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Windham Middle School students highlight service projects, inclusion programs and dual-language gains
Summary
Students and staff from Windham Middle School presented National Junior Honor Society service drives, the student-run Wildcat Cafe9, kindness initiatives and dual-language milestones (77 EL exits; 32 seniors eligible for the Seal of Biliteracy) at the June 17 board meeting.
Windham Middle School students, staff and administrators presented a summary of student-led service, inclusion and cultural programs at the Board of Education meeting on June 17 in Willimantic.
Principal Carlos de la Barrera and WMS advisors introduced a range of student projects that school leaders said helped strengthen school climate and student engagement. National Junior Honor Society members described two donation campaigns, which the presentation said resulted in nearly 1,000 food items collected for the Covenant Soup Kitchen. Students also described a college-door sign project, a door-decorating contest, a Kindness Project that produced nearly 300 positive notes, and a small scavenger-style "frog" initiative intended to promote everyday acts of kindness.
Staff described vocational and inclusion work through the RISE program. RISE teacher Ms. Pascale said the student-run Wildcat Cafe9 operated throughout the year, served hundreds of orders, and reinvested proceeds into scholarships, 8th-grade activities and community donations. School leaders framed the cafe9 as both a vocational training opportunity and a vehicle for relationship-building that allowed students with diverse needs to contribute in visible ways.
The board also heard from Compaf1eros dual-language staff about cultural events and assessments. Director Beth Brunet reported record English-learner exits this year: 77 students met mastery and will exit EL services. Brunet said 45 students in grades 10-12 passed AAPPL language assessments this year and 32 seniors have met criteria to be celebrated with a Seal of Biliteracy at graduation. Compaf1eros teacher Ms. Verastegui recounted Spirit Week, cultural-awareness lessons, a red-shirt heart-health day, and a Cinco de Mayo celebration that included a former program student who now owns a local food truck.
Superintendent Dr. Gomero thanked students and staff for their work and said the schools progress contributed to the district exiting turnaround status at the middle school. The board and superintendent lauded the student speeches and school initiatives as examples of improving culture and climate.
The board also received districtwide school-climate updates and data: Ms. Beck, the District School Climate Coordinator, summarized statewide reporting requirements and the districts plan to post bilingual Uniform Complaint Forms and school climate improvement plans online; Dr. Gomero reported chronic absenteeism data improved month-to-month and was close to 20% for June, the lowest June rate since 2020.
The presentation concluded with invitations to community events, and the board thanked the students and staff for their work and for attending the meeting.
