Dear Friends,

Welcome back! The new school year begins this week - today for grades 1-12, Wednesday for Kindergarten, and Thursday for PreK - and what an exciting year it will be! Students, staff, and families are building a strong community where everyone is welcome and everyone belongs. This year's theme in the Westbrook Schools is "I matter here!"

To matter is more than just being welcomed and feeling like we belong. It is about the meaningful interactions we share every day, leaving a mark on the community, and building lasting connections with other people. It is about learning collaboratively and helping each other grow. It is about being aligned with others as we all work toward common goals. When we belong to a community, we are seen, heard, acknowledged, and valued. In our schools—on the buses, in our classrooms, on fields and stages, and in the cafeterias—we want every individual to know that they make a difference and a unique contribution to the entire community.

We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels like they matter through kindness, communication, and support as we work toward Westbrook’s one promise: the best education for all, for life.

Let’s work together to make this a year where our students, staff, and families can truly say and mean, "I matter here."

I wish you all a wonderful start to the school year!

Peter Lancia, Ph. D., Superintendent of Schools