The Flying Buttress...update!SB 10-12-18
He said, “buttress” (middle school snort).
Perhaps one of the great middle school disappointments arrives when students discover that the “flying buttress” did not originate as a professional wrestling move. On one level, it is always sad when that day arrives, but they are growing up now and at some point it is important for them to realize the world actually existed before they did. While the 8th graders continue their feudalistic adventures through medieval Europe, many of them are also examining the social hierarchies exhibited in S.E. Hinton’s classic The Outsiders. It all seems to be the dark ages for them as they struggle to understand how anyone communicated before Instagram and SnapChat. On a weekly basis, I marvel at the number of students who do not understand how to use a landline phone with a separate handset attached via chord to a keypad. Today, someone asked what does it mean to “leave a message”. I was concerned that if he asked that in the wrong company someone might try to drop a flying buttress on him.
For such a short week, there is actually quite a bit coming up in October...
If you missed the 15% September discount offer for the Yearbook, there is an October discount of 10% that can be accessed here: October Yearbook Flier.
The Fall Parent Newsletter from the Westford Challenge Success Teams is now available at the following link: October 2018 CS
As mentioned last week, there will be a Parent Information Meeting Monday, Oct 15 @ 6:30 here in the auditorium regarding the 8th Grade Washington DC Trip. It is not mandatory, but it does provide an opportunity for parents to ask questions and get information. All forms given out at the meeting will be made available on our website following the meeting, as well. Additionally, we are having our first Restaurant Fundraiser that same evening at Five Guys in Westford. Five Guys Burgers & Fries in Westford will donate 10% of sales on October 15th to the Stony Brook School Washington D.C. Scholarship Fund!
Wednesday, October 17, the Westford Parent Connection and the Westford Coalition for Non-Violence are sponsoring a screening of The Mask You Live In. More information is included below with other community announcements, but I want to add that I have seen the film multiple times with different groups of educators and it is an incredibly important film for anyone working to help raise our next generation.
Additionally, once again, I would like to share with you a message about a new opportunity coming to WPS:
Dear Westford Families:
We are writing to share some very exciting news with you regarding a special program that we are bringing to the Westford Public Schools this school year. The Peer Training Program, which is sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and its A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute, will provide our 6-12 schools with the opportunity to communicate and reinforce our core values, such as respect and civility, while giving our students a unique opportunity to lead the conversation.
The goals of the Peer Training Program are to:
Explore the meaning of community and why it’s important for everyone to feel that they belong to the community.
Examine the ways in which some school community members could feel left out and identify ways to be an ally.
Identify what members of the school community can do to actively promote an inclusive learning environment in which cultural, racial and other human similarities and differences are respected and valued.
Students now have the opportunity to apply to become a Peer Leader. Peer Leaders will take a leading role in facilitating activities and conversations in our classrooms. We are also seeking Peer Leader nominations from teachers and encourage those students to apply. Applications will be reviewed in October (due the 16th) and selections made by late November. Applications, dates and deadlines are posted on the program’s website: https://sites.google.com/westfordk12.us/wps-adl-awod
For more information, please reach out to our building program coordinator, Ms. Morris (kmorris@westfordk12.us) or the district program coordinator (contact information on the program's website).
Perhaps the most important piece of information is that Picture Re-takes are scheduled for October 25 in the event you are still upset with the outfit choice your middle schooler made earlier to archive this tremendous moment in time...
Have a great weekend!
Chris
Dr. Christopher Chew
Principal
Stony Brook School
Attend Film Screening To Combat Toxic Masculinity
Pressured by the media, their peer groups, and even the adults in their lives, boys and young men confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic relationships, objectify women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men. Join the Westford Parent Connection and the Westford Coalition For Non-Violence on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. for a screening of the important film, The Mask You Live In. The film follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity.
The film – which is 90 minutes long – will be followed by a Q&A with Matthew Swoveland, executive director at The Second Step. The Second Step partners with survivors to address the aftermath of abuse, while working to identify and eradicate the roots of domestic violence. The evening promises to illustrate how we, as a society, can do better to raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.
The event is being held at the Stony Brook Middle School, 9 Farmer Way, Westford, at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17. Due to the generosity of our sponsors, the event is free and open to the public. For more information about the film, go to http://therepresentationproject.org/film/the-mask-you-live-in/about-the-.... To learn more about The Second Step, check out https://thesecondstep.org/. For all other questions, go to https://www.westford.org/wpc/ or contact Mary Anne Seraphin at mary.anne.seraphin@gmail.com.
WESTFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO NEWS
No Fuss Fundraiser (NFF) – we still need your help (ahem… pleeeease send in your donation).
While the No Fuss Fundraiser kicked off with a bang, donations are still needed, but have slowed down to an uncomfortable crawl. If you have donated – thank you! If you have not had a chance – please do so this week by sending a check in to your child’s school ($50 per child or $80 per family are the suggested amounts). You can also donate via PayPal at https://www.paypal.me/westfordmspto/. If you have Venmo, let us know and we’ll set it up to accept your donation there. Tell your friends, like “hey Mary, did you send in your donation to the WMSPTO so we don’t have to send our kids out to sell wrapping paper or popcorn?”. J
We are almost to $16,000 with a goal of $25,000!
Academic Enrichment Programs (funded by NFF)
Your generous contributions enable us to fund Academic Enrichment Programs for our middle schoolers. Upcoming events (already covered by NFF funds) are:
Wed 10/17/18- Jack Gantos Author Visit (Gr.6)
Wed 12/05/18 – Ancient Egypt: Pyramids & Pharaohs (Gr.7)
Please visit the WMSPTO website for details about more events: https://westford.org/wmspto/index.php/arts-education-programs
If you have any questions or need more information about the WMSPTO, including volunteering, please contact mailto:westfordmiddleschoolpto@gmail, or anyone on the WMSPTO Board.
Also check us out on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/WestfordMSPTO/
Westford Parent Support Group
Sponsored by the Westford Health Department. This support group is a free drop in group, available to any parent who is concerned that their child might be struggling with a mental health issue. This can be something such as ADD, or or some sadness, lots of worries or perhaps
something more defined. This is a pro bono group offered for parents to come
together and share ideas, offer support to each other and realize that they are not
alone in our concern for our children.
For more information about meeting dates, times and topics please access this link: Parent Support Group 2018
Troop 95
Girls and Boys ages 11 - 17 interested in joining Boy Scouts - Troop 95 will hold an information night at the United Methodist Church at 10 Church Street on October 25 at 7:30 pm on the lower level. Learn about the Boy Scout program - becoming “Scouts BSA” and how Troop 95 plans to work with the program.
Then join us for Troop 95's Annual Feast in the Forest, Saturday November 3rd from 1-7 pm - Girls are especially welcome! MIT’s Haystack Observatory, 99 Millstone Road, Westford MA. See our website, http://www.westfordtroop95.com/ for more information or call 978 692-6935. Get to know the life of a Scout! Stop by and try stations for fire building, wood splitting, shelter building and cooking, and stay for the finale - turkey dinner cooked in the woods!