Day School News
March 5, 2022
Dear Day School Community,
Although masks will be optional at the Day School beginning on Monday, March 7, our safety protocols will remain in place. It is everyone's responsibility for keeping the school environment safe including frequent hand washing, making sure learning surfaces are clean, and shielding coughs and sneezes.
We will continue to keep students six feet apart while eating in the cafeteria and use the same protocols for cleaning. Our all school meetings will continue to be virtual. Teachers will continue to offer outdoor breaks for all students.
We respect every family's decision about whether or not to wear a mask. Teachers have already had conversations with students about being respectful of these choices. Our goal is to make everyone feel welcome and safe at the Day School. Please reach out to us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Chris Louis Sardella, Principal
Hilary Sturgis, Assistant Principal
Norman E. Day Elementary School
Report Card and Conference Schedule
Tuesday, March 8: Sign-up Links to Parent Teacher Conferences Open @5PM
Monday, March 21: No School-Parent Teacher Conferences 2PM-8PM
Tuesday, March 22: Two Hour Delay-Parent Teacher Conferences 8AM-10:15AM
Friday, April 1: Parent Portal Open to Review Report Cards @3:30PM
Reading and Writing Celebration
Get ready to celebrate a week of reading and writing adventures at the Day School beginning Monday, March 14.
Monday, March 14
Fox in Socks Crazy Socks Day
Wear your favorite crazy socks as we celebrate Fox in Socks and his crazy tongue twisters!
Tuesday, March 15
Favorite Picture Book Buddies
Find your favorite picture book and share it with your book buddy!
Wednesday, March 16
Guest Author Day
New York Times best selling author Michael Tougias will tell the tale of his adventure book, The Finest Hours which was made into a Disney motion picture. This is a story of a dramatic Coast Guard rescue of two ships in a 1952 nor'easter. Both vessels were WWII surplus, cheaply built, unwisely kept in service, and broken in two by the storm. The Finest Hours is part of a part of the True Rescue Series. The author adapts his histories of real life stories for young readers capturing the heroism and humanity of people on life-saving missions during maritime disasters.
Thursday, March 17
Dress as Your Favorite Book Character Spirit Day
Make your favorite books come to life! Students and staff who participate will be entered into a drawing to win new books of their choice!
Friday, March 18
Pajama and Flashlight Day
Wear your favorite cozy pajamas and bring a flashlight. When you least expect it, your class will drop everything and read!
Other Highlights of Our Week
Poetry Share-Students can submit poems that will be blown up to poster size and shared around the school.
Kahoot! Game-Students will guess the teachers and staff hiding behind their favorite picture books
Service Learning Project-We are partnering with Up With Books to bring new books to children living in poverty.
Mystery Guest Read Alouds-Members of our community (police, fire, government, town officials, etc.) will be joining us for classroom read alouds.
Guess the Book in a Jar-Students guess their favorite books from shredded pages stored in clear glass jars displayed in the library.
Writing Contest-Students will submit creative writing projects inspired by our guest author.
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
Westford SEPAC and Office of Pupil Services 2nd Annual Survey
The Westford SEPAC, in collaboration with Westford Public Schools Office of Pupil Services, is interested in your feedback as it relates to special education. Our 2nd annual survey allows both the SEPAC and the district to self-reflect on current practices, make improvements, and plan for meaningful SEPAC activities.We expect the survey -- which closes Friday March 11th at 5PM -- should take less than 10 minutes to fill out. You can access the survey here: https://forms.gle/zRSJW3JwzoEmaCPp9
Last year's survey helped us gain some insight into the successes and concerns, and we're looking forward to comparing this year's results to last year to see improvements (we hope) and additional areas we need to focus on. If you want to see last year's survey findings, check out the Westford SEPAC & WPS Pupil Services Annual Survey of Families of Students with Special Needs - 2020-2021 School Year results here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fgLYA1bJ8IyR8bstBEH9LG4DJf8mn68L/view?usp=sharing
News from the School Nurse
School Dental Program
Any child in Kindergarten (K), grade Three (3) and Five (5) who signs up for the school dental program will receive a FREE dental screening.
Students in grades One (1), Two (2) and Four (4) who sign up for the program will receive a dental screening, cleaning and fluoride treatment. To help offset the cost of the dental cleaning supplies and administration, there is a small fee of $10.00 per child for this service.
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. Forms are due by Monday, March 14.
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.
New COVID-19 Protocols
As per the recent communication from Dr. Chew, WPS will be moving to weekly at-home testing for those families who choose to do so, and symptomatic testing for children who become ill during the school day with 2 or more symptoms of COVID. If you have previously given your consent for the Test and Stay program, it covered all 3 forms of testing - symptomatic, test and stay and pool testing. Your child is automatically enrolled in the new Symptomatic Testing Program at school. Test and Stay is discontinued effective 1/28/2022.
If you would like your child to bring home an at-home test kit for weekly testing at home, please sign up here.
If you would like to participate in symptomatic testing, sign up here.
If you would like to revoke your permission, please contact school nurse Cheryl Carpenter at ccarpenter@westfordk12.us or call (978) 692-5591 to opt-out.
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
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
Transportation Reminders
May my child ride home on a friend's bus?
Per Dee Bus policy, this is not allowed. Students are only permitted to ride on their assigned bus. If you have any questions, please contact Dee Bus directly at 978.392.8639.
How do I pick up my child at the end of the school day?
Any student picked up by a parent, guardian, or family friend must have a vehicle ID card displayed in the car window. If you do not have this card, we will request to see identification. Use this form to request a vehicle ID card.
May a family friend pick up my child at the end of the school day?
Please notify the school office with any change to the normal dismissal routine. Children will not be released to another parent without notification.
What are the car drop off procedures?
It would be tremendously helpful if students could be prepared to exit the car as soon as the car stops at the curb. Please help your child to be prepared by having their coat on, mask up, backpack ready, and instruments and other items in hand so that they can say a quick goodbye and step out of the car as quickly and safely as possible.
Please pull up all the way to the sign asking cars to "Pull Up To Here", and remember to not block the handicapped parking spots to your right as you approach the curb, per the fire department's mandate in case of emergency.
Please be sure to pull around and do the full loop in the parking lot to help decrease any chance of accidents. As icy roads increase, please be cognizant of your speed and any pedestrians crossing the parking lot to enter or exit the school.
Thank you so much for your collaboration with the school in making sure students enter the school safely each morning!
Westford Public Schools have an urgent need for substitute teachers. Would you consider being a substitute teacher?
Although Westford prefers substitutes to hold a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, we welcome applicants who have completed 2 years of undergraduate work or other life experiences. Substitutes do not have to be certified in the field of education.
Questions may be directed to the HR Department at 978-692-5560 X2108 - Please apply HERE.
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!