Hey Westbrook! Come on out to Hannaford today to fill our bus with food. They are accepting any non-perishable items including personal care products.. They will be there until 2 PM today and again next Saturday from 8 AM to 2 PM.
We are getting closer to our PTO's annual craft fair on November 22nd, 9-3pm. Please mark your calendars for this great event featuring many local artisans and crafters - including a few WMS students! Thank you to our amazing PTO for organizing this event.
Reminder - no school on Tuesday, Nov. 11
Thank you so much Portland Hearts of Pine for visiting WMS today! Our students had a great afternoon with you!
On Friday, October 3rd, the entire WMS 5th grade participated in an orchard planting event at WMS. ReTreeUS and volunteers from TD Bank worked with our 5th graders to plant 30 apple & pear trees, as well as a 300-ft hedge row of beach plums and hazelnuts in our existing orchard. Students got a chance to plant trees, learn about apple trees, get their hands dirty, and feel like they are contributing to the future of the community. We now have 50 apple & pear trees that will give food to the school for years to come.
WMS students have diverted 500 gallons of food waste out of the trash and into the compost so far this year!
We are looking forward to the year’s first 6th Grade event! The 6th Grade Costume Dance will be on October 17 from 6:00-7:30. We will have one room for the dance and another room for activities. We would love to have parent chaperones! If you would like to chaperone, you MUST be an approved volunteer at WMS.
Our 7th graders took learning outdoors this week with an experiential lesson on Maine agriculture right here on campus!
Students made real-world connections through hands-on activities and outdoor discovery.
Check out the photos to see engaged learners in action!
Students made real-world connections through hands-on activities and outdoor discovery.
Check out the photos to see engaged learners in action!
WMS Parents -
Take a look at this video to learn how to log in to Infinite Campus! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QR35YhB10LJAM4a9kq3w-BvtyVhQQKk-/view?usp=drive_link
Take a look at this video to learn how to log in to Infinite Campus! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QR35YhB10LJAM4a9kq3w-BvtyVhQQKk-/view?usp=drive_link
Happy Summer Everyone!
Congrats to former 8th grade student, Zoe, for winning the Maine CDC 2025 Tick Awareness Poster Contest. Zoe was one of 4 winners in the state for the middle school division. Winners received a Maine State Parks family day pass and tick removal kits to share with classmates, as well as recognition on their website. Check it out: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/diseases-conditions/insect-and-animal-borne-diseases/ticks#poster
Congrats to former 8th grade student, Zoe, for winning the Maine CDC 2025 Tick Awareness Poster Contest. Zoe was one of 4 winners in the state for the middle school division. Winners received a Maine State Parks family day pass and tick removal kits to share with classmates, as well as recognition on their website. Check it out: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/diseases-conditions/insect-and-animal-borne-diseases/ticks#poster
The students and staff are having a blast at Falcon Frenzy 2025!
The Westbrook Garden project and experiential/outdoor action team would like to extend a HUGE thanks to some of our donors and supporters. The work that we have done getting students outside and learning with hands-on experiences have been fantastic. This year some of our local supporters that have supported us each year would include Hillside Lumber, Knight Property Service, Fedco Organic Grower Supply, Johnny’s Select Seeds, O’Donal’s Nursery, Estabrooks, Skillins, Coat of Maine and Plumber's Hardware. We've also received grants from the DOE for climate education as well as from Maine Ag in the Classroom, ReTreeUS, Eco Maine, Maine Farm & Sea to School, The Natural Resource Council of Maine, and the Maine Environmental Education Association. Our partners in education Wild Seed Project and Project Learning Tree have been very helpful and our neighbors here at Westbrook Middle School Matt Randall and Drew & Elizabeth Gattine have been instrumental in helping some of our projects get going. All of these people and organizations as well as all the teachers and staff that have facilitated the work with students. We have built a garden, orchard, greenhouse, trails, and more to support hands-on, outdoor education.
Here's a look at our year-end Spirit Week themes! Join the fun and comes dressed according to the theme!
Check out the Bookmobile this summer!
Last night the Westbrook School Committee approved a request to adjust the school calendar. The last day of school for the year will be on Friday, June 13 with dismissal at 10:15am at WMS, 10:25am at WHS, and 11:25am at the elementary schools.
Dear friends,
This evening, I will nominate Dr. Christina Boursaw as the next principal of Westbrook Middle School, replacing Laurie Wood who will retire at the end of the school year after 10 years at WMS. Dr. Boursaw currently serves as principal at Gilbert Elementary School, a K-6 school in Augusta where she was honored as 2024 Distinguished Elementary/Middle School Principal by the Maine Principals’ Association. Prior to moving to Maine, she was an elementary and middle school administrator and teacher in Redlands and Beaumont, California. She also served as her district’s Human Resources director and Title IX coordinator, published several articles on teaching, and wrote K-8 units of study integrating literacy and math with Next Generation Science Standards. Christina has mentored aspiring and novice principals, developed mentor programs for teachers, and supported professional development through workshops and coaching. She prioritizes building relationships and dialogue, creating welcoming and inclusive environments for all students, staff, and families, and is eager to get to know our Westbrook community.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Christina Boursaw to Westbrook Middle School!
Take care,
Peter Lancia, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Thank you to Jack Wescott! On his own initiative, he has repaired almost two dozen microscopes. He figured out what to do all on his own and has worked diligently to get the job done. Thanks to him, the science department now has 36 working microscopes, allowing each class to have more than a full set of working microscopes for their science learning. Thank you for this act of community service, Jack!
Don't forget to order a yearbook!
Dear families,
This week, May 5-9, is Staff Appreciation Week. We honor our entire staff - teachers, support staff, and administrators - throughout the week and thank them for everything they do to support our students and the community. In Westbrook, we value strong relationships and our staff members are all dedicated to making connections that lead to the success of every student, every day. Please join me in recognizing them for their hard work! I encourage you to take a moment to send school staff a note or give them a call to say thank you. Connect with your school PTO to see how you can help with their activities to celebrate staff. Encourage your child to draw a picture for them, write them a poem, say thank you, or give them an extra smile. Small gestures of kindness mean the world them. We are fortunate to know and learn among such talented educators in Westbrook! Let’s tell them how much they mean to us!
Take care,
Dr. Peter Lancia, Superintendent of Schools
