Weekly Wildcat

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Dear Western families,

One of our staff’s most favorite weeks of the year has come to an end, and we appreciate all that was planned for us this entire week. We started off by being pampered with our first-ever chair massages which was a wonderful way to start off the week. It's the first time I ever had to tell the staff to stop running in the hallway as they raced to make sure they did not miss their appointment. I, myself, may have knocked a few people over on my way to my massage (just kidding). The rest of the week was filled with lots of food: a catered lunch, taco truck, a breakfast truck. Watching the pure joy on the faces of our staff as they heard the announcement that an ice cream truck was outside waiting for them Wednesday afternoon was a sight to see. We really are just big kids who have the same reaction as a 5 year old when we see an ice cream truck. Thank you to the PTA and all the parents who donated to make this week so special for our staff. And a special shout out to Lee Morgan for coordinating Teacher Appreciation Week. We joked that she was another staff member this week as she was here almost all day everyday! We really appreciate your support.

Well, this week is showing that spring may actually be here (don’t look at the forecast for this weekend, though). With warm days coming our way more regularly, that means that our students will be arriving at school in shorts, t-shirts and tank tops to beat the heat. As the mother of three teenage girls, I know how hard it is to walk into a store these days and find appropriate clothes that do not show straps or too much skin. However I have managed to make this happen and ask all parents to give their child a look over before they leave the house to make sure that what they are wearing is something you would have them wear to visit their grandparents or their favorite aunt/uncle (because we know there is always a favorite). This also includes anything written on shirts. For those that are not wearing appropriate clothing for school, we have extra shirts that may not be as fashion forward as their regular clothes. We appreciate your support with this.

As we enter the weekend that includes one of the most important holidays of the year, please make sure to recognize the wife, mother, sister, or aunt in your life that most likely takes care of everyone else before herself. Not sure how I ended up hosting a Mother’s Day barbecue both days this weekend at my house. I am sure many of the mothers out there are hosting their own special day, because, let’s be honest, if we don’t plan it, who will? I am hoping I can at least watch others cook the food and have someone bring me a plate for once!

I hope you all have a nice weekend and spend some quality time with your family. Only 26 school days left, not that we are counting or anything.

Suzanne Coyne

suzanne_coyne@greenwich.k12.ct.us

(203) 531-5700

• Tuesday, May 14th: Spring Band Concert, 7pm-8pm, Auditorium
  

• Wednesday, May 15th: Theater Club to Broadway, 9:30am-6pm

• Saturday, May 18th: Krispy Kreme Donut Sale

Our newest Distinguished Teacher, Ms. Johanna Kolar, was recognized yesterday at the district ceremony. Eighth grader, Gabryella Carvalho, made a touching speech as the student who nominated her for this honor. It is always special when one of our students nominates their teacher, because it shows the direct impact that teacher has had on him or her. The Western community is so proud of Ms. Kolar and we are so lucky to have her at our school.

Western Middle School reinstated our Reading Buddies program last week. Students in Mrs. DeRosa & Mrs. Jacowleff's Advisor Bases spent weeks practicing active reading strategies, curating book selections, and building welcoming strategies to use with young children. On Friday, a local preschool came to Western and our students used their skills to pair with a toddler and read aloud to them. Both the middle school and preschool students loved the experience and we expect to continue the program throughout the spring in hopes of promoting literacy and a love of reading at all levels. If anyone wants to see their less-than-pleasant teenager turn into a puddle as they see two and three year olds enter the building, come stand in the hallway the next time the preschool visits. You will see all the adorable qualities of your teenager come to the surface.

We have finished our full-school testing days for the Smarter Balanced Assessments. Your children did an excellent job taking the test seriously and trying their best. Teachers were impressed with the amount of notes students were taking while reading and scrap paper used for their math calculation. Any students who need more time or who were absent on any testing days will be pulled over the next 3 weeks to complete the testing. Thank you, again, to the PTA for providing healthy snacks for our students each day.

A reminder to please complete the annual GPS Family Survey that is being sent to all families today. While it should only take 2-3 minutes of your time, please take the time to make sure your responses reflect your child’s experience at Western. We take these surveys very seriously and will use the results to set goals for the coming year to ensure we are improving upon any identified areas. As I said in my last email, the competitive side of me is seeking to beat all other schools in the percentage of parents who respond. Please help me feel like a winner!

Below, find two upcoming district workshops for parents. The details for each are also on the GPS website:

Saturday, May 18, 2024 - from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: North Street School

RSVP is required by May 13th.Limited to 20 students, PreK-12.

Only 1 adult per child is permitted

CLICK TO RSVP

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

11:00 am-12:30 pm

Location- Town Hall – Cone Room, 2nd Floor

CLICK TO RSVP -Please RSVP BY May 15th

Space is limited to 25 participants! Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis!