September '24 Message from the Superintendent

Dear NPS Community,

We’re back! The 2024-25 school year is officially underway, and I am excited for another incredibly successful year with our scholars, educators, and families. As always, the beginning of the school year brings a sense of limitless possibility. Our classrooms are buzzing with energy, as our teachers have worked hard to create inspiring spaces for learning, and our students are eager to embrace all the opportunities ahead.

One of the highlights this year is the launch of our new Portrait of a Graduate initiative. This forward-thinking program will guide our instruction to fulfill our mission: to graduate students who are Future Ready—civically responsible, globally engaged, and positive contributors to an ever-changing world. Our initial focus on developing critical thinking skills will be pivotal in shaping well-prepared scholars for tomorrow’s challenges.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude again to our community for their involvement in shaping this initiative. The Portrait of a Graduate is a reflection of your aspirations for our children, capturing the skills and mindsets they need to thrive in a world full of dynamic opportunities.

In today’s world, access to technology and the ability to effectively use it are critical components of being future ready, which is why we are equally committed to providing our scholars with the tools they’ll need to thrive in the 21st century workforce.

Leading up to the first day of school, we made sure our scholars gained equitable access to the technology that will be necessary to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce by distributing devices to all students in our four high schools and four middle schools. This was made possible through our continued partnership with Verizon Innovative Learning and Digital Promise. This program ensures our students remain connected to learning, no matter where they are, and empowers our teachers to incorporate technology into their classrooms in meaningful ways.

With leadership from Assistant Superintendent of Digital Learning and Innovation Ralph Valenzisi, we are focused on providing scholars with the tools they need to succeed in the rapidly evolving workforce of tomorrow and providing teachers with robust professional development support to effectively integrate technology into the classroom.

It also was a pleasure to recognize our incredible team of visual and performing arts teachers during National Arts in Education Week this month. These dedicated educators play a vital role in shaping our students' learning experiences, fostering creativity, and helping to develop essential skills like collaboration, communication, and problem-solving through artistic expression.

We continue to work with the City of Norwalk to secure additional capital funds to ensure all students have musical instruments that allow them to participate in the arts. I sincerely thank everyone for their support in this initiative. Please know that having new instruments inspires confidence in our scholars, who continue to deliver award-winning performances that make our district proud.

This year marks my fifth year serving this wonderful district, and I am honored to continue this journey with you. I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming district-wide events, including the Hispanic Heritage Festival on October 24th—a celebration of the diversity that strengthens our community.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in our shared mission to provide the best possible education for every student.

Yours in Partnership,

Dr. Alexandra Estrella, Superintendent of Schools