Dear WMS Families,
I am pleased to announce that I will nominate Ms. Pattie DeMaria as the interim Principal at Westbrook Middle School for the 2026-27 school year at the School Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 9. Ms. DeMaria has served as our Assistant Principal since 2017. She has a deep commitment to WMS, our students, staff, and families. She is student centered and nurturing, equity minded, and instructionally focused. Her knowledge of the school and her positive attitude will keep our school moving forward with a focus on achievement, engagement, communication, and school culture. Ms. DeMaria will provide stability during this transition, maintain the momentum of current initiatives, and work collaboratively with staff and families to lead WMS forward this year.
We will launch a search for a permanent Principal this Winter.
I would also like to thank Dr. Christina Boursaw for her leadership of WMS over the past year. She has left a lasting contribution to our school community. Let’s all wish her well in her new role as Principal at Kennebunk Elementary School.
Thank you for your patience during this transition of leadership. I hope that your children are having a good start to the new school year.
Sincerely,
Peter Lancia, Ph. D.
Superintendent of Schools
I am pleased to announce that I will nominate Ms. Pattie DeMaria as the interim Principal at Westbrook Middle School for the 2026-27 school year at the School Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 9. Ms. DeMaria has served as our Assistant Principal since 2017. She has a deep commitment to WMS, our students, staff, and families. She is student centered and nurturing, equity minded, and instructionally focused. Her knowledge of the school and her positive attitude will keep our school moving forward with a focus on achievement, engagement, communication, and school culture. Ms. DeMaria will provide stability during this transition, maintain the momentum of current initiatives, and work collaboratively with staff and families to lead WMS forward this year.
We will launch a search for a permanent Principal this Winter.
I would also like to thank Dr. Christina Boursaw for her leadership of WMS over the past year. She has left a lasting contribution to our school community. Let’s all wish her well in her new role as Principal at Kennebunk Elementary School.
Thank you for your patience during this transition of leadership. I hope that your children are having a good start to the new school year.
Sincerely,
Peter Lancia, Ph. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Schools will be closed on Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7 for Labor Day Weekend. Enjoy the last few days of Summer!
Reminder: We have Early Release every Wednesday, beginning on Wednesday, September 2. Students in all Westbrook Schools are dismissed one hour before the regular dismissal time.
Thank you to our School Nutrition Department for the delicious luncheon to welcome back our staff! Check out the video. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BBJcvFYDZ/
Click on the link for the Back to School Celebration program. We honor our new employees, employees in new roles, employees with milestone anniversaries, and employees who have received special honors.
https://aptg.co/htCqJr
Welcome back to our entire staff! A day of Professional Development was held on Thursday. Staff also spent time getting classrooms ready and catching up on summertime adventures. We're all so glad you are here!
New Staff Orientation was held on Tuesday and Wednesday. What a fantastic group of new employees! We are fortunate that they are coming to Westbrook to work with our students. Let's welcome them into our community.
THANK YOU to the Westbrook City Council for approving a pilot program to provide METRO bus passes to all Westbrook High School students for the 2026-27 school year. This will provide students greater access to school and the greater community, especially those living within our transportation boundary. Programs like this across the country improve attendance and create more opportunities for kids. A special thank you to WHS principal Jeff Guerette, Mayor David Morse, and leaders at METRO for developing this innovative plan.
Westbrook, like all other schools in the state, will enforce a new Cell Phone ban that was passed by the legislature this spring and signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills right at WHS in June. Read the story in the Portland Press Herald which includes comments by Westbrook School Committee member Erin Cavallaro and WHS Assistant Principal Patrick Colgan.
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/22/as-cellphone-ban-deadline-approaches-many-schools-grateful-for-state-mandate/
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/22/as-cellphone-ban-deadline-approaches-many-schools-grateful-for-state-mandate/
School meals don’t end when school does! This summer, any child 18 and under can enjoy a free lunch at one of our eight summer meal sites from June 22 through August 14. Each meal includes fresh fruit, vegetables, and milk to help keep kids fueled all summer long.
Many of our sites also offer fun activities, including story time, fresh food giveaways, free books, crafts, and more! Be sure to follow our Facebook page for weekly menus, site schedules, and activity calendars. We can’t wait to see you this summer! For information, visit: https://www.westbrookschools.org/page/nutrition-info.
Many of our sites also offer fun activities, including story time, fresh food giveaways, free books, crafts, and more! Be sure to follow our Facebook page for weekly menus, site schedules, and activity calendars. We can’t wait to see you this summer! For information, visit: https://www.westbrookschools.org/page/nutrition-info.
Today is Voting Day! Please vote in the annual School Budget Referendum. Polls are open at the Westbrook Community Center until 8pm. Thank you for voting!
Read the latest issue of the Teaching and Learning newsletter. https://westbrooksdme.edurooms.com/newsletters/westbrook-school-department/newsletters/teaching-and-learning-may
Class Night for the 162 seniors in the WHS Class of 2026 was held at WPAC last evening. Over $550,000 was awarded in scholarships. Thank you to our generous community and benefactors! Congratulations Seniors!
We hope you saw Canal School's production of 101 Dalmations last week! It was an amazing production with great singing, acting, costumes, sets, and lighting. Well done!
Congratulations to our students at WRVC who were honored at Awards Night last week. Over $60,000 was presented as scholarships and toolships. We are proud of your accomplishments and hard work, earning professional licensure, trade hours, and college credits.
Thanks to everyone who attended the Art and Literacy Night at WMS on Tuesday. We hope you enjoyed the work of our students as well as special guests author Kevin Hawkes and artist Bella Hendry.
So proud of this talented young stylist from the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center Cosmetology Program! ✨ Congratulations to first-year student Larrissa "Lacey" Hood on winning the Gold Medal in the Esthetics Competition at the 2026 Maine SkillsUSA Leadership & Skills Conference and being recognized by the State of Maine! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for the industry are already shining through. The future is bright! 💙👏 #WRVC #CosmetologyProgram #SkillsUSA #FutureProfessional #Esthetics #ProudTeacherMoment
Dear friends,
I am writing to let you know that one of our middle school teachers, Ms. Carigan Allie, was involved in a tragic event and injured in South Carolina over the weekend. Out of respect for Ms. Allie and her family, I cannot share additional details. Thank you for understanding. However I can report that she is recovering in a South Carolina hospital and has spoken with Principal Dr. Boursaw. She and the WMS student service team havd been supporting students, particularly those on her team, throughout the day. Ms. Allie and her family have asked for privacy, but they are appreciative of our collective thoughts and prayers.
It is chilling to be so closely connected to such a tragedy and difficult to make sense of such events. Please reach out to your school counselors, social workers, and administrators if your children or you need extra support.
Take care and be strong,
Peter
I am writing to let you know that one of our middle school teachers, Ms. Carigan Allie, was involved in a tragic event and injured in South Carolina over the weekend. Out of respect for Ms. Allie and her family, I cannot share additional details. Thank you for understanding. However I can report that she is recovering in a South Carolina hospital and has spoken with Principal Dr. Boursaw. She and the WMS student service team havd been supporting students, particularly those on her team, throughout the day. Ms. Allie and her family have asked for privacy, but they are appreciative of our collective thoughts and prayers.
It is chilling to be so closely connected to such a tragedy and difficult to make sense of such events. Please reach out to your school counselors, social workers, and administrators if your children or you need extra support.
Take care and be strong,
Peter
Dr. Kim O'Donnell
May 19, 2026
Reminder:
Summer Kick Off Event
Westbrook Middle School
6:00-7:30pm
Join us for fun!
Let's talk literacy and math, learn some games and explore some incredible art! Local author Kevin Hawkes will also be speaking in the cafeteria!
Hope to see you there!
May 19, 2026
Reminder:
Summer Kick Off Event
Westbrook Middle School
6:00-7:30pm
Join us for fun!
Let's talk literacy and math, learn some games and explore some incredible art! Local author Kevin Hawkes will also be speaking in the cafeteria!
Hope to see you there!
Congratulations to the members of the National Technical Honor Society at WRVC! New members were inducted this week. This is one of the highest honors for students in career and technical education. We are very proud of you!
