West Hartford Public Schools announced that Webster Hill Elementary School will be closed on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

By Ronni Newton

Webster Hill Elementary School had a high number of students absent on Thursday, reporting symptoms consistent with a stomach bug (norovirus) – and there were also a number of students who began experiencing symptoms during the day and were sent home early – leading to a decision by the administration to keep the building closed on Friday.

In a letter to Webster Hill families, Assistant Superintendent for Administration Julio Duarte said the district consulted with the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District in making the decision to cancel classes at Webster Hill on Friday, Jan. 16.

No other West Hartford Public Schools are affected at this time and classes at all other schools will be in session on Friday. All West Hartford Public Schools will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

According to the announcement, “Norovirus symptoms hit suddenly, usually within 12-48 hours of exposure, and primarily include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps, often with fever, headache, and body aches, lasting 1-3 days; the main concern is dehydration, so drinking fluids is crucial.”

Norovirus spreads quickly, the district said. The process of carefully sanitizing the school will begin as soon as possible, and special attention will be paid to the classrooms with the highest incidence of the illness, as well as to common spaces such as the cafeteria and gymnasium.

“We are pleased to note that none of our cafeteria workers have displayed any symptoms to this point,” Duarte said in his email.

“We recognize the burden the closing may create for some families, but we are doing so in the best interests of children’s health and safety. Please look for additional information on norovirus symptoms and care, which will be sent directly from the school administration,” Duarte told families.

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