Plainville Community School District

Plainville Community Schools’ volunteer mentors and student mentees enjoyed an evening filled with games, activities, and friendly competition at the district’s annual “Mentor Fun Night” held March 4th at Plainville High School. Celebrating the mentor program’s 35th year, this year’s “Minute to Win It” themed event was hosted by Volunteer Coordinator, Sue Bradley, and offered mentors and mentees the opportunity to connect and have fun together outside of the regular school day. Mentor Fun Night was funded in part through the generous support of both the Elizabeth Norton Trust Fund and VFW Madley Roberts Post No. 574, whose contributions helped make this special evening possible.

The Plainville High School Jazz Band recently traveled to Storrs, Connecticut to participate in the prestigious UCONN Jazz Festival, joining over two dozen high schools from across Connecticut for a day of musical excellence. Performing at the renowned von der Mehden Recital Hall, students showcased their talents for university faculty and peers alike. Following their performance, the band received an invaluable coaching session from a member of UConn’s esteemed jazz faculty, providing them with professional critiques and new artistic perspectives. Beyond the music, the day served as a wonderful bonding experience as students explored the campus and connected with current university musicians. The trip also featured an inspiring performance by the UConn Jazz Ensemble, leaving the Plainville High School musicians energized and motivated for their upcoming spring season. "This experience served as a perfect real-world application of our Portrait of the Graduate skills. Our musicians were deeply collaborative, working in sync to deliver a complex performance, and remained mindful and resilient as they adapted to a professional stage and applied real-time feedback during a coaching session with renowned UConn faculty. By engaging with current university students and exploring the campus, they practiced communicative excellence, while the high-level artistry of the UConn Jazz Ensemble inspired our students to think innovatively about their own musical journeys. It was a day of immense pride for PHS, proving that our band is as focused on character and skill as they are on the music," noted Plainville Community Schools' Instructional Leader for Performing Arts, Mike Boncimino.

Plainville students in grades 4 and 5 from Linden Street School, Louis Toffolon Elementary School, and Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School attended the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) Elementary Leadership Conference on Wednesday, January 7th. The students attended three sessions where they participated in a variety of hands-on activities that promote leadership skills. Students also gained leadership skills in creative problem solving, communication, decision making, and productive thinking.

On December 19th, PHS CTE teachers Mark Chase and Dave Gaignard welcomed Goodwin University’s Manufacturing in Motion Trailer, providing students with an interactive, hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing. Students explored modern equipment and technology, learned how products are designed and produced, and gained insight into the skills used in today’s manufacturing careers. The visit also introduced students to opportunities such as Goodwin University’s Early College Advanced Manufacturing Pathway (ECAMP), which allows PHS seniors to explore advanced manufacturing while earning college credit. Experiences like this help students connect classroom learning to real-world careers and make informed decisions about their future.

A group of Middle School of Plainville students, together with faculty members Camille Westfall and Kim Coyle, attended the 2025 Aerospace Alley Future Workforce Opportunities Fair hosted by Aerospace Components Manufacturers on October 30th. The event is designed to engage middle and high school students, sparking their interest in modern manufacturing and careers within the Aerospace industry. Students were able to speak with representatives from over 100 local aerospace companies, gain insight into employer expectations, and explore cutting edge manufacturing technologies.

Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School fourth graders recently enjoyed a visit from guest author, Millicent Sutton. The book that she published is entitled "The Misadventures of Minnie the Monarch, Journey to the Butterfly Forest." Even more special about the visit is Wheeler Monitor, Sharon Gianinni, served as editor of the book, working with Ms. Sutton. The book, which is geared toward fourth graders, is a touching story about overcoming great obstacles and the power of friendship. It describes the three thousand mile trek that butterflies take, known as the Great Migration.

District Supervisor of EL, Equity and Student Support, Lily Cornielle and Bilingual faculty member Gloribel Barreto-Ramirez recently delivered a presentation entitled “Beyond the Classroom: Building Trust and Leadership through Home Visits for Multilingual Learners” at the 2025 Connecticut Family & Community Engagement Conference in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School Pre-K and Kindergarten students recently enjoyed an exciting visit from the local Plainville Fire Department. The students were able to explore a real fire truck, meet the firefighters, and learn about fire safety. The children loved hearing the sirens, seeing the equipment up close, and asking questions about the important work firefighters do every day.

Linden Street School students recently celebrated "Career Day Spirit Day." As part of this special day, the students dressed up as a career that they would like to be in the future. Linden Street School hallways were filled with future nurses, veterinarians, police officers, artists, NFL players, and more on October 3rd.

Plainville High School hosted its 4th annual Career Gallery event on October 3rd. More than 120 professionals (including many alumni) from businesses and organizations throughout Connecticut were on hand to share information about their vocational pathways with students. Students in each grade cycled through the high school's gymnasium to meet and talk with the guests throughout the morning.

Students in Melissa Moore’s Biology Classes at Plainville High School are acting as “Citizen Scientists” as part of the Monarch Watch Tagging Program.