busing to take advantage of school transportation as using the bus helps keep our campus safe, eases traffic, and supports our green initiatives.
Dismissal & Pick-Up Spots:
Preschoolers meet parents at the preschool overhang
K-4 Students exit through the double doors by the main office
Walkers leave via the back doors near the swing set
Please Note: If you need to pick up your child early, you must do so before 3:10pm. Early dismissals are not permitted after 3:10pm in order to prevent disruption to end-of-day dismissals.
🍕 Cafeteria News
Cafeteria lunch prices are $3.25 per day and breakfast is free. Parents and guardians are encouraged to either send in a check, payable to Newington School Cafeterias, or use EZSchoolPay to pay for their child’s lunch. If you send payment in, please print your child’s first and last name on an envelope, as well as his/her five-digit ID number and teacher’s name. This money is placed in your child’s account to buy lunch each day.
Parents need to register with EZSchoolPay to view the balances. Any questions regarding EZSchoolPay can be answered by our Food and Nutrition Services at 860-665-8635 or by emailing foodservices@npsct.org Please note that there are no longer automatic low balance notifications. However, families can set up those notifications themselves free of charge through EZSchoolPay. Please be sure to keep money in your child’s account at all times, as a deficit in each student’s lunch account is directly withdrawn from our student activity funds, and compromises our ability to support field trips and other student resources. Families are encouraged to complete an application to determine eligibility for Free and/or Reduced Lunch. Applications can be completed on-line HERE.
👟 Footwear
As you prepare for back-to-school shopping, please keep footwear safety in mind! Sneakers are always the best choice for wellness classes, recess, and daily classroom activities. For safety reasons, we strongly discourage open-toed shoes, backless footwear, flip-flops, or loose-fitting shoes with limited support. Additionally, please avoid shoes with black soles, as they leave dark marks on our school floors.
❄️ Delayed Opening Schedule
In case of inclement weather, Newington Public Schools uses a two-hour delayed opening schedule. When a delay is called, school will begin at 10:40am with student arrival starting at 10:30am Announcements regarding delayed openings will be sent out using our Rapid Notification system. For more information, please check the district calendar.
🏫 Open House
We invite parents and guardians to join us for Open House on Tuesday, September 22 beginning at 6pm. This event is designed to give you a clear overview of the upcoming school year. Teachers and staff will share important information about grade-level learning goals, classroom expectations, school-wide procedures, and practical ways you can support your child’s education at home.
📸 Picture Day
Our School Picture Day will be held on Wednesday, September 23. Picture Retake Day will be held on Wednesday, November 4. More information and reminders will be sent prior to these days.
🎥 Photo & Video Permission Notice
At John Paterson Elementary, we love capturing photos and videos of school events to showcase the wonderful growth and experiences of our students! To ensure we have your preferences recorded, please complete our permission form for each of your enrolled children by Friday, September 11.
When filling out the form for multiple children, simply select “Submit another response” after submitting your first entry. Please note that if a form is not submitted by the deadline, your child will automatically be opted in for school photos and videos. If you need any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to the main office. Use the QR code below or the link HERE to submit your questionnaire.
Enjoy the remaining days of summer and I look forward to seeing you all soon. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Warmly,
Dr. Matt Correia
Principal