Plainville Community School District

Plainville Adult and Continuing Education (PACE) celebrated student achievements during their annual Graduation and Awards Ceremony at Plainville High School on June 10, 2025. Among those recognized were five Adult High School Credit Diploma Program Graduates, two General Educational Development (GED) Preparation Program Graduates, and recipients of Academic Excellence certificates, from the following programs: English as a Second Language, Adult Basic Education, Citizenship Preparation, and the Adult High School Credit Diploma Program. Superintendent Brian Reas, Assistant Superintendent David Levenduski, and Board of Education members Foster White and Jered Bruzas participated in the celebration, while Nicholas Herdzik, 2023 PACE Alumnus, delivered an inspirational Keynote Address. Photograph, courtesy of Sophie Whitlock.

Plainville Community Schools has named Plainville High School Business & Finance Teacher, Steven Michaud, as the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. Michaud was nominated by faculty member and colleague, Brian Verrastro.

At their June 9th meeting, the Plainville Board of Education recognized the following individuals who will retire this year for their many years of service to Plainville Community Schools

Students in the Louis Toffolon Elementary School Running Club, together with Advisor / Faculty Member Nicole Siegel, and Physical Education Teacher Rob Silliman, attended the FitKids in School Final Mile Day Event at Wickham Park on May 29th. The Toffolon group participated in a warm up with students from across Connecticut, then completed the race, and each received a medal for completing the race and five weeks of training. The event was hosted by the Hartford Marathon Foundation.

Middle School of Plainville sixth grade students recently enjoyed a performance of the "Chariot of the Sun” presented by Mr. Jeffrey Benoit. The interactive program is a dynamic presentation that offers an accessible and fun introduction to the stories of ancient Greece. Using a combination of poetry, masks, mime, and skillful audience participation, Mr. Benoit brings these classic tales to life, reinforcing the sixth grade social studies instruction about ancient Greece.

"Nash the Police Dog" recently visited Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School with Officer Tony to spread smiles and share some friendly pets, as part of Wheeler’s “Career Week.” The Career Week event featured a number of guest speakers who shared information about their individual career paths with Wheeler students. Wheeler Kindergarten students met Nash and Officer Tony and learned about Nash’s role as a certified comfort dog. Nash works with law enforcement to provide emotional support in schools, senior centers, and other community spaces. Nash and Officer Tony gave students a unique look at how police dogs support both public safety and community well-being.

Plainville High School students Sofia Bocompani and Spencer Davenport have been named recipients of the second semester “Student Rocks Award” recognizing their outstanding contributions to Plainville High School.

Plainville High School has won vocabulary.com's "Vocabulary Bowl" for Spring 2025 for the state of Connecticut, ranking #1 in Connecticut high schools and #172 in the country.

Plainville Community Schools Food and Nutrition Services Department Director, Ashley Carl, has received national recognition as a "Newman’s Own Foundation School Lunch Hero!" Ashley was nominated by End Hunger Connecticut for this prestigious honor.

The Learning Commons in Plainville High School was transformed into an Italian themed landscape to celebrate district volunteers on May 7th. Attendees enjoyed an evening of recognition, raffle prizes, a delicious dinner prepared by the Plainville Community Schools Food and Nutrition Services Department, and a "make your own bouquet" flower bar. Volunteer Coordinator, Sue Bradley, hosted the annual event, and shared a slideshow of volunteers in action and an overview of the powerful impact volunteers make in our school district community.

Plainville Community Schools and Central Connecticut State University once again partnered to host the "Go Baby Go" event at Plainville High School on May 2nd and 3rd, during which toy ride-on cars for children with special needs were modified, refurbished, and presented to local families. The Go Baby Go program was originally founded by the University of Delaware, and has been held at Central Connecticut State University. The two day workshop hosted at Plainville High School featured Plainville High School and Middle School of Plainville Technology Education students, working together under the direction of the Technology Education faculty members from all three schools, Dr. Michele Dischino, Central Connecticut State University, Camille Westfall, Middle School of Plainville, Mark Chase, David Gaignard, and Mike Zaba, Plainville High School, as well as Plainville Community Schools Volunteer Coordinator, Sue Bradley, Physical Therapist, Sheryl Hart, Occupational Therapist Melissa Dominick, and Connecticut Children's Medical Center Physical Therapist, Jennifer Rodriguez-MacClintic to adapt the toy cars for local special needs children. The children were fitted for the cars during the second day of the workshop in the STEM Lab at Plainville High School. Four children received modified cars this year. The Go Baby Go event was made possible through donations including grants from the Petit Family Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, to support the Go Baby Go project, coordinated by Dr. Dischino.

Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School students celebrated Autism Awareness Month in the school's library in April. Students read books about autism to develop an understanding of what it means to be autistic. Additionally, they designed their own Autism Awareness puzzle hearts to share with friends and family.

Students, families, faculty, staff members and guests filled Plainville High School on April 24th for the annual Superintendent's Showcase event, which featured several musical performances, artwork, and an open house style showcase throughout the high school spotlighting academics, student works, programs, clubs, athletics, initiatives, and more across the district. Refreshments from "Around the World" were provided by the outstanding PCS Food and Nutrition Services Department!

The Louis Toffolon Elementary School community celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd with a variety of activities. The Plainville Conservation Committee donated dogwood seedlings to each Toffolon school kindergartener, and members of the Toffolon Garden Club created a presentation to teach the kindergarteners about the dogwoods and how to plant them. Additionally, members of the Toffolon School Student Council read books to the pre-K, kindergarten, first, and second grade classes about recycling and how they can help keep the Earth clean.

Plainville High School students from the Science National Honor Society hosted Elementary Family Science Night on April 7th, at Plainville High School. Over 250 students and family members representing students in Pre-K through grade 5 attended. Students experienced hands-on demonstrations, experiments, and scientific phenomena. Highlights included make your own slime, "mentos" explosion, underwater candles, and lava lamps. Family Science Night 2025 sparked curiosity and excitement for all!

The Plainville Community Schools’ Elementary Music Department welcomed families of students in Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade to spend music class with their students as part of Music in our Schools Week from March 24th to March 28th. Families observed and participated in a music lesson highlighting student learning, student musicianship, and music literacy. March is designated National Music in our Schools Month by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and via their website: "The purpose of Music In Our Schools Month is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music."

Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School fourth graders showcased their innovation, creativity and problem solving skills once again this year at their annual “Invention Convention” held on March 24th. As part of their studies about how things work, what problems they solve, and how they could be improved, the fourth graders were tasked with looking for a problem to solve with an “invention” as the solution. They presented their unique inventions to family members, staff and student peers during the annual Invention Convention event.

The Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School community is celebrating Women's History Month in March. Students have been reading a variety of books that recognize the accomplishments of trailblazing women. The books are compelling explorations of women’s lives across decades. Additionally, interesting facts about women in history are shared daily with students during morning announcements.