From the debut of exciting new programs to some remarkable, record-breaking achievements, the 25-26 school has been defined by the realization of individual and collective potential. This post is an expression of our gratitude to the students, teachers, and families who made this year so special, highlighting just some of the remarkable things the WMS community accomplished this year.
Academic excellence across all levels
Students of all ages have spent the past nine months building academic skills, exploring emerging interests, and defining their sense of self.
We’ve watched children in the Young Children’s Community transition from tentative toddlers to independent learners, continually unlocking new motor, language, and social skills with growing confidence and voracity.
We’ve seen Lower School students discover the joy of learning, not only achieving significant academic milestones like reading and writing, but also broadening their individual interests and deepening their communal connections.
Lower Elementary students in the “years of plenty” have stretched their curious minds to new dimensions. Through partner classes and community meetings, they’ve refined emerging leadership skills, established the importance of mutual respect, and learned to articulate themselves with confidence and conviction; while the Cultural Share gave us a front row seat to the impressive academic skills they accrued during their prolonged study of Antarctica’s geography, ecology, and culture.
In the Upper Elementary, the students’ increased capacity for abstract thinking and self-directed learning has been on full display. They’ve mastered complex mathematical concepts like double- and triple-digit long division and moved on to fractions, geometry, and other pre-algebraic skills. They’ve showcased their capacity for in-depth research during the Cultural Residency with presentations on Ancient Rome that were as meticulous and insightful as they were thoughtfully designed. And they brought all these skills together for the Imaginary Island project, synthesizing math, geography, science, and language arts to design their own self-sustaining island civilization.
The guiding principle of the Middle School is “valorization” — the acquisition of self-worth through meaningful work and responsibility — and the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are finishing the year with a tangible sense of purpose and pride. The 6th graders successfully navigated the transition to Middle School, their individual confidence and collective camaraderie increasing exponentially as the year progressed. The 7th graders completed the Hero’s Journey — their yearlong seminar curriculum exploring ethics, leadership, and personal challenge — with a triumphant Council of Elders. And the 8th graders set a high bar, evidenced by big academic achievements like the Expert Project and smaller moments of support and solidarity (read on for more about the Class of 2026).
Protecting and preparing the outdoor environment
Beyond the school’s walls, WMS continued to prioritize its commitment to environmental stewardship on campus and in the wider world.
The year in sustainability began with students and families working together to remove invasive plant species and replace them with native pollinator plants carefully selected by ecological horticulturist Rebecca McMackin (‘91). From the volunteers devoting time and energy to maintaining the native garden beds to the donors who raised $25,000 to spearhead this undertaking in 2024, we have been so impressed by our community’s commitment to this important project.
The Middle School Green Team has been a vital part of the native species project on campus — and beyond. Since 2024, students have been aiding in the effort to remove invasive species from Cobblebrook Vista, a parcel of conserved land in Kent. In their 2025 Impact Report, the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy described our students’ efforts as “work [that] produced immediate results and lasting lessons.”
While the effort to protect the environment is continuous, we have also made some significant strides in expanding our outdoor curriculum this year. The Lower School Nature Program debuted in the fall, bringing purposeful learning to the trails, woods, and streams we are so fortunate to have on campus. The four goals of the program — child-directed learning, community connection, exploration, and nervous system regulation — reflect our belief that time in nature is not supplemental to learning; it is learning in its most immersive and impactful form.
We have also begun a multi-phase initiative to further enhance our outdoor learning environment and playgrounds. The 2026 Annual Auction included a paddle raise for Phase I of the project, which was enthusiastically and generously supported by the community.
Three seasons of athletic achievement
It was a banner year for WMS athletics across all three seasons. The students demonstrated their growth, grit, and genuine sportsmanship at every turn, and scored some historic wins in the process:
- Fall: In the fall, the Cross-country Team fielded its largest squad of runners, with every participant improving their personal times by the season’s end. All three soccer teams also had an excellent showing with strong records and significant skill development.
- Winter: The winter sports season saw members of the Ski Team finishing in the top ten of every race they attended, and two students medaling at the BHSL Championships. The Boys’ and Coed basketball teams had solid seasons of growth and tight match-ups, while the Girls’ Basketball Team went undefeated for the first time since 2017!
- Spring: The 25-26 year in athletics concluded with the Tennis Team developing their competitive skills across the board and gaining meaningful experience in match-play. And with nearly 40 athletes — the largest roster in school history — the Track and Field Team broke seven school records and had several athletes qualify to compete in the Connecticut Track and Field Championships!
Expanding our performing arts program
WMS was also fortunate to have many memorable performances grace the stage this year.
We continue to encourage students of all ages and skill levels to explore instrumental music through regular music classes integrated into the school day, optional private instruction, and the debut of the WMS Ensemble, a new opportunity for young musicians to experience the joy of making music together under the guidance of Grammy-award winners James and Krystyana Czeiner (‘91). The Lower School Violin Program, which was initially offered to P3 students, has also grown to include Lower Elementary 1st years, and will extend to 2nd years next year.
Highlights from the stage include the Middle School play, which brought the world of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan to life in a heartfelt and humorous production, and the Upper Elementary productions of Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors and Macbeth.
This year, we also debuted WMS Spark, a festival-style showcase featuring choral performances, instrumental ensembles, theater, and student artwork from Lower School through Middle School. The evening was an ode to the power of art, the capability of children, and the individual and collective potential a Montessori education can unlock. Head of School Kerry Dorton summed it up best in her remarks to staff following the event: “Montessori spoke of nurturing, ‘an eye that sees, a hand that obeys, a soul that feels,’ and our children showed us all three during Spark — in every piece of art, every note, and every moment of joy.”
Supporting the prepared adult
The WMS school community doesn’t just include students and teachers; it is enriched and supported by our network of parents, grandparents, and caregivers. This year, we offered a wide variety of programs with the prepared adult in mind, including:
- Montessori education opportunities — Events like The Voyage and Welcome To…Nights invited adults to explore the different levels of our program, interact with Montessori materials, observe lessons, and deepen their understanding of our pedagogical approach.
- Parenting support — We offered an increased number of parent education and support opportunities this year, including: a four-part workshop on Positive Discipline led by Director of Education, Melissa Hay; The Prepared Parent, a recurring group for parents to share advice facilitated by Dr. Barrie Birge; an Affinity Group for Parents of Neurodiverse Learners; a four-part series on Restorative Jusice facilitated by Middle School Director, Meredith Whitehouse; and several parenting webinars hosted by industry experts.
- Social events — From regular gatherings organized by the WMS Parents’ Association to a Parents’ Night Out at The Owl in New Preston, and another at Hawk Ridge Winery in Watertown, our community enjoyed expanded opportunities to connect with each other outside of school this year.
Celebrating the Class of 2026
It feels fitting to conclude our school year reminiscences by acknowledging the accomplishments of our graduating class.
Though each of the twenty-one 8th graders came to us at different ages and stages of life — and remain unique individuals with varying interests, passions, and talents — they leave us with shared attributes commonly associated with WMS graduates. They are curious, principled, and intrinsically motivated students ready to meet the challenges of high school head on. They are grounded, self-aware young people with a clear sense of purpose. And they are engaged community members, eager to have an impact on the world.
From setting a welcoming and inclusive tone during the fall Outdoor Education trip and sharing their wisdom with younger students during partner classes, to the support they’ve shown one another during moments of challenge and triumph, the 8th graders have led by example — with kindness, confidence, and grace. Their positive impact has been felt at every level of our school, and though they will be missed next year, we can’t wait to see what the future has in store for them.
We hope you will join us in celebrating the Class of 2026 and wishing them well.
