January 13, 2023
“Faith is taking the first step
even when you don't see the whole staircase."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As you know, Middlebrook School is planning to shift to a block schedule for the 2023-2024 school year. Please join me and the deans on Friday, January 20, 2023 from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. in the Middlebrook Library Learning Commons to discuss the process and the new schedule. There will be time for questions and answers after the presentation. Please park in the large back parking lot and enter the building by the rear canopy door. We hope you can join us.
Additionally, at the Board of Education meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2023, there will be further discussion and follow up from the presentation on December 15. BOE meetings are broadcast live on WE TV, Cablevision Channel 78. A Zoom link will be available shortly on the BOE website as well.
Important dates: PTA meeting January 19 9:30 AM
Parent Meeting January 20 8:30 - 9:30 AM
BOE meeting February 2 7:00 PM
BOE Meeting February 9 7:00 PM
Many of you may know Steve Hudspeth, a well-respected and active member of the Wilton community and strong supporter of Wilton Public Schools. Here is a copy of a commentary Steve wrote that was published by The Wilton Bulletin in December. While I encourage you to read the full commentary, I want to share with you one point in particular made by Steve … “Our exceptional teachers help our students to experience firsthand how capable they are of performing extraordinarily whether they’re in the public eye or not.”
This week’s topics:
Repeated for your convenience:
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PTA Reflections Art Contest - entries due January 16, 2023 by 10:00 p.m.
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A Message from Wilton Pride
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A Message to Grade 8 Parent from Wilton High School
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Career Awareness Day - March 30, 2023
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MySchoolBucks for Payment of Participation Fee MySchoolBucks
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Please Join the PTA
Math Placement - 8th to 9th Grade
The placement process for students transitioning to WHS from Middlebrook is underway. The math course placement process for rising ninth graders is designed to provide each student with the opportunity to participate in the math course that is most appropriate to his/her current needs as a learner, and to his/her goals and aspirations for college and career readiness. In addition to Algebra I and Geometry courses, students in Pre-Algebra 8 and Algebra 8 may be interested in and ready for an opportunity to accelerate their math placement. Placement in the Integrated Algebra I/Geometry and Geometry-3/Algebra II-3/Precalculus-3 is by recommendation only. All other math recommendations are made by the grade 8 math teachers. Grade 8 parents will receive a letter detailing the eligibility criteria and process for placement in the accelerated courses early next week. There is also an optional information session scheduled for 6:30 pm on January 23, 2023 at Wilton High School just prior to the WHS curriculum night.
Yearbooks
It is now time to order your copy of the Middlebrook Yearbook for all 6th, 7th and 8th graders! All orders will be placed online this year at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com
Please enter the code 14048623 for our site and then follow the prompts to enter your child's information. All books are $30.00 and must be pre-purchased for delivery in June. There will be no additional copies for sale, so please be sure to place your order by January 31, 2023. Please feel free to reach out to Jess Garcia at garciaj@wiltonps.org with any questions!
Best Thing(s) I Saw/Heard This Week
Our 6th grade Band and Orchestra students shared their talents Wednesday night at a concert for families and friends. The artistic talents of our students were on display as well. Thank you to our student-musicians and their dedicated teachers: Jenny Ginsberg, Michael Gordon, Angelica Jara, and Malcolm Karlan.
Thank you, too, to our talented artists and art teachers: Karen Golder, Sue LaBarbara, and Joanna Lepore.
Repeated for Your Convenience:
MB PTA Reflections Art Contest
The 2023 PTA Reflections Arts contest is underway! This year's theme is "SHOW YOUR VOICE!" It leaves ample room for personal expression while also asking students to think creatively about artistic genre and the senses!
Students can submit in the following arts categories: Photography, Visual Arts, Literature, Musical Composition, Film Production, Dance Choreography and Special Artist! The deadline is Monday, January 16 @ 10 pm.
All entries will be accepted via DropBox at middlebrookreflections@gmail.com. See the PTA web page for complete details: https://www.middlebrookpta.org/reflections. Any questions can be directed to Anastasia Valassis at the above email.
Please join us in supporting the creativity of our children by encouraging them to submit original work!
A Message from Wilton Pride
Wilton Pride is a nonprofit focused on supporting the LGBTQIA+ community in Wilton. Wilton Pride is launching an inaugural event called Ask Me Anything from 7:00-9:00 pm on February 2, 2023 at Trackside Teen Center, in partnership with GSA Middlebrook, GSA WHS, Middlebrook PTA, WHS PTSA, Trackside and Triangle Community Center, and Kids in Crisis.
Geared towards Wilton youth and parents, this educational event will provide an opportunity to hear from a panel of LGBTQ+ representatives, ask questions, and connect with resources in a safe and supportive environment. All members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies are welcome.
Advanced registration is required: - http://bit.ly/askmeanythingwilton
A Message to Grade 8 Parents from Wilton High School
To help grade 8 parents as their students transition to WHS, you are invited to join an orientation meeting on Monday, January 23, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at Wilton High School. Please click here for detailed information on this event. WHS staff look forward to seeing you on the 23rd!
MB Career Awareness Day - March 30, 2023 - 12:45 to 2:50 p.m.
Middlebrook school counselors, in conjunction with the Wilton Education Foundation, are planning the Annual Career Awareness day for all Middlebrook students. This has been an annual event for over 20 years and we are excited to bring it back.
Career Awareness Day focuses on developing middle school students’ awareness of the relationship among the world of work, career preparation and school success. Middlebrook students will have an opportunity to meet and interact with four different presenters in classrooms throughout the school. We anticipate tremendous success, in part, due to parent participation. We invite all parents and guardians to discuss your “career” with our students.
If you would like to participate, please use this link to complete a Google survey. As you generously volunteer your time, please remember:
• Plan on being at Middlebrook on March 30, 2023 from 12:45 pm – 2:50 pm
• You will receive a confirmation email in February
• Our planning staff will assist you to prepare your presentation to the students
If you have any questions, please contact school counselor, Mr. Bill Gerundo, at 203-762-8388, ext 5252, or gerundow@wiltonps.org.
MySchoolBucks for Payment of Participation Fee
Wilton Public Schools is launching a new online payment program called MySchoolBucks, the same payment program currently available for families to make lunch payments to Chartwells. Parents and guardians can now use this format to pay for participation fees for clubs and intramurals. PayPal is no longer a payment option.
To get started with MySchoolBucks, you can log in directly to MySchoolBucks or you can log in to your PowerSchool account: https://wilton.powerschool.com/public/home/html.
If you sign on to PowerSchool, on the left navigation menu select MySchoolBucks, and you will be directed to MySchoolBucks to complete the registration process. If you are an existing MySchoolBucks user, you may be prompted to link your accounts when you first log on.
If you need assistance with your account, please call MySchoolBucks Parent Support directly at 855-832-5226 from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST.
If you have questions or concerns for Chartwells, please call Bill Tomlinson, Food Service Director, at 203-834-4990.
For participation fee concerns or questions, please call or email Karen LaMantia at 203-762-8388, ext 5246 or lamantiak@wiltonps.org.
Please Join the PTA
Link and information to join: www.middlebrookpta.org/jointhepta.
More about SEPTA - you can join there too! www.wiltonsepta.org
As always, we at The Brook continue to be thankful for the continued support of our families.
Stay safe and have a fantastic week!
All the best, always and all ways,
Jory
Jory Higgins,
Principal
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