WPS District Updates

Greetings Wilmington Community,

Over the past seven years as Superintendent of WPS, on several occasions I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible sense of community in Wilmington. The generosity, spirit, and constant drive to give back and support one another are qualities that define this town.

As many of you know, the closure of the Wildwood School a few years ago led to the temporary relocation of the school to spaces within the middle school and West Intermediate School. While this has been a workable solution, it’s not without its challenges, and basic needs—like storage for outdoor equipment—which has sometimes been overlooked.

Last week, I had the opportunity to see the power of community in action once again at the Wildwood School @ Carter Lane, where Wildwood students and staff gathered on the field for a special unveiling.

Wilmington High School Senior Cameron Jenks, along with his parents and Scoutmaster, were on hand to present Cameron’s Eagle Scout project. Once he learned that staff at the Wildwood had to carry outdoor play equipment in and out on a daily basis for students, Cameron built a large wooden shed to be used by students at the Wildwood for storing outdoor play equipment.

Cameron’s project not only included the construction of the shed but also involved raising over $3,000 to cover the costs of materials and to stock the shed with new outdoor toys for some of the district’s youngest children.

As the town and district await approval to begin building a new elementary school that will hopefully come about in September with residents' support at the Special Town Meeting, it's heartwarming to see so many working together to make the best of the current situation. Thank you, Cameron, for your hard work and for being an invaluable part of this community!

With Gratitude,

Glenn Brand, EdD, Superintendent of Schools

Date/Time: Typically held at 6:30pm (unless otherwise noted)

• 4/15/2025
• 6/2/2025
• 6/25/2025

Location: Hybrid format: in-person at WHS LGIR and via Zoom webinar. Check the website meeting page for up-to-date information.

More information about the school building project is available on the project website. Check out the updated FAQ page. For questions or comments about the project, send an email to wildwoodprojectquestions@wpsk12.com

Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, 4/2/2025

Our paraprofessionals are our Educational Assistants who show patience and motivation on a daily basis and create a positive impact on the development of our students. Thank you for always going the extra mile to help our students that need a bit more encouragement feel confident and supported in the classroom. The dedication to providing individualized attention and inspiration makes a huge difference on students’ progress.

School Librarian Appreciation Day, 4/4/2025

National School Librarian Day is celebrated on April 4th each year. It's a day to recognize the work of school librarians, who help students find resources and keep libraries running. Our school librarians spend long hours keeping the library organized and they are dedicated to helping our children find the resources they need to keep learning. The WPS librarians are the people who create an environment where students can learn every day of the year.

National Assistant Principal WEEK, 4/7-4/11

National Assistant Principals Week (AP Week) is celebrated annually in April to recognize the contributions of assistant principals (APs) to student success. Please join us in thanking our AP’s for their incredible leadership and dedication to our students, staff, and schools. We are so grateful for your support every day and truly appreciate your guidance, positive attitude, and unwavering support.

School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, 4/22/2025

Jon us in celebrating the important job that our school bus drivers do each and every day… they get our children safely to and from school. This year, School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is April 22, 2025. Rain or shine, you're always there with a kind smile, thank you for safely transporting our children every day.

National Administrative Professional's Day, 4/23/2025

Please join us in recognizing our Administrative Assistants this National Administrative Professionals Day, April 23, 2025. They are often the backbone of our school/office teams. They show incredible attention to detail and reliability that are invaluable, and their dedication and hard work are truly appreciated. Our amazing Administrative Assistants make the jobs of others run that much smoother.

National Volunteer Recognition WEEK, 4/20-4/26, 2025

Theme: Celebrate Service

Each year, National Volunteer Week is celebrated to recognize the contributions of our volunteers. WPS has a tremendous number of volunteers from classroom parents to recess monitors, to special event support, to PAC’s and school councils, to Booster groups, and to student community clubs. All of this time and talent doesn’t just make the school day run better, it enhances the quality of education our students receive and our broader community benefits from it on a daily basis.

Our volunteers serve as positive role models and student motivators. When students see adult volunteers in their schools, they see firsthand how members of their community value education and support their local school. Please join us in recognizing the essential work our volunteers do for WPS and our shared community.

The Wilmington Annual Town Election is on April 26, 2025 - that is the last Saturday in April Vacation for the Wilmington Public Schools. If your family is heading out of town for the week and you still want to vote in the election, you have options!

You can request a vote-by-mail ballot online at www.voteinma.com or you can fill out the application and drop it in the drop box at Town Hall (fillable/printable pdf here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/.../vote-by-mail-paper...) And last but not least, you can vote early in person! You can vote in the Clerk's Office during their normal business hours.

A quick note - their normal business hours are changing! Town Hall will be open late on Tuesdays (until 7 pm) and closing early on Fridays (closing at 12:30) starting April 1st!

Winner of eight Tony Awards, including best musical, HADESTOWN is an intriguing and beautiful folk opera that delivers a deeply resonating and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience. Following two intertwining love stories - that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of immortal King Hades and Lady Persephone - HADESTOWN invites audiences on a wild journey to the underworld and back. Inspired by traditions of classic American folk music and vintage jazz, this captivating musical pits industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love.

This just released Teen Edition of HADESTOWN provides the full Broadway musical experience, edited slightly for high school performers.

Tickets available at https://wpsk12.ludus.com

CPR training is crucial for school staff as it empowers them to respond effectively to medical emergencies, potentially saving lives and improving outcomes for students and colleagues.

On February 27th, staff throughout the district participated in the hands-on demonstration portion of the American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED course. More than 15 staff successfully completed the course. Another opportunity to participate in the course will be offered to staff in April.

The Wilmington Sons & Daughters of Italy voted to provide our Wilmington High School Italian students with funds to secure transportation for an upcoming field trip to Boston. Each year, level 4 language students complete a unit on art. The Italian learners dive into Renaissance studies and then see their learning come alive when they travel to Boston to observe masterpieces of Renaissance greats like Raffaello, Michelangelo and Boticelli at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

These funds make the trip more affordable for our families and will ensure that the majority of students are able to participate. We are so grateful to the Sons & Daughters for their generous support in helping us get there!

These happy faces say it all! (Photos of past trips).

The festival was a huge success! A huge thank you to all the community members who supported this celebration, and everyone who came out to learn, participate, and embrace the many cultures of Wilmington! What a fantastic job done by all, the student presentations and performances were amazing!

WHS Exchange Trip to Spain for 2026 is open for students to register and holding informational meetings! Click here for more details.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (read about the grant award here), we are creating an advisory committee to help gather feedback and improve our World Language Program! This committee is open to all community members, students, faculty, administrators, local business owners, etc., and we will have several meeting styles for members to participate (including in-person and online)!

Click Here for Information about the Team and the commitment

or

Click here to register and become a part of the team!

WHS Students: Do you speak another language at home other than English?

Please, register to take a second language test (Click here) and the opportunity to showcase your home language and even earn the State Seal of Biliteracy in your heritage language this year!

Last month the WHS Model UN/Debate Club traveled to Boston College High School in Dorchester to participate in their 33rd annual Model UN Conference.

The students served on a variety of committees, like the 2028 Olympic Games, 2008 Financial Crisis, Star Wars, Israel-Palestine Crisis, and the Historical Joint Crisis China 3 Kingdoms. Congrats to Evander Ragsdale who won a People’s Choice Award for an amazing performance in the Star Wars committee!

The 29th issue of the Paw Print Literary Magazine, SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS, has been posted to our site! In it you'll find writing and artwork based on real and imagined cartoons. Staff were so impressed by the talent WMS students showcased!

15 WMS students submitted 44 original pieces for this issue. These talented kids deserve some kudos when you see 'em!

Our "staff" for this issue included Austin Abbott, Grace Connolly, Lilah Gearwar, Alita Nguansiri, Kelsie Morrow, Star Ptashka, Mia Quach, Abby Reynolds, Olivia Strangie, and Francesca-Rose Zannelli. In addition to contributing pieces, these kids publicized, edited, and organized all of the submissions as well.

Recently the grade 7 students enjoyed an in-class enrichment lesson ("Where did all the herring go?") looking at a real-life problem for the Ipswich River that scientists are currently working to figure solve. The lesson was made possible by a professional development partnership with Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA) and grade 7 science teacher, Theresa Fisher, who was invited to a working group with IRWA to help develop the traveling program. During their visit, the IRWA visited the 7th grade science classes, reaching approximately 260 students. The students experienced 3 interactive stations set-up in their science classrooms.

Students in Ms. Benoit’s 6th grade World Civilizations & Geography I class recently used apples to compare and contrast mummification amongst wealthy and poor ancient Egyptians.

Fifteen students did a fantastic job representing Wilmington at the "Becoming a Leader" MPY and MIAA Youth Conference at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School. The goal of the conference is to help students enhance leadership potential, increase mental wellness, promote healthy life choices, and build confidence and resiliency.

As a continuation of celebrating Literacy in March as well as Read Across America, the NIS hosted 11 community members to read to our students in their classrooms. Thank you to the following readers: WHS principal Mr. Gendron, WMS principal Mr. Caira, Woburn Street School principal Mrs. Scott; School Committee members Dr. Mercaldi, Mr. Ragsdale, Mr. Golden and Mr. Turner; our School Resource Officer Fiore; our town Youth Services Librarian Nicole Chevalier; Mrs. Murray our Interim Director of Student Support Services, and Mrs. Kilbride our Coordinator of Special Education.

It was a great event, and we are so grateful for so many engaging community members coming to our school during their busy days.

We are pleased to share with you that Wilmington will be holding the 7th Annual Wilmington Unified Game Day hosted by The Special Olympics. This year, the event will be held on Friday, May 2nd from 10:00am to 2:00pm on the WHS Alumni Field, with a rain date of Monday, May 5th. The WPS Special Olympics Committee has been working hard to plan for this incredible annual event. Check out their Facebook page for updates.

The District had over 400 students and their families in attendance at the March STEM Fair and it was a huge success!

Analog Devices and WEF sponsored the fair and we had over 20 community partners join us for the event. Special thanks go to all of the High School volunteers, Middle School and High School Club Members (Robotics, Environmental Club, Science Club, Medical Careers Club, and Future Scientists & Engineers of America), Staff Volunteers and the Planning Committee. Without their time and dedication, this event would not have been possible!

Please note: Courses range in age and grade eligibility for students entering grades 4th through 12th. Please see Course Offerings & Descriptions (link below) for details.

Registration Deadline: Open Until Full

All Classes will be held at Wilmington High School, 159 Church Street.

Course Offerings & Descriptions:

https://sites.google.com/wpsk12.com/whssummer2017/enrichment

Registration Link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdc10oXJpgKslNvLowtcXFr0E3t60RSoH4Qnmpgn8fNPYMEsw/viewform

Please direct all questions for the WHS Summer Enrichment Program to:

Matt Hackett matthew.hackett@wpsk12.com

Michael Jones michael.jones@wpsk12.com

Or call WHS Main Office - 978-694-6060

During the summer, the Wilmington High School Athletic Department sponsors a series of sports clinics for children entering Grades 1-8. All clinics will be held at the Wilmington MIDDLE School unless otherwise specified below. All clinics will be run by WHS Coaches, Alumni, and Student-Athletes. The focus of each clinic is the development of skills through activity-based drills and scrimmages. The ultimate goal of the clinics is to develop children who enjoy participating in athletics.

For more information and to register, please visit:

https://students.arbitersports.com/programs/2025-wildcat-summer-sports-clinics

Clinic/Weeks:

Week 1: Baseball and Softball (@ High School), 6/16-6/20, 9am-2pm, (no clinics on 6/19). $200

Week 2: Boys + Girls Tennis (@ Boutwell Tennis Courts), 6/23-6/27. 9a-12p. $150

Week 2: All Sports, 6/23-6/27. 9am-2pm MON-THUR & 9am-12pm FRI. $225

Week 3: Boys Hoop and Field Hockey, 6/30-7/3, 9am-2pm, (No clinics on 7/4). $200

Week 3: Cross Country, 6/30-7/3, 9am-12pm, (No clinics on 7/4). $150

Week 4: Volleyball and Flag Football, 7/7-7/11, 9am-2pm MON-THUR & 9am-12pm FRI. $225

Week 5: Boys Soccer and Girls Soccer, 7/14-7/18, 9am-2pm MON-THUR & 9am-12pm FRI. $225

Week 6: Girls Hoop, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, 7/21-7/25, 9am-2pm MON-THUR. 9am-12pm FRI. $225

AWARDS: Range from $250 to $2,000 (number of recipients to be determined)

ELIGIBILITY: The recipients of these scholarships must be:

• a resident of the Town of Wilmington,
• a high school senior, and
• must have been accepted to pursue education beyond the secondary school level at an institution deemed accredited by the Scholarship Committee

Click on the application link below to download the 2025 Town of Wilmington Scholarship Application. Applications are due by April 23, 2025, at 3:00 pm. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted, so be sure to check the list of items needed to submit your application before sending.

2025 Town of Wilmington Scholarship Application

For local events, activities, and clubs, feel free to check out our district Friday Flyers page throughout the school year at https://www.wpsk12.com/cms/one.aspx?pageId=26924989

When:

• Friday, April 4, 2025, from 5 to 8pm
• Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 9am to 2pm

Where: Wilmington Memorial Library

All proceeds to benefit the library.

About the Friends

The Friends of the Wilmington Memorial Library is a membership-based organization with a mission “to promote public awareness of the library and to provide financial support for services beyond the town’s budget.” Founded in 1997, the Friends of the Library celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2022 marking a history of dedicated support to the Wilmington Memorial Library.

Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for the latest Friends news:

• https://www.facebook.com/WilmLibraryFriends/
• https://www.instagram.com/friendsofwml/p/DDV3GCwRyz2/

Past Initiatives

Friends of WML provide critical financial support for library improvements and numerous programs for the community including the following:

• Lectures and concerts throughout the year
• Annual Summer Reading Program
• STEM and STEAM programs
• Wilmington’s Earth Year Initiative
• Tree Seedling Giveaway
• Children’s Room Exhibit Case
• Peggy Kane Reading Garden
• StoryWalk® at Rotary Park
• Children’s Room Mural

For more information on upcoming WML events, check out their events calendar at https://wilmlibrary.org/.

When: Saturday, 4/12/2025, from 11am to 3pm

Where: Knights of Columbus, 112 Middlesex Ave.

Free admission. Spring shopping event with over 30 local vendors and crafters.

When: 4/13/2025 & 5/11/2025, 9 to 10am

Where: USS Constitution Museum - Boston

Building 22 Charlestown Navy Yard Charlestown, MA 02129

Description: Experience a sensory-friendly morning at the USS Constitution Museum! Learn about the incredible history of America’s Ship of State in a quieter setting, without loud sounds or flashing lights, and before we open to the public at 10 AM. Design a ship, furl a sail, and scrub the decks in our hands-on exhibits that are designed for sailors of all abilities and backgrounds.

This offer is open to visitors of all ages, as well as their friends, families, and caregivers. Registration is required and limited to 35 people. Admission is free but donations are encouraged.

For more information and to register, please visit:

https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/events/sensoryfriendlysunday/

What: Annual Khmer New Year Parade

When: Saturday, 4/19/2025, 12:30 to 1:30pm

Where: The parade will start at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (465 School St, Lowell) and end at Clemente Park (803 Middlesex St, Lowell)

What: 15th Annual Lowell Khmer New Year Celebration at Clemente (Pailin) Park

When: Saturday, 4/19/2025, 12 to 5pm

Where: Clemente Park, 803 Middlesex St, Lowell

Description: Free family-friendly outdoor festival for all to come and celebrate Khmer culture in Lowell, MA.

Event will include:

• Live Khmer Band
• Traditional and Modern Performances
• Public Dance Floor
• Poetry
• Public Art
• Kid's Area (reading, coloring, games)

When: 4/24/2025 through 4/27/2025, show times vary

Where: Shriners, 99 Fordham Road

Visit the Shriners events page for more information.

When: Saturday, 4/26/2025, after 12pm funeral service

Where: Route from Nichols Funeral Home to Wildwood Cemetery site

When: 5/8/2025, 6:30 to 8:30pm

Where: Shriners, 99 Fordham Road, Fez Room

This is a free event offered by Wilmington Memorial Library. For more information and to register to attend, scan the QR code below or visit https://wilmlibrary.libnet.info/event/13103296

4/8/2025, 12pm, Managing Screen Time and Social Media Use

Learning objectives:

• Caregivers will learn how to develop a screen time plan for their kids
• Caregivers will know the specific types of social media use and their associated impacts on mental health
• Caregivers will learn tools for assessment of and changes to social media use

Important information:

All information for the caregiver webinars, including dates/times, Zoom links, presenter information and learning objectives can be found here on this website: https://healthcare.mgb.org/streaming/Live/McLean/McLean_SCS.html

All caregivers of school aged children K-12 and school staff in the Wilmington MA school district are invited to attend. Webinars will be hosted live on their scheduled date and time with closed captioning. If you are unable to watch it live, they will be recorded and available “On Demand” shortly afterwards. The On Demand videos will be found on the same website link above. No pre-registration is required for the webinars.

What: I'm In, What's Next: After College Acceptance

When: Tuesday, 4/15/2025, 7 to 8pm

Where: Virtual

You got accepted to college; congratulations! The big question now is: how will I pay the bill?

After all the hard work, the acceptance and the financial aid letter have arrived. In this session, attendees will review the differences in college financial aid offers, appeals, how to hunt for scholarships, and the use of resources to finalize a family's financing strategy. The session will review important steps to prepare and protect new college students—parents and guardians of college-bound 12th-grade students and those already enrolled.

Pivotal College Years is a chronological step-by-step program that will walk you through the college planning timeline with ease. With a WML library card, you gain access to:

• Insider admissions tips
• Financial aid, college funding and college debt strategies
• Short but powerful “how-to” videos on college applications, best college essays, college interviews, scholarships, and much more!

Register at https://wilmlibrary.libnet.info/event/13155245 This is a virtual program; you will receive the Zoom link on the day of the program.

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. (MPY) is pleased to offer proven resources to help students' families thrive. Explore this curated collection of quick videos and informative handouts thoughtfully grouped by relevant topics. Each segment in the link below is filled with proven, practical, and easy-to-implement video solutions on a wide range of parenting challenges.

MPY is pleased to partner with Peace At Home Parenting to bring you expert resources to transform your parenting experience. Discover valuable insights and strategies to help you manage every aspect of parenting with clarity and confidence. When families thrive, kids succeed at school and parents can focus at work. Peace At Home works with family friendly companies, schools and organizations who understand that helping parents navigate challenges at home is critical to their success.

Click here to access the MPY informational library of videos and handouts. Resources available in English and Spanish.

The Town of Wilmington seeks talented individuals to join the summer Recreation Department team to be Silver Lake Lifeguards. Employment application forms can be found on the town

website at www.wilmingtonma.gov. Note: Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.

More details about the of the position can be found here.

Application process:

Please submit an employment application form to: Brett Sawin, Recreation Director,

Wilmington Town Hall, 121 Glen Rd., Wilmington, MA 01887, or electronically as a PDF to

bsawin@wilmingtonma.gov. Please note “Lifeguard Application” in the subject line.

To apply: https://www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jobId=4787445

For questions, email: andrea.armstrong@wpsk12.com

• Friday, 4/18/2025- No school

• Monday, 4/21/2025- Patriots Day holiday, schools/offices closed
• Tuesday through Friday, 4/22/25-4/25/25- April Vacation Week, all schools closed
• Saturday, 4/26/2025- 2025 Local Election. More info. on Town website
• 👉Where to vote:
• Precincts 1, 2 & 3: Wilmington Senior Center (130 Main Street)
• Precincts 4, 5 & 6: Town Hall (121 Glen Road)

The recently approved 2025/2026 academic calendar can be found on the district website or downloaded here.

Email: glenn.brand@wpsk12.com
Website: www.wpsk12.com
Location: 161 Church Street, Wilmington, MA 01887, USA
Phone: 978-694-6000