THANK YOU!
A huge thank you and congratulations to everyone who made the Duffy Dragon Dash 2025 such an amazing event! From our enthusiastic runners to our awesome volunteers, your support helped raise important funds for PTO initiatives that directly benefit our students, teachers, and the whole Duffy community.
The day was full of fun, excitement, and school pride! Thank you for helping make this such a fun success.
We’re also happy to share that concession sales from the event were donated to families in our community experiencing food insecurity, making a real difference this season.
A special shout-out to Paige Joseph & Kelly Flynn for organizing everything and bringing this new tradition to life!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Catch up on all the upcoming PTO events and activities happening in the Duffy community!
🏈 DUFFY DAY AT UCONN FOOTBALL
📅 Saturday, November 15 at 12:00 PM
📍 Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, East Hartford
Join the Duffy community for a fun afternoon as the UConn Huskies take on the Air Force Academy Falcons!
Purchase Tickets Here: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Duffyelementary2
Learn more about future Duffy Community Sporting Events!
🍎 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE WEEK:
NOVEMBER 17–21, 2025
Conference Week is a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with teachers — and to show our appreciation for all they do!
We’re inviting families to help make the week extra special by:
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Donating snacks, treats, or beverages for the teacher lounge
SIGN-UP HERE -
Volunteering to help with set-up, restocking, or clean-up throughout the week
SIGN-UP HERE
Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful difference.
Get Involved: Click here to learn more and join our committee
Please check the Duffy calendar for a complete list of all school events & activities.
DONATIONS NEEDED!
🎃 Share the Halloween Spirit!
Join us in making sure every child gets a chance to celebrate Halloween!
From November 3rd–21st, drop off your child’s gently used Halloween costumes in the collection box located in the Duffy lobby.
All donated costumes will be cleaned and distributed to Greater Hartford–area charities.
Thank you for helping spread kindness — and Halloween joy — to others! 👻
GET INVOLVED AT DUFFY!
There are so many ways to support our Duffy community — from volunteering to joining a committee. Your time, ideas, and energy help make Duffy a wonderful place to learn and grow!
📣 Join the Duffy PTO !
Co-Treasurer
We’re looking for a Co-Treasurer — a key role in managing budgets, supporting school events, and helping our community initiatives thrive. This is a great opportunity to get involved, learn the ropes of PTO finances, and make a meaningful impact.
Parent Teacher Council (PTC) Delegate
The PTC Delegate represents Duffy on the West Hartford Parent Teacher Council, which includes representatives from all public schools in town. This volunteer attends monthly meetings and shares key updates and discussions with the Duffy PTO Board.
Member at Large
Interested in getting involved but not sure where to start?
Join as a Member-at-Large to be part of the PTO Board’s planning and help shape the programs and events that make Duffy so special!
Get Involved: Duffy PTO Board & Committees
🗓️ PTO MEETING
Join us for the next Duffy PTO Meeting to learn more about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved.
📅 Thursday, November 13
⏰ 8:45–9:45 AM
📍 Location: Duffy Elementary - Cafeteria
💚 DUFFY CARES — OUTREACH & SUPPORT COMMITTEE
This committee supports Duffy families and students who may need extra help throughout the year, from providing clothing and school supplies through the Duffy Closet to organizing assistance during holidays and back-to-school season. Volunteers help plan and coordinate these initiatives, ensuring every family feels cared for and connected.
Get Involved: Learn more about the Duffy Cares Committee Here
🌿 DUFFY GARDEN COMMITTEE
Our mission is to bring our school community together by caring for our gardens and supporting seasonal beautification projects that make Duffy a green, welcoming, and inspiring place for our kids.
In past years, the Garden Committee has hosted clean-ups, planting days, and creative garden projects — and we’re excited to grow this tradition in 2026!
Get Involved: Learn more about the Garden Committee Here
🌍 EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION (EDI) COMMITTEE
We’d love your input to help shape meaningful activities, events, and educational opportunities that reflect and celebrate our community.
Our mission is to strengthen our school community by planning events and sharing resources that broaden perspectives and foster belonging for every family. Through these events, we create opportunities for our community to learn, celebrate, and connect in ways that highlight and embrace the diversity that makes Duffy so special.
Please take a moment to fill out our SURVEY by November 17th.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Tuesday, November 11th: Students should wear RED, WHITE, and BLUE to help honor veterans on Veterans Day!
- Thursday, November 13: PTO Meeting (8:45–9:45 AM) Duffy Cafeteria
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Monday, Nov 17 – Friday, Nov 21: Conference Week
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1:30 PM Dismissal: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
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2:00 PM Dismissal: Wed
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- Thursday & Friday, Nov 27–28: Thanksgiving Break — No School
AROUND WEST HARTFORD
What’s happening around West Hartford and in our larger community — events, activities, and opportunities for all ages!
The Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools is excited to announce its second annual Family Movie Night! The movie will be Disney's Encanto Sing-Along. This event is completely FREE, but we do request that people register here in advance as seating is limited.
📅 Friday, November 14
📍 Bristow Middle School
⏰ Doors open for free pizza at 5:30 pm, the movie will begin at 6:00pm
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF 🎭 THE THEATER AT DUFFY
- November 7–8 & 14–15 at 7:00 PM
- November 9 & 16 at 2:00 PM
West Hartford Community Theater presents Fiddler on the Roof, the beloved musical based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem, with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and a book by Joseph Stein. Directed by Doreen Cohn & Terry Rowe, music directed by Nathan Holbrook, choreography by Jen Bunger.
Tickets:
- Online sales end 3 hours before each performance
- For tickets or questions, email tickets@westhartfordtheater.org
DUFFY STUDENTS TO BE FEATURED IN ST. JAMES'S FALL MUSCIAL!
For more information click here!
WAIT UNTIL 8th!
Want to wait to give your child a smartphone? You’re not alone!
Over the past several years, parents have said “yes” to smartphones for children as early as elementary school age due to societal pressures. Many parents today feel powerless, but together, we can change this!Parents now have access to research on the impacts of smartphone use on our children that was not available just a few years ago. The research shows that smartphone use in children before the age of 14 has lead to an alarming increase in such things as anxiety, depression, screen addiction, exposure to sexual content, cyber bullying, and suicide, to name a few…
Let’s listen to the data and say “not yet” together!Wait Until 8th is an organization that connects parents interested in waiting to give their children smartphones by distributing a pledge to each grade within a school. Signing the pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay smartphones until at least the end of 8th grade. Together, we can decrease the peer pressure felt by kids and parents, alike.
Here’s how it works: A pledge becomes "active" once 10 or more families within a grade sign it. The pledge is designed this way so you don't have to fear "what if I am the only parent that signs in my kid's grade" and so that you can connect with other families. We currently have many active grades at Duffy - sign the pledge to connect with others!To learn more and sign the Wait Until 8th pledge, click here.
*Please note - this pledge is for delaying smartphones only. If you would like your child to have a basic phone that just calls and texts, you still can sign the pledge! Basic phones avoid the distractions and dangers that come with smartphones.STAY CONNECTED
Explore all our volunteer opportunities and committees
Please CLICK HERE to see all the amazing events that you can be a part of too! We thank you for all of your time and support!
Send announcements for the weekly eBlast by Friday, 3:00 PM to Calla Leonardo, PTO Communications Chair, or contact the PTO Co-Presidents.
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