February 5, 2025

Greetings WPS Families,

On January 31st, I informed you of a second incident of antisemitic vandalism in our schools. Weston Middle School Principal Mr. Doak has communicated with WMS families regarding the next steps at his school (please see his email below). A team from Weston High School and the district administration will participate in the workshop  Preventing and Responding to Antisemitism: A Training for Public School Administrators with central off as well. Next week, I will also meet with students of the Jewish Student Union at Weston High School to further discuss this matter. 

There is absolutely no place in our district for acts of hate against any member of our school community. We remain committed to reinforcing this expectation and fostering a culture of respect.

Sincerely,

Lisa Barbiero

Superintendent of Schools

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Weston Middle School

 

February 5, 2025

Dear Weston Middle School Families,

This email is a follow up to my January 31st  communication that there was an antisemitic act of vandalism in the seventh grade boys' restroom. I  had shared with you that I had reached out to Rabbi Friedman. You may recall, Rabbi Michael Friedman was scheduled to speak with our seventh graders on Monday, January 27, as part of our commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Unfortunately, he was unable to participate on that date. We are grateful that Rabbi Friedman has generously offered to reschedule his presentation to our seventh grade students for next Monday, February 10. He will adjust his remarks to address the impact of last Friday’s discovery of a swastika, a symbol of hate, at Weston Middle School.

In addition, a  team of Weston Middle School staff members—including administrators, counselors and team leaders will participate in a workshop titled Preventing and Responding to Antisemitism: A Training for Public School Administrators. This training will provide valuable information on how to recognize and respond to incidents of antisemitism in the school environment.

We recognize the importance of addressing this issue in a way that fosters learning, empathy, and respect. Our goal is to help students understand the weight of such actions and reinforce our shared commitment to a school culture where everyone feels safe and valued.

Thank you for your partnership in supporting this important conversation. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Daniel Doak

Principal