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Orchard Hill School

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The Orchard Hill Apple Core - Friday, October 30th, 2026

Posted Date: 10/30/26 (03:35 PM)
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The Orchard Hill Apple Core

October 30, 2026
Hawks
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A white clock is surrounded by colorful autumn leaves against a textured magenta background with the text 'DON'T FORGET TO FALL BACK'.

From Mr. Tortora

Dear Orchard Hill Families,
We had so much fun today at OH!  Our 5th-graders had their annual Pumpkin Contest and our kindergarten students paraded through our hallways as students and staff (many of whom also had a costume on) cheered them on!
As a reminder, there is NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, November 3rd due to Election Day. 
Have a wonderful Halloween weekend and don't forget to turn your clocks back!!
- Mike
A group of school staff dressed in various Halloween costumes pose for a photo in a school lobby.
A creative school project features a painted pumpkin decorated to look like Captain Underpants with a red cape.
A silver pumpkin decorated as a bowl of Froot Loops cereal with pouring milk and a cereal box.
A creatively decorated pumpkin features a black sequin fedora, long dark hair, and sparkly silver gloves, labeled with the name "Michael Jackson".
 

Veterans Day

Veterans Day Assembly

All veterans from our Orchard Hill Elementary School community are invited to participate in our special Veterans Day ceremony.  You could be a parent, relative, guardian, or family friend of an Orchard Hill student or staff member!

Please join us on Wednesday, November 11th, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. in our gymnasium.  Help us honor our active and veteran service members through songs, poems, and carrying the flag.  Enjoy coffee and pastries in our cafeteria before and after the ceremony.

We would be honored to have you join us!  If you are able to attend, please complete the form below OR call our office at 648-5015.  We hope to see you on November 11th!
Veterans Day Sign Up
The SW Patriotic Commission is inviting any military parent or relative who attends Orchard Hill's Veterans Day program to go to South Windsor High School after the program, if they are able, to share their experience in a high school classroom, max 20 minutes or so (per class) 
 
Also, the SW Patriotic Commission is aligned with the military banner program honoring SW residents, past and present, currently living or deceased. Kindly check https://www.homeofthebravect.org.To nominate an honoree please use this link: https://www.homeofthebravect.org/take-action
 

Lost & Found

With this weather of chilly mornings and warm afternoons, our Lost & Found is getting filled up with coats and sweatshirts.  An easy way to remedy this is to write your child's name or initials on the tag.
 

Glass Containers

As a reminder, please do not send your child in with glass containers in their lunch box.  Please use metal containers, Tupperware, or another type of plastic container.  Thank you!
 

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Three adjustable spotlights cast bright yellow beams of light downwards.

Crystal Bezzini - Kindergarten Teacher

  1. # of years at Orchard Hill and # of years in education? 10 years at Orchard Hill, 5 years at Eli Terry and before that I was a special education preschool paraeducator in East Hartford! 20 years total in the field of Education!
  2. What do you enjoy most about working at our school? I love seeing the students grow throughout the years and having my Teeny Bezzini alumni come back to visit me or help out in the classroom as mentors to the Kinders. Our staff is incredible and I have many close friendships! I adore my K Team-shout out to my work fam!!problem solving and conflict resolution! 
  3. What inspired you to be an educator? I'll never forget my first day of Kindergarten-I looked aorund and thought "I could do this forever." I knew at 5 years old that I wanted to be an Early Childhood Educator and stuck to that plan :)
  4. Where did you grow up?  I grew up in East Hartford, I met my husband at EHHS while eating lunch in the cafeteria, we grew up and bought a house in East Hartford...GO HORNETS!!
  5. What college did you graduate from? I graduated from MCC-Associates in Early Childhood Education, Saint Joseph College-Bachelors in Child Study, University of Saint Joseph-Masters in  Early Childhood/Special Education, Central Connecticut State University-6th year in Educational Leadership and currently pursuing my Doctorate in Education at Central!
  6. What was your favorite sport/activity growing up? I was a competitive dancer through my younger years all through college. I also loved to play soccer and do musicals!
  7. What was your favorite childhood book or show?  "A Friend is Someone Who Likes You" by Joan Walsh Anglund, "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson and "A Summer to Die" by Lois Lowry (I still read all 3 every summer!)
  8. Do you have any siblings? I have an older sister Jennifer who is a sports/news anchor in NYC! Very proud of her!
  9. Do you have any pets? We have 3 kitties: Susie (sweet and gentle), Scamp (velcro cat-never leaves our side) and Sophie (a sassy diluted tortie)!
  10. What is your favorite food or snack? Pretzels, Pistachios and Pickles!!
  11. What do you like to do outside of school? Letter Boxing!! I have been doing this hobby for 10 years and it's the best! For more info, check out www.atlasquest.com
  12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Italy, I went when I was 20 because my sister was studying abroad in Rome (thanks Jenny!) but would love to go back with her and my husband to celebrate a milestone Birthday!
  13. If you weren't in education, what would you want to do? Own a thrift store or be a writer on SNL.
 

Upcoming Events

Monday, November 2nd

Girls on the Run - 3:40 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
STEM After-School Clubs - 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
 

Tuesday, November 3rd

NO SCHOOL - Staff Professional Development Day
 
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Wednesday, November 4th

Early Release - 12:45 p.m. dismissal
PTO Mad Science Club - 12:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m. (STEM Room)
PTO Meeting - 7:00 p.m. (cafeteria)
 

Thursday, November 5th

MOEMS Math Olympiad Club - 7:30 a.m.
Girls on the Run - 3:40 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
 

Friday, November 6th

Students Dress Like Teachers/Teachers Dress Like Students - FUN RUN Goal Achieved
 

Preschool Outreach Program (POP)

27-28 Peer Role Model Application for Preschool Outreach Program (POP)
South Windsor Public Schools is now accepting applications for community peer role models in the preschool outreach program (POP) for the 2027-2028 school year. If you are interested in this opportunity for your child, please complete the Preschool Outreach Program (POP) Inquiry Form. Peer role model screenings will begin in January 2027. You can learn more about POP by accessing our school district's website.
 

School Store

A colorful flyer announces the school store opening with schedules, dates, and details about items sold.
 

Friday Folder Flyers

A promotional flyer for South Windsor Little League 2027 spring registration, opening November 1, 2026.
 

PTO Happenings

PTO Fundraisers

Support our Orchard Hill community with these fundraisers that continue all year!

Quick links

Box Tops for Education: Download the Box Tops for Education app in your Apple or Android store.

Car/Fridge Magnets: 

Mabel's Labels:

Search: Orchard Hill Elementary School PTO
Poster detailing year-round fundraising opportunities for Orchard Hill, including Spirit Wear, Box Tops, Magnets, and Mabel's Labels.
 

2026-2027 District Calendar

2026-2027 District Calendar