November 10, 2024
Dear WHS Families,
We had a busy week at WHS and more to come in this eventful month of November. Tomorrow we honor our Veterans by hosting a number of Veterans in our community for lunch in our cafeteria with students. Our choir and American Heroes Club will be at town hall for the Veteran’s Day Ceremony. Additionally, we are incredibly grateful to our Veterans for staying with us for our panel discussion in the afternoon. Many of our social studies classes will join this activity. We will also work with our students in PACT on November 13th for a Medal of Honor Lesson. 
We recognize and celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Thank you to Ms. Swezey and Ms. Nice for the ways they highlight our shared heritage every month in the Library Learning Commons. The Cultural Linguistics Preservation Society is also sponsoring a visit from the Mohegan Tribe on November 21st for a Lunch and Learn in the library. For more information on this school club see their website: CLiPS.
In this month of thanksgiving, our students are working to “PACT” the Weston Food Pantry. Students should bring various pantry items to their PACT classrooms prior to November 20th. The winning PACT group will win treats from Uncle Leo’s! Let’s all contribute to filling the Weston Food Pantry. For more information on the most needed items, see the Weston Food Pantry website.
Shelter in Place
This past week we needed to call a Shelter in Place in order to clear our hallways. As a parent, I know that when these events occur it can cause alarm and/or concern. I want to assure you that we always have the best interest of everyone in the building when we make these decisions. When we are actively working through a situation, it is also important for everyone to take a pause and wait for more information. It is always our intention to be able to communicate as soon as possible.
When the announcement was made, we communicated we were going into a non-emergency Shelter in Place. We needed to do this as we were about to begin our Take Ten break of the morning. This ten minute break in the morning occurs daily and is an opportunity for students to catch their breath, get a snack from the cafeteria and otherwise hangout for a short period of downtime. Our hallways and cafeteria are busy! All things take time and we always want to take the time to do things correctly and calmly. Turning to social media if there are lingering questions or in the moment, while unintended, can be unhelpful. If you have questions or concerns, I’m always available for a conversation. As always, thank you for your cooperation and trust and for always remembering these are children at the center of all we do.
WHS Company
Tech and Dress rehearsals for Unexpected Developments occurred this weekend and they are just about show ready! We are so excited for you to share a night of laughter with you. Unexpected Developments will be playing at the Weston High School Auditorium on Friday November 15th and Saturday the 16th. Friday’s show goes on at 7:00 pm and Saturdays begins at 3:00 pm. Tickets are available on Company’s website: www.whscompany.com.
Picture Retake Day
School pictures went home with your students this week. For those that didn’t order pictures your student should have received a proof card which included a gallery code and personal pin number to order pictures. Picture retake day is on November 14th from 8:45-10:00 am. If your student is getting their picture taken please return the package or proof card and fill out this form and give it to the photographer. There is a $5 vanity fee for retakes.
National School Psychologist Week
This week we have the privilege of welcoming our new School Psychologist, Emily Gonzales. Let’s give her a warm welcome into the Weston High School community. Ms. Gonzales joins us from the Fairfield Public Schools and comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience. She is going to be a great addition to our counseling team!
Taking a Stance Against Anti-Semitism - SPECIAL SCHEDULE
The members of our Jewish Student Union have been working hard to plan for our November 15th assembly. They are working with members of our faith community, the ADL and other community members to present a comprehensive assembly to help students understand the history of Anti-Semitism and the dangers of symbols and language of hate. While this assembly focuses on anti-semitism as a result of the hate-based vandalism and the use of the swastika in our school, it is only the beginning of more work to be done to combat hate and create a school centered on belonging for all.
Healthier Approach to College Admissions
To our seniors and families, the November deadline has come and gone and we know that the process continues throughout the school year. On November 19th Challenge Success is hosting a webinar: A Healthier Approach to College Admissions. I encourage you to watch together to help frame your conversations over the next couple of months. This is also helpful for our 9th-11th grade families as well!
When registering for the event, please use the passcode WESTON2024. This will waive the $29 fee to sign up. I also encourage families to check out the Challenge Success website for more useful information.
We’ve Been Sneaking into Your Brains - SPECIAL SCHEDULE
On November 21st Weston Public Schools will be hosting Max Stossel, an award winning artist, the Founder of Social Awakening, and Youth & Education Advisor for the Center for Humane Technology. “We’ve Been Sneaking Into Your Brains” Is a presentation for students sponsored by the WPS PTOs. We will be hosting two assemblies on November 21st, 7th-9th graders during their Period 3 class at WHS, and 10th-12th graders during their Period 6 class. Max illustrates specific ways technology is designed to be addictive & distracting. He provides tools to help combat these designs, and leads a much-needed discussion among peers about the impact of phones & social media. Max does distinct versions of this talk for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and for college students.
"Social Media and Your Kids" Is a similar keynote designed for educators and parents. This presentation includes an overview of how students are using social media and gives recommendations on how to improve focus and diminish distraction in learning environments. This session concludes with time to discuss what’s working and not working in our classrooms and households. This will be held at the WHS Auditorium in the evening after students have received their presentation during the school day. We welcome families to attend for this important discussion.
Poinsettia Fundraiser
The Weston Performing Arts Booster Club is sponsoring a holiday poinsettia plant sale to help raise funds to support the performing arts in the Weston public schools including scholarships and music trip fundraising. Please see the attached flyer that includes a link to the order form.
Orders need to be placed by Monday, November 19 and pick up will be available at the high school on the dates and times of the winter music concerts.
Daffodil Legacy Trail
PARENTS OF SENIORS!! LEAVE A GIFT FOR YOUR GRADUATE!!
Want to leave your graduating senior a beautiful parting gift that will last for years to come? Weston High School’s Sustainable Living course is once again selling flower bulbs to continue the daffodil legacy trail for the class of 2025! The flower trail started at the high school in 2023 and is expanding through our entire district campus with each graduating class. Your son or daughter can return each Spring for years and visit their dedicated section of the trail. What better way to leave a legacy for your child while both beautifying our schools and supporting sustainability. It’s a win, win, win! Bulbs can be purchased in either sets of 3 for $15 or 6 for $25 but feel free to purchase any number of bulbs you may desire. (larger sets look more visually striking)
Payment can be made in one of 2 ways:
Through Venmo @WestonSustainability24-25 (please include the graduate’s name, number of desired bulbs, and a contact email in the event of any issues)
Via cash or check (made out to Weston High School) and mailed to: Michael Aitkenhead, 115 School Rd., Weston, CT 06883. Include a note with your student’s name, number of desired bulbs, and a contact email.
Ordering deadline is Friday, November 15th so that the Sustainable Solutions students have time to plant the bulbs this fall… so please don’t delay! Don’t have a senior but you still want to support sustainability projects in our schools? Additional donations are always welcome. A special thanks to the Weston High School class of 1974 for their generous donation to this cause. For more information about this fundraiser or the work being done in the Sustainable Living course, please contact the instructor Michael Aitkenhead at michaelaitkenhead@westonps.org.
Filament submissions
We are pleased to announce that Filament, the WHS Literary Magazine, is accepting submissions for the Fall/Winter Edition. The deadline is December 2nd. Please ask your students to use this opportunity to showcase their creativity and self-expression through poetry, short stories, digital artwork, drawing and illustration, essays, and more.
Mrs. Holmes will be available after school from 2:50 to 3:15 in the library on Monday, November 11th to assist students with brainstorming ideas, drafting pieces, and preparing formal submissions for contests or Filament Magazine.
This is an informal drop-in session, offering space and support to help students start writing, refine their drafts, or figure out the submission process. Students do not need to sign up in advance—they should just bring ideas, questions, and enthusiasm, and she’ll be there to help! For more information about Filament and the submission process find more information here.
HRRA Annual Recycling Billboard Contest
Get ready to showcase your creativity in the HRRA Annual Recycling Billboard Contest 2025! This contest encourages participants to design billboards that promote recycling and sustainability, raising awareness in our communities about the importance of environmental responsibility.
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Artwork must be submitted on the provided template and created in landscape orientation 10” x 4”. Artwork must be in color, in any medium of the student’s choosing. The ORIGINAL ARTWORK MUST BE submitted and completed by the student. One student per entry and only one entry per student allowed.
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The student’s name, address, school, and grade must be printed on the space provided.
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The 2025 Billboard theme is: “Batteries Can Cause Fires.” Students’ artwork should teach residents that batteries don’t belong in the trash or household recycling. Artwork should promote how to dispose of batteries properly. HERE are some examples from previous years.
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Cash prizes are awarded to regional winners.
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HERE is the official website with educational videos and more resources for this year’s contest and theme
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Artwork should be submitted to Mr. Aitkenhead or the main office drop box by November 12, 2024.
School Climate Committee
Our next School Climate meeting will be taking place at 2:40 in the Main Office Conference on Thursday, December 12th.
Pickup & Dropoff
A reminder to please continue to use the access road for picking up and dropping off students. We also must keep the fire lanes clear on each side of the crosswalk, especially at the end of the day, with so many students pouring out of the building. We want to make sure we aren’t inhibiting anyone’s line of sight, especially our security guards, as they man the crosswalk. I have received positive feedback that pickup can take less time when we all follow the flow of traffic and the guidelines. Thank you to all who support our students' safe entrance and exit.
Communication Protocol
Please remember we have a Communication Protocol to help you navigate the common occurrences in the daily lives of students, families and staff. For many of your concerns this protocol will let you know how to proceed.
Previous Letters:
November 3, 2024
October 27, 2024
October 20, 2024
October 13, 2024
October 6, 2024
September 29th Week Ahead
Upcoming Events:
November 11: Veteran’s Day Panel Discussion - WHS Learning Commons
November 11: BOE Meeting - Facilities (Remote)
November 15: Take a Stance Against Anti-Semitism- Presented by The Jewish Student Union
November 18: BOE Meeting (Remote)
November 21: Max Stossel “We’ve Been Sneaking Into Your Brains”
November 21: Mohegan Tribe Lunch and Learn (WHS Library)
December 9: 9th Grade Assembly - Poetry Out Loud (Period 7)
December 3: Junior College Kickoff
December 4: Band Winter Concert
December 12: School Climate Meeting
As always should you have any questions or concerns please call the main office and we can provide you with support to find the information or person you need to speak with.
Kindly,
Meghan
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