Fine Dining...update! SB 4-30-21
We played some lovely classical music in the Cafenasium this week during our indoor picnics. We did our best to greet the lovely diners and welcome them to the fine experience. When possible, I circulated through the dining area and checked in our lovely guests and made sure the service and cuisine was enjoyable and meeting their expectations. The Gr8 students humored me the most and my attempt to create a fine dining experience. I figured giving adolescents an actual justification for saying that something was “fine” could possibly throw them for a loop.
Translations via Google Translate
The Friday traffic report seemed to indicate that folks have been merrily rolling along compared to how we started this new chapter of 2020-2021 on Monday. I appreciate everyone’s patience and continued attention in helping to ensure a safe and expeditious drop-off and dismissal. Please remind everyone to get rest this weekend as they all get to do this again next week, as well. No more of the A Pod/ B Pod rotation. Of course, all students are taking a break on Tuesday, May 4 for the Town Election as the teachers all have professional development that day. So, when they tell you they don’t have to go to school on Tuesday, they are indeed telling you the truth.
This week we have been asked to share this update on Quarantine Guidance for Close Contacts:
The following update to the quarantine guidance for close contacts was approved
by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services after consultation with the
Governor’s Medical Advisory Board on COVID-19 and other medical advisors.
This updated guidance is effective immediately!
Close contacts who were exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual in the
classroom or on the bus while both individuals were masked do not have
to quarantine unless they were within 3 feet of distance of the COVID-19 positive
individual for a total of 15 minutes during a 24-hour period. This does not apply if
someone was identified as a close contact outside of the classroom or bus (e.g.,
in sports, extra-curriculars, lunch, etc.) or if masks are not worn by both persons
at the time of the exposure. All other close contacts must follow the standard
protocol for when a close contact may return to school.
Next week, we will be hosting a virtual Book Fair. Please take a moment to read the information sent from our librarian, Mrs. Smith: 2021 SB Virtual Book Fair
Next week we also start Spring Sports! I told the students we were holding virtual Baseball, Softball and Track because we asked them to bring their Chromebooks to the sign-up sessions following announcements. If any of them believed me, I sincerely apologize. I am fairly confident that the coaches let them know I was joking, but hopefully no one was discouraged from signing up if they were interested. Here is the information from our Stony Brook Athletic Director, Ms. Oehley:
We are excited to be able to offer Baseball, Softball & Track this Spring to our Middle School Students. We were able to open Softball and Track to a limited number of 6th grade students. Baseball is 7th & 8th grade only, as it filled up quickly.
All participants must register on FamilyID.com and have an up to date physical (valid for 13 months) on file with Mrs. Hanly.
Students MAY NOT tryout and/or begin practice without a Current Physical & Registration!
Spring 2021 Athletics will be an intra-town middle school program between Blanchard and Stony Brook.
The Middle School season will begin on Wednesday May 5th and end on Thursday June 10th. The athletic user fee for this spring season will be $150.
ALL practices/games/meets will take place directly after school Monday-Thursday. ALL Track Meets & Softball Games will take place at Stony Brook. Baseball Games will alternate between Stony Brook and Forge Village Field. (students will need transportation to Forge Village Field).
The Game/Meet Schedules can be found on the Stony Brook Sport Page (as well as most of this information) https://sites.google.com/d/1YndS-b2I_iJK77WcgAh4WvXM7EaPIVKc/p/1N5wJfUa-JAO2CsyOMgqq5RrKe6he3zVp/edit
Masks MUST be worn at all times while on Westford Public School property. WPS Athletics will follow all Westford Health Department, MIAA & EEA Safety guidelines & protocols.
More information will come directly from sport specific coaches.
If you have any questions please reach out to Roberta Oehley, SB Athletic Director
Also, next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Earlier we shared the following information from our SBPTO:
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 3rd – May 7th
Teacher Appreciation continues from the Stony Brook School PTO. We are looking for help from our Stony Brook parent community to give our extraordinary teachers an amazing Teacher Appreciation Week May 3rd- May 7th. Check out our Sign-Up Genius at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c45adae29a5f9c07-donations
We would like to collect items for raffle prizes that the teachers can win. Please sign up for one of the suggested items or volunteer slots.
Or if you have a special talent that can create something as a prize, have access to something unique the teachers would love, or another idea in mind please contact us at stonybrookschoolpto@gmail.com we would love to hear from you.
Please drop off all items on or before May 3rd. Details are in the Sign-Up Genius.
Finally, this week’s notes from the clinic are brought to you by the Fancy Restaurant Group:
Chris shared information about the regulations that changed regarding quarantine in the school setting: These changes were put into effect on April 20th. The parent of any student who is sitting behind, in front of or beside a student who tests positive, will be sent notification that they have been exposed. But their child will not need to quarantine if it occurs in the classroom setting or on the school bus. The reason for this change was based on data gathered and as the school nurse and a contact tracer, I was thrilled to see this change. When the elementary students returned to school, we put many students into quarantine based on the 6 foot distancing. Not one of those students who we quarantined, tested positive. We will still ask you to monitor your child for symptoms but this will cause less disruption with your child’s studies.
In my last newsletter, information was shared about testing sites. Although CVS can be a convenient spot to test, recently we have had several cases of positive antigen test results at CVS followed up with a negative PCR test. PCR tests will always be our preference. There is misinformation that a PCR test takes days to come back: There are plenty of places who return their PCR results within 24 hours. The stop the spread site in Lawrence is one of them. This is the website: http://www.lawrencegeneral.org/about-us/covid-19-testing. We would also suggest you call your pediatrician if your child needs to be tested.
This is the chart about quarantine for students who are identified and do need to quarantine:
Please note that the only way to come out of quarantine after 7 days is a negative PCR or BinaxNow Antigen test on day 5-I do not not know any local place who does the BinaxNow Antigen test.
Continue to send in your child’s physicals if they are planning on participating in a Spring sport. The registration page mentions a “health and safety form”-I believe they are referring to the physical. Those are the documents I have on record. I will provide the coaches with a list of whose physicals are up-to-date and whose are missing. Your child cannot participate unless they have a current physical on file in the clinic (Current means within the last 13 months).
6th grade parents-please continue to send in your child’s physicals as well as their immunization records.
As always, call or email with questions or concerns.
Sue Hanly, MSN, RN, NCSN
978-392-6974 (direct line)
If you enjoyed your experience this week, please tell all your friends. If you didn’t, no need to waste any more time thinking about it at all :-)
Chris
Dr. Christopher Chew
Maitre d’
Stony Brook School
Westford SEPAC hosting May general meeting & basic rights workshop.
The Westford Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) will be hosting two events in May:
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 7PM - 9PM: Westford SEPAC General Meeting for May. Agenda items are expected to include an update from the SEPAC Board of Directors on planned workshops, information about the upcoming Board of Director elections in June, an overview of the results of the Winter 2020-2021 survey, and a discussion on how the return to in-building education is going for families of students with special needs.The meeting will be held via Zoom; please email sepacwestford@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
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
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.
Westford Summer Music Program - 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
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/
Join Westford Friends of East Boston Camps Walk on The Wild Side challenge and help raise money to refurbish Nashoba Lodge. The challenge will encompass the whole month of May to see how many trails or miles you can walk. Create a group with your friends or families and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Learn more about our event on our website westfordfriendsebc.org