School Honors: Botelle Named School of Distinction
By Avice Meehan Botelle Elementary School has been named a school of distinction for the 2023-24 academic year for showing great improvement across a range of standards measured by Connecticut’s Department of Education (DOE). Principal Lauren Valentino shared the news at the Nov. 12 meeting of the Board of Education and, in a lighthearted moment, […]
Botelle Students Celebrate Veterans
Norfolk veterans and families gathered on Monday, Nov. 11, as Botelle Elementary School students marked the day with music, song and a presentation about the town’s World War I memorial. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Abigail Bennett, Michael Prisco and music teacher Mary Krusch played “The Star-Spangled Banner” to a hushed crowd of more than […]
Kitty Rescue Project
Elana Hunt and Michael Prisco (picture at left) presented a check for $131 to volunteers for a local cat rescue group in Torrington called Kitty Quarters at a chilly bake sale last month. Their fundraising effort was part of a personal interest project (PIP) at Botelle Elementary School. The students raised the funds by baking […]
Letters
Leave Botelle School Alone My girls love going to school every single day. They look forward to being with their friends. They look forward to having fun with their teachers. They look forward to gym class, music class, band, art, library and maker space. They love EVERYTHING about their school. I was recently asked why […]
Elementary Conversations
Colebrook, Norfolk Selectmen Seek Collaboration By Avice Meehan The Colebrook and Norfolk Boards of Selectmen held a joint meeting on Thursday, Nov. 14, to “restart the conversation” about how the two communities could find ways to collaborate as elementary school enrollments decline. Originally planned for Colebrook Town Hall, the session was moved to the adjacent […]
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 […]
Botelle Beat
Student build on Strong Traditions By Lauren Valentino, Principal November is a month rich with tradition at Botelle School. For over two decades, Botelle students, staff and PTO have welcomed local veterans and their families to the annual Veterans Day Assembly, celebrated with song and ceremony. This tradition started in 2003 thanks to music teacher […]
Behind the numbers
Botelle Test Scores slow to recover after the pandemic By Avice Meehan When the Norfolk Board of Education meets in mid-November, Botelle Elementary School Principal Lauren Valentino will provide an update about student progress and the start of the new academic year. One metric that will be discussed is something called the Smarter Balanced Assessment. […]
Town and Gown, Norfolk Style
By Avice Meehan It takes less than five minutes to travel the distance between Town Hall on Maple Avenue and Botelle Elementary School on Route 44, yet the gulf between these two pillars of Norfolk life is substantial. First Selectman Matt Riiska has become a vocal proponent of restarting conversations with the Town of Colebrook […]
Community News
Art Exhibit at the Hub—Sean SweeneyArtist Sean Sweeney will show his mixed media works at the Norfolk Hub gallery space from Nov. 3 to Dec. 18. “Echoes & Vibrations” uses paint, printmaking and collage to reflect energy interacting with nature. A reception will be held on Sunday, Nov. 3, from 3 to 5 p.m. Jessica […]
