Summer Spire Snapshots: Campus Happenings and Highlights
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Welcome to Spire Snapshots, your peek into the exciting activities and events happening around The Spire School campus! From hands-on projects to festive celebrations, our students and staff continue to inspire us with their creativity, collaboration, and curiosity.
From the Head of School
Wrapping Up the School Year
At Spire, we understand that growth is not always linear. For many of our students, progress is measured not only in academic achievement, but also in the courage to face challenges, the willingness to try again after setbacks, and the ability to better understand themselves and others. This year, we have seen our students demonstrate these qualities in meaningful and inspiring ways.
In our classrooms, life coaching sessions, and daily interactions, our students have worked to build skills that extend far beyond the traditional curriculum, developing emotional awareness, strengthening relationships, and learning practical strategies to navigate life’s complexities. These are not small accomplishments; they are foundational to long-term success and well-being.
I am deeply grateful to our dedicated staff for their resilience during unexpected changes at Spire School. Your commitment, compassion, expertise and unwavering belief in our school and students created the conditions for this growth to happen every day.
I also want to thank our families for their trust and partnership. Your collaboration and support are essential to the work we do, and we value the relationships we continue to build together.
On behalf of the entire Spire School community, thank you for being part of this journey with us. We wish you a safe, restful, and restorative summer!
Sincerely,
Thomas Laudadio, LCSW
Executive Director Spire School
End of Year Activities
Senior Symposium
On June 12, our seniors returned from their internship placements and presented their Capstone Projects to peers and staff, sharing valuable insights and experiences gained throughout their internships. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, growth, and accomplishments during this meaningful experience.
8th Grade Moving Up
On June 12, we proudly celebrated our Spire 8th grade students during the Moving Up Ceremony, recognizing the completion of their middle school journey and the exciting transition to high school. Congratulations to our students on this important milestone, and we wish them continued success in the years ahead.
Senior Graduation
On June 17, Spire proudly celebrated the graduation of seventeen seniors at the Italian Center of Stamford. Surrounded by staff, family, and friends, the ceremony was a meaningful celebration of our students’ hard work, growth, and accomplishments. We congratulate the Class of 2026 and wish them continued success in all of their future endeavors.
Campus Happenings
Spring Concert
On May 1, students performed for the school community and their parents in our annual Spring Music Concert. We are so proud to see students show off their talents - and their confidence - in such a beautiful way that celebrates all they have to offer!
STEM Bus
The University of Bridgeport Department of Engineering "STEM on Wheels" bus visited Spire for student activities and demonstrations.
Pathfinders Career Speaker Series
NASA Astronaut Dr. Gregory Chamitoff has been gracious enough to reschedule his talk with students until the fall. Stay tuned!
ECE Environmental Science
ECE Environmental Science has finished its first successful year at Spire and is on target to be a robust, student-centered class again next year.
Biology
Students squished strawberries in a plastic bag and put one teaspoon of salt, two teaspoons of Dawn dish soap, and 1/2 cup of water into the same bag. They sealed the bag and continued squishing the berries and solution together. Then they put a coffee filter over a plastic cup and drained just the juice, discarding the excess mush. Next, they poured an equal amount of cold rubbing alcohol and observed DNA strands forming. They were even able to pick up the DNA strands with a stirrer. Fascinating!
Language
In Spanish and Italian classes, students bring language and culture to life through a variety of engaging, hands-on projects. Throughout the year, they explore traditions and customs by creating Day of the Dead dedications, designing travel brochures that showcase Spanish- and Italian-speaking destinations, and producing creative movie posters in the target language.
Students also strengthen their communication skills through practical activities such as meal preparation projects, writing and illustrating storybooks, and creating Jeopardy-style review games and matching activities for their classmates. To build confidence in speaking and listening, students collaborate on skits and plays performed entirely in Spanish or Italian.
These projects encourage creativity, cultural understanding, and real-world language use, helping students develop their proficiency while making language learning meaningful, interactive, and fun.
Field Trips
Middle School Field Trip
Our middle school students enjoyed a memorable field trip to Mianus River Park alongside our PE Teacher, Todd Gilman, and Special Education Coordinator, Stephen Falcone. Students participated in a nature walk and fishing activities, providing a wonderful opportunity for class bonding, teamwork, and enjoying the outdoors together.
Parent News
Things to Look Forward to Next Year!
Early College Experience with UConn (ECE) expands to include Chemistry (in addition to Environmental Science).
English teacher Ms Victoria will offer AP Literature and AP Language for Juniors and Seniors.
New partnership with Quinnipiac University will provide QU college transfer credit for students in Spanish I.
Planning is in progress to offer a Robotics curriculum for the 2026-2027 school year!
Exploring a partnership with the University of Bridgeport to offer exposure to the university's engineering lab, work with graduate students, and possible internship placements.
Planning is in process to offer an introduction to engineering class.
Distinct counselors devoted to college and career planning will enhance college & career exploration for all students.
Increased targeted special education support through the addition of a reading specialist, implementation of a co-teaching model in some classes, and expanded push-in support to provide differentiated instruction.
Strengthened partnerships with outside organizations to support Senior internships.
Reinstituting Junior Shadow Days for students to explore careers in Junior year.
Ongoing Pathfinder series includes career speakers as well as guests sharing experiences with students like service, travel and studying.
Increased therapeutic support by adding a Manager of Clinical Services and another LCSW.
Increased opportunities for student voice in things like student-led clubs, student council, schoolwide meetings and embedded leadership opportunities.
Changes to cell phone policy for ESY and the 2026-2027 school year.
Upcoming Events
Extended School Year (ESY) in July
This summer, The Spire School is excited to offer InSPIREd Summer 2026, a customized program for students entering grades 6–12 that combines academic skill building with social-emotional wellness experiences. Running from July 6–30, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, the program provides opportunities for students to strengthen writing, math, and executive functioning skills through group and individualized instruction, while also participating in engaging wellness activities focused on healthy coping skills, stress management, self-esteem, and social connectedness. Students can also explore enriching electives and credit opportunities in subjects such as STEM, humanities, math, philosophy, and biology. For more information, please contact Tom Laudadio at The Spire School.
Thank you to everyone who continues to make Spire a vibrant, supportive, and inspiring place to learn and grow. Stay tuned for more updates in the next Spire Snapshot!
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