Common Ground staff are using input from students, families & teachers to develop a plan for reopening that meets the Governor’s guidelines while maximizing student safety and learning.
Click here for a presentation on our reopening plans. Click here to watch a video of our reopening student & family town hall. Click here for the reopening plan template submitted to the State Department of Education.
If you weren’t able to join our student & family town hall on July 23rd, join us on Monday, July 27th at 6pm for a Q&A session — check your email and SMS for details.
Read an end of year message (En Espanol) from our beloved school director, Lizanne Cox, who is retiring at the end of this school year. This message includes important information about summer school, summer reading, and other supports for students & families.
Common Ground’s summer school is now in session for incoming 9th graders and returning students. Summer school is a critical opportunity to incoming students to get ready for Common Ground’s rigorous curriculum, and for returning students to earn credit in courses for which they earned incompletes during distance learning mode.
Most summer school is taking place via distance learning, but we are offering a small in-person summer school for returning students who need that opportunity. Questions about Common Ground’s summer school should be directed to Victor Rios at victor.rios@commongroundct.org.
Additionally, all students are required to complete a Summer Reading Assignment this year. Details about summer reading should be directed to Monique Frasier at mfrasier@commongroundct.org.
At this time, we will have at least one member of our office staff in the school office from 9:00-2:00 Monday through Friday.
School Office Staff Contact Information:
At this time, we will have at least one member of our office staff in the school office from 9:00-2:00 Monday through Friday.
Ana Rosa—Office Manager
203 389-0823 ext. 1202
arosa@commongroundct.org
Iris Jimenez—Administrative Assistant
203 389-0823 ext. 1200
ijimenez@commongroundct.org
Student Support Staff Contact information
Monique Frasier—Assistant Director
203 389—0823 ext. 1218
mfrasier@commongroundct.org
Victor Rios—Student Support Coordinator
203 389—0823 ext. 1218
Victor.rios@commongroundct.org
Our Results
In each of the last 5 years, between 97% and 100% of our graduates were accepted to college. Our 4-year graduation rates significantly exceeded the state average in 4 of the 5 last school years. Recent Common Ground 9th and 10th graders have made greater gains in reading, writing, and math than 90 or more percent of their peers across the country, according to results of the NWEA MAP. Common Ground was the state’s first U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School and a recipient of many awards and grants in recognition of our work.
Main Phone: 203 389-4333
Complete Staff List
- Monica Maccera Filppu, Executive Director & Interim School Director, x1216 Email
- Monique Frasier, Assistant Director x1218, Email
- Ana Rosa, x1202, Office Manager,Email
- Iris Jimenez, Educational Aide, x1200, Email
- Sharyn Lopez, Student Opportunities Manager, x1206, Email
- Brian Kelahan, Post High School Planning & Recruitment Manager, x1281, Email
- Miriam Sheffield, Student Affairs Assistant. x1207, Email
Our Curriculum
Common Ground’s curriculum combines rigorous high academic standards for all, responsive relationships with adults and peers who really care, relevant, real-world learning that’s rooted in the community and environment, and real roles and rights for students. Imagine studying …
- Math while you … decide what should be planted on Common Ground’s farm to maximize production, nutrition, taste, and cultural relevance.
- Science while you … turn what you are learning about climate change into beautiful paintings, spoken word, and graffiti art
- English while you … work with professional actors to write and perform plays about social justice issues that matter to you.
Recent Blog Posts about the High School
Will They Listen, Mami? a Poem by Common Ground’s own Crystal Alexandrea Fernández
Will They Listen, Mami? By Crystal Alexandrea Fernández, Mom of four Black Latino Kings Where are we going, Mami? To the peace rally, Papito. What's a peace rally, Mami? A platform to be heard, mi
Celebrating Persistence: CG Alumni Earn Degrees In the Midst of the Pandemic
by Joel Tolman, Director of Impact & Engagement Throughout May, I and my colleagues watched our Facebook feeds fill up with photos and stories from Common Ground alumni, celebrating the degrees they earned in this
Common Ground’s Inspiring Response to Covid-19
By: Audrey Nefores, Development Manager for Supporter Engagement Common Ground Student enjoying our East Asian and Chinese solidarity cafeteria lunch! Staff at Common Ground began responding to COVID-19 and its impact on the