Friday, May 3, 2019

Good afternoon,

This morning during our Advisory Block our rising seniors (Class of 2020) met with a number of admission counselors from New England Colleges and Universities for a panel discussion. The Westford Academy Guidance Department welcomed representatives from Worcester State University, College of the Holy Cross, Middlesex Community College, UMASS–Amherst and Northeastern University. This was a wonderful opportunity for our juniors to hear right from the admissions counselors what “they are looking for” in each college applicant’s application.

Some of the items discussed:

• How to write the perfect essay?

• Do colleges look at my digital footprint?

• How will I be placed in my first year of college?

• Ask your junior about the panel..

Thank you to the Westford Academy Guidance Department for setting up this most informative panel. Thank you specifically to Guidance Counselors Tracy McLaughlin and Heidi Hider for being the M/C.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

JUNIOR COTILLION - Saturday May 11th:

Hello Class of 2020

We are super excited that next Saturday, May 11th, is your Junior Cotillion!  It is important to note a few specific details to help us all have great fun and a memorable experience!

Cotillion pictures will be held on the football field prior to attending Kimball Farm.  You can arrive at Westford Academy for 5:45PM (High heels will not be allowed on the football field).  Upon arrival at the WA Football Field, you will be asked to check in and you will receive a bracelet for Kimball Farm. (If there is inclement weather, the cafeteria will be prepped and ready to go as an alternate place to take pictures.)

In addition to the field and/or café for pictures, we will be opening the W.A. Courtyard, which is in beautiful shape and great for some group pictures.  

Please check in by the last name of the person that filled out line #1 on the form you turned in with your money.  If you are bringing a guest, you both should check in together under that name on line #1.

Please arrive at Kimball's by 7:00 PM.  There should be signs directing traffic to park in the back of Kimball's in lot A(near the zipline)for easier access for all of us.  

There will be trolleys and golf carts to get guests to and from the parking lot.

You must wear the bracelet you are given so you have access to all the activities (food, photo booth, driving range, mini golf, bumper cars, bumper boats, volleyball, lawn games, batting cages). These activities close to the public at 9:00PM, but you will have full access until 11:00PM.

The pitch and putt course is unavailable. The arcade and soaring eagle zip line will be open, but these are not included in your ticket price and will need to be paid for if you are interested in using those areas.

Dinner will be served from 7:00PM-9:00PM and ice cream will be served from 7:00PM-10:30 PM.

The Cotillion will end promptly at 11:00PM.

Please remember that ALL SCHOOL RULES APPLY. Even though we are off-campus, school rules still apply and will be enforced.  Please come to the cotillion ready to eat, dance, golf, play volleyball, and have as much fun as you can!  Finally, please remember, we will not be the only group of people at Kimball's that night.  This is your chance to show the world how truly great Westford Academy and all of its students are.  We know we need not remind you, but we must - please show proper respect to the grounds, Kimball's, and other guests on this great night. You want this to be a night you will remember!

If you have any questions, email Mrs. Croteau or Mr. Nidzgorski

Your advisors,

Mrs. Croteau and Mr. Nidzgorski

Graduating Students: Lunch Account Refunds

Please contact Colleen Wallace, Food Service Director, cwallace@westfordk12.us  for lunch account refunds for graduating students or to transfer funds to siblings. These requests should be made in writing (email) before the end of this school year. Additionally, there is a lunch fund in each school for students in need to which you may donate the account balance.

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.  The cost is $2.00 per announcement (10 announcements per family while they last.) Please see Mrs. Langille to purchase.

Graduation Details - June 7, 2019

Graduation will be held on Friday, June 7, 5:30 PM, on the Westford Academy Alumni Field  (First rain date: Saturday, June 8, 5:30 PM. Second rain date: Sunday, June 9, 2:00 PM) NO TICKETS ARE NEEDED and you may bring an many guests as you wish!  Our seating is first come, first served. We rent 1,800 chairs in addition to having the use of our bleacher seats. We have plenty of handicap parking and have a handicap/elderly drop-off area.  There will be people assisting with traffic flow and parking.

Graduation 2019: Remember All The Balloons Last Year?

The Westford Education Foundation is doing it again!   Send your favorite WA Class of 2019 graduates shiny maroon and silver Mylar balloons as a fun way to congratulate them on this big accomplishment.  Imagine hundreds of balloons decorating mailboxes and front porches of WA seniors throughout town on graduation day.  Balloons are just $6 each.  An array of six balloons to the same address (ordered at the same time) is $30. The deadline to order balloons is THURSDAY, May 30, 2019.  Go to https://www.westford.org/weffor the balloon order form. Be sure to include the grads' names, addresses, and your own personal note for each recipient, and WEF will take care of the rest. Balloons will be delivered the day before graduation. Questions? Contact Kelly Guthrie at kellyguthrie1@gmail.com.  Proceeds from balloon sales help WEF fund a wide variety of innovative educational and professional development grants for Westford schools, as well as two scholarships to graduating seniors majoring in education. The Westford Education Foundation is grateful for your support.

GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE: HOUSEHOLD GOODS DONATIONS DRIVE

The Robin Flynn Team at Keller Williams Realty will collect household items for the non-profit organization Project Home Again. Drop off will be Saturday May 4th from 11:00-1:00  PM at the Keller Williams office at 3 Lan Drive, Westford (behind the Bamboo Restaurant). Please contact Robin Flynn at 978-257-0677 or at robinflynn@kw.comfor additional information.  To learn about this charity and to see a list of needed donations, please visit www.phama.orgorwww.robinflynnteam.com.

SAT MATH Prep Course

Roudenbush is offering an SAT Math Prep Class taught by WA Math teacher Cory Roman.   The course will run for four weeks on Tuesday nights starting on May 7th, (6:30 PM - 8:30 PM) and costs $200 for Westford students.  For a full course description, and to register, please visit the Roudenbush's website:  https://www.roudenbush.org/events/sat-mathematics-prep-course

LAST NIGHT 2019

WA Last Night 2019 is the all-night, substance-free celebration for our Westford Academy graduating seniors, which will be held on Friday, June 7th 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, please see the Last Night website at www.walastnight.org

 Donations to support Last Night can be made online at www.walastnight.org/donateor please send your contribution to: WA Last Night 2019, PO Box 4079, Westford, MA 01886. All gifts are tax-deductible.

 Last Night Needs Volunteers! Help is always needed at the event, but you can also volunteer before the event. To volunteer in any capacity, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Cindy McKeen at volunteer@walastnight.org.  More information can be found on the Last Night website at www.walastnight.org

Digital photo deadline has been extended to Sunday, May 5th. Small group shots are preferred for the slide show (two to four people are best).  Larger group shots can be included in the Facebook group. Please be sure to label all students in all photos.  Please email your digital photos to ann.brazinski@gmail.com.

Westford Cultural Council Logo Contest 2019

Eligible Applicants: Current high school and college students residing in Westford, MA

Award: $200

Timeline: Open submission from: May 1 - May 31

Deadline: 6:00 PM on May 31, 2019

About the Westford Cultural Council: The Westford Cultural Council (WCC) is a volunteer-led committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Westford.  The WCC's mission is to enhance the quality of life in the Westford community by supporting arts, humanities, and sciences programs held in Westford, and by Westford artists, arts organizations, schools, and community organizations.  The Westford Cultural Council promotes the availability of cultural experiences in Westford through an annual grant awarded by Massachusetts Cultural Council. These grants can be used support a variety of projects and activities within Westford - including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, or performances in schools, workshops, and lectures.  More information about the WCC can be found at: https://www.westfordma.gov/627/Cultural-Council. 

How the Logo will be Used: The logo will become the property of the Westford Cultural Council and be used on the WCC website, social media accounts, press releases, and other promotional materials. Logo Design Contest Rules: All current high school and college students who are residents of Westford are eligible to participate. The logo submission must be in .PNG file format. Any software program may be used to create the design. The logo MUST include “Westford” and “Cultural Council” in the logo design. The logo should be versatile enough to be used on a website, brochures, stationary, press releases, etc.  Make sure the logo is recognizable when resized and will look good in black and white. No copyrighted or trademarked images should be included in submissions. Logo designs must be submitted to Westford Cultural Council no later than 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2019.

Voting Process: The members of the Westford Cultural Council will determine the winning logo design.  

All entries will be judged based on the following criteria: Artwork's relevance and clarity in design, overall creativity and concept, visual appeal / impact

Entry Information: The logo design should be electronically submitted on an 8.5x11” page along with the following information: Contact Information: Name, Westford mailing address, Email address, grade and school name, information about the logo design (Description of what the logo signifies or the meaning behind your design). Submissions should be emailed to WestfordCulturalCouncil@gmail.comby 6:00pm on Friday, May 31, 2019. Winners will be notified by August 31, 2019. 

It's That Time Of Year - 2019 Apple Blossom Festival

In less than 2 weeks, the 51stAnniversary of the Kiwanis Apple Blossom Festival will take place, Wednesday-Sunday, May 15th-19th.  All proceeds from the Festival are invested back into the community through the creation of 5 perpetual scholarships to graduating seniors at WA as well as support of Scout projects, WASA, WA Music program, Cameron Sr. Center cookout and Westford Historical Society.  The event would not be possible without the generous support of our volunteers.  It is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community as well as receive community service hours.  We are in need of volunteers in the following areas:

Parking:

            Wed., May 15th, 4:30-9:30 pm

            Thurs., May 16th, 4:30-9:30 pm

            Fri., May 17th, 4:30-10:30 pm

            Sat., May 18th, 7:45 am-10:30 pm

            Sun., May 19th, 11:30 am-5:00 pm

Installation/Removal No Parking Signs:

            Fri., May 17th, 3:00-6:00 pm

            Sat., May 18th, 3:00-4:00 pm

Cleanup:

            Sun., May 19th, 5:00 - 6:00 pm

We may be contacted at abfest.westford.kiwanis@gmail.com.  Thank you again for your generous support.

Westford Kiwanis

Have a great weekend! Jim Antonelli