Quaker Hill Named CAS Elementary School Of The Year

WATERFORD, CT - The Connecticut Association of Schools has selected Quaker Hill Elementary School as the 2017-18 CAS Elementary School of the Year. The award was presented to school officials Friday, September 8, during a ceremony.

The mission of Quaker Hill Elementary School is to create “a caring and engaging learning environment and to help each student reach his or her fullest potential through instilling a love of learning by challenging and supporting students to achieve academic excellence, educating the whole child, ensuring a positive school climate, and learning through public service,” according to a release.

This mission is carried out by a continued focus on teaching what is most important. This includes educating the whole child, learning through service, and ensuring a positive school climate. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The criteria considered during the evaluation process included:

• an educational program conducive to the needs of all students
• student opportunities that go beyond the typical school day
• education programs that are consistently reviewed and improved
• an atmosphere that welcomes participation for all constituencies
• an active role in the community
• strong parent-school involvement

School officials said the committee from CAS was impressed with the inclusive and accepting environment at Quaker Hill that focuses on meeting the needs of every student, the multiple venues for communication with parents and the community and the multitude of learning opportunities for students.

The committee stated that Quaker Hill’s dedication to the Zones of Regulation program was a testament to the high level of commitment and belief in the power of all children. They noted that the choices given to students in their program and after school opportunities were commendable and enhanced by the high level of staff support.

The Connecticut Association of Schools congratulated Principal Christopher Discordia, the school staff and parents on the high quality educational programs that serve the needs of all of the school’s children.

He also noted that the school's sense of community, the outstanding programs, the level of academic achievement and the overwhelming positive feeling at Quaker Hill Elementary School made it the choice of the Connecticut Association of Schools’ Outstanding Elementary School of the Year Award.

Images courtesy Caroline Whittaker