Natchaug School

Natchaug Elementary School is an elementary school located in Willimantic, Connecticut, United States. It has accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.[3] The name Natchaug comes from the Native American Nipmuc word meaning "land between the rivers." The school colors are bright green and blue.[4]

Natchaug Elementary School
Front entrance of the school
Location
123 Jackson Street

Willimantic
,
(Windham County)
,
Connecticut
06226

United States
Coordinates41.713685°N 72.20667°W / 41.713685; -72.20667
Information
TypePublic school
EstablishedMarch, 1865[1]
School districtWindham School District
GradesK-5
Enrollment312 (2017)[2]
Color(s)Blue and Green         
WebsiteNatchaug School Homepage


Student Composition

The school serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade, after which they move on to Windham Middle School. As of the 2017-18 school year, the majority of students were Hispanic (77%), while 14% of students were Non-Hispanic white and smaller numbers Asian, black, multiracial or of other backgrounds. By contrast, the majority of the staff are white (86%), with only a small number of Hispanic educators.[2] Many of the school's students come from poor families: 95% qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2017-18, compared to 37% of Connecticut public school students overall.[2][5]

Overall, about one in three students is classified as an English Language Learner, versus 7% of students statewide.[2][6]

Natchaug has had bilingual education programs in place since the 1980s,[7][8] in accordance with state legislation.[9] Natchaug also currently has a Family Resource Center and before- and after-school programs for its students.[3]

Early History
Old Natchaug School, c. 1910

Natchaug School first opened in 1865, and included a high school until 1897.[1] The school was initially a large wooden building, completed in 1864 and replacing the Old Stone Schoolhouse of earlier decades. In the late 1870s, pupils included several visiting students from China, who had been sent by the Qing dynasty as the educational mission of its Self-Strengthening Movement.[10] The old school building was torn down in 1914 to make way for the current brick structure.[1]

Recent events

The school was closed from June 2012 to January 2014 due to roof damage. During that time, students attended elementary school classes at Windham Middle School.[11]

Principals
  • Eben Jones (2017-present)[12]
  • Robert Kallajian (2016–2017)[3]
  • Melissa Mishriky Cyr (2015-2016)[13]
  • Jeff Wihbey (2010-2012)[14]
  • Joseph Janisaitis (2008-2010)[13]
  • Rose Bisson (2004-2008)[13]
  • Penny Hebert (interim)[13]
  • Maureen Bojka (2003-2004, interim)[13]
  • Kathleen Rosewall (2002-2003)[13]
  • Collette Trailor (c. 1999-2002)[15]
  • Susan Webb (1990s)[16]

In earlier decades, principals included:[1]

  • James L. Harroun (1892-c.1927)[17]
  • George Cadwell (1888-1892)
  • William Burdick (1884-1888)
  • Col. John B. Welch (1872-1884)
  • Thomas H. Fuller (1868-1872)
  • David P. Corbin (1866-1868)
  • S. W. Powell (1865-1866)

Notable alumni

References
  1. Lincoln, Allen B. (1920). A Modern History of Windham County, Connecticut. Chicago: S. J. Clarke. p. 157. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  2. "School Profile and Performance Report for School Year 2017-2018 Natchaug School" (pdf). ct.gov. 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  3. Natchaug School Homepage
  4. Kefalas, Francesca (2014). "Natchaug School prepares to reopen Tuesday". The Norwich Bulletin. Norwich, CT. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  5. Connecticut Data Collaborative. Student Enrollment by Meal Eligibility 2017-18.
  6. Connecticut Data Collaborative OpenData. Student Enrollment by English Language Learner.
  7. Russell, James. W. "Connecticut Opinion: Expand Bilingual Education." New York Times March 22, 1987.
  8. Windham Public Schools
  9. "Bilingual Education Statute". Connecticut General Statutes No. Section 10-17e-j of 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  10. Rhoads, Edward J. M. (2011). Stepping Forth into the World: The Chinese Educational Mission to the United States, 1872-81. Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 9789888028863. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  11. Kefalas, Francesca (Jan 16, 2014). "Natchaug School prepares to reopen Tuesday". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  12. http://www.windhamct.net/resources/minutes_7-20-2017.pdf Windham Town Notes
  13. http://www.courant.com/ Hartford Courant
  14. Norwich Bulletin
  15. Van Alden, Ferguson. "Natchaug School makes state's low-achievers list." Hartford Courant 7 October 1999.
  16. Tarr, Sherman (1995-10-16). "Teachers Help Pupils To Understand Disabled". Hartford Courant. Hartford, CT. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  17. Obituary. New York Times 14 Mar 1929: 21.
  18. Spalding, J. (1891). Illustrated Popular Biography of Connecticut. Lockwood & Brainard. pp. 365. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  19. Meier, Andrew (August 11, 2008). The Lost Spy: An American in Stalin's Secret Service. W. W. Norton. pp. 17–89. ISBN 978-0-393-06097-3.
  20. Early Chinese MIT
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