By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer Faculty and staff members of the Southington school district kicked off the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year with a theme of “many firsts” and “change” on Monday. Assistant Superintendent Karen Smith, along with board members and other educators, recognized this theme throughout the celebration by welcoming more than 50 new staff members and recognizing the first full-day kindergarten program along with the implementation of the new Smarter Balanced Assessment tests that are aligned with the new Common Core State Standards. “It is the year of many firsts,” Smith said. “For some this is the first year teaching… [and] it is the first year for many new initiatives.” Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski expressed his appreciation for the role that educators play in these new initiatives. “Year after year, change is a real part of education,” Goralski said. “Change is what prepares our kids for the future.” This year’s event also featured a video that highlighted a new initiative: Virtual STEM University, a web-based educational resource that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math. Southington Education Foundation (SEF) Chair Dawn Miceli, along with faculty members and students, played different roles in the video, explaining [...]
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