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| Newsletter April 2009 |
Welcome to our special first issue of Wilton Education Foundation’s
e-newsletter! We would like to share what we’ve been doing this past school year to help raise funds for Wilton’s outstanding school system. Our newsletter provides highlights and photos of recent events. For more information, please click on the subject links on our website. Enjoy!
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Supporting Wilton’s School
System
Wilton Education Foundation is a non-profit organization which supports the Wilton Board of Education. Our goal is to raise and contribute funds to Wilton’s schools which may not be included in the Board of Education’s annual budget.
During these tough economic times, the Wilton Board of Education is experiencing severe budget cuts. In the past, proposed budgets for the following school year have been in the 4+% increase range. This year our Board of Education is only recommending a 1.8% increase, yet this is still being challenged. ***NOTE*** After copy was uploaded the budget was further reduced to .93% increase which is DOWN ANOTHER $600,000!!! Line items, such as salaries and healthcare, are a given. However, budgeted areas such as technology and professional development will suffer. The Technology Budget has been severely slashed. Innovative interactive learning tools intended to be purchased for all our schools are now on hold… indefinitely. One of these tools, SMARTBoards™, as well as related equipment and SMART Board training, have been eliminated from all schools as a line item. We are hoping to give financial support to purchase a few for our schools. |
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Your Support… Your Vote!
It’s important to show your support and say “YES” to the proposed education budget.
Critical dates :
—May 5th at 7:30pm, Clune CenterAnnual Town Meeting. Voting begins after meeting.
—May 9th from 9am to 6pm Clune Center• Voting continues
You can also express your support by emailing theBoard of Finance at boardoffinance@wiltonct.org
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THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!
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The year started on a high five as our best and brightest educators took on the Court Jesters Comedy Basketball Team in front of a packed (Field) house. Parents and children cheered on their teachers as they attempted three-pointers, slam dunks and fancy dribbling around the talented former college and professional basketball players who displayed their great showmanship skills! It was a successful evening all around for the community, our organization, and our teachers who will receive funding toward Summer Institute (more to follow)and SMARTboards™. Thank you to all of you who made it a night to remember. |
Middlebrook Science Fair |
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Wilton Continuing Education has been a supporter of the annual Middlebrook Science Fair for many years. This year’s Middlebrook Science Fair was held in February. It was a tremendous success with 95 student participants and the Spectacular Science Show following the judging of the exhibits. This is the largest student participation the Science Fair has ever experienced! Some teams and individuals then qualified for the State Science Fair at Quinnipiac University in Hamden and went on to receive 2nd honors at the State Fair. Also, one team advanced to the State Science Fair finals. Congratulations to our science stars!
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Which Career Is for You?
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In February, the Foundation facilitated a series of career panels for WHS Juniors during Real World. Panels consisted of industry professionals from areas including Natural Resource Technologies, Biosciences, Media, Arts, Finance, Health, Communications and Biosciences, Government, Entrepreneurship and more. What great advice did our seasoned professionals share with their audience? “Listen to your heart. Follow your passion. Believe in yourself. Be an observer of life and the world. Develop an opinion. Make yourself an interesting person. Always market yourself.” |
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Middlebrook Career Day takes place annually at the end of March. This event will bring 65 professionals from an incredible array of fields from Business to Law, Entertainment to Sports Management, to Medicine just to name a few! This is another example of the programs Wilton Education Foundation provides to our school system. |
Run for It!
Be a part of a community-wide event that supports our greatest assets: The children and educators of Wilton. Come join the Wilton Education Foundation in the first annual Memorial Day
GET SMART FOR WILTON 5Kto be held on Sunday, May 24that 9:00am.
Sign up with the family, co-workers, friends,or on your own.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available beginning as low as $50. For more information, please contact Kara Bingaman at 834-1709 or karabingaman@gmail.com. Or click on the link on this website
Get Smart for Wilton 5k.
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SUMMER INSTITUTE
Another budget cut victim will be the continuing education of our valued teachers. The Wilton Education Foundation supplements funding hundreds of Wilton teachers to participate in summer programs held at notable institutions – Columbia, Amherst College, University of Michigan. The knowledge and insight they bring back is shared with other Wilton educators to benefit our children. Programs have included biology and genetics, gifted education, reading & writing workshops, and others.
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B R I C K S A L E S
Honor a student, teacher, team, class, even a special event! Order a brick any time during the year. We are currently taking brick orders for graduation. Bricks are $75 and can be placed along the walkways of Wilton’s schools. These special tokens have a lasting value! Help build our Pathways to Learning, brick-by-brick. Proceeds will help to send our educators to Summer Institute. For more information, contact Kit Smith at 762-5357 or cwsmith1@optonline.net, or click on the link: Brick-by-Brick.
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»»»Similar to other organizations, we are going green. If you enjoy what you read today, would you share your e-mail address with us for future communication? It will be kept confidential!
Form coming soon- for now email Maxineberg@optonline.net
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We would like to add a very big thank you to Michelle Beyman for her time, creativity and hard work in putting together this first newsletter for the Foundation! Any questions about this document or about the Foundation, contact her @ mrbeyman@optonline.net.
Website issues or questions contact webmaster Colette @ lettepo@hotmail.com |
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