OCTOBER

2021-22 SCHOOL CALENDAR

WIS PTO WEBPAGE

WIS MAIN WEBPAGE

WIS PTO FACEBOOK PAGE - Please follow us to get updates on WIS PTO news!

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
• CLASS LIST INFO
• PHOTO DAY - SAVE THE DATE
• PTO MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
• WALL CALENDAR PRE-SALE
• NEXT PTO GENERAL MEETING
• WESTON SWAG
• AROUND TOWN

THANK YOU to everyone who was able to join us on our first joint Hurlbutt and WIS PTOs General Membership Meeting featuring our new Superintendent Lisa Wolak, WIS Principal Pattie Falber and Hurlbutt Principal Laura Kaddis.  Mrs. Wolak’s remarks focused on increasing support for Math and Reading curriculums and continuing to focus on social and emotional support for our students. My biggest takeaway was that she is looking at the individual students growth from Kindergarten all the way through to graduation. She understands that the learning that occurs in Hurlbutt impacts the learning occurring in the high school.  Mrs. Wolak wants to make sure that students aren’t slipping through the cracks as they move through the system. 

Our school leadership wants to connect with you to answer your questions. They don’t want you to wait, get frustrated and see what happens. If you have a question about your child’s learning, or testing, school busses, math or reading goals, please reach out to Mrs. Wolak, Mrs. Falber, or your child’s teacher.  While parents may not be able to go into school to meet face to face, we have very accessible school staff who are working very hard every day to provide out children with the best education possible.

The PTOs from all 4 schools will be at LaChat farm tonight from 4-8. We will have a prize wheel, information on the PTOs, WOW programs, Parks and Rec programs and most importantly WESTON and WIS Gear from our spirit store - Tote bags, Picnic Blankets, T-shirts, Mask Lanyards, and Cooler bags, in limited numbers. Bring cash to shop!!!

The PTO looks forward to engaging with you throughout the year. We have an amazing team of dedicated volunteers who are active behind the scenes and out in the community to increase communication and the partnership between parents and teachers. 

Thank you for all your support.

Best Regards,

Debbie Carrothers

WIS PTO President 2021-2022

Get those smiles camera ready!!

When- October 6th(Retake Day November 18th)

More details to follow...

The Board of Education met on September 9, 2021 via Zoom.  Superintendent Ms. Lisa Wolak, and other members of the Board, presented the District Goals for the 2021-2022 school year, provided a financial update, and shared enrollment numbers to date. 

The district goals can be viewed HERE.

These are the Goals and action items most relevant to HES and WIS:

• MATH:
  • Hurlbutt now has its own Curriculum Instructional Leader (CIL) to serve as a math coach so that the CIL is no longer splitting it's time between HES and WIS.
  • Math intervention support will be increased, with an emphasis on a push in/pull out model. 
  • The District has set the following math goals: 
    • "A minimum of 75% of students, grades 3-8, will meet or exceed goal on the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) on the Spring 2022 Assessment". For 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, the goal is to have 80% of students score a Level 3 or above. For comparison, in 2021, 74% of 4th graders and 73% of 5th graders scored at Level 3 or above. 
    • "A minimum of 75% of students K-8 will be above 61% on the spring 2022 MAP assessment". More specifically, the 2022 math goals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades are to have 80% of students score at or above the 61st percentile, and 75% of students in 4th and 5th grades score at or above the 61st percentile. For comparison, in 2021, the percentage of students who scored at or above the 61st percentile were 62% of 2nd graders, 68% of 3rd graders, 65% of 4th graders, and 64% of 5th graders. 
• READING
  • WIS will provide phonics training for its 3rd grade teachers, extending the current phonics program from HES to ensure consistency across buildings.
  • Reading intervention and support will be increased.
  • Goal: "To ensure all students read at grade level or higher by Grade 3, and continue to develop their reading abilities in grades 4-12 using reading as a tool to understand content across instructional areas."  
• HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
  • PBIS and PRIDE initiatives will continue to be implemented through assemblies, community meetings, classroom positivity, and more (e.g. HES honeycombs, WIS Paws, RULER, Mood Meters, etc).
  • A request will be made to the WIS PTO for culturally diverse books.
  • Goal:"To promote an inclusive climate that honors the uniqueness of every individual independent of race, skin color, religion, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or otherperceived differences."
• PUPIL PERSONNEL SERVICES 
  • Targeted social-emotional support will be provided to students. 
  • The implementation of RULER will continue.
  • Distanced learners will be supported as they return to in-person instruction. 
• SPECIAL EDUCATION 
  • A New IEP Data system will be in effect as of July 1, 2022; all IEPs will be rolled over to this new system.
  • The new system will change the structure and organization of the electronic system that stores each IEP, but not it's content. However, going forward, IEP "Goals and Objectives" will be specifically aligned with curriculum standards. 
  • The District's goal is to "Improve academic performance for all special education students in the areas of reading and math as evidenced by personal growth on standardized assessments (i.e. NWEA, SBA)"
• SAFETY AND SECURITY
  • The BOE is committed to ensuring the safety of students and staff during COVID. It will ensure that appropriate health protocols are in place with special focus on students Pre-K-grade 6 (unvaccinated).
  • Hepa filters will be installed in elementary classrooms. 

Regarding enrollment, as of 9/17/2021, HES has 456 enrolled students, including PreK; WIS has 470 students. This year an extra section exists in 3rd grade making 7 total sections, rather than the traditional 6. As a result, each 3rd grade section has approximately 20 students rather than 23. The BOE agreed with WIS leadership that this was important to achieve given that 3rd grade is an important transition year, and a year when the kids are starting to return to normal. Specific grade enrollment numbers to date are as follows: Kindergarten: 126 students with 7 sections; 1st grade: 146 students with 8 sections; 2nd grade: 154 students with 8 sections; 3rd: 140 students with 7 sections; 4th: 151 students with 7 sections; and 5th: 179 students with 8 sections.

A full video recording of the 9/20/21 meeting can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glOjKJnCJ18

The 9/20/21 Agenda with its relevant attachments including math targets, enrollment data and financials can be accessed here: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2468?meeting=496664

The next meeting will be via Zoom on October 18, 2021 at 6pm. You can access it live here: https://westonps.org/board-of-education/

Join the PTO!!

The Weston Wall Calendar is back!

The 2021-2022 Wall Calendar is now on pre-sale. Not only does it showcase amazing artwork by Weston students, we are also supported by many local businesses and organizations and includes important dates for all four schools. Calendars will arrive soon and with purchase we will share all dates for September via pdf.  

Make sure you pre-order yours today HERE.

A reminder that the next Board of Education meeting will be Monday, October 18th, at 7 pm via YouTube.  It can be viewed via LiveStream or as a recording.

You can access the LiveStream and Recording HERE!

A reminder that our next PTO General Board meeting will be Wednesday, October 20th, at 9:30 am via Zoom (see details below).  

We look forward to seeing everyone who can make it then! 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87660269527

Meeting ID: 876 6026 9527

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Thanks for Supporting the WIS PTO

Come and join Weston Cub Scouts!

Pack 75 always welcomes new members from kindergarten to grade five. We meet approx twice a month with hikes, bike rides and camp days in-between. Be part of an organization that has been running for more than a century! 

We put the 'out' in scouting - so see what we're all about and make some new friends by contacting Cubmaster Monica Goldstein: WestonPack75@gmail.com

The next Community Coffee is being held on Friday, October 1st at 8:30 am on the Lawn of the Weston Public Library. We hope to see you there! If you'd like to be reminded of the coffee's date and time, email Jennifer Bernheim at jbernheim@onpurposepr.com with the subject "remind me."

It’s that time of year again when we welcome all the pint-sized ghosts and goblins of Weston to dazzle us with their costumes at the WWL’s annual Halloween Trunk or Treat! That’s right, Trunk or Treat is BACK – with social distancing – and we need your help to make it fun, safe, and memorable for all our community. Here are the details:

 WHEN: 

Sunday, October 24^th (Rain date Monday, October 25^th)

4:00pm-4:30pm Reserved as sensory friendly

4:30pm-6:00pm Open to all

WHERE: 

Weston Intermediate School teacher parking lot

WHAT: 

Guests will walk through the parking loop, stopping to see 25 decorated vehicle trunks while little ones receive trick or treat candy from trunk hosts. We’ll welcome our volunteer FD and EMS to showcase their emergency equipment for the kids to see. And, Tony Pizza Napolitano will be on the scene selling made-to-order pies to families for take-out dinner after the event. Guests and volunteers are asked to wear masks and maintain 6-feet of social distance at the event.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS!!!

Click here to be a TRUNKER and trick out your vehicle!

Or... Click here to be a TREATER and donate to our candy fund!

Big things are happening at the Weston Public Library in September!

The Children's Library will be closed for approximately two weeks beginning September 7th for the Children's Room Remodel! Don't worry, you still have options to get materials and that information can be found in our newsletter. We are super excited for everyone to see the Children's Room once it is complete! We also have lots of virtual and outdoor events that you can take part in at the library in September, including Food Explorers, Pokemon Club and an Outdoor Movie with our giant blow up screen! 

Find out how you can access materials while the Children's Library is being renovated and learn how to register for the programs that interest you all in our LATEST NEWSLETTER HERE. 

You can check for library updates and program information on our website at www.westonpubliclibrary.org.

Town Hall Link: https://www.westonct.gov/about-us  

Weston Public Library: https://www.westonpubliclibrary.org/ 

Weston Historical Society: https://www.westonhistoricalsociety.org/ 

Weston Garden Club: https://www.westongardenclub.com/

Weston Education Foundation: https://www.westoneducationfoundation.org/

• The WIS PTO newsletter is distributed on Fridays, please send your submissions by the prior Wednesday, 2 pm.
• It is your responsibility to write and submit your relevant WIS activity each week.
• All submissions should be either included in the text of your email or attached in Word format and the content should be print-ready (please proofread!). Keep it simple and short.
• If you have a flyer, please submit a brief write-up along with it in PDF format and we will link it to the newsletter.
• Please send all necessary links, there will be a click "here" linking to the more detailed information.
• If you want to re-run a write-up from the previous week, check to see if it requires updating, i.e. changing the wording from  "next week" to "this week", etc.  If so, please make appropriate changes and re-send the revised write-up.
• All submissions should be sent to: wisptocommunications@westonpspto.org. All will be acknowledged.
• Submissions should be relevant to WIS and the town of Weston (i.e., town sports programs, Town of Weston sponsored community events or after-school sports programs for students taking place in the Town of Weston). If there is any question regarding the relevance of submission, final approval will be determined by the HES PTO Communications Chair and/or President.