The Week Ahead
January 8th, 2026
Happy Friday, Middle School Families and Happy Veteran's Day!
With NWEA scores now available and report cards being issued on November 12th, we wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts about grading, reports cards, and scores. We encourage you to take some time to review both, but perhaps more importantly, to think about how you approach the conversation with your middle schooler.
Middle school is an important time for students to develop ownership of their learning, recognize their strengths, identify areas for growth, and become increasingly comfortable advocating for themselves. Rather than focusing exclusively on a letter grade or test score, we encourage you to use these reports as an opportunity to have a conversation about the learning behind the numbers. A few suggestions:
Start with curiosity, not judgment. Ask your child how they feel about their progress before sharing your own observations. Give them an opportunity to explain what they see.
Celebrate growth and recognize effort. Acknowledge improvements, perseverance, and the strategies your child is using, even when the final result isn't exactly what they hoped for.
Look for patterns rather than isolated results. Are there particular subjects where your child feels confident? Are there areas where they consistently struggle or need additional support?
Ask about the learning, not just the grade. What are you learning right now? What has challenged you? What work are you most proud of? What would you do differently next time?
Encourage ownership and problem-solving. If something isn't going well, ask your child what they think might help. Is it asking for clarification, developing better study habits, seeking extra help, or managing time differently?
Most importantly, remember that middle school is a time of tremendous academic, social, and personal growth. Students are still developing the organizational skills, independence, self-awareness, and learning strategies that will serve them well in high school and beyond. Not every grade or assessment result will reflect their full potential, and not every challenge needs to be solved immediately.
Our hope is that report cards and assessment results become starting points for meaningful conversations rather than final judgments about success. We want students to understand where they are, recognize how far they have come, and begin to identify the steps they can take to continue growing. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping the focus where it belongs: on learning, growth, and helping every student reach their potential.
Here’s what’s ahead…
Jason and Dru
Reminder
Reminder: Large group photos (including the band, chorus, and orchestra) and the 8th Grade panoramic photo will be on November 20th at 8:00.
Help Choose the Next Nutmeg Nominees!
The Nutmeg Selection Committees are seeking students to help select the 2029 Nutmeg Book Award Nominees. Committee members will begin meeting in early 2027 and work together throughout the calendar year to create a diverse and engaging list of books for young readers across Connecticut to enjoy during the 2028–2029 school year before voting for their favorites in April 2029.
Applications are open October 15–November 15.
2029 Intermediate 3-5 Nutmeg Book Award Student Reader Application Open to students currently in Grade 6 or Grade 7.
2029 Middle School 6-8 Nutmeg Book Award Student Reader Application Open to students currently in Grade 7 or Grade 8.
Calling all student artists! The Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) is hosting its Annual Billboard Recycling Contest with this year’s theme: “I RECYCLE! DO YOU?” 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.
