Westport Public Schools Add 210 Slots to December 4th Children’s Vaccine Clinic; First Clinic “Very Successful”

Westport Superintendent of Schools

Dear Families of Westport students,

Our first dose Covid-19 vaccine clinic for students ages 5-11 on November 13th was very successful thanks to our collaborative efforts with the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Bay Street Pediatrics, Village Pediatrics, Willows Pediatric Group, and the Westport Weston Health District. We have debriefed on the event and have some exciting news about our December 4th second dose clinic.

An additional 210 slots have been added to our second dose clinic for 5-11 year old students on December 4th. These slots are open not only to those who attended the November 13th first dose clinic at Staples High School but also to anyone who has a 5-11 year old student that received the first dose elsewhere on or prior to November 13th. 

Please use the link below to register your student, ages 5-11, for the upcoming Covid-19 second dose vaccine clinic on December 4th. Families should only sign up students who have received a first dose of the vaccine on or prior to November 13th. Anyone who received a first dose after November 13th won’t be eligible for a second dose at our December 4th clinic.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BA4A82DA1FAC43-westport

Finally, this second Covid-19 vaccine event would once again not be possible without the generous support of so many Town of Westport and Westport Public Schools’ staff. From our school nurses, technology staff, custodians, and food service staff, to the Westport Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services teams, we would not be able to pull off another large scale and important event without their efforts.

Respectfully,

Thomas Scarice

Superintendent 

Summer Camp Registration Open for Early Birds at Westport Country Playhouse

Westport Country Playhouse

Early-bird pricing is offered from Friday, November 19 through Sunday, December 5 for Westport Country Playhouse’s CampWCP, a social justice theater camp limited to 20 middle school students (6th through 8th grade). Under the leadership of the Playhouse’s Roz and Bud Siegel director of education Jenny Nelson, CampWCP will run for four weeks, from June 27 through July 23, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the theater’s Lucille Lortel White Barn. CampWCP is licensed by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

“Now in its second year, CampWCP empowers young artists to activate their creative voice on issues that matter to them and turn it into something theatrical — so that they can ignite social change for their community and beyond,” said Nelson. “If families are looking for an early holiday gift, register now through December 5th at our early-bird rate of $850 and guarantee your child a spot in this one-of-a-kind summer camp.  Scholarships and payment plans are available to ensure that all young artists have equal access. Space is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.”

CampWCP participants will explore the art of playwriting and devise their own play. Guided by a professional, Theater for Young Audiences playwright, the young artists will collectively create stories together and perform their original play at the Playhouse for an invited audience of family and friends on Saturday, July 23.

Campers will also learn acting techniques from Nelson and how to be a student activist from local community activists. They will also have the opportunity to participate in workshops with Playhouse staff and invited guests. Past workshops have covered movement and language, character building, and theatrical poster design.

Upon graduation, campers will receive a bound copy of their original play collectively created and a limited-edition CampWCP t-shirt. Full details on CampWCP and registration form at:  https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/campwcp2022/

All campers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination prior to the start of camp. Physical distancing measures, health protocols, and masking may be required based on current CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC) and local guidelines.

CampWCP director Jenny Nelson hails from Arizona where she received her bachelor’s degree in theater, master’s degree in theater from the University of Arizona, and a second master’s degree in education from Fairfield University. She is the associate artistic director of Collective Consciousness Theatre, a social justice theater in New Haven. She has taught at several universities, including City College of New York in the graduate program for theater professionals and educators. She has also worked as an artist and educator at several theaters, including Long Wharf Theatre, Shubert Theatre, and Yale Repertory Theatre. Recently, Nelson was a nominee for the Tony Teaching Award of Excellence.

Early-bird registration fee for the four-week camp is $850.  After December 5, the fee is $900. Maximum camp capacity is 20 students. To ensure that all young artists have equal access, scholarships and payment plans are available. Contact education@westportplayhouse.org for more information. 

Support for the 2022 Education Program comes from the Eunice and David Bigelow Foundation; The David and Geri Epstein Foundation; George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation; Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation, Inc., and Roz and Bud Siegel.

For Westport Country Playhouse tickets and information, visit westportplayhouse.org, call (203) 227-4177, or email at boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).

Westport Young Women’s League announces Sweet Fundraiser for the Holidays

From the Westport Young Women’s League

Westport Young Woman's League (WYWL) has a new fundraiser, and it’s a sweet one! WYWL has been building community since 1956, and although this past year challenged traditional fundraising, WYWL is pioneering a new fundraiser to help those in need. WYWL is offering delicious Lyman Orchards homemade pies and cookies just in time for the holidays, with each purchase supporting the WYWL grants program that funds non-profit organizations in Westport and surrounding towns.

Now through November 23, 2021, orders may be placed with WYWL for a variety of pies and cookie dough, frozen fresh for delivery from 275-year-old Lyman Orchards of Middlefield, CT. Orders will be available for pick-up from WYWL members at the Westport VFW, 465 Riverside Ave., on Friday, December 17, 2021, from 10:30am - 1pm and Saturday, December 18, 2021, from 9am - 12pm.  These can be kept fresh in your freezer until you're ready to bake and serve, which is convenient for the holiday season or beyond.  

WYWL members will also be offering gift wrapping for the holidays for a recommended donation of $5 per gift. Gifts may be dropped off at the VFW on Friday, December 17, from 10:30am - 1pm, and Saturday, December 18, from 9am – 12pm; members of the WYWL will return gifts wrapped and ready for distribution.  Gift wrapping is on a first come, first serve basis. All donations are appreciated.     

Please visit https://my.mcmfundraising.com/2021-fall-westport-young-womans-league-inc/wywl-league/ to place your order. To learn more about the WYWL grants program, visit https://wywl.com/grants.

Westport Police Participate in Click it or Ticket Program for Thanksgiving Holiday

Westport Police Department

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced the start of the November 2021 Click It or Ticket campaign that aims to remind motorists and passengers to wear a seatbelt every time they drive or ride in a vehicle. With the Thanksgiving holiday  almost upon us, Connecticut’s law enforcement agencies intend to promote safe driving and increase the protection of all motorists. During the week of Thanksgiving, Westport officers in conjunction with others throughout Connecticut will be vigorously enforcing the state’s occupant protection laws and issuing citations to those who fail to wear their seatbelt.

There is a tremendous amount of traffic on area roadways throughout the week of Thanksgiving and of course increased traffic means a greater likelihood of accidents. Wearing your seatbelt can mean the difference between life and death if involved in a crash. For this reason, the Westport Police Department is teaming up with the Connecticut Department of Transportation this Thanksgiving for a special Click It or Ticket campaign to look out for all those who are not buckling up. This high-visibility enforcement campaign is a way to spread the life-saving message about the importance of wearing a seatbelt. 

Connecticut law requires that all drivers wear a seatbelt. Additionally, all passengers, regardless of where they are sitting, must also be buckled up. Fines start at $92.00 for the first offense.

The Westport Police Department wishes everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving and remember to buckle up. 

For those seeking more information on this campaign, please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Programs/Click-it-or-Ticket

Arrive to Thanksgiving Dinner Safe and Sound: Buckle Up–Every Trip. Every Time.