Smiling Eyes...update!SB 5-22-2020 | Westford Public Schools

It was amazing to see all of the smiling eyes stream into the building last week as students visited us to access their lockers. Ok, their priority might have been the lockers, but Mr. McElhinney and I were thrilled to see all of them and take even a brief moment to say hi and check in with each and every student. Physical distancing is certainly not easy or fun, but it really allowed us to connect with everyone personally over the 3 days. We were able to greet all 404 students and even try to make them laugh at some point. It wasn’t always easy to recognize many people at first with all of the face coverings, but once we did it was clear to tell when their eyes lit up indicating a smile was hiding under the masks. We reminded all of the Gr7 students to pace themselves so as to not to get too tired going up all three flights of stairs since it's been so long. Some of our Gr6 students actually turned the wrong way to get to their wing since so many were not used to coming in the front door and turning left...most enter through the back door from the busses and follow the crowds to the right...that was always entertaining. However, the most special part was to be able to connect with the many Gr8 students and have a chance to wish them well and remind them not to be strangers as they continue their adventure elsewhere. Fortunately, we were also able to remind everyone the school year isn’t actually over yet.

If any student was not able to participate in the window of time to access lockers this week, please contact me directly (cchew@westfordk12.us) and we can look at finding another opportunity before the lockers become inaccessible during our summer cleaning of the building. We will be having opportunities for students to still return books that they might have at home later through a simple drop-off process in June.

Next Tuesday, May 26 from 9:30-12:30, our Stony Brook Nurse, Ms. Hanly will be in the main lobby of the building to return inhalers, Epi-Pens, or other medications students have stored in the health clinic.

While the bells and whistles of a Gr8 Celebration will not be the same online, we are preparing to hold the Gr8 Celebration virtually on the morning of June 16, our last day of this school year. We have not determined the specific time as of yet and as soon as all of those logistics are set, we will be sharing that information with all of our Gr8 families. Additionally, WA Principal Antonelli is preparing a virtual tour opportunity for all of our Gr8 Students transitioning to WA next year. He will be making it available in the next few weeks. Mr. McElhinney and I were able to share a virtual information presentation and building tour with all of our incoming students for next year with the current Gr5 families last week. Other year-end activities and opportunities for all of our grades will be forthcoming. Our teachers are currently planning to see how we can best maximize our last week of school so that this school year doesn’t simply end with the click of a submit button.

Our teachers have been doing a wonderful job continuing to nurture positive relationships even in the face of digital adversity. Most recently we have had some collaborate to organize drive-by parades by students' houses to spread some sunshine, others have written letters to students, sent cards, made phone calls, and even played video games with students to keep those connections alive and personal.

Some of our students have begun creating Time Capsules to remember this unique period of time. All students that are not already participating are invited to join in this project. Our Librarian, Mrs. Smith will be collecting the slides to make a slideshow. This will be a document we can share with students in the future.

Here are the directions for the Time Capsule Project.

Before heading into the long weekend, I would like to share the following message and opportunity recently shared by Mr. Brian Roark, our WPS Health and Wellness Curriculum Coordinator:

Hello Families,

I hope this message finds you and your family well during this challenging time. I'm excited to bring this opportunity to our school community, but also the community of Westford. All are welcome to participate; families, students, staff and community members. I hope this project inspires us both individually and as a whole, to be mindful of our health and wellness during these times.

For directions on how you and your family can participate and contribute, visit Where in the World Will Westford GO?!.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing where Westford will go!

Typically, on this Friday every year, I share an announcement with the students and staff encouraging them to not simply take the day off from school on Monday, but to find time to pause and reflect on the stories of those brave women and men who put themselves in harm’s way to protect another person. This year that certainly grows beyond the original intent of the holiday created in 1868 honoring our fallen military as it is critical that we also lift up all of the health care workers, essential employees, safety officers, first responders, and other everyday members of our communities who have placed the care of another above their own during this pandemic.

My hope is that you are all able to enjoy a long weekend and find time to care for yourselves.

Chris

Dr. Christopher Chew

Principal

Stony Brook School

May 25-June 8

FAME will host the 'Music in Our Schools' Online Auction

Open to the Public. Online Only. Register Now to Bid.

Instruments, Cultural Arts, Entertainment and much more ....

All proceeds support music education and senior scholarships.

https://www.32auctions.com/FAME2020

Friends Advancing Music Education (FAME) is a non-profit all-volunteer parent organization that supports music programs in WPS K-12.

Despite our best efforts to recruit new volunteers over the last few years, we see the same parents volunteering their time and energy to fill critical leadership positions on the board and 3 out of 6 board positions will be vacant for '20-21 . Without new parent volunteers to fill key positions this year, FAME will face eminent dissolution of our non-profit organization. Interested in joining FAME, now is the time.

Email fame.westford1@gmail.com with questions about open positions or to join our final virtual meeting of the year on Tues, June 9, 7 pm.