Friday, February 18, 2022
Good afternoon,
February vacation has arrived. Many of us in education feel that the vacations come at just the right time! Our faculty and students have worked hard since the winter break and I can tell that everyone is looking forward to the vacation next week. I hope everyone takes some time to relax and have some fun with family and friends. If you are traveling, please travel safely.
Important news from the Health Dept.
The Westford Board of Health voted last night to lift the town wide mask mandate effective immediately.
Westford Schools will remain wearing masks until March 7th per the School Committee vote.
We are developing a press statement to get out to businesses today.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Rae Dick BS., CP-FS, Health Director, Westford Health Department
This past Wednesday we held an open forum for our students sponsored by our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team. Approximately 80-100 students were in attendance. The DEI Team provided an opportunity for students to share their thoughts and feelings regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Westford Academy. Many topics were discussed however, one topic was clear. Students felt there wasn’t enough communication to the student body regarding the most recent incident from the girls’ basketball game. I take responsibility for this lack of communication. I was very focused on providing information to the parent/guardian community and made a mistake by not sharing more with our young adults. Therefore, I have shared a communication with our students today through their Class Email. (Class of 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.) I am including a link below for all of you so that you can read what I have shared with our student(s). It is quite lengthy, because It covers many of the questions that came out of the student forum.
Message to WA Students:
https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/principals-corner/files/message-wa-student...
Please know that the Westford Academy Administration continues to work closely with the Wayland Administration in order to move towards healing.
School Committee Resolution Regarding a January 28, 2022 Incident at Westford Academy
On Monday evening, February 14, the Westford School Committee adopted a resolution in response to an incident where a visiting athlete was subjected to racist, disparaging, and insensitive comments from spectators during a January 28 basketball game at Westford Academy. The School Committee encourages you to observe the resolution's important message posted online at https://www.westfordk12.us/district/school-committee/pages/school-commit...
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
WPSS 2021 District Report Card
https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/principals-corner/files/2021-district-repo...
Updates from the Counseling Department:
Course registration for the 2022-2023 school year:
All students in grades 9-11 were given a course registration presentation on Friday, 2/11 during advisory. For all scheduling information including the step-by-step scheduling guide, Program of Study, a PowerSchool video tutorial and the slidedeck of the presentation from 2/11, please visit:
https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/counseling-department/pages/scheduling-202...
The PowerSchool portal opens for students to complete their portion of the course registration process from February 19th to March 4th. Counselors will be hosting drop-in hours to help answer any scheduling questions after break. To view their drop-in hours, please see: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hbfsNHcS2uKnfad3-9_Xxl3bFGYuDIXB_Jyx...
Parent/Guardian Presentation:
On Tuesday, 2/15, the counseling department hosted a "Life After WA" for junior families. You can find this presentation here:
https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/counseling-department/pages/counseling-pre...
Junior Job Shadow Day:
We are excited to announce that our Junior Job Shadow Program will officially take place this year on May 18, 2022. More information on this can be found in the Class of 2023 counseling google classroom!
WA Trustee & Community Scholarship Applications
Reminder for all WA graduating Seniors: The WA Trustee & Community Scholarship applications are due Monday, March 14 at 2:00 PM - NO exceptions or extensions. Only applications with a submitted timestamp from February 17 - March 14 will be considered. Detailed information and instructions for applying are on the WA website, under Counseling, Trustee Awards & Senior Scholarship Listing.
https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/trustees-westford-academy/pages/trustees-a...
SENIORS – Class of 2022 – Time to Order Your CAP, GOWN, TASSEL & SASH FOR GRADUATION ($36.00 "Essential Package")
Please use the link below to order your cap, gown, tassel, and sash for graduation. The $36 “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 to do so that include a variety of graduation attire and keepsakes. Please note that the deadline to order your graduation attire is February 18th (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://www.westfordk12.us/wa/principals-corner/links/updated-class-2022...
If you have any questions, please email: ScholasticSolutions@jostens.com
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY!
From: Gina Mustoe
To: Westford Academy Parents/School Community
Subject Line: ORDER THE 2022 YEARBOOK TODAY
The yearbook staff is hard on this year’s yearbook. Be sure to remember to order by 3/1/2022 to guarantee your yearbook this year. We will not be ordering any extras for selling at the end of the year. Order your 2022 yearbook at www.jostens.com or call 1-877-767-5217.
Working Papers
Working papers are requested online. If your student has been offered a job, please have them go on the Westford Academy webpage. Click on “For Students” and then click on “Working Permit – Ages 14-18”. https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/students/links/working-permit-ages-14-18
Have a great weekend a wonderful vacation!
Respectfully,
Jim Antonelli