Week Ahead-October 23, 2026

Dear Families,

We had beautiful weather for Run for Life. It was wonderful to see so many of our families on South House field before school. We hope last week inspired you to make time for physical activity in your busy days. Making time for exercise with a friend has social emotional benefits as well as physical health.

If you haven't signed up for a parent-teacher conference yet, please sign up this weekend. Our teachers are preparing for conferences, and our goal is for 100% of our families to attend conferences. Check your email for sign-up information from the classroom teacher.

Next weekend is Halloween. It will be an exciting Friday at school with our Halloween parade and classroom parties. Please review the Halloween section in this newsletter.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Our annual Run for Life program at Hurlbutt took place this week. Thank you to all K-2 students and families who participated in this walk-jog-run event in the mornings. Students also participated during their physical education classes this week outdoors and were able to enjoy the beautiful weather.

The children earned a point for their class for every lap of the South House field they complete. The class with the most laps at the end of the week will win the grade-level Run for Life banner. The banner will be proudly displayed in the classroom for the rest of the year. The winners will be announced on Monday. Stay tuned for this exciting announcement next week.

Our goal is to demonstrate to our students the positive effects of aerobic exercise on mental alertness, emotional well-being and cardiovascular fitness. Thanks again to the parents, students, and friends who joined us!

Wyatt Hallgren

Spencer Jacoby

Physical Education Staff

Hurlbutt Elementary School’s Early Learning Center (ELC) offers services for Weston’s preschool students with special education needs. Since there are no general education preschool classes in the school district, we have developed an integrated program to include peer models. The ELC is open to Weston Families only. The program runs five days a week, 8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., with parents expected to provide transportation. To participate in the ELC, children must be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1, 2027, and toilet-trained. The anticipated cost for the program is at least $8,277 and the final amount will be shared with families in the Spring of 2027.

Applications for Hurlbutt Elementary School’s Early Learning Center (ELC) are now available on the Hurlbutt Elementary School website. To locate the application, click on the “Academics” tab, then “Preschool,” where you will find the link to the Preschool Application. You can also access the application directly at this link: ELC Application.

We are accepting applications from October 23, 2026 through November 20, 2026 (closing at 3:00 p.m.). If we receive more applications than available slots, a lottery will be conducted on November 24, 2026. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after the lottery if additional spots remain open in the program. Students who are currently enrolled in the 3’s class do not need to reapply for the 4’s class. Students currently in the 4’s class who are not age eligible for kindergarten next year do not need to reapply. Students who are already in the program remain in the program until they are age eligible for kindergarten.

An in-person informational Open House will be held on November 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Please RSVP to alisonbrett@westonps.org if you are interested in attending.

We are pleased to invite you to our annual parent & guardian math workshops! Our goal is to help you understand the math your child is learning and allow you to better support their learning at home. These sessions will be interactive and hands-on, so come excited to learn some new ways to think about mathematics!

• Kindergarten: Tuesday, December 1st, 9:15-10:30 AM
• 1st & 2nd Grade: Thursday, December 3rd, 9:15-10:30 AM

Reservations are needed and space is limited, as we need to know how many sets of materials to prepare. Please note the sessions are grade-level specific. If you have students in both grade bands, you can sign up using both forms or pick one of your choosing.

Please respond via Google Form below by November 17th.

• Kindergarten SIGN UP HERE
• 1st & 2nd Grade SIGN UP HERE

If you have any questions please reach out. We look forward to seeing you!

kellydelvecchio@westonps.org

Math & Science CIL at HES

Thank you to all our parent volunteers! We have a few reminders:

• Books circulate for 2 weeks.
• Books can be renewed by the students bringing it back to school.
• Students can have up to four books checked out at a time.
• Students that already have 4 books checked out or an overdue book will be asked to place a book on hold. That book can be picked up by the student any school day by returning the needed book(s).

Any questions or concerns? Please contact our librarian at sharonrodko@westonps.org.

Thanks for your help in guiding our young learners to be responsible library patrons!

Honor your 2nd Grader by planting daffodil bulbs in their name at Hurlbutt. Started in 2023 at WHS, the Daffodil Trail grows with each graduating class, we are excited to extend this tradition down School Road!

This beautiful tradition symbolizes growth, renewal, and the lasting legacy of our 2nd Graders. Each bulb will be tagged with your student's name and will bloom in the spring — a tribute they can visit and cherish for years to come. All bulbs will be planted this fall by students in WHS’s Sustainable Living class and will benefit the WPS sustainability fund.

Thank you for helping us grow a greener future — one daffodil at a time.

Bulb Options:

• Set of 4 bulbs (1+ ft of trail) — $15
• Set of 8 bulbs (2+ ft of trail) — $25

(You may purchase any quantity — larger groupings make a more striking display!)

Order Deadline: Friday October 30, 5pm!

The Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) is hosting its Annual Billboard Recycling Contest with this year’s theme:

“I RECYCLE! DO YOU?”

HHRA Contest Link

Students are invited to create artwork that inspires our community to take action, protect our environment, and practice proper recycling. Winning designs earn cash prizes and will be featured on regional billboards, giving local students a chance to see their artwork displayed for thousands to see! Official templates HERE and contest guidelines are available through this HRRA link.

All entries must be completed on the official template and returned to your teacher or school main office by Monday, November 16, 2026. Let’s show our community how our school recycles right!

Students may ask their teachers for the proper template or click this link and print a copy of the HRRA template. We are looking forward to some great art!

If you have any questions please contact Michael Aitkenhead (contest district coordinator) at michaelaitkenhead@westonps.org.

Official Template

Rules

Thank you for your generous donations toward our flag fundraiser for veterans. Your donations have helped us earn 24 flags for Hurlbutt Elementary School's Field of Flags display in November, and we've almost reached enough donations for another set of 24 flags for our field! Each flag in the Field of Flags honors a different hero, and behind each flag is a unique story — a story about courage and freedom, a story about sacrifice, and a story worth honoring.

Additional donations may be made through our Hurlbutt Elementary School Field of Flags donation page before November 1. For every $250 raised, we’ll receive 24 flags to display ($500 = 48 flags, and so on). Our students will appreciate the visual reminder of the flags displayed at our school, honoring our veterans.

Funds raised through Field of Flags supports the Disabled American Veterans mission of keeping our promise to veterans, their families, and survivors. DAV assists veterans by helping them gain access to the medical, financial and educational benefits they’ve earned along with connecting them to meaningful employment opportunities. All services are provided free of charge. Learn more about DAV’s programs and services at dav.org.

Open to all CT Residents in Grades K-12

Treasurer Erick Russell, Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), has announced that the 2026 CHET Dream Big! Competition will run from August 19, 2026, through November 6, 2026.

The competition is open to all Connecticut residents in grades K-12. As part of the Dream Big! Competition, students in grades K-12 submit essays, videos, and artwork based on a question about their dreams or how they can help their communities.

This year, $350,000 in prizes will be awarded as CHET 529 College Savings Plan Account contributions, along with technology prizes to Connecticut schools.

Please visit chetdreambig.com for more information on prize structure and awards.

Please use School Dismissal Manager to inform us of your child’s dismissal plans (linked below):

• Early Dismissal Days: ALL dismissal plans must be updated before 10:00 a.m.
• Regular Dismissal Days: ALL dismissal plans must be updated before 1:00 p.m.

• Early Pickups for Appointments: Please select "Leaving Early Coming Back" or "Leaving Early, NOT Coming Back" in Dismissal Manager if your student needs to leave for an appointment.
• Frequent/Daily Car Pickups: We have yellow name cards going home in your child's backpack today if your child is using frequent/daily car pickups. Please place the card on your dashboard while you are in the pickup line to help facilitate a smoother process as our security specialists announce your arrival. *Please remember to specify which adult is picking up your child in Dismissal Manager's Parent Pick-up/Car line option.*
• Students Riding the Bus Home With a Friend. When deciding whether to use this option, please consider their age and ability to handle this privilege. Please do not have more than two students ride home with your child for an activity or playdate. Many of our buses have full routes, and buses cannot accommodate large groups of students on the routes. All dismissal plans must be made prior to the school day. Unexpected changes to student plans cause anxiety for our students and disrupt the school day.
• Weather-related or other program cancellation communication will come from the individual program groups. Please keep an eye on your email, especially if the weather is not favorable to outside activities. You will need to update student Dismissal Manager plans before 1:00 p.m.

Halloween is almost here! Our students are so excited about their costumes and the events of the holiday. The Hurlbutt community will be holding our annual Halloween parade and classroom celebrations on October 30, in the morning. It is tradition at Hurlbutt for our ELC and kindergarten parents/guardians to be invited to our parade. Detailed information about the parade procedures were sent to ELC and kindergarten families this week.

• When planning costumes, please be mindful that students are parading, and they need costumes in which they can easily move around the building.

• Weapons (toy guns, knives, etc.) are not permitted. Students should come to school dressed in their costume, ensuring that these outfits allow for full participation in school activities, including recess and physical education.

• Masks and headwear should not obstruct vision. These items can make it difficult for students to see and maneuver the curbs and steps. Many students choose to wear their masks on their heads, which is a great solution.

• Halloween is one of our four classroom parties that includes food. Room parents will be coordinating snacks with our classroom teachers. We are an allergy alert school, and food allergies will be considered when planning food in the classroom. Our district wellness guidelines ensure healthy snack choices during these events. Each class will have a limited number of volunteers to support classroom crafts and activities during their classroom celebrations. These volunteers have been coordinated between the classroom teacher and room parents.

• For health and safety reasons, please do not send candy to school following Halloween. These treats are more appropriate to be enjoyed at home under your guidance. Students are not permitted to share food in school.

Bus Drop-Off Reminders

• Kindergarten students must be met at the bus stop by a parent or caretaker. If no one is there to meet a kindergartener, the bus driver will bring the child back to school. The school will call home so the child can be picked up at school by a parent or a neighbor or a babysitter who has been designated as an emergency contact on the emergency information form.
• 1st and 2nd grade students: Per the Board of Education policy, the bus drivers will drop off 1st and 2nd grade students even when an adult is not present. Bus drivers will not force a child to get off the bus if the child is uncomfortable or worried. They will return them to school and a parent/guardian will be contacted.

"Snacks": Our students refer to these items as "snacks," and these supplementary food items should not be considered as meals. Please consider what your expectations are for your child and begin to share them with your student in conversations.

Recommendations:

• Clarify Expectations: Children at this age benefit from direct, simple language, such as:
• "You may buy one cookie on Tuesdays only."
• "You may choose one snack item after you eat your lunch."

• Distinguish Drinks: Please note the different milk and drink options. Clear language with these choices helps students, such as:
• "You may only purchase the regular milk. You may not purchase juice."
• If you child is buying a school lunch, it comes with water, milk or chocolate milk. Organic milk can be purchased for an additional cost.
• Avoid Food Sharing: We instruct our students to not share food or buy food for other students. You can help us by reinforcing that expectation.

• Check Your MySchoolBucks Account: We recommend you check your MySchoolBucks account at least once a week to review your student's purchases and lunch balances. Students with negative balances will not be able to purchase a la carte items. Students are always able to buy lunch even when their balances are negative.

• October 23: ELC Preschool Applications for Lottery Open
  (3:00 p.m.)

• October 30: Halloween Parade

• November 3: Election Day/No School (Prof. Development)
• November 4: K-5 Delayed Opening/Parent-Teacher Conferences
• November 5: K-5 Early Dismissal/Parent-Teacher Conferences
• November 6: K-5 Early Dismissal/Parent-Teacher Conferences
• November 20: ELC Preschool Applications for Lottery Closes (3:00 p.m.)
• November 25-27: Thanksgiving Recess/No School

• December 1: Kindergarten Parent & Guardian Workshop
• December 2: Picture Make-Up Day
• December 3: 1st and 2nd Grade Parent & Guardian Workshop

• HES Home Page
• Weston Public Schools
• School Dismissal Manager
• MySchoolBucks
• Power School