Following an October site visit and interviews with parents, community members, teachers and administration, Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) honored North Branford's Totoket Valley Elementary School with "Exemplary School Climate Status."

Jill Hale and a committee CAS committee was at TVES during the week of October 8, 2018, for a site visit including interviewing students, parents, community members, teachers, and administration. They also toured the school with student leaders and spent time in classrooms to examine the school's climate. In the end, Hale in the committee were profoundly impressed with the practices in place at TVES and honored TVES with "Exemplary School Climate Status."

This recognition means that staff at TVES go above and beyond in creating a safe, welcoming, challenging, and positive climate for students, families, and the community. It also means TVES is a model of best practices including: connecting students to their school, ensuring a positive place of social, emotional and academic learning, and creating an inclusive place where all work together as a learning community.　

In a letter from CAS, the following was detailed: "TVES is a school of exemplary climate and culture as evidenced by the many stakeholders' pride in their school...students, families, and community members shared so many stories and personal experiences about what this school means to them and how much it is a part of their lives. Additionally, when asked　to describe TVES with one word, students, parents, and community members replied with: welcoming, inclusive, innovative, collaborative, creative, academically challenging, inspiring, loving and fun." These same people described the staff, teachers, and leadership as key to the positive school climate.　

Some of the model practices in place include whole school assemblies, community days, enrichment programs, a whole child focus, student-led learning, project-based learning, and varying levels of staff support for academics, behavior and social/emotional learning.

TVES received a certificate of recognition from CAS, and more importantly, the school will be highlighted by CAS as a model school in positive school climate practices. As such, other districts and schools will be encouraged to visit TVES and learn about its exemplary school climate practices.　

"North Branford residents and families should be very proud that three of their schools have received this distinction from CAS, and that they are the only district in the state with such recognition," said North Branford Superintendent of Schools, Scott Schoonmaker.

"I am proud of our students, families, teachers, staff, and the community for their hard work and commitment to ensuring each and every student feels positive and connected to his/her school," said TVES principal Carter Welch Ed.D. "It is an honor to be recognized by CAS for all the wonderful things in place at TVES that support the whole child's growth academically, socially, and emotionally".

Located in Northford, TVES serves North Branford Public School students in grades three through five.