Westbrook Public Schools

News and Announcements

• Letter to Fourth-Grade Families, 9.28.20

  September 28, 2020

  Dear Parents/Guardians of Fourth Graders,

  It became apparent today that some of our fourth grade students have been using the Google Hangout chat feature on their Chromebooks to send messages to other students (inside and outside of their classroom) during a classroom lesson today.  In talking with our students, many said that they have been using this chat feature to talk with friends over the summer as well as during the beginning of this school year.

  Of course, our fourth-grade teachers and I believe that students chatting with each other during instruction is inappropriate and unacceptable.  I held an “emergency” virtual meeting with all of our fourth-graders (both in-school and at home) today to discuss our concerns.  I shared that this behavior is disrespectful to their teachers, just as talking to others while their teachers are teaching would be.  I also let them know that it could be hurtful, especially if someone says something unkind to them.  I told our students that I have observed them all using online chat boxes  appropriately, such as last Friday when a guest writer joined all four classes virtually.  Still, I told them that until they have gained back our trust that they can indeed handle digital chat features appropriately that these will be turned off and not available to them at this time.

  I’m asking parents/guardians to please support us by providing monitoring of our children’s screen time at home and I am also asking our teachers to increase their close supervision of our students.  If you have concerns regarding our children’s behavior online, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can work through these concerns together.

  Technology is a wonderful tool and we want to be sure that we are using it in the safest, most productive way possible.  Thanks to all for your support!

  Sincerely,

  Ruth W. Rose, Principal

  Daisy Ingraham Elementary School

• SCHOOL PHOTOS AT DAISY---Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020

  We're all set for School Photos at Daisy!  This will look a little different this year with photos taken outside with all safety precautions in place.  There is also an opportunity for Remote Learners to have photos taken.  Please read the attached notice for all the details:

   

   

   

  • School Photo Day Sept 24 2020.pdf

  Daisy Ingraham Elementary School

• New Software Approval

  Storyboard That has been approved for use in the classroom.  For the most up to date list of available software, visit https://www.westbrookctschools.org/groups/5665/technology/privacy_information.

  Technology

• Updates re: Face Masks---Masks with Exhalation Valves NOT Recommended

  Dear Daisy Families & Staff,

  I hope that this communication finds you and your family well.

  I'm reaching out to provide some important updates re: mask wearing, so that everyone has the most up-to-date information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

  The CDC recommends the wearing of face masks for all children three years of age and older, as well as adults, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  The Governor's Executive Order mandates the wearing of face masks for all students in preschool through grade 12, as well as all adults in public schools.  We all know this and have been practicing this and we're so proud of how our students and staff are doing, as I've communicated on several occasions.

  The important updates that I want to share are:

  Face Masks with Exhalation Valves Are NOT Recommended!
  Per Addendum 11 of CDC Guidelines: "Many styles of face coverings can be purchased with exhalation valves included. These valves are designed
  to allow air to escape when the wearer breathes out and to close off when the wearer breathes in.
  Although there is a theoretical risk of droplets escaping through these valves during expiration, it is
  unknown to what extent the presence of an exhalation valve increases the risk of respiratory droplet
  exposure or subsequent COVID-19 infection. Although the majority of expelled droplets should be
  caught or slowed by the cloth or other surface of the mask surrounding the exhalation valve in most
  cases, until more information is available regarding the relative effectiveness of masks with exhalation
  valves as a method of source control to prevent the spread of COVID-19, CDC does not recommend
  masks with exhalation valves for use as a source control face covering in the school setting."

  Therefore, please do not send your child to school with a mask that features an exhalation value.  If your child wears one of these types of masks, we will send this home to you and we will offer your child an appropriate, disposable mask to wear at school.  We currently have an ample supply of child-sized face masks for our students.

  Also, there has been controversy regarding gaiter-style face masks.  Evaluation is on-going regarding the effectiveness of this type of mask, which is a wide tube of fabric  worn around the neck and can be pulled up over the ears and nose and mouth.  If you choose to have your child wear a neck gaiter, please be sure that it is doubled over with at least two layers of fabric.  Please know that face shields DO NOT replace face masks, but may be worn as an additional level of protection over face masks.  For those who wear glasses, it helps to find a mask that fits closely over the nose or one with a nose wire to limit fogging.

  What is most important about wearing face masks is that the mask MUST properly cover both the wearer's nose and mouth.  We give frequent reminders and help to our students throughout the day as we all adjust to this new safety accessory.  Please also know that we give frequent mask breaks throughout the day, using outside spaces as much as possible.

  For more complete information on everything related to face masks, please consult the CDC at this link:

  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html

  Thank you for all you are doing to help keep our students, staff and our community safe.  As always, please contact me with any concerns.

  Sincerely,

  Ruth W. Rose, Principal

   

   

  Daisy Ingraham Elementary School

• Covid-19 Update from Westbrook Health Department

  To Westbrook High School Parents/Guardians:

  
  On Sunday, September 13th, in accordance with the policy of Westbrook Public Schools' Reopening Plan, the Westbrook Public Schools community was notified of a positive COVID-19 case associated with Westbrook High School. The three-day closure of Westbrook High School and the advisement of class cohorts to quarantine for 14 days was conducted out of an abundance of caution in consultation with the Westbrook Health Department and Connecticut Department of Public Health.
  
  

  Proper mask-wearing and social distancing protocols were followed during school, however, students who were in the identified class cohorts on Thursday, September 10th and Friday, September 11th were advised to quarantine for 14 days, again, out of an abundance of caution.

  
  If you or your child were not contacted as being a part of the affected class cohorts, your child may return to school on Thursday, September 17th.
  Due to privacy reasons, personal and identifiable information related to case investigations will not be disclosed by Westbrook Public Schools and Westbrook Health Department.

  
  The health and safety of our community is of utmost importance. The Westbrook Public Schools and Westbrook Health Department will continue to work cooperatively to assess and investigate COVID related events in Westbrook Public Schools.

   

  Sincerely,
  Zachary Faiella, MPH, RS
  Director of Health
  Westbrook Health Department
  866 Boston Post Road
  Westbrook, CT 06498
  Tel: (860) 399-9869
  Fax: (860) 399-5661
  Email: zfaiella@westbrookct.us

   

  Covid-19 Update from Westbrook Health Department

  Covid Info

• Positive Covid 19 Case at Westbrook High School

   

  September 13, 2020

   

  Dear Staff, Parents, and Guardians,

  This afternoon I became aware of a positive case for COVID-19 at Westbrook High School.  While we are unable to identify the individual due to the confidential nature of the medical information, we can share the steps we will be taking to respond to this information.

  What This Means for You and Your Child

  If your child was in the same class cohort, or in close contact with the confirmed positive individual, you will be contacted by the school and/or Westbrook Health Department and your child will be advised to self-quarantine for 14 days since last class cohort or close contact with the confirmed positive individual, per Addendum 9 of the Connecticut State Department of Education School Reopening Plan. Close contact is defined by the CDC as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. The school and/or local health department will notify you if this action is necessary.

  If your child is sick, stay home and contact your healthcare provider. We encourage you to continue social distancing, washing your hands, avoiding gatherings, and monitoring symptoms. If at any time, you or your child begin to develop symptoms of COVID-19 (such as cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell), please keep your child home from school and call your healthcare provider for next steps. It is recommended that you call ahead to your healthcare provider before going to the physician’s office, clinic, urgent care, or emergency room so they can be prepared for your arrival. They may also refer you to a testing clinic. For the most up to date testing information, call 2-1-1 or visit the United Way of Connecticut website: https://uwc.211ct.org/coronavirus-covid-19-information/

  What This Means for Our School

  The Westbrook Health Director, Zachary Faiella, has determined that the Westbrook High School facility needs to be closed for three days, September 14, 15, and 16.  These three days will enable the school to be thoroughly cleaned and to conduct the necessary contact tracing. The students will participate in distance learning during this period. Pending further information on this investigation, students and staff who have not been identified as either being close contacts or in the same class cohort as the confirmed positive individual will be allowed to return to school this Thursday, September 17. Please note reopening may be subject to change if additional positive cases are identified.

  The Westbrook Middle School will remain open due to the separate nature of that building and student traffic.

  Children may worry about how COVID-19 may impact them, their family, and friends. Parents and guardians can help children navigate this experience in an honest and accurate way to help minimize anxiety or fear. The CDC created recommendations to assist with these conversations: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/talking-with-children.html.

  Thank you for your support in these efforts and your patience, flexibility, and understanding as we work together to promote the health and well-being of our community.

   

  Sincerely,

  Zachary Faiella

  Westbrook Director of Health

   

  Patricia Charles

  Interim Superintendent

  • Covid-19 Case 9-13-20.pdf

  Covid Info

• Message From the Board Of Education Chairman

  Dear Westbrook Schools Community,

   

  The Westbrook Board of Education has been made aware of the resignation of Lee Bridgewater, a longstanding Board of Education member for the past 12 years and a former Chair of the Board of Education. The Board is grateful for Mrs. Bridgewater’s exceptional service to the town and the students of Westbrook. She served on countless committees and led the Board from 11/2015-7/2020. Her commitment to the Town of Westbrook will be sorely missed.

   

  This vacancy provides a new opportunity for leadership within our community. The Board of Education is seeking candidates to join the Board of Education. If you would like to be considered as a candidate for the Westbrook Board of Education, please send a resume, letter of intent, and information regarding your party affiliation by August 30, 2020 to Cecilia Lester in the Board of Education office at clester@westbrookctschools.org.

   

  A special meeting is set for 09-01-2020 at 7:00 PM for interviews and to select the candidate who will serve on the Board until the next regular town election in 2021. The Board will interview the candidates in executive session for discussion of the appointment of a public officer. The vote will be held in public session.

   

  We urge all interested community members to apply for this very important work with the Westbrook Public Schools.

   

  Sincerely,

   

  Zachary Hayden

  Chairman, Westbrook Board of Education

  • Board Of Education Message.pdf

  Westbrook Public Schools

• Athletics Update

  Good afternoon Westbrook Public Schools Families,

  This note is to provide updates on the status of sports programming at our schools. At this time the concept of public school sports in Connecticut is on hold until further guidance is provided to us by the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC).  At this time we encourage our high school student athletes to work virtually with their coaches via their team Google Classroom, to register for their Fall Sport via Power School if they have yet to do so, so that they are prepared if the opportunity to play presents itself.

  Below please find information via a letter early this afternoon to athletic directors on our next steps. Per this update please note that CIAC has extended the August 24^th revisit date to:

  ***The CIAC will delay the first date for all fall sports to Saturday, August 29, 2020.***

  CIAC High School Athletics Update – Friday, August 21^st:

  The CIAC Board of Control met this morning to review last night’s discussion with the DPH and establish a timeline for decisions on the start of fall sports. The CIAC has requested that the DPH consider allowing our member schools to resume the non-contact conditioning workouts which they have been conducting since July 6, 2020 as early as Monday. Additionally, the CIAC understands that, at today’s ReOpen CT Rules Committee meeting, consideration will be given to the inconsistent guidance issued for CIAC interscholastic athletics versus non-CIAC youth sport opportunities. The CIAC and the DPH will continue our collaborative work once an update from those discussions is available, either later today or over the weekend.
  
  For our member schools’ planning purposes, the CIAC Board of Control has established the following timeline:

  • The CIAC Board of Control will meet again at 7:00PM Sunday.
  • The CIAC Board of Control will submit modified fall sport plan options to the DPH for consideration, which it has indicated it would welcome for review.
  • The CIAC will delay the first date for all fall sports to Saturday, August 29, 2020.
    
    

  This timeline will allow the DPH adequate time to consider CIAC’s revised fall sports plans, which it will submit early next week, and athletic directors the time necessary to begin a sports season. The CIAC will update member schools on the return to conditioning workouts as soon as more information becomes available.

   

  Article:  GameTimeCT article on Fall Sports 8-21-2020

   

  WMS Interscholastic Sports and Intramurals:

  At this time, all after school activities, including athletics, are on hold at the middle school.  This hold will allow the middle school to evaluate the effectiveness of the strict cohorting model before beginning any expansion. We will revisit the possibility of after school activities, including sports, the week of September 21^st.    

  In the meantime if you have any questions or concerns related to athletics please do not hesitate to contact me via email at tcosgriff@westbrookctschools.org or the office at (860) 399 – 6214.

  Please know many people are advocating for our student-athletes at all levels for a safe and healthy return to sports when and where appropriate.

  Enjoy your weekend!

  GO KNIGHTS!

  Teg

  Teg Cosgriff, CMAA

  Director of Athletics

  Westbrook Public Schools

  156 McVeagh Road

  Westbrook, CT 06498

  (860) 399 - 6214 (O)

  • Athletics Update Aug 21 2020.pdf

  Covid Info

• Whitelisting Email

  Please review the content available at https://www.westbrookctschools.org/groups/5665/technology/whitelisting_email to make sure you are receiving notifications from us through our notification system, SchoolMessenger.  If you have a question not address on that page regarding email management, please contact techsupport@westbrookctschools.org.

  Technology

• Westbrook Middle School Parent Meeting Regarding the Re-Opening of Schools

  On August 18, Westbrook Middle School Interim Principal Dr. Susan Miller hosted a parent meeting to help answer questions regarding the re-opening of Westbrook Middle School.  The presentation was recorded and is available to watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8L9pbRxhvI

  Covid Info

• Athletics & CIAC Update: August 14, 2020

  Dear Parents, Guardians, Student-Athletes, and Coaches,

  The CIAC, following the recommendation from the Department of Public Health (DPH), made the decision today to immediately pause all in-person interscholastic fall sports activity, including conditioning programs and football OTA’s. This decision will be re-evaluated on August 24th, following further information from the DPH. As of the end of the day today, August 14th, all Westbrook Public Schools athletics activities are paused until further notice, with the earliest possible return being Monday, August 24th. Communication will come directly from the district once more information is received.

  Here is a link to a CIAC video statement from Executive Director Glenn Lungarini:

  CIAC Fall Sports Statement Aug. 14th

  High School coaches may continue to meet with their teams virtually to discuss best individual conditioning activities. We encourage each of our student-athletes to continue with individual, safe conditioning methods throughout this pause period.

  Thank you for your continued flexibility as we navigate the fluidity of the status of high school athletics at this time.

  Covid Info

• Westbrook High School Parent Meeting Regarding the Re-Opening of Schools

  On August 13, Westbrook High School Principal Tara Winch hosted a parent meeting to help answer questions regarding the re-opening of Westbrook High School.  The presentation was recorded and is available to watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy_7HPRhLBA.

  Covid Info

• Daisy Ingraham Parent Meeting Regarding the Re-Opening of Schools

  On August 12, Daisy Ingraham Principal Ruth Rose hosted a parent meeting to help answer questions regarding the re-opening of Schools.  The presentation was recorded and is available to watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM7hOGhFEeM&feature=youtu.be.

  Covid Info

• 8/11/20 Athletic Meeting Postponed

  August 11^th: Changing Today’s Athletics Meeting

  Due to recent dialogue this week in CIAC sports committees the Westbrook Athletics Virtual session scheduled for 5:00 pm this evening will be moved into the Westbrook High School session scheduled for this Thursday, August 13^th at 7:00 p.m.

  The CIAC yesterday directed all CIAC Fall Sports committees to meet today and report back on the opening plan. The CIAC Football committee made a recommendation yesterday about their season. With the CIAC Board of Control meeting tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, August 12^th to hear feedback and any proposals from the CIAC Fall Sports committees where they may or may not make further decisions on the Fall Sports season we thought it prudent to delay our information session.  With the ongoing dialogue early this week it was deemed best to see what new information we may have on Thursday as it relates to Fall Sports.

  Thank you and we look forward to seeing you Thursday evening!

  Westbrook High School

• Frequently Asked Questions About Re-Opening

  Please review some of the most common questions we have heard regarding the Westbrook Public Schools re-opening at https://www.westbrookctschools.org/covid_faq.

  Covid Info

• New Software Approval

  Listenwise has been approved for use in the classroom.  For the most up to date list of available software, visit https://www.westbrookctschools.org/groups/5665/technology/privacy_information.

  Technology

• New Software Approval

  EdPuzzle has been approved for use in the classroom.  For the most up to date list of available software, visit https://www.westbrookctschools.org/groups/5665/technology/privacy_information.

  Technology

• New Software Approval

  Flipgrid has been approved for use in the classroom - https://www.westbrookctschools.org/groups/5665/technology/privacy_information

  Technology

• New Software Approval

  Pear Deck has been approved for use in the classroom.  For the most up to date list of available software, visit https://www.westbrookctschools.org/groups/5665/technology/privacy_information.

  Technology

• New Software Available

  PBS Learning Media has been approved for use in the classroom.  For the most up to date list of available software, visit https://www.westbrookctschools.org/groups/5665/technology/privacy_information.

  Technology