Friday, January 13, 2023
Good afternoon,
A long weekend ahead with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 16, 2023. Beginning on Thursday, January 19, 2023 will be the first set of mid-year exams for our students. Students have missed taking the mid-year exams for years due to COVID-19. The last time we had mid-year exams, our seniors were freshmen. Exams will be worth 6% of the students' mid-year average and the same goes for final exams. In the past, mid-year exams were worth 10%, however we felt that was unfair at this time due to the fact that so many students have not taken high stakes exams due to the pandemic.
The goal of mid-year exams is to check for understanding, to see what students have learned in the first semester. The goal is not to trick students! All of the material that is on the exams has been taught in the first two quarters. The administration has been very clear with the faculty that if material was not presented and explained, it is not to be part of the mid-year exam. Finally, as our students progress though high school mid-year exams are important in order to prepare them for post secondary education. Whether our students head off to a college or university, or the military or the work world there will be times when they are faced with high-stakes situations and we want to make sure that our students are prepared to face those challenging times.
For most of you as parents, guardians, caregivers, this will be your first time with mid-year exams at Westford Academy. It gets very busy at drop off and pick up time. Please remember, that the school runs the same as it does every other day. The buses pick up and drop off at the same time, the cafe is open for breakfast and lunch. Teachers are available during the day to provide extra help or to answer questions. Being a parent of three Westford Academy graduates, my recommendation is to let you student(s) stay at school and study with their peers. There is no need to pick up your student at noontime each afternoon. This, of course, is your decision. Lunch is served from 12:00-12:30 each afternoon and there are plenty of places for students to study. The cafe and library will be open. The cafe is a more loud location for groups, and the library is a quiet study area. Again, please be advised that it will be very busy at drop off and pick up time, both at noon and at 2:00 PM. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Below is important information we shared with all Westford Academy students. This was sent out by our Deans through the class GMail accounts.
MID-YEAR Exams : Thursday, January 19th - Tuesday, January 24th
Dear Westford Academy Students,
Please be present and on time during the mid-year exam schedule. Students who are called in as absent to an exam may be required to provide a doctor’s note to approve the excused absence. Mid-year exams are to assess what students have learned throughout the first semester. All of this material has been taught to you and you should be prepared to take each assessment. The additional reason for mid-year exams is to prepare you for life after Westford Academy. Whether you choose to go to college, the world of work, or the military there will be “high stakes” assessments or situations that you will be faced with as you proceed into your future. Building resilience starts now and resiliency is very important in all aspects of life. Good luck on your exams. Proper preparation will make things easier. Begin to prepare now and you will do well.
• Students who have an unexcused absence on the day of the Mid Term will not be allowed to take a make-up exam unless administrative approval is given.
• Students who miss a mid-year exam due to an unexcused absence shall receive a “0” for the assessment.
•Students are expected to stay for the entire testing time and not leave during the exam.
• Students are expected to schedule their make-up exams with their teacher during 12:30 - 2:00 PM on the days of the mid year exams schedule or during the make up block on January 24th. If there are still outstanding exams then the student shall make up their exam with their Dean on the dates below.
Make Up Schedule
Friday, January 20th @ 2:00 - 3:30PM - Room 108
Wednesday, January 25th @ 2:00 - 3:30PM - Room 108
Thursday, January 26th @ 2:00 - 3:30PM - Room 108
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.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
English Department
We are seniors in high school at Westford Academy doing an impact project for our English class. We want to make a change because we realize that we are so fortunate to have the life we do. Many people don't have the luxury that we do such as clean water, healthcare, houses, education, and food. Around the world there are about 1 billion children who lack the basic nutrition they need. Children are also twice as likely to live in poverty than adults. In addition, children in the poorest households are twice as likely to die. For this reason we want to donate to SOS Children's Villages. This charity helps children in poverty all over the world get an education and healthcare. It also will provide them with clean water and healthy meals. We have created a GoFundMe account which we can accept donations on. We would love for people to spread the word so we can make a greater impact on these children’s lives. Thank you for your support of our project and for helping to make the life of impoverished children better!
Here is the link for the GoFundme
https://www.gofundme.com/f/f5vkj-sos-childrens-villages?utm_source=custo...
New State Behavioral Health Help Line
The Department of Mental Health has launched a new Behavioral Health Help Line
that people can call or text at 833-773-2445. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 200 languages. The help line can help individuals and families navigate the behavioral health system and access treatment, including mobile crisis services. District and school leaders are asked to please share this resource with staff, families, and students, where helpful. For more information, please see the FAQ
https://www.masshelpline.com/faq/
. Anyone with questions or concerns about the help line can email the help line director at Mio.Tamanaha@mass.gov.
Career Exploration Breakfast
This week the Counseling Department hosted the Career Exploration Breakfast for the junior and sophomore classes - 640 students! We want to thank the 46 career speakers for spending their valuable time with our students!
Class of 2023 - Cap, Gown, Tassel & Sash for Graduation
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. 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
WA Athletic Boosters - 8th Annual Teamworks Trivia Night
The WA Athletic Boosters invite you to our 8th Annual Teamworks Trivia Night on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at the Westford Regency. $250 per table (10 people per table) when purchased in advance, or tickets for $30 each. Join us for raffles, silent auction, cash bar, and lots of friendly competition! All adults welcome, doors open at 7:00 pm.
To reserve a table or purchase a ticket, email Nicole Keefe at
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...
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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.
Westford Academy Spring 2023 Sports Registration is OPEN!
All student-athletes MUST register on FamilyiD prior to try outs and turn in an UP-TO-DATE physical to Danielle Mendonca in the main office prior to ANY participation. Reminder, physicals are valid for 13 months. Activity fees are collected AFTER teams are selected. This can be done online through MySchoolBucks or by check. Checks are to be given to the coach. Sports offered this season are: Baseball, Crew, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Boys Volleyball.
Tryouts are tentatively scheduled to start on Monday, March 20th, 2023. Contact the coaches for more information.
FamilyiD: https://www.familyid.com/westford-public-schools/westford-academy-athlet...
SAT Math Prep Class
The Roudenbush Community Center is offering an in-person SAT Math Prep class beginning on February 16th in preparation for the SAT's that will be administered at Westford Academy on March 11th. Students will take actual SAT practice tests and will learn strategies for taking the SAT. Please go to the Roudenbush website for more information.
https://www.roudenbush.org/service-page/sat-mathematics-prep-course-feb?...
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
Have a great weekend!
Respectfully, Jim Antonelli