February 2026 District Newsletter

Dear Weston School Community,

March is Board of Education Appreciation Month, and it is a privilege to recognize and celebrate the dedicated members of our Weston Board of Education.

Public education thrives when thoughtful, committed leaders serve their community and we are fortunate to have a Board that gives generously of their time, expertise, and energy on behalf of our students and schools.

The Weston Board of Education connects the will of the community to the education of its children. The work they do helps ensure that our schools remain a pathway to opportunity and a promising future. Behind every public meeting is significant preparation. Behind every vote is careful consideration. Behind every long-term plan is a deep belief in the promise of Weston’s children and the strength of our community.

Our Board members serve not for recognition, but because they believe deeply in strong public schools and in the success and excellence of every child. This month, please join me in expressing gratitude for their dedication and service. A simple thank you goes a long way in recognizing the time, care, and advocacy they give to our community throughout the year.

Thank you Weston Board of Education Members!

In partnership,

Background: In April 2025, the district established antisemitism working groups organized around four key areas: Curriculum & Instruction, Social and Emotional Learning, Culture & Heritage, and Accountability. Each working group was tasked with integrating this work, both short- and long-term, into the fabric of school life, focusing on common guiding questions such as: What are we currently doing in our working group area to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate? What needs to be revised, updated, or strengthened? How do we ensure our materials, programs, strategies, and initiatives reflect best practices and align with district goals? How can we strengthen school–parent–community connections and partnerships?

Starting this month, newsletters through the end of the year will provide updates from the antisemitism working groups. This may include sharing work that has been completed, special accomplishments, next steps or areas of focus.

Update from the Accountability Working Group:

• The group’s quick and diligent efforts led to the development and posting of the Code of Student Conduct Summary Chart in July 2025. The Conduct Summary Chart was developed to support of district policies and regulations related to student behavior. The purpose of this resource is to provide staff members, students, and families with clear notice of prohibited conduct, as well as the guidelines and rationale underlying the District’s approach to discipline. Our priority remains maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for all students and staff. By clearly establishing expectations for behavior, the District promotes consistent discipline practices within and across schools, while also ensuring that individual circumstances are thoughtfully considered in each situation. This work supports transparency and clarity for our school community.
• The group also planned for the adoption and launch of the “Say Something” Anonymous Reporting System. In October 2025, the district communicated about the launch of the reporting system and provided training to students on the live system. This tool has been active since then, and students and families can report concerns confidentially. It supports the district in addressing not only antisemitic or hateful behavior, but also other behaviors of concern. This work strengthens the district's prevention and early intervention efforts.

Next Steps

In the coming weeks, the committee will reconvene to discuss the possibility of developing a section of the district website focused on identity, belonging, and social-emotional learning in an effort to centralize critical information about our work, partnerships, and ongoing initiatives.

This Spring, our district is interested in increasing our parent participation on our school climate surveys. These surveys give us valuable insight and feedback from parents that allow us to make improvements to our school and improve family engagement. Please be on the lookout for the school climate survey link associated with your child's school that will be shared in the next week.

We invite you to join us for the March 4th Board of Education Curriculum Subcommittee meeting (9:30–10:30 a.m., virtual) to listen and learn about the exciting teaching and learning work happening across Weston Public Schools.

• Holocaust Remembrance Day
• Black History Month
• World Read Aloud Day
• No Place for Hate Activity #2
• Music in Our Schools Month
• 2026 Portrait of a Graduate Work

March 2 - Board of Education Special Meeting (School Facilities/Campus Revitalization Planning)

March 3 - Policy Committee Meeting

March 4 - Curriculum Committee Meeting

March 6 - Communication Committee Meeting

March 10 - Safety & Security Committee Meeting

March 13 - Finance, Facilities & Operations Committee Meeting

March 16 - Board of Education Monthly Meeting

March 18 - Special Schedule (K-5: Delayed Opening/Parent Conferences, Grades 6-8: Full day; Grades 9-12: Delayed Opening and Grade 12 Portrait of a Graduate presentations)

March 19 - Special Schedule (K-5: Delayed Opening/Parent Conferences, Grades 6-8: Full day; Grades 9-12: Delayed Opening and Grade 12 Portrait of a Graduate presentations)

March 20 - Early Dismissal (Special Schedule (K-5: Early Dismissal for Parent Conferences, Grades 6-8: Full day; Grades 9-12: Early Dismissal for Grade 12 Portrait of a Graduate presentations)

March 20 - Educational Optimization Committee Meeting

March 27 - Professional Development day (no students)

The 2025-2026 district calendar has been updated to adjust for the recent inclement weather days.

June 24, 2026 is the last day of school for students.

We will continue extending the school year in June as needed until June 26. If additional days are required beyond this, we will bring a recommendation to the Board of Education to begin taking days from April Vacation.

Hurlbutt proudly celebrated World Read Aloud Day, a global event dedicated to promoting the joy and power of sharing stories out loud. To make the day even more special, we welcomed many guest readers from other schools in our district, district leaders, and community members—including a volunteer firefighter and representatives from the town library. These visitors shared their favorite books and their genuine love of reading, captivating students and fostering excitement in every classroom. The celebration paired perfectly with the Pop-Up Library stations that Sharon Rodko, our Library Media Specialist has created throughout the building, giving students even more opportunities to discover new books. World Read Aloud Day highlights just one of the many ways we promote a culture of reading all year long, helping children build a lifelong love of stories.

Before our mid winter break, WMS students celebrated Black History Month with a special interactive spoken word presentation from a local organization - The Word Poetry. Students had the opportunity to create collective community poems with every student contributing one line of verse to a grade level poem. In eighth grade, students were asked “What do you want to be known for?” In seventh grade, students connected their study of the novel Bronx Masquerade with the question, “What’s something that people don’t see about you?” In sixth grade, students used the poem “Where I’m From…” as a jumping off point to craft a line about where they are from. All three assemblies taught students about black artists and storytellers and their voice and legacy. Additionally, each assembly focused on student identity - which has parallel connections to our ongoing school work with No Place to Hate.

WHS held a very special and moving Black History Month Assembly on February 12. We have seen time and again the power of our students and staff to support our initiatives and this was no different. It was a morning filled with reflection, celebration, and a deep appreciation for the contributions and legacies of Black individuals throughout history and within our own community. We also want to thank the WHS PTO for their support of our visiting poet laureates who worked with our middle and high school students. Ms. Yex Diaz and Mr. Tarishi Shuler also performed at our assembly yesterday. I want to give a special shout out to 9th graders, Riley Richards and Ahan Ghosh-Rao who worked with Mrs. Holmes, Mrs. Swezey, Mrs. Morris and Mrs. Sullivan to create the assembly which showcased the works of black poets and musicians. They narrated the assembly and provided opportunities for our Jazz Ensemble to perform under the direction of Mr. Brookes and we heard a special message from Louis Morgan, a former WHS student, Class of 2002, who recalled his experiences as a black student in the Weston Public Schools. He is now serving as a Middle School Band Director in the midwest. We look forward to continued programming that further promotes our intentions to support an inclusive and reflective community here at WHS.

As we close out an incredibly successful winter season, we are proud to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our student-athletes across all programs.

Wrestling finished 4th at the SWC Championship, with individual weight class champions Nicholas Jandrucko, Maxwell Lipton, and Julian Smith leading the way. James Lemmis earned a 2nd-place finish, Andrew Foertsch placed 3rd, and Lucas Schaefer finished 4th. At the Class S Championship Meet, James Lemmis and Andrew Foertsch each placed 5th, Max Lipton earned 2nd place, and Julian Smith finished 4th. These athletes have qualified for the State Open this weekend.

Girls Indoor Track & Field captured its 17th SWC Championship in program history — the most in league history. Both the Boys and Girls Indoor Track & Field teams delivered strong performances at the State Open Meet. The Girls 4x800 relay placed 6th, Abby Winslow finished 7th in the 1000m, and Nathan Cassol placed 11th in the Shot Put. The Boys 4x800 relay finished 16th. The Girls 4x800 relay will compete at the New England Championship this weekend.

Both Boys and Girls Basketball qualified for the SWC Tournament and the State Tournament. Boys and Girls Ski each won the SWC Championship, with the Boys Ski team also capturing the Class S State Championship. Members of the Boys Ski team will compete in the State Open on February 26. Boys Swimming is currently ranked 3rd heading into the SWC Championship meet, with the State Championship Meet just one week away.

We are incredibly proud of the dedication, resilience, and competitive spirit demonstrated by all of our winter athletes and look forward to finishing the season strong. We encourage everyone to come out and support them!

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.

Please click HERE 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.

Board of Education Meeting Schedule

Budget

District Calendar

Lunch Menus

PowerSchool Parent Portal

Student Change of Address Request Form

Student Withdrawal Forms