Fold in the cheese...update! SB 8-28-2020

As we are getting closer and closer to the new start date of the 2020-2021 school year, I know that many people are still anxiously awaiting updated information regarding the learning pod distributions and changes to student schedules.  As a reminder, if you did not submit a survey response to select your preference of participating in the Hybrid model or the Remote Learning Academy, your children are being placed in the Hybrid model and will be balanced into one of the two learning pods based on the geographic breakdown throughout the district.  If you do not wish to select that model and you were unable to submit a survey, please reach out to our guidance department.  On Monday, all of our faculty and staff will be returning to the building to begin the 10 days of professional development before the students begin classes in mid September.  The schedules, pod distribution and updated supply lists will be finalized once we are all able to collaborate together next week. Not only does each school need to balance and schedule students according to the pod distribution, but we need to coordinate with the other schools throughout the district with whom we either receive or send students so that we are not inadvertently creating conflicts for families.  Our goal is to make sure that we can share out all of the finalized information the week of September 7.  

As far as our supply lists go, those currently on our website were uploaded back in the spring before we knew what this fall was going to look like.  Since students will not be utilizing lockers at all this year, we are looking to pare down as much as possible so there is not an expectation for them to carry a lot of things in their backpacks regularly.  We will send out specific notifications when they are all updated.

The elementary schools recently started a #MaskUp campaign to help our youngest students prepare for expectations of mask wearing this fall.  Westford Academy and both middle schools wanted to join in the process and encourage all of our students to be positive role models for the younger students in their families and in the neighborhood.  Many might find the idea of practicing wearing a mask not necessary but the reality is that it has a significant impact on the effectiveness of both our ability to communicate as well as our ability to maintain focus if we are distracted by the discomfort of our mask, distracted by another person's inability to correctly wear the mask, or in my case, simply the constant fogging up of my glasses which can distract both me and the person talking with me :-)  I have also discovered a new phenomenon which I am calling mask beard which is in essence quite similar to the challenge of hat head...but I digress.  Mask-to-School is a great reminder to all of our students to pace themselves and prepare to be wearing a mask during all of our Hybrid in-person morning sessions. Mask-to-School (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B98PT2N-pOg_5NzxzBCLgNA2-mIjd8r7/view?usp=sharing)

Last June, we shared that we would be conducting summer reading this year. So, as the weeks begin to fade away please remember students entering grades 6, 7, and 8 should select and read at least one book from their grade level list, then be prepared to complete an assignment on that book when classes begin again in two short weeks.  I was able to expand my summer reading list this year and feel grateful that I was able to secure a copy of one of the most widely read books of the summer.  If you have not read Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi, I could not recommend it more highly. 

There are a lot of different feelings about the start of this upcoming school year. Some of our district staff did a wonderful job collaborating with Westford CAT to create this video that captures some of our students voices at this time: 

https://westford.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=7f7a316d-794b-4975-ae7e-3d699dd6bc57&nav=recent

Additionally, for those you planning to utilize bus transportation this year, the following information was shared with us from the business office:

Bus registration is open and live.  This year we are using MySchoolBucks.com as the registration and payment portal. Passing along a link below to bus passes and code for "Pay Online" for the website.

Masks are mandatory on the bus for all K-12 students

Bus fees for September through January are $150 for the first student, $300 for two students, $400 for three or more students. The family cap is $400.

More information is available on the district website: https://www.westfordk12.us/district/transportation

Link to bus registration Grade 6

https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?ref=ZZHCKVF90G01ERQ_ZZJGWKDLTJ0O9Q2

Link to bus registration Grades 7 & 8

https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?ref=ZZHCKVF90G01ERQ_ZZJULKDECT0Y571

Another great video was created this time specifically with our districts’ younger bus riders in mind, but I think you will all find it quite enjoyable...wait for the special cameo at the end: DEE BUS VIDEO for 2020-2021 School Year

Finally, if you are a fan of the Canadian Comedy Schitt’s Creek, you might really appreciate the timely humor in this meme created by a teacher using tiktok...it gave me a much needed chuckle this week: Fold in the cheese, teachers

If you have made it this far in the message, please also take a moment to read the meeting announcement from the WMSPTO before you hit delete :-)

Cheers,

Chris

Dr. Christopher Chew

Principal

Stony Brook School

WMSPTO Update

The Westford Middle School PTO is holding their Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 3rd at 7:00 pm via Zoom. All parents and teachers are welcome to attend. We will be electing board members, discussing a transition to Blanchard and Stony Brook PTOs under the WEPTO umbrella, reviewing the budget, and discussing new opportunities for the 20/21 school year.

If you are interested in joining the board or have questions, please contact us at westfordmiddleschoolpto@gmail.com .  Thank you.

Topic: WMSPTO Annual Meeting

Time: Sep 3, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 880 6224 1293

Passcode: 536200

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88062241293?pwd=eUh5Y1B0VHBNc2QvZUxFdjdBZmNUQT09

To call in find your local number here: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keCU97JvAu