A Yard Card greets students on the first day at Saccarappa School, courtesy of the PTO. What a great photo op for families!

Dear friends,

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! I hope you have had a summer filled with great adventures, time for rest and relaxation, lots of good books, and good health. I would especially like to welcome our new students, families, and staff to the Westbrook Schools. I want you to know that you belong here and you matter here!

The school year has opened well with 2377 students enrolled in grades PK-12. The Class of 2027 held its annual senior sunrise tradition and are ready to work hard during this exciting year leading up to their graduation in June. The Class of 2039 has entered Kindergarten and the Class of 2040 (yikes!) has entered PreK! All of our students are already engaged, working hard, a little nervous, and excited to learn. We have a very special school community and it is a joy to be part of it all.

There are a few new initiatives beginning this year. We are launching a multi-year PK-12 focus on language and literacy development by implementing a common framework of instructional practices called SIOP. We are implementing new procedures to comply with the law that prohibits the use of personal electronic devices during the school day which has the greatest impact at WHS. We will be launching a study of our special eduction programs to assist us to evaluate our systems and plan for future programming, staffing, and space. We are opening our public PreK program with 96 new four year old students, including students requiring supports through Child Developmental Services. We are excited about these new initiatives that will address identified needs and lead us into the future.

This year, the theme for our schools is "I matter here!" It builds on last year's theme 'I belong here!" because it affirms that we all make a difference, we all contribute to the good of the community, we all help each other to learn and grow every day. Everyone has a unique role and makes a unique contribution, one that would not exist it we were not here. I encourage all students, families, and staff to be engaged in the work of our schools. Whether your connections are big or small, they matter. We build and sustain our community together, a community when we can truly say "I matter here!"

I hope this is the very best school year you have ever had!

Take care,

Peter Lancia, Superintendent of Schools

Did you know that breakfast and lunch are FREE for all students? Maine led the nation with its commitment to feeding all students for free. Check out our school nutrition program. We serve innovative, delicious meals every day. For example, thanks to a Sea to Table initiative, the seasoned breadcrumb crusted haddock served in our cafeterias is fresh from Casco Bay! In fact, our director Mary Emerson goes to the Fish Exchange on the Portland waterfront herself to purchase the fresh fish.  Menu choices are available monthly. Follow Westbrook School Nutrition on Facebook and on our website.

Bethany Connolly is Westbrook's new Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. She has been an educator in Southern Maine for 30 years serving students and families at Lincoln Middle School in Portland as an Ed tech, ELA and Social Studies teacher, teaching strategist, and assistant principal and in South Portland as Principal at Skillin Elementary School. Throughout her career, Mrs. Connolly’s work has centered on creating equitable opportunities for all students in Maine’s most diverse communities.  She believes that public education is the great equalizer and that  all children deserve to learn in a safe, caring environment surrounded by people who will accept and challenge them. Teaching is at the core of who Mrs. Connolly is - she was raised by educators, married into a family of educators, and continues to learn and grow everyday!

Mrs. Connolly earned a BA in Psychology and Social and Rehabilitation Services from Assumption College, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rhode Island College, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Maine.  In the spring of 2026, Mrs. Connolly was honored as the Maine Association of School Libraries (MASL) administrator of the year for her advocacy and support of library programming and resources. 

Welcome Bethany! We are glad you are in Westbrook!

As you may be aware, WMS principal Dr. Christina Boursaw resigned in late August and has accepted a position at Kennebunk Elementary School. We wish her the very best in her new role. A full search for a permanent principal will be launched this winter for the 2027-28 school year.

For the remainder of this school year, we will have an Interim Principal. Dr. Lancia nominated and the School Committee approved current WMS Assistant Principal Pattie DeMaria for that role at the September 9 School Committee meeting. Ms. DeMaria has served WMS since 2017 and has a deep commitment to the school and its students, staff, and families. Previously she was a middle school science teacher in Saco and the Director of Alternative Education in MSAD 6. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Leisure Services from the University of Maine Presque Isle, a Master’s degree In Teaching and Learning from the University of Southern Maine, and a Certificate of Advanced Study also from USM. She will maintain the momentum of current initiatives and lead the school in growing into the future.  We will now search for an interim Assistant Principal to replace Ms. DeMaria for this school year.

Thank you Pattie for stepping into this role, and thanks to everyone as we all support the school during this transition. 

This Fall, we are launching a revised PreK program. For over two decades, we have partnered with The Opportunity Alliance which provided a Head Start eligible program for four year olds. Given changes in the state's requirement for public schools to provide services previously managed by Child Developmental Services and the federal requirement to ensure free and appropriate public education, it was decided to end that partnership and open a program completely administered by the Westbrook School Department; thus the Westbrook Public PreK was born! It is a half day program housed at Canal Elementary School on Glenwood Avenue. All four year olds from across the city are eligible to attend. The curriculum is built around language, literacy, and numeracy development in a play based setting. We follow the state's PreK For ME program, a highly successful approach to early childhood teaching and learning that is based on a program developed by the Boston Public Schools. We provide transportation to and from school, nursing services, and offer breakfast, lunch, and snack. There are three morning sessions and three afternoon sessions. Each classroom has a teacher and an Ed Tech III to maintain an appropriate teacher-student ratio. There is also a dedicated special education teacher, special education Ed Techs, and a half time dedicated speech and language service provider. There is also a half-time multilingual teacher who works with children, staff, and families to further support language development. Our PreK staff is fantastic; all are early childhood specialists and have considerable experience working with young children. There has been a wonderful response to the program. Enrollment is full with a waiting list. We are fortunate that the start-up costs for the program, such a furniture, materials, toys, and books, were funded completely by the Maine Department of Education as are the special education staff positions needed in the program. Our PreK students were immediately welcomed into our school community. We are so glad they are here!

Every month, students at Congin School focus on a different concept to help build their school culture.  The first focus of the year is "belonging." It was introduced at a whole school assembly by Principal Mr. Bisson, School Counselor Mrs. Woolworth, Instructional Strategist Mrs. Proulx, and our new Alternative Learning Ed Tech Mr. Pillow. Everyone helps build a community where all belong and all matter!

WRVC is pleased to introduce two new programs in 2026-27: CTE Exploratory and an Internship program. CTE Exploratory introduces students to Career and Technical Education through a year or semester long program that involve mini-units in different trades. It was designed primarily for first year and sophomore students considering WRVC, but it also attracts any student who may want to take a CTE class but cannot commit to a full program. Long-time WRVC employee Deb Atripaldi is the teacher for CTE Exploratory. The Internship Program offers students experiences in workplaces, real work experiences in their chosen trades. Teacher David Field helps students make connections with industry leaders as they explore careers, build their resume with intern experience, and earn credits while working. Additionally, two programs now have new names: the Early Childhood Occupations program which runs the You N' Me Nursery School and prepares students for careers as teachers and early care providers, is now known as Education Pathways and the Computer Repair programs has transitioned to become Cybersecurity.

Last Spring, Governor Mills signed into law legislation that prohibits cell phones and personal electronic devices from being used by students during the school day. Students at WHS are required to lock their devices in Yondr Pouches, specially designed bags that are provided by the school, and stow them for the day. So far, the process has been successful.  We appreciate our students for complying with this new law and our families who have been supportive. There have been relatively few infractions to date. Students have been more attentive in class, they have been playing games, reading, and talking with friends during their down time, and library circulation has increased as kids are reading more books. Thank you WHS!

This fall, all WHS students were provided with METRO bus passes through a program funded by the City of Westbrook. This program is intended to help students get to school easily, particularly those who live within the school bus boundaries and would have to walk to and from school. A morning and afternoon stop on Stroudwater Street has been established. It also encourages students to use public transportation to get to and from part time jobs, practices and rehearsals, shopping trips, and connect with friends and family in other communities served by METRO. During the first week of school there were 195 student boardings and WHS students were reported to be very polite riders! This is very encouraging! We are thankful to our partners at METRO and in the City for supporting our students!

The Westbrook Education Foundation is pleased to announce two generous gifts, a successful grant, and an upcoming event!

* The Prides Corner Community Church Legacy Fund has been established through a generous gift from the congregation which recently closed its church on Pride Street. A perpetual scholarship for graduating seniors who aspire to higher education and careers in the arts has been established as well as a fund for emergency needs of students as they arise. The Prides Corner Church has long been one of our kindest supporters. Additionally, the congregation donated a beautiful baby grand piano to our music department. We appreciate the kind, generous gifts and are pleased to maintain the Prides Corner legacy.

* The Westbrook-Gorham Rotary recently donated tons of school supplies including notebooks, erasers, highlighters, and pens for our students at Westbrook Middle School. We will certainly need these throughout the year. Thank you for your generosity. 

* A grant was recently awarded by the Francis Hollis Brain Foundation to support experiential learning and arts programs for our new PreK program! We look forward to special events and experiences for our 4 year olds.

* Take part in the upcoming Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 19 at Sunset Ridge! See information below.