A Week Ahead

Dear WIS Families,

October seems to be flying by! As we head into the final full week of the month, I wanted to share a few of the themes we’ll be highlighting at WIS. While these may have official names and designated weeks, they really come back to the everyday things we want for our students: feeling safe, treating others with kindness, making good choices, and learning to be responsible and caring members of our community. Our children are still learning and practicing these skills, and our conversations at home and at school make a big difference.

This week is National School Bus Safety Week, with the theme “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes.” Our bus drivers are an important part of our WIS community, and we are grateful for the care they provide to our students each day. Please take a moment to thank your child’s bus driver and remind your child that the bus is an extension of school. Staying seated, using an appropriate voice, keeping hands and feet to ourselves, and following the driver’s directions all help ensure that everyone has a safe and positive ride home.

Wednesday, October 21, is Unity Day, a day dedicated to kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and belonging. These ideas connect beautifully to our One School, One Read book, Wishtree. As we continue talking about Red, Bongo, and the many ways the characters learn to look out for one another, we encourage you to continue those conversations at home. Ask your child about the book and consider talking together about what it means to include others, notice when someone may be feeling left out, and be an upstander when something doesn’t feel right. A simple question like, “How did someone in the story help another character feel like they belonged?” can lead to a wonderful conversation.

We are also recognizing Digital Citizenship Week, which provides an important opportunity to talk with our children about safe and responsible technology use. Our students are still young, and they need adults to stay involved in what they are seeing, doing, and experiencing online. Please continue to check in regularly about technology use at home; what games they are playing, what they are watching, who they are communicating with, and what they may be encountering online. A simple reminder is: Think Before You Click. Think Before You Post. Helping children pause, ask questions, and come to a trusted adult when something feels confusing or uncomfortable is an important part of keeping them safe.

Three simple messages, safe rides, kindness and inclusion, and responsible choices, can make a big difference when we reinforce them together at school and at home. Thank you for partnering with us, for having these conversations with your children, and for helping our students continue to grow into thoughtful, responsible members of our WIS community.

Kindly,

Jen

We all have places to be, but our number one priority is safety. Please be patient and wait for the students in front of you to safely load before exiting the pick-up line. A few extra moments of patience help keep everyone safe!

We are officially about two-thirds of the way through our One School, One Read journey with Katherine Applegate’s Wishtree! Our students have really connected with Red, the wise old oak tree who serves as both the narrator and the heart of the community. At this stage in the story, the plot has deepened. Red has taken a brave leap by breaking the "rule" to talk to Samar and Stephen, and we are learning more about the history of the tree, the animals that call it home, and the big challenges facing the neighborhood.

Here are some more ideas on how you can stay involved and spark a quick conversation about the book at the dinner table or on the drive home:

• Why do you think Red decided to speak to Samar and Stephen, even though trees aren't supposed to talk to humans?
• Which animal living in Red is your favorite so far? Is it Bongo the crow, the opossums, or the skunks? Why do you like them?
• The word "LEAVE" carved into Red was hurtful to Samar and her family. How did Red and the animals respond to that act of unkindness?
• If you could tie a wish onto Red on May 1st (Wishing Day), what would your wish be for our school or community?

Our students have already earned 25 paws for showing WIS P.R.I.D.E! We will celebrate our first milestone with a cozy fall pajama day next Friday, October 23rd!

We have two new student-led clubs starting next week that are open to all 4th-graders! Next Wednesday, October 21st, will be the first meeting of the Comic Club and the Fuzza Design and Card Collectors Group. Both clubs will meet at 7:50 AM in the WIS Library. All 4th-graders are welcome. Students do not need to register for these clubs in advance. Please do not drop your child off prior to 7:50 AM.

On Tuesday, November 11, WIS will come together for a special Veterans Day Assembly at 9:00 a.m. to honor and recognize the men and women who have served our country. We are grateful to welcome veterans from our WIS community and their families as we learn about the meaning of service, sacrifice, and gratitude.

If your child would like to invite a veteran family member or loved one to attend, please complete the Veterans Day RSVP form so we can plan accordingly.

We look forward to honoring those who have served and making this a meaningful day for our WIS community.

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 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. Each teacher will be given official cardstock templates for their students. Let’s show our community how our school recycles right!

Students may ask their teachers for the proper flyer or click this link and print a copy of the HRRA flyer. We are looking forward to some great art!

If you have any questions please contact Crystal Brooks by email at crystalbrooks@westonps.org.

Official Template

Rules

With your help, we can ensure disabled veterans' sacrifices are not forgotten and that they are able to live their lives with respect and dignity.

DAV's Field of Flags is a national community campaign organized by Disabled American Veterans (DAV) that empowers individuals, schools, and organizations to display patriotic fields of American flags to honor local veterans and raise funds for ill, injured, and disabled service members.

Each flag in the display represents a specific veteran and serves as a personalized tribute to their courage, service, and sacrifice. Money raised through sponsorships goes directly toward life-changing services for veterans in need and their families.

The most popular campaign is an outdoor planted flag campaign–hosting a field of flags outside. A minimum of $250 must be raised in order to mail an outdoor flag kit to your address of choice.

Read more on their FAQs website page here.

P.S. If you collect cash or check donations, use this form to mail them to DAV National Headquarters, 860 Dolwick Drive, Erlanger, KY 41018, ATTN: Remittance Processing/DAV Field of Flags Fundraiser.

Click on the Donate Here below to donate!

Open to all CT Residents in Grades K-12

Treasurer Erick Russell, Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), has announced that the 2026 CHET Dream Big! Competition will run from August 19, 2026, through November 6, 2026.

The competition is open to all Connecticut residents in grades K-12. As part of the Dream Big! Competition, students in grades K-12 submit essays, videos, and artwork based on a question about their dreams or how they can help their communities.

This year, $350,000 in prizes will be awarded as CHET 529 College Savings Plan Account contributions, along with technology prizes to Connecticut schools.

Please visit chetdreambig.com for more information on prize structure and awards.

This cheer squad composed of 3rd and 4th grade girls came in first at the CTYFC cheer competition at the CT convention center in Hartford last Saturday! Way to go!

• School Dismissal Manager

• MySchoolBucks
• Weston Public Schools
• WIS Home Page
• Power School
• Inside the Classroom HERE (Curriculum Updates)

October

• October 23- Cozy Pajama Day and Wishtree Celebration
• October 30- Halloween Celebration

November

• November 4-6- Parent/ Teacher Conferences
• November 4- Delayed Opening
• November 5- Early Dismissal
• November 6 - Early Dismissal
• November 25-27- Thanksgiving Recess