Day School News
June 13, 2020
Dear Day School Community,
We made it! What a year it has been. I so proud of all of our students and their accomplishments. I hope all families will join us for our farewell parade on Tuesday, June 16. The teachers and staff are so excited to see all of you in person before you head off for your summer adventures. Please see details below about the parade.
Since we will not be able to have our traditional move up day, the Day school staff has created videos that you can find on this link. Have fun watching the creative videos our teachers have created for you. Placement information will be available in mid-August.
In this newsletter, you'll also find information about report cards, summer reading lists for middle school, the MSCBA award, virtual field day video, and an opportunity to participate in a virtual summer art camp.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you on Tuesday, June 16!
Sincerely,
Chris Louis Sardella, Principal
Norman E. Day Elementary School
Last Day of School Parade
As the school year winds down, we wanted to invite our families and students by assigned grade levels, for a final farewell to the 2019-2020 school year with a wave parade around Day. Many of the Day staff plan to line up around the school, (in compliance with appropriate social distancing recommendations, including the use of masks) to greet students and families who will drive around the school to say hello! The wave parade will give our staff and students the opportunity to share a quick hello and a wave into the summer as we wrap up the school year. Please note that due to changes in schedules or unforeseen circumstances, some staff members may not be able to attend.
We ask that you remain in your car so social distancing guidelines and safety protocols are followed. Please drive very slowly through the driveway, as many staff members will be lined up throughout the area to wave and cheer as cars go by.
Cars should make a right turn only traveling west from North Main Street onto the school driveway. Please follow the driveway to the rear of the Day School near the playground where you will turn around and proceed toward the exit. To keep traffic moving and to ensure safety, we request that you make a right turn only onto East Prescott Street. Please see map below.
Pick-up for Grade 5 2020 T-Shirt and Completion Certificate, Yearbooks, and Spirit Awards - As you are exiting, the pick-up area will be in the side parking lot. All fifth grade families should proceed to the side parking lot to pick up t-shirts and completion certificates. Yearbooks and Spirit Awards will also be available in the side parking lot for pick-up. We ask that you display a sign with your child's name and teacher so the volunteers can find items quickly. Cars will form two lines in the side parking lot for pick-up. If you have nothing to pick up you may proceed straight to exit right onto East Prescott Street.
June 16th - Farewell 2019 - 2020 School Year - DAY Parade
Grade 5: 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Grade 3 and Grade 4: 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Class Placement Update
After much discussion, given the current situation of COVID19, the Elementary Leadership Team has decided that in the best interest of all students, the homeroom assignments for students in grades PreK-5 will be announced mid-August. Each student will have a virtual “meet the next grade level team” which will allow students the chance to meet the grade level team of teachers before summer vacation begins. They will have a chance to watch a video to learn a bit about each team member and learn about their new grade level.
With regard to your child’s placement, please know that a great deal of thought, discussion, and consideration goes into our comprehensive placement process. Input from parents, as well as a variety of educators, is taken into consideration when classes are formed. Each child will be thoughtfully placed in a well-balanced classroom. The placement team will create a class of students with diverse strengths, needs and abilities. The team will try to place students with peers who will complement them, both academically and socially. In addition, the team will try to match students with a teacher who will best meet his/her learning style. We are confident that your child will be placed in a classroom environment where he/she will learn, have supportive classmates, and have a teacher who will help him/her to be successful.
Homeroom Placement 2020-2021 will be posted in the parent portal mid-August. An email will be sent to families when the placement information is available. To access the information in August, please log into the Parent Portal to access your child’s homeroom assignment for the 2020-2021 school year. To access the portal, please go to the WPS web site: http://westfordk12.us/pages/iParent/index
Understanding the Term 3 Report Card
The parent portal to view report cards will be open on Tuesday, June 16.
Due to the unusual circumstances surrounding term three, the elementary report card will look different than in the past. At the elementary level, identified priority standards for ELA and Math were the focus for instruction. These priority standards have been marked with a “C” for credit or “NC” for no credit. The expectations were that students participated and progressed in learning by working on assignments designed to support these standards.
All other standards within ELA and Math, as well as Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Wellness, and Social Skills/Work Habits, have been left blank for this term. This certainly does not imply that instruction was absent in these areas or that work was not completed in these areas.
Grading Key
Blank: While work may have been completed in this area, it was not identified as a priority standard.
C Credit: There was evidence of progress/participation in learning the priority standard.
NC No Credit: There was no evidence of progress/participation in the priority standard.
From Janet Keirstead - 6-12 English Language Arts Curriculum Coordinator:
All students entering middle school have required summer reading this year. Students entering sixth grade should select and read at least one book from their grade level list, then be prepared to complete an assignment on that book when school resumes in the fall.
Middle School Summer Reading List Website - Click here
If you have questions, please contact Janet Keirstead at jkeirstead@westfordk12.us
Massachusetts Children's Book Awards
The 2020 Massachusetts Children's Book Award (MCBA) winner and runners up have been announced!
Twenty-three Day School 5th graders who read 5 or more MCBA books participated in the voting.
Salem State University tallied up votes from over 140 schools all around Massachusetts. Congratulations to the winner, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, and the 4 runners up, The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty, New Kid by Jerry Craft, and Restart by Gordon Korman.
Virtual Field Day
Enjoy this video of Day School students and their amazing talents. This video is our opening ceremony for our virtual field day. Stay tuned for photos and videos of Day School students participating in the virtual field day events.
Why? Just Because?
Because we can shine.
Because we can soak up the sun’s vitamin D our growing bodies need.
Because we can try new things.
Because we can clap and cheer for our peers as they reach the finish line.
Because we can practice patience, understanding, and empathy.
Because we can build strength, coordination, and balance.
Because we can have fun.
But most importantly…
Because WE are Day!
WPS Virtual Summer Art Camp!
Looking to stay creative this summer? The elementary art teachers have created a fantastic website for you to visit. You will be able to learn about more great artists, be inspired to create art based on your interests, and continue to enhance your own artistic abilities.
Click here to learn more about WPS Virtual Summer Art Camp. Participation is optional and there are no required assignments.
The WPS art teachers have created a virtual art show that exhibits SOME of the artwork that students have submitted during the home learning trimester. Click above to view the slideshow.
Click the pop-out link to download a PDF of the WPS calendar.
2020-2021_school_calendar.pdf