Dear Families,

It was great to see so many of you at Run for Life this week. The energy was contagious as we joined families to walk, run, and jog before the start of the school day. Your enthusiasm and participation helps promote healthy habits and a strong sense of community. 

Preschool Lottery Information

Hurlbutt Elementary School’s Early Learning Center (ELC) offers services for Weston’s preschool students with special education needs. Since there are no general education preschool classes in the school district, we have developed an integrated program to include peer models. The ELC is open to Weston Families only. The program runs five days a week, 8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., with parents expected to provide transportation. To participate in the ELC, children must be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1, 2026, and toilet-trained. The anticipated cost for the program is at least $8,277 and the final amount will be shared with families in the Spring of 2026.      

Applications for Hurlbutt Elementary School’s Early Learning Center (ELC) are now available on the Hurlbutt Elementary School website (Weston website). To locate the application, click on the “Academics” tab, then “Preschool,” where you will find the link to the Preschool Application. You can also access the application directly at this link: ELC Application

We are accepting applications from October 21, 2025 through November 14, 2025.  If we receive more applications than available slots, a lottery will be conducted on November 18, 2025. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after the lottery if additional spots remain open in the program.  Students who are currently enrolled in the 3’s class do not need to reapply for the 4’s class. Students currently in the 4’s class who are not age eligible for kindergarten next year do not need to reapply.  Students who are already in the program remain in the program until they are age eligible for kindergarten.  

An in-person informational Open House will be held on November 11 at 2:00 p.m. Please RSVP to alisonbrett@westonps.org if you are interested in attending.

Learning about Responsible Energy Use and Recycling

Did you know that our students know how to sort their lunch trash?  Our students are well versed in separating recyclable water bottles and compostable materials when they are cleaning up their lunches. The Weston Schools has a districtwide sustainability committee that supports practices and initiatives that reduce waste, save money and educate our students and community about best practices. Our youngest learners amaze us with their commitment to learning to be responsible consumers. This past week, our K-2 students learned about recycling and energy conservation. Kindergarten and first grade students had a visit with a representative from HRRA (Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority) to learn more about recycling. Ask them to help sort at home so they can bring their learning to use at home. Chores and responsibility at home also have tremendous benefits for young children. With guidance from adults, there are so many ways for them to help. Second grade students learned about saving energy during a visit from the eeSMARTS Adventure Program through Energize CT.  Ask them to identify ways to save energy in your home.  

PowerSchool Parent Portal Update:

I am pleased to inform you that your child’s DIBELS beginning of the year benchmark report is now available in Portfolio Plus through your Parent Portal of Power School.  The DIBELS assesses literacy skills that are necessary for students to become successful readers.  The fall baseline data is a starting point for students. Our goal is to have all students on benchmark or above benchmark by the end of the year.  With parent/guardian and teacher conferences scheduled for early November, we encourage you to review this report ahead of the conference. This will help facilitate the conversation at conferences and give you time to preview the skills report. 

To access your child’s reports, please follow this link to the Portfolio Plus Parent Instructions.  

Please note, that this feature is available through a web browser only and cannot be accessed via the PowerSchool app.  While it's possible to view the reports using a smartphone browser, we recommend using a desktop or laptop computer for the best experience. 

If you have any questions or need assistance with PowerSchool access, feel free to reach out to our helpdesk at helpdesk@westonps.org.

Halloween Events Reminders

The Hurlbutt community will be holding our annual Halloween parade and classroom celebrations this Friday, October 31. It is tradition at Hurlbutt for our ELC and kindergarten parents/guardians to be invited to our parade. Detailed information about the parade procedures will be sent to ELC and kindergarten families by Tuesday.  Our Halloween parade is held on the morning of October 31. 

• When planning costumes, please be mindful that students are parading and they need costumes in which they can easily move around the building. Weapons (toy guns, knives, etc) are not permitted. Students should come to school dressed in their costume ensuring that these outfits allow for full participation in school activities including recess and physical education.

• Masks and headwear should not obstruct vision. These items can make it difficult for students to see and maneuver the curbs and steps.  Many students choose to wear their masks on their heads, which is a great solution.

• Due to space limitations and safety reasons, only parents/guardians with a preschool or kindergarten student are invited to attend the parade. 

• Halloween is one of our four classroom parties that includes food.  Room parents will be coordinating snacks with our classroom teachers.  We are an allergy alert school and food allergies will be considered when planning food in the classroom. Our district wellness guidelines ensure healthy snack choices during these events. Each class will have a limited number of volunteers to support classroom crafts and activities during their classroom celebrations.  These volunteers will be coordinated between the classroom teacher and room parents. 

• For health and safety reasons, please do not send candy to school following Halloween.  These treats are more appropriate to be enjoyed at home under your guidance. Students are not permitted to share food in school.  

Halloween Haunt Concert

The Weston High School Music department will present a “Halloween Haunt Concert” on Thursday evening, October 30 from 7:00-7:45 p.m in the high school gymnasium. All proceeds will benefit the high school music department - $10 for the whole family or $5 per person. Fun activities will include a Halloween costume parade, temporary tattoos, and candy trick-or-treat. 

Sincerely,

Laura Kaddis

Principal

Important Dates:  

October 27: Kindergarten Field Trip

October 29: 9:15-10:45 a.m. Math Workshop for Grade 1 & 2 Parents

October 31: Halloween 

November 4: Election Day: No School for Teacher professional development day

November 5: Delayed Opening at 10:30 a.m. for parent conferences

November 6: Early dismissal at 12:35 p.m. for parent conferences

November 7: Early dismissal at 12:35 p.m. for parent conferences

November 12: Kindergarten Reading Workshop 9:15-10:30 a.m.

November 14: Grade 1 Field Trip

November 17: Grade 1 and 2 Reading Workshop 9:15-10:30 a.m.

November 26-28: School closed for Thanksgiving break