Second Attempt: Here You Come Again…a WPS update! 9-1-26
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September 1, 2026
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Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!
As we embark on this year’s journey, we reaffirm our commitment to cultivating joyful and inclusive learning environments that embrace our students’ variability and honor their diversity. Environments where every student is empowered to become an empathetic, responsible, and curious lifelong learner. Guided by our district's mission to develop and foster creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking, we look forward to preparing our students for active, positive participation as local and global citizens. Together, anchored by our SPIRIT core values—Safety, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork—we will collaborate to make this year one of meaningful growth and connection for our entire community.
This commitment is articulated in our newest Strategic District Improvement Plan (WPS FY27-FY30 SDIP). Building upon the work that we have been doing, this updated guide developed last spring continues to focus our efforts as a district. I encourage you to take a look at it if you weren’t able to do so previously.
RSBC Community Meetings
Significant progress is taking place with the Robinson School Building Project. As a quick reminder to everyone, Westford is studying how to best address aging elementary school buildings at Robinson, Abbot and Day. From 18 original designs, the study has narrowed to 7 scenarios. Under 5 of the 7 proposed options, a key pathway involves closing Robinson in the future and consolidating it with Abbot within a larger renovated or new building, with select designs also incorporating Day. No final option has been recommended yet. Over the next few months, opportunities for additional community input will be available.
Upcoming Community Forums:
- Wednesday, Sept 9 at 6:30 PM: on Zoom and in-person at Stony Brook MS Auditorium
Zoom registration
Topic: Impact to district boundaries and enrollment choice - Wednesday, Oct 14 at 6:30 PM: on Zoom and in-person at Stony Brook MS Auditorium
Zoom registration
Topic: HVAC recommendation and revised alternatives - Tuesday, Nov 17 at 6:30 PM: on Zoom and in-person at Stony Brook MS Auditorium
Zoom registration
Topic: Final Alternatives
A preferred option is expected to be selected this upcoming December 2026, and a town-wide vote will take place in the Fall of 2027. If approved, a building project would be completed in 2031. For more information, the project website is updated regularly and contains a great deal of information.
Community Coffees
We received very positive feedback regarding last year’s monthly Community Coffees. These informal meetings gave everyone in attendance a chance to ask questions and share thoughts about a wide variety of things within our school system without following a specific agenda. The lunch hour schedule seemed to be more successful in terms of participation so we are planning to stick with the 12:00-1:00 timeframe for this year and continue meeting on the second Friday of each month. The September date will be Friday, September 11 from 12-1 in Room 13 here in the Millennium building. Delicious coffee and other assorted beverages will once again be available for purchase from our ROUTES Roasters program.
And here we go!
Chris
Christopher Chew, Ed.D
Superintendent
Westford Public Schools
