A Publication of Enfield
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inSights
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Winter 2015
From the Office
of Academic
Achievement
This
edition of
inSights
highlights
the valuable
partnerships
that Enfield
Public Schools has developed.
These partnerships offer a
wide-range of advantages for
the students, families, and
teachers of Enfield Public
Schools. Their impact is seen
in classrooms across content
areas, encompassing all grade
levels throughout the district.
Many of the opportunities
outlined in this issue would
not be possible without the
support of these partners. We
look forward to the continued
collaboration and further
strengthening of these
relationships.
— Michelle Middleton
Chief Academic Officer
Asnuntuck Community College
and Enfield Public Schools:
A Collaborative Partnership
F
rank Gulluni of Asnuntuck
Community College (ACC) is
one of the state’s leading proponents
for helping to “fill the pipeline” for
career opportunities in Connecticut’s
growing manufacturing industry.
Growing, you ask? Absolutely. With
the increased demand for a highly
skilled manufacturing staff, many
companies are looking to Connecticut
to provide the bright, trained labor
force not available overseas. New
contracts for Pratt & Whitney, General
Dynamics, and Sikorsky will all bring
job openings, and Mr. Gulluni wants to
make sure that our students today are
ready to fill them. Coupled with
hundreds of upcoming retirements
from engineering and technology in
CT – Mr. Gulluni calls them a “silver
tsunami” – he wants to help the
Enfield Public Schools partner with
ACC to prepare students to step into
these well-paying and fascinating
careers.
This vision of skilled jobs and
challenging careers fits well with
Enfield’s vision for STEAM (science,
technology, engineering, arts, and
mathematics). Enfield is in the process
of developing new technology learning
www.enfieldschools.org 860.253.6500
pathways, revising our existing
curriculum, and strengthening our
curriculum and facilities to embrace a
K-12 STEAM model of integrated
subject area learning. Dr. Sarah
F a u l k n e r , E n f i e l d ’s S T E A M
Coordinator, has been working
closely with Enfield and ACC staff to
develop and implement a long-range
plan for curriculum improvement.
This year we revised our computer
science curriculum in Grades 2-5 to
expand keyboarding and computer
skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.),
preparing students for more advanced
computer-based work in middle
school. We made huge changes in the
middle school curriculum (see page
2), expanded our Project Lead the
Way engineering courses at the high
school, added a new STEAM Design
high school elective, and are in the
process of revising our high school
computer science courses.
The varied learning and career
pathways for students include
engineering, science, mathematics,
computer science, and, now with our
expanded partnership with ACC,
robotics and advanced manufacturing.
Continued on page 2