Congratulations Class of 2020!
Westbrook High School is committed to educating all students to achieve their unique potential as 21-st century learners. Faculty and staff value collaboration and reflection in order to provide instruction that engages all students in an equitable learning environment.
Westbrook High School believes that students learn best when they are actively engaged in their learning experiences and encouraged by a safe, supportive school climate that nurtures social connections, emotional well-being, academic skills, and personal integrity.
Students will meet expectations by:
Academic
Social
Civic
Our deepest apologies to Alexandria Young and her family for being inadvertently omitted from the commencement walk. Alex is one of our most accomplished and respected students in the Class of 2020. The Graduation Committee accepts full responsibility for the unfortunate omission and has resposted the edited ceremony video in its entirety.
Sincerely,
The Graduation Committee
Please read the attached document regarding the superintendent search process, or visit the district website at https://www.westbrookctschools.org for more information.
All Westbrook High School students are required to read ONE grade-appropriate book of choice over the summer.
This Summer Reading 2020 Informational Packet includes all 2020 Summer Reading information, plus where to find your summer reads.
Happy Reading!!
Message from the Superintendent:
Everyone:
The press release below is the letter that was sent to superintendents yesterday from Commissioner Cardona. It reflects the Commissioner’s concerns and his certainty that we, as educators, may be strong voices in helping children and families process the turmoil and emotionally-charged atmosphere they are seeing and experiencing. The Commissioner’s letter (now press release) below includes a roster of excellent resources to assist students, families and community members in dialogue around the issues of racism, hatred, and violence; now risen to frightening levels across our country. These resources and information will be placed on our School District Home Page. I am urging administrators to please send the Commissioner’s letter and its roster of resources to each school’s faculty and staff so that where appropriate, they may assist our students and families, as well as one another, to navigate the emotionally-charged coverage. As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you.
Pat
Patricia A. Ciccone
Superintendent
860-399-6432
Message from Commissioner of Education:
For immediate release: June 2, 2020
Dear Connecticut Education Community:
The protests and riots that are taking place across our country are the culmination of several tragic, high profile and disturbing acts of violence against people of color at the hands of police. It’s inescapable that our children and students have also seen and heard about the unrest and root causes on TV, on the internet or social media, in a school setting, or from their friends. Processing and making sense of the emotions that incidents of racism and violence, and the consequences, evoke can be very difficult for all of us regardless of our age. Likewise, engaging in meaningful, developmentally appropriate conversations with our children and students about these issues and events presents an understandably sensitive challenge for many parents and educators.
If we are to prepare our students to become productive members of a diverse society who embrace diversity and foster school communities in which all members feel valued, respected and safe, remaining silent on these current events is not an option. As adults and educators, we must be proactive about making this a teachable moment by addressing issues of racism and inequity head-on. It starts with ensuring children and teenagers know their schools are safe places to learn and grow. It involves providing age-appropriate information to allow them to cope with and form an understanding of upsetting current events as well as asking what they may understand already about the situation and, just as importantly, listening to their perspectives. It’s also critically important that Social and Emotional Learning is implemented systematically is schools, homes, and communities and that adults and students work together to apply the five SEL competencies of: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills.
As we find the academic year drawing to a close, we at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) feel a very real sense of urgency to make sure our educators and families are supported and have the necessary tools needed to have these conversations and promote anti-racist learning environments.
I am sending you the following resources to provide teachers, students and parents with insights and strategies to help engage in a dialogue about racism, hate, violence, and other tragic events that children may hear about at school and/or see on the news. Together, as leaders, as educators, as adults, we can ensure our school communities are learning environments in which all students feel valued, respected, and safe to learn and grow.
In Partnership,
Miguel A. Cardona, Ed. D.
Commissioner of Education
State of Connecticut
Written Materials
SERC Racial Equity Online Discussions
On the following Thursdays from 4:30–5:30 p.m., participants in these facilitated online discussions will have the opportunity to share their perspectives around a specific topic. All are welcome! Please register separately for each session.
CSDE Leadership Webinar
Dear Parent/Guardians:
I am writing to inform you that the Westbrook Public Schools will be closed until further notice, beginning at 4:00pm today. At this time, we are prepared to say schools will initially be closed minimally for two weeks. Please be aware that our ongoing guidance updates will keep you apprised of any need to extend our closure time frame.
On the advice of our local health departments, school superintendents in southeastern Connecticut have come together to make a decision to put the health of our communities (both school community and the community at large) at the center of our decisions to close schools. We have been advised by state and local health authorities that the implementation of social distancing measures is a proven science-based intervention that has been shown to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with communicable disease outbreaks. In the past, communities in which schools were closed as preventative measures were able to positively impact and reduce the spread of disease. We felt compelled to make this decision to prevent the spread of illness among our students, staff, and our communities.
We also clearly heard that we cannot confirm that this illness will run its course in two weeks; in fact, it is not likely that it will. We made the determination to make this closure “indefinite” based on that information. This decision was made in consultation with and with the support of the health departments, elected officials and emergency management professionals.
There has been much discussion about the concept of distance learning during prolonged absences. At this time the Connecticut State Department of Education has discouraged districts from utilizing this approach due to concerns over instructional consistency (especially in the early grades), equity of access both intra-district and inter-district, disruption of special education services, and multiple employee contractual issues. We will continue, during this school closing time frame, to seek ways to provide supplemental education to our students. Should we be able to utilize a distance learning model as we go forward, we will notify parents, students, and staff members of how this will be implemented and when it will be initiated, if at all.
At this time, please be advised that you will be updated on relevant information that is received and vetted from our public health directors, the CDC, and other state officials. Please continue to monitor our district website and email to ensure receipt of the most current information. My next official School Closure Update will come to you by end of day (4:00pm) on Friday, March 20th. Of course, should relevant information be made available sooner, I will update you as needed.
Thank you for your consideration of this important information. As our public health depts. have reminded us, it is important to remain calm and informed.
Sincerely,
Patricia A. Ciccone
The link below will open a survey that has been designed to give you a chance to provide valuable input toward improving our distance learning education program. Specifically, we are seeking your feedback (and that of your student(s) in a separate survey) in areas of curriculum delivery, ongoing interactions with school staff, as well as special education and social/emotional support. Our goal to improve our continuity of education program starts with our commitment to engaging all of our stakeholders. Please take a moment to fill out this very brief survey to help us pinpoint areas that can be retooled to more adequately meet everyone’s needs.
Your privacy is of the utmost importance. All response information will not be linked to the responder and will be kept confidential in any aggregate data reporting.
Link to parent and guardian survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdM-FRX3msxmG28fB6U343nnf_dzz7ycyo7uBOwg1aGcQRrOw/viewform
We are so pleased to recognize, honor, and celebrate your academic achievements and efforts!
Much continued success!
Please click on the link below to view the video:
In October, Westbrook High School renewed its New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation. Read the newspaper article written about the visit, as well as NEASC's final report, both available below.
