GREAT NECK NEWSLETTER
April 10, 2026
UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
April 13 Dine Out– Tony D’s Craft Creamery
April 13-17 No School– Spring Break
May 4-8 Staff Appreciation Week
May 13 Kindergarten Orientation 9:30-10:30am
May 14 Early Dismissal 12:25pm
May 25 No School– School Holiday
June 11
June 12
Save the Date- 5th Grade Promotion
Save the Date– 5th Grade Party
June 15 Field Day
Get a glimpse of what’s going on inside the school by clicking here
Kindergarten orientation for the 2026-27 school year is right around the corner and we will be setting up times for screenings soon. If you have a kindergarten aged student and haven’t registered them yet please visit the district website and pre-register. You can fill out the forms here. If you’re child is already enrolled in Waterford preschool and moving up next year, there is no need for you to register, we already have these students in our system. If you know of anyone that is ready to register their child for kindergarten please pass this information on as early enrollment is helpful when determining class placements. We can’t wait to meet your kindergartener!
Thank you so much to all of the EB volunteers that helped to prepare the Great Neck garden beds for Spring planting. They repaired the irrigation drain barrels, cleaned and tilled the beds and pollinator garden, weeded and spread mulch and stone, and even fixed the shed and wheel barrows! A big thank you to our parent volunteers Pedro German and Mary Telford for taking the time to help with this projects. Everyone’s efforts to get the garden ready for planting are very much appreciated.
Momen Barakat
Austin Huang
Alex Laschinger
Katie Newharth
Conor Borek
Cole Gabrynowicz
Nathaniel Lucas
George Larios
Luis Ortiz Perez
Jim Wolfley
Students can access MusicPlay Online at home during break to log in and play with their families! Simply use the student access code below at musicplayonline.com to start the musical fun!
SCHOOL STORE GREAT NECK
PROCEEDS SUPPORTTHEGREATNECK
STUDENTACTIVITYFUND
LARGE TOTE: $8
SM TOTE: $5
CINCH BAGS: $5
SKI HATS: $15
SCARVES: $18
NOTEBOOKS: $3
BRACELETS: $1
KEYCHAINS: $2
Basketball Shooting Competition
TAKE ON THE HOT SHOT CHALLENGE AT:
ClarkLaneMiddle School 105 Clark Ln. Waterford, CT 06385
ARRIVE AT ANY TIME BETWEEN:
April11th,2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
EventDetails: Free Event
Must be a Waterford Resident Prizes for all Age Groups
Register day of: IN PERSON
Every kid is built different, so camp should be too. At registration, families choose a “cabin” that fits their child’s interests and energy. Campers stay with age-based peers while enjoying activities designed around their style, plus weekly beach trips, special treats and camp-wide events! A better fit. More engagement. More fun.
Week#1CampKickOffWeek (ClosedFridayJuly3rd)
Week#2July6thImaginationWeek
Week#3July13th Sports&ChallengeWeek
Week#4July20thCreativeMakersWeek
Week#5July27thSplashBash
Week#6August3rdTeamworkWeek
Week#7August10thCampSoakdown
Regular Camp Day
8:45AM to 3:15PM $211 per week
Regular Care:
12:00 PM to 3:15PM Full-Day Fridays Included $127.70 per week*
Extended Camp Day 7:30AM to 5:30PM $325 per week
Extended Care:
12:00 PM to 5:30 PM Full-Day Fridays Included $208 per week*
Available only to children enrolled in Waterford Public Schools Summer Academy. Enrollment will be verified. A service fee may be charged for incorrect enrollment.
The Little Lagoon (Pre-K): A gentle and playful space where our youngest campers explore nature, stories, and simple adventures while building confidence and friendships.
The Sharks: (Grades 1st –5th) An energetic cabin where campers dive into sports, active games, and team challenges that keep everyone moving and working together.
The Pod: (Grades 1st –5th) A cooperative and curious group where campers collaborate on creative projects, puzzles, and hands-on activities that spark imagination.
The Wayfarers: (Grades 1st –5th) An adventurous outdoorsy cabin where campers explore new ideas, solve problems together, and build confidence through discovery and teamwork
The Tide Pool: (Grades 1st –5th) A creative space where campers express themselves through art, building, and imaginative projects while learning to share ideas and work together.
Our Lighthouse Leaders (Grades 6th –7th) campers take on leadership roles, build responsibility, and help guide the camp community through teamwork and positive example.
REGISTRATION IS ALL ONLINE. SCAN FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO SIGN UP!
Dr. Bill Healy Scholarship for Junior Sailing at Niantic Bay Yacht Club
The Niantic Bay Sailing Academy (NBSA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based at the Niantic Bay Yacht Club in Niantic, CT. The Dr. Bill Healy Scholarship fund has been funded by generous donors who made contributions in memory of Dr. Bill Healy. Through this fund, sailing scholarships will be awarded to junior sailors within the Niantic Bay Yacht Club membership and youth within the community. We are especially seeking to support NBYC families who see the program fees as a challenge or barrier to enter their children in the program. Additionally, we seek local youth who may not have otherwise been exposed to sailing, a sport which offers camaraderie, fun, competition and the development of lifelong skills.
We offer a 4 or 8 week summer program (June 22 – August 14) providing instruction for ages 7 – 17. All abilities are welcome - from beginner sailors to those who seek more competitive racing. Classes meet several times per week for several hours depending on ability. Participants must be able to swim and pass a swim test before they can begin sailing. Boats are provided.
We also offer scholarship support to families who are seeking regatta fee reimbursement. Please see the form below for eligibility details.
The Niantic Bay Yacht Club (NBYC) has been a leader in junior sailing nationally and internationally for over 50 years. Sailors from NBYC’s Junior Program have gone on to compete in High school, collegiate, national, and world competitions as well as the America’s Cup.
Equally important are the countless young men and women who have taken their experiences at NBYC and gone on to make sailing a lifelong passion, whether it be cruising, competitive racing, day sailing, or just enjoying the outdoors on the water.
For more information about junior sailing on Niantic Bay (or to register without the scholarship) go to www.NianticSailing.org.
NBSA Full or Half Season Sailing Scholarship Application
Student Name:___________________________________________________________DOB:
Parent/Guardian:____________________________________________________________________
Street Address:______________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________________________ State: ______ Zip:______________________
Phone Home #____________________Cell #______________________Work #_____________
Parent/Guardian Email Address __________________________________________________________
Is this scholarship request for a full or half season? Full Season ____ Half Season ____
Student to complete:
Do you or your family have any sailing or boating experience? If so, please describe:
Please tell us why you are interested in this program and what you expect to get out of it:
Parent to Complete:
Why do you think your child will benefit from learning to sail?
Regular program rates vary based on the class selection, with costs up to $900 for the full 8 week program. Please share how paying the normal fees might be difficult for your family and why your student is a good candidate for a scholarship:
(please continue separate sheet if more room is needed)
Return completed form and direct any questions to Ken Shluger, Niantic Bay Sailing Academy, PO Box 884, Niantic, Ct 06357 or scan and email to kshluger@hotmail.com Call 860-205-9569 with questions by May 1, 2026
Mondays, April 6 & 27, 10:30AM - 11:00AM
Family Storytime
Ages birth to five, no registration required.
Monday, April 6, 4:00PM - 6:30PM
Drop In STEM Adventure: Build Your Own Wobbly Egg Toy
Ages 5 and up, no registration required.
Saturday, April 11, 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Read to Scout
All ages, no registration required.
Saturday, April 18, 10:30AM - 11:30AM
Read with a Cadet
All ages welcome, no registration required.
Monday, April 20, 10:30AM - 11:30AM
Special Storytime with Public Works
Ages birth to five, no registration required.
Tuesday, April 14, 2:30PM - 3:15PM
Under the Sea with the Niantic Children's Museum
Wednesday, April 15, 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Return of Spring with DPNC
Tuesday, April 21, 4:00PM - 6:00PM LEGO Club Ages 4 and up, no registration required.
Friday, April 24, 11:00AM - 11:45AM
Baby & Me Lapsit Storytime Ages up to 18 months, no registration required.
Saturday, April 25, 10:30AM - 11:00AM Bilingual Family Storytime In both Spanish and English. Ages birth to five, no registration required. Thank you to CT Humanities for helping to fund this program!
Monday, April 27, 5:00PM – 6:00PM 'Poetry Jam' Book Club Ages 6 to 11, no registration required.
APRIL PROGRAMS Children & Teens
Thursday, April 30, 11:00AM - 11:45AM
Tale and Tinker Ages 3 to 5 years old, registration is required.
SPRING BREAK:
Join us for an awesome ocean adventure with the Niantic Children's Museum! Explore different seaweeds, meet some sea creatures, use realistic stamping to create individual art, and hunt/classify shells. Recommended for ages 4 and up, no registration required. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Waterford for helping to fund this program.
Join educators from the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center to learn about the signs of spring and how nature knows it is time to regrow after the long winter months. Meet some animals that you might see enjoying the spring weather. Recommended for ages 4 and up, no registration required. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Waterford for helping to fund this program.
Friday, April 17, 2:30PM - 4:00PM
Family Movie Matinee
Join us for a relaxing family friendly movie in the library meeting room. All ages welcome, no registration required. Movie: Zootopia 2 (2025, rated PG, 108 minutes).
FEATURED PROGRAMS:
Wednesday, April 1 through April 30
Passport to CT Libraries
Discover the world of Connecticut libraries with a Passport to Connecticut Libraries. Get a passport, visit libraries, and get it stamped this April! The Passport to Connecticut Libraries program encourages residents to visit participating libraries across the state during the month of April (National Library Week) to explore, collect stamps, and win prizes. Pick up a passport at your local library, visit other libraries, collect stamps, and get the chance to win a $200 Visa gift card by visiting at least 5 locations. There will be six statewide winners in total.
Saturday, March 21, 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Sensory Saturday
Drop into the library meeting room anytime between 1:00 and 3:00 pm for Sensory Saturday! This program creates a welcoming and inclusive environment for neurodivergent youth and their families to hang out and move through some different interactive stations led by Building Bridges Through Play. All ages are welcome, no registration required. Thank you to the Kelsey S. Harrington Foundation and the Charter Oak Federal Credit Union for funding this event.
TEEN CORNER
Wednesday, April 8, 5:30PM - 7:00PM
Teen Craft Night
At this Teen Craft Night we will be creating some poetry art in honor of National Poetry Month. All materials provided. Recommended for ages 11 to 18 years old. Registration is required.
FREE DIGITAL RESOURCES:
Access these FREE Digital Resources with your Waterford Public Library card:
GRAB & GO CRAFT:
Saturday, April 4th to Friday, May 1st Spring Duck (While supplies last)
www.waterfordpubliclibrary.org
All programs are free and open to the public. All programs are in person unless online is specified.
Please help if you can.
Support the library and donate to our Annual fund drive.
49 Rope Ferry Rd Waterford, CT 06385
860-444-5805
www.waterfordpubliclibrary.org
Egg & Cheese Sandwich on a WG Roll
Or Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick Fruit Choice/ Milk
APRIL 2026
WATERFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Sky Blue breakfast Bun
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or
WG Cereal with cheese stick
100% Orange Juice/ Fruit Choice/ Milk
Mini WG Waffles
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick
Fruit Choice/ Milk
SCHOOL HOLIDAY SCHOOL HOLIDAY
Egg & Cheese Sandwich
on a WG Croissant
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick Fruit Choice/ Milk
Warm Banana Bread
Or Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick
100% Apple Juice/ Fruit Choice
Milk
Breakfast Pizza
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick Fruit Choice/ Milk
Mini Bagel w/strawberry Cm Cheese
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick
100% Orange Juice/ Fruit Choice
Mini WG Pancakes
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or
WG Cereal with cheese stick
Fruit Choice/ Milk
Mini Bagel w/strawberry Cm Cheese Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick
100% Orange Juice/ Fruit Choice
Breakfast Pizza Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick
Fruit Choice/ Milk
Warm Dutch Waffle Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin Or WG Cereal with cheese stick Fruit Choice/ Milk
HOLIDAY SCHOOL HOLIDAY
Mini WG Waffles
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick
Fruit Choice/ Milk
Warm Dutch Waffle
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or
WG Cereal with cheese stick Fruit Choice/ Milk
SCHOOL HOLIDAY
Sky Blue breakfast Bun
Or Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin Or WG Cereal with cheese stick
Orange Juice/ Fruit Choice/ Milk
Mini WG Pancakes
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or WG Cereal with cheese stick Fruit Choice/ Milk
Mini WG Pancakes
Or
Apple Cinn or Blueberry WG Muffin
Or
WG Cereal with cheese stick Fruit Choice/ Milk
All grain-based items offered are whole-grain rich which means that at least 51% of the grains in the item are whole grain (WG), all other grains are enriched A VARIETY OF FRESH FRUITS: (1cup) & 4oz. 100% Fruit Juice OFFERED 2x per week (No juice for Pre-K) 8 oz. White Skim or 1% white Milk Choice/ No FF Chocolate Milk served at Breakfast “Thoroughly cooking meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish or eggs reduces the risk of foodborne illness”
*Allergy Warning: Menu items may contain or come in contact with wheat, eggs, soy, nuts, and dairy
*Menus are subject to change THIS INSTITUTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER
APRIL 2026
WATERFORD
Free & Reduced meal applications are available online at: www.waterfordschools.org
Macaroni & Cheese
Steamed Broccoli
Warm Dinner Roll
Fruit Cocktail
Milk Choice
SCHOOL
Chicken & Waffle Sticks
Syrup cup
Honey Glazed Carrots
Potato Tots
Diced Peaches Milk
SCHOOLS K-5
Asian Orange Chicken
Veg fried Rice
Steamed Carrots
Fortune Cookie
Diced Pears Milk
Cheeseburger on a WG Roll
Oven Fries
Vegetarian Baked Beans
Applesauce Milk
Penne Pasta with meat sauce
Mozzarella string cheese
Warm Dinner Roll
Garden Salad
“Bloom “100%Ft Juice Sidekick Cup
Milk Choice
GF Beef Taco
Nachos with Creamy Cheese Sauce
Black Beans Salsa
Mini Corn Muffin
Diced Pears Milk
Tomato Soup
Toasted Cheese Sandwich Dippers
Goldfish Crackers
Baby Carrots with Ranch cup
Potato Tots Apple Milk
“Big Daddy”
Cheese Pizza Slice
Garden Salad with Italian Dressing
Baby Carrots with Ranch Cup
100% Fruit Juice Punch
Milk
Chicken & Cheese Quesadilla
Brown Rice
Fiesta beans
Applesauce Milk
Big Daddy Cheese Pizza Slice
Steamed Broccoli
Cucumber Smiles
100% Fruit juice Sidekick
Orange Smiles Milk
LUNCH MEAL PRICES (includes milk) ELEM $3.25
Reduced Qualified students = NO CHARGE ADULT MEAL $5.00 MILK Only=$.75
Chicken Nuggets
Mashed Potatoes
Steamed Golden Corn
Warm WG Dinner Roll
Applesauce Milk
Soft Beef & cheese Taco
Brown Rice Steamed Corn
Fiesta Beans
Mini corn muffin
Orange Smiles Milk
Mozzarella sticks
Meatballs in marinara
Oven Roasted Broccoli
Warm WG Bread Stick
Diced Peaches Milk
“Brunch for Lunch “
French Toast Sticks syrup cup
Chicken Sausage Links
Potato Rounds
100% Apple juice Milk
Turkey on a croissant
String Cheese stick
Oven fries
Baby Carrots with Ranch Cup Apple slices Milk
Chicken Smackers
Mac & cheese
Steamed peas
Warm WG Dinner Roll
Applesauce Milk
All grain-based items offered are whole-grain rich which means that at least 51% of the grains in the item are whole grain (WG), all other grains are enriched A VARIETYOF FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES OFFERED DAILY “Thoroughly cooking meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish or eggs reduces the risk of foodborne illness” Alternative Meal AVAILABLE Daily or Alternate Salad meal offered when available (See kitchen manager)
Please let your teacher know if you would like the Alternative Meal =Sun butter & Jelly or Yogurt, cucumber slices, applesauce, goldfish crackers, milk /Salad Meal=Garden salad with egg, dinner roll, fruit, milk
Allergy Warning: Menu items may contain or come in contact with wheat, eggs, soy, nuts, and/or milk
*Menus are subject to change THIS INSTITUTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER
