History
The idea of Connections came from a group of teachers that were dissatisfied with the current organization and practice of their elementary school. These twelve teacher got together and decided to try and start a their own small school. Having the full support of the principal of Piccolo Elementary and the Local School Council (LSC), the teachers began to hold planning sessions in January of 1995. In these sessions, the teachers focused on curriculum development and decided on an administrative plan. It was in these planning sessions that the teachers decided on such issues as adding an extra hour to the school day, requiring that students wear uniforms, and implementing a strict homework policy. The teachers developed a comprehensive integrated curriculum as well for grades first through fifth.

The school opened in September of 1995 with six teachers out of the initial twelve self-selected to actually implement the program. The first year, the teachers focused on integrating curriculum between grades so that skills would be reinforced, not repeated. The teachers began to establish programs to deal with peer mediation and parent training so that parents could better help their children with homework, resolving conflicts, and building self-esteem. In this first year, the teachers already saw a rise in test scores, grades, attendance, self-esteem, and participation, and the success of this first year only encouraged them to continue the development and implementation of their plans and ideas. Accordingly, the teachers continued to improve and adjust their programs every year, adding two more teachers and two more classes their second year and a kindergarten their fourth year.