Friday, November 15, 2019 | Westford Public Schools

Good afternoon,

We apologize for any confusion with the new cap/gown/and stole purchase. The link below should work and we have included a visual for you as well. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Class of 2020 – Ordering and Paying for Caps and Gowns

There is a two-step process for seniors to order their caps and gowns. The first step took place during Advisory on Friday, November 8th. The seniors (who were present during Advisory) were able to access the Jostens website and put in their name, height, weight, and contact information. The second step is to now go back onto the website and pay for their caps and gowns. Any senior who was not able to get on the website during Advisory OR was not present during Advisory can now go on the website and complete both steps - put in their information AND pay for their cap and gown.

Please note that the order deadline is Friday, November 29th! (The idea behind this deadline was for this to be completed early and therefore "out of sight out of mind." To check that off of your "senior year list." If anyone has an issue with the timeline or the new price of the cap and gown with stole, please reach out to me directly. If it is a financial issue I am willing to "scholarship" any family/senior student and it will be completely confidential. My email address is jantonelli@westfordk12.us.

Jostens Cap/Gown/Tassel/Stole Ordering Website

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productDetail/1065285/Westford-Academ...

Sample Graduation 2020 Cap/Gown/Tassel/Stole

https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/friday-email/files/sample-graduation-2020-...

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Cell Phone Use at W.A.

There has been increased use of cell phone calls out of Westford Academy during the school day. Cell phones are permitted on campus and texting between classes is acceptable. However, making calls from the library, the cafe, the PAC or from a classroom is not acceptable. If a student needs to make a phone call please have them go to the Main Office or see their respective Dean of Students. Parent/Guardians, if you could please discuss this with your child, we would appreciate your cooperation. Thank you! The Administration

Lights, Camera, Action!

Future SPORTSCASTERS! REPORTERS! COLUMNISTS! The administration is looking for students who are interested in filming Westford Academy Athletic and Co-Curricular Activites around W.A. This is School Improvement Plan Goal. We would love to post some sporting events and some other activities on Westford CAT, but we need help. Interested students please see Mr. Antonelli or Mr. Bunyon in the Main Office. $13 per hour for your service! No expereince required. We will train you!

Westford Academy Chorus and Orchestra

The Westford Academy Chorus and Orchestra will hold their Annual Winter Concert on Thursday December 12th at 7:00 PM. Student musicians are proud to present their work from this fall to our friends and family. The Tri-M (Modern Music Masters) Music Honor Society will also be inducting several new members. All are welcome. Tickets are $5 at the door. Students/senior citizens/WPS staff are free.

Sophomores - Class Rings

It’s not too late to order your class ring! Additional ring orders will be taken on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND during all four lunches in the cafeteria. A $75 deposit is requested when placing your order. Remember to design your ring or other customized class jewelry on-line at Jostens.com. Additional jewelry packets are also available in the main office.

School Trip to Greece: July 2020

Dear Families, I’m excited to announce that our Epic trip to Greece is “A Go!” we still have spots left to fill up our tour bus! Please attend a meeting to meet the students who are already committed and the chaperones December 16th at 8:00 PM in room 239 to learn more about this once in a lifetime program. Bring a friend to this opportunity to step outside the classroom and gain a new sense of confidence, experience a new culture, and see the world from a different perspective. This trip is open to all juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Juniors, this will be your last chance to participate in this incredible international education experience. Check out our tour enrollment page at www.eftours.com/2288650ff and click on “Stay in the loop”.

SEAL OF BILITERACY: Information Meeting

Do you have questions about the Seal of Biliteracy? On Tuesday, November 19th at 6:30 PM in the WA Lecture Hall (room 144), there will be an information meeting for parents of seniors who are interested in qualifying for this state-level recognition (please note: there will also be a meeting for students...students should stay tuned for more information via the morning announcements). After a brief overview of the Seal of Biliteracy Program, parents will have the opportunity to ask questions. For more information about the Seal of Biliteracy, please click the WA Seal of Biliteracy link (or search the WA World Language Department webpage) or contact Sharon Charbonnier, World Language Curriculum Coordinator, at scharbonnier@westfordk12.us.

Class of 2020 – Holiday Bazaar Silent Auction

This year the Class of 2020 will be holding a silent auction at the Westford Academy Holiday Bazaar on December 7th. They are looking for donations from the community for auction items. Examples of past donations include themed baskets, tickets to sporting events, signed memorabilia, gift cards to local establishments, gift certificates for goods or services for your personal business or businesses that you are affiliated with, etc. If you would like to donate to this event, please contact Wendy Croteau at wcroteau@westfordk12.us or John Nidzgorski at jnidzgorski@westfordk12.us. All donations should be turned in to the advisors by Wednesday November 27th. Thank you in advance for helping support the class of 2020!

Compost Driver Volunteers Needed

Would you like to help our schools compost their fruit & veggie scraps at Westford Academy? We need volunteers to transport bags of fruit & veggie scraps, twice-a-week, from the Crisafulli and/or Blanchard school over to Westford Academy, where students make compost. Volunteers can sign up even if they can only commit to transporting food scraps once or twice a month. Compost drivers get free bags of compost! If interested, contact Sharon at westfordcommunitycompost@gmail.com

Westford Parent Connection - Be One Of The First To See Intelligent Lives

Join the Westford Parent Connection and the Westford Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) on Tuesday, November 19, for a screening of the highly anticipated film, Intelligent Lives. Intelligent Lives stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities – Micah, Naieer, and Naomie – who challenge perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college, and the workforce. This is one of the area’s first screenings of this important film. Filmmaker Dan Habib refers to the documentary as a catalyst to transform the label of intellectual disability from a life sentence of isolation into a life of possibility for the most systematically segregated people in the country. The screening with then be followed by a panel discussion, with panelists Melanie Perkins (Intelligent Lives producer), Sophia Johannson (MA Families Organizing For Change), and Jenny Lawton (Westford Public Schools). For more information, go to https://intelligentlives.org/. This event begins at 7:00 PM at the Stony Brook Middle School, 9 Farmer Way, Westford, and is free and open to the public.

The Westford Parent Connection has its next book discussion group on Tuesday, December 12, at 10:00 AM at the J.V. Fletcher Library in the Mary Atwood Room. The book being discussed is Michele Borba’s Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed In Our All-About-Me World. A limited number of books are available at the front desk for check out. Registration is not required. Questions? Go to https://westford.org/wpc/ or contact Mary Anne Seraphin at mary.anne.seraphin@gmail.com.

LAST NIGHT 2020

WA Last Night 2020 is the all-night, substance-free celebration for our Westford Academy graduating seniors, which will be held on Friday, June 5th 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

Have a great weekend! Jim Antonelli