Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year! We are very excited to begin the new year.

Summer has been a productive time with summer learning programs, summer meal programs, construction and maintenance projects, and hiring of new staff. We also ratified a new contract for teachers and our community validated the FY25 school budget. Thank you to our amazing staff at the Administrative Offices, school and district administrators, custodians, school nutrition staff, drivers, and other staff who worked throughout the summer.

We look forward to seeing everyone at Back to School Open Houses! See the schedule linked below. Please consider volunteering at our schools this year. Click HERE for an application for volunteering or visit our website. Volunteers must apply and be approved once during each grade-span (K-4, 5-8, and 9-12.) Also, please consider working as a substitute. We are hiring subs for all teaching and ed tech positions, including designated building subs, as well as custodians, drivers, school nutrition, and administrative assistants. Click HERE to be directed to the application process.

Our first days of school are "Transition Days." Only grades 1 & 2, 5 & 6, and 9 & 10 attend on Wednesday, August 28. Only grades 3 & 4, 7 & 8, and 11 & 12 attend on Thursday, August 29. Transition days provide our students and staff with time for orientation. This includes: reviewing school and classroom norms and procedures, building community, reviewing class syllabi, expectations, assignments, and routines, and practicing safety procedures. In addition, our Kindergarteners practice riding the bus and have a school visit on August 29. All students, including Kindergarten, attend on Tuesday, September 3 and PreK begins on Wednesday, September 4. This gradual start also helps students ease into their back to school routines. We find that this gradual start to the school year helps students better acclimate to their new school, classroom, or schedule and that the first full week of school is more productive.

We have lots in store for the new school year including new English Language Arts and Literacy instructional programs in grades K-8, several new courses at WHS, and a new communications system that will support school-home dialogue. Some "coming attractions" include a review of our Special Education programs which serve over a quarter of our students, the development of a Humanities Diploma Endorsement for WHS, and community conversations about student achievement and attendance.

Please join me in welcoming our new staff. Click HERE for a list of people joining our school community and those who are taking on different roles. Also, welcome to our Kindergarteners, the Class of 2037, and students who have recently moved into our community. We are glad you are here! Let's send our encouragement and support to the Class of 2025 as they begin their Senior year. We look forward to celebrating your graduation with you and your families on June 8, 2025!

Take care, and be strong!

Peter Lancia, Ph. D., Superintendent of Schools