Plainville Community School District

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.

Plainville Community Schools' volunteer mentors and student mentees had a fun evening filled with magic tricks and illusions at the district's annual "Mentor Fun Night" on March 12th at Plainville High School. The New York Magician was sponsored by a generous grant from the Elizabeth H. Norton Trust Fund. Volunteer Coordinator Sue Bradley hosted the event, offering mentors and mentees a chance to enjoy a memorable experience outside the regular school day.

Students from the Plainville Community Schools Transition Program recently enjoyed a visit from WTNH News 8 Meteorologist, Joe Furey. Mr. Furey shared insight on his career path, weather, broadcasting, and what it takes to be successful in the Meteorology world.

A number of special reading related events and activities happened across the Plainville school district over the past two weeks, as Louis Toffolon Elementary School, Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School , and Linden Street School celebrated Read Across America! Highlights featured guest readers (including Plainville High School students who participated in a Learning Adventure Experience reading to students at all three elementary schools), book character dress up days, door decorating, Stop, Drop and Read, Makerspace activities, contests, and more. "Read Across America" is a yearly program initiated by the National Education Association (NEA) that encourages children and adults to celebrate reading.

The Middle School of Plainville hosted the annual CT State VEX IQ Robotics Championship at the middle school on March 1st with more than 60 teams represented from schools across the state. The Middle School of Plainville's Team 10931A earned a spot in the upcoming "Worlds" event in Dallas, Texas by winning the "Teamwork Championship Award" at the state competition. The Middle School of Plainville Robotics Advisor is faculty member, Camille Westfall.

The Middle School of Plainville Art Club recently created Valentine's Day "Love Bugs" as gifts for the community. The cute yarn creations were delivered on Valentine's Day to the Plainville Senior Center.

On February 20th, UBI Federal Credit Union CEO, Edward Bohnwagner, and Vice President of Marketing , Fred Brown, made the rounds visiting Linden Street School, Louis Toffolon Elementary School and Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School kindergarten classes to donate the book, "The Bear Ate Your Sandwich" to each student. This generosity was in recognition of "Random Acts of Kindness Day" celebrated on February 17th!