What's Happening at Western
Some thoughts for the starting school year
5/15/26
Dear Western families,
I want to start off by thanking our fabulous PTA for spoiling our staff last week during Appreciation Week. Our teachers got so used to all the treats provided each day, that they almost didn’t make it through this week without any! Our wonderful PTA takes great care of our staff and always plans an awesome week. I thank them for supporting the hardest working staff around! The staff especially loved the notes students wrote for them displayed on the big THANKS sign in our front hallway. Our PTA even spent time taking off the notes and placing them on a paper for each teacher, so they could have all the kind notes our students wrote. Pretty awesome of them. Please enjoy the pictures below.
We are getting into the final stretch, and this typically is the time that kids start itching to be done with school and forgetting some of our basic expectations. The staff is also itching to be done with school, but they continue to behave. I sent an email out to 8th grade families earlier today about some challenges we are seeing in that grade. Across all grades, we are seeing students do the following;
Walk into the building holding pastries (e.g., box of munchkins) and large Dunkin' Donuts/Starbuck’s iced coffee or pink drinks. I am sure you all have better uses for your money! These items should not be coming into school.
Wearing smart watches.
Not following the dress code:
When the body is standing straight, clothing must cover the chest, back, torso, stomach, and lower extremities from armpit to armpit (left to right) and down to the thigh. Tops must have a strap and at no time may any part of a student’s buttocks be exposed. Clothing must cover all undergarments. No undergarments may be visible at any time. Clothing may not be see-through.
The wearing of hoods or any other garment covering one's face in school is prohibited, unless medically or religiously required. Students shall not wear clothing advertising alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, nor displaying or suggesting offensive language or imagery.
We are also seeing students in groups during more unstructured times having difficulty following staff directions and being a bit too physical with one another as they play outside. We are monitoring this closely, as we have fun end-of-year activities and trips that we want all our students to be able to participate in, but we need to be certain that they will behave. Their behavior in school will determine if we can trust them during these activities and trips.
Our 8th graders head off to Washington DC on Tuesday, which is such a great trip for our students to experience together at the end of their middle school career. There are a lot more exciting things to come for all grades as the year come to an end.
Enjoy what looks like a fabulous weekend of sunshine and high temps!
Sincerely,
Suzanne
Bravo Band and Chorus Students !
Congratulations to our Chorus & Band students for amazing concerts this week! Thank you to Mr. Brehm & Mr. Wirt for your dedication and hard work in getting your students to perform at such a high level. The audience was very, very impressed! Below are a few videos from each night.
Get out and Play Day
As we continue to support our students’ emotional wellbeing, Western will be holding its annual Get Out and Play Day on Friday, May 22nd. Fun activities are planned for the students to “get out and play” during three periods of the day. Below is a video Mr. Cerruto made to better explain the day.
DC Trip
We are days away from the 8th grade Washington DC trip. Please look out for Ms. Traina’s email with all the details. Most important is that students need to arrive Tuesday morning at 6:00 am.
For those students not attending the trip, the staff has planned 3 days filled with fun activities, including spending the day at the Boys & Girls Club to experience all the new spaces in their beautiful new building.
Care Closet Donations Needed
With our Care Closet open, we are in need of additional clothing and shoes. We are especially in need of girls' clothing for the spring and summer, as well as shoes for girls and boys. Please consider donating as you are cleaning. out your closets at home. Please also share this with family and friends who may also be able to donate. Thank you for your continued support!
GPS Withdrawals
We would rather you not leave us, but if your child will not be returning to Greenwich Public Schools next year, please fill out the GPS Withdrawal Form. While we hate to see you go, we do need to plan for next year as well as prepare for a smooth transition to your next school. If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s school counselor or our Administrative Assistant, Taryn Weiss.
Nominate a Western Difference Maker
A reminder that this year only one staff member from each school will receive the Difference Maker Award each month. I am asking for our staff and parents to help in nominating staff for this award. If you or your child believe one or more staff members make a difference in our school community or in your own lives, please use this link to nominate them and explain why they are deserving of this award.
