Botelle Beat
Botelle Young Authors Take a Magic Tree House Adventure By Lauren Valentino This fall, Botelle’s third- and fourth-grade students completed an extraordinary writing project that brought the magic of literature to life. As part of their first English Language Arts unit, students studied Mary Pope Osborne’s beloved “Magic Tree House” series—with close attention to the […]
Botelle Beat
The Five Cs Shape Learning at Botelle In the 21st Century By Kevin Case On any given day, when you walk into any of our classrooms at Botelle School, you will observe our students engaged in 21st Century Learning Skills. We call these skills the 5 C’s: Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication and Compassionate Citizenship. […]
Botelle Beat
Welcome from the School Superintendent By Kevin D. Case The 2025-2026 school year is off to a great start at Botelle School. We began on Aug. 27 with 55 students enrolled in Pre-K through Grade 6. Lauren Valentino, Botelle’s principal; Spark, the school mascot, and I were greeted with smiles as students stepped into their […]
Botelle Beat
Botelle BeatParticipatory Theater Inspires Clean Ocean Awareness By Lauren ValentinoMore than 20 years ago, the Grumbling Gryphons, a professional traveling children’s theater group from Cornwall, came to Botelle School and performed the play “The Ghost Net.” This week they returned and gave a repeat performance of the same play, wowing students, staff and family members […]
Botelle Beat
The Botelle Eagles Celebrate Earth Day By Lauren Valentino Botelle students rolled up their sleeves and dug into hands-on learning to celebrate Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22. With help from community partners, students had “the best day ever!” according to kindergarten students. Students and staff gathered in the cafeteria to learn the history of Earth […]
Focus on Building Community
By Lauren Valentino, PrincipalCelebrating All—Creating Community is a Botelle Elementary School theme. Our staff celebrates our students, their strengths and interests and strives to create a community of learners who soar to new heights. Teaching the children of Norfolk their ABC’s and 123’s is our focus. However, it’s also important to teach children about their […]
Norfolk Salutes Its Volunteers: Spotlight on Botelle School
Lisa Bazzano When I was growing up in Norfolk, I had a Norman Rockwell childhood, and I wanted the same for my five children. That’s why I chose to raise them in Norfolk, and it’s why I want to give back as much as I can through volunteering. My first child to enter Botelle School […]
Getting Ready for the New School Year at Botelle
The Botelle Beat By Virginia Coleman-Prisco As the days get shorter and fall approaches, Botelle Elementary School has been busy preparing for a new school year. Principal Lauren Valentino is excited that “Botelle School is fully staffed and ready to welcome back students and families.” Three new staff members have been hired to replace teachers […]
New Year, New Protocols at Botelle
The Botelle Beat by Virgina Coleman-Prisco A year ago, the Botelle community was preparing to return to in-person learning for the first time since Covid-19 forced the school into remote instruction in March 2020. Two primary factors, the smaller population and the amount of available space for instruction and mask breaks, allowed Botelle to have […]
“A Small School with a Big Heart” Plans for Reopening
By Virginia Coleman-Prisco Under the direction of Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Education (DOE), school districts have been required to develop plans for three scenarios for fall 2020: a full reopening of school with in-person instruction, a blend of in-person and remote instruction, and full remote instruction. School superintendent Mary Beth Iacobelli says […]
