District Newsletter - Oct 2026

Dear Weston School Community,

I had the pleasure of attending a fantastic United Nations Ceremony at Weston Middle School in recognition of the UN's 81st anniversary. The event was thoughtfully organized by WHS teacher and Model UN Club advisor Renata Roehl and our talented high school students, who led an engaging program for seventh graders highlighting the importance of global citizenship, international cooperation, and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

The ceremony included opening remarks from Ms. Roehl, a reading of the UN Secretary-General's 2026 United Nations Day message, and student reflections on why the United Nations remains important today. WHS Model UN students also shared examples of how our schools and the Weston community contribute to several of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Musical performances by the WHS Chamber Singers and Weston Middle School Band added a special touch to the celebration. Bill Hass, President of the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut, offered concluding remarks, and the event culminated in a flag-raising ceremony led by WHS Model UN students.

It was especially meaningful to see our high school students take the lead in creating such a thoughtful learning experience for our middle school students.

In partnership,

Erica

We are committed to providing clear information about your child's learning and growth. Last school year, we established a K–5 Progress Report Committee to strengthen communication on student progress and better align progress reports, parent-teacher conferences, and classroom learning.

What's Changing This School Year?

During November and March parent-teacher conferences, teachers will engage families in individualized conversations about student learning, supported by classroom evidence, student work, and areas for continued growth.

Families will continue to receive trimester progress reports, with written teacher comments at the end of Trimester 3 summarizing each child's learning and growth throughout the year. This replaces the separate written comments previously provided in Trimesters 1 and 2. This approach prioritizes meaningful, two-way conversations throughout the year, complemented by an end of year written reflection.

Looking Ahead to 2027–2028

The committee will continue redesigning the K–5 progress report for implementation in 2027–2028, with a focus on stronger alignment to grade-level standards in a more family-friendly format.

We value our partnership with families and look forward to these important conversations during our upcoming parent-teacher conferences.

As of October 30, 2026, families can access their child's individual assessment reports online through Portfolio+ in PowerSchool. This feature provides convenient access to assessment results while reducing paper communications.

Fall assessment reports will be available as follows:

• NWEA Math: Grades 1–8

• NWEA Reading (ELA): Grades 3–8

• DIBELS8 Reading: Grades K–3

Additional applicable reports, including Smarter Balanced, NGSS Science, and progress reports/report cards, may also be available. New reports will be added throughout the school year.

How to Access Reports: Click here for step-by-step Portfolio+ Parent Instructions.

Please Note: Reports are accessible only through a web browser, not the PowerSchool app. A desktop or laptop computer is recommended for the best viewing experience. For assistance accessing PowerSchool, please contact helpdesk@westonps.org.

Click this link to visit the policies that establish expectations for our learning communities.

• Code of Conduct – Establishes clear expectations for student behavior and outlines prohibited conduct and the district’s approach to discipline. Our priority is to maintain a safe, healthy learning environment while ensuring disciplinary practices are fair and consistent.

• Hate-Based Conduct – Weston is committed to a safe, inclusive school community where diversity is respected and valued. Hate-based conduct will not be tolerated, whether involving students, staff, or others under the Board’s authority.

• School Culture & Climate – Establishes a framework for creating positive school environments where students feel connected, valued, and supported academically and socially. Through ongoing evaluation, planning, and improvement, our schools work to strengthen student voice, belonging, and success in alignment with Connecticut School Climate Standards.

Honor your graduating senior by planting daffodil bulbs in their name along the front of Weston High School. This beautiful tradition symbolizes growth, renewal, and the lasting legacy of our seniors. Each bulb will be tagged with the 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 all proceeds go directly toward funding school sustainability projects.

You can purchase 4 bulbs for $15 or 8 bulbs for $25. You can either Venmo @westondaffodillegacy (with the student's name & contact information in the caption) OR write a check payable to Weston High School and mail it to Michael Aitkenhead, 115 School Road, Weston, CT 06883. The deadline for purchase is Sunday, November 1.

Together, they’re fostering a culture of environmental stewardship, positioning Weston as a leader in sustainable practices, and empowering students to take meaningful action in their community.

Recently, Green Teams from WIS, WMS, and WHS teamed up to remove invasive species along School Road. A great example of students learning, collaborating, and caring for their community.

Hurlbutt Elementary School’s Early Learning Center (ELC) offers services for Weston’s preschool students with disabilities. 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 only to Weston Families. The program runs five days a week, 8:30 am - 1:15 pm, 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. Positive peer role models are children who demonstrate age-appropriate social, communication, and play skills and can serve as positive examples for their classmates. These children show an emerging ability to follow classroom routines, participate in group activities, interact positively with peers, share materials, take turns, and respond to adult directions. Peer models provide natural opportunities for social interaction, language development, cooperative play, and learning within an inclusive preschool environment. The anticipated cost for the program is at least $9,277, 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 (https://hes.westonps.org/). 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, at 3:00 pm. If we receive more applications than available slots, a lottery will be conducted on November 24, 2026, with notification being sent via email to families starting the week of December 7, 2026. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after the lottery if additional spots remain open in the program.

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.

November 3: Policy Committee Meeting

November 3: Election Day/PD (No school for students, district offices open)

November 4: Curriculum Committee Meeting

November 4: K-5 Parent Teacher Conferences (K-5 Delayed Opening)

November 5: K-5 Parent Teacher Conferences (K-5 Early Dismissal)

November 6: K-5 Parent Teacher Conferences (K-5 Early Dismissal)

November 6: Communication Committee Meeting

November 10: Safety & Security Committee Meeting

November 13: Finance & Facilities Committee Meeting

November 16: Weston Board of Education Monthly Meeting

November 20: Education Optimization Committee Meeting (CANCELED)

November 20: 22: WHS Company Production

Bricks and Mortar is an ongoing communication series designed to keep our community informed about the information and details discussed during the Board of Education’s monthly facilities meetings. This publication summarizes updates, information, and discussions that impact our schools and facilities. Its goal is to promote transparency and connection, ensuring our community stays informed as we invest in safe, functional, and future-ready learning environments.

Click the link below to read all editions of the Bricks and Mortar newsletters.

Please click the button below or use the QR code to access the anonymous reporting system in support of ensuring all members of our community feel valued, respected, and safe.

Weston Human Services offers programs, activities, services, and resources happening in our region to support and promote the health and well-being of Weston youth & families.

• Click here for a link to their page on the Town of Weston website.
• Click here to read current and past newsletters and to join their mailing list.

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