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Westbrook Middle School Named Best in County

Westbrook Middle School (WMS) was recently named best middle school in Middlesex County by Niche.com, a website that analyzes and ranks schools, neighborhoods, companies, and colleges.

The news was well received by the community, said WMS Principal Taylor Wrye. Wrye began his role at WMS in October of last year, after working as a principal in Massachusetts.

Wrye said that a “very supportive community” is a source of strength for the school.

“A very strong PTO, school board, and superintendent fully support all our initiatives and all the great work we’re doing at the middle school,” he said.

The size of the school is an asset, as well, he said.

“Because we have small class sizes, we’re able to tailor our instructional strategies to all of our students and really meet their independent learning needs.

The Niche.com review notes that WMS has a student-teacher ratio of 7 to 1 and that, “according to state test scores, 66 percent of students are at least proficient in math and 76 percent in reading.” It gave the school an overall rating of A-. Academics and teachers were each given an A- while diversity rated a B-.

“We focus on a positive school culture for students and staff. Ultimately it goes to providing a safe and positive climate for all people in the building,” Wrye said.

When there’s a conflict between students, Wrye said, “[w]e encourage and empower a dialogue between the two to use ‘I statements’: I felt this way when you said this or did this. The goal is to promote communication and restore the harm that has been done to allow them to move on and be successful.”

Wrye and other school staff use social media, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, to celebrate and communicate about student learning, activities, and accomplishments. The school year began with a “pirate challenge,” a three-day opportunity for teachers and staff to forge relationships with students before jumping into academics. The pirate challenge was inspired by David Burgess, an educator, public speaker, and author of the book Teach Like a Pirate, which offers ideas and inspiration for boosting student engagement. At WMS, the challenge had its own hashtag, #1st3days.

Also new this year are Positive Sign Thursdays, whereby printed signs bearing an encouraging message turn up on Thursday mornings for photos with students. Wrye himself appears in many of these photos with the students, grinning from ear to ear.

“We give the kids positive reinforcement that we appreciate having them in the building, appreciate having them here. We want them to come to school happy, excited, and love being here,” said Wrye.

A sign that appeared in school after this year’s World Series read “You Knock Our Sox Off,” accompanied by the Boston Red Sox logo. The Facebook post sharing the photos read “Yankee Fans were good sports this morning.”

While social media can serve as a great tool, it also presents challenges. Conflicts that arise in school can now extend into the digital realm. So the school works to teach students to be good digital citizens,” said Wrye.

Last year the school had a visit from Tom Pincince, assistant athletic director of communication and media at Central Connecticut State University and a speaker on social media education. He warned the students about possible consequences of harsh words and actions online, such as colleges revoking athletic scholarships.

“We want to empower our students to understand that words matter,” Wrye said. “What you say online stays with you.”

The interpersonal skills the children learn to resolve personal conflicts also apply to cyberspace.

“The middle school years are very unique—not just in Westbrook but across the country,” Wrye said. “Students are discovering a sense of self, who they are, where they fit in socially. Online, as well.

“One of the things that I think we’re doing well is we’re giving our students the tools through restorative practices—empowering them to become leaders or advocates for themselves,” he added.

Of all 293 middle schools in Connecticut, Niche.com ranked WMS 39.