Together for Teens: Expert Insights into Challenges our Kids Face Today

Tuesday, October 22 @ 7 PM

Riverbrook Regional YMCA

Are you curious about what’s really on the minds of our teens? Come find out at Together for Teens: Insights into Challenges our Kids Face today on Tuesday, October 22 at 7 pm at the Riverbrook Regional YMCA. 

This insightful event featuring a panel discussion and audience question and answer period features, EJ DiNunzio, Youth to Youth & WHS Varsity Football Coach, Dr. Rebecca LePage, Pediatrician, Cassandra Lucien, Kids In Crisis and Chandra Ring, Wilton Youth Council and WHS JV Field Hockey Coach. 

These panelists each have a unique perspective to offer.  They’ll explore the challenges teens face, share what they wish parents understood, and provide strategies for better supporting our youth.  Registrants will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance so we can be sure we address parents' most pressing concerns. 

Following the panel, connect with local service providers at our resource fair, where you can find valuable tools and support for your family. Register in advance and submit questions to the panelists at https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/553b8526-544f-4c51-8d16-1fae6774eaab.

This program is brought to you by Wilton Youth Council and Riverbrook Regional YMCA.

	WILTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS 395 Danbury Road Wilton, Connecticut 06897

Dear Wilton Community,

We wanted to provide you with an update on the status of Fujitani Field.

Thank you to Fire Chief Jim Blanchfield and his crew who were out early this week hosing down the track and to Doug Katz and his crew at P&R who were cleaning out the drainage systems surrounding the field! 

Shaw Sports Turf began work on the field this week and are currently extracting all of the infill from the affected areas of the turf. These are the same contractors who were on-site in Fall 2021 and are familiar with our facility.

The new infill has already been ordered and is on its way to WHS. As soon as the cleanup is completed, the process of re-adding infill and grooming the field will begin. While we are hopeful for a swift resolution, we also recognize that unexpected factors, including weather, could affect the timeline. At this stage, it is too early to provide an exact date for when Fujitani Field will be ready, but we are committed to keeping you informed as more information becomes available.

We will continue to adjust football and field hockey schedules as necessary and will share any changes in time or location for games with you as soon as they are confirmed.

Thank you for your continued support, and as always, Go Blue-White!

Sincerely, 

Kevin Smith                                                     Bobby Rushton

Superintendent of Schools                            Athletic Director

Susanna Estes, WHS Arts teacher and designer of the previous FAPA website, has been working with one of our parents, Sarah Beach, to update the FAPA website. The FAPA Instructional Leaders (Sue Brandt, Michael Gordon, Malcolm Karlan, and Susan LaBarbera) are extremely grateful to Sarah for volunteering her professional services and working with us to create a site that is more engaging for visitors, more aligned with the design of the District site, and more connected.

Visitors to the site will experience all aspects of the Wilton FAPA and the WHS Theater programs. It is designed to help everyone understand the full K-12 continuum of Wilton FAPA.

The FAPA site is a portal to view students engaged in the various stages of creating, performing, responding, and making connections through artistic expression. The FAPA site showcases students being socially-sensitive active citizens, balanced & healthy human beings, contemporary multiliterate scholars, self-navigating expert learners, courageous ethical thinkers, and creative entrepreneurial designers.

The FAPA calendar, which can be customized, will keep visitors informed of the many events and ceremonies that highlight students' passions for the Arts. Site visitors can view awards received by students, galleries displaying students' artistic work, in addition to past art shows, music performances, and theater productions.

With a social media connection to keep visitors updated in near real-time, the FAPA site is the place to go for information related to important dates, staff members, programs in each building, opportunities, forms, and FAQs.  The FAPA site is another step in our journey to be more inclusive than ever before. 

Visit us at fapawilton.com and tag us on social media @fapa_wilton

	WILTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS 395 Danbury Road Wilton, Connecticut 06897

Dear Wilton Community,

I hope this message finds you well. I write to share some information regarding the recent flooding that has impacted our athletic facilities. As many of you may already know, heavy rainfall over the weekend led to significant flooding, taking two of our turf athletic fields offline.

By early Sunday afternoon, reports, photos, and videos of the affected areas began circulating, showing the extent of the flooding. Our Athletic Director, Bobby Rushton, went to work, immediately coordinating with his colleagues across the league to secure alternative practice locations, ensuring that our students could proceed with their first day of tryouts without interruption. 

This morning, our Parks & Recreation (P&R) team jumped into action to clear debris from the stadium field and surrounding areas. Their efforts are ongoing, with the primary goal of restoring as many fields as possible while we await a full assessment of Fujitani Field. While we don’t yet have a timeline for Fujitani Field, we will keep you informed and will communicate directly with our families as soon as we have a clearer timeline. 

On a brighter note, this afternoon Lilly field was opened for use and we expect to have access to the grass fields around the high school beginning tomorrow. We remain committed to minimizing disruptions and ensuring our student athletes can continue their activities as smoothly as possible. We appreciate everyone’s flexibility. 

We understand that this situation is frustrating and disappointing for everyone involved. It is important that we stay positive and focus on those things we can control. Restoring Fujitani Field is a priority and many are diligently working to make this happen. Your continued patience, flexibility, and resilience are greatly appreciated as we work through these challenges together. 

Thank you for your support, and as always, Go Blue-White!

Sincerely, 

Kevin Smith, Ph. D.                                            Bobby Rushton

Superintendent of Schools                              Athletic Director

Digital News & Updates - Summer Learning Parents Edition
Wilton Public Schools Digital Learning News & Updates

June 2024

Summer Learning/ Reading 2024

Summer Reading Lists:  We've curated a K-12 Summer Reading Booklet featuring a variety of titles. The direct link to our summer reading page is:  https://wiltonps.org/576188_3 Additionally, we've compiled a district-wide collection of eBooks accessible through Overdrive/Sora, ideal for students on-the-go this summer. Do check out the offerings at the Wilton Library as well.  Our e-books can be accessed through the Sora App (eBooks, Audio Books). Directions for eBooks Access - Sora App (eBooks, Audio Books) (SORA FAQs).  

Wilton Public Schools Summer Reading 2024 comes with some essential notes. Ensure you confirm with each school for any specific requirements.

Anyone interested may also participate in the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge:  The link with resources for this challenge can be found at:  https://portal.ct.gov/sde/ctread/connecticut-reads  

For those with District-Provided Devices (Chromebooks), we encourage you to keep them over the summer. They'll be a valuable tool in accessing the eBooks and online resources featured on our website. Instructions for returning these devices will be issued at the start of the new school year.

Caring for the Chromebook:  The following contains a checklist titled “Caring for your Chromebook” to guide you on maintaining your device over the summer.

As you embark on your summer learning adventure, it's crucial to maintain your Chromebook's health and safety:

• Avoid exposing it to heat, direct sunlight, and water, 

• always plug it into a surge protector when not in use. 

• Families should continue to supervise home use as during the school year, 

• Remember that Gaggle monitoring  persists over the summer.

• If your Chromebook requires repair, contact the receptionist at the BOE office at 203-762-3381 to coordinate an exchange of the device during the summer.  Please do not attempt any repairs yourself. If your device is lost or damaged beyond repair, consult our replacement costs information on our website.

Practicing Digital Wellness During the Summer

Summer is a wonderful opportunity for students to embrace digital citizenship by finding a balance between online and offline activities. We encourage families to promote reading, engage in offline hobbies, and use this time to disconnect from screens more often and enjoy the summer!

We'd like to acknowledge the collaboration of our Library Learning Commons staff, the Wilton Library Teen and Children's Librarians, and our teachers of reading, writing, and English for curating the list of eBooks and resources. Should you have any queries, feel free to contact Lori Ellis, ellisl@wiltonps.org 

Wishing you a fantastic summer!

Best regards,

Fran Kompar
Director, Digital Learning & Instructional Technology

Wilton Public Schools have once again demonstrated their prowess in digital media and video production, securing numerous accolades at the prestigious A9CC Video Awards, sponsored by Altice. This year's competition saw exceptional performances from Wilton students across various categories, celebrating their creativity and storytelling skills.

Highlighting the achievements, Wilton High School's Danielle Westgate clinched the coveted John M. Repicky Award for her outstanding stop-motion animation, "The Sentence." This award, named in honor of former Wilton High School film teacher John Repicky, recognizes the best overall project among all first-place winners. Westgate's triumph marks the first time a high school student from Wilton has received this honor, continuing the legacy of excellence inspired by Repicky.

In addition to the John Repicky Award, Wilton Public Schools garnered several other awards:

High School - News Show

• Second Place: "Morning Warrior" by the Morning Warrior Club, Instructor: Donald Allers

High School - General Interest Story

• Second Place: "Wilton High Fire Department" by Henry Mangum, Instructor: Maria Breece

Elementary School - Adult Assisted News Show

• First Place: "Miller Driscoll Morning Show" by Miller Driscoll TV Club, Instructors: Bryan Ennis and Tim Ley

Elementary School - PSA

• Second Place: "Be Quiet in the Halls" by Amy McCabe, Aleena Gill, Keira Wax, and Hailey Kazen, Instructors: Nicole Ryan and Joseph Pullia

• Third Place: "Kids Need to Share" by Joann Vincent and Evan Twinker, Instructors: Nicole Ryan and Joseph Pullia

The success of Wilton's digital media programs can be attributed to the dedication of its instructors and the hard work of its students. "We have built an award-winning, robust program that improves every year. This year was no exception," said Fran Kompar, Wilton’s Director of Digital Learning. The A9CC Video Council's regional competition continues to inspire students to produce high-quality video content, with Wilton Public Schools leading the charge.

Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the school's rich tradition of excellence in digital media.

For more information on the A9CC Video Awards and to view the winning entries, visit A9CC Ed Access.

June 3, 2024

Dear Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Staff, 

As you may know, Middlebrook School was placed into a secure protocol today due to an object that was found in the batting cages behind the building.  At approximately 1:05 p.m., a staff member became aware of an object that appeared to be a hand grenade.  The staff member did not touch the object and noted that it appeared to be hollow based on a visible hole in the bottom of it.  It was unclear as to whether this object was real or a facsimile. The staff member promptly alerted an administrator to this finding. The administrator immediately initiated a secure protocol and notified the Wilton Police Department.  Any students and staff outside the building at that time were ushered inside as the school moved into the secure protocol.  Students whose classrooms were in close proximity to the fields moved to a separate part of the building as per the Wilton Police Department.  The Wilton Police Department assessed the situation, determined that a secure protocol continued to be appropriate, and out of an abundance of caution, enlisted the support of the Stamford Bomb Squad.  Upon closer examination, the Stamford Bomb Squad determined that the object was empty and posed no threat. The object was removed and the secure protocol was lifted at approximately 2:15 p.m.  Students resumed their typical day and moved to their last period class.  While we recognize that such a finding may be unsettling, we want to highlight the quick response of the Middlebrook staff, the Wilton Police Department, and the Stamford Bomb Squad, all of which acted quickly out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of students and staff.  

Thank you, 

The Wilton Public Schools 

May ​6, 2024

Dear Parents, Guardians, Caregivers and Staff:  

Today at approximately 1:35 p.m. a coyote was seen near the softball fields behind Middlebrook School.  Students who were outside were immediately ushered inside as the school activated a secure protocol.  Animal control is on its way, and the secure will be released once animal control gives the all clear. We will not send further communication on this matter unless there are other developments.  

Thank you, 

Jory Higgins

Principal 

Middlebrook School