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Monthly Principal's Newsletter - September 2026

Posted Date: 09/02/26 (03:00 PM)


The Sliney Elementary School logo features a lighthouse, sailboats, and an open book.

Principal's Newsletter

September 2026

Principal's Message

Dear Sliney Families,
What an incredible start to the school year! Our building is filled with energy, and both our students and staff are thrilled to be back together. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we navigated the opening days. Because of your support at home, our students are settling in wonderfully—learning daily routines, making new friends, and setting goals for the year ahead.

Important Reminders & Updates
  • Attendance Matters: Being at school every day makes a huge difference in your child's academic success and social connections. Please prioritize attendance by planning family vacations during scheduled school breaks rather than during school days. I will be sharing updates on our school-wide attendance in my monthly newsletter.
  • Stay Connected: Look for our weekly communication, "This Week at Sliney School," which will be shared on Friday afternoons at 4:00pm as well as the Principal Monthly Newsletter, which will be shared on the first Wednesday of each month. Your child's teacher will also reach out regularly with updates on classroom learning and experiences via ParentSquare.
  • Upcoming Events: We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming school events, starting with Back to School Night on September 9th!

If you ever have any questions or need support, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at mclark@branfordschools.org or (203) 481-5386.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership. Let’s make it a fantastic year!

Yours truly,
Maria Clark, Ed.D.
Principal
 

Universal Free Breakfast for All Students

We are thrilled to share that universal free breakfast is available to all students at no cost this school year! We encourage families to take advantage of this wonderful program to ensure our kids start their day energized and ready to learn.

Morning Arrival Procedures:
  • Grades 1–4: Enter through the main entrance doors.
  • Kindergarten: Enter through the side door entrance by the Sliney Playground.

Once inside, every student will be able to get their free breakfast and enjoy it right in their classroom!

 

Our School Wide Vision

JBS Vision: A joyful and inclusive learning community that values collaboration, a growth mindset, and lifelong learning for everyone.

Core Values
Learning is engaging, creative, and joyful, fostering curiosity and a love of learning.

All community members—teachers, students, and staff—are empowered to share their voices and take ownership of their learning.

Strong, respectful relationships create a safe, inclusive, and supportive community.

We grow by embracing challenges, reflection, and continuous improvement.

We collaborate to uphold high expectations for student growth and performance and continuously improve teaching and learning for ourselves, our students, and the entire school community.

In practice, this means joyful classrooms, strong partnerships with families, student voice in daily learning, and collaborative teams using evidence of learning and shared instructional planning to support the growth of the whole child.
Dr. Maria Clark holds a book titled 'The 7 Habits of Happy Kids' in a whimsical outdoor setting with animated animals.

Leader In Me

This year, our school will continue to build strong character and leadership skills using The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey, based on the classic 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Each month, we will explore one habit through stories, discussions, and classroom activities.

Our Focus for This Month: Habit 1 — Be Proactive

Being proactive means you are in charge of yourself. It’s about taking responsibility for your own actions, attitudes, and choices rather than blaming others or waiting to be told what to do.

Here is what "Being Proactive" looks like for our kids:

  • Taking Initiative: Doing the right thing before being asked (like putting away toys or finishing homework).
  • Choosing Responses: Realizing that while we can't control everything around us, we can always control how we react.
  • Using "Can-Do" Language: Shifting from "I can't" or "He made me do it" to "I can try" and "I choose to."

How You Can Help at Home: You can reinforce Habit 1 by using proactive language at home! Ask your child, "What is a proactive choice you can make right now?" or praise them when you see them taking initiative without a reminder.
 

Important Dates to Remember

Monday, September 7 - Labor Day, No School
Wednesday, September 9 - Back to School Night - Grades K & 1 @ 5:00 PM; Grades 2, 3 & 4 @ 6:00 PM
Wednesday, September 9 - PTA Meeting @ 7:00PM
Wednesday, September 30 - Early Release Day for Students
October 14 - Picture Day
October 9 & 12 - FALL Recess, No School
October 28 - Early Release Day for Students
November 3rd-No School for Students; PD for Staff
November 11th and 17th Parent Teacher Conferences
 

Important Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.
John B. Sliney Elementary
📍 23 Eades Street, Branford, CT 06405
📞 203-481-5386
✉️ slineyoffice@branfordschools.org
✉️ mclark@branfordschools.org (Dr. Maria Clark's Email)