Day School News
March 19, 2022
orDear Day School Community,
Be sure to check out photos from our reading and writing celebration week below. Students had so much fun with the contests, guest readers, reading their favorite picture books, and sharing poetry. We introduced the Listen to a Life Writing Contest last week. I encourage all aspiring Day School writers to enter an essay. Please encourage your child to participate. All essays are due on Friday, April 4.
Mrs. Carpenter would like to remind families to take advantage of our dental program that will take place soon. Please see information in this newsletter with a link to the registration form to sign up for this important program.
We look forward to seeing you in person or online for our spring parent/teacher conferences. As a reminder, school will be closed on Monday, March 21 and we will have a 2-hour delay on Tuesday, March 22 for conferences.
Sincerely,
Chris Louis Sardella, Principal
Hilary Sturgis, Assistant Principal
Norman E. Day Elementary School
Reading and Writing Celebration Photos
Listen to a Life Writing Contest
Students will have the opportunity to interview a grandparent, friend, neighbor, teacher, or anyone close to them that is at least 50 years or older. The person you interview cannot be a parent. Students will write a true, real-life story about an event important to the older, living adult. The entry must be based on an actual interview the young person completes in person, over the phone, or via the Internet with a living older adult. An entry cannot be based on a story the young person has been told by another person or has overheard. It must also be a true, real-life story, not creative fiction.
Interview: Do your interview by listening to a grandparent/grandfriend's life story. Learn about their hopes and goals through their life, how they achieved goals and overcame obstacles, or how dreams may have changed along the way. As you're listening, focus on a significant life experience – it may be big or small, but it has to mean something to the person being interviewed. What life advice can the older person share? The judges are looking for an evocative, creative story that captures the essence of a person's life, or a critical moment or experience.
Write: Now you're ready to write your story – 300 words maximum. Remember, the judging committee isn't looking for the person's whole life story (which is impossible to do in 300 words), but an essay that captures a theme, moment, or experience that's important in the older person's life.
Photograph: Submit a photo of you with your special adult. We’ll display the photo with your essay.
Submit: All essays and photos are due on Friday, April 4, 2022.
School Level Contest: Any student who submits an essay will have their real life story and photograph displayed in the school. One student from each grade level will be selected to win a $50 Amazon gift card and have their story and photo published in our weekly newsletter.
Legacy Project Contest: Submissions will also be entered into the Legacy Project writing contest. An entry must be a completely original work and not previously published or submitted in any other competition. If an entry is plagiarized in any way from another source, it will be disqualified.
For more information about this writing project, please click on this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f9pWUCAklHYw6CnwbPRaV-T7LkuVnJxY21-eli0Pk0g/edit?usp=sharing
The STEM Fair is approaching!
Reminders
Projects should be brought to school on Tuesday, March 29 for classroom presentations.
Projects will be brought home on Wednesday, March 30.
Please send photos of your scientists and engineers at work! Write Day Photos in the subject line. Email photos to STEM coordinator Mary O'Gorman: mogorman@westfordk12.us
Here are some guidelines for the class presentations: Engineering, Science
Capture Your Memories in This Year’s Norman E. Day School Yearbook
To Purchase & Customize Your Yearbook
Must be a parent or student 13 years or older.
Regular Price: $18.55* (*Does not include sales tax, if applicable)
1. Go to www.treering.com/validate
2. Enter your school’s passcode: 101443116243115
Deadline: Apr 27
Customize Your 2 Free Pages
Add photos from your computer, Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive & more.
Answer fun Memory Questions to help remember the year.
The 2 Custom Pages are FREE and are printed ONLY in your book. Want more pages? Each additional 2 pages is just $0.99.
Day School Report Card
Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. As the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) indicates, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas, just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects.
A link to our district’s report card is available at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2021/DistrictReportcard/03260000
A link to the Day school's report card is available at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2021/03260007
The report card includes multiple measures of a district’s/school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more. While the data on our report card compares our recent information to prior years and state averages, you may also search for other districts/schools throughout Massachusetts.
Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our schools.
If you have questions about our district’s or school’s report card, would like to become involved in school improvement activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher, please contact your child’s building principal.
For any additional information regarding the report card, please feel free to contact me at kclery@westfordk12.us.
Sincerely,
Kerry Clery, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction
Westford Public Schools
978-692-5560 ext. 2104
Day School MCAS Dates
Grade 5 Testing Schedule
ELA 1-April 5, 2022
ELA 2-April 12, 2022
Mathematics 1-May 9, 2022
Mathematics 2-May 12, 2022
Science and Technology 1-May 18, 2022
Science and Technology 2-May 19, 2022
Grade 4 Testing Schedule
ELA 1-April 7, 2022
ELA 2-April 13, 2022
Mathematics 1-May 10, 2022
Mathematics 2-May 13, 2022
Grade 3 Testing Schedule
ELA 1-April 8, 2022
ELA 2-April 14, 2022
Mathematics 1-May 11, 2022
Mathematics 2-May 16, 2022
SEPAC Virtual Event
Westford Special Education Parent Advisory Council is hosting a virtual event on March 30, 2022 at 7pm.
Speaker: Nadine Briggs, CEO of Simply Social Kids and co-author of the How to Make & Keep Friends book series presents:
I Feel Worried: Helping Your Child Manage Anxiety
Attendees will gain an understanding of what happens in the brain when anxiety takes over, how to read the early signs when anxiety is building and several strategies for how to manage it. Parents will learn the unexpected ways that anxiety can present itself in children and teens, providing an overall greater understanding. Please contact Westford SEPAC at sepacwestford@gmail.com with any questions.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83784300983?pwd=NFZkakZTUUJCbWNJbkFqU01BbytLdz09
News from the School Nurse
School Dental Program
Sign up now for our Day School Dental program! Grades 3 and 5 students can get a dental screening, which is basically a checkup and is fairly quick. For a nominal fee of $10, Grade 4 students can receive a dental cleaning which doesn't take long either. This is a very valuable service and the hygienist is wonderful about reinforcing dental education and hygiene. It is important to practice good habits of brushing and flossing while baby teeth are still in place.
During both services children receive home care supplies in addition to dental education given by registered hygienist Andrea McKinley, RDH, BS.
Please complete, sign and return this form to your child’s school. Paper copies of forms were also distributed to students. If your child is in grades One, Two, or Four, please include a check for $10.00 for the cleaning made out to: The Town of Westford. There is still time to complete the form!
Please contact Cheryl Carpenter, school nurse, if you need these services but are unable to pay the $10.00 fee. No child who needs this service will be excluded. Dental Services will begin in March.
COVID Testing Options
As a reminder, we are still participating in the DESE COVID testing option for symptomatic testing as well as providing at-home rapid tests to students and staff who opt-in to participate. Throughout the duration of the program, students and staff can elect to opt-in or discontinue participation.
As a district, in order to have the opportunity to provide the at-home rapid tests, we must provide the opportunity for the symptomatic testing, as well. Individuals, however, do not need to participate in both in order to access one or the other. Each part has a separate consent process. We submit the orders for the at-home rapid tests on a two week cycle, so it is possible to change participation on an ongoing basis moving forward but adjustments need to be made within the ordering windows for each cycle so there could be a delay.
For those participating in the at-home rapid test program, the expectation is that the tests are administered at home on Sunday evening or Monday morning and any positive results are communicated to the school nurse. All of the information is available on our website: https://www.westfordk12.us/district/news/covid-19-school-related-information-0
Proof of COVID Vaccines for Students
Please send in proof of COVID vaccination when your children have completed their second shot. Vaccinated children are exempt from close quarantine restrictions and may remain in school UNLESS they develop symptoms. Parents will still be notified if their child was a close contact in school, but will just need to look for symptoms. Send in a copy of the vaccine either by email to ccarpenter@westfordk12.us or hard copy.
Cheryl Carpenter, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN
Norman E. Day Elementary School Nurse
(978) 692-5591 ext. 3655
Fax (978) 692-8476
she, her, hers
ELPAC: English Learner Parent Advisory Council
Westford's first ELPAC (English Learner Parent Advisory Council) is looking for voluntary family groups.
What is ELPAC? - Massachusetts School Districts that have an English Learner Education (ELE) program that serves 100 or more English Learners are required to establish an English Learner Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC). Click here for more information.
For more information or to get involved contact: Amy Bailey (EL Teacher) abailey@westfordk12.us
The Deadline to Order Square One Art is Friday, March 25.
Upload your art and support the PTO by clicking the link below.
https://shop.square1art.com/Shop/upload
To begin shopping, choose Norman E Day School
Seeking Bus Drivers
Dee Bus is looking for School Bus and Van drivers! Dee Bus will pay you for training. All Westford School Bus drivers start at over $25 per hour. Work as little as 25 hours per week or more if you like. Many benefits including: paid good attendance, paid sick days, year end bonus and paid holidays.
If you’ve ever considered driving a bus or van but are still on the fence, come to Dee Bus Job Fair on Saturday, April 30 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. We are located at 30 Town Farm Rd - 978-392-8639. We’ll have snacks, raffle items and people to answer your questions.
Westford Summer Music Program
July 11 through July 15
Come join the fun for a week-long program where band and orchestra ensembles will rehearse daily from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Stony Brook School! During the week students will learn new music while building community and friendships. We will conclude the program with a free performance on Friday, July 15th at 11 a.m. This program is open for band and orchestra students entering grades 5 through 9 in September 2022.
Summer Band directed by Mr. Adam Shekleton
Summer Orchestra directed by Mr. Todd Hamelin
For more information and registration please visit: www.westfordk12.us/summermusic
For questions, please contact Julie Ottesen - jottesen@westfordk12.us
WYBSL Registration
Registration for the Westford Youth Baseball and Softball League Spring 2022 Season is currently open for all divisions. Please see details below and register soon!
Registration Details:
Registration is open through March 15, 2022 for all divisions except for U6 Tee Ball and 6U Softball which are open through April 1, 2022.
Register on or before January 31st, 2022 to receive the "Early Bird" discount. Registration fees will increase by $30.00 effective February 1, 2022 with the exception of U6 Tee Ball and 6U Softball.
Athletes who turn 13 years old before the end of 2022 can register to be a Youth Baseball and/or Youth Softball Umpire. WYBSL will train youth umpires in the early Spring.
Please note: In order to be eligible for the Cal Ripken Tournament team a player must play Spring rec.
To view a complete list of spring programs and register online please visit. 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!