February 12, 2012

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Wilton Answer Book – Schools

Where is the school district office?

The Wilton School District administrative offices are at 395 Danbury Road. The mailing address is P.O. Box 277, Wilton, CT 06877. The phone number is 762-3381, fax 762-2177. The Web site is wilton.k12.ct.us.

 

What does the Board of Education do?

The Board of Education is a liaison between the community and the schools. Its jobs include proposing a budget to run the schools, overseeing spending, setting policies and rules, hiring the superintendent, approving administrators, adopting books and courses, negotiating staff contracts and hearing citizen appeals.

The board usually meets on the second and fourth Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Wilton High School Distance Learning Classroom (D101), 395 Danbury Road. The schedule is on the district Web site.

Six members are elected to four-year, staggered terms. The current members are listed under town officials.

 

What is the school budget?

The 2009-10 school operating budget, approved by voters this spring, is $69.5 million, up 1.2% from the previous year.

 

What public schools are in town and how many children attend each?

Wilton High School, 395 Danbury Road, 762-0381, Principal Timothy Canty ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Middlebrook (Middle) School, 131 School Road, 762-8388, Principal Julia Harris ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Cider Mill (Elementary) School, 240 School Road, 762-3351, Principal Ginny Rico ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). The school encompasses third through fifth grade.

Tilford W. Miller (Elementary) School, 217 Wolfpit Road, 762-8678, Principal Cheryl Jensen-Gerner ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). The school encompasses kindergarten through second grade.

Ina E. Driscoll (Elementary) School, 336 Belden Hill Road, 762-3374, Principal Lynette Tinacci ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). The school encompasses kindergarten through second grade.

Because the Ina E. Driscoll and Tilford W. Miller Schools are adjacent, they are often referred to as Miller-Driscoll Schools.

Enrollments in October 2007 numbered 4,326 students. The breakdown by school is: Miller/Driscoll, 1,061; Cider Mill, 1,049; Middlebrook, 1,015; and Wilton High School, 1,259.

 

What are the hours of operation at the schools?

Cider Mill School runs from 7:40 to 2:15. Miller-Driscoll runs from 9:05 to 3:35.

Middlebrook and Wilton High’s hours are from 8:20 to 2:50.

Early dismissal times are: WHS/Middlebrook, 10:30; Cider Mill, 11:30; Miller/Driscoll, 12:30.

 

What school holidays and vacations are there?

In 2009-10, Wilton’s public schools will begin classes on Monday, Aug. 31.

School holidays and vacations include:

  • Labor Day, Sept. 7
  • Yom Kippur, Sept. 28
  • Columbus Day, Oct. 12
  • Election Day/Staff Development Day, Nov. 3
  • Thanksgiving vacation, Nov. 26-29
  • Holiday vacation, Dec. 24-Jan. 3
  • Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 18
  • Staff Development Day, Feb. 1
  • February vacation, Feb. 13-16
  • Staff Development Day, March 22
  • Spring vacation, April 17-25
  • Memorial Day, May 31

The last day of class is scheduled for Monday, June 14, but could be later if snow days are necessary.

 

How big are the classes in Wilton’s schools?

According to the 2007-08 Strategic School Profile, produced by the Connecticut State Department of Education, Wilton’s average class sizes were 18 in kindergarten, 21 in second grade, 21 in fifth grade, 22 in seventh grade, and 19 in high school.

 

How many National Merit finalists were there at Wilton High School?

In the 2009 National Merit Scholarship program, 12 Wilton High School seniors were named finalists.

 

What are the average SAT scores for seniors?

The Class of 2008 achieved the following average scores in the SAT Reasoning Test: 580 reading, 587 writing, and 597 math for a total of 1763 out of a possible 2400.

The Fairfield County mean was 573 reading, 584 writing, and 586 math.

 

How did students fare on the Connecticut Mastery Tests?

The Connecticut Mastery Test is given each spring to students in third through eighth grade. Following are the percentage of Wilton students who achieved at or above goal on the test in March 2008.

Third grade: math, 78.4%; reading, 79.3%; writing, 85.3%.

Fourth grade: math, 84.2%; reading, 75.4%; writing, 83.6%.

Fifth grade: math, 88.3%; reading, 85.1%; writing, 89.7%.

Sixth grade: math, 91.7%; reading, 89.8%; writing, 84.5%.

Seventh grade: math, 89.8%; reading, 91.3%; writing, 84.9%.

Eighth grade: math, 91.5%; reading, 91.7%; writing, 89.4%.

 

How did students perform on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test?

The Connecticut Academic Performance Test, known as CAPTs, is given each year to 10th graders to test proficiency in math, science, reading, and writing. The current junior class took the test last spring. The percentage of students meeting or exceeding state goals were: math, 87.3%; science, 80.8%; reading, 76.3%; writing, 88.3%.

 

When should children start kindergarten?

According to school officials, the guideline is to enroll children for kindergarten if they will turn five on or before Dec. 31 of that year. But parents have the choice of holding a child back for any reason.

If a child has a birthday in early January and the parents want the child to start early, they should write a letter to either Driscoll Principal Lynn Tinacci or Miller Principal Cheryl Jensen-Gerner letting them know. The principals would then conduct screening and testing to judge whether the child is ready.

 

How do I register a child for school?

All grades register at the school the child will attend; call the school and speak to a secretary to acquire the necessary forms.

Kindergarten registration is held in January. First-time entrants in first and second grade may also register at that time. The specific date is announced in The Bulletin. After those days, parents should call the school. Children do not need to be present at registration.

 

What information do schools need for registering a new or transferring student?

You need proof of address and immunization, the child’s birth certificate or current passport, and social security number. The child must have a physical exam within 15 months of starting school here, and/or the year before entering grades 7 and 11.

 

What sports are offered at the schools?

At Wilton High School, there are interscholastic varsity (V) teams for all the school’s sports. Some also offer junior varsity (JV) and/or freshman (F) teams.

Fall: Boys Football (V, JV, F); Boys Soccer (V, JV, F);  Girls Volleyball (V, JV, F); Girls Soccer (V, JV, F); Girls Field Hockey (V, JV); Girls Swimming & Diving, Boys and Girls Cross Country; Coed Cheerleading.

Winter: Boys Basketball (V, JV, F);  Boys Wrestling, Boys Indoor Track, Boys Swimming & Diving, Boys Ice Hockey (V, JV); Girls Basketball (V, JV, F); Girls Gymnastics; Girls Indoor Track; Coed Skiing, and Coed Cheerleading.

Spring: Boys Baseball (V, JV, F); Boys Lacrosse (V, JV, F), Boys Tennis (V); Boys Track & Field; Boys Wrestling; Girls Softball (V, JV, F) Girls Track & Field; Girls Lacrosse (V, JV, F); Girls Tennis (V); and Coed Golf; .

At Middlebrook School, intramural programs are offered in aerobic dance, badminton, basketball, climbing, flag football, floor hockey, mat ball, running, tennis, volleyball, and Ping Pong.

 

What extracurricular activities are there?

Extracurricular activities vary from year to year. At Wilton High School, this year’s activities include Amnesty International, Badminton Club, Best Buddies, Bowling Club, Boys Volleyball Club, Computer Arts Club, Culinary Club, Creative Writing Club, Crew, Dance Club, Debate Team, Ecology Club, Economics Club, Field Research, Fishing, The Forum: Journalism Club, French National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Gay-Straight Alliance, Habitat for Humanity, Independent Film Club, Interact Club, International Club, Key Club, Literary Magazine, Little Theater Company, Math Team, Mock Trial Club, Model  U.N., Mountain Biking Club, Mountaineering Club, National Honor Society, Open Art Studio, Operation Smile Club, Ping Pong Club, Photography Club, Recycling Club, Robotics Club, Sailing, Science Olympiad, Science Research Club, Spanish Honor Society, Student Government, Students in Politics, Varsity Club, Yearbook, and Yoga.

At Middlebrook, activities include Art A La Carte, Beginning Band, Clay Club, Computer Club, Creative Writing Club, Desperado Gaming Club, Digital Photography Club, Drama, Eighth Notes, Knitting, Literary Magazine, Math Counts, MAVEn, Middlebrook Singers, Middlemen, Newspaper, Open Art Studio, Puzzle Club, RAMS, Recycling, Science Olympiad, Sixth Dimension, Stage Band, Strings, Student Government, Tech Ed. Club, World Languages, Yearbook, and Youth-To-Youth.

There are also after-school programs in the lower grades.

 

Is there a summer program for children?

Programs for preschoolers through ninth grade are offered at Miller, Driscoll, Cider Mill, and Middlebrook Schools. E-mail Kevin Meehan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

Wilton Continuing Education offers a Summer Learning Program. Brochures are mailed to every household in April. For information, call Emily Dowden at 834-7694 or go online to the district Web site wilton.k12.ct.us and click on Continuing Education.

 

Is there an after-school program?

Wilton Continuing Education offers before- and after-school childcare programs and enrichment programs. Call Dolores Tufariello at 834-7694 for details or go online to the district Web site and click on Continuing Education. For information, visit wiltoncontinuinged.org or call Barbara Wyton at 834-4925 or Gail Lilly at 834-7694.

The Wilton Family Y offers a Kindergarten Enrichment Program and the Neighborhood Club for grades 1-7. Call Elena Baggio at 762-8384, ext. 213 for the kindergarten program, and Jason Bowman at ext. 293 for the Neighborhood Club.

 

What about the PTA?

Parent teacher associations are very active in Wilton. Each school has a PTA and there is an active PTA Council that helps unify, coordinate and support the separate school PTAs.

The groups engage in child advocacy, fund raising, support various school events, and try to further the interests of Wilton’s schools.

 

What’s AFS? How many students participate?

American Field Service is an international organization that promotes peace and understanding though student exchanges for a summer, semester or school year. There are usually two to three foreign AFS students at Wilton High School each year.

Wilton students tend to go abroad only in the summers due to yearlong academic and sports commitments and there are usually four to eight a year who participate in the program. The students live with host families in the countries they visit. Students who do a year-round exchange average about one every other year. Students come from and go to any country that has an AFS organization. For more information or to volunteer as a host family, call Ceci Maher at 761-9061 or Jennifer Anderson at 1-800-876-2377, ext. 131.

 

What is the ABC program about?

A Better Chance is a national program that provides academically talented minority students with access to good schools, both private and public, that they otherwise could not attend.

In this area Ridgefield and New Canaan also have ABC chapters. Since 1996, ABC students have lived in the ABC House at 6 Godfrey Place while attending Wilton High School. For information or to donate, write A Better Chance of Wilton Inc., P.O. Box 7658, Wilton, 06897-7658, call 761-9305, or visit abcwilton.org.

 

Is there a program for gifted children?

The schools offer learning opportunities throughout the grade levels from kindergarten through 12th grade for children identified as gifted or talented.

 

What is special education?

Special education offers services for physically handicapped children and those with learning and/or emotional disabilities. For information, call 762-3381. Extensive information is on the district Web site at wilton.k12.ct.us.

 

Is there special education for preschoolers?

Wilton Preschool Services is a special ed program for three- to six-year-olds. Before entering, a child is evaluated by a team for significant developmental delays. For information, call 834-4884.

 

What other special education resources are available?

SPED*NET Wilton is the Special Education Network offers information on special education and section 504 issues. There is a speaker series and other public events.  Information is available on the Web site spednetwilton.org or by e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Connecticut Birth to Three System helps families meet the developmental and health-related needs of their infants and toddlers who have delays or disabilities. For information, call the Child Development Infoline at 1-800-505-7000 or visit online at birth23.org.

 

How can I learn if school is canceled or delayed?

You may go online to wilton.k12.ct.us and check for school closings or cancellations. Local radio station list closings and delays between 6 and 8 a.m.: AM stations include: WICC (600), WLAD (800), WREF (850), WTIC (1080), WMMM (1260), and Fairfield County News Radio (1350). FM stations include: WRKI (95.1), Fairfield County News Radio (95.9), TIC (96.5), STAR (99.9), and WEBE (107.9 FM).

In addition, some television stations report school closings. They include: Cablevision’s Channel 12, WVIT-NBC’s Channel 30 or Cable Channel 6, WFSB-TV Channel 3 and WTNH-TV Channel 8.

 

What is the school system’s policy for bus service?

Wilton has no specific policy calling for door-to-door service. It may happen that a bus stop is near someone’s house, but in general, maximum walking distance for a stop is one mile. The school system attempts to deliver kindergarten students as close as possible to home.

Drawstrings on jackets, sweatshirts, and other clothing pose a hazard to a child getting on or off the bus. Parents are advised to remove these hazards.

 

What is the starting salary for a new teacher?

Salaries are dependent on experience and the level of higher education the teacher has completed.

The lowest starting salary in the 2008-09 school year is $44,671 for a new teacher with a bachelor’s degree at Step 2 (no experience). The highest a teacher could earn — someone on the 15th step of experience with a Ph.D. — is $106,139. For 2009-10, the salaries will range from $45,999 to $108,262.

 

Who is the superintendent of schools?

Dr. Gary Richards assumed the post of superintendent on July 1, 2004. Before coming to Wilton, he served 10 years as superintendent in New Canaan. He then went to head the Oak Park Unified School District in California for a year.

In 2008-09, Dr. Richards earned a base salary of $208,055 plus a tax-free annuity payment of $44,000.

 

May I rent space in a school to give a night course or a special program?

Non-profit groups may ask school principals for permission to rent space. Call: Cider Mill School, 762-3351; Driscoll School, 762-3374; Miller School, 762-8678; Middlebrook School, 762-8388; Wilton High School, 762-0381.

 

What is the Wilton Education Foundation?

The Wilton Education Foundation seeks to mobilize community support and resources to enhance public education in Wilton. The foundation provides financial support for many innovative programs throughout the school district. For information, visit the district Web site, wilton.k12.ct.us and click on District Information.

 

How many nursery schools are in town?

There are many nursery schools in town including:

 

What private schools are in the area?

In Wilton there is:

  • Connecticut Friends School on Route 106 (762-9860/ctfriendsschool.org), a Quaker School that offers kindergarten through eighth grade classes.
  • Our Lady of Fatima, 225 Danbury Road (762-8100/olfrs.org), a Catholic school for pre-school through eighth grade, including an all-day kindergarten.
  • Montessori School, 34 Whipple Road (834-0440/themontessorischool.com), offers a program for pre-school through sixth grade.

Several private schools are in neighboring towns including:

  • St. Luke’s (966-5612/stlukesct.org) a non-denominational school for fifth through 12th grades.
  • New Canaan Country Day School (972-0771/countryschool.net) for kindergarten through ninth grade.
  • Ridgefield Academy (894-1800/ridgefieldacademy.com) for pre-school through eighth grade.
  • St. Mary’s in Ridgefield (438-7288/stmarysridgefield.org) for kindergarten through eighth grade.
  • Housatonic Valley Waldorf School in Newtown (364-1113/waldorfct.org) offers pre-K through eighth grade.

 

Is there an adult education program here?

The Wilton Continuing Education program runs evening classes during fall and winter/spring semesters. Catalogues are mailed to every household in town and you may call Continuing Education at 834-7694 for details or visit wilton.k12.ct.us and click on Continuing Education button.

 

Where can I take college courses nearby?

Norwalk Community College (857-7000/nctc.commnet.edu) in Norwalk offers a degree program.

Western Connecticut State University (837-8200/wcsu.edu) in Danbury has both graduate and undergraduate courses.

University of Connecticut Stamford (251-8400/stamford.uconn.edu) offers graduate and undergraduate courses..

Fairfield University (254-4000/fairfield.edu) also offers both graduate and undergraduate courses..

 

Is there an art school nearby?

  • The Silvermine School of Art (966-6668) in New Canaan offers courses for all ages and levels of expertise.
  • The Ridgefield Guild of Artists (438-8863) in Ridgefield offers instruction for beginners and advanced students, as well as many children’s programs.
  • There’s also the Wooster Community Art Center (743-6311) in Danbury.
  • In summer, Weir Farm offers art classes for children. Call 761-9945.
  • The Parks and Recreation Department also offers art classes. Call 834-6234.
  • Beardsley Gallery and Fine Art (762-3312/beardsleyfineart.com) will be offering classes, workshops, and children’s birthday parties.

 

Are there any dance schools?

The Wilton Dance Studio (544-9007/wiltondance.com) offer ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, modern, and Irish step dancing. Classes meet at 941 Danbury Road.

The Walter Schalk School of Dance (762-7508/walterschalk.com) offers classes in ballroom, jazz, musical comedy, tap, ballet, Creative Tots and Kinder Kids in Wilton.

Ballet Ecole (834-0482/pirouettepilatesandmore.com), 33 Danbury Road, offers ballet, pointe, and kinderballet.

The Parks and Recreation Department offers Irish dancing and kinderdance. Call 834-6234.

The Wilton Family Y (762-8384/wiltonymca.org) at 404 Danbury Road offers adult ballet and adult tap.

In Georgetown, the Conservatory of Dance (544-8455/conservatory-of-dance.com) at 19 Main Street offers ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop. Art of Dance (544-9821/artofdancegtown.com) at 991 Danbury Road offers ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop and is the home of the Western Connecticut Youth Ballet Company.


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