Open House Strengthens Our School, Family and Community Connections

Jefferson Marine Science Magnet School welcomed families on Thursday, September 17, for its 2026–27 Open House, an evening designed to do more than introduce families to classrooms and curriculum. The event reflected Jefferson’s commitment to supporting the whole child by strengthening connections among students, families, educators and the broader Norwalk community.

Families visited classrooms to meet teachers, learn about curriculum and expectations, and see firsthand what students will experience throughout the school year. Principal Cesar Nina spent the evening visiting classrooms, greeting families and connecting personally with members of the Jefferson community.

School as a Community Center

For Principal Nina, the focus on family and community partnership is deeply connected to both his personal experience and educational philosophy. Born in Puerto Rico to Dominican parents, Principal Nina came to the United States at age five without speaking English. His experience as a multilingual learner continues to shape his belief that students should feel seen, supported and proud of the strengths they bring to school.

Principal Nina’s philosophy also emphasizes the importance of schools serving as community centers that support the entire family. Inspired in part by Paulo Freire’s belief in humanizing education and building meaningful connections between schools and the lived experiences of students and families, Jefferson’s Open House intentionally included access to community resources alongside the traditional classroom experience.

Community Partners Support Jefferson Families

With support from Mrs. Tiffany Preston, Mrs. J'aime Ottaviano and Mrs. Zakiya Jones, Jefferson invited a wide range of local organizations and school-based teams to connect directly with families. Participating partners included the Norwalk Mentor Program, Norwalk Early Childhood, Norwalk Community Health Center, Person to Person, The Child & Family Guidance Center, Sky Zone, South Norwalk Ice Cream, YLTrapped Inc., Wilton YMCA, Mutual Security Credit Union, Presto Dental, Norwalk Public Library, Norwalk Recreation Center and The Maritime Aquarium, along with Jefferson’s Special Education, Multilingual Learner, Dual Language, Literacy, PTO and library teams. Families were also able to select free books and learn more about services available throughout Norwalk.

To encourage families to visit and engage with the community partners, Jefferson PTO hosted a schoolwide raffle. Families earned raffle tickets by visiting resource tables and learning more about the services available to them. Raffle prizes included an Amazon Fire HD Kids Pro Tablet basket for Grades K–1, a Space Gray Apple iPad basket for Grades 2–3, an electronics bundle featuring a computer and accessories for Grades 4–5, and a Maritime Aquarium family basket with admission for four, four 4D movie admissions and stuffed animals. Grade-level baskets also included Jefferson spiritwear, winter blankets, coloring kits, Sky Zone jump passes and additional items.

Building Connections Beyond Open House

The evening highlighted Jefferson’s belief that educating children is strongest when schools, families and community organizations work together. By combining classroom learning, family engagement and access to local resources, Jefferson’s Open House created an opportunity for families not only to learn about the school year ahead, but also to build connections that can support them throughout the year.