April 2026 District Newsletter

Dear Weston Education Community,

As we welcome the arrival of warm weather, there is a renewed sense of energy and optimism across our district. The longer days and sunshine bring with them a special kind of excitement, and it has been a joy to see our Green Teams and spring sports teams back outside, fully engaged in their seasons. Their dedication, teamwork, and school spirit are on full display, reminding us of the many ways our students thrive beyond the classroom.

With less than two months remaining in the school year, this is an especially meaningful time for our educational community. It is a time for reflection and celebration, as we recognize the hard work, dedication, growth, and accomplishments of our students, staff, and families. From awards assemblies and concerts to community festivals and fun end-of-year events, there are countless opportunities to come together and celebrate all that has been achieved.

These moments not only highlight individual success, but also reflect the strength and connection of our district community as a whole. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in making our schools such vibrant and engaging places to learn, grow, and excel. I look forward to finishing the year together, with so much to celebrate.

In partnership,

Erica

The SEL Working Group includes school team members from all four schools (administrators, classroom teachers, and mental health providers), and a parent representative. We met in October, January, and March, and our next meeting is scheduled for June. We are working to strengthen, align, and streamline our SEL practices across all four schools. We have discussed what successful SEL programs look like at each school, how we build strong connections between students and staff, and how schools are integrating different programs and initiatives (Restorative Practices, RULER, Responsive Classroom, DBT Steps-A, etc.). In addition to making explicit connections to the CASEL Framework, we will also review Connecticut's Components of Social, Emotional, and Intellectual Habits to align our SEL work and priorities. The committee will continue to work collaboratively this school year and beyond to refine and strengthen our SEL practices, ensuring that all students and staff feel connected and supported within our schools.

Thanks to the collaboration and hard work of the Green Teams across all four schools, our district is being recognized by the COEEA CT Green LEAF Schools program with the “Mighty Oak” designation! This is an incredible achievement as our district is only the second in Connecticut to earn this honor, AND it’s being awarded to all of our schools, not just one. A wonderful example of teamwork and commitment to sustainability across our entire community!

COEEA will hold a brief recognition ceremony at 1:00 PM during EcoFest at Lachat Town Farm—come celebrate with us!

In addition, the winners of the HRAA Recycling Billboard Contest will be recognized at 12:00 PM.

A Day of Environmental Celebration & Education!

Join us for ECOFEST, Weston’s biggest green celebration of the year! Held at beautiful Lachat Town Farm, this FREE, family-friendly event brings the community together for a day packed with live student performances, great food, hands-on activities, local vendors, environmental education, and fun for all ages.

Bottle & Can Drive. And just added …. A Book Drive
Bring your redeemable bottles and cans! For every 25 you bring, you’ll be entered to win a drawing of $250!! Proceeds from the drive help support and sustain this free community event. Also, Kiwanis is hosting a book drive so donate your unused books.

Live Performances

Enjoy live music from talented local student performers throughout the day.

Line up: Niki Grodin, The Four Souls, Eliot Thompson Band, and The Breakers

Activities & Highlights

• Awards & Recognitions of Weston’s ‘Environmental Heroes’ & Accomplishments
• Live Animal Showcase by Christine’s Critters (1:30pm)
• Interactive eco-talks and demonstrations: bee-hive demos (12pm & 2pm), fishing fly-casting tutorials, organic biochar gardening, gas free lawn care, & more!
• “Trash Talk” and recycling presentation by Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) (12:15pm)
• Special guest talk/presentation from the Wolf Conservation Center (11:15am)
• ·Energize CT Smart Energy Living Exhibit (for adults and families)
• A vegetable seedling and native pollinator seedling plant sale.

• Kids activities: games, crafts, face painting, scavenger hunt, nature exploration, and more!
• We’re also selling Kites to decorate and fly on the hill, and ‘Build-a-Birdhouse’ kits for you to build and bring home!
• Art Contest hosted by Weston Arts: Theme 'Together We Can Save The Earth'

Food & Vendors
Bring your credit card to explore a variety of food options and browse local vendors and community organizations focused on sustainability, conservation, and green living. Go here for a list of our vendors and participants. ECOFEST 2026 VENDORS

Brought to you by:
Lachat Town Farm, Town of Weston, Sustainable Weston, Weston Public School Green Teams, and Weston High School Sustainable Solutions students.

USEFUL LINKS:

Full event details: ECOFEST 2026 LINK

Event Flier with detailed schedules and an event map: ECOFEST 2026 FLIER & MAP

And a short promotional video from your beloved LORAX: ECOFEST LORAX VIDEO

Come celebrate, learn, and take action—see you at ECOFEST!

• How to contact and partner with college disability offices
• Available supports and services in higher education
• Required documentation for accommodations
• Strategies for building students' self-advocacy skills

May 1: Communication Committee Meeting

May 3: ECOFEST (Lachat Farm, Weston CT)

May 4: Board of Education Special Meeting

May 5: Policy Committee Meeting

May 5: WHS Choir Spring Concert

May 6: WHS Orchestra Spring Concert

May 6: 2026: Curriculum Committee Meeting

May 12: WMS Chorus Spring Concert

May 13: WMS Band Spring Concert

May 14L 2026: WMS Orchestra Spring Concert

May 15: Education Optimization Committee Meeting

May 15: Finance, Facilities & Operations Committee Meeting

May 18: Board of Education Meeting (CANCELED)

May 19: WHS PPS Parent Meeting

May 20: WIS Chorus Spring Concert

May 21: Art Jam

May 22: K-12 Early Dismissal (Professional Development)

May 25, 2025: Memorial Day (School/District Office Closed)

May 27: WIS Orchestra Spring Concert

May 27: HES/WIS PPS Parent Meeting

May 28: WIS Band Spring Concert

This month Hurlbutt puts a spotlight on our amazing PTO. (Parent Teacher Organization) This group of volunteers helps us in so many ways. In April, our PTO organized and ran the Holi Color Festival this past weekend. Families gathered on the South House field for a colorful explosion of joy, music, and dance as we came together to celebrate the spirit of unity, love, and new beginnings. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is a vibrant festival celebrated in India and across many South Asian communities, symbolizing the arrival of spring, joy, and the triumph of good over evil. It's a time to let go of the past, embrace the present, and spread happiness in every shade of color. Our families enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of throwing vibrant powders, learning a few Bollywood dance moves, and making unforgettable memories with friends and family. Events like this help bring awareness to the many cultures, traditions, and celebrations that make our community unique. By learning from one another and sharing meaningful experiences together, we strengthen our school climate, build connections among families, and celebrate the diversity that enriches our school each day.

Weston Intermediate School students marked Earth Day with creativity, collaboration, and inspiring connections across grade levels. Fourth grader students took part in the Rain Gutter Regatta, upcycling everyday materials to design and race boats, blending environmental awareness with hands-on engineering and plenty of excitement. Meanwhile, fifth grade students were engaged by Weston High School Independent Science Research students, who delivered dynamic presentations on topics ranging from Earth and space science to genetics. With support from staff, the high school presenters made complex ideas accessible and exciting, leaving our younger students both inspired and curious. Together, these experiences highlight the innovation and meaningful connections growing along School Road.

Eighth grade students recently participated in a Career Fair where they learned about the professional journeys and daily responsibilities of Weston Middle School parents. Students had the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of professions including in the fields of law enforcement, finance, leadership, and entertainment. The day began with a keynote address from Mrs. Lauren Parzych, the Vice President of Creative Partnerships at NBC Universal. Four breakout sessions followed. Students were encouraged to ask guest presenters questions such as "What did you learn in school that helps you most in your job now" AND "What advice would you give a student interested in this career?"

WMS also participated in a third No Place for Hate activity - focused specifically on what it means to be an upstander. Students met in multi-grade small groups to learn upstander strategies, discuss upstander behavior within specific scenarios, and create a toolkit for how to be an upstander. One powerful moment during this activity was when students and staff spoke directly about how past hate language and symbol incidents have affected them.

Stacey Greenberg's Honors Science Research Class presented their Research Projects to students at WIS. The class designed a gallery walk for WIS students to present and, in some cases, interact with their science research projects. WHS students put a lot of thought into the gallery walk and even created a sticker passbook for WIS students to collect stickers at each project stop.

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.

Click the link below to read all editions of the Bricks and Mortar newsletters.

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.

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