Weston High School 

Trojan News November/December 2020 

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Greetings Families! On behalf of our WHS faculty, I wish you a wonderful December break. I hope that you all are able to find some time to relax and recharge during this challenging time. Please note that our in-person classes will resume on Thursday, January 7. It will be a Blue E day with classes beginning at 7:45 AM.

The following link is a special message from our student government that I encourage you to watch. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oG8fBFKqKj7K0shkN0AHEFsh78a3sCk9/view?usp=drive_web

Thirty students and six faculty members from the WHS Social Justice Advocacy Group participated in a Youth Leadership Development Workshop run by Dr. Elizabeth Bishop, an educator, researcher, youth advocate, and Director of Strategic Initiatives at the CUNY School of Professional Youth Studies Program. With gracious support from the PTO, this dynamic workshop is part of an effort to create ongoing opportunities for youth to step into leadership to support the school community as it moves toward becoming a more inclusive, anti-racist learning

environment. Students had the opportunity to work collaboratively in small and large groups to understand the strengths and opportunities for growth within the school community; analyze potential strategies to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice; and create tangible action steps, momentum, and partnerships for moving the work forward. They shared the following feedback after the workshop. I'm excited to start this process of change. I’m feeling very inspired, my head is full of ideas. I’m feeling optimistic. Feeling: happy to be a part of a group

that cares so much. I feel excited to make a change in our school community.

WHS faculty continued its work with Dr. David Nurenberg, author of What does Injustice Have to do with Me? Our December professional development workshop focused on culturally responsive teaching and understanding the concepts of mirror and windows and how it relates to developing inclusive curriculum.

Teachers also explored the differences between colorblind vs. colorbrave. Our next session with Dr. David Nurenberg is on January 28.

  

I am pleased to announce two new semester courses that will be offered next year. These courses were in response to student feedback that there is a need for opportunities to study important concepts and content through diverse perspectives. Social Studies electiveThe American Tapestry will examine the concept of identity with specific emphasis on ethnic and racial identity in America over the last 50 years. It will focus on contemporary issues unique to African Americans, Black Americans, Latino Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). In addition to the social, political, and economic implications of race and ethnicity, this course will include an examination of gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation as an influencer of identity in modern America. Students will analyze American identities through multiple perspectives drawn from history, geography, sociology, psychology, art, music, and literature.

English elective Voices from the Edge encourages students to explore and study diverse voices while honing, discovering, and emboldening their own. Through studying “mirror” texts that reflect their own identities and “window” texts that allow them to gain insight into the identities of others, students will examine and create fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and media that spans genres, modes, and forms.

The Extended Learning Hour (ELH) is a resounding success. During the last hour of the school day all teachers are available to connect with students for additional academic support. Our students are welcome to meet in-person with their teachers on in-person days regardless of the color cohort day. They may touch base via zoom as well. Students are encouraged to reach out to their teachers and make an appointment. Pictured is Ms. Eisenman working with a student on his writing.

Finally, I encourage all families to bookmark the Weston High School homepage. Our Events List is there and you may subscribe to the WHS calendar also. All cohort days and periods are listed for quick reference.

SCHOOL COUNSELING

On November 19, bestselling author Jeff Selingo of “Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions,” spoke to over 160 WHS families about the world of college admissions. In a collaboration with College and Career Counselor Ms. Green and Director of School Counselor Ms.Starzyk , Mr. Selengo dispelled the entrenched notions of how to compete and win at the admissions game, revealed why families have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a “good" college, and also explained how the pandemic has impacted admissions. In December Ms. Selingo also met with all the members of our school counseling department to discuss his book, which they all had read as part of their professional development for this year in an effort to improve our current programming.

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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS PLTW teacher Ms. Lucia organized a virtual field trip for her students . welcoming guest speakers from ASML of Wilton, CT this December. ASML engineers work on mechatronics modules, optics, and optical sensors and measurement systems that are critical to both lithography machines and metrology and inspection systems. Bringing their wealth of experience, Engineers Preeti Benake, Jose Carballo, Siddarth Sadashivappa, and Zachary Zydron discussed their college and career paths. Their work contributes to high tech semiconductors used in a wide range of today's electronics. ASML is considered an innovative leader in this area of technology. Wilton's facility includes research and development of novel technology as well as in house manufacturing of some of their products. Mr. Brencher’s Advanced Sports Journalism created a college football playoff preview. The following link showcases our student work in this popular course: https://youtu.be/OPnEJjOHj50. CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS

On December 11 and 13 Company presented VINTAGE HITCHCOCK: A LIVE RADIO PLAY. Spies, murder, love, and other trademarks of Alfred Hitchcock came to life in the style of a 1940s radio broadcast from the master of suspense. These past months have been a very challenging time for the performing arts. WHS Company and our music department were fortunate to have unwavering support for our programs, which allowed them to move forward and bring you a nontraditional fall production. While they would have loved to share their radio play live with a full audience, they did their best to create a virtual experience. The

production staff was steadfast in its belief that our students should have a full production this fall and this project was a labor of love and learning. Thank you for all who supported it. Weston Against Cancer held a "Trick or Treat: Reversed" fundraiser in which they made 160+ goody bags of candy and toys for Weston teachers and families! While abiding by all social distancing and PPE requirements, the students also delivered the bags to Weston families' doorsteps in costume on Halloween. The committee raised just under $1,000 for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in a matter of weeks! They created the fundraiser not only to benefit MSKCC, but to also bring back a little cheer on an unusual Halloween without traditional trick or treating. Green Team focuses on sustainability initiatives and making our community a greener place to live. Presidents Haleigh Graichen, Madeleine Clough, and Lucy Fine have led the following efforts this year: a fundraiser to support California wildfire relief efforts, guest speaker and

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Cornell Plant Science graduate Isabelle Amlicke who spoke to us about Invasive Plant Species, participation in statewide contest ‘Recycle Right’ Billboard Design, Improving bottle recycling procedures at Weston’s transfer station, removing invasive plants on School Road in collaboration with the town’s Pollinator Pathway organization.

Student Government organized a spirit week to welcome everyone back and the start of the second quarter. There was a variety of spirit days and night events that imitated the pep rallies and events. All grades were assigned different responsibilities including facilitating a duck hunt, trivia night, and the most popular event, AMONG US. Everyone had a role in putting this together including decorating the outside of the school to bring our community back together and make sure our peers are enjoying their time while at school. Our spirit week ended with a Person-to-Person coat drive as part of our community service efforts.

The Class of 2024 held a pet supply drive for the Pet Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) this November. Our freshman collected and organized much needed pet food, beds, and toys. Donations are essential to the success of PAWS Located in Norwalk, PAWS rescues and rehomes over 200 dogs and 500 cats annually.

Our debate team has been working diligently mastering the move from live debate to Zoom debates this year. There are 10 new members on our novice team that has competed in 4 tournaments steadily winning matches and raising individual speaker scores. Debate demands quick, precise, logical thinking on one’s feet and the skill to eloquently present and rebut arguments. Our varsity team has been tutoring these new members in these key skills as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with fellow teammates. Our varsity team competed this fall and veteran debaters with Rebecca Ronai and Jasper Richardson winning first place in the varsity category. The team’s participation would not be possible without the dedication of our parents who act as judges for other teams during competitions. These volunteers devote one Saturday a month. We send a special thanks to Mr. Ronai who organizes and trains our parent support network.

ATHLETICS

The definition of a successful season took on a new meaning this fall. We are very grateful for the dedication of our athletes, coaches, officials, parents, and administrators whose collective contribution provided an outlet both physically and social emotionally for more than 375 students who participated in our 11 fakk

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sport. On one thrilling day in the middle of November, we were fortunate to be a part of three championship events. Our Girl’s Swim & Dive team swam their virtual meet that day and, for the 6th year in a row, were crowned SWC Champions. On the same day our Girls’ and Boys’ Soccer teams won their SWC South Division Championship Games.

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