FIRST UP on GMW is an occasional column that highlights shorter announcements or updates, and helps you get a quick start to the Wilton news of the day. Today’s School edition highlights items from the Wilton Public Schools. Have a news tip, item or something you know people are chatting about? Email us at editor@goodmorningwilton.com.
Wilton High School Sets Sail with New Competitive Sailing Team
After months of preparation and determination, Wilton High School officially launched its sailing team during the 2024 fall season — and organizers said the program is already making waves in its first full year of competition.
Formed as a school club in 2024, the team began with just six student sailors representing a mix of upper and underclassmen. Despite being new on the scene, the squad has proven that passion and hard work can power remarkable achievements.
The WHS sailing team practices three times a week out of Black Rock Harbor in Bridgeport partnering with Sail Black Rock Foundation under the guidance of university-level sailing coaches from SUNY Maritime and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Their training program is structured to prepare high school sailors for collegiate competition, instilling both technical skills and competitive spirit.
Though officially a club sport at Wilton High School, the team is part of the New England chapter of the Interscholastic Sailing Association (NESSA) and was invited to complete in the Fairfield County Sailing League (FCSL), which includes varsity, junior varsity and club teams from various public and private schools across the Fairfield County. Competitions are held on C420-class dinghies — standard two-person sailboats used widely in high school and collegiate racing.
The team has already racked up an impressive list of accomplishments in its inaugural year. In late April, Wilton was one of just 17 schools invited to the Connecticut State High School Sailing Championship, where the team delivered a strong showing against some of the best high school sailors in the state.
Most notably, the Wilton girls team won first place in the 2025 FCSL Girls Fleet Championship, finishing ahead of several seasoned varsity programs — a remarkable feat for a first-year team. The squad also qualified for and competed in the prestigious O’Day Qualifiers in Bristol, RI, a regional event that serves as the pathway to the National Championship for ISA. There, Wilton again showed its strength by holding its own in a highly competitive fleet.
Leadership has played a key role in the team’s rapid rise, with Wilton’s team captain Rachel Phippen earning honorable mention for the 2025 All-FCSL Team, underscoring both individual and team excellence.
With a solid foundation, expert coaching and a string of early successes, Wilton High School’s sailing team is quickly establishing itself as a rising force in Connecticut’s high school sailing circuit and the journey is just getting started.
As the program looks to build on its early success, the team is actively seeking experienced sailors to join its ranks. Students interested in trying out are encouraged to connect with the team and learn more about what it means to compete at a high level while representing Wilton High School.
Cider Mill Helping Hands Club Raises $1,762 for Circle of Care
Last week at Cider Mill Elementary School, a group of third-, fourth- and fifth-graders in the school’s Helping Hands Club raised an impressive $1,762 through a two-day bake sale to be donated to Circle of Care, a Wilton-based organization that provides practical, emotional and financial support to families of children with cancer.
Every cookie, cupcake, and brownie sold brought the Helping Hands Club one step closer to making a real difference for young patients and their families.
Helping Hands is a student club focused on service and leadership. This year, the club chose Circle of Care as its primary philanthropy effort.
Throughout the school year, Helping Hands also collected donations for R.O.A.R., performed for seniors at Wilton Meadows, created cards for Cider Mill staff, organized a holiday toy drive and ran a food drive for Hurricane Helene relief.
Cider Mill teachers Kim Hellthaler and Julie Gillespie, advisors to the club, said how proud they were of their students. “These compassionate and motivated students have demonstrated just how much young students can accomplish when given the opportunity to lead. Their hard work and generosity are a true reflection of the spirit of Cider Mill,” they wrote.
WHS Peer Leadership Club Raises Awareness and Support for Cystic Fibrosis
On the weekend of May 24-25, the Peer Leadership Club of Wilton High School, held a bake sale fundraiser to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a nonprofit leading the fight against the rare and life-threatening genetic disease. The effort was held under the leadership of teacher advisor Monarch Trivedi and student president Benjamin Srivastava and in collaboration with Mike Kazlauskas and Kimberly Fejes, Senior Camp and Sports Directors at the Wilton YMCA.
The event drew supporters to help fund research, raise awareness and ultimately find a cure for cystic fibrosis and raised $315, all of which will go directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s groundbreaking work in research, treatment innovation and patient support.
“The success of this… event reflects a growing awareness and a passionate commitment among everyday people to make a difference,” Srivastava said.