Friday, December 16, 2022 | Westford Public Schools

Good afternoon,

I hope all of you had a great week! Last night the Visual and Performing Arts Department hosted the annual holiday concert. It was outstanding. It was very nice to have people back in our building and filling our 850-seat auditorium! Our vocalist and musicians, as well as our faculty work very hard in preparation for this big event. Last night was a testament to their hard work and dedication. The night was perfect and it ended with a spectacular holiday sing-a-long of some holiday classics. It was fun and festive. Thank you to Andrea Mejia, K-12 Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum Coordinator and our amazing teachers, Karen St. George, Adam Shekleton and Eric Duback.

In addition to this wonderful concert the Visual and Performing Arts Department hosted the annual recognition of our Westford Academy Calendar Artists earlier yesterday morning. Busy day for our VPA Department! Thirteen extremely talented and gifted artists were recognized for their artistic contribution to this the 2023 calendar. This calendar contest started four decades ago and is still running strong. See the link below for the 2023 calendar. Congratulations to the artists and their families. If you would like to purchase a 2023 calendar, please stop by the Main Office at Westford Academy. Or contact any one of our art teachers at W.A. The calendars are $10.

2023 Art Calendar Drawings

https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/principals-corner/links/2023-wa-art-club-c...

One more week before the vacation. Nest Friday, December 23rd is a half-day of school. Please know that the expectation is “no homework” for students over the break. It is called a vacation for a reason. Students have been working hard all fall and the December vacation is a time for students to get some rest and to slow things down. The faculty knows not to assign any homework over the vacation. In addition, no assessments can take place on the day we return to school. We hope families take the time to have some fun and to relax over the winter break.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

From the Counseling Department

Junior Timeline and What’s Coming Next

During the Advisory block, counselors visited the junior homerooms to talk about planning for life after high school and what that will look like over the next few months. We provided them with a handout that will also be posted in their Counseling Department Google Classroom. Please encourage your junior to share the document with you! Junior timelines are also available on the WA Counseling website under the “Timelines” link. The juniors also watched a video on how to prepare for midterms featuring some WA faculty! The video is also posted in their Google Classroom.

Senior Capstone

During Wednesday’s Advisory, the senior class learned about the Senior Capstone Experience that takes place for five weeks during the seniors’ fourth quarter. Seniors can pursue a community service or internship experience, write a research paper or create a research-based project. The presentation is available under the “Senior Capstone” tab of the “School to Careers” section of the WA Counseling website. Parents and Guardians- we need your help to create additional opportunities for our students! Do you work with an organization in town that could use some volunteers to help with a website or project? Do you have a spot for an intern at your company? Does your organization have a to-do list that never seems to get done? Perhaps an intern would be a good fit! Please complete the Site Development form (https://forms.gle/P4DmgvjcVuqfrLXcA) and we’ll try and match a senior with your company/organization. Please feel free to reach out to school counselors Mrs. Lynch (slynch@westfordk12.us) or Mrs. Hider (hhider@westfordk12.us) with any questions. Thank you!

WA Students - Study During Exam Week at the J.V. Fletcher Library

Get together and study at the library! The Meeting Room will be open for drop-in study hours during exam week. Extended library hours from 9-10pm are for students only. Pizza will be served at 6pm each night. All students must be promptly picked up at 10pm!

Hours:

Tuesday 1/17, Wednesday 1/18, & Thursday 1/19 from 2pm-10pm (no re-entry after 9pm)

Monday 1/23 from 2pm-9pm

Pizza, snacks, coffee & tea will be provided every night!

Generously funded by the Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library.

Please email jdyment@westfordma.gov if you have any comments or questions.

SENIORS – Class of 2023 – Time to Order Your CAP, GOWN, TASSEL & SASH FOR GRADUATION ($35.30 "Essential Package")

Please use the link below to order your cap, gown, tassel, and sash for graduation. The $35.30 “Essential Package" includes the minimum that you will need to wear to the graduation ceremony. (Please note that the website will only refer to a cap and gown, but the tassel and sash will be included.) There are other graduation packages you can purchase as well (using this link) should you wish, that include a variety of graduation attire and keepsakes. Please note that the deadline to order your graduation attire is December 16th (A late fee will be charged for any order placed after this date.) The graduation cap, gown, tassel, and sash will be delivered to WA and given to you just prior to graduation.

LINK to Order Graduation Attire:

https://bit.ly/Westford_2023_Jostens_Graduation_Page

Questions? Call Jostens at (888) 248-9084

or Email Jostens at

jostens@scholasticsolutions.net

From the Westford Academy School Counseling Department

Junior & Sophomore students received a Google Form link today to select career speakers they'd like to meet with at the Career Exploration Breakfast which will be held on January 11. We have secured approximately 60 speakers for this event and students will have the opportunity to learn about two different careers. Every effort will be made to place students in two of their top three choices for this mandatory event. The deadline for students to submit their selections is Friday 12/16 at 7:35 AM. After this deadline, students will be assigned on a space available basis.

Midterm Care Packages

The Class of 2023 wants to make sure you're prepared for midterms! Please consider sending your child (all 4 grades) a midterm care package to help them get organized and energized. The package contains school supplies (notecards, post-its, pens, pencils, highlighters), refreshments (Smartwater, Gatorade, Rice Krispies treat, granola bar, and M&Ms) along with a personalized note from the buyer. Midterm care packages will be delivered a week before exams during your child's first period class. If you would like to order a midterm care package, please email 2023ghosts@gmail.com. The cost is $15. Orders are due no later than December 23rd. Thank you!

AP Proctors for this Spring

The WA Counseling Department is looking for AP Proctors for this spring. AP Exams will run from May 1 - May 12. There is a proctor stipend per exam. Proctors must have graduated from high school and not have any children currently taking an AP course/exam at WA or any other school. Proctors may not be employed part or full time at a test preparation company, and proctors may not participate in any coaching activity that addresses the content of secure College Board tests. If interested or for more information, please contact Leah Birnkrant (lbirnkrant@westfordk12.us) and Brian Doherty (bdoherty@westfordk12.us), AP Coordinators.

Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy Program

Westford Academy is proud to participate in the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy program. The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded at graduation to seniors who demonstrate literacy in two or more languages, a partner language as well as English. Please note that the partner language does not have to be one that a student has studied in the Westford Public Schools. The Seal of Biliteracy Program encourages students to develop their language skills and expand their cultural understandings to be better prepared to enter the workforce and contribute to a global society. Please see the attached letter https://www.westfordk12.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif5181/f/uploads/seal_of_bi... for more information regarding the program and for information about how seniors can apply to take the qualifying language exams. Students must begin by filling out the ap for more information regarding the program and for information about how seniors can apply to take the qualifying language exams. Students must begin by filling out the application form located on the World Language Department page on the Westford Academy website by Friday, December 16.

J. V. Fletcher Library - Young Adult Advisory Board

The J.V. Fletcher Library is seeking interested middle and high school students to join their new Young Adult Advisory Board. Members of the YAAB will serve the library as representatives of teen library users. They will work together with the YA Librarian to make improvements to the YA space, suggest additions to the collection, plan and run events, and provide service to the Westford community and beyond. Active members are eligible for signed community service hours. Visit https://westfordlibrary.org/teens/ya-advisory-board/ for more information, and e-mail Jess at jdyment@westfordma.gov if you have any questions.

From the Yearbook Advisor

Class of 2023 Senior Parents: Due to popular demand - I have extended the deadline to complete the PDA (Parent's Display of Affection) ads in the Yearbook to January 6, 2023.

Please login and create an account to complete your ad.

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/ybAdDesigner/1065285/-/20220830225112...

Also - it is not too late to purchase your copy of the yearbook. Here is the link for our school.

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1065285/Westford-Academ...

Thank you for your support and Happy Holidays to all!

Have a great weekend!

Respectfully,

Jim Antonelli