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Originally delivered on 10/10/2021 8:59 pm

SUBJECT: The Word newsletter - October 10 2021

WHS THE WORD

October 10 2021

Edition # 41

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UPCOMING DATES


OCT 11Columbus day - NO SCHOOL
OCT 12Teachers Professional Development - NO SCHOOL
OCT 13PSAT Day/Special Programming
OCT 18-22 WHS Spirit Week
OCT 22Homecoming Day & Float Parade



IN THIS ISSUE

  • PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
  • UPDATE: COUNTIES AND RED AND WHITE BALLS 
  • ELECTION DAY BAKE SALE
  • VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
  • WESTON PRIDE
  • CLASS NOTES
  • AROUN TOWN
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Dear Weston High School Parents,


I hope everyone is enjoying this long holiday weekend.  I spent the first half with a quick trip to Virginia Tech to visit my daughter and go to a BIG football game!

We had our General Board meeting on October 1st.  Interim Principal Givoni and Meredith Starzyk (Head of Counseling) spoke during our meeting about a number of important topics - Freshman orientation, actions for Sophomores, assessments and more.  Watch and listen using the link here: http://www.westonpspto.org/Page.asp?n=162063&org=westonpspto.org

Meredith also shared a new grade-by-grade guide for students - take a look!

https://westonps.org/wp-content/uploads/WHS/WHS_documents/Looking-Ahead-2021-2022.pdf 

I hope you all had a chance to attend the Back to School Night Q&A followed by watching the videos for your student's classes.  For me it gave me a good sense of what my child will be learning this year and insight into his teachers.

In good news, floats are back and will be shown during the Homecoming Football game Friday Oct. 22nd.  It should prove to be a fun event with other student activities all Spirit Week!

In other good news, it was announced that the Senior and Junior Prom will be held May 13th.  This is especially good news after hearing not as good news about Counties and Red & White (read below).

In our Around Town section this week you can read about:  "get to know your BOE candidates" for November elections, Q&A with candidates sponsored by the League of Women Voters (see schedule below) and a new and important town survey which is closing next week!

And you KNEW I was going to say it again, but if you have friends who have not yet joined the PTO, please encourage them to do so! So much information for us to share throughout the year.  http://www.westonpspto.org/Default.asp?org=westonpspto.org


As always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas, I can be reached at 203-981-0582 or kristana.esslinger@gmail.com


Sincerely,

Kristana Esslinger

PTO President 2021-2022

UPDATE: COUNTIES (Juniors) AND RED & WHITE (Seniors) BALLS

The County Assemblies, Inc. after thoughtful deliberation, has decided that the 2022 County Assemblies Charity Balls will not be held due to concerns related to the pandemic.  We are extremely disappointed but feel this is necessary to ensure the institution's longevity and to be prudent financial stewards. We are looking into alternative options for some 2022 events and will post updates on our website homepage and social media pages as they become available.  

CALLING FOR DONATIONS - Let's raise some DOUGH!!

Donations and Volunteers are needed for the WHS PTO Election Day Bake Sale. We'll need as many quick breads, whole pies, cookies, cakes, brownies, muffins, etc. as possible!

This is a town-wide FAVORITE and an IMPORTANT fundraiser for the PTO! Net proceeds help the WHS PTO Philanthropy efforts and have a direct impact on our school and students.

Drop off baked goods between 3-5pm on Monday, November 1st in the back of the Middle School by the voting entrance.

Please note: All items should be individually wrapped and labeled with the list of ingredients, and please - No nuts!

Not a baker? Pick up a pack of muffins or cookies to donate, or sign up to volunteer for a shift at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/2021BAKESALE

We appreciate your support!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
WESTON PRIDE

Show your WESTON spirit this  season, with your STADIUM SEAT (20$) & CAR MAGNET (5$).


CLICK HERE to order stadium seats.

For MAGNETS please email alimelito818@gmail.com


CLASS NOTES
SENIOR CLASS

Class of 2022 News:

Month 2 of Senior Year!

A few things:

-Please join our FB page, WHS Class of 2022 Parent Group, PTO Sponsored. This will be the BEST place to find out what is happening for our students!

-If you did not purchase a SENIOR YARD SIGN, we still have a few available.  CLICK HERE to order 

-Remember to order your yearbooks at yearbookforever.com

-Senior Yearbook Ads are due by October 31st. (Ads can be emailed to or shared with heliotrope@westonps.org and MUST be a .jpg, .pdf or .psd file with at least 300 dpi resolution.)

-Students should have received an email regarding Senior Quotes for the yearbook. These are due Nov. 1st

-We are working on the next SENIOR SPECIAL. ** We will post details on our Class FB Page!

**All of these specials are funded through the fundraising efforts of the four parent reps. Please continue to support our efforts by purchasing SENIOR SIGNS, STADIUM SEATS and MAGNETS, if you have not already. We are working hard to make SENIOR year memorable for all of our students!!  We will be sending out info soon on how you/ your company can become a SPONSOR for our class.** 


Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, concerns or ideas!!

Thanks for your help!

Ali, Jen, Kristin & Sam

Class of 2022 Parent Reps


JUNIOR CLASS
SOPHOMORE CLASS

If you have not already joined the WHS PTO Class of 2024 Parent Group please do so. We share information relevant to what is going on with the class and try to keep you in the loop:

Click here to join the facebook group. 


Please don't hesitate to reach out to the PTO Class of 2024 Parent Reps with any questions this year: 


Carlye Adler 

carlye@carlyeadler.com

Christine Harris

crizpto@yahoo.com

Lyn Milliman

lynmilliman@gmail.com

Debbie Morvillo

debbiemorvillo@gmail.com

FRESHMEN CLASS

Welcome Freshmen Parents of the Class of 2025!

Please join our new WHS Class of 2025 Parent Group, PTO Sponsored Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/151335050501844/

This will be the main mode of communication between YOU, the Freshman parents, and the PTO!

Throughout the school year, we will be continuously updating you with important information specifically relevant to this year’s Freshman students.


Important Dates

Homecoming Football Game and Parade 

Friday, October 22nd, 7PM

As part of the homecoming parade each class is responsible for decorating a float (truck) that will be driven around the football field during the 7PM game. The class needs a truck from 2:45 – 10:30ish, and a licensed driver 21 or older who can drive in the parade at the game.

The theme for the float is Earth. The students will use automobile friendly supplies and be considerate of your property.

Please email WestonClassof2025@gmail.com if you have access to a truck that can be used at this event.


Class Dues

Class dues are collected at the beginning of every school year and go directly to the class each year to fund spirit days and any class specific activities the Student Government Association (SGA) decides to do. 


Pay class dues via personal check payable to Weston High School, with Class of 2025 in the memo and mail to the main office, or payable on www.myschoolbucks.com

You can either pay $40 per year, or pay all four years at once.


*If you are experiencing financial hardship please contact Monica Rogers at monicarogers@westonps.org for assistance.

AROUND TOWN
HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES BEFORE YOU VOTE ON 11/2!!!

Weston has an election on Tuesday November 2  at the Middle School.  In advance, the League of Women Voters will hold a series of debates which is a long tradition and they will be publishing their Voters Guide.  The debates will be via Zoom.  The dates are:

Saturday October 9th    10:00am-11:30 am First Select person/Board of Selectmen

Saturday October 16th    10:00am-11:15am Board of Education

                                         11:30am-12:45 pm Board of Finance

Saturday October 23rd     10:00am-11:15 am Planning and Zoning

                                           11:30am-12:45 pm Police Commission

The LWV will solicit questions from the public ahead of the debates.  They will be providing more information which will be posted (you can easily find this on Facebook or on their website).


I hope everyone will consider participating as the next few years will have challenges to be solved by our elected officials.


KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES! LOCAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 2nd!

Did you know we have big elections this year? Besides the Board of Selectmen, we have many open Board of Education positions!

When I first moved here in 1999 I did not know much about small town government but as the years progressed I learned just how important it is as to who are filling these elected board seats.  Then when I had children enter the school district it became even more important to me especially as it pertains to the Board of Education (BOE). The BOE has a high level of responsibility in Weston as 80% of our town budget is the school budget. In addition to making decisions about the school budget, they are responsible for hiring the WPS Superintendent.  This Superintendent then has responsibility for hiring/managing Central Office Leadership and school Principals and they in turn hire/manage their staff and so forth. They also are instrumental in giving feedback on the curriculum, developing district policies, working with district personnel on our facilities, and improving communications.

The BOE has 7 Board members divided by political affiliation so we end up with a 4/3 Board.  The party with the majority is the Chair and the minority is the Vice-Chair.  This November we happen to have 6 of the 7 spots up for election/re-election.  I thought it would be helpful if our parents had an opportunity to educate themselves about the BOE candidates prior to entering the voting booth on Tues. Nov. 2nd.  The 2 links below will take you to the Republican and Democratic locations for profile information about the BOE candidates (please note you can see profile information for all individuals who will be on the R and D ballot for all Boards).


I hope this is helpful.

Kristana


http://weston-democrats.org/campaign-2021/

https://www.kirbyandamyforweston.com/meettheteam

And for those of you with children in college and beyond who still have an address in Weston, please encourage them to request an absentee ballot and vote as well.

If there is *any* chance you will not be able to make it to the polls on November 2nd, please request an absentee ballot and follow the instructions.  You can download and fill out the absentee ballot application here (the COVID exemption has been extended for this cycle):  https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/6175

To register to vote, you must be: a U.S. citizen, a CT resident, 18 by 11/2/2021

you can also register online: https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do

PLEASE COMPLETE THE TOWN HOME/BUSINESS FROM HOME SURVEY!

Home Business | Work from Home Survey: 

Reminder: Please complete our survey! This survey was developed by the Economic Vitality Committee & Survey Research Committees. This data serves to supplement the information we received from the 2018 survey. Given the influx of new residents and changes in work from home status since Covid, we need to see how this has impacted our community. This data provides information to be used for grants and other ways to support the small business community. We would be most appreciative if you could take a couple of minutes to answer the questions. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WC8WV3F

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