WPS District Updates

Greetings Wilmington Community,

Happy New Year!

As we jump into the new year, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to all members of our Wildcat community - students, parents, teachers, staff, and community members - for your continued dedication, commitment and resilience throughout the past year. While I know we have faced a variety of challenges along the way we have also celebrated tremendous accomplishments while working tirelessly to foster a school environment where all of our students can thrive and grow.

The start of a new year brings with it the promise of new opportunities and experiences. Together, we are building a WPS community where excellence in education is not just a goal but a shared commitment. Whether through innovative programs, extracurricular activities, or strengthening our partnerships community-wide, I know we are all committed to providing our students with the best possible future that will help them prepare for the next step in their journey.

As we begin 2025, I encourage all of us to embrace the spirit of renewal that comes with starting another new year. Let’s continue to support one another, celebrate our diverse perspectives and achievements, and work together to make this year even more successful than the last.

I wish you all a Happy New Year filled with health, joy, and endless opportunities.

Here’s to a bright and exciting year ahead!

Warmest Wishes,

Glenn Brand, EdD, Superintendent of Schools

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

• 1/14/2025
• 1/29/2025

Location: Most meetings are hybrid (via Zoom webinar and in-person at WHS LGIR), check the website meeting page for up-to-date information.

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

Join us in celebrating School Board Appreciation Month as we recognize and extend our gratitude for the 33 years of collective work our committee members have dedicated to the wellbeing of our students and families and the betterment of our Wilmington education system.

If you see our committee members around town, please extend your warm wishes:

• Jesse Fennelly
• Jennifer Bryson
• Stephen Turner
• Jay Samaha
• David Ragsdale
• Michael Mercaldi
• Nicholas Golden

School Board Recognition Month is celebrated in January to recognize the work of school board members. The National School Boards Association started the annual observance in 1995.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://wpsk12.ludus.com/index.php

Model UN/Debate Club - St. John’s Prep Model UN Conference

In December the WHS Model UN/Debate Club traveled to St. John's Prep in Danvers to participate in their 19th annual Model UN Conference. All WHS students served in the Congress of historical Vienna Committee.

Academic Decathlon

Members of the Academic Decathlon team competed at their first competition in November. 12 teams with over 100 students competed in various subjects for awards. Rising to the top in the Literature field were Wilmington’s Emma Tarin (2nd) and Pravya Ramesh (5th). The team will continue to prepare for their next ‘Qualifying’ round in February. There the top performing teams will be invited to compete at MIT for the state finals in March.

Last month, the newest issue of the WMS literary magazine was posted at http://wmspawprint.weebly.com/

This issue's theme was TWIRLING INTO WINTER. The club collected submissions of writing and art based on winter and all of its wonderful celebrations of light in the darkness. This wound up being a jumbo-sized issue, full of stories, poetry, nonfiction pieces, drawings, photography, and more, so please check it out!

Overall, 30 WMS students submitted 52 original pieces for this issue. Give these talented kids a shout-out!

On Thursday December 12th, the Traveling Lantern Theatre Company came to Wilmington Middle School to perform "The Story of Scrooge" for the 6th grade students in the auditorium. The grade 6 ELA classes had recently read the Israel Horovitz play adaptation of A Christmas Carol as well as learned drama vocabulary, so this was a great opportunity for students to see an interpretation of the story through a live performance.

The talented actors brought the classic story to life in a dynamic and engaging way, capturing the attention of both the students and teachers alike. With their impressive ability to switch between characters and seamlessly transition through the scenes, the performers made the magic of Dickens’ timeless tale come alive. The students were captivated by the energy and creativity of the show, and it sparked plenty of discussions and excitement afterward---especially seeing some of their classmates be selected to play the roles of Fan, Tiny Tim, and Mrs. Cratchit! It was a fantastic performance.

Thank you to the WMS PAC for funding this amazing opportunity!

Eliana Goldstein was named the WMS Project 351 Ambassador. She will be representing Wilmington for the 2025 calendar year.

Thank you Eliana for your dedication, kindness, and compassion!

As a school community, the middle school came together and gathered 1,423 food items for a Food Donation Collection. These were delivered to the Wilmington Food Pantry to refill the shelves after giving out their December donations.

The middle school participated in a fun and secretive event called "UNDERGROUND SPIRIT WEEK"! While the staff embraced the spirit with themed days like Blackout Day, Ugly Sweater Day, Anything but a Cup Day, and Pajama Day, the students were kept in the dark, making it a fun mystery for them to solve. It was entertaining to watch the kids try to figure out what was happening and guess what the next day's theme would be—some of them even managed to guess correctly!

Thank you to the Tewksbury/Wilmington Elks Lodge #2070 for donating dictionaries to all of the 3rd grade students and educators of the Woburn Street Elementary School and the Shawsheen Elementary School.

When: Friday, 1/3/2025 at 2:30pm

Where: Rotary Park, Wilmington

What: A commemorative ceremony will take place at the Sean Collier Memorial Tree in Rotary Park.

Each year, Town of Wilmington officials lay a wreath at Sean's tree and say a few words, honoring his legacy on his birthday.

Sean, a Wilmington native and MIT officer, tragically lost his life in the line of duty during the aftermath of the Marathon Bombing in 2013. Wilmington officials remember Sean on his birthday, January 3rd or what is now known as "Sean Collier Day" in Wilmington, Massachusetts.

Let us come together to remember and celebrate Officer Collier’s dedication, courage, and sacrifice.

What: PreK to Grade 5 Family Literacy Night

When: Thursday, 1/30/2025, 6 to 7:30pm

Where: WMS Cafeteria, 25 Carter Lane

Come join us for a fun-filled night full of literacy activities and crafts. To help us plan, pre-registration using the QR code is encouraged. All students must be accompanied by an adult. Questions, email melissa.bettencourt@wpsk12.com

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

What: VIRTUAL College Admissions Drop In Q&A

When: Tuesday, 1/14/2025, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Age group: Teens & Adults

Drop in to get answers to your questions about college admissions, from scholarships and funding, to visiting and deciding on the right school for you. This program is presented by Tom O'Hare, an independent education advisor affiliated with Pivotal College Years.

Use this Zoom link to join Tom O'Hare's VIRTUAL College Admissions Drop In Q&A.

For more information about this WML event, visit the library event page.

What: Social Media & Anxiety

When: 1/27/2025 at 6:00 PM

Where: WHS Large Group Instruction Room

No Advance Registration Required

More details available at

https://sites.google.com/wpsk12.com/parentguardianuniversityevents/home

What: Anxiety & Attendance

When: 2/24/2025 at 6:00 PM

Where: WHS Large Group Instruction Room

No Advance Registration Required.

More details available at

https://sites.google.com/wpsk12.com/parentguardianuniversityevents/home

Click here to access the MPY informational library of videos and handouts.

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