Rainbow Connection...update! SB 6-11-21
Footage from today’s Grillaoke is not quite ready yet for its World Premiere. So, in the meantime, I will point you towards a wonderful classic that certainly supported this week’s theme. Not sure about you, but just hearing the banjo intro to the incredible song Rainbow Connection written by Paul Wiliams and Kenny Ascher always gets me and Kermit’s interpretation is simple perfection.
Translations via Google Translate
Some of the joy that comes with this specific end of the year includes the Gr8 students ability to return their WPS Chromebooks. Most are probably very happy to give back these delightful little devices that provided access for all of the remote aspects to this year. Why are they returning them while Gr6 and Gr7 are not, you ask? Well, all of the Gr8 students attending WA next year will be issued new Chromebooks at the beginning of school next year that will carry them through high school. Well, they will carry the Chromebooks not the other way around...hopefully. So, yes, if you are still following this, that means all of our Gr6 and Gr7 students will be keeping their Chromebooks over the summer so they can use them next year here at SB for their initially intended use of providing additional access to curricular resources and as a tool for creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking rather than the overall foundation of their connection with their teachers and peers that was necessary for a bulk of this year.
The students seemed to be very appreciative of the additional time at lunch today along with the shift in the menu that allowed Mr. McElhinney and I to supervise the grill and fill the campus with the inviting aroma of a cookout. At least no one sent their meal back.
Next week, our Gr8 students will have the opportunity to spend even more time outside than has already been happening. Thursday, the Gr8 teachers will facilitate the annual Field Day festivities along with a special refreshing treat. Friday, the SB PTO will take over the Basketball Court and field to create a Beach Themed Block Party Dance that is designed to celebrate the Gr8 students. With a DJ blasting music for a few hours it could certainly also entertain the Gr6 and Gr7 students while outside for lunch, but we will make sure they are not allowed to enjoy it ;-) If I chose the music, that would most likely be guaranteed. Thank you for all of the donations this week for the give away that the PTO has organized. The gift cards and donations are incredibly thoughtful and I know the Gr8 students will enjoy them.
On Monday, June 21, we will be holding our final event of the year for the Gr8 students. It will be their annual Awards Ceremony. We are happy to be able to bring the entire grade together in the auditorium for them to watch the presentation created in their honor by all of their teachers. The presentation will also Premiere on YouTube as we did last spring for families to watch together synchronously or enjoy at a later time asynchronously. What would this year be like if we didn’t use those two words again? The rest of the school will also be enjoying the presentation in their Advisories as the ability to come together as a school community for this event was a growing tradition that was unfortunately stalled last year. The presentation is scheduled to be posted at 8:00 am that Monday morning. We will send out a special link once it has been uploaded.
This week’s notes from the clinic are brought to you by Season 37 of Top Chef: School Cafeteria Tournament of Champions...
This past week’s temperatures caused an influx of students to the clinic. What was surprising to me was the amount of students wearing sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts and long pants! Please encourage your children to dress appropriately. Those on the third floor (7th graders) face especially warm temperatures. I cannot hand out ice to students to cool off-and I do not stock water bottles here. All students need to be carrying their own water bottles and are able to fill them at fill stations around the school. Many students are coming to school without water bottles: The water fountains have not yet been opened for drinking. Also, I do not have suntan lotion in the clinic. Staff are encouraged to bring students outside when it is feasible. Please have your child carry sunscreen in their backpacks and apply when necessary.
6th grade parents, continue to send in a copy of your child’s physical and immunization record. To date, I only have 42 complete records of an incoming class of 208. If your child has been fully remote, an up-to-date physical and immunization record is still required for 7th grade. Very often, records will come in that have just the physical or just the immunization record: I need both. If your child is having a physical in June, July or August, you can wait until you take them to the MD. But if they had a physical any other month prior, that is the one I am looking for! Early next week, individual letters will go out to parents of incoming 7th graders letting you know what is missing. It would be so helpful to receive some of these documents before the summer!
There have been no COVID cases in our schools over the past three weeks! Some updates about COVID vaccinations: Jeff Stephens, the Westford Health Director, shared that the LGH site on Pawtucket Blvd will be closed on June 15th. It will reopen on the 22nd at LGH-Saints Campus-Chest and Immunization Center. In terms of COVID testing, Cawley Stadium at 424 Douglas Road, Lowell has free testing 7 days/week. Appts can be reserved online at lowellma.gov/covidtesting. Walk-ups are also accepted. Hours are M, W, F from 8-2; Tues/Thurs from 12-6 and Sat/Sun from 10-2.
Have a good weekend. Call or email with any questions or concerns.
Sue Hanly, MSN, RN, NCSN
978-392-6974(direct line)
Congratulations to Ms. Woodbury's Advisory for having the 7th correct answer for today's Friday trivia: What is the order of the colors in the rainbow? I'm not going to give you the answer...ask the students :-). Ms. Woodbury's Advisory now has the honor of selecting the last Theme for the Year!!
We’re all in this together!
Chris
Dr. Christopher Chew
Grill Master
Stony Brook School
Westford
Westford SEPAC hosting Board of Directors Elections & General Meeting June 16 at 7PM.
The Westford Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) will be hosting our annual Board of Directors Elections for the 2021-2022 school year and General Meeting on Wednesday,June 16, from 7PM - 9PM. Per SEPAC by-laws, the nominations closed 30 days before the election date, and the following people have declared their candidacy
Chair: Ilene Tatroe
Vice-Chair: Jill Atkins & Melissa Mackey
Secretary: Vacant
After the elections are completed, the SEPAC will host an open forum to hear about challenges, successes, and concerns for the current and upcoming school year from attendees.
The meeting will be held via Zoom; please email sepacwestford@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
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?”. https://fcsn.org/masspac/home/about-masspac/what-is-a-sepac/
The Westford SEPAC also encourages community members to follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WestfordSEPAC or sign up for our mailing list http://eepurl.com/hxdwKj 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.
Nashoba Youth Hockey is very excited to share the return of our Summer Learn to Play programs. This year, we are offering both our regular Learn to Play program (for boys and girls born after 2012) AND a new program titled "It's Never Too Late To Learn To Play Hockey!"
This new program is designed specifically for boys and girls born between 2009-2012 who are looking to learn the game of hockey.
Following our summer program, we are looking to create teams of first-year players for the 2021-2022 season.
This is a unique opportunity and we are looking forward to helping to promote youth hockey in our community, bringing new kids to the rinks and #GrowingTheGame.
Registration for both our regular Learn to Play and our It's Never Too Late to Learn To Play are available on the NYH website!
Dates: Begins July 11th 2021 and runs for 6 Sundays
Time: 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Location: Skate 3 Ice Arena in Tyngsboro
Cost: $125
Westford Road Scholars Youth Biking and Pedestrian Safety Program:
The Westford Police Department and Girl Scout Troop 86145 reminds students how important it is to protect themselves and others while biking and walking this summer! In an effort to encourage students to safely bike, walk, and jog on town roadways this summer, the Westford Road Scholars Program rewards students who:
Wear a properly-fitted bike helmet
Use crosswalks
Bike with the flow of traffic
Walk or jog against the flow of traffic
Starting June 21, Westford Police will be on the lookout for students safely using town roadways. Officers will be thanking students spotted practicing safe biking and pedestrian habits with a Westford Road Scholars recognition certificate and gift card to a local restaurant or store!
The Westford Road Scholars Program is administered by Girl Scout Troop 86145 with Westford Police, and funded by the generous support of Cummings Properties and Westford Rotary. Contact the program at Westfordroadscholars@gmail.com or on Instagram @westfordroadscholars.
Westford Academy Athletic Director Jeff Bunyon has created a short informational video regarding registration for Fall sports at WA for any of Gr8 students interested in playing a fall sport:
WA Volleyball Clinic 2021
Students interested in participating in the WA Volleyball “No Fear” Clinic can access the registration information located in this link: WA Volleyball Clinic 2021