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 Youth Council and Wilton Public Schools Bring “Shoulder Check” Initiative to WHS to Inspire Kindness and Build Community Among Students
Wilton Youth Council is partnering with Wilton Public Schools to bring Rob Thorsen, founder of the #HT40 Foundation, to visit Wilton High School on Wednesday, Mar. 12. Thorsen will talk about his initiative Shoulder Check, which is dedicated to bringing kids together through kindness and compassion and to inspire a culture of support through small actions that have a big impact.
Should Check encourages young people to be there for their peers through action-oriented initiatives that foster social connectedness. The community is invited to learn how to help foster a culture of caring in youth at this presentation.
The #HT40 Foundation draws its inspiration directly from the life and spirit of Hayden Thorsen, a Darien student-athlete described on the foundation’s website as “a friend and a peer to all who knew him, never hesitating to put an arm around someone’s shoulder.” Hayden died by suicide in May 2022, and the foundation was created to honor Hayden’s model of bringing people together with kindness and compassion, leaving no one left apart.
“We’ve had incredible support for Shoulder Check’s message since launch in 2023 — simply put, we may not always know who needs a hand, but we all have a hand to give. And we’re glad to have the chance to share it with the young men and women of WHS because of all the people we get to meet with, they are the ones that matter most — this message is for them and they are the ones who can carry it forward best. We’re really excited to have the chance to spend the time with them and we’re grateful to the administration and the Wilton Youth Council for giving us the chance to be there,” Thorsen said.
This event is part of an ongoing effort by Wilton Public Schools to integrate social-emotional learning, mental health awareness and kindness initiatives into the fabric of the school community.
“We are always working concertedly to ensure student health and safety and fulfill the Balanced Healthy Human Being attribute of our Vision of a Learner. The Shoulder Check program and presentations will be a good learning experience for our students and will send the message that students need to look out for each other and check in on each other in our tight knit school community. I have heard Rob’s important message and know that this will resonate with our students and I believe they will respond accordingly. Wilton High School is very grateful for our partnership with the Wilton Youth Council and thank them for supporting the Shoulder Check Program,” WHS Principal Robert O’Donnell said.
During the event on Wednesday evening, Mar. 12 at 7 p.m. in the WHS Little Theater, parents and community leaders will have an opportunity to hear Thorsen’s story and learn more about Shoulder Check and how it can be implemented it in the Wilton community. The visit will be open to all students.
This program is made possible by a grant from the County Assemblies.
WHS Science Olympiad Success
On Saturday, Feb. 8, 27 members of the Wilton High School Science Olympiad team competed in the Yale University Invitational. The A Team finished 12th and the B Team finished 34rd out of 55 total teams.
The A Team ranked as the second-best school in Connecticut, only behind South Windsor’s teams. Wilton’s A Team beat teams from Hopkins, Ridgefield, EO Smith, Staples and Weston High Schools.
Student pairs medaled in five of 23 STEM-related events:
- “Microbe Mission”: Caleb Sharp and Anshika Saagi (second)
- “Anatomy & Physiology”: Caleb Sharp and Saagi (second)
- “Entomology”: Caleb Sharp and Laura Kowal (fourth)
- “Astronomy”: Caleb Sharp and Arden Hamilton (sixth)
- “Chemistry Lab”: Aiden Sharp and Arushi Patel (sixth)
Wilton had 10 pairs overall who placed in the top 10, from both the A and B teams. The teams are now preparing for the UConn state match, coming up on Saturday, Mar. 22, where they aim to place in the top 3 and bring home a trophy.
Wilton High Ski Teams Takes 2nd Place in Class S for the Season; Six Wilton Skiers Earn All State Accolades
With its 2025 season a wrap, Wilton High ski team congratulates it skiers on another strong showing in Class S.
For the regular season, both the Warrior boys and girls teams claimed second place — the boys behind Weston High School and the girls behind Daniel Hand. At the States race on Wednesday, Feb. 26, both the Wilton boys and girls placed third in Class S — the boys behind Weston (first) and Cheshire (second), and the girls behind Daniel Hand (first) and Weston (second).
Six Warrior skiers earned All State accolades as well: junior captain Cooper Buchichio and senior captains Hudson Hagmann and Paige Leung earned First Team All State, and freshman Olivia Edwards, senior Kellogg Pettibone and senior captain Georgia Polito earned All State Honorable Mention.
For complete race results visit the CT Interscholastic Ski League website.
Warrior Strong: Wilton Cheer Gives Back to Food Pantry, Showing Team Spirit by Supporting Local Community
Wilton High School’s varsity cheerleading team has proven that its spirit extends far beyond the sidelines. This month, the team wrapped up its season by giving back to the community with a heartwarming donation to the Wilton Food Pantry.
In November, the cheerleaders launched an online store, offering holiday treats such as candies, cookie dough, popcorn, and more. In the spirit of the season, they included an option for customers to donate soup to the Wilton Food Pantry. The team also partnered with Wilton’s three youth competition cheer teams, who joined the effort by collecting additional donations.
This past week, the varsity cheer team visited the food pantry to deliver the donations. The athletes worked together to unpack and organize the items on the shelves, ensuring everything was ready for local families in need. Their efforts will help keep local families’ pantries stocked as the season turns toward spring.
The donation event marked a meaningful close to an exciting and successful season for Wilton Cheer. After 10 months of dedication — including summer camp, football games, basketball season, and competitions — the team achieved its highest placing at the CIAC State Tournament in recent years.
The Varsity team is led by Wilton Cheer alumnae, Coach Madison Turner and Assistant Coach Rachel Silverstein, whose leadership and love for the program have helped the team thrive. The youth competition teams, consisting of cheerleaders in 3rd-8th grade, have also had a highly successful season. They are guided by a talented coaching staff including Wilton Cheer alumnae Turner, Teagan Tait, Sam Tait and Kelli Tait, with additional support from current varsity cheerleaders Cameron Russnok and Isa Coto.
Wilton Cheer is not only building a legacy of athletic excellence but also fostering a spirit of community service and kindness. With strong leadership and a growing program, the future is bright for these dedicated athletes.