February 2025 volume 11 number 7

Dear Friends,

Winter is a busy time of year! From academics to athletics, from navigating snow storms to beginning to plan for the next school year, many things are happening in our school community. We hope that you will continue to be involved in our schools. Communication and collaboration are major areas of focus this year. We have introduced Reach My Teach as a communication tool and it appears to be successful. Teachers and families are reporting increased communication and dialogue across all schools and programs. We have also increased the number of Family Engagement activities this year, offering multiple opportunities for families to come to school to learn, play, and connect with their children's learning including author presentations, book clubs, and activity nights. We hope that you have taken part of at least one and have enjoyed them.

Every February, I present the State of the Schools report. It provides a variety of data about our schools including enrollment patterns, achievement, attendance, academic and extracurricular programming, funding, and staffing. It offers information about our programs, priorities, and initiatives that are designed to support student success. It also points out areas for growth and improvement which will form goals for further progress. I encourage you to read the report or view the video with highlights on the State of the Schools page on our website. I hope you will find the report informative and interesting and gain a greater insight into the good work that is happening in our schools. The best schools involves partnerships among stakeholders - students, educators, families, and the community. The State of the Schools report is another way for you to be involved in and informed about our schools.

In March, I will present the FY2026 school budget to the school Finance Committee for their consideration. It has been in development for several months. Our school leaders have been working on the budget and have responded to different kinds of data in making their requests. These include: results from a community and staff survey, achievement and enrollment data, requests from faculty and staff, and district-wide guidance and collaboration. The budget presentation and all budget review meetings are public in person at WHS Room 114, broadcast on channel 2 and Zoom, and recorded and posted for viewing later. I encourage you to participate in the budget process, learn about how the budget was developed, and have input into the final budget that will be presented to the School Committee for approval in April, to the City Council in may, and to voters at the School Budget Referendum in June.

Let's hope the snowy weather pattern will slow down a bit as the winter continues, at least on school days. I hope you have a wonderful school vacation!

Take care,

Dr. Peter Lancia, Superintendent of Schools

Westbrook: Past, Present, and Future

Westbrook High School Social Studies Teacher David Ennis developed and is offering a new elective course this year about Westbrook History. In the course, students trace historical events, people, geography, and themes from Westbrook's Wabanaki origins to present day. Field trips are an important component of the course and students frequently interact with Westbrook residents, some of whom have lived in the community for years. They offer a deep knowledge of our history and provide students with an opportunity to dialogue with and learn from them. This includes city council member Michael Shaugnessey who researches Wabanaki culture and history. Recently students visited the Westbrook Historical Society at the Community Center to learn about Westbrook's past by talking with the Society's leaders and volunteers and interacting with artifacts. Students are loving the class and are gaining a new appreciation of their community.

Second Grade Research at Congin School

Mrs. Powers and Mrs. Townsend’s 3rd graders have been working on research for their non-fiction writing! What an engaging way to read with deep comprehension, compose with structure and organization, write for a real purpose, and engage in new learning!

Cabaret in the Cafe

The WHS choir will be traveling to Boston over April Vacation to tour the city, learn about its history, and perform in several important venues including the Massachusetts State House. They recently held a fundraiser in which they transformed the WHS cafeteria into a jazz club and hosted an evening Cabaret with performances by our choral and jazz ensembles and a delicious pasta meal. What a spectacular evening! Bravo to our musicians and thank you to everyone who attended.

Hazmat Training for WRVC Firefighting Students

Firefighters have to be ready to respond to incidents involving hazardous materials. They need to Identify the material involved, set up safety zones, evacuation areas, and mitigate the incident. Recently, our firefighting students went to Gorham Central Station to attend a hazmat class. After attending, they earned hazmat awareness and operations pro-board certifications. They learned to don hazmat class B ensemble, and how to emergency decontaminate another person. They also learned what to look for at a hazmat scene and absorbed some valuable real-life experience from the instructors.

Come to WRVC!

WRVC has begun the enrollment process for the 2025-26 school year! Counselors, administrators, advisors, and community members from our regional schools recently attended a Community of Partners event at which participants learned about the programs at WRVC and ways to recruit and encourage students to be part of Career and Technical Education. Students have also been visiting WRVC to shadow programs of interest. When they visit, they are welcomed by student ambassadors as well as staff and are immediately engaged in hands on activities, from participating in the Business class stock market investment research to wiring a circuit in the Electricity classroom. WRVC offers 15 vibrant programs that engage all types of learners who aspire to or are curious about exciting career pathways. Visit the WRVC website to learn more about our innovative CTE programs!

Stormy Weather Plans

Wintery weather conditions may continue to interrupt school plans. I will send an automated phone call, text message, and email announcing our plans, typically by 5am on a stormy morning. I will also post information on channel 6, 8, and 13, on the school department website, and on the school department social media. 

When we delay the start of school by 2 hours,  Canal, Congin, and Saccarappa School will begin the school day at 10:40am; Westbrook Middle School will begin at 9:35am;  and Westbrook High School and WRVC will begin at 9:50am. Breakfast will be served at schools when students arrive. On days when there is a delayed start, Pre-K Classes will be cancelled.

The first two times we had to cancel school were traditional snow days with all schools closed, no remote learning, no before and after school care, activities, and meetings. We will consider remote learning days as an option, but may continue to have traditional snow days depending on the nature of the storm. Decisions will be made on a storm-by-storm basis. 

It's never easy when weather interrupts school routines, but we must prioritize safety. Thank you for supporting our plan to keep everyone safe during stormy days.