Join us on October 23rd when Fran Kompar, Wilton Public Schools Director or Digital Learning will lead two presentations on digital learning in our schools.

The sessions will be held at 9:30 am - 11:00 am and 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm in the Middlebrook Library Learning Commons.

The overall goal of the first parent workshop session of the 18-19 school year is to build parent/guardian's knowledge of devices utilized in "ready-access" environment. Through a guided, hands-on approach the workshop will focus on empowering parents by providing them information on the devices, tools and strategies used in our schools. Included in the session will be an overview of the Chromebook, a review of the most popular digital tools, and a tour of our new Wilton Public Schools website. Finally, we will also provide strategies for monitoring educational work when students are at home, i.e., network security, screen time. There will be an opportunity for a Q&A.

This is the first of four parent workshops scheduled this year, we would appreciate it if parents complete the following Google Form to help us provide upcoming workshops: https://goo.gl/forms/2ImYAggevzQgeSVG2

Students are encouraged to raise concerns about classmates or school safety with an administrator, teacher or other trusted adult at their school. We recognize that sometimes students are reluctant to speak directly to an adult. SpeakUp allows a student to use email as a way to communicate their concerns.  Emails are monitored at all times by trained Gaggle Safety Representatives who evaluate SpeakUp tips and send an email regarding non-life-threatening items to designated school staff. They will also call school officials or local law enforcement if an emergency situation arises.  Read more here.   

Lenore Skenazy returned to Wilton last night to to talk about the "Let Grow Project" which will be adopted this fall in Miller-Driscoll and Cider Mill schools.  The two prongs of the project are Let Grow Free Play groups and the Let Grow Homework Project. 

Wilton schools are committed to the social and emotional well-being of students and recognize how important unstructured play and increased opportunities for independence are to the developing brain.

The Let grow homework project seeks to foster independence in children. Students are encouraged by teachers, to go home and ask their parents if they can do one thing on their own that they have never tried before (for example walk the dog, go to the store, cook something), the student feels proud of accomplishing something new and parents let go of the fear associated with letting their child become a little more independent.

Skenazy said "Our kids aren't in constant danger.  We want to make it easy, legal and normal to give our kids some freedom again."

Kind Campus is an innovative school-based program that strives to educate students, families, faculty, and staff about the benefits of kindness, and then empowers them to create a culture of kindness in their school and beyond. 

The Assembly had a big impact on the students.  Noah, a fourth grader said "Ben's Bells made me realize you don’t have to do a big thing for it to be kind. The talk made me want to be kinder to people to make them feel good. One day I hope to find a bell hanging at the school or in the town”

As an official Kindness Campus, the school has access to a curriculum of resources that enable kindness to be promoted and recognized across the school through a range of activities. Assistant Principal Lauren Catalano has been instrumental in getting the program up and running at Cider Mill "Being nice is important, but being kind is much more important, it is about going out of your way to intentionally show someone that you care.'

Thursday September 30 marks the first day that staff are back in their own building getting ready for the new year.  At Middlebrook the day began with celebrations of each other, recognition of accomplishments and hopes for a great new year. WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) was a tremendous success and was very well received by the new 6th grade students, the 8th grade student leaders were incredible ambassadors for their school. The Zero Waste initiative goes into its second year. It's success at Middlebrook has made this a new district-wide effort.  Digital Learning is also entering it's second year at each school.