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The Movie Loft...update! SB 10-19-18

Posted on: October 19, 2018 - 3:04pm

So, doing my best Dana Hershey or Siskel and Ebert I feel compelled to share with you three must see documentaries.  If you weren’t able to join the Westford Parent Connection on Wednesday for their screening of The Mask You Live In, I highly encourage you watch this important documentary which is available on Netflix.  It is the partner film to another crucial documentary Miss Representation.  They focus on the challenges that boys and girls face, respectively, with the incredible onslaught of negative images, comments and influences on a daily basis as they try to develop into adults. To round out the trio, this summer, I was blown away by the documentary on Fred Rogers: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?...not only because it immediately took me back to my childhood, but because I was astonished at how truly groundbreaking and complex this seemingly simple show was.  In my humble opinion, these three movies together are perhaps the most important films anyone working with children should see.

 

This past week, the Stony Brook School Advisory Council held our first meeting of the 2018-2019 school year.  We typically meet on the third Tuesday of each month from 2:30-3:30 in our large conference room. I would like to thank the following individuals for volunteering their time this year to help support us:

Kristi Bates

Kelly Doonan/ co-chair

Sarah Goucher

Nichole Janowsky

Mary Larkin

Eric Lipschutz

Justine Olander

Seema Pusalkar

Mary Anne Seraphin

 

Recently, a few concerns have been shared with me regarding the traffic before and after school and this afternoon I needed to stop a car from driving around the back of the building while the buses were still there.  It is a very long driveway and while I can’t control the activity at the top of the hill with Route 40, we need to exhibit caution while driving around the school. It seems silly to need to mention what should be common sense expectations, but here we go:  

  • Please be mindful of pedestrians and other cars if you choose to leave the line of cars either picking up or dropping off students.
  • If spaces are available and you choose to park your car, that is certainly not a traffic violation, but waiting for your child in the parking lot without parking in an actual parking space is also not appropriate.
  • Additionally, parents transporting students to early morning rehearsals for band, orchestra or chorus please remember that both the front entrance as well as the side entrance are available.  Many of you have been using the side entrance and the traffic back-up is growing. Please do not let the line of cars waiting to drop-off at the side entrance extend past the fork in the driveway as it blocks traffic and impedes others from accessing the parking lot or the front entrance.  If the side entrance is long, use the front entrance. Students can go in the front and walk down the hall to their rehearsal. If the build up continues and cars block the traffic from accessing the parking lot or the front of the building, we will have to discontinue allowing anyone to drop-off at the side door.  
  • In short, it is ok to ask your kids to walk a little bit further to get to the door and you don’t need to wait until they enter the building before you leave.  They will be ok in both respects. Consider it a little extra movement for them in the morning.


 

So, back to the theme of masks...Get your tickets next week for SBTA's Halloween Costume Party! Tickets are $7.00 and will be sold at lunches on Wednesday, October 24th and Friday, October 26th. Tickets will also be available at the door, but buy in advance to avoid waiting in line! The party is next Friday, October 26th from 7pm-9pm in the gym - snacks, costume contests, a rockin' DJ - you Stony Brook student does not want to miss this event!

 

If that isn’t ghoulish enough, in just a few weeks, Westford Academy Theater Arts will be presenting their production of The Addams’ Family.  Information can be accessed here: WATA Addam’s Family Info

 

If you would rather remember your middle schoolers finer moments, the Stony Brook Yearbook Club is now accepting baby pictures of 8th grade students for the yearbook. Please email a photo of your adorable cherub to Mrs. Schnare (mschnare@westfordk12.us) by 12/21/18.

 

Finally, if you know of any child attending public or private school, or who is homeless or has left school, and could benefit from a special education evaluation under Chapter 766 or educational services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please contact the Special Education Department in Westford (978) 692-5560 ext. 2111.  Every effort will be made to contact the parents to advise them of their rights under these laws. Thank you for assisting us in this important matter.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Chris

Dr. Christopher Chew

Principal

Stony Brook School

 


 

Westford Youth Lacrosse

 

Important registration information for Westford Youth Lacrosse can be accessed at this link: 2019 Spring Lacrosse


 

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!

 

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM FAME

Do you support music education in the Westford Public Schools? Has your son or daughter developed essential skills such as discipline, confidence, and a sense of belonging by participating in the nationally recognized music program that Westford offers?  If so, FAME, Friends Advancing Music Education, needs your help.

FAME is the primary organization awarding scholarships to graduating Westford Academy seniors in recognition of their dedication and commitment to the study of music and music-related community service during their high school tenure. In 2018, FAME awarded twelve scholarships at Senior Awards Night; twelve were awarded in 2017 and in 2016, twenty-one seniors received FAME scholarships!  Without volunteers, FAME will be unable to continue with this important recognition of Westford’s music students after the Class of 2020 graduates.

FAME meets for 1-2 hours on the first Tuesday of each month in room 108 at WA.  If you support music education and would like to see FAME continue to recognize your music student’s hard work and dedication, join our meetings and learn how you can help.  If you have any questions, or if you can’t attend the meeting but would still like to volunteer, email FAME at fame.westford1@gmail.com.  We are asking for a few hours of your time to support music skills that last a lifetime.