From the moment our students walked through our doors on the first day of school, there was an energy across Westminster Public Schools that was impossible to miss. As I visited classrooms and walked the hallways, I saw smiles, excitement, a few first-day nerves, and, most importantly, a genuine sense that our students were happy to be back.

Now, nearly a month into the school year, that energy hasn’t faded.

Our students are connecting.

One of the most noticeable shifts stems from our new bell-to-bell cell phone policy. With screens put away during the school day, students are looking up, talking, and connecting face-to-face.

We see it everywhere. In classrooms, students are engaged with their teachers and peers. At lunch, they are laughing over competitive games of Uno with staff. On the fields, students and staff are tossing a football around together. Our school leaders continually note a level of active socialization we haven’t seen in years.

Those moments matter.

They remind us that school is about much more than daily lessons. Our schools are places where young people build relationships, discover interests, build confidence, and imagine what is possible for their futures.

That same spirit of discovery spans across WPS. Some students are finding a passion for music. Others are gaining hands-on experience in Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways like Construction, Culinary Arts, and Media Arts. Our youngest learners are asking big questions and developing foundational skills. Across every grade level, students are discovering new possibilities.

That is what excites me most about this school year.

A strong start isn’t measured by a single initiative or milestone. It lives in daily interactions across our classrooms, cafeterias, hallways, and athletic fields. It happens when a student raises a hand, tries something new, connects with a trusted adult, or realizes what they are capable of achieving.

As you read this edition of What’s Up WPS, I hope you feel the excitement I’ve witnessed every day: students who are present, connected, and eager for what’s ahead. We are only a month in, and the best is yet to come.

Warmly,

Dr. Jeni Gotto

Superintendent of Schools

Westminster Public Schools