JANUARY

REMINDER:  Early Dismissal for Jan. 27 was CANCELLED and moved to Feb. 16

FEBRUARY

2021-22 SCHOOL CALENDAR

WIS PTO WEBPAGE

WIS MAIN WEBPAGE

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

** NEW - WIS PTO YOUTUBE CHANNEL **

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
• NEXT PTO MEETING
• BOE MEETING REPORT
• NEXT BOE MEETING
• WESTON SWAG
• LOST & FOUND
• AROUND TOWN

Happy Friday Fabulous Families of WIS!!!!

I hope you had a safe snowy day yesterday. It was beautiful!!! Snow days, yes, they throw a wrench in our regular daily schedule, but I always try to take advantage of the extra time I get to spend with my kids, take time to watch the snow come down and appreciate the beauty of the living in the woods. 

I hope you were able to tune in and participate in the WPS  Public Forum on the FY23 budget meeting last night. Our student population has grown and shifted therefore teachers, class size and financial allocations are being changed.  The configuration of school road is changing. The consultants want to change how the grades are allocated per school building. I hope you were able to make your voices and opinions heard on the future of our schools. 

The Sleep Away and Day camp zooms were a huge success on Wednesday. We had great local day camps represented in the morning at the General Membership meeting. 

The following camps presented at the meeting:

Holiday Hill - https://www.holidayhilldaycamp.com

Earthplace - https://earthplace.org/programs/summer-camp/

Ambler Farm - https://amblerfarm.org/programs/summer-camp/

Four Oaks - https://www.fouroaksdaycamp.com

Weston Parks & Rec - https://www.westonct.gov/government/municipal-departments/parks-recreation

Weston Youth Services - http://www.westonyouthservices.org

Peak Performance Sports Camps - http://peakperformancesportscamps.website.sportssignup.com/Standings

Weston Youth Football - https://www.westonfootball.com

If you weren’t able to join, no worries! The meetings are recorded and can be found on our YouTube page, HERE.

That zoom will be available on  Be sure to follow our page! The Sleep Away Camp zoom meeting is live the “Weston Intermediate School PTO" YouTube page, at the following link  

https://youtu.be/5l30zanAmGA

We had 2 great camp consultants and several New England based sleep away camps. We hope these two events help you select the best camp for you and your children.

Great news!!!! At the General membership meeting on Wednesday the membership voted to approve funds to bring an amazing author and speaker to WIS on March 14th.   Brian Williams is the author of “Kindness Ninja” and he holds a 4th degree black belt in martial arts.  His program is “Think Kindness” which inspires measurable acts of kindness in schools and communities around the world. His non profit https://thinkkindness.org is a world wide program spreading the notion of kindness, During the assembly students will learn the three most important life skills needed to change the world: Have no fear of being made fun of for doing the right thing, be committed to being a good person, and always live your life as if you were the hero of your dreams.   I invite you to take a look at his website to learn more about Brian and the amazing program he will bring to our students. We are working with Mrs. Falber and the staff at WIS to ensure that all covid protocols are in place. Brian is vaccinated and boosted and will take a covid test prior to stepping foot on campus. The PTO is purchasing several of his book "Kindness Ninja"in the library. It is available on amazon if you’d like to take a look. 

Have a wonderful weekend!!! Hug your kids and make memories!!!

Debbie Carrothers

WIS PTO President 2021-2022

The next meeting will be Wednesday, February 16th, 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

One tap mobile

+19294362866,,87660269527# US (New York)

Prepared by Stephanie Feingold 

Discussion re: Grade Reconfiguration as part of the Building Optimization Plan 

(See this discussion at approx. 9:15 in the BOE Mtg  recording)

As part of the Facilities Optimization Committee, Tecton Architects is working with the staff and administration team to understand how education is delivered in the district. Antonia Ciaverella from Tecton Architects presented an update on her Think Tank sessions with educators, which looked at different models of grade configurations.

Two Think Tank meetings took place:

• Jan 13, 2022: with teacher reps from WMS and WIS on 5-8 grade configuration 

• Jan 18, 2022: with teacher reps from HES and WIS on PK-1 grade configuration 

Tecton created a video to spark ideas around the impact of the educational environment on the student experience and opportunities to transform existing spaces. It presented imagery of what could be.

Why does this matter? 

• From a Whole Child Wellness perspective, student health (social/emotional, physical, creative, cognitive) directly impacts student thinking and thereby, student performance. 

Questions Tecton posed to educators: 

• What works well/doesn’t; what is missing; what affects quality of education on a daily basis; what limits/reduces educational time; biggest day to day challenges; what aspects of building impede students’ ability to access the curriculum; what would make teacher’s ability to meet students’ needs more successful; where do the teachers’ want to take their curriculum; what projects would they like to pursue but can’t because of the existing architecture; what is their “if only …”

Why are we discussing new grade configurations?

• Currently, Weston has a 4-school campus. One option the Facilities Optimization Committee is considering is to have HES become a town office facility, with offices for town administration and employees. This leads to a discussion of grade configurations in the other schools. Specifically, the possibility of Grade 2-4 at WIS, and 5-8 at WMS, with Prek-1 probably at HES.

GRADE 5-8 CONFIGURATION @ WMS: Think Tank Take-Aways 

• Conclusion:

  • Current grade configurations work well, and there is no compelling reason to change the current grade configurations, but educators are open to Tecton’s ideas and agree they could work as well

• Advantages:

  • Students will already be familiar with the school so there will be less anxiety about transitioning to WMS. 

  • 5th graders look forward to WMS programs, like robotics and maker space, so they would get to preview these up close. 

• Challenges: 

  • 5th graders are socially more mature but behaviorally younger, and from a social/emotional perspective, they may not be ready to be in WMS. 

  • There are natural transitions in the 3-5 curriculum, with natural endpoints in 5th grade, that make the 5-8 combination more challenging. 

  • 5th graders in WIS get to be school leaders in 5th grade and could miss out on this empowering experience. 

• Programming wish list: 

  • A stage; VR/AR space/studio; makerspace upgrade; bigger classrooms to allow for teaching zones (especially in 5th grade where older students are bigger, class size is larger, and paras and other adults take up space); adding flexible and adaptable classroom furniture; more project based learning opportunities (e.g. Colonial crafts for social studies); increased need for gender neutral bathrooms; more SPED space nearby; collaboration spaces for students to work on projects and share work; pods within the classroom neighborhood with teacher workroom, copier, restroom, and water fountain.

PK-1 GRADE CONFIGURATION / GRADES 2-5 @ WIS: Think Tank Take-Aways

• Conclusion:

  • Current configuration works well but PK-1 could also work

• Advantages:

  • Bringing 2nd graders into 3-5 mix adds “playfulness” to a school that feels mature, but is still elementary 

  • 2nd graders have the same/similar needs re classroom square footage, infrastructure and playscapes

• Challenges:

  • Transition to 2nd grade is already a challenge; how would this impact a 1st grade student? 

  • There is a natural transition after 2nd grade. 

  • The 2nd graders set an example/their projects are good for 1st graders to see

• Programming Wish List:

  • More storage to put things away and give space back to the classrooms/students; dedicated space nearby to store and organize resources; flexible furniture (tables vs desks, moveable seating, everything on wheels); improved communication and fluidity between school buildings at transition years (can architecture facilitate this?); a gathering space for the whole school to be together.

Next steps: Tecton will use this information/feedback as it develops its architectural plans; and it will create a shared folder for educators to add more ideas.

BOE question/answer with Tecton:

• Are these configurations really viable? 

  • According to Tecton, yes, they are, but there are challenges, such as Kindergarten teachers feeling isolated if they are separated from their lower elementary school colleagues. 

  • Tecton will evaluate everything on a spectrum including cost, energy efficiency, and educational impacts.

• If we don’t get over the educational challenges/concerns of a new grade reconfiguration, do we even move on to consider alternative architectural plans? 

  • Tecton replied that it recognizes that the current grade configuration works well, and there are a lot of benefits to keeping it from a structural, and social/emotional, perspective. 

• Is there even space at WMS to add an entire additional grade, especially given that it is in need of renovation and a teaming model is in place? 

  • A plan is forthcoming, but it's possible from a square footage perspective. 

  • It would look like a school within a school, with 5th & 6th, and 7th & 8th grades, closely sharing resources, but with each grade having their own neighborhood, notwithstanding that the current 5th grade model is a two-team model that differs from the current/prioritized WMS team model. Some renovation/addition may be necessary.

Financial Update

• We ended the year with a favorable balance. 

Superintendent Update

• Feb 16 (instead of Jan 27) is now an early dismissal /professional development; the switch was made to accommodate high school midterms.

• Covid 19

  • Weekly updates and dashboard updates continue

  • Vaccinated students will now be included in each school’s pool testing

  • A vaccine clinic will take place on Feb. 1

  • The district continues to follow the Ct. State Dept of Health, Dept of Education and CDC guidelines as it relates to contact tracing, quarantine, etc

Budget Discussion re: Projected Kindergarten Enrollment 

• The current budget is based on a projected enrollment of 130 enrolled Kindergarten students, which would be divided into 7 sections. But, what if less students enroll? What happens to the money/teacher that was budgeted for with taxpayer dollars. 

  • The consensus of the Board is that while it's impossible to exactly predict enrollment, and the Board doesn't want to unnecessarily tax residents, investing in small class sizes is a priority and they must budget for it. 

    • Mrs. Kaddis mentioned that the #1 question new families ask her is what is the class size at Hurlbutt; 

    • Families move to Weston seeking small class sizes; 

    • Current residents have come to expect small classes where teachers can help Kindergarteners transition to formal school and receive individual attention, especially in light of the challenges that have existed over the past several years. 

Communications Committee proposal to change public comment

• Suggestion: The Board should allow public comment at the time that a specific topic is discussed in the agenda, rather than at the beginning of the Board meetings. 

• The public is invited to email the Communications Committee with thoughts on this suggestion, or on anything else.

A recording of this meeting can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncy8aMEoRyw

A reminder that the next Board of Education meeting will be Monday, February 14th, at 6 pm via YouTube.  It can be viewed via LiveStream or as a recording.  Public comment is welcomed.

You can access the LiveStream and Recording HERE!

LAST DAY OF PRE-ORDER ONLY! 

ORDERS WILL ARRIVE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Just in time to gift it to the one you love 

so that they can show off their 

WESTON LOVE!

Click HERE to order

Thanks for supporting the WIS PTO!

Hello Parents, 

There are some items in the Lost & Found Section located outside of the cafeteria. Please call the school to schedule an appointment for pick up if you recognize an item or send your child to locate the item. 

Thank you Maritza.

For more information about the above:

Click HERE to learn more about Weston Softball

Click HERE to learn more about Sara Holland

Click HERE if you have a question and would like to contact Weston Softball

Paint & Sip @ Norfield Grange
Tuesday, 2/8 @ 7 - 9 pm
With Guided Instruction by Weston Artist Agata Tria
$25/Person via Venmo @LynKimberly or Check Made Out to "Norfield Grange"
Limited capacity.

Please Note: Covid Precautions will be taken. Distancing and masks will be required.

Fire in the (Grange) Kitchen - Concert & Dinner - Sat., 3/12/22

Come join in the fun for an incredible evening of music at the Norfield Grange in Weston. 

$50/Person via PayPal, Venmo @LynKimberly or Check Made out to "Norfield Grange".
Limited capacity.

Please Note: Covid Precautions will be taken. Distancing and masks will be required. 

For more information and tickets:  https://americanwanderer.com/foundation

Proceeds to benefit: American Wanderer Foundation, Norfield Grange WHS Scholarship Fund & Fire in the Kitchen's Philanthropic Endeavors.

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.