Superintendent's Update
April 1, 2026
Word Count: 586
Approx Reading Time: 2 minutes and 20 seconds
Website Launch
No foolin’, we’ve got a new website! It was time for an update and our new website is now open for scrolling. The domain remains the same (westfordk12.us) so if you’ve already bookmarked the site address then you are all set. This version is designed to be more user friendly and easy to access on mobile devices. Just like any move, we did some cleaning and made decisions about whether or not we’d bring everything with us. As it is still really a work in progress, please be patient and let us know if we missed anything in our transition.
Westford School S.P.I.R.I.T
Last month, our students in grades 3-5 had a tremendous opportunity to work with a guest artist who travelled all the way from Nashville to collaborate with them. Tony Memmel is a recording artist and producer who has an incredibly inspirational story. Students were mesmerized by his adaptability and perseverance and worked with him to write a brand new song that celebrates our core values and wonderful Westford community. He then took all of their work and the recordings he made with them here and put it all together in his studio back in Nashville to produce an incredible piece of music. We are so grateful for the support from both YouthARTS and Westford Education Foundation (WEF) and all of the organizing our elementary music teachers did to make this special event take place. Now, the district has our very own song to enjoy for years to come: We Are School S.P.I.R.I.T. | Tony Memmel FEAT. The Students of Westford, Massachusetts
RSBC Update
Please join us on Thursday, April 9 from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Robinson School for the first of a series of Community Forums that will be taking place this spring. This evening will serve as the Project Kick-Off and Goals Interactive Workshop. As we explore what potential future options might be, these conversations will help to inform what elementary education can and will look like throughout our entire district for years to come. More information can be found on the project website which can also be accessed through our new district site: https://www.westfordk12.us/
April Community Coffee
For an informal opportunity to connect and engage with me and a few members of the School Committee, we will be holding our monthly Community Coffee on Friday, April 10th at 10:00 in the Millenium Building. The feedback that we have been receiving is that this more relaxed opportunity to gather for an hour and visit with no specific agenda has been helpful and informative. ROUTES Roasters will be open across the hall if you would like to purchase a coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or cider but it is not required to attend.
School Committee Survey
Finally, if you haven’t already participated in the recent School Committee survey, please consider taking a few minutes to do so. In just 2 minutes, you can share feedback on communication, budget awareness, start times, and student progress. Your input goes directly to the School Committee to help guide their work and priorities. The survey will be open through this weekend. Don’t miss your chance to be heard. Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/
Cheers!
Chris
Christopher Chew
Superintendent
Westford Public Schools
Word Count: 576
Approx Reading Time: 2 minutes and 20 seconds
I received a few questions this week regarding reported leaks in the new roof over at Blanchard Middle School. Dripping occurred from the ventilation system in a few spots due to the extreme amount of snow that drifted to certain locations on the roof and needed to be cleared by the contractors from around isolated vents. The roof itself has been performing very well through all of the significant rain that has tested it since being installed. As we progress through the very final stages of this major project the contractors will be making adjustments to the height levels of the vents in question to prevent this from happening in the future.
SDIP Survey
Thank you to everyone who has already participated in our most recent ThoughtExchange Engagement Survey regarding our next Strategic District Improvement Plan (SDIP). It asks the driving question “What are the biggest challenges facing students in the next few years?”. We have had over 540 responses so far and will be keeping it open until March 6. If you would still like to help provide feedback and engage in rating responses already submitted, the process takes about 5-10 minutes and can be accessed here: https://tejoin.com/scroll/411117611
Community Coffee Hour
This month’s Superintendent’s Community Coffee Hour will be taking place on Friday, March 13, 2026, once again in the morning time frame from 10:00-11:00 am in the Millenium Building. We will be meeting in Room 13 across the hall from ROUTES Roasters in the event that you would like to purchase a warm beverage from them to enjoy.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Neurodiversity Celebration Week takes place this year from March 16th to the 26th. This community-wide celebration is dedicated to fostering appreciation and awareness of all neurodiverse individuals. For the past few years, WPS has hosted age-appropriate activities and events throughout each of our schools such as exploring specific literature or read-alouds, introducing students to famous neurodiverse individuals, and sharing fun facts and information via special announcements. While many classrooms already integrate curriculum to highlight the importance of neurodiversity awareness throughout the year, this dedicated week provides a unified community focus on this vital celebration.
TOW ATM
The Westford Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 at Westford Academy starting at 9:00 am. More information regarding logistics, the timeline of the day, as well as the articles on the warrant can be found on this webpage: https://www.westfordma.gov/393/Town-Meeting
The Recreation Department will once again be providing childcare for families who register in advance using this link: TM Childcare Signup
RSBC Updates
Finally, the Robinson School Building Committee (RSBC) will soon be hosting different community events in collaboration with the selected Design Firm and our Owner’s Project Managers (OPM) to gather feedback and engage stakeholders in conversations regarding the current Feasibility Study. This part of the process is critical as we develop the educational vision for our elementary programming throughout the district. While the initial focus of this study is on the Robinson School facility, any future decisions will impact all of our elementary schools and needs to include input from families, staff and community members all throughout town. As those dates and events are determined we will be sure to communicate them effectively to maximize everyone’s opportunity for participation.
Cheers!
Chris
Christopher Chew
Superintendent
Westford Public Schools
Bombogenesis... an update! WPS 2-1-26
Bombogenesis…an update!
February 1, 2026
Word Count: 675
Approx Reading Time: 2 minutes and 50 seconds
I learned a new word last week while reading Terry Eliasen’s Westford Weather Forecast. Even though I have grown up here and lived through nine of the now recorded top ten storms in the Boston area, I had never before seen the word “bombogenesis”. Now that I know how powerful a storm that can be, I am glad to know that the updated forecast indicates it is going further offshore, minimizing the impact for us around here.
So, thankfully, tomorrow’s Groundhog Day weather is not to be a repeat of last Monday.
As we continue to build discussion around the development of our next Strategic District Improvement Plan (SDIP), we are going to hold this month’s Community Coffee event again during an evening timeframe to provide additional opportunities for folks to participate. The event that took place in January led to some really interesting conversations and we look forward to doing something like that again. We shared an initial survey with the participants with the plan of pushing it out to the wider community following that evening. The initial feedback regarding the survey platform was great but most participants expressed the need to provide more context and background information or develop a broader range of questions if shared with a larger audience. Themes emerging from the survey conducted that evening included:
- Mental Health and Wellness: Participants overwhelmingly supported the prioritization of mental health and wellness for students and staff, recognizing its critical importance in the current educational climate. There was a call for more support staff and resources to address mental health needs, with suggestions for integrating social-emotional learning and wellness practices into the curriculum. The perception was that while strides have been made, there is still significant work to be done to fully support the mental health of the school community.
- Equitable Learning Environments: Ensuring equitable learning environments was a key focus, with participants advocating for a reassessment of organizational structures to better support all students. There was a strong desire for smaller class sizes and more inclusive practices, with some participants expressing concerns about the current staffing levels and the impact on learning. The perception was that while the district has made progress, there is a need for continued efforts to ensure equity and inclusivity.
- Technology and Education: The role of technology in education was a contentious topic, with some participants advocating for reduced technology use in favor of more traditional learning methods. Concerns were raised about the over-reliance on technology, particularly in elementary schools, and the need to focus on critical thinking and resilience. The perception was mixed, with some seeing technology as a valuable tool, while others worry about its impact on learning and development.
- Curriculum and Learning Objectives: Participants expressed a desire for curriculum changes that emphasize critical thinking, resilience, and real-world skills. There was a call for more hands-on learning experiences, such as field trips and community service projects, to enhance student engagement. The perception was that the current curriculum needs to evolve to better prepare students for future challenges, with a focus on both academic rigor and life skills.
We would love to hear from more people and have plans to create another survey to gather feedback from the wider community soon. Until then, If you are available and would like to engage in old-fashioned face to face conversation, please join us in Room 13 in the Millenium building on Monday, February 9th at 6:00 pm. We will focus that conversation around initiatives we should be considering to help guide the district through to FY30. We will wrap up the discussion in time for the School Committee meeting which is scheduled for 7:00 that evening. Again, ROUTES Roasters won’t be open at that time, unfortunately, so feel free to bring your own coffee, cocoa or hot cider to sip and enjoy while we consider what the future of WPS can look like.
Cheers!
Chris
Christopher Chew
Superintendent of Schools
Westford
