March 2025 volume 11 number 8
Westbrook School Department
Dear Friends,
On March 5, I presented a proposal for the FY2026 School Budget to the school department's Finance Committee. It is designed to move our school district forward and is aligned with our strategic priorities. It focuses on the success of all students by sustaining and expanding outstanding opportunities for all. This includes the very successful revision to our elementary and middle school English language arts program with a renewed foundation in phonics, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary development as well as early college and dual enrollment programs, art and music programs, our district-wide BARR initiative, K-12 STEAM classes, intramural activities, clubs, and athletics, and the pre-Kindergarten program. It includes additional staffing in our Special Education and Multilingual programs to address growing enrollment and increasingly complex student needs. The budget also addresses capital improvement and increased operational needs, new iPads for use by ninth graders, and new software to enhance our transportation system. The school budget is efficient and makes careful use of resources and includes reorganization of current practices in order to meet our changing needs.
You will see that the budget proposal is comprehensive, detailed, and transparent. We hope that you will take time to review the proposal and participate in the budget development process. Many of you already have done so by taking a survey and attending a Community Conversation earlier this year - thank you for doing so! Your feedback has been incorporated in the proposal. We encourage you to read through materials on our website and attend upcoming budget meetings on March 18, 19, 20, and 26 with the Finance Committee. All meetings are open to the public and in person at WHS Room 114, on Zoom and Facebook, and recorded for later viewing. Please reach out to ask questions and give feedback. I hope we can all work collaboratively to develop a budget that will support every student and help us to achieve our One promise: The best education for all, for life.
Take care,
Dr. Peter Lancia, Superintendent of Schools
BUDGET MEETINGS
Tuesday, March 18, Finance Committee Budget Review, 5pm at WHS Rm 114
Wednesday, March 19, Finance Committee Budget Review, 5pm at WHS Rm 114
Thursday, March 20, Finance Committee Budget Review, 5pm at WHS Rm 114
Wednesday, March 26, Finance Committee Budget Revisit List, 5pm at WHS Rm 114
Wednesday, April 2, Finance Committee Meeting, 5pm at WHS Rm 114; Special School Committee Meeting (Hearing and 1st Reading of Budget), 6pm at WHS Rm 114
Wednesday, April 9, School Committee Meeting (2nd Reading of Budget), 7pm at WHS Rm 114
BUDGET INFORMATION
Information on the FY2026 School Budget proposal can be found on the school department website:The following items can be found there:
the full budget which includes all line items from every cost center school, department and program
a recording of Dr. Lancia's presentation of the budget proposal
a narrative document expalining the budget proposal
recording of Finance Committee meetings
budgets for each cost center as it is reviewed by the Finance Committee
Thank you for being involved in budget development!
WRVC
Our WRVC Culinary Arts Tech II students recently earned second place in both the Culinary and Restaurant Management competitions at the Maine ProStart State Invitational! This exciting event provided our students with the chance to showcase their culinary skills, business acumen, and creative abilities, making their achievements all the more impressive.
In the Culinary Competition, teams were challenged to prepare a three-course meal in 60 minutes using only two butane burners, with no access to running water or electricity. Our students excelled in taste, skill, teamwork, and sanitation, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure and produce high-quality dishes.
The Restaurant Management Competition challenged participants to create a restaurant concept in the fictional town of ProStartville. Our students impressed the judges with their menu creation, pricing strategies, and marketing approaches, showcasing strong critical thinking and operational planning. Their innovative ideas and business strategies earned them a well-deserved second-place finish.
The Maine ProStart State Invitational not only offered our students the chance to compete for scholarships at both the state and national levels, but also provided invaluable opportunities to network with chefs, managers, and other industry professionals. With the chance to advance to the National ProStart Invitational, our students have shown that they are ready to take on the culinary world with both passion and professionalism.
We congratulate our students on their outstanding performance and are excited to see what they accomplish next. Their success reflects the dedication, hard work, and skill fostered by the WRVC Culinary Arts program and Chef Hernandez's guidance. A huge thank you to Hospitality Maine and the Maine ProStart Invitational team. The communication, support, accommodations, and mentorships from the Chefs and management teams were beyond exceptional. Thank you to Mr. Anestis for all the extra hours of support and praise you offered the students, Chef Roscati for your help, and to the families and students that attended to support our competitors.
Youth Art Month at PMA
Our Art Department is proud to announce this year's Youth Art Month submissions! Students were nominated by their art teachers at each Westbrook school for their outstanding artistic achievements. Youth Art Month (YAM) is a national celebration of art and art education, observed each March. Schools across the country participate in showcasing student artwork, often in collaboration with local art museums and civic organizations. This year, student artwork will be featured at the Portland Museum of Art through March 30, 2025, displayed in the Lower Ground Floor of the PMA and showcased digitally. Congratulations to our talented student artists and incredible art teachers! Westbrook High School: Jose B.V., Lach, and Rossa; Westbrook Middle School: Lucia A., Jordan B.; Canal School: Gloria P.; Congin School: Luke W.; Saccarappa School: Zoya A. We are thrilled to celebrate these talented young artists and the dedication of their teachers in fostering creativity. Be sure to visit the Portland Museum of Art and support our students' incredible work!
Read Across America at Congin
Congin School celebrated Read Across America week from March 3-7. Classrooms had several guests come in to read to students. They included Superintendent Dr. Lancia, Assistant Superintendent Dr. O’Donnell, Principal Mr. Bisson, WHS PE Teacher and Congin Alumni Ms. Wescott, and WGME News 13 Ancho Jeff Peterson. Some of our students even read virtually to children at local daycare providers! Reading aloud is both fun and instructional. Let's keep reading all year long!
THANK YOU READERS!
Curtain up!
Canal School students are rehearsing a spring musical! Thanks to a parent volunteer, students will be performing The Aristocats on May 9 and 10 at the WHS Auditorium!
WHS Students Learn From Professional Artists
WHS Art Students recently had the opportunity to meet with and learn from two professional, world renowned artists. As a follow up to their visit to the Bates Mill in Lewiston to experience Robert Shetterly’s Americans Who Tell the Truth exhibit—a once-in-a-lifetime display featuring 270 powerful portraits, WHS students met with and learned from the artist right here at WHS! He brought 20 portraits from his remarkable collection for a special one-day workshop event. He discussed his process and experience creating the John Lewis portrait on display on the easel. Also, potter Kari Radasch met with students in her studio space at MECA. She uses earthenware clay and color as a metaphor for joy. Thank you to art teachers Yagmur Gunel and Charlotte Caron, and Matt Johnson, and Director Dr. Rachel Somerville for making these opportunities possible.
WMS Students Collection for ARL
On March 18th, our therapy dog, Finn, will be turning 5 years old! Student Council honors his birthday every year by doing a collection in support of Finn's Friends at the Animal Refuge League. Please consider donating to our wonderful next door neighbors and helping the animals that they provide such excellent care for. All donations should be brought to the main office at Westbrook Middle School. Please see our wish list for suggestions of donations on the WMS website. Happy Birthday Finn! You bring such joy to everyone at WMS!
Saccarappa Students Send Cards to Veterans
Thank you to our Saccarappa students who made Valentines for Veterans, unique cards that were distributed at the Maine Veterans' Home in Scarborough.
The Westbrook School Department provides interpreter services. If you would like to request an interpreter for a meeting or require translation of a school form or document, call the Administrative Offices at 207-854-0800. Additionally, Reach My Teach, the Westbrook Schools website, and this newsletter may be read in multiple languages. Simply select your preferred language in settings and content will be translated.
Equity & Opportunity
Ramadan began on March 1 and continues through March 29. Many of our Muslim students are fasting throughout the month and only eat in the evening. This year they are able to bring food from school lunch home with them at the end of the day. This is typically not allowed but thanks to School Nutrition Director Mary Emerson, we received a waiver to allow this. Families with elementary students may request to go meals by contacting the school office each day. Middle and high school students may request meals themselves. We hope that this will provide children with a nutritious meal that they can enjoy with their families.
SAVE THE DATES
Teaching and Learning in Westbrook
What is BARR and why is it important?
BARR is an acronym for Building Assets, Reducing Risks. It is a national initiative that supports all students in academic and social development. It offers a common progression of lessons that teach self-confidence, relationship building, conflict resolution, and other skills and strategies that promote positive social development. The lessons are conducted by teachers in classrooms that involve discussion, movement, reading, and writing activities as in the photo below that celebrates everyone's differences. BARR also involves a careful system of monitoring academics and conduct of all students which includes plans to support individual growth and development. Westbrook is one of the only schools in the country where we follow the BARR initiative district-wide Westbrook High School was named a BARR National School of Excellence in 2023. Our students and staff have benefited from this initiative. It is making a difference and supports the success of all students.
2025-2026 School Calendar
The Westbrook School Committee recently adopted the 2025-26 school calendar.
With spring in the air and summer just around the corner, next year is not far away!
