German classes, in connection with their house and family unit, cultural unit on Bavaria, and house/fairy tale projects, have again created Gingerbread houses!  This project also aligns with the "How Sweet it is in Wilton" Gingerbread competition taking place at the Wilton Library.  

Student creations were on display in the lobby TODAY, December 18th during periods 4, 2, advisory period and 8.  The German Honor Society also sold Gingerbread, Candy Canes and Hot Chocolate at the display, for $1. They will be selling Gingerbread again tomorrow in the cafeteria during lunch.

 The play, which premiered on Broadway in 1936, still resonates today and is a popular High School Production.  Written by George Kaufman and Moss Hart it tells the story of the collision between an eccentric family and a more establishment one and how they reconcile their politics and differences and eventually get along. 

The cast played to an appreciative audience in the High School Little Theater. The production is directed by WHS English and Theatre Arts teacher Heather Delude and assistant directed by WHS junior Brielle Flavin.

High School students enjoyed the annual pep rally on Friday ahead of Saturday's Homecoming. Students were entertained the WHS band; the school mascots danced. Each fall sports team was introduced and interviewed about their team's fall performance, the homecoming court paraded around the basketball court ahead of the annual staff student basketball game. Despite a valiant effort, the staff team lost.

 7R student Kieran Lenihan was crowned Middlebrook Geography Bee champion at the school final held on Wednesday January 15th. Kieran had to hold his nerve in a tough battle for first place with 8R student Anderson Campbell.  This is Kieran's second year in the school final. Kieran studied hard for the competition and will now compete in the state final on March 27. We all wish him the very best. 

Saturday December 14th marked the first debate tournament of the year for the Connecticut Middle school Debate League. Twenty-two middle schools in Connecticut fielded teams in the competition. Middlebrook had a very strong showing with 60 students taking part. Each student is part of a debating trio. The question, or proposition is announced in advance of the tournament, giving each student 3-4 weeks to prepare. The proposition for this debate was 'This House regrets the worldwide proliferation of surveillance cameras.' Each team debates the proposition three times - once taking the proposition side, once taking the opposition side, and their final time the side they will argue is decided by a coin toss.

Each student receives a score for their personal performance, the team score is calculated by averaging out each team members score. Middlebrook had five of the ten best individual performances with seventh grader Francesca Gusfa finishing a very impressive second overall. Middlebrook also placed four of the top ten teams in the debate with a team of three eighth graders finishing first overall. Students on the winning team were Yasmin Athulathmudali, Grace Biondo, and Anagha Khisti (pictured above).

Katie Durkin and Michael Panoli are Debate club advisors at Middlbrook, positions they have held since the inception of debate club five years ago.  Debate has existed as a High School club for a long time, but was absent as a club at Middlelbrook until Michael Wallace, a WHS student at the time, approached Middlebrook teachers asking them to consider setting up the club at Middlebrook. The idea made a lot of sense, getting the students used to debating at middle school would mean a more experienced cohort of students in the debate team at the high school.

There are four debate tournaments during the year. The next one will be held at Middlebrook on Saturday January 25th, 2020. Middlebrook are hoping that the home advantage will net them a third victory in a row. Students curious about debate are welcome to attend the next tournament as spectators. Debate club runs throughout the year on Tuesdays after school. The Middlebrook Debate Club introduces all middle school students to debate and public speaking. Debate club meetings address creating feasible arguments, speaking fluidly, and understanding fundamental civics. Games, lectures, and mock debates, during the weekly practices further bolsters students’ comprehension of current events and parliamentary procedures.

For more information about middle school debate, visit ctmsdebate.org or contact the team advisers Ms. Durkin or Mr. Panoli.

Veterans day was marked in each Wilton school with assemblies and visits by veterans to each school. Middlebrook welcomed around 25 veterans and their families. The veterans were invited onto the auditorium stage and their service was recognized. The assembly included performances by music students and a short video with students and staff and recognizing the veterans in their lives.

Eighth grade orchestra students had their first taste of performing on stage at the High School this week at the annual Halloween Spooktacular concert. As well as performing, the eighth graders had the opportunity to listen to the High School concert orchestra and wind ensemble play a variety of spooky numbers including the Sorcerer's Apprentice, Thriller and Rosen eating zombies from outer space.

Concert orchestra made a memorable arrival on stage, first violinist Gayathri made a grand entrance being wheeled on the stage in a closed coffin as part of a funeral procession.

The final number of the night saw the eighth graders playing with the High School students. Orchestra director Mr. Karlan hoped that the night had made a big impression on the middle school students. He wrapped up the evening inviting them all to continue their music education next year as part of the High School Concert orchestra.

Red Ribbon Week kicked off on Friday at Middlebrook School. Daily events are scheduled to reinforce the important message of making positive choices to stay drug and alcohol-free.

Kevin Wanzer visited school and spoke to the entire Middlebrook student body on Monday. Kevin delivers inspiring programs on remaining drug free (with specific messaging about the dangers of vaping, tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs), making responsible positive choices, and bullying prevention in a fast-paced, hilariously effective, entertaining way. Kevin helps young people understand and appreciate that they can be successful, socially accepted and happy while also remaining authentic, drug-free, strong, and kind to each other. The assembly's message was a highly entertaining and amusing for the gathered students.

Each lunchtime this week Mrs. Leonard is in the cafeteria encouraging students to sign the pledge to be drug and alcohol free. This years theme is LEAD - learning, empowerment, acceptance, dedication. 

Tuesday, August 20th was the first day of school for five new teachers at Cider Mill. There are twenty-five newly hired teachers across the whole district. Maria Coleman, Director of Human Resources welcomed the group and shared that the newly hired teachers in the room represented ‘The top 5% of our applicant pool of 550 applicants.’ She also shared ‘Sitting among you, valedictorian from Wilton high school, a Fulbright scholar and a professional musician whose music was featured at the Sochi Olympics. You are the best of the best and you should feel very proud to be here. We hope Wilton will become your forever home.’

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Smith spoke next, he encouraged all new staff to search for the twitter hashtag #WiltonWayCT.  “I challenge and invite you to visit it and post to it, it will make your day.” In what has become an annual tradition in the Smith Family, Dr Smith asked his own children for their advice for the new teachers. Dr Smith’s five children range in ages from 3^rd grade to a High School Freshman and their wise words were:

• We know how hard your jobs as teachers are.
• Get to know your students.
• Be creative.
• Play lots of games, smile and give out lots of candy.

Chris Finkelstein, Chair of the Wilton Board of Education spoke next:

‘As you begin your work, you are joining a community that enthusiastically embraces its teachers and supports it schools. Wilton teachers develop strong relationships with families. In our family, we frequently exchange stories about teachers who mean a lot to us. Our community shows support through schools in many ways – investing in them, supporting them on the football field, attending music and drama performances. This is an exciting time to be starting your tenure, teachers are the center of everything’

Chuck Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Andrea Leonardi, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services also spoke reinforcing the days theme of fostering relationships, increasing student engagement and helping students to take risks to meet their goals.

‘Success is when students come in smiling, telling you stories and relating something you taught them to something that happened to them in the world outside of the classroom’ said Leonardi.

The meeting ended with Dr Smith presenting each new hire with their Class of ’19 Wilton shirt. New teachers then returned to their own school to continue their orientation day.

The new teachers at Cider Mill are:

• Beth Bakst – Music
• Margaret Barbieri – 5^th Grade Teacher
• Ethan Bourque – School Counselor
• Erin Crowley – 5^th Grade Teacher
• Sara Ando – Teacher of Hearing Impaired

This week the annual tradition of Fifth graders toured Middlebrook took place. The Fifth graders enjoyed a performance from the sixth grade chorus and our advanced sixth grade stage band, The Sixth Dimension. The visiting students toured Middlebrook led by the seventh graders who will be serving as WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) leaders next year. This complex event was pulled together by Ms. Bonnie O’Brien, the school counselor for the rising sixth grade, in collaboration with colleagues from the music and counseling departments as well as our WEB leadership.

The event is one of great excitement for the fifth graders as they learn how things will be different next year when they reach Middle School.  Students are looking forward to the increased independence of middle school – no more walking in a line. They are looking forward to switching classes and having the opportunity to meet and work with different students in every class. Gym at Middlebrook is an exciting prospect for many. There are many new games to be played and things to try – the rock-climbing wall for example.

The most exciting thing about Middle School?  Our survey reveals the same results as last year - free seating in the cafeteria and the much better lunch food options!

Author Jennifer Elvgren visited Cider Mill on Thursday as part of the Wilton Reads 2019, she talked about her book ‘The Whispering Town’ which is a fictionalized account of a true event that happened in the town of Gilleleje, Denmark during World War two.

Every student heard her story about the writing and illustration process she undertook for her book. She also provided a background on the German occupation of Denmark during the second world war.

Fifth grade students had the opportunity to join her for lunch and a further question and answer session in the Library Learning Commons. She shared with the students that her top tips for writers were to read, read, read; to spend time outside in nature for inspiration; to not be afraid of kind criticism and to have a group of friends to trust and help you through set-backs and hard times. 

April is Inclusion/ Diversity Awareness Month. Wilton High School’s Top Inclusion Models (TIMs) traveled to Cider Mill to put on a show for the students. They performed ‘Do the Right Thing,’ based on the book ‘Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun’ The short play celebrates kindness, courage and doing the right thing.

Top Inclusion Models is a High School Club whose mission is to promote inclusion of all students regardless of ability or differences.

When: Friday, March 22, 2019
Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm, show will start at 7 pm
Where: Middlebrook Auditorium