Abbot Update 5.17.19

Dear Abbot Families,

Well, we survived carnival week at Abbot! Thank you for your patience as we worked around the festivities. At school, we tried to channel the students' excitement into academic opportunity by encouraging students to use it as inspiration for creative writing and some classes even explored some carnival math. I can't tell you how many questions I received from students regarding carnival hours, wristbands and number of rides. I get the feeling some of the students think that I am the carnival manager. That makes me smile!

In addition to my carnival job, I also met with several students regarding their persuasive essays and other ideas they have to support my leadership. One group even presented a petition signed by more than 100 students. As a result, 5th graders will be piloting the addition of 5 minutes to their recess time next week.  I will let you know how it goes! I will also implement a "Principal of the Morning" opportunity for 5th graders beginning next year, and I will start with incoming 5th grader, Manny, as this was his idea. Collaborating with Abbot students is so much fun!

Please see below for important updates.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely, 

Lori McDermott

Abbot School Principal

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HELP - FIELD DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Our school-wide Field Day is scheduled for May 28, which is right around the corner. We still have some stations left that don't have volunteers to support them. Please consider helping, as we simply can't run this exciting event without enough volunteers.  Please volunteer here. You will be glad you did!

Grade 5 STE MCAS

Grade 5 will take STE MCAS on Monday and Tuesday. Remember, a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast is important. 

Student Council 

In preparation for our Memorial Day program, Student Council will be meeting on Thursday, May 23 at 7:30am instead of May 30.

Memorial Day - Roll Call of Heroes

A flyer came home Tuesday inviting students to honor family/friends who died in service to our country at our Memorial Day Ceremony to be held on Friday, May 24 at 1:30pm. Please return that form (if you haven't already) no later than Wednesday so that we can prepare for the ceremony. 

Students and staff are invited to wear red, white, and/or blue in honor of Memorial Day.

Staff Update

Please join me in welcoming Mr. Thomas Elder to Abbot as our new PE/Health/Wellness teacher. He will be coming to us from Carver Elementary School. Mr. Elder will officially start in August, but he will be joining us on a couple of occasions to take part in some transition activities.

Carnival Parking - Towing Expenses

The Business Office is in the process of identifying any staff or parents who had to have their car towed when parking on the upper Abbot field due to Tuesday's muddy field conditions.  If you incurred a towing expense as a result of parking on the upper field, please contact Nancy Hill at 978-692-5560 X2010 or via email at nhill@westfordk12.us.   

Please keep your towing receipt on hand, and the Business Office will be in touch shortly with the next steps.

Parents of Incoming 3rd Graders

Please find important transition information here.

Updated 2019-2020 WPS Calendar

The 2019-2020 School Calendar has been updated due to the change of a professional development day (March 12th changed to May 19th).   Attached please find the newest version, Rev. A.  A hard copy on green paper will also come home with students next week.

REMINDERS

A Message From the PTO

Nab/Abbot Baseball Outing Update:

If you ordered tickets to the Spinners Game for Wednesday 6/19 those tickets will come home in an envelope with your child the week of June 10th.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Westford Public Schools Diversity and Inclusion Team is a committee made up of staff looking to promote diversity and inclusion within the district.  We are looking for parent volunteers who are interested in being part of a group of parents who can be a peer contact for immigrant families in the district.  This group would be a resource to help immigrant families access district information and resources while also providing a contact who can relate to their situation. If you are interested in this opportunity please contact Mary Mathew at mmathew@westfordk12.us.

Dates to Remember

May 20     Grade 5 STE MCAS, Session 1

                 Parkerville (Kelly)

May 21     Before School Orchestra (7:30am)

                 Grade 5 STE MCAS, Session 2

                 SAC Meeting (3-4pm)

May 22     Grade 5 Middle School Visit (8:45-11am)

May 23     Chorus Rehearsal (7:30am)

                 Student Council (7:30am)

May 24     Parkerville (Conlin)

                 Memorial Day Program (1:30pm)

                  Wear Red, White, and/or Blue Spirit Day

                 Chess Club, Session 3 (2:30-3:30pm)                __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

COMMUNITY NEWS

Challenge Success

Please read the latest Challenge Success Newsletter http://bit.ly/WestfordCSMay19Newsletter

Girls' Basketball

Any girls interested in playing basketball this summer should come to the Grey Ghost Basketball Clinic from June 18 through June 21st.  This clinic is run by the WA Girls' Basketball program and is appropriate for all levels of players from recreational to AAU/travel basketball players.  Counselors include current members of the WA Varsity Girls' Basketball team plus current NCAA college basketball players Emily Bramanti (Stonehill - NCAA D2) and Cammy Desrochers (Framingham State - NCAA D3).  Please see the flyer that was sent home with your student or email Coach Russ Coward at rcoward@westfordk12.us.  Thank you very much for your support!

WESTFORD ACADEMY BOYS’ BASKETBALL SHOOTING CLINIC is now Open to All Boys Entering 2-9 Grade (Entering Fall of 2019). Westford Academy Boys' Basketball Head Coach Chris Bramanti, and members of the Westford Academy Boys' Basketball program will host a four day, three hour per day shooting clinic from Tuesday, June 18th through Friday, June 21st from 8:30am to 11:30am.  Registration can be found on www.basketballwa.com or you can email Coach Bramanti at cbramanti@westfordk12.us.

Westford Summer Music Program -  The Westford Summer Music program is now accepting registrations for band and orchestra students entering grades 5 through 9 in September 2019. Band and orchestra ensembles will rehearse daily from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Stony Brook School on July 8th through July 12th .  During the week, the students will prepare new music and give a free performance on Friday, July 12th at 11 a.m.

For more information and registration please visit:  www.westfordk12.us/summermusic

For questions, please contact:

Julie Ottesen - jottesen@westfordk12.us