Day School News
May 8, 2021
Dear Day School Community,
I would like to thank the parent community for their generous donations for Teacher Appreciation Week. The Day School staff was thrilled with the raffle items, snack station, Expo markers, flowers, lip balm, gift cards, pizza, muffins, bagels, and even loaves of bread. There was so much love from the parent community that I am sure I forgot to mention at least one of the surprises. There is no doubt that the Day School staff gave it their all in a very challenging year. They were certainly very deserving of this outpouring of support from our parent community.
Safety when walking and riding to school has always been an important concern for Day School students. I have invited Rachel O'Donnell, an outreach coordinator with Safe Routes to School and the Westford Pedestrian Committee to do a walk assessment. Please join us on Thursday, May 13. I would love to have input from the parent community.
Don't forget our RLA pickup is scheduled for 3PM on Wednesday, May 12.
Sincerely,
Chris Louis Sardella, Principal
Norman E. Day Elementary School
Join us for our virtual PTO meeting on Monday, May 10 @7:30PM. Use this link to join: meet.google.com/eht-hfic-ymc
Safe Routes to School
Walk Assessment
Join Rachel O'Donnell, the outreach coordinator of the Massachusetts Safe Routes to Schools and the Westford Pedestrian Safety Committee for a walk assessment of the routes to the Day School. This will happen on Thursday, May 13 from 9AM-11AM.
The Pedestrian Committee will start with a conversation about the area so everyone is familiar with the issues (20-30min), followed by the walk (~1 hour) and then a debrief/next steps conversation (20-30min).
Any interested parents should email Day School principal Chris Louis Sardella: csardella@westfordk12.us
Click on the link above to find out more information about Safe Routes to School.
Yearbook_CustomPages_Flyer.pdfMath Diagnostic Assessment
All elementary students will take a Math Diagnostic Assessment (during their math class) at some point during the month of May. The assessment will be used to determine grade level and district wide trends to help prepare the math curriculum for next year. We will also use the assessment to determine which students may be eligible for an optional summer tutoring program.
The assessment we are using is the i-Ready Diagnostic, an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions to suit your child’s needs. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give scores or grades but to best determine how to best support learning moving forward.
Click the video above to get an overview of the i-Ready Diagnostic
To support your child, please remind them to:
Try not to worry about questions to which they do not know the answers—remind them that it is expected that they will only get about half of the questions correct.
Use paper and pencil to show work for math questions.
Bring Headphones and a fully charged Chromebook to school for the assessment
News from the School Nurse
Recall of Hand Sanitizer
Scentsational Soaps & Candles, Inc., is voluntarily recalling 5 lots of Scentsational Soaps & Candles scented Hand Sanitizers from the Black and White Collection and Photo Real Collection and 3 lots of Ulta Beauty Collection scented Hand Sanitizer Spray packaged in 3.38 and 3.4 fluid ounce spray bottles, respectively, to the consumer level. These products are being recalled after testing conducted by our firm revealed the presence of methanol (wood alcohol), benzene, and acetaldehyde. These handsitizers can be harmful to children if injested or used in copious amounts. The products were distributed nationwide in the USA through Ulta Beauty, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls retail stores. Please see the FDA safety alert for more information.
World Health Organization Website
Check out the WHO website below for a "Vaccine Explained" series featuring illustrated articles on vaccine development and distribution. Learn more about vaccines from the earliest research stages to their rollout in countries.
Westford SEPAC
May Programs
Westford SEPAC hosting basic rights workshop.
The Westford Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) will be hosting Clare Vann, Esq. for a special meeting about understanding the Individual Education Plan.
Wednesday, May 12, 2021: 7PM - 9PM: Basic Rights: Understanding the IEP presented by Clare Vann, Esq. This presentation is free and open to the public, and is presented in collaboration with the Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN). For more information, see the flyer or email speacwestford@gmail.com. Attendees must pre-register to attend the presentation and receive handouts: https://fcsn-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcodeCoqzsrGtfjhqELBzbJNp1pyM_Dj4-K
Westford SEPAC BR IEP 05122021 flyer.pdfClick above to view the flyer for the SEPAC event.
What is the SEPAC? Massachusetts statutes and regulations require that every school district in the state establishes a SEPAC. This public body serves as an adviser to the School Committee on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities. In addition, the SEPAC has a duty to meet regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the district’s special education program.
For more information on SEPACs, please visit the Federation for Children with Special Needs’ “What is a SEPAC?”.
The Westford SEPAC also encourages community members to follow our Facebook page to get information about upcoming Westford SEPAC events, as well as topics that the SEPAC Board of Directors believes is of interest to families of students with special needs in our community.
wotws_v8.pdfWalk on the Wild Side Challenge
Help the Westford Friends of East Boston Camps raise funds needed to complete the restoration of the historic Nashoba Lodge! During the month of May, walk the trails at East Boston Camp.
Use this link to register and start walking:
Westford Summer Music
The Westford Summer Music program is pleased to return to in person music ensembles this July! We are now accepting registrations for band and orchestra students entering grades 5 through 9 in September 2021. 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 on July 12th through July 16th . During the week, the students will prepare new music and give a free outdoor performance (if the weather cooperates) on Friday, July 16th at 11 a.m. in the newly restored Stony Brook amphitheater!
Summer Band directed by Ms. Trish Gately
Summer Orchestra directed by Mr. Todd Hamelin
For more information and registration please visit: www.westfordk12.us/summermusic
Ms. Gately playing the trumpet.
For questions, please contact:
Julie Ottesen - jottesen@westfordk12.us
WA Girls' Basketball Summer Clinic
The WA Girls' Basketball program is happy to offer several options for outdoor basketball clinics at the Blanchard School this summer! Members of the Girls' Varsity basketball team are ready to teach all levels of players how to become better basketball players while participating in a fun, supportive environment. Please check out the new WA Girls' Basketball website for clinic dates and registration information. All proceeds go to the WAGB program account. Thanks for your support!
WA Boys' Basketball Summer Sizzler Clinic and the 29th Annual 4 on 4 Summer Basketball League
The WA Boys' Basketball program is happy to offer several options for outdoor basketball clinics at the Stony Brook and Blanchard Middle Schools this summer! Members of the Boys' Varsity basketball team are ready to teach all levels of players how to become better basketball players while participating in a fun, supportive environment. Please check out the Westford Academy Boys’ Basketball website for clinic dates and registration information. All proceeds go to the Westford Academy Boys’ Basketball program account. Thanks for your support! Email Coach Bramanti if you should have any questions at cbramanti@westfordk12.us or go to our website at https://www.basketballwa.com/