Day School News
December 16, 2023
Dear Day School Community,
Thank you for your generosity during this holiday season. We are so thankful for all parents and guardians for contributing to our conference luncheon. We are co-sponsoring a fundraiser for Catie's closet. See details in this letter below. If you picked up a snowflake in the lobby during conferences, please drop off the new clothing donation in box in the vestibule or school lobby. Our school is also a drop off location for Coats for Kids and Families. See the flyer in this newsletter below.
WEF is sponsoring an opportunity to thank teachers with their thank you note program. Proceeds from these notes will be used to fund grants for innovative educational programs. If you would like to give a holiday gift for our school library, please check out our Day School library wishlist. Details are in the newsletter below.
Don't forget the last chance to sign up for this year's STEM fair is Thursday, December 21. See the link in this newsletter with details about how to participate.
Sincerely,
Chris Louis Sardella, Principal
Chrissy Michaud, Assistant Principal
Norman E. Day Elementary School
Substitute Teacher Job Opportunity - Interested in being a substitute in WPS? We are looking for substitutes across all grade levels. If you are interested, please see the following application - Substitute Teacher Application
Traducciones de este Boletín Disponibles
¿Sabía que puede traducir este boletín a varios idiomas? Asegúrese de descargar el navegador Chrome en su dispositivo. Luego haga clic en los tres puntos a la derecha de la barra de navegación para elegir Traducir. Desde allí puedes elegir cualquiera de los 133 idiomas. También puedes descargar la aplicación Google Translate de forma gratuita en tu dispositivo móvil. Incluso puedes traducir archivos PDF de folletos subiéndolos a tu aplicación. Si desea ayuda para descubrir esta tecnología, comuníquese con la oficina principal. También podemos proporcionarle traducciones de este boletín en formato PDF en su idioma preferido.
Translations of this Newsletter Available
Did you know you can have this newsletter translated in multiple languages? Make sure you download the Chrome browser to your device. Then click on the three dots to the right of your navigation bar to choose Translate. From there you can choose any of the 133 languages. You can also download the Google Translate app for free on your mobile device. You can even translate PDFs of fliers by uploading the PDF to your app. If you would like help figuring out this technology, please contact the main office. We can also provide translations of this newsletter as a PDF in your preferred language.
Day School Library Wishlist
The Norman E. Day School Library has an Amazon Wishlist! Ms. McGann, our School Librarian, has created an Amazon Wishlist of books consisting of popular and award-winning titles, teacher recommendations, and requests by students. At this time, Ms. McGann is encouraging Parents/Guardians/Caregivers to help build our School Library Collection by donating a book from the List. Once a book has been received, it will be added to the Day School Library Collection and a personalized, permanent bookplate will be added to thank those individuals who donated the book. We greatly appreciate your generosity to our School community and thank you for your continued support.
Wishlist link: https://a.co/7QNNGQX
Day School STEM Fair
Monday, February 5, 2024
Calling all young scientists and engineers! Have you ever wanted to answer a question about the world around you by doing a science experiment? Or design a solution to a problem using engineering? If so, this is your chance to participate in the Westford STEM Fairs!
What is STEM?
S = Science: The study of the world around us
T = Technology: Using materials and tools to solve problems
E = Engineering: Designing and building a solution to a problem
M = Mathematics: The use of numbers to draw a conclusion or test a design
The Abbot, Crisafulli, and Day schools each will hold a STEM Fair in February. Projects will be
presented to a student’s class, and be on display that evening at the school’s fair, open to all
families.
How do I get ideas?
Think of a question you can test about the world around you, or a problem you can solve by
building a model and testing it. Your own ideas are always the best! Think of something that
really interests you! This project should be student-driven, through your questions and ways you want to solve a problem.
*If your child is really stuck, a source of ideas is www.sciencebuddies.org that has a “Topic
Selection Wizard” tool to help you find a science or engineering project that interests you.
*Warning: Some of these projects are not actually an experiment and some are so detailed
that it does all the thinking for your child. That is not really what we want. If needed, let
this be a jumping off point for your child, but not a download-and-do.
How do I create a project?
If you are doing a science experiment, follow the Scientific Method directions. If you are
designing a solution to a problem, follow the Engineering Design Process directions.
Projects, when brought to school, must fit on a classroom desk. If your project is too large, take
a photo or make a smaller model to display!
Can my parents help?
Parents can help by brainstorming ideas and by providing materials. Beyond that, it is important that students learn the scientific and engineering practices themselves and take ownership for their work. We will recognize and celebrate student effort and outcomes!
How do I display my results?
Using a tri-fold display board, arrange your information so the viewer’s eye can follow it from the top of the left side to the bottom of the right side.
Science Experiment
Question – Research – Hypothesis – Plan – Data/Results – Conclusion
Engineering Design
Problem – Multiple Possible Solutions – Plan –
The Model or Photos of the Model –
Data/Results of Tests
I’m interested! How do I sign up?
You may work alone on a project, or in a team of up to three students in the same grade level and
school. Fill out the online entry form with your idea and the names of everyone on the team.
Each team member needs to fill out a separate entry form. Submit the form by Thursday, December 21, 2023.
Join us at the JV Fletcher Library for PJ Story Time on Monday, December 18 @6:30PM. See translated versions of flyer.
Conference Lunch
Thanks to all those families that helped create a fantastic lunch for our teachers and staff during parent-teacher conferences. A special thank-you to Shannon McCarthy and Helen Jamieson for organizing it!
Lancaster Celebration of Lights
We are so excited to be teaming up with the Lancaster Celebration of Lights this holiday season! Buy your tickets using this link and the Day PTO will earn $2 for each ticket sold!
Give The Gift That Keeps On Giving!
Can’t find just the right gift to show your appreciation for the wonderful job your child’s teacher or special staff member has done? Consider sending a WEF note to your favorite teacher, counselor, teacher’s aide, school nurse, office staff member, or principal. It’s the perfect way to say thank you and support innovation at Nashoba Valley Technical High School and in Westford Public Schools at the same time!
Proceeds from these notes will be used to fund grants for innovative educational programs for NVTHS and WPS. This is also a great idea for class gifts!
Just make a tax-deductible donation (minimum of $10 per honoree) to the Westford Education Foundation and we will send your honoree an email from WEF with a personalized note. The email will state your name and your message, but will not disclose the amount of your gift.
Note: Donations made to WEF in honor of NVTHS and WPS staff members comply with the state ethical regulations for gift-giving and acceptance. The Westford Education Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes excellence in education. We fund grants to teachers, staff, and the community for innovative educational initiatives, professional development, and life-long learning ventures.
Visit our website at https://www.westford.org/wef for more information on the programs we have funded in your school. All of this would not be possible without the support of our community and people like you.
Please visit https://www.westford.org/wef/thank-a-teacher_winter/ to complete your donation. You can complete your donation using your PayPal account or credit card. You will receive a confirmation email when your note is delivered. Questions? Contact WEF at wef@westford.org. Thank you!
Please check to see if your company has a matching gift program. Your gift may be doubled, or even tripled! Check with your human resources office for a matching gift form to submit with your donation.
Donate New Clothing Items for Catie's Closet
In the spirit of giving this holiday season we have collaborated with Blue Mountain Legacy, a local business and the Day school community to support Catie's Closet and their Be Me Initiative.
Starting Dec 11- 22nd, we will be collecting new clothing items for Catie's Closet. You are invited to come into the school and pick a snowflake (or two) that represents a child and their size. We will have the snowflakes available during conferences to make it easy to pick one.
You may also email Mrs. Lapham (alapham@westfordk12.us) OR Mrs. Hummer (lhummer@westfordk12.us) with your child's name and homeroom teacher and their classes will make sure your child gets a snowflake to bring home to shop for.
Please return NEW items in a bag with the snowflake stapled to it and place it in the donation box. One will be in the lobby for students and the vestibule for parents.
Thank you for helping ensure all students are set up for success at school!
Check out their website here to learn more about their mission: https://www.catiescloset.org/be-me-initiative/
By encouraging all of us to LOVE ourselves as we are, Be Me paves the way to a world of tolerance and understanding.
The Town of Westford Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee along with Westford Public Schools Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee are excited to partner with Community TeamWork (CTI) to screen Jeffrey Robinson’s documentary: Who We Are ~ A Chronicle of Racism in America
WHAT IS THE WHO WE ARE PROJECT?
The Who We Are Project was founded by Jeffery Robinson. The organization is an outgrowth of a talk that Robinson has been giving for the past 10 years on the history of anti-Black racism and white supremacy in the United States. This talk forms the basis of the feature-length documentary film, Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America.
OUR MISSION
The Who We Are Project will be one of the central voices that will correct the narrative on our shared history of anti-Black racism in the United States. The current narrative about the impact of anti-Black racism and white supremacy on the social, legal, political, and economic aspects of our culture in the United States is based on a “re-telling” of history that is incomplete, inaccurate, and misleading. The Who We Are Project will correct this false narrative about U.S. history and provide an objectively true account that exposes the role of white supremacy and anti-Black racism throughout history up to the present. This mission is crucial because reckoning with our true history is the only way for our country to move forward on a path toward racial equity and justice.
Please join us for our community viewing!
RSVP Form: by January 3rd, 2024
Date: January 17th, 2024
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Westford Academy Auditorium, Patten Road, Westford, MA
Facilitated Reflection, Question & Answer Discussion Upon Completion of the film
The Westford Family FunFest and Westford Rotary Club invite the public and organizations to participate in and visit the 13th Annual Festival of Trees, Wreaths, and Creative Holiday/Cultural & Gingerbread/Gnomes Celebration. The festival will be held at the Westford Regency Inn, 219 Littleton Rd., Westford, from December 8, 2023 to January 2, 2024. The Westford Regency Atrium and Lobby and selected other areas will be decorated with trees, wreaths, and creative holiday and gingerbread/gnome creations.
Brunch with Santa
Saturday and Sunday, December 16-17, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Brunch with Santa, including a craft area by Westford Girl Scouts. Music presented by the Westford Girl Scouts. Free photos with Santa will be offered too (bring your own camera). For reservations for Breakfast with Santa, call 978-692-8200, ext. 520, or visit the Westford Regency website or Facebook page.
Visit www.westford.org/funfest for details and an application to be part of the festival. Check out the Westford Family FunFest Facebook page. Open to individuals, groups, organizations, and schools, come join in the FUN!!!
Westford Youth Baseball & Softball League
Registration for the Westford Youth Baseball and Softball League Spring 2024 Season is currently open for all divisions! Visit www.wybsl.com for more information.
And, WYBSL kindly requests that our Winter Indoor Baseball & Softball Clinics (a new offering for WYBSL) also be posted through 3/15/2024.
Winter Indoor Baseball & Softball Clinics
The Westford Youth Baseball & Softball League is now offering winter indoor developmental clinics for children ages 6 to 12 of all abilities who do not participate in travel baseball and softball clubs. Clinics will be held at the Brickyard Cages at the Millworks, 22 Town Farm Road in Westford on Saturday or Sunday afternoons January 6th/7th through April 6th/7th, and not on holiday weekends. Visit www.wybsl.com for more information.
Nashoba Youth Hockey
Nashoba Youth Hockey is very excited to share the return of our Winter Learn to Skate and Learn to Play programs. Registration and detailed information for both programs are available on the NYH website! www.Nashobahockey.com (Click on Programs)
Questions: For more information, please contact Initiation Programs Director: Lorne Grout - email: lorne_grout@hotmail.com
Learn to Skate
This program is designed for boys and girls who are looking to either learn to skate or to improve their skating skills. No previous skating experience is required.
Dates: Saturdays, 1/6/24 - 2/17/24
Time: 8:50 am
Location: Skate 3, Blue rink, Tyngsboro, MA -- Note: The January 14 session will be held at 7:40am at Nashoba Valley Olympia)
Cost: $175
Register at: Nashoba Youth Hockey Learn to Skate
Learn to Play Hockey
This program is designed for boys and girls who are looking to learn the game of hockey and develop their hockey skills. Prior skating skills are required. The program is designed for skaters who have not previously been and are not currently on a hockey team.
Participants in Learn to Play Hockey must already know how to skate.
Dates: Saturdays, 2/24/24 - 3/30/24
Time: 8:50 am
Location: Skate 3, Blue Rink, Tyngsboro, MA
Uniform: Nashoba jersey and socks provided
Cost: $225
Register at: Nashoba Youth Hockey Learn to Play Select Session 2
Recycle Sneakers and Raise Money for Day School
Did you know that in the U.S., roughly 200 million pairs of shoes and sneakers end up in landfills each year?
Did you know that more than 600 million people worldwide don’t even own a pair of shoes?
The GotSneakers recycling organization will help us to recycle our sneakers! We will ONLY accept athletic sneakers and sports related footwear. Ideally, unused and gently used sneakers will raise the most money for our school. But, if you have sneakers with holes, mold/mildew or detached soles, GotSneakers will take them as well. By participating, you’ll help keep sneakers out of landfills while also putting shoes on the feet of people living in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, West Africa, and Europe. Some of the unusable sneakers will even be made into new athletic surfaces! Your old sneakers will make a huge difference; reducing what we throw away and raising money for our school is a win-win!
Please drop off all donations to the box outside near the Day School’s main entrance doors. We encourage you to bring all non-athletic shoes/boots to the drop-off bin in the St. Catherine’s Church parking lot, to Savers in Nashua, or to other local thrift shops for resale. Thanks so much for your support!
