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Originally delivered on 12/20/2022 1:01 pm

SUBJECT: ❄️ The Word newsletter - December 20th 2022 ❄️

Dec 20th 2022 - Edition #63

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UPCOMING DATES

PTO & SCHOOL HAPPENINGS


DEC 21WHS Jazz Night
DEC 23EARLY DISMISSAL
DEC 26 - JAN 2 HOLIDAY RECESS
JAN 6PTO General Board Meeting - Zoom Only
JAN 10Coffee and Conversation with Principal Meghan Ward

DID YOU KNOW...?



You can help fundraise all year long for WHS PTO when you shop on Amazon.com by shopping through AmazonSmile on your computer or mobile device?! Please follow a few simple steps to easily contribute to WHS PTO at no additional cost. Click HERE to learn how on Amazon.com.

IN THIS ISSUE


  • PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
  • PTO MEETING RECORDING
  • GOOD READS
  • UPCOMING SPEAKER
  • PHILANTHROPY NEWS
  • BOE MEETING REPORT
  • COFFEE AND CONVERSATION WITH PRINCIPAL MEGHAN WARD
  • WINTER JAZZ NIGHT
  • BRICK BY BRICK
  • MIDTERM SURVIVAL KITS
  • VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
  • FRIENDLY REMINDER
  • SPED LIAISON
  • CLASS NOTES
  • AROUND TOWN
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Hello Weston High School PTO families!

Winter Recess is almost here, and I know everyone has been incredibly busy.  Thank you for your membership and for taking the time to read our newsletters, especially at this hectic time of year.  2022 has been a great year for the PTO, and that has been possible with thanks to each and every member of this fabulous organization.  Thank you!

In a few short months, we have 

  • Kicked off the school year for our teachers and staff with a breakfast food truck event on their first day back

  • Greeted our 9th graders with special care packages at their orientation

  • Enjoyed our 1st in person Back to School Night since 2019

  • Met up at Milestone for an all-grade WHS parent gathering 

  • Reconnected with in-person and hybrid zoom meetings every month

  • Helped the SGA as they organized the very 1st Homecoming Dance in over a decade with funds for decor and help with selling tickets and decorating

  • Funded supplies for decorations for the homecoming floats, as well as pizza and snacks for the student decorating team

  • Collaborated with WHS as we ran our annual PSAT Boot Camp with more student enrollees than ever before

  • Provided treats for students during the Fall testing

  • Welcomed amazing guest speakers to our monthly meetings

  • Held a wonderfully profitable Election Day Bake Sale with proceeds going towards WHS staff appreciation initiatives 

  • Redesigned our newsletter adding new content and style week by week

  • Approved several amazing philanthropy requests for WHS

  • Enjoyed many opportunities to connect in person with our community!  

The last one is my favorite. It’s been so good to be back in person seeing everyone!  We have a lot to look forward to in 2023, with more great fundraisers, events, and initiatives in the works!  Please save the date for a Coffee & Conversation with Principal Meghan Ward on January 10th, 2023 at WHS.  Until then, I’d like to wish you and your families all the best for the holiday season and a wonderful Winter Recess!


With Warm Regards,

Christine Harris

WHS PTO President


If you could not attend our last PTO general meeting on December 2nd, you can access the recording HERE.  

We had a great meeting joined by guest speaker WPS Assistant Superintendent Tina Henckel.  Her presentation begins at about minute 46 in the recording. 

The next monthly PTO General Board Meeting will be on Friday, January 6th. Please note that this meeting will be held on *ZOOM* only. Click HERE for Zoom details.

In our last PTO General Meeting, Assistant Superintendent Tina Henckel recommended a few books to learn more about the fascinating topic of Growth Mindset. Please note she highlighted that although some of the reading materials relate to Mathematics, the topic of Growth Mindset is universal and applicable to any realm of life.

 

Follow the links below to learn more about these book recommendations or if you wish to purchase them using WHS PTO Amazon Smile.

 

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck

 

Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students' Potential through Creative Mathematics, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching (Mindset Mathematics) 2nd Edition by Jo Boaler

 

Faster Isn't Smarter (Second Edition): Messages About Math, Teaching, and Learning in the 21st Century second edition by Cathy L. Seeley


Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12 by Peter Liljedahl

 

Additionally, Assistant Superintendent Henckel shared the following resources to support further cultivating Growth Mindset in both ourselves and our children.


Statement guide to support a growth-mindset and a thinking flow:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k1R_27vip8yDAiY6qf7HEvzYs6zXBOPJR3_2KUG7BbY/edit?usp=sharing

 

At Home Tasks: Jo Boaler:

https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/

 

Brain Dump Worksheet:

https://convertkit.s3.amazonaws.com/landing_pages/incentives/000/445/292/original/FTJ_brain_dump_printable_blank.pdf?153891639116


LearnStorm Growth Mindset: The Truth About Your Brain (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf8FX2sI3gU


Happy Reading (and viewing)!


Mark your calendars! We are excited to welcome Erin Lucia - Engineering Teacher/Project Lead the Way (PLTW), and Jamie Charles - HS Science Teacher/Curriculum Instructional Leader, as our guest speakers for next month's PTO General Board Meeting.

 

Please plan to attend our next PTO General Board Meeting on January 6th @ 9:00 - **via Zoom only**. Click HERE for Zoom details.

We are pleased to announce two new philanthropy projects that have been approved by our membership: 

  • $1,939 to fund vinyl graphics for the front doors and windows of WHS. These graphics will contribute to school spirit and coordinate with graphics being installed on the athletics doors supported by the Boosters. 

  • Up to $2,000 for an 85” smart tv, cart and sound bar to benefit instruction for students by showing visual demonstrations of skills, strategies and game play. It will also be used to improve the CPR curriculum and expand resources for all students.

BOE MEETING REPORT

You can read a summary of the December BOE meeting HERE

All WPS Board of Education (BOE) meetings can be viewed here.

BRICK BY BRICK FUNDRAISER 2022-23

Buy a brick, leave a legacy!
Honor a teacher or administrator, commemorate a student’s graduation or achievement, honor a loved one.
Your personalized brick will be permanently installed in the high school's main interior courtyard. 

PROCEEDS ARE SPLIT BETWEEN THE WHS PTO AND A SPECIFIC CLASS (YOU SELECT WHICH CLASS WHEN YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER)

 Click HERE for more information and to make your purchase!
 

DON'T FORGET TO ORDER A MIDTERM SURVIVAL KIT FOR YOUR KID!


After the success of last year’s Midterm Survival Kits and Final Exam Care Packages, the Class of 2024 PTO parent reps are once again selling Midterm Survival Kits! 

Kits may be purchased for students in all grades, and each kit will include fun-filled goodies and exam-themed treats and surprises.  Contents may vary slightly based on current availability and supply chain issues.  


Order now through December 23rd for early bird pricing - $25.  

Standard pricing -$30 will begin on December 24th. 

The last day for orders will be January 6th 2023.  


We plan to distribute the Midterm Survival Kits on campus on January 12th & 13th  and will email you with specifics closer to the date.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Nancy Kirwan-Hayden at nancyvalerie@me.com.

Thank you for supporting your students and the Weston High School PTO!

STAFF APPRECIATION - WINTER DESSERT BAR

Let's show our WHS Staff how much we appreciate what they do every day for our kids!

Please Visit SigunupGenius for opportunities to help with the Winter Dessert Bar we are planning on December 21st.

Thank you!

The WHS PTO


PTO Printed Directories have arrived!! Directories will be sent to your youngest child’s school and labeled as such. If your youngest student is at WHS, please ask them to check the bins right inside the WHS Main Entrance doors, in the corner by the WHS Security Desk, to collect and bring home to you.


SPED LIASON

Understanding Evaluations Webinar Hosted by Weston Parents for SPED - Thurs., Jan 12th at 7pm

Join us in the New Year to learn more about how to understand evaluations. When do you need an eval? What can you request? How often? How do you make sense of the results? Dr. Tammy Hartman of Psycho-Educational Services, LLC will be presenting. Preregistration is required: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t6gXE92GRd-EvTS1wFCMUg

SENIOR CLASS

Hello Senior parents!


Congratulations to those who have gotten into their colleges of choice, and our fingers are crossed for the rest still waiting. Our very best also goes to those doing a gap year, working, or choosing another adventure!! 


Remember that memorial bricks for the WHS courtyard are a great holiday gift for your senior! Link to order here


We are well into planning the tradition of a surprise Post Graduation Event for our seniors on the night of graduation.  We’ll share details (except the secret location!) in January.


Wishing you all a happy holidays!


Janet, Maggie, Maureen, & Jen

PTO Parent Reps Class of 2023

JUNIOR CLASS

Junior families received an email from Randi Green following the Junior College Kick Off.  In her message she let us know that families may now begin scheduling post-secondary planning meetings with their counselor and/or with Randi Green during a free period beginning in January. Priority in scheduling appointments between December and March will be given to families who attended the Kickoff.  Students should complete their Game Plan Survey before their college planning meeting.  For full details, check your inbox and search for an email from Randi Green.  


If you have not already, please join the WHS PTO Class of 2024 Parent Group where we share information relevant to our class. https://www.facebook.com/groups/3162447787131719 

 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your PTO Class of 2024 Parent Representatives:

 

Christine Harris - crizpto@yahoo.com

Carlye Adler Nussbaum - carlye@carlyeadler.com

Lauren Carter - laurenjcarter5@gmail.com

Casey Saussy - caseysaussy@mindspring.com

SOPHOMORE CLASS

Dear Class of 2025 families,

 

The Student Government Association is hard at work organizing a fun grade-wide Winter Cookie Decorating Event scheduled for Thursday, 12/22, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, in the WHS Cafeteria. It will be a sweet and festive way to kick off the Winter holidays!


We wish you all a wonderful Winter break and look forward to continuing to serve you as best we can in the new year. 


Carrie, Gayle, Juad, and Megan.

Class of 2025 PTO Reps

FRESHMAN CLASS

Dear Class of 2026 freshmen and families! 

Your Parent Representatives are Joslyn Crowe, Ann Kyle, Tammy Roberts, and Lori Umhoefer.

The WHS Class of 2026 Parent Group, PTO Sponsored Facebook group is live!   It is intended to serve solely as a communication vehicle between the PTO and the parents of the Class of 2026. 

You can easily join this group here: WHS Class of 2026 Parent Group, PTO Sponsored | Facebook

Parents:  please encourage your son or daughter to join the student-run Class of 2026 Facebook page. Students are encouraged to have a Facebook account, as many WHS groups and sports communicate via Facebook.

AROUND TOWN
WESTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Christmas at the Coley House - Explore a 1940s Christmas

Explore a World War II home front Christmas at the Coley House. What was the holiday season like on the home front during World War II? On your guided tour, explore the Coley House decorated as it would have been during the 1940s and learn about how the holidays were celebrated during World War II. Also, explore how the Coley family lived, worked, and played during the 1940s. 

Weston History & Culture Center ( Weston Historical Society) 104 Weston Road, Weston, CT. 

Guided tours at 1pm, 2pm & 3pm on November 20, December 1, 4, 8, 15, 18, 22. 


Free for Members

Non-members: $5 adults, $3 child. 

Advanced tickets encouraged.

Tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-at-the-coley-house-guided-tours-tickets-461138737377

PAINT, SIP & PIZZA

VACATION WEEK - PAINT & PIZZA NIGHT FOR KIDS (Middle & High School Ages) Wed. Dec. 28th @ 6:30-8:30pm @ Norfield Grange, Weston. 

Looking for something fun & creative to do over winter vacation? Grab a friend or fly solo and come paint the "Cozy House On The Hill". $35/Kid with Guided Instruction by Weston Artist Agata Lipnicka-Tria

Pre-Payment Required. Sorry, No Walk-Ins.

Limited Capacity.  

Venmo: @LynKimberly or Check to: Norfield Grange. Come have fun and take home a masterpiece!!!

Pizza, Painting, Canvas with Instruction + Drinks & Snacks Included. 

All Grange Events Benefit The WHS Grange Scholarship Fund, other philanthropic endeavors, and hosting more Community Events. 

FMI:NorfieldGrange@gmail.com

SUBMISSIONS
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