Friday, February 3, 2023 | Westford Public Schools

Good afternoon!

I hope all of you are bundling up and staying warm! Plenty for you to read this weekend. Check out the WA Counseling Newsletter. There is a plethora of great information!

News from the Counseling Department

WA Counseling Department February Newsletter

February newsletter here: https://www.smore.com/0t6ar

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National School Counseling Week

Next week is National School Counseling (NSCW) week starting Monday, February 6 through Friday, February 10. This year's theme is “Helping Students Dream Big." As part of our celebration for National School Counseling Week, the WA Counseling Department will be showcasing highlights about our program and fun photomontages on our Instagram (@WA_Counseling) each day during the week of Feb 6-10! In addition, we will have some treats in the counseling office for anyone that walks through our department! Lastly, we put together a small gift for each faculty and staff member at WA - they are all instrumental in the success of our program!

Attention Students & Parent(s)/Caregiver(s) - Class of 2024

There will be an in-school field trip for students on Wednesday, February 8th during 2nd block. Later that evening (6:30 PM), the counseling team will conduct an in person parent/caregiver presentation at Westford Academy in the PAC on the post-secondary process - all junior parents/caregivers are invited. We look forward to seeing you there!

Attention Juniors - Class of 2024 - Junior Job Shadow Program

The Junior Job Shadow will be held on Tuesday May 16, 2023. The job shadow program is a structured career exploration activity where a student follows an employee at their workplace to learn more about a particular occupation or industry. The purpose of job shadowing is to help students explore a range of career options. For this to be a meaningful experience, a student should shadow someone who works in a career that is of potential interest to that student.

An introduction to the job shadow program will be held during advisory blocks on February 15 and then again on March 8.

Once students have secured a site, they can fill out the job shadow agreement form here (due Friday March 24 at 2 PM): https://forms.gle/dLnS3PpcskMi5yGE7

2023 Intern of the Year

Our School Counseling Intern, Lauren Casaceli Abad is being recognized by the Massachusetts School Counselor Association (MASCA) as the 2023 INTERN OF THE YEAR! We were very lucky to have her and we wish her the best for her future endeavors!

Information regarding SCOIR

The counseling team at Westford Academy uses SCOIR, a comprehensive program that you and your child can use to help make decisions about the future, specifically narrowing down career interests and the college process. The counseling office uses SCOIR to communicate with students during the college planning process and to electronically deliver application materials to colleges. There is a career assessment available, as well as YouScience, which is a comprehensive career and aptitude test (which will be unavailable after this school year).

Most of our students are already registered. Today, if you are not already registered, you should have received an email inviting you to join Scoir as a parent. In your account, you will be able to view your student(s) profile, see their college list, conduct your own college searches, and suggest colleges for your student to consider.

SCOIR also provides parents with financial tools so that you can get a better sense of the cost of attendance at various colleges during the selection process.

If you have any questions, please reach out directly to your child's school counselor. Thank you, WA Counseling Department

Class of 2023 – CAP, GOWN, TASSEL & SASH FOR GRADUATION ($35.30 "Essential Package")

THERE WILL BE A LATE FEE FOR ANY ORDER PLACED AFTER FEBRUARY 10TH.

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 February 10th. (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:

Westford Class of 2023 – Jostens Graduation Page

Questions? Call Jostens at (888) 248-9084

or Email Jostens at jostens@scholasticsolutions.net

From the Yearbook Advisor

Please reserve your copy of the 2023 Westford Academy Yearbook! We will have some extra copies, but the only way to guarantee you get one is to pre-order it now.

Link to the publisher https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1065285/Westford-Academ...

Thank you for your support!

FAME (Friends Advancing Music Education) – Benefit Concert

Westford Public School music programs need your help! FAME (Friends Advancing Music Education) will present a Benefit Concert at the H.E. Fletcher Club, 11 Brookside Rd., Westford on Friday, February 3, 2023, 7:30PM, with rock & pop music performed by the Stackmusic Trio. Appearances by talented local teen musicians and other surprises are also in the works. Tickets $25; more information and links to purchase tickets coming soon at https://www.westfordfame.org/events. FAME is a volunteer, non-profit organization consisting of parents, teachers and interested community members providing advocacy, scholarships, fundraising assistance and tactical support to Westford Public Schools band, orchestra and chorus programs.

SAT Mathematics Prep Course at Roudenbush (100% online)

Instructor: Lori Ditto, Contact Information: dittotutoring@gmail.com

Roudenbush is pleased to offer an SAT/PSAT Mathematics Prep Course taught by Lori Ditto. This 100% online (via Zoom) SAT Mathematics Preparatory Course is designed to help students of all levels and abilities improve their scores on the mathematics sections on the SAT test. Students will not only be exposed to the mathematics curriculum covered on the SAT test, but they will also learn strategies for taking standardized mathematics tests. Students will take actual SAT practice tests where answers and methods for solving problems will be discussed. Cost $250 (8 hrs. of instruction).

Dates:

Tuesdays: 2/7, 2/14, 2/28, 3/7 (NO CLASS 2/21) 6:00-8:00pm

For more information and to register, click here or go to the Roudenbush website:

https://www.roudenbush.org/service-page/sat-psat-mathematics-prep-online...

--------------------------

Lori is a College Mathematics Professor who also taught Mathematics at Westford Academy. She earned her Undergraduate Degree in Chemistry with a minor in Business Administration from Merrimack College and her Graduate Degree in Education from Simmons College. Lori has been facilitating SAT Test Preparatory classes and privately tutoring students in math and science for a little over 20 years.

LAST NIGHT 2023

WA Last Night 2023 is the all-night, substance-free celebration for our Westford Academy graduating seniors, which will be held on Friday, June 2nd starting at 10:00 PM. With almost 100% participation, Last Night is a highlight for WA graduates. It takes over 300 volunteers and many, many generous donors to make this evening a success. Parents of all students from K to 12, are encouraged to volunteer. For more information on how to sign up to volunteer or to donate, please see the Last Night website at www.walastnight.org

Westford Preschool

Westford Preschool will open the application process on February 1 for the school year 2023-24. In the event that interest exceeds our capacity a lottery will be held in March. Please visit 2023-24 preschool for more information.

Have a great weekend!

Respectfully,

Jim Antonelli