Happy August. I am always amazed at how fast summer goes by. It seems like just yesterday we said goodbye to students, and in four weeks we welcome all students back to school. I hope that everyone has been able to enjoy the clear, healthy-air days with outdoor activities and indoor activities on days when there are health alerts.

The much-needed rain has helped our school gardens at Park Avenue School, Morris Street School, Rogers Park Middle School, and Ellsworth Avenue Elementary School. All the gardens are harvesting fresh produce for our students, and family teams have been busy planting, weeding, and watering. There is always room for more families to participate in our Family Gardening Days. Just last week, we had a very successful Family Gardening Day at Ellsworth Avenue School. Families made bamboo trellises for our growing squash, green beans, and cucumbers, spread compost around the plants to provide a nutrient boost, weeded the garden beds, and planted fall vegetables.

Danbury Public Schools begins on Tuesday, Aug. 25, for students in grades 1-12. Kindergarten students will begin with a half-day schedule from Aug. 25-27, with their first full day on Friday, Aug. 28. Please look for information from your school with details for that week. Principals will be back in their schools during the first week of August, and more information on class lists and other school details will be sent out the following week.

During the first week of August, look for the Danbury Public Schools "Back-to-School Guide" in your ParentSquare account. The guide is chock-full of information to help the school year get off to a great start. Please take a few minutes to read through it and discuss it with your student(s) where necessary.

DPS will host two Kindergarten Transition Nights for incoming kindergarten students and their families on Thursday, Aug. 13, and Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 6:00 p.m. Following a light dinner, parents will have time with veteran kindergarten teachers while students participate in activities. The teachers will discuss classroom routines, bus transportation, the week of Aug. 24, ways to help your child transition to school, the importance of attendance, and activities you can do at home to help prepare your child for kindergarten. Details will be sent through ParentSquare to all incoming kindergarten families during the first week of August, along with instructions on how to register for the events.

We encourage families not to wait to register their child. Friday, Aug. 7, is the last day to register your child so they can begin school on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Children who register after that date may not be fully registered in time to be assigned to a bus, included on class lists, and more. Central Registration is located at the Family and Community Engagement Center, 49 Osborne St. Registration begins online at https://www.danbury.k12.ct.us/. Once completed, you will be directed to bring your documents to the Center. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Thursday evenings by appointment by emailing Registrar@danbury.k12.ct.us.

If you have any questions, please contact the FACE Center at 203-797-4734.

Anne E. Mead, Ed.D., is the Director of Family, School, and Community Partnerships for Danbury Public Schools. She can be reached at 203-830-6508 or by email at meadan@danburyu.k12.ct.us.