December 8, 2024
Dear WIS Families,
I hope everyone had a good weekend. The cold weather and snow has arrived. We do try to have the students go outside every day, so students need to dress for the weather. At WIS when it snows we let our students play in the snow if they are wearing boots and snow pants, otherwise we ask that they stay on the blacktop for recess. Please note the upcoming events this week and in the weeks ahead.
Progress Report for First Trimester
The end of the first trimester is almost here! WIS progress reports for the first trimester will be available in your Powerschool Parent Portal starting at 3:00 p.m. on December 13. On that day, Mrs. Ford will send an email with step-by-step instructions for accessing the reports through PowerSchool and Portfolio(+). This week you can prepare by making sure you can access your Parent Portal account. If you need help accessing your child’s PowerSchool account, please contact the main office for assistance.
Winter Accessories Drive
The 5th grade Student Council is sponsoring this month's fundraiser: Winter accessories collection for Weston Social Services. Please bring in NEW hats, mittens/gloves, and scarves of any size: Children and Adult S, M, L, XL. Donations can be dropped off in the bins located in the main hallway. The December donation drive will be taking place until Wednesday, December 18.
PTO Winter Coat Drive
The PTO is sponsoring a Winter Coat Drive. Donate your gently used coats to help someone in our community stay warm. Students can drop off coats in the collection box located at the front doors of WIS. The Drive starts Monday and will continue through January 15th.
Delegation from China
We are so pleased to welcome back our Chinese colleagues for the first time since COVID. Guangdong Province is scheduled to bring its third delegation of 25 educators selected to be the next generation of education leaders to Connecticut this week. They will visit Weston on Wednesday, December 11. After a welcoming ceremony at Weston High School they will tour each of the other schools on campus.
Reading Informational Session for Families
Save the date of Tuesday, January 28 at 9:15 a.m. for this informative session with our Curriculum Instructional Leader, Alex Bluestein. Mrs. Bluestein will share information about our new reading program, ARC Core, and strategies for promoting literacy at home. A registration will be sent out in the next weekly update.
Performing Arts in Weston School Community
During the months of December and January, Weston students enrolled in grades 4 -12 performing ensembles, including band, chorus and orchestra, showcase their musical talents in winter concerts. Here is a link to the district performing arts calendar on the website if you would like to attend any of them.
Recently, our fifth grade chorus sang at the town’s Tree Lighting Ceremony last week, which despite the cold and wind was a lot of fun. This week the chorus will be going to the Senior Center to sing for the seniors at their holiday party. A list of our upcoming concerts is listed in the list of Important Dates below.
Social Media Presentation
On Thursday, November 21, Weston had the pleasure of welcoming Max Stossel, an award-winning storyteller, filmmaker, and founder of Social Awakening, to our district. Max's work focuses on the intersection of technology, human well-being and connectedness. His presentations are designed to spark meaningful conversations about how we can support students in navigating the challenges of the digital world. The presentation is relevant to all of us regardless of the age of our children. It encourages us to reflect on our own use of social media and the impact it has on our well being and our community. Whether or not you were able to attend the event, I encourage you to watch the recording that Max has provided to us, available free on his website for the next month. You can access the recording here:
Max Stossel Parent Presentation
Important Dates:
December 13: Progress Reports available to families
December 20: Early dismissal, 12:35 p.m.
December 23-January 1: School closed for Winter break
January 9: 4th and 5th grade Chorus and 5th grade Orchestra Concert, 7pm
January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. day - No School
January 28: Reading Informational Session for Parents
January 30: Instrumental Debut Concert, 7pm
Warm Regards,
Patricia Falber
Principal
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