School News and Announcements
09/15/2023
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Coffee and Conversation
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Parent Portal Instructions
Dear Stamford Public Schools Parent or Guardian,
The Parent Portal contains important forms and information and can be accessed from a website or through the PowerSchool App on your phone. (Directions for how to download the app are on the next page.)
Your username is: your email address
Temporary Password: your email address
*Please note the first time you login, you will be asked to create your own new password. Passwords should be at least 8 characters long.
To log into the Parent Portal on the web click here. (Bus information will only appear in the website portal, not in the mobile app.)
You can also navigate to www.stamfordpublicschools.org and click on Parent Portal under the Families Tab.
Parent Portal Directions - English
Parent Portal Directions - Spanish
To download the PowerSchool Mobile app. Go to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and search for: PowerSchool. The logo is below. (Bus information will not appear in the mobile app, only in the website portal.)
1-Download the app and install.
2-When asked for a district code enter: JQJK
3-Sign in using the credentials provided in the above portion of the email.
4-To fill out available forms on Android see below:
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Click More on bottom right.
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Click Forms button.
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Choose a form to fill out.
5-To fill out available forms on an iPhone see below
- Click on Forms
- Submit Forms A-C
Please be sure to complete all of the forms in your portal.
After School Program
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Afternoon Enrichment
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![Principal weekly picture banner]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1652449478/stamfordpublicschoolsorg/vvnu4ed8pygtvzelvhvv/principals_desk_12.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1652449478/stamfordpublicschoolsorg/vvnu4ed8pygtvzelvhvv/principals_desk_12.jpg","width":320}])
David Tate
Greetings to all our Bulldog families:
Upcoming Events:
December 6 Picture Retake Day
December 7 Hanukkah Begins (at sundown)
December 8 Vaping and Cannabis Education
December 8 Q1 Honor Roll Ice Cream Social
December 13 – 15 Early Release 11:45am / Parent Conferences and Pizza Sales
December 18-20 PTO Holiday Sales during the lunch waves
December 22 Early Release 11:45am
December 25 Christmas Day – NO SCHOOL
December 26 – 29 Winter Recess – NO SCHOOL
January 1 New Year’s Day – NO SCHOOL
January 15 MLK Day – NO SCHOOL
January 19 End of Q2 Marking Period
January 26 Coffee & Conversation: Recognizing Anxiety in Teens and Adults
February 2 Q2 Report Cards available in PowerSchool
February 8 Winter Concert (Band / Strings / Chorus)
February 9 Winter Social
February 12 – 14 PTO Valentine’s Day Sales during the lunch waves
February 16 – 20 Winter Recess – NO SCHOOL
February 28 Early Release 11:45am
March 28 Multicultural Night - tentative
Reminder: School Picture Retake Day is Wednesday, December 6. Photography by Roman will be at Cloonan on Wednesday for Retake Day. Retake Day is for students who were absent on November 9 and those students who want to replace their original photo.
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For students absent on November 9: Photos are used for the yearbook and student ID cards. All students who were absent on November 9 should be photographed whether they plan to order photos or not.
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For students who want a retake: If a student wants a retake of their portrait please click here to pre pay for a portrait package no later than Tuesday, December 5. You must purchase a portrait package to get a retake. Please note that retakes replace the original portrait and you will not be able to go back to it. Please call Photography by Roman at (203) 922-8040 with questions.
Kids Helping Kids Toy Drive: W are having a one week flash drive. Cloonan is collaborating with KHK’s Gift of Giving Event. All donations of toys or clothing need to be donated by December 6. Please consider how you can help. For more information, please click here.
Parent Teacher Conferences: Conferences are scheduled for the early release days December 13 – 15. Parents will be able to schedule a 15 minute conference through School Appointments. A separate message will be coming to tell you have to do this.
Get Active In The PTO: Our PTO has started a new Facebook page. Please join on Facebook for news and events, signups and suggestions. Here is the link. https://m.facebook.com/groups/201088939619617/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
Donors Choose: Congratulations to Ms. Damalas who recently received an award of classroom supplies and thanks to all who supported her request. Donors Choose is a fantastic way to support your child’s teachers and our school community. We have a long list of projects in need of funding. Click here to see the list.
Emergency Drills: As a reminder, we conduct regular emergency drills including, Secure School, Fire Drill, Evacuation and Lockdowns. We give notice for some of these drills in advance to avoid unnecessary concern. We rescheduled a Lockdown drill to this coming week.
In the event of an actually emergency you will receive a REMIND message to let you know the situation and next steps.
Superintendent’s Message: (Highlights)
Calendar Committee
The SPS Calendar Committee, composed of SPS staff, parents, union representatives and community members, met three times this fall to provide feedback about the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 calendars. Thank you to Andy George and Kathleen Steinberg for supporting the committee in developing, distributing, and analyzing the community and staff surveys. Please click here to see the survey results. Draft calendars will be presented during the BOE Labor Committee Meeting in January 2024.
The last month of the year is a busy time in Stamford Public Schools, with many community events on the calendar. Please be sure to check out some of these opportunities to support our school community.
All School Musical
The Stamford All-School Musical – Legally Blonde The Musical – opens Saturday, December 2. This year’s cast and crew features 57 SPS students representing AITE, Dolan, Rippowam, Scofield, Stamford High, Strawberry Hill, Turn of River, and Westhill High. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Christmas Tree Sale
The Friends of Stamford High (FOSH) annual Christmas Tree is going on now. This is one of Stamford High’s biggest fundraisers and is run entirely by parent, student, and teacher/staff volunteers. Please stop by to select from a wide variety of evergreen wreaths and fresh-cut trees for sale. The tree lot is open from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends in December.
To read the Superintendent’s full message please click here.
Next week begins the Festival of Hanukkah (Chanukah), a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple. In this time of strife let us all hope and work for a time of peace, understanding and rebuilding a world filled with the light of life.
David M. Tate, Principal
David Tate
Greetings to all our Bulldog families:
Upcoming Events:
November 30 Talent Show – 6:30pm in the Auditorium
December 6 Picture Retake Day
December 8 Vaping and Cannabis Education
December 13 – 15 Early Release 11:45am / Parent Conferences and Pizza Sales
December 22 Early Release 11:45am
December 25 Christmas Day – NO SCHOOL
December 26 – 29 Winter Recess – NO SCHOOL
January 1 New Year’s Day – NO SCHOOL
January 15 MLK Day – NO SCHOOL
January 26 Coffee & Conversation: Recognizing Anxiety in Teens and Adults
Emergency Drills: As a reminder, we conduct regular emergency drills including, Secure School, Fire Drill, Evacuation and Lockdowns. We give notice for some of these drills in advance to avoid unnecessary concern. We will be having a Lockdown drill this coming week.
In the event of an actually emergency you will receive a REMIND message to let you know the situation and next steps.
8th Grade Field Trip Fundraiser: We are still raising funds to support the trip to New York City at the end of this month to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. Our GoFundMe page is https://gofund.me/11290ba3.
The cost of the trip for participants is $50. Payment is due by next Monday, November27.
Kids Helping Kids Toy Drive: The Bulldogs are once again collaborating with KHK’s Gift of Giving Event. This unique holiday project was created by two brothers who wanted to create a one day pop-up store where children from low-income families could come and shop (at no charge) for presents for their siblings and parents. The boys enlisted the support of their school to have a toy collection and now, 11 years later, we continue this project with lots of incredible support from the community.
Get Active In The PTO: Our PTO has started a new Facebook page. Please join on Facebook for news and events, signups and suggestions. Here is the link. https://m.facebook.com/groups/201088939619617/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
Donors Choose: Donors Choose is a fantastic way to support your child’s teachers and our school community. We have additional projects in need of funding. To see the list click here.
Superintendent’s Message: (Highlights)
Thanksgiving Football Game
Cross-town rivals Westhill High School and Stamford High face off tomorrow morning, Thursday, November 23 at 10:00 a.m. in the annual Thanksgiving Day football game. This year’s game is at Stamford High’s Boyle Stadium. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased here. Whether you cheer for the Vikings or the Black Knights, this is always a fun-filled way to start the Thanksgiving holiday.
Holiday Fair at Stamford High
The 5th Annual Stamford High School Holiday Shopping Fair is this Saturday, November 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This FREE event is open to the entire community. There will be more than 60 local vendors and artisans, concessions, raffles every 30 minutes, a photo booth, face painting, free craft projects for the kids, music, and more! Don’t miss this chance to shop local and support Stamford High School!
Christmas Tree Sale
The Friends of Stamford High (FOSH) annual Christmas Tree sale begins this Friday, November 24 at 9:00 a.m. This is one of Stamford High’s biggest fundraisers and is run entirely by parent, student, and teacher/staff volunteers. Please stop by to select from a wide variety of evergreen wreaths and fresh-cut trees for sale. The tree lot is open this Friday-Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays when school is in session, and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends in December.
To read the Superintendent’s full message please click here.
"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward. We are grateful for our partnership with you in raising our students. We wish all of you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving. Stay safe and have a great, long weekend.
David M. Tate, Principal
David Tate
Greetings to all our Bulldog families:
Upcoming Events:
November 17 Q1 final grades accessible in ParentPortal
November 19 Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular
November 22 Early Release 11:45am
November 23, 24 Thanksgiving Holiday – NO SCHOOL
November 30 Talent Show – 6:30pm in the Auditorium
December 6 Picture Retake Day
December 8 Vaping and Cannabis Education
December 13 – 15 Early Release 11:45am / Parent Conferences and Pizza Sales
December 22 Early Release 11:45am
December 25 Christmas Day – NO SCHOOL
December 26 – 29 Winter Recess – NO SCHOOL
January 1 New Year’s Day – NO SCHOOL
January 15 MLK Day – NO SCHOOL
January 26 Coffee & Conversation: Recognizing Anxiety in Teens and Adults
Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular: The Bulldog Marching Band will be among the performers participating in this year’s parade. The parade will begin at noon on Sunday, November 19 at the intersection of Summer Street and Hoyt Street and conclude on Atlantic Street and Federal Street. Come join the fun!
8th Grade Field Trip Fundraisers: We are still raising funds to support the trip to New York City at the end of this month to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. Our GoFundMe page is https://gofund.me/11290ba3.
We are also having a special fundraiser at Garden Catering, 235 Main St. Stamford this Monday, November 20, from 2 – 9pm. Use code CMS23 when you order in store, at gardencatering.com or on the Garden Catering app and 25% will be donated back to our school.
Get Active In The PTO: Our PTO has started a new Facebook page. Please join of Facebook for news and events, signups and suggestions. Here is the link. https://m.facebook.com/groups/201088939619617/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
Donors Choose: Donors Choose is a fantastic way to support your child’s teachers and our school community. We have additional projects in need of funding. To see the list click here.
Filling in the Blanks Food Pantry: The Filling in the Blanks mobile food pantry returns to Stamford this Saturday, November 18 in the rear parking lot of Cloonan Middle School. If you are in need of this service at this time, please plan to attend between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
If you are interested in learning more about this amazing organization or are interested in volunteering, please contact volunteer@fillingintheblanks.org.
Superintendent’s Message: (Highlights)
School Attendance is Critical for Success
With the first quarter marking period behind us, this is a good time to remind everyone about the importance of regular school attendance, which is critical for student academic success and sense of belonging.
The Connecticut State Department of Education defines chronic absence as missing 10 percent or more of the days in a school year, whether absences are excused or not. Missing only two days of school each month can put students at risk of chronic absenteeism. To help address this issue, each of our schools has an attendance team of teachers, administrators, social workers, and other staff who monitor absences and work with students at risk of becoming chronically absent.
To read the Superintendent’s full message please click here.
I wish everyone a safe and healthy weekend.
David M. Tate, Principal
David Tate
Greetings to all our Bulldog families:
Upcoming Events:
November 10 Veterans’ Day – NO SCHOOL
November 15 Coffee & Conversation: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving Middle School
November 15 High School Information Night
November 17 Q1 final grades accessible in ParentPortal
November 22 Early Release 11:45am
November 23, 24 Thanksgiving Holiday – NO SCHOOL
December 6 Picture Retake Day
December 8 Vaping and Cannabis Education
December 13 – 15 Early Release 11:45am / Parent Conferences – TBD
December 22 Early Release 11:45am
December 25 Christmas Day – NO SCHOOL
December 26 – 29 Winter Recess – NO SCHOOL
January 1 New Year’s Day – NO SCHOOL
January 15 MLK Day – NO SCHOOL
January 26 Coffee & Conversation: Recognizing Anxiety in Teens and Adults
We Need Your Help! Cloonan families – There’s still time to support Cloonan while getting a head start on your holiday shopping. The Charleston Wrap fundraiser has been extended through November 12. Participating in this fundraiser is important. Every dollar earned will help support Field Trips for Cloonan Students. Click here to register by entering your child’s name and Cloonan’s fundraiser ID 27115. Share the sales link with friends and family via email, text, and social media.
Go Fund Me Drive for 8th Grade Field Trip: 8th Grade students are planning a trip to New York City at the end of the month to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. The cost of buses are high, and though the Museum of Jewish Heritage has graciously waived the fee for admission, the total cost of the trip is still quite steep. We are hoping to raise funds to help lessen the cost of the trip for families and make the trip accessible to all of our students! We hope that you will consider making a donation to our GoFundMe in order to help support our goal of giving our 8th Graders an important and meaningful trip, especially in the light of current events. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. https://gofund.me/11290ba3
High School Information Night – Stamford Public Schools is hosting High School Information Night for Eighth Grade Families on Wednesday, November 15 at 6 pm via Zoom. Our school district offers a variety of rigorous, specialized high school programs to which eighth graders can apply for admission, regardless of their zoned high school. These include the Academy of Finance, the Regional Agriscience Program, and Junior ROTC at Westhill High School and the Early College Studies Program, the High School of Business, and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Stamford High. Representatives from all of these programs – as well as AITE and Wright Tech – will participate in High School Information Night.
Long Term Facilities Update: Dr. Lori Rhodes, Associate Superintendent for Access and Opportunity, presented a proposal to accelerate the Long Term Facilities Plan at our Town Hall.
Here is a recording of that meeting and here is the transcript.
Donors Choose: Donors Choose is a fantastic way to support your child’s teachers and our school community. We have additional projects in need of funding. To see the list click here.
Filling In The Blanks: Filling in the Blanks has launched its Fresh Food on the Move mobile food pantry. They will be at the Cloonan Middle School parking lot located at 11 W North St, Stamford, CT 06902 on the third Saturday of every month from 9 am to 11 am. The next time they are at Cloonan will be Saturday November 18. There is no cost associated with the food being provided. Please come and join us for some delicious fresh food on a beautiful morning. If you have any questions, please call 203-750-0019.
Superintendent’s Message: (Highlights)
Complete the Household Income Survey Application
Families are encouraged to complete the Household Income Survey Application (English / Spanish) to verify if they may be eligible for reduced-price or free programs and services, including youth camps, internet services, college exam fees, and college application fees. Completing this application helps us understand district demographics and can help eligible families save money. All information you share is confidential.
Tomorrow we will observe Veterans’ Day. It is important and fitting that we think about those who place themselves on the line to preserve our freedoms and our democracy. I believe we owe an equal debt of gratitude to their families who also serve by loving and caring for our defenders in uniform. The next time you feel moved to thank a Vet for his or her service would, please consider saying a word of thanks to their family as well. I wish everyone a safe, healthy weekend filled with gratitude.
David M. Tate, Principal
David Tate
Greetings to all our Bulldog families:
Upcoming Events:
November 5 Veterans’ Day Parade with the CMS Marching Band
November 6 Start of Q2
November 7 Election Day – NO SCHOOL
November 9 Picture Day – See important information below
November 10 Veterans’ Day – NO SCHOOL
November 15 Coffee & Conversation: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving Middle School
November 15 High School Information Night
November 17 Q1 final grades accessible in ParentPortal
November 22 Early Release 11:45am
November 23, 24 Thanksgiving Holiday – NO SCHOOL
December 6 Picture Retake Day
December 8 Vaping and Cannabis Education
December 13 – 15 Early Release 11:45am / Parent Conferences – TBD
December 22 Early Release 11:45am
December 25 Christmas Day – NO SCHOOL
December 26 – 29 Winter Recess – NO SCHOOL
January 1 New Year’s Day – NO SCHOOL
January 15 MLK Day – NO SCHOOL
January 26 Coffee & Conversation: Recognizing Anxiety in Teens and Adults
School Governance Council Elections: We now have three (3) candidates for the School Governance Council Parent Representatives. We are required to have and election, even though there are three available openings. Therefore, we have voting open over this weekend until noon on Monday November 6.
The candidates are:
Colleen Hiranandani: “I encourage my children to get involved and be champions for change, the best way to instill that in them, is to get involved myself.”
Lisa McComb-Williams: “As a SPS parent I would like to be a representative on the School Governance Council. The School Governance Council provides guidance to all PTOs and is an important function enabling dialogue between community and faculty.”
Kacia Williams: “I have a child in the school system so I can give great input from a parent's point of view, and give ideas and solutions from things that I see. As a Cloonan alumnae, the school is very important to me.”
Parents and guardians can vote at the following link. One vote per household. School Governance Council Parent Representative Election
School Picture Day is Thursday, November 9. Photography by Roman will be at Cloonan next Thursday for School Picture Day. All students will be photographed for the yearbook. Families will have the opportunity to review their child’s photo and purchase digital downloads after picture day. Click here to view the flier.
We Need Your Help! Cloonan families – There’s still time to support Cloonan while getting a head start on your holiday shopping. The Charleston Wrap fundraiser has been extended through November 12. Participating in this fundraiser is important. Every dollar earned will help support Field Trips for Cloonan Students. Click here to register by entering your child’s name and Cloonan’s fundraiser ID 27115. Share the sales link with friends and family via email, text, and social media.
Staff and Student Accomplishments:
Congratulations to our Students of the Month for September and October:
Grade 8 September- Julien Beliard, Olivia Beliard, Kevin Santos, Modesty Rivera
Grade 8 October - Khloe Bank, Zoe Dees, Holly Jean, Landon Morales
Grade 7 September - Aidy Geis, Kyle Gutierrez
Grade 7 October - Raul Cardona Alonzo, Elizabeth Payares, Damaly Pinto, Hasnain Shaikh
Grade 6 October - Rinad Louali, Alex Karam, Andrew Karam, Lukas Kemmerer, Graycie Pineda,
Camrin Polk, Nikoleta Valassis, Penny Zimmer
In other news, Cloonan Bulldogs raised $555 for the Stamford Health Bennett Cancer Center! More information on this is below.
Go Fund Me Drive for 8th Grade Field Trip: 8th Grade students are planning a trip to New York City at the end of the month to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and also visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. The cost of buses are high, and though the Museum of Jewish Heritage has graciously waived the fee for admission, the total cost of the trip is still quite steep. We are hoping to raise funds to help lessen the cost of the trip for families and make the trip accessible to all of our students! We hope that you will consider making a donation to our GoFundMe in order to help support our goal of giving our 8th Graders an important and meaningful trip, especially in the light of current events. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. https://gofund.me/11290ba3
High School Information Night – Stamford Public Schools is hosting High School Information Night for Eighth Grade Families on Wednesday, November 15 at 6 pm via Zoom. Our school district offers a variety of rigorous, specialized high school programs to which eighth graders can apply for admission, regardless of their zoned high school. These include the Academy of Finance, the Regional Agriscience Program, and Junior ROTC at Westhill High School and the Early College Studies Program, the High School of Business, and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Stamford High. Representatives from all of these programs – as well as AITE and Wright Tech – will participate in High School Information Night.
Second Quarter Schedule: The second grading quarter begins Monday November 6. The schedule will shift so the first Block of the day has Period 2 classes. Some students will also have a change in their Essentials classes, for example switching Art and Tech. The new schedules will be reflected in the ParentPortal.
Long Term Facilities Update: Dr. Lori Rhodes, Associate Superintendent for Access and Opportunity, presented a proposal to accelerate the Long Term Facilities Plan last Wednesday at our Town Hall.
Here is a recording of that meeting and here is the transcript.
Donors Choose: Donors Choose is a fantastic way to support your child’s teachers and our school community. We have additional projects in need of funding. To see the list click here.
Filling In The Blanks: Filling in the Blanks has launched its Fresh Food on the Move mobile food pantry. They will be at the Cloonan Middle School parking lot located at 11 W North St, Stamford, CT 06902 on the third Saturday of every month from 9 am to 11 am. There is no cost associated with the food being provided. Please come and join us for some delicious fresh food on a beautiful morning. If you have any questions, please call 203-750-0019.
Superintendent’s Message: (Highlights)
Veterans Day Parade
Please join us for the Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony on Sunday, November 5 at 12:00 p.m. Marching bands from Cloonan, Northeast, Rogers, Scofield, Strawberry Hill, Turn of River and Westover will participate in the parade. Students from Dolan will perform the National Anthem during the ceremony at Veterans Park. Click here for route information and other details.
Café con la Super
Please join Mayor Caroline Simmons and me on Monday, November 6 at 6:30 p.m. for Stamford Public Schools’ monthly Spanish language community conversation, Café con la Super. This month’s topic is housing. In addition to Mayor Simmons, we will be joined by representatives from two of our community partners – Building One Community (B1C) and Jewish Family Services of Greenwich (JFS).
Café con la Super meets in the 4th Floor Cafeteria at the Government Center. Please arrive early to check in and enjoy some refreshments. To assist in planning, please register here. Please note, Cafe con la Super is presented with English translation.
To see the Superintendent’s full message please click here.
In troubled times it can be all too easy to overlook the bright spots in our lives. One such highlight for me is the result of our Pinktober drive to raise money for breast cancer awareness. Selling pink ribbons and Starbursts for $1 each, and selling bracelets and writable posters for $2 each throughout the month during lunch waves, our students raised $555 for the Stamford Health Bennett Cancer Center! We were happy to be joined by Mrs. Robin Bennett Kanarek, daughter of the founder, Mrs. Gayle Alswanger, Director of Bennett Cancer Center, Dr. Tamu Lucero, Superintendent of Schools and Dr. Lori Rhodes, Associate Superintendent for Access and Opportunity.
Thanks to our Diplomats for working the sales and special thanks to our Super Paraeducators Mrs. Trenda Palmer and Mrs. Sharron Miller for spearheading the drive. #SPSChallenge #SPSInspire #SPSHeart
I wish everyone a safe, healthy and peaceful weekend.
David M. Tate, Principal