October 11, 2024
In The Loop
Greetings Westbrook Families,
Welcome to the next edition of In The Loop. It is good to be number 1, Chef’s sauce was boss, there are only four days until it is time to sign up, and it was once again time for eighth graders to break out of the box. I am writing about all that and much more in this week’s memo. Stick around, and I’ll Loop you in.
Recognition for WMS
Recently, Westbrook Middle School was listed as the #1 best public middle school in Middlesex County. The ranking was published by niche.com, a website that helps students and families find schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces in the United States. Niche ranks, grades and rankings are calculated using dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews. While this is not a ranking or grade assigned by an official educational institution like the CT State Department of Education, it is nice to be recognized publicly for some of the wonderful things happening within these walls. Check out their website to take a deeper dive.
Pasta Dinner
We had an excellent turnout yesterday for the Pasta Dinner. Thanks to the efforts of Amy Spagone, Monica Selmont, teacher and staff helpers, the Parent Teacher Organization and all who donated raffle baskets, everyone had a delicious meal and an enjoyable late afternoon. Importantly, we were able to raise some money for the PTO who acts selflessly in support of our students and staff. Proceeds from events like this provide aid to our kids and our teachers in a multitude of ways, so, for those of you who attended, I want to thank you for supporting the annual Pasta Dinner and events like this. Additionally, this is a great opportunity to thank the PTO for showing gratitude to staff as well as empowering students with resources and opportunities throughout the year. As a tasty side note, I have heard from several folks that chef Andrew’s 8-hour magic pasta sauce was outstanding!
Mountain Workshop
On October 22, our students will engage in a variety of team building activities that will allow them to flex their physical and mental muscles. Team building activities are important for building trust, enhancing communication skills, boosting morale and much more. Mountain Workshop has developed a team building curriculum that is in line with our Portrait of a Graduate, and students will get to utilize their creativity and critical problem solving skills as they persevere whilst grappling with some gnarly, fun problems. The hope is to have high temperatures and higher spirits as students work, learn and grow together. Students need to submit a permission slip to participate. They were sent home with students, but in case you never saw it, here they are. You can print, copy and send back with your child if needed.
Mountain Workshop Waiver - English
Mountain Workshop Waiver - Spanish
Mountain Workshop Waiver - Portuguese
Conferences
Conference sign ups start in four days! Conferences will be held on October 22 and October 24. Conferences are 12 minutes long, can be virtual or in-person and will be conducted during a four hour window (between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.) on both the the 22nd and the 24th. Signing up for conferences is done on a first-come, first-served basis and must be completed through the School Appointments website. Please see this important memo for further details about signing up and participating in parent/teacher conferences.
Athletics
The middle school campus continues to buzz with excitement as fans gather to cheer on Westbrook's Purple Knights! Although the seasons are set to wrap up in the next three weeks, there are still plenty of games that athletes and fans are looking forward to – celebrating the growth and development that comes with middle school sports. Each game is a valuable opportunity for young athletes to learn, improve, and come together as a community.
You are invited to stay connected with all the thrilling action by following the Westbrook Athletics Facebook Page and Instagram Page (@wpsknights). There, you can view photos capturing the excitement! Don’t miss out on any of the fun—let's rally behind our teams as they strive for success in these final weeks of the season!
Reminder to Sign Up - Fall Sports Photos
- Each athlete received a paper with a personal QR code after picture day last Friday. When you have a moment, please scan the QR code to sign up for viewing the pictures. You will receive an email notification when the photos are ready, but remember, you must sign up using the QR code to access them.
Important Boys Soccer Reminder:
- There is no practice on Friday, October 18th.
Important reminders for all fall athletes:
- No games or practices will be held on Friday, October 11th (early dismissal)
- No games or practices will be held on Monday, October 14th (no school)
- No games or practices will be held on Tuesday, October 22nd (early dismissal)
- No games or practices will be held on Thursday, October 24th (early dismissal)
Up-to-date schedules
Important Links
Contact Information
- PK-12 Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Health
- Athletic Trainer
upDates
October 14 - No School
October 22 - Mountain Workshop
October 22 & 24 - Parent Teacher Conferences (12:15 p.m. early dismissals for students)
October 30 - Coast Guard Band Field Trip for Sixth Graders
That just about does it for the October 7 - October 11 Loop. Before I sign off, I need to tell you about the Outsiders Experience at WMS. There is an unofficial rite of passage for our eighth graders that demands a bright spotlight. Annually, our eighth grade students dress up as either a member of the Greasers or the Socs (from the novel The Outsiders) as they engage in a cross-curricular, problem-solving lesson to open a Breakout Box. Students use their knowledge of the literature, collective library savvy and collaborative skills to literally crack the case (open the Breakout Box). If you have an eighth grader, I’m sure you heard all about it, and if you don’t, they are in for a treat when they get to ELA in grade 8. Mrs. Fredrickson and Mrs. Goad have truly created a memorable experience with this lesson. In fact, the experience will continue into December this year as our students head to Broadway to view the critically acclaimed, Tony Award winning Outsiders musical at the Jacobs Theatre. The Outsiders Experience also provides some of the most fabulous pictures of the year. Click here to see the pictures from the Outsiders Experience, the PTO Pasta Dinner, Unified Sports at Coginchaug and much more. Students only get one chance at a middle school education. At Westbrook Middle School, we aim to make it the best education possible. Consider yourself Looped in.
Sincerely,
Matt Talmadge
Principal
Westbrook Middle School