Westbrook Middle School

Greetings Westbrook Families,

Happy Friday to you all. Thank you for pausing to read a quick update about the week behind us and the weeks ahead of us.

Highlights from Last Week

WESTBROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL

One of our district goals is to foster a culture of belonging and connectedness for all. Education is an iterative process, and we are always looking for the most effective way to promote inclusion and help our kids become ever more well-adjusted as they grow. We are excited to announce that Westbrook Middle School has adopted the Character Strong Curriculum this year to enhance our students' social and emotional learning experience. With the help of Assistant Principal Amy Gallagher, who successfully applied for and won a grant to purchase this comprehensive program, WMS is taking a significant step forward in our commitment to fostering positive social and emotional health. This initiative directly supports our Portrait of a Graduate continuum, the important aforementioned district goal as well as our district-wide Social Emotional Learning vision by providing students with research-backed strategies and tools to help them grow both personally and academically.

Character Strong, a curriculum specifically built by educators for educators, features 35 virtual lessons for each grade level from 6th through 8th grade. The program offers an easy to implement evidence-based approach, while also including school-wide challenges designed to positively impact our school's culture and climate. Additionally, Character Strong addresses critical topics such as bullying prevention, safety lessons, and other policy-driven subjects that meet state requirements. This vertically-aligned curriculum will provide our students with consistent, meaningful opportunities to develop the character traits and emotional intelligence skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

After much anticipation, the lower-level air conditioning project at Westbrook Middle School is finally complete! The highly awaited "A/C crank" happened this past Thursday, and the entire middle school is now fully air conditioned. Our typically calm and collected middle school staff and students can now truly meet the idiom standard of being cool, calm, and collected. As one teacher eloquently put it, “More learning and less sweating is never a bad thing.” On behalf of the staff and students, I want to thank our superintendent, Board of Education and all of you for supporting this project. This comfortable learning environment will enhance teaching and learning experiences for everyone in our building.

There is no better way to see your child’s artwork than by setting up Artsonia! Artsonia, an online platform and digital gallery, tracks and displays student artwork and allows students to upload, view, share, and preserve their art.  Artsonia's mission is “to bring communities together to celebrate children’s artistic expressions.”  We hope you join to see all the WMS Visual Arts department has to offer. Click this link to get started.

Middle and high school staff are collaborating to ease 8th graders’ transitions to Westbrook High School. Students received a comprehensive verbal WHS introduction and overview on September 22nd. This will be followed up with a physical campus tour on October 17th. This partnership ensures incoming students discover the many opportunities and programs our high school offers before making this important academic transition.

WMS Upcoming Dates to Remember

WESTBROOK HIGH SCHOOL

As part of our district goal to integrate Portrait of a Graduate practices into our day-to-day operations, last week's Spirit Week certainly put our "Creative Thinker" attribute to the test…perhaps a little too well. Throughout the week, students showcased their creativity through monochrome dress-up days, twin costumes, role reversals where students dressed as teachers (and vice versa), and most memorably, Thursday's “Anything But A Backpack Day" challenge. There was ample evidence of our teachers promoting creative thinking, especially after witnessing the ingenious (and in some cases concerning) contraptions students devised to transport their Chromebooks and textbooks. From coolers and laundry baskets to repurposed pet carriers and what appeared to be a small sled-like wagon train, our hallways resembled a post-apocalyptic supply convoy more than a typical school day. It is safe to say that we will be focusing on the other five Portrait of a Graduate attributes for a while. Despite the creative chaos, it was a week filled with incredible school spirit. As students participate in today's Field Day activities, they are undoubtedly practicing perseverance, social awareness, and hopefully some responsible decision-making.

WHS Upcoming Dates to Remember

WESTBROOK SCHOOL COMMUNITY: LOOKING AHEAD

We are committed to achieving our goal of 95% average daily attendance and limiting the number of our students who are chronically absent. Strong attendance is the foundation of academic success. We understand that, from time to time, students do get sick. The state provides guidance to families to help know when to send them and when to keep them home. See the When is Sick too Sick for School flyer here.

Project Grad ’26 and PTSO at WHS/WMS

Project Graduation, the WHS PTSO and the WMS PTO are up and running for the ’25 - ’26 school year. I frequent many of these meetings, and I can tell you that they need more runners! As a long-time educator, I have always been grateful for the support of our parent/teacher/student organizations. The support over the years does make our teachers feel seen, heard and appreciated for their efforts on behalf of your kids. Consider attending a meeting, making a donation or clicking on the next SignUpGenius that finds its way to your inbox. Many hands make light work, and our parent volunteer organizations need your hands.

For Westbrook Middle School families, the PTSO will meet next virtually on November 19 at 6 PM. Please contact Laura Furcolo to get involved.

WHS parents meet live in the WHS library at 6:30 PM. Their next meeting is on October 28. Please contact Jennifer Fineza to get involved.

WESTBROOK ATHLETICS - GO KNIGHTS!

If you can believe it, we are approaching the halfway point in our Fall seasons at WMS and WHS. 

Important Reminders

• Athletes who arrive at school after 10:20 AM may not participate in athletics that day. 
• Athletes may not fail more than one course to remain eligible for participation. 
• Please be sure to pick up athletes promptly at the end of practices and games.
• Contact District Director of Athletics, PE, and Health: Caitlin Eichler 860-399-7099

Athletic Trainer Update
Welcome our new athletic trainer, Emily Gorki!  Ms. Gorki started with us on Monday, September 22nd and has been visiting all teams and introducing herself all week.

Westbrook Athletics Honored at CIAC Sportsmanship Summit 

On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, ALC members in grades 10-12 will represent Westbrook at the 19th Annual CIAC Sportsmanship Summit, themed Mission: Possible - The Sportsmanship Protocol. Student leaders from across the state will join together to celebrate sportsmanship, leadership, and teamwork. 

The Westbrook Athletic Department will be honored with both the Michael's Cup Award and the Fred Balsamo Scholarship Award at the summit! 

• Fred Balsamo Sportsmanship Award: recognizes schools whose programs promote tolerance, acceptance, and respect. Applications are evaluated based on program impact on student development, alignment with the CIAC Class Act program, and the program's reach among students and athletes. 
• Michael's Cup CIAC Award: honors Connecticut high schools that demonstrate exceptional commitment to sportsmanship and community service, primarily through the CIAC's Class Act program and highlights schools that foster a positive climate and empower students to be active contributors to their communities. 

Congratulations to our ALC members and celebrating this achievement for Westbrook Athletics! 

Westbrook Middle School

Schedule Changes:

• Thursday, October 2 - Home game vs. Amity Regional Junior High School-Orange has been moved to an away game on Tuesday, October 7 at 4:00 PM. 
• Friday, October 3 - New Home Field Hockey Game vs. John Winthrop at 4:00 PM. 
• Thursday, October 9 - Home Boys Soccer Game vs. Haddam-Killingworth has been moved to Monday, October 20 at 4:00 PM. 
• Thursday, October 9 - Away Girls Soccer Game at Haddam-Killingworth has been moved to Monday, October 20 at 4:00 PM. 
• Wednesday, October 15 - Field Hockey Game vs. Haddam-Killingworth canceled (H-K does not have a team this year). 
• Tuesday, October 14 - New Away Field Hockey Game at John Winthrop at 4:00 PM. 

WMS Athletics - Fall Photos

Friday, September 26 at 2:35 p.m. – WMS Fall Sports Photos

Photos will be taken by PC Sports. Please know that all pictures can be purchased online. Each athlete will be given directions on how to order pictures and will receive a personal QR code on the day of the photoshoot. When your athlete gets home, please scan the QR code and sign up to view the pictures. Once the pictures are ready, you will receive an e-mail, but only if you have signed up.

Uniforms for Picture Day

• WMS Girls Soccer: purple game jersey, purple shorts, purple socks (changed from initial email)
• WMS Boys Soccer: purple game jersey, purple shorts, purple socks  (changed from initial email)
• WMS Field Hockey: black game jersey, black skirts, black socks

Picture Times (WMS Gym)

• 2:35–2:50 p.m. – WMS Boys Soccer
• 2:55–3:10 p.m. – WMS Field Hockey 
• 3:15–3:30 p.m. – WMS Girls Soccer 

Westbrook Middle School Athletic Program Information 

WMS Fall Sports Game Schedules* and Important Links

·  WMS Boys Soccer Schedule

·  WMS Girls Soccer Schedule 

·  WMS Field Hockey Schedule

·  Today's WMS Athletic Games 

·  Westbrook Middle School Athletics Website

·  Alternate Transportation Form 

*subject to change—please check regularly for updates

Westbrook High School

Schedule Changes:

• Friday, October 10 - Girls Soccer Away Game at Haddam-Killingworth has been changed from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (bus departs WHS at 4:30 PM). 
• Saturday, October 11 - Away Game at Killingly High School has been moved to Saturday, October 18 at 10:00 AM (followed by a JV game). 

Special Games

Field Hockey:

• October 8 – Officials Appreciation Game
• October 15 – Pink Game (away at Morgan) 
• October 21 – Senior Game and Stick it to Cancer Game

Boys Soccer:

• September 29 – Officials Appreciation Game
• October 1 – Pink Game 
• October 4 – Senior Game

Girls Soccer:

• October 2 – Pink Game
• October 16 – Senior Game

WHS Game Schedules* and Important Links:

·       WHS Boys Soccer Schedule 

·       WHS Girls Soccer Schedule

·       Wild Knights Field Hockey Schedule  

·       MSW Football Schedule

·  Today's WHS Athletic Games 

·  Westbrook High School Athletics Website 

·  Alternate Transportation Form 

·  Following a Team on ArbiterLive

*subject to change—please check regularly for updates

Thank you for your continued support of Westbrook Public Schools as we aim to deliver an exceptional education that empowers every student to explore their passion and purpose. 

Sincerely,

Mr. Talmadge

Principal