Day School News
January 16, 2021
Dear Day School Community,
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, our January all school meetings will be dedicated to a discussion with library media specialist Kira McGann about equality and equity. As a school community, we'll be focusing on the following themes:
BE MINDFUL that a person will have needs that are different than your own.
ASK appropriate questions to find out what that person needs to be happy, successful, and a lead healthy life.
USE kind words of support to help that person if they are having trouble talking about his or her needs.
Here are the meeting links for our upcoming virtual all school meetings:
Pod B: Friday 1/22 8:30am-8:50am
Pod A: Monday 1/25 8:30am-8:50am meet.google.com/hpn-nvyi-hjs
We look forward to seeing you online for this important discussion.
Sincerely,
Chris Louis Sardella, Principal
Norman E. Day Elementary School
MLK Jr. Day is Monday, January 18
Online Learning Information
Structured Learning Time
Beginning January 19th, we will increase live synchronous instruction for all students. Your child's classroom teacher will communicate more details about how this will work. For some afternoon art, music, and PE classes, this may mean both pods will be logging on to the same link. Some adjustments may be made to Google classrooms to accommodate this change. For more information, please see the Superintendent's letter in the January 9th newsletter.
Posting Assignments in Google Classroom
The elementary teachers will now have the option to post assignments by 5:00 PM the evening prior to the day work is to be completed, rather than by the current Sunday deadline of 5:00 PM. This will provide more flexibility with planning, and instruction to meet the needs of our students. However, there may be teachers who continue to keep with the current posting schedule of 5:00 PM on Sunday evenings. Any changes will be communicated to families by the classroom teacher. Please note due to the holiday weekend, classroom schedules will be posted by 5:00 PM on Monday night.
Chromebooks
Hybrid students should bring their Chromebooks to school every day fully charged. For more information about Chromebooks, please use this link to access FAQs
If your Chromebook is not working, please contact Kathy Norton in the Day School office (978) 692-5591 extension 3650 to exchange for a new one.
Day School Virtual Drama Club for Fifth Graders
Interested in practicing your drama and theater skills at home?
Want to have fun and be creative?
Curious about acting and stage tech?
Join the Day School Virtual Drama Club
Meetings on Thursdays 2:45PM-3:45PM
There are three spots open for fifth graders in session 2, so sign up quickly!
Click here to access signup genius.
Email mtroiano@westfordk12.us if you have questions.
Changes to Requirements for Flu Vaccines
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education. Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19. Given the intensive Commonwealth-wide efforts regarding COVID-19 vaccination, DPH wants to alleviate the burden to obtain flu vaccination and focus on continuing our COVID -19 vaccination efforts.
DPH continues to strongly recommend that everyone age six months and older receive their seasonal flu vaccine each year.
For more information, please contact Day School nurse, Cheryl Carpenter.
Email: ccarpenter@westfordk12.us
Phone: (978) 692-5591 extension 3655
Westford Youth Soccer
Register for spring soccer! Westford Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) is accepting registrations for the upcoming spring season.
Please see the attached flyer or head to the WYSA website at www.westfordyouthsoccer.com for additional details.
Spring2021Flyer.pdfWestford Youth Lacrosse
WYL is accepting registrations for the Spring 2021 season for the boys and girls programs (Grades 1 - 8) as well as the mixed FiddleStix Program for Kindergarten age. Westford Youth Lacrosse play starts in mid-March with indoor practices. Games start in early April and run through mid-June.
FiddleStix is a great entry program for Kindergarten age children looking to try something new. No equipment needed. One day per week commitment. No weekends.
Go to www.westfordlax.org to learn more and to register for any of the WYL programs. Registration ends February 14, 2021. Uncertain about committing to spring registration now? Don't worry, no payment is required until the registration deadline. Don't miss out on registering now to guarantee your spot for the spring lacrosse season.
Lacrosse is the fastest sport on two feet and one of the fastest growing youth sports in the country. Help spread the word to your friends who may be interested in playing Lacrosse that registration is HAPPENING now!
The Westford Youth Lacrosse Board
https://www.facebook.com/westfordyouthlax/
Westford Youth
Baseball and Softball
Register Early and Save for Spring Westford Baseball and Softball
With our fall season wrapping up, it is already time to think about the 2021 Spring Baseball and Softball seasons. This year the Westford Youth Baseball and Softball League was able to have a spring/summer and fall season for baseball and softball. Baseball and Softball continue to be great ways to participate in team sports while learning good sportsmanship and building confidence.
Westford Youth Baseball and Softball League is offering a registration for early bird special. For divisions 7U to 12U, players who register prior to January to January 30th, 2021 will save $30.00 per registration. For all Tee-ball and pre-ball registrations the discount will be available up until registration close.
Please see details at www.wybsl.com/registration
Got Sneakers?
Recycle Sneakers and Raise Money for our 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!