Welcome to our community, wellness and belonging newsletter! As we reflect on the vibrant connections and meaningful strides we made together throughout the spring semester, we are filled with immense gratitude for our resilient community. Spring brought incredible opportunities for growth, collaboration, and a renewed commitment to caring for one another, setting a strong foundation of trust and empathy across our campuses.
Looking ahead, our focus for the upcoming school year centers on expanding these vital support systems, deepening our sense of shared belonging, and continuing to prioritize well-being for our students and staff. In the pages that follow, you will see of the amazing experiences shared last year and some welcoming activities from the start of this school year.
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Link Crew is a year long transition and peer mentorship program designed to welcome freshmen and help them adapt to high school life. The program philosophy is built on the fact that students are best equipped to help other students succeed.
The Link Crew program kicked off the year with a orientation program led this year by 65 Link Leaders. These Link Leaders are assigned a freshman advisory and facilitate activities throughout the year to support freshmen with the high school transition.
WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) is a year-long transition program that is teacher and student-led which includes activities and events to ensure 6th graders successfully move into Middlebrook.
WEB is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes 6th graders and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their middle school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, the program trains mentors from the 8th grade class to be WEB Leaders. As positive role models, WEB Leaders are mentors and student leaders who guide the 6th graders to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to middle school and help facilitate 6th grade success.
Studies show that if students have a positive experience their first year in middle school, their chances for success increase dramatically. WEB provides the structure for 6th graders to receive support and guidance from 8th graders who have been through the challenges that middle school poses and understand that the transition to a larger school can sometimes be overwhelming.
Thank you to the program leaders who put many hours in over the summer months to launch these programs.
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To kick off the school year on a bright note, our 3rd–5th graders participated in Start with Hello Week, a program dedicated to building community, preventing social isolation, and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging.
Throughout the week, students engaged in special classroom activities focused on learning how small gestures, like saying hello, making eye contact, or inviting a peer to join in, can make a big difference. It was a fantastic week filled with connection, kindness, and community spirit!
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We were thrilled to have so many wonderful community partners join us in giving our students a warm welcome off the buses. Community partners including the First Selectwoman, WPD, Wilton YMCA, Wilton Library, Wilton Youth Council, Central Office Staff and student leaders: Football, Cheer, and Link Crew all helped to make a great morning of smiles! |
Trackside warmly welcomed Hope Squad to a special orientation night for incoming 6th graders and their families. High school members were on hand with a bake sale to raise money for the club while introducing the next generation of students to Hope Squad, its supportive mission and important resources. Hope Squad is a peer-to-peer program dedicated to supporting student mental health and preventing suicide. |
Wilton Cheer and Hope Squad partnered this fall to participate in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Walk at Sherwood Island State Park. Working together, the two clubs raised awareness and gathered over $1,600 to support suicide prevention. A special thank you to these student groups for making a difference! |
Wilton Public Schools believes in building Active, Socially-Sensitive Citizens by centering learning on compelling, real-world topics. In our K-5 ELA classrooms, EL Education empowers even our youngest learners to step outside their own experiences. Whether it’s 1st graders exploring how children access books in remote corners of the globe or 5th graders analyzing the nuances of human rights, the goal remains the same: fostering a deep understanding of diverse perspectives.
In our K-6 classrooms, we believe that "belonging" shouldn't stop at the school gates; it should extend across oceans and borders. Through the EL Education curriculum, our students don’t just read about the world; they engage with it as active, empathetic investigators. To accomplish this, students dive into specific stories of real people and communities framed as case studies, humanizing global issues. Our students are taught to ask, “Whose voice is being heard, and whose is missing?” This builds the habit of seeking out multiple viewpoints before forming a conclusion. The same Habits of Character we expect our students to demonstrate as citizens of their school communities are applied to how we view global neighbors, shifting the perspective from “us” and “them” to a shared “we.”
By teaching our children to appreciate the complexity of the human experience early on, we aren't just developing good students—we are nurturing global citizens who lead with curiosity and respect. As they progress through their secondary years, they are equipped with rich background knowledge about diverse experiences that enhances their experiences with literary, historical, scientific, and technological content, deepening their understandings and empathy for people whose life experiences differ from their own as well as promoting shared human understandings.
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The twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001, served as a profound reminder of the enduring strength found within our community during times of unimaginable loss and transition. As we reflected on this historic milestone, we honored the lives lost and payed tribute to the courageous first responders and military personnel who answered the call, and also recognized the ordinary acts of compassion that redefined our national spirit. Our schools engaged in developmentally appropriate lessons and/or activities. |
We ended last year with amazing celebrations, curriculum enrichment and community programs. Here are a few highlights from around our school buildings and community. |
At Miller-Driscoll School, students learned about Black History Month and Lunar/Chinese New Year in February. Students in the Purple Core created a display for the school showcasing the Lunar/Chinese New Year.
Students learned about Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Disabilities Awareness Month in March. Students listened to and discussed books read aloud on the topics. Classes visited a display created by classes in the Orange Core to augment their learning.
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In April, students learned about Arab American Heritage Month, Passover, and Easter through literature and discussion. Again, classes visited a display to enhance their learning. |
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The Cider Mill Community, Wellness, and Belonging Committee had a busy spring. The SEL Committee was merged under the School Climate umbrella. One of the biggest events took place on March 24 at World Culture Night, where students and families in Wilton came together for a joyful celebration of the many cultures that make up their vibrant school community. |
The 4th annual World Culture and Art Show Night was a tremendous success, filled with lively dance performances, music, arts and crafts, interactive games, and delicious foods representing countries and traditions from around the world. Students and families proudly shared their heritage through traditional clothing, meaningful customs, and cultural displays. |
Events like this provide valuable opportunities for students to learn more about their classmates, appreciate diverse backgrounds, and recognize the unique experiences that each person brings to the school community. It was truly inspiring to see families, students, and staff come together in a warm, welcoming spirit to celebrate diversity, build connections, and honor what makes each of us special.
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As part of Middlebrook’s World Language Week, students attended an assembly centered on Greek culture. Our very own students and families helped put on the assembly, which highlighted food, dance, music, and more from Greece. |
International Top Chef Competition: Our students worked together, sharing dishes that reflect cultures from around the world. |
Parents, students, and staff organized, judged, and sampled their way through the afternoon. |
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In the Spring of 2026 Grade 7 students in World Regional Studies embarked on an intensive Holocaust unit that asked them to do something profound: bear witness.
The unit traces the historical arc from the causes of World War II through the Rise of Hitler, the formation and systematic use of the Ghettos, and ultimately the Camps. But it is not only a unit about atrocity. It is equally a study of resilience, resistance, and the persistence of hope in the face of unimaginable terror. Students engage directly with primary sources, firsthand video testimony, survivor interviews, and personal stories -- so that history is not an abstraction but a human experience. To launch the unit, students had the privilege of hearing directly from Holocaust survivor Helena Schanzer, a speaker from the Connecticut Voices of Hope Speakers Bureau. Her in-person presentation offered students something no textbook can replicate: a living connection to the history they are studying.
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Students also worked with Trunks of Hope, an extraordinary educational tool created by Voices of Hope and its Holocaust Education Resource and Outreach (HERO) Program. Each trunk memorializes an individual survivor, inviting students to examine artifacts within their historical context and explore what those objects reveal about one person's journey from trauma to triumph. The trunks ask students to engage with empathy and to carry that engagement outward -- to become, as Voices of Hope puts it, "active global citizens fighting hatred, intolerance, and injustice in our world today."
In addition, students explored an innovative interactive tool from the USC Shoah Foundation, which allows them to ask questions and receive responses drawn from survivor testimony -- a deeply personal and engaging way to deepen understanding.
This is the kind of learning that stays with students. We are grateful to Voices of Hope, to Helena Schanzer, and to the survivors and families whose courage and generosity make this education possible.
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Wilton High School’s Diversity, Belonging, and Visibility Committee continues to spread awareness of holidays and heritage months celebrated within our community through the staff newsletter, the PTSA newsletter, and the cafeteria display.
The committee worked with the Social Studies and Guidance Departments to promote the Black and Latino Studies Course, which has been in the program of studies since 2022, but has not yet had enough students to run. As the course registration process continues, we hope to have enough students to run the class next year.
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The committee spearheaded a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. This day of service is meant to encourage individuals across the country to get involved and help improve their community while honoring Dr. King’s legacy and desire to create a Beloved Community. We promoted several service-driven high school clubs' ongoing efforts as well as local events, and suggested individual efforts. Clubs we promoted include UNICEF, Paws for a Cause, Socks for Soldiers, and Habitat for Humanity. |
The Diversity, Belonging and Visibility Committee recently hosted Walk in Our Shoes as part of WHS’s Festival. This interactive, student-centered event was designed to foster empathy, curiosity, and global awareness across the school community. Featuring 13 engaging stations and welcoming over 100 attendees, the event invited participants to explore a wide range of perspectives, identities, and lived experiences through hands-on activities and meaningful conversations.
From games like Pride Flag Bingo and Racial Equity Kahoot to immersive experiences such as United Nations Response to Humanitarian Crisis, Walk in Our Shoes: Ukraine Edition, and Amnesty International's Beyond the Border, each station offered a unique opportunity for students to step outside of their own viewpoint.
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Other stations, including How Do You Say Hello?, Kosher or Not?, and Jenga for Justice: Unstacking Stereotypes, encouraged participants to reflect on culture, identity, and inclusion in meaningful and accessible ways. Students also celebrated global traditions through activities like Dancing from DR to CT and an Art of Indian Bollywood Dance Along. We are incredibly grateful to the clubs, WHS staff, and community members who volunteered their time to bring this experience to WHS peers/students.
The Committee helped to honor Black History month through weekly morning announcements, supporting an interactive LLC display, and creating an informative and engaging advisory activity, which included a performance by Madrigal singers. It is important to note that all of these events were student-driven, and we are very proud of our student committee members!
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Representatives from the Community, Wellness and Belonging building committees attended the Dismantling Systemic Racism Conference last May. This conference challenges educators to examine inequities and build more inclusive and equitable school communities.
Congratulations to Michael Gordon, Band teacher, STRIDE and Music K-8 Instructional Leader who was a breakout session presenter.
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As part of our district prevention action plan, we are continuing to build on our strong foundation of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and classroom culture. We are currently training a dedicated team of 30 staff members to become Restorative Practices Trainers. This team will develop tailored plans for each school, seamlessly integrating restorative tools into the climate and culture work our educators already do daily while ensuring our district remains aligned with Connecticut's state school climate legislation. |
As part of the #WiltonIsWhereYouBelong campaign, the Wilton Coalition for Youth hosted a Community Cultural Celebration, an event designed to bring together a wide array of community members to showcase their diverse, vibrant traditions and share their rich cultures and heritage. |
The event featured booths from 15 countries around the YMCA gym, where attendees visited each one to learn about local cultures, sample culinary treats, participate in activities, engage in kids' crafts, and more. The event also featured performances showcasing traditional music, dance, and informational presentations. Participating: countries included: China, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Greece, Honduras, India, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Nigeria, Palestine, Pakistan, Serbia, and South Korea. |
In partnership with the schools, there were opportunities to connect what students were learning and doing in the classroom with this community-wide event.
Special thanks to event planners from Wilton Youth Council, YMCA, Wilton Library, and Wilton Public Schools for bringing this event to life.
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In June, our community came together to mark Pride Month at the 4th Annual Wilton Pride Festival! With more than 2,600 attendees, it was the largest turnout yet, featuring dynamic student involvement as performers, speakers, and local vendors sharing their talents. Highlighting our town’s commitment to inclusion and belonging, Wilton Pride was also honored with an official town proclamation designating June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Wilton. Thank you to all the students, organizers, and community members who helped make this celebration such a success! |
Photo credit: Courtney Krankall Photos. Justin Naiad Photos, and Aarushi Agrawal Photos |
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