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• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
• MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR TEENS
• STEAM - A Community Conversation on the Future of Weston
• PRINCIPAL SEARCH FEEDBACK
• PTO VIDEOS & MINUTES
• DISTRICT PODCAST AND NEWSLETTER
• BOE MEETING MINUTES
• WHS GREEN TEAM
• BRICK BY BRICK
• WESTON PRIDE
• CLASS NOTES

To Weston High School Parents:

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend, whether you went away or stayed home like I did, it was a nice break.  We are heading into March and a new phase of dealing with the pandemic. Please make sure you read the district memos regarding the changes coming Monday February 28th.  There was also an email from the high school sharing a video Int. Prin. Givoni sent to students and staff.

The calendar has been busy! Last Wednesday the district held a session with parents featuring Dr. Kaplan from Yale to talk about the mental health issues of students.  See below for more details about the session and a link to the recording - definitely worth your time!  

The district also sent out an email sharing a link to the Principal Search Feedback survey to parents from Grade 8-12.  I think it is so important for parents to give feedback when we have the opportunity to do so. 

Our General Board meeting this Friday will include 2 interesting topics.  First, Int. Prin. Givoni will be sharing more details about the Portrait of the Graduate and its requirements for the Class of 2023 onwards.  Then we will hear from Jamie Charles.  She is the Curriculum Instruction Leader for the  Science Dept. at the HS and will give us the latest and greatest on what is happening.

As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, comments or suggestions at kristana.esslinger@gmail.com

Best,

Kristana

Last week, Dr. Kaplan from Yale presented to parents on "Covid and the Adolescent".

Dr. Kaplan addressed:

- Stress (Fight or Flight)

- Chronic Stress

- What am I feeling?

- Stressors

- Unique C19

- "First Aid" 

- Stress Management

It is now available for viewing at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZTUxRblh5E

Additionally, Dr. Kaplan shared the following book recommendations as a follow-up to the conversation:

• Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety by John Duffy
• Untangled: Guiding Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour
• Yardsticks: Child and Adolescent Development Ages 4-14 by Chip Wood

Weston Youth Services has a wealth of resources related to this topic.  This link will take you to a robust parent guide and subsequent links to other services available.

https://www.westonct.gov/our-community/organizations-services/youth-services

Greetings Parents of Grades 8-12 Students:  

You may be aware that the search process for the new Principal of Weston High School has begun.  The principal serves as the educational leader of the school, and it is critical that parents, students and staff have the opportunity to share what traits they value in the next high school principal through the following survey.  This survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. We ask that each parent/guardian complete the survey once.  

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/65NF79M

Your input is an important part of this process. In addition, I would like to invite you to a parent group on Thursday, March 3 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM via zoom.  

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81366656500?pwd=dk45Z3lreHIveENJS0hZYk5WVGphdz09 

Meeting ID: 813 6665 6500

Passcode: 812294

This meeting has the capacity for 300 people. If you are unable to log on, please feel free to share your thoughts in an email to me.  Thank you for your participation. 

Students and staff will receive their survey information via their school emails.  Please encourage your students to participate as well.

Sincerely,

Lisa Wolak

Superintendent of Schools

Miss a PTO meeting? We post a recording of the meeting (for one month) so you can catch up on your own time! http://www.westonpspto.org/Page.asp?n=162063&org=WestonCT-PTO

See all previous approved meeting minutes here!  http://www.westonpspto.org/Page.asp?n=161768&org=westonpspto.org

Superintendent Wolak has started a Podcast series this year interviewing various members of the WPS staff!  They are good! She also distributes monthly WPS Newsletters which have included an opening from her followed by a summary from each of the school Principals.  You can find both of them here!!!!

https://westonps.org (last 2 buttons)

The BOE General Meeting was held on February 15th.  The highlights are below (BOE Rep Minutes here  - http://www.westonpspto.org/Page.asp?n=158144&org=westonpspto.org.  

- Superintendent Wolak - proposal re: Masks in Schools (please see recent email from WPS as more current)

- Progress Report on District Goals Academically in Math and English (Grade K-8)

- Disc. Re: In-Person BOE Meetings - After discussion the BOE will move back to in-person for BOE meetings in March.  The public needs to recognize that the at-home experience will not be of the same quality as during the Zoom meetings we have had over the last 1+ years due to the technology in the Middle School library.

- Financial Update - on track to be slightly under budget this year but some expenditures have not been submitted

- Weston HS Principal Search - Please complete the survey sent from Super. Wolak.  It is important that parents can give input into these very important decisions.

The recording can be found here. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfiS5TdWMVozkWFY1FS3knw

The agenda and attachments can be found here.  https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2468?meeting=516096https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2468?meeting=516096

The Weston High School Green Team needs YOU to purchase and plant native trees!

This year, the Green Team is partnering with Tree-Plenish to plant trees to offset our school`s paper usage and to restore our local natural habitat. YOU can help us by purchasing tree saplings for $5 each and spreading the word about our team`s goal. The tree species you can purchase are Pin Oak, Paper Birch, and Eastern Redbud, all of which are important native varieties that help support key pollinator species. 

The seedlings you purchase can be planted at your home or at designated community locations and volunteers will be available to help with the planting of your seedlings. In celebration of Earth Day, our planting event will take place on Saturday, April 23, 2022, and our goal is to plant at least 150 trees throughout our great community. 

Order your trees here: 
http://tpevents.org/school/2391?fbclid=IwAR0_pxgTmv1KMSAfUDM84gQTmcz-ohahCtc3HZKwfC9IqxK07ieIW3AiNRA
Find our more about these native trees here: 
https://shop.arborday.org/pin-oak-2 
https://shop.arborday.org/eastern-redbud 
https://shop.arborday.org/paper-birchNATI

Over the past couple of months, we have been asked over and over….”How can I help?”..to that we say “click here to learn how!”

Thanks to all for your continued support!

Your class reps,

Jen Atsumi, Kristin Brooks, Sam Leuzzi, and Ali Melito

Facebook: Parent of Weston High School (CT) Class of 2023

Class of 2024 PTO Parent Reps

Christine Harris - crizpto@yahoo.com

Carlye Adler-Nussbaum - carlye@carlyeadler.com

Lyn Milliman - lynmilliman@gmail.com

Debbie Morvillo - debbiemorvillo@gmail.com 

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

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