Norwich Free Academy

Norwich Free Academy was on lockdown Monday morning and school officials say two students will face disciplinary action and possible criminal charges after investigators found two fake guns.

Norwich Free Academy was on lockdown Monday morning and it has lifted but police will remain at the school as they investigate. Police said school security staff were made aware of a possible threat from a student and the school was placed on lockdown as a precaution. Norwich police and school security located a person they called an alleged suspect…

The Norwich Free Academy community is mourning the loss of a student after school officials announced their sudden death. Superintendent Brian M. Kelly said the school is offering drop-in counseling areas that provide a safe space for students to share feelings and talk to others. “Please be mindful that anyone may be impacted by this loss, regardless of a direct…

Students at Norwich Free Academy say they are happy to be back in-person full time this school year, but the effects from last school year are hard to miss.

Norwich Free Academy has begun a new program to try and make up the learning gap created by remote learning during the pandemic.

There was a significant power outage in Norwich and Norwich Public Utilities officials said it appears power has been restored. The utility company said crews were undertaking a safe and methodical evaluation of the electrical infrastructure. Norwich Free Academy announced earlier today that it was dismissing students early Tuesday because of a power outage. A Facebook post from the schools…

Project Outreach students were looking for a way to connect with the community during the pandemic. They decided to launch ‘We’re All a Piece of Norwich.’

Colorful puzzle pieces are lining storefronts in downtown Norwich this month thanks to a group of Norwich Free Academy students. “We wanted to find a way to bring Norwich back together as a community because during the pandemic, it was kind of lost,” said Ella Bean, a sophomore and a member of NFA’s Project Outreach. Project Outreach is a...

Education workers at Norwich Free Academy received the first dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine Friday. Nutmeg Pharmacy Taftville provided the school with the shots, hosting an on-site clinic for 200 employees. “Teachers won’t have to miss school days and kids won’t have to miss classes for teachers that have appointment outside of the school,” said Dr. Brian Kelly, head...

Diversity in education has been a hot topic lately, but for one Norwich educator, it has been his sole focus for decades. “It is not just about a short exercise in February every year, where we roll all of the posters back into a closet,” said Leo Butler, director of diversity at Norwich Free Academy. “It is a year long…

Leo Butler has been working for decades to make sure students have equal access and equity to education.

Students at Norwich Free Academy will now have the ability to reach out for help at their fingertips. The high school is rolling out ‘Stop It’ this week, an anonymous reporting app for all students. “It is very easy to use and with just one click, students can get the help they need,” said Karen Lau, a senior at NFA….

Students at Norwich Free Academy now have an app to anonymously report trouble, such as bullying, threats of violence, and mental health crises.

The shelves at Norwich Free Academy’s in-school food pantry are bare. The pantry became depleted when the pandemic first hit. Since then, it has been a challenge to keep the shelves stocked as the need only grows. “The need just got much bigger. Families lost their jobs,” said Shirley Kutia, who runs the food pantry and the free clothing...

Norwich Free Academy will transition to fully online learning effective immediately as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. The school district said they hope to return to in-person classes this semester. School officials chose Dec. 7 as their potential return date. School officials said five more people tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. This comes after seven people tested positive for…

Students returning to Norwich Free Academy next week will find many changes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Traffic flow on the 10-building high school campus is almost entirely one-way. Distance markers can be found throughout, both inside and outside. Hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes have been installed in every classroom. “The process is students use hand sanitizer, get a wipe, wipe…

As schools prepare to welcome students back, the NFA gave NBC Connecticut a tour of their building to show off all the changes they’ve made to keep everyone safe.

The head of school for The Woodstock Academy, Christopher Sandford, said that he believes planning for a full return to school this fall is a, “waste of time.” “We have been spending an enormous amount of hours planning to get all of our students back to campus when I truly believe it is almost an impossible task based on the…

As school districts prepare to submit their final reopening plans to the state, one independent school says bringing all students back may be impossible.

Teams who were scheduled to play in high school basketball state tournament games this week are coming to terms with the fact that they won’t be able to fight for a championship this year. “Coach Smith texted in our group chat that it’s our last practice and that it’s all over,” said Windsor senior Justice Ellison. “Just know my...