Superintendent's Fall Newsletter

Welcome back to a new school year! One of the things that makes Weymouth so special is that every one of us - students, staff, families and partners - plays an important role on this team. Just like in the classroom, on the field, or on the stage, success comes when we work together, support one another, and celebrate each person’s contributions.

This year, we will continue to focus on creating schools where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging, where students are inspired to learn and grow, and we are actively partnering with families and the community. Thank you for being a part of this team. When each of us brings our effort, compassion and commitment, our whole community becomes stronger. I am excited for all we will accomplish together in the year ahead.

As the school year begins, we invite you to stay informed about everything happening at Weymouth Public Schools. Below, you will find important acknowledgments, safety information, and additional information that will help you navigate the year ahead. We encourage you to review this information and stay connected with us throughout the year! Thank you for your continued support.

Melanie Curtin
Superintendent of Schools

Every classroom, office, bus, cafeteria, and field is staffed by professionals who care deeply about our children. I’m incredibly proud of our educators, support staff, leaders, and operations teams whose preparation and dedication have made this launch possible. Our schools are special because of the people in them—students, staff, and families—working together.

Student and staff safety remains our top priority. Last week, all schools practiced routine safety drills. WPS, in collaboration with the Weymouth Police Department, has adopted ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) as our training program for surviving violent critical incidents. These age-appropriate drills help us build confident, calm habits that can be used in any setting, not just schools. Lower elementary grades work on exit awareness, evacuating the building, and quietly locking down. Upper elementary through high school practice exit awareness, evacuations and enhanced lockdowns in spaces. ALICE helps prepare individuals to proactively handle the threat of a crisis situation by teaching individuals to participate in option-based strategies that assist in their own protection and in leading others to safety.

Stay in place is used when there is an incident in school that staff, students, and visitors need to remain in the room they are in for their safety and the safety of others. Reasons to use a stay-in-place include medical care, janitorial duties, maintenance, or any other incident that does not pose a threat to staff and students. Principals will message home if there was a need for a Stay in Place in your child’s school that day.

We have been working hard to keep our Wildcats in the know. Please check out the links below to see all of the ways you can stay informed:

• 👍 WPS on Facebook
• 🌐 Our website: www.weymouthschools.org
• 🎒 WPS Back-to-School Guide 2025-26
• 📞 Who to Contact Guide
• 🗂️ District Org Chart
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 School Staff Directories
• 📢 District Communications

Also, be sure to download the WPS App from your app store for district news, calendars, athletics info, contact info, and more!

• Apple App Store
• Google Play

To guide our collective focus, we’re continuing our three districtwide priorities this year:

1. Belonging for Students and Staff
   Every learner and every adult should feel seen, valued, and supported. You’ll see intentional relationship-building, inclusive practices, and positive climate work in every school.
   
   

2. Student Achievement
   We’re focused on excellent instruction, targeted interventions, and meaningful enrichment—so every student grows and meets high expectations.
   
   

3. Family & Community Partnerships
   Clear, timely communication and authentic collaboration strengthen our schools. We’ll keep expanding ways for families and community partners to be part of our shared success.

A huge thank-you to our Parent Councils, Town-Wide Parent Council, and SEPAC for the hours you’ve already invested—organizing back-to-school socials, relentless fundraising, and ongoing engagement that keeps our school community strong. Your leadership makes a real difference in student opportunities and school culture.

We’re excited to welcome Cristine O’Connor as our new Development Coordinator. Cristine is launching and marketing our Athletic Sponsorship Program, designed to keep participation fees down and ensure that every student has access to athletics. Learn more about ways local businesses and community members can partner with us to support our student-athletes.

As the 2025-26 school year begins, work is already underway on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget for the 2026-27 school year. The Weymouth School Committee Budget Subcommittee works closely with the WPS Business Office to review and develop the budget, with opportunities for community input along the way. Meeting schedules, important documents, and presentations will be posted over the course of the year on our website:

• FY26 Budget Documents & Materials
• FY27 Budget Development

We encourage families, staff, and the community to follow along and provide input as we work together to plan for next school year.