The Community Connector (6/20/25)
The Community Connector: Discover, Connect, & Thrive. Your Passport to Middletown Public Schools
The Community Connector for June 20, 2025
What is The Community Connector?
What’s Happening in MPS
Class of 2032: Recording of Meeting for Incoming 6th Grade Families
Apply today! Wellness Unscripted: Expressions Through Music & Theater (A 2-Week Summer Mental Health & Arts Program)
Partner with the Middletown Transition Center: Let’s Create Meaningful Opportunities Together!
Free Summer Meals for All Children 18 and Under
What’s Happening this Summer
Special Summer Opportunity for Girls in the 4th to 8th grade
Summer Mental Health Support for Families
Summer Song House LABS Weeklong Intensive
June 20 is Movie Night! At Donovan Park
Ultimate Frisbee Camp: July 28 through August 1, 2025
Information from and for our Community
University of Saint Joseph Master's Programs for Teachers
Middletown Jr Blue Dragons Flag Football
Middletown Jr Blue Dragons Youth Tackle Football
July 2025: Lemonade for Unashamed
What is The Community Connector?
The Community Connector has served as Middletown Public Schools' district-wide e-newsletter since September 2021. Created by Jessie Lavorgna, Director of Communications, this publication has kept our community informed with school news and updates.
Please note: This will be the final edition from Jessie Lavorgna, as the Director of Communications position will be eliminated effective July 1, 2025.
The future of this publication is uncertain.
What’s Happening in MPS
Class of 2032: Recording of Meeting for Incoming 6th Grade Families
On June 3, 2025, the Beman Middle School administration team hosted a virtual info session for incoming 6th grade families. The recording of that meeting can be found THROUGH THIS LINK.
You will need a passcode to view the video. The passcode is: +#raZ9B7
Apply today! Wellness Unscripted: Expressions Through Music & Theater (A 2-Week Summer Mental Health & Arts Program)
The Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is excited to offer a two-week summer program for entering high school students focused on mental health awareness and social-emotional learning. In a creative and supportive environment, students will use theater and music to explore and express their individual identities and stories, build meaningful relationships, and help destigmatize mental health. The program will take place at the high school from July 28 to August 8, running daily from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Participating students must commit to attending the full two weeks and to leading mental health awareness campaigns, meetings, and potential conferences throughout the 2025–2026 school year. More information is provided on the attached flyer and the application.
Transportation, breakfast, and lunch will be provided.
Applications due by June 20, 2025. Please use the QR code on the flyer to apply or use this link: https://forms.gle/DXZsotA6zubeePgD6
Partner with the Middletown Transition Center: Let’s Create Meaningful Opportunities Together!
Dear Local Business and Community Leaders,
We’re inviting you to make a lasting impact by partnering with the Middletown Transition Center (MTC). Our students are motivated young adults ages 18–22 with disabilities and are ready to contribute to your workplace and grow through hands-on experience.
Why It Matters
Real-world work builds confidence, skills, and inclusion. When students are welcomed into community settings, they thrive and so do the businesses that support them.
What You Provide
A welcoming workplace
A chance for students to learn and grow
Just a few flexible hours per week
What You Receive
1–2 student interns, always supported by a trained job coach
Enthusiastic help with no cost to you
Recognition as a community leader in inclusive employment
Let’s Talk
We’ll tailor the partnership to meet your needs and make the process easy. Join us in creating a more inclusive Middletown, one opportunity at a time.
Learn more and/or contact us here: https://tinyurl.com/Jobs4MTC
Free Summer Meals for All Children 18 and Under
The Middletown Public Schools’ Office of Food, Nutrition and Wellness Services is proud to once again offer free summer meals to all children 18 and under at several open meal sites across the city!
Summer Meal Menus can be found here
Important Reminder: In accordance with State and Federal regulations, meals must be consumed on-site by the children receiving them. This is not a grab-and-go service. Each meal site will have tables and an attendant to support children during meal times. Please help us maintain this program by following these guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation!
Open Summer Meal Sites and Hours
All locations serve lunch from 11:15 AM – 1:15 PM unless otherwise noted.
Beman Middle School: 1 Wilderman’s Way
June 23 through August 15
Meal Table will be set up in the front of the school building, under the canopy
Macdonough Elementary School: 66 Spring Street
June 30 through August 4
Meal table will be set up on Pease Street Entrance
Veterans Park
July 7 through August 8
Meals will be available near the Pool Side Entrance
Pat Kidney Field: 240 Farm Hill Rd
July 7 through August 8
Meals will be available near the restroom entrance
Butternut Park
July 7 through August 8
Meals will be available by the Pavilion
Police Activity League (PAL): 646 Main Street
Breakfast: 8:30 – 9:30 AM
Lunch: 11:15 AM – 1:15 PM
July 7 through August 8
Meals will be available inside the PAL facility
Middletown High School: 200 La Rosa Lane
Lunch: 11:15 AM – 1:15 PM
July 25 through August 15
Meals will be available outside of the Cafeteria by the Vo-Ag Entrance
In addition to the public sites listed above, meals will also be provided at the following program-based sites (not open to the public):
Middletown Parks & Recreation Programs at the Rec Center
Camp Crystal Lake, Camp Spencer, Camp Moody, and Bielefield Summer Camp
Wesley Elementary School (for 21C Program participants – July to early August)
Middletown High School (Band Camp, Athletics, and other programs – August)
YMCA Summer Camps
Traverse Square Center Summer Programming
We are so excited to expand our summer meal offerings this year. Thank you for supporting our mission to nourish all students year-round!
What’s Happening this Summer
Special Summer Opportunity for Girls in the 4th to 8th grade
State Representative Kai Belton has partnered with Ms. President US to offer an exciting summer leadership program designed specifically for girls in grades 4-8. This initiative aims to motivate and prepare young women to become tomorrow's civic leaders through engaging sessions focused on leadership development and civic engagement.
The program is open to all girls in the target age range, and detailed information including dates, times, and registration details can be found in the accompanying flyer. Parents and guardians interested in this opportunity for their daughters are encouraged to review the program details and consider registration.
For additional information about the summer civic leadership sessions, please refer to the program graphic, visit the website: mspresidentus.org, or contact Rep. Belton's office: (860) 240-8554
Summer Mental Health Support for Families
As summer break approaches, our district is partnering with the CONNECTing School to Care IV Students initiative to ensure families have access to behavioral and mental health resources during the months away from school. This collaborative effort between the Department of Children and Families, Carelon Behavioral Health, Yale, FAVOR, and the Child Health and Development Institute recognizes that summer can be an isolating time when families lose their regular connection to school support systems.
We're providing all families with a comprehensive "Resource Links for Parents and Caregivers" document that includes important mental health and behavioral support contacts. This resource will be shared via email and ParentSquare before summer recess begins, giving families the tools they need to access help if needed during the break.
The CONNECT IV initiative is provided free to our district and includes additional funding opportunities. Schools interested in deeper involvement can access a detailed toolkit with expanded resources and information.
Click here to access the Resource Links for Parents and Caregivers
For questions about this initiative or to learn more about enrollment opportunities, contact Sarah White, LMSW, Project Coordinator at CHDI (swhite@chdi.org).
Summer Song House LABS Weeklong Intensive
This Week Long Intensive, JULY 14th-July 18th brings young adults ages 14-18yrs for an unforgettable, hands on music experience. Join us for a creative journey, participants will write and produce their own song with guidance from real artists, producers and mentors. Participants MUST attend ALL WEEK from 10am-2pm. No exceptions. Breakfast and lunch are included. A parent/caregiver MUST attend the first morning's Breakfast on July 14th at 9am to complete registration paperwork.
June 20 is Movie Night! At Donovan Park
Ultimate Frisbee Camp: July 28 through August 1, 2025
Information from and for our Community
University of Saint Joseph Master's Programs for Teachers
Full Program Flyer Available Here.
The University of Saint Joseph is offering reduced-tuition master's degree programs specifically designed for working educators. Programs include special education, curriculum instruction, literacy, and instructional technology (with AI content). Classes meet one evening per week from 4:45-8:45 PM in a cohort model, with completion possible in 2 years or less. Tuition is $266/month with financial aid, and enrollment is limited to 18 students per program on a first-come basis. An information meeting is scheduled for July 18th in West Hartford.
Middletown Jr Blue Dragons Flag Football
The Middletown Jr Blue Dragons are offering flag football for boys and girls in first and second grade. The season begins August 4th. Interested families can contact info@jrbluedragons.com for more information and registration details.
Middletown Jr Blue Dragons Youth Tackle Football
Registration is now open for the Middletown Jr Blue Dragons youth tackle football program. Teams are divided by grade level: C Squad (3rd-4th grade), B Squad (5th-6th grade), and A Squad (7th-8th grade). The registration fee is $250, with financial aid available for families who need assistance.
July 2025: Lemonade for Unashamed
Lemonade for Unashamed is a community-wide fundraiser inviting elementary students to become "Lemonade Champions" by hosting lemonade stands from July 1-31, 2025. This fun summer activity teaches children entrepreneurship and philanthropy while raising funds for Unashamed Inc.'s Imagine Me Intensive Mentorship program, which supports foster youth ages 16-21 in developing essential life skills and self-worth.
Students who participate will receive a complete "Lemonade Champion Kit" with supplies, have the chance to win prizes in six fun categories, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of foster youth in our community. Parent/guardian supervision is required, and all proceeds directly support the Imagine Me program. Registration is now open at www.unashamedinc.org/lemonade or by emailing iamunashamedllc@gmail.com
Thanks for reading! It’s been a pleasure to serve the Middletown Public Schools community for the past 4 school years, 2021-2025. I wish you all the very best.
With great appreciation,
Jessie Lavorgna
Just make sure your district isn’t in lockstep with the UN. Making backroom deals with “intelligence” agencies is really starting to backfire on the unconstitutional Dept of Education in some ugly ways on the grassroots level.