EASTCONN

3/22/2023 To: All Staff From: Payroll

Good Afternoon,

Any time entered after 10:00 am, on Friday , March 24th , or the deadline specified by your program, will NOT be processed until the following payroll.

Any maintenance, changes to payment method, or changes to payroll need to be submitted to HR and/or Payroll before 10:00 am, on Friday, March 24th to be included in this payroll run. This will provide HR and Payroll enough time to process the requests considering upcoming holidays and potential weather delays.

Please reach out to Sharlene Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding paychecks, direct deposit forms, or payroll processing questions.

Entering Time in ESS:
All Timesheets and Leave Requests need to be entered into the ESS system per your Program Directors guidelines.
When adding fractions of hours in ESS, please use 15 minute increments when entering in partial hours

If you have any issues entering time in ESS, please contact Kristen Wood in Human Resources at 860-455-1550 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately.

Supervisors and Directors:

Please have all timesheets reviewed and approved no later than 12pm, noon, Friday, March 24th for the 3/12/23 – 3/25/23 payroll period (for hourly employees).

As you are approving time cards, please be sure to validate the following items:

Verify time worked, holidays and time off requests are entered correctly.
Please make corrections as necessary prior to approving time. This should be done though ESS for final verification.
Please verify all of your hourly staff have entered a time card if they worked.
Staff who are currently out on authorized absence are to continue to report their absence by charging leave time.

3/14/2023 To: All Staff

EASTCONN ACT, QMC and Special Education Programs will have early dismissal today, March 14, due to winter weather conditions.

3/8/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Payroll

Good Afternoon,

Any time entered after 10:00 am, on Friday , March 10th , or the deadline specified by your program, will NOT be processed until the following payroll.

Any maintenance, changes to payment method, or changes to payroll need to be submitted to HR and/or Payroll before 10:00 am, on Friday, March 10th to be included in this payroll run. This will provide HR and Payroll enough time to process the requests considering upcoming holidays and potential weather delays.

Please reach out to Sharlene Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding paychecks, direct deposit forms or payroll processing questions.

Entering Time in ESS:

All Timesheets and Leave Requests need to be entered into the ESS system per your Program Directors guidelines.
When adding fractions of hours in ESS, please use 15 minute increments when entering in partial hours
Please remind staff - Do NOT add comments/text in the “comments” field in ESS when entering your leave time
During weeks containing holidays, please be sure to enter time off as “Holiday” if applicable, confirm with your supervisor if you have questions.

If you have any issues entering time in ESS, please contact Kristen Wood in Human Resources at 860-455-1550 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately.

Supervisors and Directors:

Please have all timesheets reviewed and approved no later than 12pm, noon, Friday, March 10th for the 2/26/23 – 3/11/23 payroll period (for hourly employees).

As you are approving time cards, please be sure to validate the following items:

Verify time worked, holidays and time off requests are entered correctly.
Please make corrections as necessary prior to approving time. This should be done though ESS for final verification.
Please verify all of your hourly staff have entered a time card if they worked.
Staff who are currently out on authorized absence are to continue to report their absence by charging leave time.

Thank you,

Sharlene Edwards

Payroll Specialist

3/6/2023 To: All Staff - Message from EASTCONN Wellness Congratulations to our ECHIP Winter Wellness Challenge Winners!

The E-Chip Winter Wellness Challenge has now come to a close! CONGRATULATIONS to our Challenge winners!

$25 Gift Card
Week 1 Amy Margelony and Norma Gervais
Week 2 Rose Jaffrey and Julie Kulman
Week 3 Randy Henry and Jessica Folta
Week 4 Rachael Martel and Heather Standish Smullen

Blizzard $50 Gift Card
Heather Ryan and Amy Rood

3/6/2023 To: All Staff - Message from EASTCONN Wellness March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month

March represents 2 important preventative awareness topics!

Colon Cancer Awareness & Nutrition Awareness

Early detection is your best defensive play in the prevention of colon cancer!
Colonoscopy screening guidelines: Ages 45-75 — colonoscopy every 10 years for average-risk patients
Family History of Colon Cancer guidelines: Starting at age 40, or 10 years before the age that the immediate family member was diagnosed with cancer

Make getting a colonoscopy part of your playbook! Based on the guidelines, is it time to make the call and schedule that appointment?

Cigna insureds, if your doctor states you qualify as low risk for Colon Cancer, you have access to Cologuard, the at-home test kit.

Not Cigna insured? Check with your insurance provider as many are covering this test if your doctor approves.

2/28/2023 To: All Staff - Message from EASTCONN Wellness March is National Nutrition Month!

Looking to up your nutritional game? March is National Nutrition Month.

Check out 10 fun facts about nutrition!

Asparagus is a good source of vitamins A, C and E, B-complex vitamins, potassium and zinc.
An avocado has more than twice as much potassium as a banana.
Broccoli contains twice the vitamin C of an orange and almost as much calcium as whole milk, and the calcium is better absorbed!
Celery is the best vegetable source of naturally occurring sodium.
Kale contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect the eyes from macular degeneration.
To increase the protein in peanut butter, Brewer’s yeast can be mixed in - a useful tip for vegetarians.
Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, which is good for the prostate and building the immune system.
Lemons are considered one of the world's healthiest foods - one lemon contains your daily dose of vitamin C, it cleanses the liver, boosts your immunity and aids in weight loss. Try adding it to a mug of warm water to kick start your day!
Eggs contain the highest quality food protein known. All parts of an egg are edible, including the shell which has a high calcium content.
The mushroom is the only non-animal natural source of vitamin D.

Nutrition can be hard when we’re pressed for time.

Here are 70 quick recipes you can make or prep ahead when you’re on the run!

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/g960/healthy-lunch-ideas/?slide=7

All Staff Email: March is National Nutrition Month!

Looking for more recipes and resources for National Nutrition Month?

Check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture link.

www.usda.gov/media/blog/2019/03/07/resources-help-celebrate-national-nutrition-month

~Happy National Nutrition Month~

2/22/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Payroll Department

Any time entered after 10:00 am, on Friday, February 24th, or the deadline specified by your program, will NOT be processed until the following payroll.

Any maintenance, changes to payment method, or changes to payroll need to be submitted to HR and/or Payroll before 10:00 am, on Friday, February 24th to be included in this payroll run. This will provide HR and Payroll enough time to process the requests considering upcoming holidays and potential weather delays.

Please reach out to Sharlene Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding paychecks, direct deposit forms, or payroll processing questions.

Entering Time in ESS:

All Timesheets and Leave Requests need to be entered into the ESS system per your Program Directors guidelines.
When adding fractions of hours in ESS, please use 15-minute increments when entering in partial hours

If you have any issues entering time in ESS, please contact Kristen Wood in Human Resources at 860-455-1550 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately.

Supervisors and Directors:

Please have all timesheets reviewed and approved no later than 12pm, noon, Friday, February 24th for the 2/12/23 – 2/25/23 payroll period (for hourly employees).

As you are approving time cards, please be sure to validate the following items:

Verify time worked, holidays and time off requests are entered correctly.
Please make corrections as necessary prior to approving time. This should be done though ESS for final verification.
Please verify all of your hourly staff have entered a time card if they worked.
Staff who are currently out on authorized absence are to continue to report their absence by charging leave time.

2/14/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Finance Department

Good afternoon -

We’re very pleased to announce some exciting updates from the Finance department!

First, the Payroll Office has a new location and can now be found in the former Cooperative Purchasing office in Hampton.

Next, the Finance team is now complete with the following staffing changes:

Sharlene Edwards has recently been promoted to Payroll Specialist, handling all aspects of payroll. Sharlene has held several positions in her 28-year career at EASTCONN, starting as Conference Center Clerk back in 1994. She moved to the Finance department as a clerk, before stepping up to Accounts Payable. Sharlene lives in Hampton with her husband, Jeff, dog Bella and cat Pinocchio. You can reach out to Sharlene with your payroll questions at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Amy Rood has been promoted to Payroll Assistant, also located in the new Hampton Payroll Office. Amy will be working with Sharlene with reporting and in meeting all payroll deadlines. Amy’s career at EASTCONN began in Human Resources, where she was a clerk. Within a few months, she moved over to the Copy Center, where she was responsible for all copy work and laminations as well as managing the mailroom hub for the agency. She lives in North Windham and is currently studying accounting at Three Rivers Community College. You can reach Amy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kerry Dexter, our Online Purchasing Clerk, has moved to the Finance Department, and now reports to CFO Patricia Proctor. Kerry manages the agency’s American Express purchases, billing, and reconciliations, as well as all agency travel: airline, hotel and registrations. Kerry’s been with EASTCONN for 4 years; prior to coming to the agency, she worked in construction, specializing in masonry. She lives in Thompson with her three children, and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Melissa Perry is our new Senior Bookkeeper who started on January 30. Melissa is responsible for General Ledger Accounting, the Student Activities account and the Adult & Community Education Grants. She lives in South Windham, studied accounting at UConn and her prior experience was as accounts receivable/payable specialist and office manager for several businesses in eastern Connecticut. You can reach Melissa atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mandy Carver began her EASTCONN Finance career as Staff Accountant on February 13. In her new role, she is responsible for all General Ledger accounting. You may recognize Mandy from the Birth to Three program, where she worked for 3-1/2 years. While Mandy recently earned her associate’s degree in accounting, she’s currently working on her bachelor’s degree, which she’ll complete in December 2023. You can contact Mandy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Deb Couture joined the Finance team on December 6^th as Accounts Payable Bookkeeper. In this role, she is responsible for all accounts payable, agency-wide. Deb has worked in accounting throughout her career, mostly in large manufacturing corporations, including Spirol. She may be new to the world of non-profits, but she’s right at home working with our Finance team. Deb lives in Killingly with her two dogs, Jax and Alvin. You can reach her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Tina Kramer has shared her extensive talents here at EASTCONN for 21 years. While her current role is Grants Coordinator, she’s also served as Bookkeeper and Assistant to the Director of Adult & Community Programs through the years. As Grants Coordinator, she is fiscal officer for our Head Start programs as well as manager for Leading and Learning division grants. Tina lives in Plainfield and owns at least 15 pairs of the jazziest eyeglasses you’ll ever see. You can reach Tina at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Diane Turkis is EASTCONN’s Senior Bookkeeper/Accounts Receivable has shared her expertise with us for 21 years. She manages all A/R responsibilities for the agency, which includes billing, daily deposits and support of every department. Diane studied accounting at Manchester Community College and lives in Columbia. The loves of her life are her beloved grand dogs, Zoey, Rocky and Lou. Diane can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

And, finally, Patricia Ann Proctor is EASTCONN’s Chief Financial Officer, who joined the agency in September 2022. She oversees the Accounting/Finance department for the agency, which includes accounts payable and receivable; payroll and grant management; general ledger accounting; as well as managing all staff mentioned above. She has a BS in Accounting from the University of Bridgeport and an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She’s worked in both the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors in manufacturing, imports and low-income housing. She’s owned her own business, which serviced over 55 clients in various industries and locations. Patricia lives with her ‘babies’, pups Ryder and Diesel, in Brooklyn, CT and is looking forward to warmer weather, when she can ride each of her three Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Please join us in congratulating our new EASTCONN Finance Team!

Left to right: Patricia Proctor, Amy Rood, Diane Turkis, Sharlene Edwards, Deb Couture, Kerry Dexter, Tina Kramer, Melissa Perry, Mandy Carver.

2/14/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Technology Solutions

Please remember to lock your computer if it will be out of your sight for any length of time.

Remember, information security is everyone’s concern!

Directions on how to lock your computer are attached.

If you’re using a Windows Machine, a quick Windows key plus L will lock your device!

If you’re using a Mac, CTRL plus Command plus Q will lock your device!

Regards,

Andy DePalma

2/9/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Finance

Good Morning,

Any time entered after 10:00 am, on Friday , February 10th , or the deadline specified by your program, will NOT be processed until the following payroll.

Any maintenance, changes to payment method, or changes to payroll need to be submitted to HR and/or Payroll before 10:00 am, on Friday, February 10th to be included in this payroll run. This will provide HR and Payroll enough time to process the requests considering upcoming holidays and potential weather delays.

Please reach out to Sharlene Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding paychecks, direct deposit forms or payroll processing questions.

Entering Time in ESS:

All Timesheets and Leave Requests need to be entered into the ESS system per your Program Directors guidelines.
When adding fractions of hours in ESS, please use 15 minute increments when entering in partial hours
Please remind staff - Do NOT add comments/text in the “comments” field in ESS when entering your leave time
During weeks containing holidays, please be sure to enter time off as “Holiday” if applicable, confirm with your supervisor if you have questions.

If you have any issues entering time in ESS, please contact Kristen Wood in Human Resources at 860-455-1550 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately.

Supervisors and Directors:

Please have all timesheets reviewed and approved no later than 12pm, noon, Friday, February 10th for the 1/29/23 – 2/11/23 payroll period (for hourly employees).

As you are approving time cards, please be sure to validate the following items:

Verify time worked, holidays, and time off requests are entered correctly.
Please make corrections as necessary prior to approving time. This should be done through ESS for final verification.
Please verify all of your hourly staff have entered a time card if they worked.
Staff who are currently out on authorized absence are to continue to report their absence by charging leave time.

Sharlene Edwards

Payroll Specialist

2/6/2023 To: All Staff - Message on behalf of Technology Solutions - Spring 2023 Technology Trainings Reminder From Briana Patriarca – email Feb. 6

Hello,

Technology Solutions is offering the following free, in-person trainings this fall (please note the training locations). Please click the links to learn more and register for trainings. Please make sure to register two days prior to registration date.

Introduction to Google Classroom	Tue, Feb 14 2:30-4 PM Community Learning Center - Willimantic	Learn the basics of creating and building your Google Classroom. In this hands on workshop we will discuss best practice tips and tricks on organizing and building your Google Classroom and ways it can be utilized both in and out of the classroom.	Click here to register
Introduction to Microsoft Excel Formulas	Wed, Feb 15 10-11:30 AM Northeast Learning Center - Danielson	This session will provide a complete introduction to Microsoft Excel formulas. Formulas are what make a spreadsheet into a huge timesaver by automating both routine math and advanced calculations. If you’re looking to save time with budget planning or other numerical data crunching this is the class to attend! Participants can bring questions to the session, or submit questions beforehand. Novice and experienced Excel users are invited to attend. Please register early to assure you get the pre-class survey link.	Click here to register
Getting the Most Out of Outlook	Thu, Mar 2 2:30-4 PM Community Learning Center - Willimantic	Having trouble keeping your inbox under control? Need a way to safely save your emails? Want to learn some handy Outlook tips and tricks? You’re in luck! Join us as we learn some useful techniques for sorting mail, searching, archiving, customizing Outlook, and how to safely manage your mail and keep your inbox neat and tidy. Many useful features will be explored! Please bring your own device.	Click here to register
Google Drive Tips & Tricks	Tue, Mar 7 2:30-4 PM Community Learning Center - Willimantic	This training will cover the basics of Google Drive including how to create and share Google documents with the correct people easily and securely, navigate Google Drive, manage files and folders, and best practice tips and tricks. Participants are encouraged to bring their own device and questions.	Click here to register
Introduction to Google Docs	Wed, Mar 29 2:30-4 PM Northeast Learning Center - Danielson	This session will provide the answers to your Google Docs questions! Bring questions or submit beforehand as we discuss Google Docs and ways it can make your life easier. We will discuss basic navigation and utilization including sharing, commenting, assigning, formatting, and ways it can be integrated aa a collaborative tool. Bring your own device for this hands-on workshop!	Click here to register
Introduction to Google Sheets	Tue, Apr 4 10-11:30 AM Community Learning Center - Willimantic	Explore the basics of creating a Google Sheet including basic formatting and calculations. This hands-on session will also go over best practices in creating and sharing sheets including protecting data and privacy information and timesaving recommendations as you develop your sheets. Bring your own device for this hands-on workshop.	Click here to register
Adobe Acrobat	Wed, Apr 19 2:30-4 PM Northeast Learning Center - Danielson	We will go beyond just viewing PDFs with Acrobat Reader. We will use Acrobat DC to learn how to easily convert files from any application to PDF (and export PDF documents to Word, etc) and how to directly edit text and images in PDF documents. You’ll also learn how to create interactive fill-in forms and track responses within Acrobat, and add signatures and security to PDF files. We will also explore extracting pages from multiple page documents, and combining multiple PDFs into one document.	Click here to register
Introduction to OneNote	Wed, Apr 26 10-11:30 AM Central Office - Hampton	OneNote is a great digital notebook that can be used for note-taking, organizing information, and more with opportunities for creativity and collaboration. Learn the basics of using Microsoft OneNote including creating a personal notebook and adding and sharing content and pages.	Click here to register

Thank you,

Briana Patriarca, M.A.T.

Technology Specialist:

TEAM, GEER, Instructional Design & Professional Development

860-455-1521

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - www.eastconn.org

376 Hartford Turnpike, Hampton, CT 06247

Stay current with regional education news - sign up for EASTCONN Newsletters, and Publications

EASTCONN is a public, non-profit, Regional Educational Service Center, which has been serving the education needs of northeastern Connecticut schools and communities since 1980.

2/6/2023 To: All Staff - ECHIP Winter Challenge Survey From Melanie Marcaccio – email Feb. 6

Good Afternoon,

Congratulations to those who participated in the ECHIP Winter Wellness Challenge!

To self-report your 4 week journey and to become eligible for the drawings, please report your activities via this Survey Monkey Link: https://www.research.net/r/2XJ5WJX! (you may need to CTRL click the link).

More information is in the communication below.

Thank you for participating and please share your thoughts about this

challenge on the survey!

All our Best to a Healthy You!

The ECHIP Wellness Committee

2/3/2023 To: For Cigna Members: Cigna Active & Fit - Enrollment Fee Waived thru 3/31/23 From Melanie Marcaccio – email Feb. 3

Learn about the Cigna Active and Fit Program. See the information below! Active and Fit has over 16,000+ fitness centers or digital online programs available for membership. There are also now additional “higher end” gyms participating under the program.

The Active and Fit Program has a fee of $25, plus at $25 enrollment fee ($50). BUT, if you join now through March 31^st , Cigna will waive the $25 enrollment fee and you only pay $25 program fee! Effective April 1^st the fee will go up from $25 to $28.

The easiest way to check this out is to log in to your MYCIGNA account, click on Wellness, scroll down to Exercise and once on the page scroll down to “Gym Memberships and Digital Workouts”. There is a box you will need to check off at the bottom to activate “Become a Gym Member” and then you will be in the site to see what is available. This site also provides discounts on home gym items, workout clothes and items like FitBit.

The Enrollment Fee Waiver ends on March 31^st!

2/1/2023 To: A message for employees with vision coverage through EASTCONN Cigna Vision Change Effective 7-1-2023

Good Afternoon,
Effective 7/1/2023, Cigna Vision will be changing from the current VSP Network to the Eye Med Network.

Please see the email from 2/1/2023 for flyers

We have been advised by Cigna that this network change creates very little disruption and has a 90% network matchup to current. Cigna will directly notify all members who have a current provider not in the Eye Med network.
We’re enhancing your Cigna Vision plan experience.

And the benefits are clear to see.

This communication is being sent to all active clients with Cigna Vision benefits.

Cigna Vision

In keeping with our mission to provide whole health solutions that are simple and affordable, we are transitioning our vision care network to Cigna Vision serviced by EyeMed based on the following timeline:

•	Renewing Business 3/1/2023 and later will have Cigna Vision serviced by EyeMed upon renewal or at the end of the rate guarantee period*
•	1/1/2023 and 2/1/023 Renewing Business will not transition to Cigna Vision serviced by EyeMed until their next rate guarantee renewal

When your Cigna Vision plan renews, your plan design will remain unchanged, but the provider network associated with it will transition to Cigna Vision serviced by EyeMed, and enrolled employees will be able to take advantage of enhancements including:

•	A larger network of vision care providers (24,000 independent locations and 10,000 retailer locations) and more opportunities to save
•	Access to robust digital plan management tools through their myCigna^® account that can help them search for network providers, estimate costs and even schedule appointments online with providers who offer this service

There will be will be no eligibility structure or Plan ID changes as a result of this transition.

For more information about the enhanced Cigna Vision network, effective upon the transition, please click here.

To help you better understand this future transition and how it will impact you and your employees with Cigna Vision benefits, please view the frequently asked questions (FAQ) by clicking the link below.

‌ ‌ •‌ Client FAQ

If you have any questions, please contact your Cigna representative.

Best Regards,

Larisa Carr Program Director

Eastern Connecticut Health Insurance Program (ECHIP)

Cell-860-919-1612 Office-860-455-1546

www.echipct.org

1/31/2023 To: All Staff Watch EASTCONN Executive Director Eric S. Protulis discuss the agency’s programs and services on WINY Radio!

Watch EASTCONN Executive Director Eric S. Protulis discuss
the agency’s programs and services on WINY Radio!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=711351163791695

1/25/2023 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards, Payroll

Good Morning,

Any time entered after 10:00 am, on Friday, January 27th, or the deadline specified by your program, will NOT be processed until the following payroll.

Any maintenance, changes to payment method, or changes to payroll need to be submitted to HR and/or Payroll before 10:00 am, on Friday, January 27th to be included in this payroll run. This will provide HR and Payroll enough time to process the requests considering upcoming holidays and potential weather delays.

Please reach out to Sharlene Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding paychecks, direct deposit forms or payroll processing questions.

Entering Time in ESS:

All Timesheets and Leave Requests need to be entered into the ESS system per your Program Directors guidelines.
When adding fractions of hours in ESS, please use 15-minute increments when entering in partial hours

Please remind staff - Do NOT add comments/text in the “comments” field in ESS when entering your leave time
During weeks containing holidays, please be sure to enter time off as “Holiday” if applicable, and confirm with your supervisor if you have questions.

If you have any issues entering time in ESS, please contact Kristen Wood in Human Resources at 860-455-1550 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately.

Supervisors and Directors:

Please have all timesheets reviewed and approved no later than 12pm, noon, Friday, January 27th for the 1/15/2023 – 1/28/2023 payroll period (for hourly employees).

As you are approving time cards, please be sure to validate the following items:

Verify time worked, holidays and time off requests are entered correctly.
Please make corrections as necessary prior to approving time. This should be done though ESS for final verification.
Please verify all of your hourly staff have entered a time card if they worked.
Staff who are currently out on authorized absence are to continue to report their absence by charging leave time.

Thank you,

Sharlene Edwards

Payroll Specialist

1/10/2023 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards, Payroll

Good Afternoon,

**EARLY DEADLINE FOR THE 1/20/23 PAYROLL**

Any time entered after 10:00 am, on Thursday , January 12th , or the deadline specified by your program, will NOT be processed until the following payroll.

Any maintenance, changes to payment method, or changes to payroll need to be submitted to HR and/or Payroll before 10:00 am, on Thursday, January 12th to be included in this payroll run. This will provide HR and Payroll enough time to process the requests considering upcoming holidays and potential weather delays.

Please reach out to Sharlene Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding paychecks, direct deposit forms or payroll processing questions.

Entering Time in ESS:

All Timesheets and Leave Requests need to be entered into the ESS system per your Program Directors guidelines.
When adding fractions of hours in ESS, please use 15 minute increments when entering in partial hours
Please remind staff - Do NOT add comments/text in the “comments” field in ESS when entering your leave time
During weeks containing holidays, please be sure to enter time off as “Holiday” if applicable, confirm with your supervisor if you have questions.

If you have any issues entering time in ESS, please contact Kristen Wood in Human Resources at 860-455-1550 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately.

Supervisors and Directors:

Please have all timesheets reviewed and approved no later than 12pm, noon, Thursday, January 12th for the 1/1/23-1/14/23 payroll period (for hourly employees).

As you are approving time cards, please be sure to validate the following items:

Verify time worked, holidays and time off requests are entered correctly.
Please make corrections as necessary prior to approving time. This should be done though ESS for final verification.
Please verify all of your hourly staff have entered a time card if they worked.
Staff who are currently out on authorized absence are to continue to report their absence by charging leave time.

1/9/2023 To: All Staff

EASTCONN ACT, EVC, Bridges and Transition Academy will have a 2-hour delay today, January 9.

1/5/2023 To: All Staff from Briana Patriarca Technology Solutions is offering the following free, in-person trainings this fall (please note the training locations). Please click the links to learn more and register for trainings. Please register two days prior to registration date.

Introduction to Google Classroom	Tue, Feb 14 2:30-4 PM Community Learning Center - Willimantic	Learn the basics of creating and building your Google Classroom. In this hands on workshop we will discuss best practice tips and tricks on organizing and building your Google Classroom and ways it can be utilized both in and out of the classroom.	Click here to register
Introduction to Microsoft Excel Formulas	Wed, Feb 15 10-11:30 AM Northeast Learning Center - Danielson	This session will provide a complete introduction to Microsoft Excel formulas. Formulas are what make a spreadsheet into a huge timesaver by automating both routine math and advanced calculations. If you’re looking to save time with budget planning or other numerical data crunching this is the class to attend! Participants can bring questions to the session, or submit questions beforehand. Novice and experienced Excel users are invited to attend. Please register early to assure you get the pre-class survey link.	Click here to register
Getting the Most Out of Outlook	Thu, Mar 2 2:30-4 PM Community Learning Center - Willimantic	Having trouble keeping your inbox under control? Need a way to safely save your emails? Want to learn some handy Outlook tips and tricks? You’re in luck! Join us as we learn some useful techniques for sorting mail, searching, archiving, customizing Outlook, and how to safely manage your mail and keep your inbox neat and tidy. Many useful features will be explored! Please bring your own device.	Click here to register
Google Drive Tips & Tricks	Tue, Mar 7 2:30-4 PM Community Learning Center - Willimantic	This training will cover the basics of Google Drive including how to create and share Google documents with the correct people easily and securely, navigate Google Drive, manage files and folders, and best practice tips and tricks. Participants are encouraged to bring their own device and questions.	Click here to register
Introduction to Google Docs	Wed, Mar 29 2:30-4 PM Northeast Learning Center - Danielson	This session will provide the answers to your Google Docs questions! Bring questions or submit beforehand as we discuss Google Docs and ways it can make your life easier. We will discuss basic navigation and utilization including sharing, commenting, assigning, formatting, and ways it can be integrated aa a collaborative tool. Bring your own device for this hands-on workshop!	Click here to register
Introduction to Google Sheets	Tue, Apr 4 10-11:30 AM Community Learning Center - Willimantic	Explore the basics of creating a Google Sheet including basic formatting and calculations. This hands-on session will also go over best practices in creating and sharing sheets including protecting data and privacy information and timesaving recommendations as you develop your sheets. Bring your own device for this hands-on workshop.	Click here to register
Adobe Acrobat	Wed, Apr 19 2:30-4 PM Northeast Learning Center - Danielson	We will go beyond just viewing PDFs with Acrobat Reader. We will use Acrobat DC to learn how to easily convert files from any application to PDF (and export PDF documents to Word, etc) and how to directly edit text and images in PDF documents. You’ll also learn how to create interactive fill-in forms and track responses within Acrobat, and add signatures and security to PDF files. We will also explore extracting pages from multiple page documents, and combining multiple PDFs into one document.	Click here to register
Introduction to OneNote	Wed, Apr 26 10-11:30 AM Central Office - Hampton	OneNote is a great digital notebook that can be used for note-taking, organizing information, and more with opportunities for creativity and collaboration. Learn the basics of using Microsoft OneNote including creating a personal notebook and adding and sharing content and pages.	Click here to register

1/4/2023 To: All Staff from Melanie Marcaccio ECHIP WINTER WELLNESS CHALLENGE - 2023!

For many Wellness Resource links, please see Melanie's email sent 1/4/2023 at 4:03 p.m. Join the Challenge!

12/23/2022 To: All EASTCONN Staff

EASTCONN's QMC, ACT, NRP, EVC, Transition Academy and Bridges Community School are all closed today, Dec. 23rd, due to weather and power outages.

Please be safe if you're on the road today!

12/21/2022 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards - Payroll Deadline

Good Morning,

**EARLY DEADLINE FOR THE 1/6/23 PAYROLL**

Any time entered after 10:00 am, on Thursday, December 29th, or the deadline specified by your program, will NOT be processed until the following payroll.

Any maintenance, changes to payment method, or changes to payroll need to be submitted to HR and/or Payroll before 10:00 am, on Thursday, December 29th to be included in this payroll run. This will provide HR and Payroll enough time to process the requests considering upcoming holidays and potential weather delays.

Please reach out to Sharlene Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding paychecks, direct deposit forms or payroll processing questions.

Entering Time in ESS:

All Timesheets and Leave Requests need to be entered into the ESS system per your Program Directors guidelines.
When adding fractions of hours in ESS, please use 15-minute increments when entering in partial hours
- 0.25 for 15 minutes
- 0.5 for 30 minutes
- 0.75 for 45 minutes
Please remind staff - Do NOT add comments/text in the “comments” field in ESS when entering your leave time
During weeks containing holidays, please be sure to enter time off as “Holiday” if applicable, and confirm with your supervisor if you have questions.

If you have any issues entering time in ESS, please contact Kristen Wood in Human Resources at 860-455-1550 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately.

Supervisors and Directors:

Please have all timesheets reviewed and approved no later than 12pm, noon, Thursday, December 29^th for the 12/18/22 – 12/31/2022 payroll period (for hourly employees).

As you are approving time cards, please be sure to validate the following items:

Verify time worked, holidays and time off requests are entered correctly.
Please make corrections as necessary prior to approving time. This should be done though ESS for final verification.
Please verify all of your hourly staff have entered a time card if they worked.
Staff who are currently out on authorized absence are to continue to report their absence by charging leave time.

12/14/2022 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards - Payroll Deadline

Good Afternoon,

Any time entered after 10:00 am, on Friday , December 16th , or the deadline specified by your program, will NOT be processed until the following payroll.

Any maintenance, changes to payment method, or changes to payroll need to be submitted to HR and/or Payroll before 10:00 am, on Friday, December 16th to be included in this payroll run. This will provide HR and Payroll enough time to process the requests considering upcoming holidays and potential weather delays.

Please reach out to Sharlene Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding paychecks, direct deposit forms or payroll processing questions.

Entering Time in ESS:

All Timesheets and Leave Requests need to be entered into the ESS system per your Program Directors guidelines.
When adding fractions of hours in ESS, please use 15 minute increments when entering in partial hours
Please remind staff - Do NOT add comments/text in the “comments” field in ESS when entering your leave time
During weeks containing holidays, please be sure to enter time off as “Holiday” if applicable, confirm with your supervisor if you have questions.

If you have any issues entering time in ESS, please contact Kristen Wood in Human Resources at 860-455-1550 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately.

Supervisors and Directors:

Please have all timesheets reviewed and approved no later than 12pm, noon, Friday, December 16^th for the 12/4/22 – 12/17/2022 payroll period (for hourly employees).

As you are approving time cards, please be sure to validate the following items:

Verify time worked, holidays and time off requests are entered correctly.
Please make corrections as necessary prior to approving time. This should be done though ESS for final verification.
Please verify all of your hourly staff have entered a time card if they worked.
Staff who are currently out on authorized absence are to continue to report their absence by charging leave time.

12/14/2022 To: All Staff from Melanie Marcaccio ECHIP WINTER WELLNESS CHALLENGE - Coming Soon

12/8/2022 To: All Staff from Melanie Marcaccio Staying Safe - Managing Winter Slips and Falls

11/30/2022 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards Payroll Deadline

Any time entered after 10:00 am, on Friday, December 2nd, or the deadline specified by your program, will NOT be processed until the following payroll.

Any maintenance, changes to payment method, or changes to payroll need to be submitted to HR and/or Payroll before 10:00 am, on Friday, December 2nd to be included in this payroll run. This will provide HR and Payroll enough time to process the requests considering upcoming holidays and potential weather delays.

Please reach out to Sharlene Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding paychecks, direct deposit forms or payroll processing questions.

Entering Time in ESS:

All Timesheets and Leave Requests need to be entered into the ESS system per your Program Directors guidelines.
When adding fractions of hours in ESS, please use 15 minute increments when entering in partial hours
Please remind staff - Do NOT add comments/text in the “comments” field in ESS when entering your leave time
During weeks containing holidays, please be sure to enter time off as “Holiday” if applicable, confirm with your supervisor if you have questions.

If you have any issues entering time in ESS, please contact Kristen Wood in Human Resources at 860-455-1550 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately.

Supervisors and Directors:

Please have all timesheets reviewed and approved no later than 12pm, noon, Friday, December 2^nd for the 11/20/2022 – 12/3/2022 payroll period (for hourly employees).

As you are approving time cards, please be sure to validate the following items:

Verify time worked, holidays and time off requests are entered correctly.
Please make corrections as necessary prior to approving time. This should be done though ESS for final verification.
Please verify all of your hourly staff have entered a time card if they worked.
Staff who are currently out on authorized absence are to continue to report their absence by charging leave time.

From Email 11/30/22 from Sharlene Edwards

11/28/2022 To: All Staff 415 Annual Notice

All Staff Email: 415 Annual Notice

A notice is being provided to you because EASTCONN has adopted the Voya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company 403(b) Volume Submitter Plan. EASTCONN is responsible for notifying you of Internal Revenue Service requirements regarding annual contribution limits. This Notice is intended as general information only and is not tax or legal advice.

See Melanie Marcaccio's email sent on 11/28 at 3:10 for complete details.

11/28/2022 To: All Staff From: Diabetes Awareness Month!

All Staff Email: TotalCare EAP Resources

‘Tis the season for shopping, dining out, and take out!

Don’t let Diabetes slow you down.

Check out these helpful dining tips to keep the balance and fun in eating out.

Happy Holidays!

Cigna Resources:

https://www.cigna.com/knowledge-center/hw/medical-topics/diabetes-center1010 - public facing site/wellness library of resources dedicated to the topic of

CDC Resources:

11/21/2022 To: All Staff From: TotalCare EAP: It's Time for Super Stress Season!

All Staff Email: TotalCare EAP Resources

Hello,

The weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day are often considered the most stressful time of year!

On the upside, holidays offer opportunities to spend time with family and friends; on the downside, there are pressures around money and time – especially this year, with high inflation. While holiday festivities can be fun, they can also be very stressful. This is especially true for anyone who is experiencing problems, such as loss, loneliness, separation, family dynamics, financial pressures, depression, and more.

To help you handle some of the common pressures and problems of the season, your EAP has compiled the 2022 Holiday Survival Toolkit – simply click the link to access. We hope this guide will help you to maximize your holiday enjoyment and minimize holiday stress.

Remember – should you run into any problems over the holidays, your EAP is available 24-7-365 for help with any difficulties you may experience. Call for counseling or coaching to deal with grief, and stress, maintaining health and fitness, coping with budgets and finances, family and relationship dynamics, and more!

11/21/2022 To: All Staff From: Melanie Marcaccio: TotalCare EAP

All Staff Email: ESI Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Website Redesign

Good afternoon,

We are excited to announce the Educator’s EAP has redesigned its Self-Help Resource Center, www.TotalCare EAP! Attached is a Self-Help Resources flyer where you can learn more.

As an EASTCONN employee, you have free access to these support services and information as a benefit to you and your family.

Some NEW features are….

Monthly Feature
Our Monthly feature will offer popular monthly themes with resources and a new webinar recording each month as well as our quick access buttons to your benefits overview video
Explore Your Benefits
Easy-to-navigate tiles cover the most popular and essential benefits and topics.
Featured Learning Centers
Curated collections covering popular topics, such as gratitude, goal setting, communication, sleep, building resilience, and much more – delivered in various interactive formats.

Take a few minutes to explore the new site!

11/08/2022 To: All Staff From: Melanie Marcaccio ESS Acknowledgement Required for the 2022-2023 Employee Handbook

The 2022-2023 EASTCONN Employee Handbook has been added to ESS Required Reading and now requires your attention in ESS. You must follow the steps below to review and acknowledge this document. If you have not already done so, please log in to ESS at your earliest convenience to review and acknowledge this required material.

Instructions on how to acknowledge this document in ESS are below. If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to contact Human Resources at 860-455-1630.

Also, as required by Connecticut law, we are notifying you that it is the policy of the Board of Directors of EASTCONN that any form of sexual harassment is forbidden in the workplace, is illegal and prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 46a-60 of the General Statutes of Connecticut. Details about EASTCONN’s Sexual Harassment Policy & Complaint Procedure, as well as remedies available, can be found on page 23 of the EASTCONN 2022-2023 Employee Handbook.

How Document Acknowledgement works:

You will receive an email notification that states “A document has been added to ESS Required Reading that requires your attention. Please log in to ESS at your earliest convenience to review and acknowledge the required material.”
When you log into ESS, under the “Welcome to Employee Self Service” message on the top left of your screen, you will see the following message:
Also, further down on your screen, you will see a message such as:
Click on the document name/link.
You will then get a pop-up message similar to the following:
Click the “View Document” tab. A new window will open with the document in another browser window. You may be asked to login to the EASTCONN Intranet page if you did not start from that page. You must review the handbook before you acknowledge you have read it. Depending on the browser you use, you may need to open the document from your browser window for ESS. In that event, to view the Handbook, click “Open with”. When you open the document, it will open in a new window. After review, close the window that displays the document.
You must acknowledge that you have read the document. You will see the following message in the browser window for ESS:
Click on “Acknowledge”. The system will then record that you have done so.
You may always access documents sent to you via this process by clicking on the tab on the top right of your screen next to your name. You will then see the document listed and you can then click on the document name to view it again.

You may then log out of ESS as you normally do by clicking on your name and then “Log Out”.

11/01/2022 To: All Staff From: Melanie Marcaccio

FLU SEASON IS COMING UP.
ARE YOU VACCINATED?

Visit your local pharmacy to get your annual flu shot.

Help slow the spread of the flu and protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting the flu shot every year. It’s covered at little to no extra cost to you, through your Cigna plan.¹

CDC recommendations:

•	Everyone age 6 months and older should get a flu shot²
•	Get your flu shot early in the fall, before flu season starts²
•	Everyone age 12 and older is also eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine³

You can get your flu shot at in-network pharmacies nationwide or your doctor’s office. While you're there, consider getting your COVID-19 vaccine or other vaccines that may be right for you. Use the CDC assessment tool to see what vaccines are recommended.

FAQs about the flu shot

Who should get the flu shot?
The CDC recommends that everyone age 6 months and older should get a flu shot, with rare exceptions.²

Can the flu shot give you the flu?
No, flu shots cannot give you the flu. Some people do experience mild side effects like headaches, low-grade fevers, or fatigue.⁴ You can learn more about flu shot safety through the CDC website.

Do I need to get a flu shot every year?
Yes, the CDC recommends getting a flu shot annually. Flu vaccines are updated every year to provide protection against flu viruses that are making people sick.⁴

Do I need the flu shot if I’ve gotten the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes, the vaccines provide protection against different viruses. Getting both vaccines will reduce your risk of illness.⁵

11/01/2022 To: All Hampton Staff From: Paula Hanlon

Donations Needed
EASTCONN's FOOD PANTRY is requesting donations for our K-12 students from November 1st-18th
All donations can be left in the food pantry bins in the Hampton &
EASTCONN Transition Academy (Tyler Square, Willimantic) lobbies.

DONATION IDEAS

Boxed Stuffing Mix (Stove Top, for example)
Canned Corn
Canned Green Beans
Jelly Cranberry Sauce
Instant Potatoes
Corn Bread Mix (Jiffy, for example)
Gift Cards (denominations of $20 or less, collected by Paula Hanlon) from Aldi’s, Price Chopper, Big Y or Stop & Shop

We ask that you shop for ONLY the items on this list. Please confirm that your donated items are new, not past their expiration date or opened. Small/average reusable shopping bags would be greatly appreciated.
THANK YOU
From EASTCONN’S Food & Hospitality Department & Our K-12 Students!

11/01/2022 To: All Hampton Staff From: Andrew DePalma, Tech Solutions

Good afternoon,

Please note that the deadline to complete the cybersecurity training online was Friday, October 29^th. This deadline has now passed.

The training is still available.

If you have not completed this training please do so as soon as possible.

Note: Transportation will receive this training later this month in a live classroom format.

If you have completed the training please disregard this message.

If you are unsure if you completed the training you can check your status with these steps:

Login to the training site (https://eastconn.habilislearning.com) using your EASTCONN email name and password.

if you have not completed the training Cyber Security Training 2022-2023 will be listed under “New/Available Training Courses.”

Otherwise, click on the “Training” menu and then select “Participate in a Training Course.”

if you completed the Cyber Security Training 2022-2023 it will appear under the “Completed Training” tab.

Thank you for taking these necessary steps in improving agency digital security.

Regards,

Andy DePalma

11/01/2022 To: All Hampton Staff From: Briana Patriarca, M.A.T

Technology Solutions is offering the following free, in-person trainings this fall. Please click the links to learn more and register for trainings. Please register two days prior to registration date.

Getting the Most Out of Outlook	Wed, Nov 2	10-11:30 AM	Hampton	https://events.dudesolutions.com/getting-the-most-out-of-outlook
Google Forms for Beginners	Wed, Nov 9	10-11:30 AM	Hampton	https://events.dudesolutions.com/google-forms-for-beginners
Improving Your Skills with Microsoft Excel	Thu, Nov 17	10-11:30 AM	Hampton	https://events.dudesolutions.com/improving-your-skills-with-microsoft-excel-1
Adobe Acrobat	Thu, Dec 8	2:30-4 PM	Hampton	https://events.dudesolutions.com/adobe-acrobat-1
Introduction to Google Sheets	Wed, Dec 14	2:30-4 PM	Hampton	https://events.dudesolutions.com/introduction-to-google-sheets-1

You can also access free, online self-paced trainings on technology and professional development topics via SkillSets Online. You can request a SkillSets Online account by clicking here (link is also available on the Technology Solutions Intranet page): https://app.onedesk.com/skillsets-account-request

10/27/2022 To: All Hampton Staff From: Tom Schenking, Tech Solutions

Good morning---they are testing the fire alarms in Hampton so they may go off this morning. This is only a test!

Tom

Staff Communications

3/22/2023 To: All Staff From: Payroll

3/14/2023 To: All Staff

3/8/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Payroll

3/6/2023 To: All Staff - Message from EASTCONN Wellness Congratulations to our ECHIP Winter Wellness Challenge Winners!

3/6/2023 To: All Staff - Message from EASTCONN Wellness March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month

2/28/2023 To: All Staff - Message from EASTCONN Wellness March is National Nutrition Month!

2/22/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Payroll Department

2/14/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Finance Department

2/14/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Technology Solutions

2/9/2023 To: All Staff - Message from Finance

2/6/2023 To: All Staff - Message on behalf of Technology Solutions - Spring 2023 Technology Trainings Reminder From Briana Patriarca – email Feb. 6

2/6/2023 To: All Staff - ECHIP Winter Challenge Survey From Melanie Marcaccio – email Feb. 6

2/3/2023 To: For Cigna Members: Cigna Active & Fit - Enrollment Fee Waived thru 3/31/23 From Melanie Marcaccio – email Feb. 3

2/1/2023 To: A message for employees with vision coverage through EASTCONN Cigna Vision Change Effective 7-1-2023

1/31/2023 To: All Staff Watch EASTCONN Executive Director Eric S. Protulis discuss the agency’s programs and services on WINY Radio!

1/25/2023 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards, Payroll

1/10/2023 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards, Payroll

1/9/2023 To: All Staff

1/5/2023 To: All Staff from Briana Patriarca Technology Solutions is offering the following free, in-person trainings this fall (please note the training locations). Please click the links to learn more and register for trainings. Please register two days prior to registration date.

1/4/2023 To: All Staff from Melanie Marcaccio ECHIP WINTER WELLNESS CHALLENGE - 2023!

12/23/2022 To: All EASTCONN Staff

12/21/2022 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards - Payroll Deadline

12/14/2022 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards - Payroll Deadline

12/14/2022 To: All Staff from Melanie Marcaccio ECHIP WINTER WELLNESS CHALLENGE - Coming Soon

12/8/2022 To: All Staff from Melanie Marcaccio Staying Safe - Managing Winter Slips and Falls

11/30/2022 To: All Staff from Sharlene Edwards Payroll Deadline

11/28/2022 To: All Staff 415 Annual Notice

11/28/2022 To: All Staff From: Diabetes Awareness Month!

11/21/2022 To: All Staff From: TotalCare EAP: It's Time for Super Stress Season!

11/21/2022 To: All Staff From: Melanie Marcaccio: TotalCare EAP

11/08/2022 To: All Staff From: Melanie Marcaccio ESS Acknowledgement Required for the 2022-2023 Employee Handbook

11/01/2022 To: All Staff From: Melanie Marcaccio

FLU SEASON IS COMING UP.ARE YOU VACCINATED?

11/01/2022 To: All Hampton Staff From: Paula Hanlon

11/01/2022 To: All Hampton Staff From: Andrew DePalma, Tech Solutions

11/01/2022 To: All Hampton Staff From: Briana Patriarca, M.A.T

10/27/2022 To: All Hampton Staff From: Tom Schenking, Tech Solutions

Location

Resources

Social Media

FLU SEASON IS COMING UP.
ARE YOU VACCINATED?