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WESTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPORT
June 17, 2013
Weston High School
In this issue…
Lisa Wolak, Principal
Principal’s Message
Academic Program Updates
Co-Curricular Program Updates
Principal’s Message
What an incredible spring. Last month Relay for Life raised over $130,000. It was a tremendous effort
by our high school students, and I commend them for the commitment that they demonstrated.
The junior-senior prom was a wonderful evening with over 300 students and 30 staff in attendance at
the Greenwich Hyatt on Friday, May 24. Our PTO Road Race was also a great success with a record
number of runners participating despite the rain.
On Tuesday, June 4, we held our annual awards ceremony honoring our students’ achievements in the
areas of academics, service, and leadership. Our senior class had a wonderful time at Great Adventure
and their banquet. Graduation is on June 19 and the commencement ceremony will begin promptly at
6 p.m. Congratulations to the Class of 2013!
Academic Program Updates
Summer Reading
Students may find their summer reading/work posted on the front page of our school website. There
are specific texts and assignments delineated by department and course. I encourage everyone to
check the school website early and not wait until late August to tackle this work.
Art
Students of our Community Class submitted three works of art for the Unified Arts Exhibit that took
place at the Michael Asanti Center of Southern Connecticut State University this month. This exhibit
was made possible through the Special Olympics of Connecticut. WHS participants were Becky
Elkins and Miguel Teles with assistance from Sophie Shrager. The art work will be on exhibit in
Hartford at the legislative office building during the month of September.
English
The spring issue of our Literature and Arts Magazine will be distributed before final exams. The staff
decided that the theme of this issue would be the idea of the “Non-Sequitur.” Student writers were
encouraged to submit work that would fit that theme for publication.
Math
Students in AP Statistics worked collaboratively with our AP Chemistry students to determine the
quality of data that were collected through a chemistry experiment. Their work was important as the
AP Chemistry curriculum has been redesigned to integrate measurement and statistics at a deeper
level. This is critical at this level as students must understand data analysis in order to be successful in
science research.
Music
The Ukulele and Guitar Club made their debut at the annual WHS Awards ceremony this month.
Students performed Over the Rainbow with our WHS Chamber Singers.
Science/Technology
The Litchfield Waterfowl Conservancy returned to our biology classes on June 3 and 4 for an in-school
field trip showcasing duck diversity and evolution. The Conservancy brought four ducks representing
diverse species from Asia, Australia, South America, and North America. We wish to thank the PTO
for its generous financial support for this program.
Mr. Nicholas Marchionna, a retired NASA engineer, visited chemistry classes this month. Mr.
Marchionna is an expert in the field of combustion reactions in turbojet engines. He shared his
research with our students. The students then demonstrated their understanding of combustion
reactions through their own chemical demonstrations.
Social Studies
Students in the Entrepreneurship Seminar finished their final presentations this month. Mort Schindel
of Weston Woods gave the students feedback on their presentations.
As part of their study of the 1930s and 1940s, AP U.S. History students visited the home and
presidential library of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in Hyde Park, New York. The students were given a
tour of the Roosevelt home, library, and grounds; viewed a presentation about the Roosevelt family;
and examined primary source documents from the FDR Library.
American Government students debated cases from the current U.S. Supreme Court Docket this month
and will be deliberating their cases in June.
Technology/Project Lead The Way
The technology department built and donated five Adirondack-style chairs for the main courtyard in
Weston High School for an end-of-the-year project in basic construction techniques.
Videography
Freshman James Willis has qualified as a finalist for the Student Voices for Improving Education
contest. Students were asked to create a 1-4 minute video that highlights their recommendations for
transforming education in Connecticut.
Co-Curricular Program
Athletics
We have had a stellar spring season with many of our teams competing in the state tournaments. Our
teams performed well in the SWC Championships as well. Our boys’ baseball team won the SWC
Championships for the first time in school history. Boys’ tennis won its second championship in a row
and girls’ track and field won its seventh. Girls’ golf placed second.
Clubs
Garden Club
Peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, asparagus, beets, watermelons, chamomile, and more –
everything has been planted (most grown from seed), and students brought home broccoli rabe and
spinach to share with their families last week. We are in the process of seeking families to "adopt" the
garden for a week during the summer. This can be a commitment of two hours or more. No garden
experience is necessary and we provide detailed instructions on what needs to be done. In addition to
quiet time in the garden, a bonus is that you get to harvest and enjoy the produce for yourself. Anyone
interested, please contact Jennifer Klein at [email protected].
Habitat for Humanity
On Saturday, June 1, members of the WHS Habitat Club donated their time, talent, and 2012-13
fundraising efforts to Habitat of Coastal Fairfield County and the Bridgeport community. The team
completed a painting project after presenting a $924 donation to the cause.
Teen Peace Works
A booth at this year’s Memorial Day Fair, organized by Teen PeaceWorks members Alexa Levine,
Emma Halper, Gabby Gonzalez, and Megan Richardson, raised close to one hundred dollars. Children
at the fair were treated to face painting, crafts, and candy as part of the club’s mission to raise
awareness about healthy relationships.
W78 Weston TV Network
W78 Weston TV Network hosted a studio tour for a local Cub Scout pack. High school TV club
members Grant Weiller, Carly Kren, and Kim Kren helped the WIS third graders conduct an actual oncamera interview for a future segment.
National Honor Society
Fourty-four students were inducted into the National Honor Society this month. The four pillars of
NHS are character, scholarship, service, and leadership. These students gave over 3,500 hours of
community service.
Weston Middle School
In this issue…
Amy Watkins, Principal
Meet our CAS & CABE Winners
Chamber Singers Welcome the Incoming Sixth Grade
Eighth Grade Cornerstone
The Morning Show Crew
Weston Warrior Day
Gaga Gift Donated by Eighth-Grade Class: Thank you PTO
Congratulations to Our Retirees
Meet our Connecticut Association of Schools
and Connecticut Association of Boards of
Education Winners
Special congratulations to four of our students in
the eighth grade who were recognized for their
schloarly achievement and ability to demonstrate
the expectations of WMS. Participation in cocurricular activities, community service, and
overall high academic acheivement define these
individuals. Patrycia Sztachelski, David Gelfand,
Nicole Wener, and Eric Hirsch all exemplfy these
characteristics. Congratulations!
CAS Winners:
Nicole Werner & Eric Hirsch
CABE Winners:
Patrycja Sztachelski & David
Gelfand
Sixth-Grade Band and Chamber Singers Provide a Warm
Welcome to Visiting Fifth-Grade Students
Our sixth-grade band students provided a warm welcome to
our visiting fifth-grade students as they entered the building
on Wednesday, May 22. As students entered the library, our
Chamber Singers sang “Brighter Than the Sun” by Colbie
Caillat and then made everyone feel like they had entered the
rain forest singing “Tres Canto Nativos.” Our fifth graders
toured the building with sixth-grade tour guides, learned the
location of the PFA classrooms and the cafeteria, learned how
to open a locker, met with their teachers, and ended their tour
eating lunch in our cafeteria. Of course, when asked what
their favorite part of the tour was, lunch won hands down. We
are thrilled to be welcoming our new class of sixth-grade
students to the middle school.
Eighth-Grade Students Embark on the AIM Cornerstone
Continuing the work that has already happened with AIM (Academic,
Innovation and Measurement) our eighth-grade students participated in
a true 21st century experience the week of May 20. Students were
given the task of determining a change they would like to see
occur and identifying an audience of who would be able to help
bring their plan of change to fruition. Students were responsible
for completing their own research, finding an audience that had
the capacity and interest in helping them make this change move
forward, and then developed a means to communicate this
message to their audience. Students were encouraged to choose
whatever mode of presentation would have the greatest impact
on their audience. After all were complete, teachers from all
grade levels reviewed the student work and scored the plans using
the rubric to assess “evaluating and justifying” and “innovating
and transforming.” Students will receive feedback on their plan
through the rubric and teachers will reflect on the experience to
see how our AIM units in our content areas impacting our
students’ 21st century skills. Great work by everyone!
The Morning Show: Raise and Shine
Have you had the opportunity to watch an episode of the WMS
Morning Show? If not, click through our website by going to the
Communication tab on the left hand side to the WMS Morning Show
Archives. Here you will see this year’s episodes. In addition to
providing a unique and personal way to share news about our
community, students are learning what goes into producing an on-air
show. Thank you to our advisors Evan Grace and Rich Blozie for their
time and effort in preparing our students for this opportunity.
Weston Warrior Day
The end of the year is a time for reflection and celebrations regarding all the accomplishments that
have occurred throughout the year. This year we are beginning what will hopefully become a new
tradition at the middle school. Students in all grades will be participating in the first Weston Warrior
Day event. The day will begin with a spirited pep rally to allow everyone in the middle school to
celebrate who we are as a community. Then, students who elect to take on challenges, will participate
in the “Warrior Challenge,” consisting of laps in the pool and a race to the track and back. After our
winner emerges, students will continue to compete for points in various co-curricular challenges
ranging from athletic events to poetry slams to art exploration. All disciplines are covered. We are
thrilled that our teachers have embraced this event and spent the additional time to plan an event of this
magnitude. Also a special thank you to Patty Powers for developing the framework for this event!
Gaga Pit donated by Eighth-Grade Class:
Thank you PTO
What is a gaga pit? It is an enclosed recretational
space designed for students to compete in a ball
challenge. In the picture to the right, you can see
how our sixth-grade students loved this area while
on the Nature’s Classroom trip this past November.
So much so, they asked if we could get one! What
better way for our eithth grade to support the well
being of our students than through the generous PTO
donation of the gaga pit. Thank you to our PTO for
always supporting what is best for our students.
Congratulations to Our Retirees
As the end of the year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our retirees
the best as they move on to the next phase in their lives. We are grateful for your years of service and
selfless giving of your time and passion toward the success of our students and wish you all the best.
Happy Retirement!
Mary Kate House
William Slattery
Roberta Stone
Peg Taylor
Lorraine Westervelt
Weston Intermediate School
In this issue…
Pattie Falber, Principal
Teaching and Learning Highlights
Transitions
Celebrations and End of Year Activities
Assemblies
Professional Development
Music Concerts
Community Service
Teaching and Learning Highlights
The third-grade AIM unit was an integrated unit encompassing science, technology, and
research. Through AIM, the unit focus was on critical thinking and global problem solving. All thirdgrade students immersed themselves in an endangered animal of their choice. They followed the BIG
6 research process, which included the identification of essential and guiding questions, finding and
evaluating a number of resources, taking notes, synthesizing their notes, and finally reflecting on those
notes as a way to respond to the overall essential question: What are the contributing factors to both
survival and endangerment? The students then demonstrated their learning by creating PowerPoint
presentations. They used their reflections to create a script to go along with their presentations. After
peer and teacher conferencing, students began to practice presenting to a bigger audience. This project
had much interest as well as fantastic presentations.
All fifth-grade students participated in the end-of-year AIM cornerstone assessment. Before leaving
WIS for the middle school, our students were asked to think about how our school can be a better place
for all students. It was an open-ended, engaging task that allowed the students to make their voices
heard to an authentic audience. Their recommendations will be received by the WIS PBIS team.
Transitions
To help ensure a smooth transition to middle school, we arranged for our fifth graders to spend the
morning at WMS on May 22. The Principal and staff warmly greeted them in the beautiful new
library, and groups of sixth graders took them on a tour. After meeting the sixth-grade teachers and
talking to the sixth graders, they had lunch in the cafeteria before heading back to WIS. The students
were excited to visit their new school.
A visit was also held for the second graders so they could see their new school. On Friday, May 31,
the second graders came to WIS where they were treated to a short concert by our Festival Singers
before meeting some of the administrative and guidance staff. Two of our third-grade teachers talked
about some of the exciting projects they would do in the third grade, before they headed out for a tour
of the school lead by our fifth-grade students. Each class got to spend some time in a third-grade
classroom and talk to the students about their year.
Celebrations and End-of Year-Activities
Our Math Olympiad team held its annual awards
breakfast on June 4. This year we had 49 fourth and fifth
graders who came before school on Tuesday mornings to
work on problem solving together and compete in the five
contests throughout the year. The Math Olympiad
program not only stimulates enthusiasm and a love for
mathematics, but helps students develop mathematical
flexibility in solving problems, and fosters mathematical
creativity and ingenuity. Nearly 150,000 students from
6,000 teams worldwide participate in Math Olympiad.
Grade-level field days were held the first week of June. The weather was beautiful with blue skies and
temperatures in the 70s each day. The students participated in a variety of fun activities on the high
school field, and to add to the fun, the PTO rented an inflatable obstacle course and slide that everyone
enjoyed. To make the day extra-special for our fifth graders, they were treated to a barbeque of
hamburgers and hot dogs prepared by our parents.
Assemblies
In May, our students had the opportunity to meet Mr. Richard Weise, a Weston dad and the host of the
ABC Saturday morning television show, Born to Explore. He is a world explorer whose program
brings viewers on adventures around the world to help them to learn about our planet, people, cultures,
nature, animals, and food. He is also the author of a book entitled, Born to Explore – How to be a
Backyard Adventurer. During the assembly he talked to the students about how they can explore their
own environment including, using your hand at dusk to determine how many minutes till sunset,
counting tree rings to determine the age of a tree, and creating a “bird list” to categorize birds in your
own backyard. He taught the students how to make a desert hat from a T-shirt to protect them from the
elements, and brought a special guest from the Nature Center in Westport. Her name was Lady Bird,
and she was a screech owl who was rescued from the Merritt Parkway after being hit by a car. The
students were enthralled with the assembly, and we hope to have Mr. Weise and the Nature Center
back next year.
Professional Development
On May 13 and 14, our third- and fourth-grade teachers worked with our Math in Focus trainer to
prepare them for their transition to this exciting new math program in the fall. This was an important
piece of the overall plan to prepare them to teach fully aligned to the Common Core State Standards
for Mathematics using the Singapore approach. Teachers had the opportunity to examine their new
materials, experience learning in the role of a student, and deepen their understanding of the
instructional changes for the 2013-14 school year. Our teachers are becoming well prepared and are
excited about these changes and how they will deepen our students’ understanding of mathematics.
Music Concerts
The end of the school year brought final concerts for our chorus, band, and orchestra. The chorus
concert featured performances by the fourth-and fifth-grade chorus as well as the Festival Singers. The
students sang songs from a variety of movies, and made us all smile as both choruses came together to
end the program with a choreographed version of “So Long, Farewell” from the Sound of Music.
Equally exciting was the band and orchestra concert which included a few numbers performed by the
advanced string ensemble. It was thrilling to hear how much the students had grown musically over
the year, and more than one parent commented that they couldn’t believe they had only been playing
together since January.
On Tuesday evening, June 4, over 60 fourth and fifth graders participated in our annual talent show.
The evening showcased the incredible talent of so many of our students who sang and danced, and
played a variety of musical instruments from piano to violin to electric mandolin. It was a wonderful
evening and all of the performers did an outstanding job.
Community Service
World Wildlife Fund
We have a new addition to our WIS family! Four of our fifth-grade students raised $150 through their
fundraising efforts with the Student Council for the World Wildlife Federation. With those funds we
“adopted” a polar bear. Our donation goes to protect natural environments and
endangered species, and to help local communities build sustainable livelihoods.
The WWF also partners with business and industry to fight global threats like
climate change, overfishing, and deforestation. The students were extremely
excited about their endeavor and being able to help such a worthy cause.
Pennies for Patients
Nurse Maria spearheaded the effort and worked in conjunction with Mrs. Miller, our health teacher,
and the WIS student council to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation. The children were given
coin boxes and were asked to collect spare change in them. They did an awesome job in doing so and
were able to collect $814.30. Our school was one of 27,000 in the USA who participated in this event.
The life lesson here is that many people working together, doing a little bit each can make a huge
difference.
Hurlbutt Elementary School
In this issue…
Michael Cicchetti, Principal
One School, One Book Project
Grade 2 Cornerstone Project
School Garden
Spring Music Concert and Art Shows
Full Day Kindergarten Review
Professional Development – May 24
Parent Activities
One School, One Book Project
Last month, Hurlbutt Elementary School embarked on a special project: an
all-school book club called One School, One Book, where every
child/family and staff member received a copy of the same book, Betty G.
Birney’s The World According to Humphrey. Every member of the
Hurlbutt community – from students to teachers, custodians to nurses,
principals to paraprofessionals, and all others – participated. Children
received their own copies of the book at a special school-wide assembly,
after which teachers read the first chapter aloud to their classes. Every
family received a letter about the program along with a reading calendar. Classes and families were
able to visit the HES Humphrey website for trivia, photos, and information about related events. The
school had several special Humphrey days including, "Dress Like Humphrey" and "Eat Like
Humphrey." Each classroom received a stuffed Humphrey and every student was given a mini
notebook and pencil just like Humphrey received from his teacher. These items served to motivate and
engage students in reading and writing activities. A culminating school-wide assembly
brought students and staff together again to read the final chapter as well as to kick-off summer
reading. The Hurlbutt and Humphrey Family Fun Night was designed to bring together almost 600
members of the Hurlbutt community to enjoy games, crafts, and other activities related to the
book. Aside from all the planned activities, the true magic of this entire initiative has been hearing
about families reading together (many sent in pictures) and seeing how motivated students were to read
the book. Students were constantly talking about Humphrey and guessing what would happen
next. Many thanks to the Hurlbutt PTO for helping to make this program possible and to the Hurlbutt
staff members who served on the One School, One Book committee and brought this idea to
fruition. We look forward to this becoming an annual school-wide event.
Grade 2 Cornerstone Project
Second-grade students recently participated in a cornerstone project, which is an end-of-year
assessment designed to measure students’ progress in achieving the goals associated with AIM units
(Academic Innovation and Measurement). The second-grade cornerstone assessment was a highlyengaging, cross-curricular application of student learning, which served as a culmination of learning at
Hurlbutt Elementary School. Students were given an authentic task with a variety of artifacts
(resources) that they used to support their thinking in response to a task. The overarching goal of AIM
is to empower students to be innovative thinkers, creative problem-solvers, effective communicators,
and inspired learners prepared for the global challenges that lie ahead of them. The AIM units and
assessments are designed to teach and measure student progress in achieving these goals. Cornerstone
assessments are currently being administered in grades 2, 5, 8, and 11.
School Garden
The Hurlbutt Learning Garden, supported extensively by the PTO and parent
volunteers, is in full swing this spring. Students in kindergarten through grade
2 have been busy planting and weeding. Parent volunteers guide our young
gardeners as they plant both seeds and young plants. Students are observing
and recording plant growth; grade 2 students are including soil sample analysis
in their observations as well. Students and staff are excitedly awaiting the fall
harvest when all students will have a chance to enjoy Hurlbutt-grown produce
prepared in our very own cafeterias.
Spring Music Concerts and Art Shows
Kindergarten
On May 17, the six kindergarten classes performed songs that not only highlighted musical skills and
concepts learned in music class with Mr. Henderson, but also focused on the sight words they were
learning in their classrooms. Immediately following the performance, parents were treated to an art
show coordinated by the Mrs. Reamer, our art teacher.
First Grade
On May 9 and 10, first-grade students performed the annual Mother’s Day Concert, led by Mr.
Henderson. The students performed songs about mothers from South Africa and Venezuela (taught by
Mrs. Gonzalez, our Spanish teacher), as well as simple American songs arranged by the students
themselves to reveal what they liked most about their moms and dads.
Second Grade
On June 10, second graders performed in the annual Evening with the Arts. During the evening,
students performed songs and dance, demonstrating the many musical skills they have learned
throughout the year with Mr. Henderson. They also performed a game-song taught by Mrs. Gonzalez
in Spanish class with maracas made in art class – a true inter-disciplinary experience. In conjunction
with the concert, parents were able to enjoy the artwork of both first and second graders created with
Mrs. Reamer and Mrs. Carroll, our art teachers.
Full-Day Kindergarten Review
As the first year of full-day kindergarten comes to a close, the kindergarten teachers report that this
school year was a very positive experience for students. Purposeful play continued to promote
classroom community and gave students opportunities to practice social skills with their peers. The
spring music concert, recycling regatta, and field day events provided exciting end-of-year experiences
for them. Teachers observed that the daily schedule provided students with necessary “brain breaks”
through purposeful play, snack, lunch, and recess. A literacy highlight of the year for students was the
Eric Carle author study, during which students were immersed in the wealth of Eric Carle literature.
Through this study, students expanded both their reading and writing skills. In math, students have
developed their “math talk” and are able to more explicitly explain how to solve problems. Students
are completing a living/non-living science unit, which includes a butterfly project. Our Kindergarten
teachers feel this year has been one of tremendous growth for students – socially, emotionally and
academically.
Professional Development – May 24
Teachers participated in professional development activities the afternoon of Friday, May
24. Providing teachers the time to reflect on and improve their practice is one of the most important
things we can do to maintain a standard of instructional excellence in our school.
Pre K and Special Education
The special education and pre-kindergarten team collaborated on future programming for special
education students. The focus was on meeting the academic, social, and emotional goals of their
students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEP) while maintaining the least-restrictive environment as
required by State Standards.
Kindergarten Social Studies Curriculum Pilot Year: Reflections and Modifications
The kindergarten team met to review the implementation of the new social studies curriculum, which
was piloted this year. Teachers reflected on the content and sequence of each unit of study, then
adjusted and modified their units for better integration and alignment. The social studies standards
from the State of Connecticut are embedded within the curriculum.
Grade 1 Fundations Second Edition – Program Modifications
First grade teachers met to review program modifications made to the second edition of the Fundations
program. This program supports students in word work, handwriting, and spelling. Teachers
examined how the units of study have been modified, reviewed online tools, and began the planning
and pacing process for the units of instruction for next year.
Grade 2 and Specialists Collaborative Cornerstone Assessment Scoring
The second-grade team and the special area teachers met to calibrate and create an anchor set for
scoring second grade cornerstone assessments. The teachers then worked in teams to score the actual
cornerstones. Teachers will be meeting to reflect on their students’ performance in order to determine
grade-level trends and instructional implications for next year.
Parent Activities
The Hurlbutt parent community played a key role in the success of this
school year. Most recently, the PTO provided funding that allowed all
families to attend the Hurlbutt and Humphrey Fun Night. Several parents
volunteered this spring to assist with the kindergarten recycling regatta,
field days, the Memorial Day Fair, and the school learning
garden. During the 2012-13 school year, the PTO provided tremendous
financial support for outdoor equipment storage bins, playground
equipment, iPads and covers, the One School, One Book project and a
staff team-building activity. The PTO also coordinated a book fair and
several charitable drives throughout the year. One of the Hurlbutt families – Gregg and Jenn Haythorn
and their children, Natalie and Jack – recently spruced up the circular garden in front of the main
entrance of the school. The project was initiated by Natalie, a fourth-grade student at Weston
Intermediate School, as part of her community service at WIS. They weeded, mulched, pruned, and
planted flowers, which helped provide a more beautiful welcome to people visiting our school. We
could not accomplish all that we do on behalf of children without the support of the Hurlbutt parent
community.