Day School News
October 1, 2022
Dear Day School Community,
If you are interested in serving on the Day School Advisory Council this year, please see the notice in this newsletter. Parent volunteers who serve on the committee will join Day School staff members in learning about priorities for Day School Improvement plan and providing feedback for the governance of our school community. This year the Superintendent has tasked school councils across the district to provide feedback for the four priorities identified for the WPS strategic plan. These contributions are critical in forming a plan that will best serve students, staff, and families across the district. Our school advisory council meets monthly in a virtual format.
The PTO is still looking for volunteers for many upcoming events. Reach out to the Day School PTO president using the link in this newsletter if you would like to get involved.
Sincerely,
Chris Louis Sardella, Principal
Chrissy Michaud, Assistant Principal
Norman E. Day Elementary School
Day School Advisory Council Vacancies
Each public school in Massachusetts is required to have a School Advisory Council (SAC). The SAC is an advisory group of teachers, administrators, parents and community members who participate in a collaborative forum to discuss school policies, curricula, budgets, and to promote parental and community involvement.
Parents are selected to positions on the School Advisory Council with an annual election. This year the Day School will have two openings on the SAC, membership is determined to include an equal number of staff and parent representatives. Meetings will be monthly in a virtual format.
If you are interested in seeking a term with the Day School Advisory Council for the 2022-2023 school year, please email Principal Chris Louis Sardella by Tuesday, October 4th with a three sentence paragraph explaining why you want to be a member of the Day School SAC. This statement will be placed on an electoral ballot.
If you would like further information please contact Principal Chris Louis Sardella via email at csardella@westfordk12.us or phone at (978) 692-5591 extension 3652.
This year School Advisory Councils across the district will be contributing feedback on the following priority areas for the school district improvement plan.
Priority Area #1
Embed our equity work into the heart of Westford Public Schools: curriculum and instruction
Priority Area #2
Assess the equity of our structure in terms of the organization of grade levels and geographic assignment of students to our district schools
Priority Area #3
Explore realistic opportunities to release the “pressure valve” on students and staff
Priority Area #4
Collaborate with Town partners to support goals specifically outlined in the Westford’s Climate Roadmap authored by the Clean Energy and Sustainability Co.
A Note from the PTO
Apologies to those of you who were unable to log on to last week's virtual PTO meeting due to technical difficulties. We have plenty of volunteer opportunities, so feel free to reach out to us at: DaySchoolPTOPresident@gmail.com or view the meeting minutes for ways you can help: https://sites.google.com/view/norman-e-day-school-pto/pto-by-laws-and-meeting-minutes
News from the School Nurse
Medical Conditions & Surgeries
We ask that if your child has a medical condition that you reach out to your school nurse to develop a plan of care while they are at school. Forms can be found on our website for food allergies, diabetes, asthma, seizures, and more. Also, it is important that your nurse and staff members are aware of limitations and accommodations required for your student due to recent surgery or injury. A surgical/orthopedic doctor’s note should be provided when surgery/injury occurs and also when restrictions are changed and then lifted altogether. You can find COVID guidelines and resources at https://westfordpshealthservices.weebly.com/
Immunizations, Screenings, & Physicals
Reminder: Required immunizations for Kindergarten entry and for new students entering Westford Public Schools include:
Dtap: 5 Doses, Polio: 4 Doses, Hep B: 3 Doses, MMR: 2 Doses and Varicella: 2 Doses.
Kindergarteners are also required by law to have the results of Blood Lead Screening and Vision Screening on file at school.
Kindergarten and third grade students also require a current physical for their school health record. This needs to be an official physical document signed and dated by the physician and cannot be a printed out visit note from the child's patient portal.
Medications
Your child’s health and safety is our common concern. Please provide Epipens, inhalers and other medications, along with the required physician’s orders and documentation as soon as possible. Massachusetts law requires forms to be updated yearly. Please make sure the medication is current and if the medication will expire during the school year mark your calendar to replace medications before the medication expires.
Day School Nurse: Cheryl Carpenter
(978)692-5591 ext 3655 ccarpenter@westfordk12.us
Town of Westford
Mobile Clinician
How does the Westford Mobile Clinician work?
If you, a loved one or fellow community member is experiencing a mental health challenge and currently awaiting care, Westford may be able to help. The Town of Westford acknowledges an overwhelming need for mental health appointments, resulting in long waitlists. We want to help shorten this wait time by offering short – term mobile clinical services in Town buildings to those in need.
Am I eligible to receive Westford Mobile Clinician services?
Following an initial intake interview, you may be provided with one of the following recommendations:
immediate recommendation to call your doctor, or 911;
assistance locating the correct mental health provider for you; or/and
referral to the Westford Mobile Clinician.
Each individual and situation is unique so careful consideration will be given when determining if the Westford Mobile Clinician is right for you. Due to scope of service and ACA ethical guidelines there may be situations where this service is not suitable for all residents and employees. If it is determined the Mobile Clinician is not a fit, we will work with you on alternative services.
What is the cost to me? Will my insurance be charged?
Services are provided free of charge. Your health insurance will not be charged for this service.
What is the frequency of treatment being offered?
Three sessions will be offered, with a plan for review at the third session. There will be a maximum of four to six sessions provided. The clinician will determine the number and frequency of sessions following the initial appointment. Determining factors may include nature of the mental health issue; length of time estimated for private therapy to begin; and/ the client’s response to therapy. Specifics will be discussed at your intake screening visit.
The Mobile Clinician is a new service in Westford. Depending upon the need of the service, a waitlist may be created. If there is a waitlist, during the intake process the waitlist process will be explored.
The Mobile Clinician is an important service for the town residents. As a responsibility of the resident, if you are unable to attend an appointment, please call the Mobile Clinician at least 48 hours of your appointment to cancel and/or reschedule.
Who do I contact to complete an intake?
Nicole Laviolette, Town of Westford Community Wellness Coordinator 978-399-2503
Alison Christopher, Town of Westford Social Worker 978-399-2325
Mobile Clinician made possible by ARPA Funding.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION: The Town of Westford does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, homelessness, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability in admission to, access to, employment in, or treatment in its programs and activities.
School Pupil Driver Certificate Exam Event
The Registry of Motor Vehicles will hold a one-day School Pupil (7D) Driver Certificate exam event (download) from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 8 at the Framingham Sheraton, 1657 Worcester Road, Framingham for individuals interested in becoming licensed 7D drivers. Applicants must have completed the School Pupil (7D) application online no later than midnight on Wednesday, October 5. Participants should bring a check for the exam fee of $15.00 made out to MassDOT/RMV. People who will also be participating in the training portion should bring their completed application and a check for $30 for the application fee and the exam fee.
At the event, a two-hour required training will be offered in both English and Spanish. Additionally, RMV staff will be on site to administer and correct the School Pupil (7D) written exam, record the results, and issue a certificate to people who meet all the requirements. To register, email SchoolBus7DNotify@dot.state.ma.us, put “October 8 – 7D TRAINING” in the subject line, and provide the required registration information: applicant’s name, license number, phone number, training needs, and email address.
PowerSchool Biographical and Emergency Contact Updates
The district needs to collect Student Emergency Contact information for PowerSchool, as well as student biographical updates (phone numbers, emails and sometimes addresses). EVERY STUDENT in the district needs their emergency contact information to be added. These are individuals that you would like added other than the parent/guardian information. Please click on this Google Form Link to add emergency contact information. This information is for PowerSchool and will need to be completed in addition to the green emergency cards that were submitted to the school nurse.
J. V. Fletcher Library…Building the Future!
Westford has received a provisional grant award from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) that it is now in line for $7,851,944 million of state grant funds under the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program. The community has six months (until January 9, 2023) to approve the future Library Building Addition and Renovation Project and critical votes will occur at:
October 17, 7 PM - Special Town Meeting, Westford Academy Gymnasium
November 8 – Local Ballot Vote on a Debt Exclusion
Two Library Planning Grants – the Planning and Design Grant and the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program Grant -- spanned 2014 through 2016, and were preceded by years of preparation and planning before their 2017 submittal date. Town Meeting has voted four times to support this library project dating back to March 2012, and Commonwealth grant funding is finally available.
The future design devotes almost all new space to the public and to the residents who use it most. The Library design:
More than doubles the space for children
Triples the space for tweens/teens and emerging adults
Doubles public meeting spaces
Centralizes Circulation functions
Increases silent, tutorial and collaborative study options
Offers improved technology & spaces to accommodate future trends and community use
Offers improved traffic flow & increased parking
Is fully handicapped-accessible and meets current fire, safety and building codes, and is planned for Net 0
Retains the historic façade on Westford Common while offering a modern rear addition
Learn more about the Library Building Project.
CEREMONY TO HONOR CAPTAIN JOSEPH READ, PARTICIPANT IN THE BOSTON TEA PARTY
FAIRVIEW CEMETERY at Main Street & Tadmuck Rd, WESTFORD, Saturday OCTOBER 15 1PM
The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum (306 Congress Street, Boston MA) is hoping to find and honor the participants of the Boston Tea Party by placing a special medallion at their gravesites in time for the 250th anniversary of the famous American historical event. On December 16, 1773, the Sons of Liberty and their supporters protested "taxation without representation" by boarding a ship at Griffin's Wharf and dumping 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor (about 45 tons, worth over one million dollars today). The event was considered to be the first major act of defiance to British rule and it inspired and rallied the 13 colonies in the fight for American independence.
One of the men on board that night has been verified as Captain Joseph Read (1716-1795) who is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Westford. Captain Read, who fought in the Revolutionary War and was a member of the Massachusetts Third Provincial Congress, was at 57 one of the oldest of the known Tea Party participants. The Westford Cemetery Department, the Veterans Services office, the Westford Historical Society & Museum, and the Westford Minutemen will be pleased to host representatives from the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and see Captain Read receive the honor.
Please join us for a ceremony to place Captain Read's medallion on October 15, 2022 at 1pm in the Old West Division at Fairview Cemetery (close to the middle entrance). We thank the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum for making this happen.
Book Clubs at the J.V. Fletcher Libary
All book clubs meet IN PERSON in the large Meeting Room from 4 to 4:45 PM.
We offer several books clubs for children in grades Kindergarten through grade five. The book selections for each grade will be available in the children’s room for pickup prior to the club meeting. Kids can read the book themselves or have someone read it to them. We have a fun discussion, play games, and maybe create crafts.
Our book clubs include:
Fiction books clubs for grades K through 5
Graphic Novel book club for grades 4 and 5
Non-Fiction book club for grades 3 and 4
Art book club for grades 3 through 5
Registration signs your child up for all three meetings of the book club. Please sign up only if you can commit to attend all three sessions.
Please use the monthly calendar to register your child for the grade in which they are currently enrolled. Book clubs are open to Westford residents and non-resident FAMILY level Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library.
Click the link below to register for book clubs at the J.V. Fletcher library: