September 2025 District Newsletter

Dear WPS Community,

As I finish my first three weeks in the district, I want to take a moment to share my gratitude and reflections with you. These opening weeks have been centered on learning, connecting, and listening—so I can better understand what matters most to you and gain a clearer picture of our strengths and opportunities.

I’ve had the privilege of visiting classrooms, attending back-to-school nights, cheering at sports events, and meeting with students, families, staff, and community partners. What has stood out most is the pride and dedication I see everywhere. It is clear that this is a district where people care deeply about one another and are committed to helping every child thrive.

Looking ahead, my commitment is to build upon the strong foundation already in place while working collaboratively to shape our shared vision and future. That means keeping students at the center of all we do, supporting our exceptional educators and staff, and fostering strong partnerships with families and the wider community.

Thank you for your openness, kindness, and support during these first weeks. I look forward to working together to ensure the very best for our students.

In partnership,

Erica Forti

Congratulations to Dr. Juliane Givoni!

We are thrilled to announce that Juli has earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree, having successfully defended her dissertation. This remarkable achievement is the result of her hard work, dedication, and commitment to advancing her leadership and scholarship. Please join us in celebrating Dr. Givoni on this milestone accomplishment—we are so very proud of her!

Congratulations to Mark Berkowitz!

Mark has been appointed to the CT Association of Athletic Directors (CAAD) board of control, where he will serve as the President to CAAD. He was selected from a pool of over 200 athletic directors across Connecticut!

This September, HES partnered with the transportation company to emphasize the importance of bus safety for all students. The bus company partnered with Hurlbutt to lend a bus so that children could participate in hands-on demonstrations, learning expectations for safe boarding, riding, and exiting. Our Health teacher, Mr. Spencer Jacoby, led lessons on how to ride the bus safely and responsibly, making the experience both engaging and practical for students. Hurlbutt also partnered with the bus company to ensure clear rules are posted on every bus, helping to support and remind students of safe expectations each day. Hurlbutt held a PBIS assembly focused on bus safety, further connecting these lessons to the school-wide expectations. Our strong partnership strengthened relationships between students and their bus drivers, building trust and respect that carry over into every ride. Guided by the school motto, Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Responsible, learners are beginning the year with confidence and pride in practicing safe travel to and from school.

Weston Intermediate School is off to a joyful start this fall, with smiling students, a special visit from Webster, and exciting news: WIS has been named a Connecticut Blue Ribbon School for 2025! One of only four public schools in the state to earn this honor, WIS was recognized by Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut State Department of Education for academic excellence. This award reflects the dedication of our students, the creativity of our educators, and the strong support of our families and community.

WIS PRIDE is at the heart of our school community. We emphasize Personal accountability, respect, integrity, discipline, and effort. This year, we are highlighting respect. Throughout the year students will be recognized for demonstrating respect with special bookmarks in addition to a gold coin redeemable at our book vending machine, celebrating positive choices and fostering a community where every child feels valued and inspired to learn.

Our fifth graders are especially enjoying exciting new leadership opportunities this year, including running for student council, producing the WIS Daily News, and serving as library interns. We are thrilled to see them step into these roles and grow as leaders in our school community.

We are equally proud of new opportunities in the Innovation Lab. This fall, classes are exploring virtual reality through our “Explore VR” experience, running through October 22. In addition we will offer Open Lab time, where they can pursue individual interests in a hands-on, creative environment. More exciting Innovation Lab experiences are on the horizon, and we look forward to sharing them throughout the year.

Weston Middle School has started our school community work with No Place for Hate. During our recent Pledge Week, all of our students (and staff) participated in the No Place for Hate Pledge Signing. Students led community meetings with each individual team to share the pledge language and why they are committing to sign it. In Connect advisory, students and staff captured hurtful language that we want to banish from our school forever and supportive language that we want to hear more of throughout the year. Students and staff then signed hearts, stars, and shields and wrote messages of unity and tolerance. Finally, everyone posted their pledge to our No Place for Hate bulletin board. This pledge posting was organized as an intentional act that sent the message to our community that we are committed to creating a school culture of safety and belonging for everyone. The entire week was planned and led by students. Their commitment and passion for standing up for what’s right was humbling and inspiring. Go Warriors!

Weston High School began the school year cell phone-free, and our halls are noisy! We're looking forward to our spirit week and Homecoming on October 17th. We have had a lot to celebrate this month! U.S. News and World Report named WHS as the #3 Public High School in Connecticut. WHS is also celebrating the announcement of four National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists in the Class of 2026. Congratulations to Jake Allen, Chloe Liu, Kyler Murphy, and Maximilian Rutkowski.

Washington, D.C. – August 19, 2025 – Weston High School has been ranked No. 3 in Connecticut High Schools among the 2025-2026 Best High Schools by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings evaluate nearly 24,000 schools at the national, state and local level, with nearly 18,000 ranked. The school was also ranked No. 2 in Bridgeport, CT Metro Area High Schools.

The methodology focuses on six factors: college readiness; reading, math and science proficiency; reading, math and science performance; underserved student performance; college curriculum breadth; and graduation rates.

"We believe every student deserves access to clear, actionable data when choosing their educational path,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. “In an era where navigating educational opportunities can feel overwhelming for families, the 2025-2026 Best High School rankings help students and parents identify schools that align with their goals and empower informed decisions that shape students' futures.”

Parents and students can see how Weston High School compares to other institutions and how the rankings are calculated on USNews.com.

Weston Fall athletics is fully underway and the weather so far is on our side. A special highlight was inspirational, motivational speaker Kendrick Moore who spoke at our Captains Circle about the importance of leadership, empowering teams, and living above your expectations.

As part of our commitment to a safe and supportive learning environment, Weston Middle and High Schools will launch the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (ARS), developed by Sandy Hook Promise. This tool allows students, staff, and families to share concerns confidentially, helping us take proactive steps to protect our community.

The program teaches how to recognize warning signs, take action by telling a trusted adult or reporting anonymously, and access 24/7 support through an app, website, or hotline. Ongoing awareness efforts—including student clubs, activities, and special events—will help keep safety at the forefront. Student assemblies at WMS and WHS are scheduled for the week of October 9.

Closed Campus During School Hours

In partnership with the Weston Police Department, the Weston Public School District would like to kindly remind our community that Weston Public Schools are a closed campus during school hours, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This includes the high school track, tennis courts, and all other school facilities. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of our students and staff and to minimize disruptions to the learning environment.

Pedestrians must remain on the School Road sidewalk, highlighted in green on the campus map.
Sidewalks around Hurlbutt Elementary School (HES) and Weston Intermediate School (WIS) are closed to pedestrians from 7 AM to 4 PM. (Excluding access to the Senior Center)
The auxiliary road between Weston High School (WHS) and WIS, and the road leading to the back of Weston Middle School (WMS) are closed to both vehicles and pedestrians during school hours, except for arrival and dismissal times.
See Campus map for reference: 2025 WPS Campus Map

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students and staff.

E-Bike Awareness

Please familiarize yourself and your student with regard to the following restrictions on campus:

No riding on campus between 7AM-4PM (unless transiting to and from school).
No riding through school fields, playground areas, or sidewalks directly adjacent to school buildings.
No charging available on school grounds.
E-Bikes, scooters, and bicycles must be parked and secured to the designated district-provided bike racks.

Effective October 1, there are several E-Bike classification and legal updates to be aware of. Review the chart below.

Click to View Weston Public School's Community Expectations

In partnership with our PTOs, Weston Public Schools welcomed Dr. Marc Brackett, Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, as keynote speaker for the 2025–26 opening convocation. Drawing from his new bestseller Dealing with Feelings (released September 15), Dr. Brackett reminded staff of the vital role emotions play in our own lives, in our students, and in daily interactions.

He recently joined Dr. Becky Kennedy (clinical psychologist and host of the Good Inside podcast) to discuss his research, personal story, and strategies for fostering emotional literacy at home. Their conversation highlights how parents can validate children’s feelings while building resilience and empathy. [Click here to listen]

The Weston Public Schools Portrait of the Graduate defines the skills and mindsets students should develop by graduation—including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, resilience, and responsible citizenship. It serves as a shared vision to guide teaching and learning, ensuring every student is prepared to thrive in college, careers, and life. Click here to learn more about the portrait of the graduate skills and attributes.