Friday, May 19, 2023
Good evening!
One more time with all of the details about the prom and pictures. Please know that nothing is mandatory for prom pictures. It’s just about tradition.
The Class of 2023 Senior Prom is this weekend and unfortunately the weather does NOT look good for Saturday. Seniors will be traveling to The Royal Sonesta in Cambridge, MA for a night of dinner and dancing.
Below are some updates for you regarding the afternoon festivities. WEATHER PERMITTING.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: We need to make a call by 1:00 p.m. on Saturday in order to cancel the Westford Police Department detail for the Westford Town Common if there is rain forecasted. PLEASE check your emails on Saturday. It takes a lot of coordination for prom pictures on the town common. You will see the details below, should we have a window of decent weather to have the pictures outside. We all hope there is a window between 4:30 and 5:45 pm for us to meet at the town common.
However, if it looks like a consistent rain from 4:30-5:45 p.m. we will offer Westford Academy as an alternative location for prom pictures. We will open the cafe, the main gym, the bell lobby and the stage in the Performing Arts Center for photos. I know this is not ideal, but it is a backup plan that we have had in place for years.
IF the weather gives us a window of good weather (no rain) please see read the details below:
• Prom-goers, parents, family, and friends- please join us on the Westford Town Common beginning at approximately 4:30-5:45 pm for pictures. A wonderful tradition! (NOT mandatory, but a nice tradition!)
• Students taking the free transportation, please look for the Buckingham Buses or see Mr. Twomey on Lincoln St. Mr. Twomey has the list and will direct you to the free bus. Buckingham Bus will pick up prom-goers at the Town Common, but will drop off after the prom at Westford Academy. Approximately 11:45 p.m.
***IF pictures are at W.A., the free transportation will pick up at the high school.***
• The Prom begins at 7:00 p.m. and ends at 11:00 p.m. Please leave the town common or W.A. by 6:00 p.m.
****Please DO NOT PARK on LINCOLN STREET - the WPD may ticket and may tow your vehicle.****
• Lincoln Street will be closed to regular traffic. Lincoln Street will be used for all of the limousines. There are approximately 35-40 limousines/buses being staged side-by-side on the street that afternoon.
****Parking is available at the Westford Town Hall, the Roudenbush Community Center, Cameron School, the JV Fletcher Library and there are some handicapped spaces in the Police Dept. parking lot.****
• Please park in the marked spaces on Connell Drive ONLY. Individuals that park outside of the marked space on Connell Drive WILL receive a citation from the Westford Police Dept.
• We ask for parents, family, and friends to allow the prom-goers to walk from their respective limousines to the Town Common before starting pictures. This is a safety issue. Lincoln St. will be hectic.
• The Westford Police Department will have four detail officers on site to assist the W.A. Administrative Team with traffic. IT WILL BE VERY BUSY.
• I recommend getting to the Town Common early if you have a handicapped family member.
• Please stay off of the streets surrounding the Common and use the crosswalks. The safest location is for everyone to be located on the Common.
• REMINDER: Handicapped-parking spaces will be available in the Westford Police Department parking lot.
• Last but not least. Parents/Guardians/Caregivers please remind your student to make good decisions Saturday evening. The portable breathalyzer machine will be with us and utilized if we have reasonable suspicion to believe your student is under the influence of alcohol. Serious ramifications may follow, (i.e. loss of Senior Week Activities, and even the loss of Graduation.)
I look forward to a great night. Praying for a window of rain free weather! I hope all of our students have a wonderful time.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Senior Morning Awards
Senior Morning Awards - For those of you who received invitations, the date is accurate - the event is on May 31, 2023 at 8:45 AM. However, that is a Wednesday, not a Thursday. Please accept our apologies for the error.
Hello Classes of 2024 & 2025
Starting next week, we will be closing the student parking lot due to our graduating seniors returning back to WA for their senior week activities.
The student parking lot will be closed starting on Tuesday, May 23rd - Friday, June 2nd. Monday, May 22 is the last day to park here until after graduation
The student lot will reopen on Monday, June 5th.
Please make alternative arrangements during this time as no students will be allowed to park next week and the week after. Much appreciated.
Dean Bob Ware
Senior Capstone Exhibition- Friday, May 26, 10 am - 12 pm
The Westford community is invited to come to the Senior Capstone Exhibition on Friday, May 26 from 10 am - 12 pm in the Main and Auxiliary Gyms. Come see what the seniors have pursued during their Capstone Experiences!
Coffee With the Counselors
The WA counseling department will be hosting a Coffee with the Counselors series for parent(s)/caregiver(s) periodically during the 2023-2024 school year. We hosted our first Coffee with the Counselors last week and it was a huge success!
What are you interested in learning more about? Please fill out the survey below:
https://forms.gle/54hexZbBqNeUuiFg7
Bus Pass Registration 2023-2024 School Year
https://www.westfordk12.us/district/transportation
https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/principals-corner/files/bus-pass-registrat...
Graduation Photos taken by Legacy Studios – June 2
Legacy Studios will take photos of each graduate as they are accepting their diploma at the graduation ceremony on June 2nd. All photos taken will be uploaded to Westford Academy’s Legacy photojournalism event site. Below is the link and code for your convenience. The images will be available approximately 7-10 days after graduation for review and purchase.
Site - https://entry.imagequix.com/legacy/
Code - 3542E23
Graduation Announcements:
Graduation Announcements are being sold in the main office!
These are not graduation tickets. They are simply nice announcements to serve as a keepsake for graduation or to send to family members and friends. The cost is $2.00 per announcement (10 announcements per family while they last). We accept checks (made payable to Westford Academy, memo section “Graduation Announcements”) and cash. Please see Mrs. Langille to purchase.
From the Yearbook Advisor
The yearbooks have shipped and we will be doing distribution on May 26 at noon (immediately following the Capstone presentations). Please plan to be there!
And if you have not already ordered your copy, please use this link to do so ASAP. https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productDetail/1065285/WESTFORD-ACADEM...
Thanks so much for your support!
To the Parents/Guardians of Graduating Seniors
If your graduating senior has money left on his/her lunch account, you may request a refund or a transfer of funds to a sibling. Please contact any of the following Food Service Department employees in writing:
Requests must be in writing and should be requested by June 9th of this school year. Requests received after June 6th cannot be processed until September, 2023.
Roudenbush – College Essay Workshop
Need help with the college essay? Roudenbush is offering a college essay workshop co-led by an English teacher and a guidance counselor. The class meets virtually the evenings of June 27th and 29th, with opportunities for additional one-to-one conferencing outside class hours to review and revise. Your child will complete the class with a college essay ready to send! Visit the Roudenbush website for more information or to enroll!
https://www.roudenbush.org/service-page/college-essay-writing-workshop?r...
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, to donate, or to buy a raffle gift off our Amazon wish list, please see the Last Night website at www.walastnight.org. Seniors may also register for the event (May 15th deadline), submit photos for the event (April 30th deadline), and sign up for a Graduation VIP Package Raffle at this site.
SAT Math Prep Cram Course
The Roudenbush Community Center is offering an in-person SAT Math Prep Cram Course on Thursday, June 1st in preparation for the SAT on June 3rd Students will take actual SAT practice tests and will learn strategies for taking the SAT. Please go to the Roudenbush website for more information.
SAT Math Prep Cram Course
https://www.roudenbush.org/service-page/sat-math-prep-cram-course?referr...
Westford Academy Composting recruiting students for 2023-24
Are you a student interested in environmental health and sustainability? We use school food scraps as a resource to make vital compost for our community. Every day after school (20-30 minutes) our team members take turns composting. Once-a-month they work as a team to turn and manage compost piles in our compost bins, located near the running track. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply to join WA’s Compost Team. Seniors must be available to work during Capstone, on through to the end of regular school. Our Compost Team members share exclusive, free access to two green parking spaces at Westford Academy.
If interested please apply before June 22, 2023, at this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KL7l6a57Qy2ec8CG6j6vIzOvLtLFkQmkEEnW2dP...
Sharon Chew
WA Composting Director
westfordcommunitycompost@gmail.com
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!
Respectfully, Jim Antonelli