Friday, January 16th Weekly Update

Posted Date: 01/16/26 (03:35 PM)

Orchard Hill Weekly Update

Friday, January 16, 2026

From Mr. Tortora

Dear Orchard Hill Families,

As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, November 19, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today, we shared a special announcement about Dr. King, and some of our students also created their own “dreams” (see below). Their thoughtful work truly demonstrated that Dr. King’s dream lives on. I love the simplicity - "Everyone will be nice to each other" "Everyone has a friend". We can certainly learn a lot from our students!!

Have a great weekend!

- Mike

Two cloud-shaped drawings with handwritten messages about kindness and friendship.

Two children's collages depict thought bubbles with handwritten dreams and drawings.

Two children's thought bubbles display their dreams, one with colorful drawings and text, the other with handwritten words.

A spotlight shines on the words 'STAFF SPOTLIGHT'.

A group of four people, including two young men and two adults, smile for a selfie on a sunny day by the ocean.

Patrick Thibodeau - Second-Grade Teacher

# of years at Orchard Hill and # of years in education? 7 at Orchard Hill, 14 as a classroom teacher
What do you enjoy most about working at our school? The community!
What inspired you to become an educator (or work in education)? I wanted to make a positive impact in the world, and I had several teacher role models who inspired me.
Where did you grow up? East Hartford
What college did you graduate from?Central Connecticut State University
Do you have any siblings? I am the baby of the family. I have two older brothers: Michael and Brendon. My sister, Ann, is the eldest of the siblings.
What was your favorite sport/activity growing up? I enjoyed cooking and playing video games as a kid.
What do you like to do outside of school? Disc Golf and Games of all kinds
What's your favorite food or snack? Fruit!
What's your favorite childhood book or show? Favorite childhood book: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Favorite TV Show: Ducktales
Do you have any pets? Barley is my orange cat. He waits outside the shower door every morning for morning pets. He loves routines! Oats is our black cat. She loves routines too, and she can tell time. She has a snack at 8:30 every night, and she'll let you know
If you weren't in education, what would you do? A therapist or theoretical mathematician
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Hawaii!

Upcoming Events

Portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. with text 'MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY' and a blurred background of people.

Monday, January 19th

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL

A yellow sticky note with the word 'Remember!' written in bold black letters, pinned with a red thumbtack.

Wednesday, January 21st

FULL Day - 3:20 p.m. dismissal

The words 'Student Council' are displayed in colorful, bold letters.

Thursday, January 22nd

Student Council Meeting - 7:30 a.m.

MOEMS Math Olympiad Club -3:45 - 4:45

Timothy Edwards Family Night (Grade 5 Families)

Invitation to Timothy Edwards Middle School Family Information Night on February 11, 2026, at TEMS Auditorium.

Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run:

Helps girls of all abilities grow confidence
Builds friendships, teamwork, and a sense of belonging
Combines fun movement with life skills like managing emotions and making friends
Ends with a Community Impact Project and a joyful 5K on May 9th

Girls on the Run is a special experience that works best when participants are excited to join and able to attend sessions regularly, as each lesson builds on the last. If full attendance may be tricky this season, we’d love for your family to consider a future session so every girl can enjoy the full experience—spots are limited.

Learn more in the short video or on the GOTR website. Use the QR code or link to register, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to the contact below with any questions!

Girls on the Run program flyer with season details and registration information.

26-27 Peer Role Model Application for Preschool Outreach Program (POP)

A colorful square icon features stick figures of a boy and girl with arms raised.

South Windsor Public Schools is now accepting applications for community peer role models in the preschool outreach program (POP) for the 2026-2027 school year. If you are interested in this opportunity for your child, please complete the Preschool Outreach Program (POP) Community Role Model Application. Peer role model screenings will begin in January 2026. You can learn more about POP by accessing our school district's website.

Friday Folders

Soccer Registration

Girls Lacrosse Registration

Baseball/Softball Registration

PTO Information/Events

PTO BINGO Night

Save the date! Bingo night is on 2/6/26 at Timothy Edwards Middle School!

Click here to purchase tickets

We need your help! Volunteer your time here!

Poster announcing "BINGO Night" hosted by OH PTO, featuring bingo cards, a bingo cage, and game pieces.

PTO Spring Early Release Wednesday Clubs

Flyer for 'Just for Fun ART-Ventures' art classes for kids K-5, starting March 18th.

A flyer for 'Mad Science Secret Agent Lab' program with dates, times, and registration details.

January PTO Meeting Minutes

2025-2026 District Calendar

When Should You Keep Your Child Home From School?

A guide titled 'Should I keep my child home or send them to school?' lists health guidelines.