WPS District Updates

Greetings WPS Community.,

Tis’ the holiday season as we turn the calendar and welcome the month of November. While still a little way from the official arrival of the holiday season it has always been the case that, at least in my mind, November and December mark an important time in our calendar to shift our hearts and minds towards thoughts of what we are thankful for in our lives.

It is more than just the celebration of Thanksgiving and perhaps a particular spiritual or religious holiday you and your family might embrace, this time should be one in which we all take a few moments to consider those around us - family, friends, colleagues and loved ones - that we are all the better for their presence in our lives.

As the proud Superintendent of this fine school district, I am forever thankful for the amazing WPS staff we have (almost 500 full and part-time employees) working hard each and every day to serve the children of our community.

I am also thankful for the incredibly supportive parents/guardians and caregivers who ensure their child(ren) come prepared to school each day ready to learn and for their commitment, in both big and small ways, with the important work of education.

I am also thankful for our community partners for their dedication to supporting our work and making what we strive to do each day in our great school system possible.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude for all that the WPS community does, and the enduring commitment made for our students. I look forward to continuing our work together in the coming year.

With Gratitude,

Glenn Brand, EdD

Superintendent of Schools

We are looking to bring together representatives of our school community to be a part of a working group to assist in developing both expectations and policies regarding cell phone use in our schools.

We are hoping to have the following roles serve on the working group with representation from elementary, middle and high school:

• Interim Coordinator of Behavioral Health (Chair of the Group)
• WPS Staff (6)
• Student Representatives (6)
• Parents/Guardians/Caretakers (6)
• Principal/Assistant Principal (3)
• School Committee Liaisons (2)

Meeting Format & Dates/Times:

Most of the meetings will be held virtually on Zoom on the dates listed below:

• December 3rd at 3:30pm
• January 14th at 3:30pm
• January 28th at 3:30pm
• February 11th at 3:30pm
• March 4th at 3:30pm

Interested???

If you are interested in being a part of the WPS Cell Phone Working Group, please send an email to Tracy Ingersoll tracy.ingersoll@wpsk12.com (Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools) no later than 12:00pm on Thursday, November 7. In your email, please identify what role and school you would represent.

Date/Time: Tuesday's at 6:30pm

• 11/19/2024
• 12/3/2024
• 12/17/2024

Location: Most are hybrid (via Zoom webinar and in-person at WHS LGIR), check the project website meeting page for details.

More information about the school building project is available on the project website. Check out the updated FAQ page.

For questions or comments about the project, send an email to wildwoodprojectquestions@wpsk12.com

November 11-15, 2024

Please join us in celebrating our School Psychologists this week. They are vital to helping our students succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally and creating supportive learning environments.

November 20, 2024

Please join us in recognizing the contributions of our Educational Assistants and thank them for their hard work and dedication to our students.

Thank you to all of our Ed. Assistants for creating a nurturing and conducive environment for learning, making it possible for our students to thrive and reach their full potential

November 22, 2024

Please join us in acknowledging the efforts of all of our Substitute Teachers who fill in at our schools over the year. Substitute are part of the team of educators that give our students the gift of knowledge and provide them with the skills to be successful in life.

During October, both the Boutwell and Wildwood Early Childhood Centers were thrilled to welcome visiting authors to their kindergarten classrooms.

These amazing children's book authors were none other than current Wilmington Middle School seventh grade students who wrote the stories as part of their short story unit. Both groups of students (and teachers) loved seeing the interactions and connections between students and hope to make this an annual tradition.

The fall colors are a little brighter, the cider a little sweeter, and SCREEEMFEST a little scarier when experienced with a first-time visitor to New England. We did just that as we welcomed 18 exchange students and two teachers from the Lycée Jeanne d'Arc in Sainte-Adresse, France to Wilmington this October.

The WHS Student Exchange Committee kicked off the eight-day French Exchange visit with an overview of WHS and the “Taste of Wilmington” donut/bagel breakfast. To share a bit of the region’s history, the WHS World Language Department, in collaboration with Hummingbird Student Tours, arranged excursions to Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Harvard/MIT, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Freedom Trail. Wilmington host families then rounded out the experience by providing a myriad of adventures from pumpkin carving, bowling, and camping to visits to the top of the Prudential, New Hampshire, the Celtics game, the Topsfield Fair, the Burlington Mall, and so much more!

An exchange program is far more than a sightseeing adventure however. The French visitors took an equal amount of delight in experiencing typical daily life in Wilmington with their hosts. They attended classes and FLEX activities at WHS, ate cafeteria lunches, rode the big yellow school bus, played basketball together, and - the highlight - cheered on the Wildcats at an American high school football game. (Just like in the movies!) WHS students and staff also delighted in the French students’ and teachers’ participation in our classes, guest presentations about life in Normandy, practicing French and helping with English, and conversations about school life in each of our countries.

Our new friends from Lycée Jeanne d'Arc left us with a few tears, much gratitude, and comments about how warm, welcoming, and truly at home they felt here in Wilmington. The impact of their visit can be felt throughout town as host families hailed, not only from WHS, but from Abundant Life, the North Intermediate, and the wider Wilmington community as well. This ripple effect will continue as our WHS students venture on their own journeys and are hosted by the families of our French friends during the reciprocal portion of the exchange in France this coming April.

This second year of the WHS Exchange Program has reinforced the magic and impact of cultural exchange and inspires us to make exchanges in Wilmington annual events so that even more of our community’s language learners have opportunities to apply the languages they study, learn more about different cultures, and even make a few new friends!

For more information on this year’s French Exchange, or to get involved and help support future exchanges in Wilmington, please contact Terresa Pietro in the WHS World Language Department.

Please join us in the Wilmington High School Library on Thursday, November 14 at 6pm to meet and talk with other multilingual parents. Topics will include the English language program, WIDA ACCESS testing, Wilmington's community resources, and after school programs. Refreshments will be served and interpreters are available by request.

When: Thursday, 11/14/2024, 6:00 PM

Where: Wilmington High School Library, 159 Church Street

For more information about this event, click here.

For all current and future Parent/Guardian University information and event registration, check out the PGU website.

Mike Jones once again hosted Holocaust survivor Janet Applefield on Tuesday October 15th. Over 80 students attended to hear Ms. Applefield share her memories of growing up during World War II. Her presentation was a powerful opportunity for students to hear first-hand about the atrocities committed during World War II. Ms. Applefield concluded her talk by reminding students that they were now witnesses to history and to please share her story. If you are interested in hearing a recording of her talk from 2020, click here.

On Saturday October 19th, WHS Model UN/Debate Club traveled to St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury to participate in their Model UN Conference. WHS students debated the issues of Organized Crime in Latin America, The Cuban Embargo Refining the US Educational System, Greek Mythology: The Stolen Flame of Olympus, North Korea Nuclear Weapons Development and The First Crusade.

Come enjoy the slopes after school with your friends! Refine your skills or learn to ski with Nashoba Valley Ski Area’s five-week group lesson program! Snowboard lessons are no longer offered unfortunately, but children who already know how to snowboard are welcome to attend. Equipment rentals are available as well. Motor coaches pick students up at their school at dismissal time and return to the schools by 7pm for Middle School and High School, 7:30pm for North and West Schools. Rates and details are available on the registration page linked below. Email Megan Collins, Ski Club Advisor, at megan.collins@wpsk12.com for more information.

What: Wilmington Public Schools Ski and Snowboard Club 2025 (for students in grades 4-12)

When:

SKI CLUB TRIP DATES:

Intermediate Schools (Gr. 4 and 5)
Tuesdays:
January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
February 4th

Departure time: Immediately after school. Pick up time: 7:30

Middle School (Gr.6-8) and High School (Gr. 9-12)
Wednesdays:
January 8th, 15th, 22nd
February 5th, 12th

Departure time: Immediately after school. Pick up time: 7:00 at the middle school

Where: Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Westford, MA

Register for Ski Club Here

The last day to sign up your child online for Ski Club is November 27, 2024. Don’t miss out, spaces fill up quickly! Please note, this year's programs are 5-week programs.

What: Parent/Guardian Elementary Literacy Information Night (Grades K-5)

When: Thursday, 11/7/2024, 6:00 to 7:30pm

Where: WHS Large Group Instruction Room, 159 Church Street

Please join us to learn about the literacy programming and initiatives at WPS and how you can support your child’s literacy development at home.
Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQZ6UbnovgfWXDabeiTWqcATio9bAa07scUDvRItSl43jppw/viewform

Please see below for translated flyers.

2024 Literacy Night Flyer with QR Code- Chinese translation

2024 Literacy Night Flyer with QR Code- Japanese translation

2024 Literacy Night Flyer with QR Code- Portuguese translation

2024 Literacy Night Flyer with QR Code- Spanish translation

2024 Literacy Night Flyer with QR Code- Ukrainian translation

2024 Literacy Night Flyer with QR Code- Vietnamese translation

For all current and future Parent/Guardian University information and event registration, check out the PGU website.

This month: November performances by our students.

Next month/Save-The-Dates: December performances by our students.

Seasonal viruses are spreading quickly in the US. The CDC is indicating infection rates for some germs are higher this Fall than previous years. Children with fever, chills and an intense cough may have a specific type of “walking pneumonia” caused by Mycoplasma bacteria. Mycoplasma infections can be detected by chest x-ray and treated with antibiotics such as a Z-Pak. Children with persistent symptoms should be seen by their pediatrician. The nurses in each school are always available for consultation of your child’s symptoms.

Wilmington High School Athletics now has an app available for mobile devices. Search Wilmington Wildcats in the app store. Streamlining all information for athletes/parents/guardians/coaches/fans. You can choose to follow every team or just one. Roll Cats!

Topic: A Deeper Dive Into Anxiety & Depression

When: Wednesday, 11/6/2024 beginning at 12pm

Where: Zoom

https://wpsk12.zoom.us/j/86864868175?pwd=atekgfaaz0CuCUU4BdU3BbqilzsO6n.1

Brief description:

The WPS Social Emotional Learning team invites you to a virtual lunch and learn where we will take a deeper dive into anxiety & depression in children. Our goal is to provide a broader understanding of the concerns, signs & symptoms, coping skills, and options for families facing anxiety & depression.

For all current and future Parent/Guardian University information and event registration, check out the PGU website.

11/13/2024, 12pm, Validation

Learning objectives:

1. Caregivers will understand how invalidation can impact their children's emotional well-being and behaviors.
2. Caregivers will learn how validation can foster emotional well-being, improved communication, and behavior change.
3. Caregivers will observe a validation role play.

3/6/2025, 12pm, Empowering Students for the College Transition

Learning objectives:

1. Caregivers will better understand common stressors and challenges in the college transition
2. Caregivers will learn how to assess individual student strengths and areas of growth
3. Caregivers will learn about the Emotional Preparedness model for college readiness

4/8/2025, 12pm, Managing Screen Time and Social Media Use

Learning objectives:

1. Caregivers will learn how to develop a screen time plan for their kids
2. Caregivers will know the specific types of social media use and their associated impacts on mental health
3. Caregivers will learn tools for assessment of and changes to social media use

Important information:

All information for the caregiver webinars, including dates/times, Zoom links, presenter information and learning objectives can be found here on this website: https://healthcare.mgb.org/streaming/Live/McLean/McLean_SCS.html

All caregivers of school aged children K-12 and school staff in the Wilmington school/district are invited to attend. Webinars will be hosted live on their scheduled date and time with closed captioning. If you are unable to watch it live, they will be recorded and available “On Demand” shortly afterwards. The On Demand videos will be found on the same website link above. No pre-registration is required for the webinars.

What: 2025-2026 FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid

When: Tuesday, 11/12/2024, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Description: This session will dive deep into the specifics of the 2025-2026 FAFSA and what parents and students need to know.

The FAFSA is the gateway to need-based financial aid and many external scholarships. Our annual will review how to complete and file the application to learn about financing expectations and how to uncover valuable financing resources. Tom O'Hare, the founder of Get College Going and a Senior Partner at Pivotal College Years, will walk through the steps students and parents need to take to complete the FAFSA successfully. This is a virtual program; you will receive the Zoom link on the day of the program.

Pivotal College Years is a chronological step-by-step program that will walk you through the college planning timeline with ease. With a WML library card, you gain access to:

• Insider admissions tips
• Financial aid, college funding and college debt strategies
• Short but powerful “how-to” videos on college applications, best college essays, college interviews, scholarships, and much more!

What: Understanding the College Admission Process

When: Tuesday, 11/19/2024, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Description: Walk through the college admissions process with Tom O'Hare, an Independent Education Advisor affiliated with Pivotal College Years.

Applying to college can seem overwhelming and complicated. In this workshop, presented by Tom O’Hare, our seasoned College Advisor, will cover the college planning timeline, how to guide the best student, and ways to minimize stress. Everyone will receive grade-level checklists and ample time to ask questions. This is a virtual program; you will receive the Zoom link on the day of the program.

Pivotal College Years is a chronological step-by-step program that will walk you through the college planning timeline with ease. With a WML library card, you gain access to:

• Insider admissions tips
• Financial aid, college funding and college debt strategies
• Short but powerful “how-to” videos on college applications, best college essays, college interviews, scholarships, and much more!

Workshop registration can be done at www.wilmlibrary.org/events or by calling WML at 978-658-2967.

For local events, activities, and clubs, feel free to check out our district Friday Flyers page throughout the school year at https://www.wpsk12.com/cms/one.aspx?pageId=26924989

In case you missed it, September was Library Card Sign-up Month.

Wilmington Memorial Library is always growing by adding new collections, programs, and services designed to help everyone in our community. And whether you’re upgrading your skills, scouting for knowledge and information, or connecting with other readers, a library card is your key to a collection of resources.

Please use this Library Card Sign-Up Form to access all that WML has to offer.

What: 6th Annual Fall into the Holidays Vendor & Craft Fair

When: Saturday, 11/9/2024, 11:00am to 3:00pm

Where: Wilmington Knights of Columbus, 112 Middlesex Ave.

Free event!

6th year of great fall and holidays shopping, including 30+ vendors and crafters.

The Wilmington Sons of Italy, along with the Wilmington United Methodist Church, would like to invite Wilmington Veterans and a guest to enjoy breakfast at the Methodist Church on Veterans Day, November 11, 2024. Breakfast will be served from 9am until 10:30am. The Veterans Day Ceremony on the Wilmington Common will begin at 11am. Please call the Veterans Office at 978-694-2040 to register.

The reading competition of the year is back! Join WML as they try to win back the Reading Cup against our neighboring library, Tewksbury, for the fourth-annual Reading Rivals competition.

The rules are simple – whichever library logs the most minutes wins. Books, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers and graphic novels all count.

The winning library will receive bragging rights and custody of The Reading Cup for one year, until we all compete again! Keep track of our standing on the Wilmington Memorial Library’s website and by signing up for the WML email newsletters.

Each library will also have their own weekly prize drawings for our participating patrons. Here in Wilmington, the weekly prizes are $20 gift cards to local restaurants! Log at least 5 hours of reading for a chance at our $50 adult prize and $50 youth prize to the Wilmington business of your choice!

Register on Beanstack or download a printable reading log here! Be sure to bring your paper logs back to the library often so we can log your minutes.

All minutes must be logged in by Wednesday, November 27th at 12pm!

What: 14th Annual Festival of Trees by We’re One Wilmington

When:

• Friday, December 6, 9am to 9pm
• Saturday, December 7, 9am to 9pm
• Sunday, December 8, 9am to 12pm

Where: Villanova Hall, 126 Middlesex Ave., Wilmington

WOW's Festival of Trees is back for its 14th year!

Admission is free. The event includes a raffle of holiday trees, wreaths and baskets. Plus enjoy a bake sale, favorite tree contest/ribbon awards, 2024 Wilmington Ornament, annual scavenger hunt with prizes, and photos with Santa. Santa will visit the Festival of Trees on Friday evening between 5 – 9 pm. There will also be entertainment all weekend.

For more information, visit https://onewilmington.org/festival-of-trees/

What: Wilmington Town Museum Open House

When: Sunday, 12/8/2024, 1:00 to 4:00pm

Where: Joshua Harnden Tavern, 430 Salem Street

The Museum's Open House in December will be part of the Holiday Social celebration. Come join the Historical Commission celebrating the coming of winter and the beginning of many festivities. Wreaths and holiday decor will be for sale and colonial and native foods will be available. Come enjoy the time with friends, locals, and feel free to dress in period clothes.

Celebrate with music, refreshments, and holiday cheer!

The Parent/Guardian Advocates for Wilmington Schools (PAWS) is a district-wide group that aims to increase understanding of district initiatives, encourage family engagement, and facilitate communication and collaboration between families and the Wilmington school system.

PAWS typically engages in a variety of activities including virtual interactive events on district matters, updates on Facebook and email on school committee meetings and district initiatives, and the development of materials and resources to help parents navigate the school system and explore complex district topics.

A few ways to engage this school year:

• Get familiar with WPS by exploring the PAWS resource guide, Navigating WPS: A guide for parents and guardians
• Attend town meetings to learn about school committee discussions, school budget requests, and planning for school facilities
• Read through our FAQs and sign up for PAWS communications via:
• Our Facebook group facebook.com/groups/wilmington.paws or
• Email list https://tinyurl.com/PAWS-Contacts
• Emails PAWS at Wilmington.PAWS@gmail.com to let us know if you would like to join the planning team or if there are specific topics that you would like us to explore
  

We wish you all a happy and healthy school year!

From the PAWS planning team

When: Wednesday, 11/6/2024, 4:00 to 6:00pm

Where: Town Hall, 121 Glen Road

Register today by using the link or QR Code below.

https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/wilmington?site=wilmington-town-hall

The Food Services Department is seeking substitute staff to fill part-time hours at the high school, middle school, Woburn Street School, and West Intermediate School.

For questions or to apply, email: Mary Palen, Food Services Director, mary.palen@wpsk12.com

To apply, email: lisa.faretra@wpsk12.com

To apply: https://www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jobId=4787445

For questions, email: andrea.armstrong@wpsk12.com

Email: glenn.brand@wpsk12.com
Website: www.wpsk12.com
Location: 161 Church Street, Wilmington, MA 01887, USA
Phone: 978-694-6000