Despite the tribulations of getting the facilities in order after a swath of summertime work, school officials are feeling great about the year ahead.
Monday, Aug. 25, marks the first day of school for students, with teachers already in-house this week getting their classrooms ready for the 2025-26 school year.
On Thursday night, Aug. 21, the Board of Education heard updates from various administrators on how things are going, with many new staff in place, a newly renovated wing at Middlebrook School, and a lot of anticipation to see students back in the buildings.
“We are so excited to see all of our students on Monday,” Wilton High School Principal Robert O’Donnell told the BOE, praising a team of students who have volunteered their time to help with orientation of incoming freshmen and students who are new to town.
Jory Higgins, principal at Middlebrook, said likewise of students who are helping those transition from Cider Mill School.
“They generously gave up some of their summer to be trained … It’s really inspiring to see these kids.”
Along with their requisite focuses on academic success, both schools will continue with policies that keep cellphones out of student hands during the school day, an initiative that drew a lot of attention last fall at WHS when it was first implemented.
“As we learned last year, I think the students really appreciated (that by) getting rid of their phones all the time, they were able to control their minds and their emotions a bit better,” explained Brian Keating, WHS associate principal.
WHS administrators also made note of two new classrooms that will open this year, including an “i-STEM” room that will feature technology learning and robotics, and a business and stock market room.
“These are going to be wonderful learning environments for our students,” O’Donnell said, crediting the custodial staff with getting the work completed.
Several administrators shared high praise for the considerable work done by custodial staff over the summer, and especially in the last few days, including Janean Carley, the new interim principal at Cider Mill.
“The building is really looking great and we will continue our work to make it shine even brighter,” she said, noting the school will be engaging this year in a “partner teaching model” that will divide subjects areas between different teachers in order to limit transition time for students.
Kathryn Coon, principal at Miller-Driscoll School, said that one very different thing her school will be doing this year will be involving all staff in the English Language Arts (ELA) program.
“We believe many hands make light work,” she said.
Maria Coleman, whose new title is assistant superintendent for human resources and general administration, shared about a busy hiring season that included 33 new certified staff, six administrators, 19 non-certified staff, six custodians, and three long-term substitutes.
“As usual, we have drawn from a very competitive pool of applicants,” she said, with more than 550 people under consideration.
“For many it’s a second or third career that brings them here to the field of education,” Coleman said, with a panoply of experiences and skills among the new hires.
BOE Chair Ruth DeLuca also praised the work of custodial staff and renovation personnel for getting things in order on time, especially at Middlebrook.
“I just think it’s really remarkable, the amount of work that got accomplished this summer,” she said.
“It’s great, really, to have spaces that are worthy of the people and the work that goes on in the buildings.”