Friday, October 12, 2018 | Westford Public Schools

Good afternoon,

What a wet and dreary week for all of us! The good news is that the sun is shining this afternoon and the weekend ahead looks quite nice. I hope you get to enjoy some nice fall weather.

Next Wednesday, the Bamboo Restaurant is holding a fund-raiser for the W.A. Crew Team. It is the last restaurant fund-raiser for the team this fall. I hope that you will take the night off from cooking and venture out to our local friends to enjoy some great food. If you choose to order take-out or eat in, please mention the W.A Crew Team. This is the first FALL season for WA Crew and things are going well for the new WA varsity program.

"E-Cigarettes are your child's worst friend". August 9, 2018, Boston Globe, By Muara Healey

Vaping is a major conern for us at Westford Academy. We are asking for your support at home. Please talk with your son or daughter about the use of these products.

Healey states: "For 50 years, health advocates, state attorney generals and others have fought hard to reduce cigarette use," "Unfortunately, all of that progress is at risk thanks to e-cigarettes and vape pens". Healey goes on to say, "Just one cartridge used in these devices can contain as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes, not to mention the additional chemicals and potentially dangerous carcinogenic compounds"...it's highly addictive and a dangeroous combination".

We need to get ahead of this and alert our WA students that this is a dangerous road to travel!

We appreciate your support.-The W.A. Admninistration

OTHER ANNOUCEMENTS:

Student Dismissal Procedure

Have your student bring in a dismissal note (given to the attendance secretary Karin Brown who sits in the Guidance Department). OR: Call the attendance line at 978-692-5570 then press #1 to leave a detailed message. Have your student pick up their dismissal pass from Karin Brown prior to the dismissal time. Please note that a dismissal is NOT valid unless these steps are followed.

How to Participate in the 2019 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program

All students who have distinguished themselves by making a meaningful difference in their community by volunteering in the past year are invited to apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

To be considered you must:

1. Complete & submit the online application at http://spirit.prudential.comor http://nassp.org/spirit

2. Indicate Mr. Antonelli, Principal as the “certifier”

3. Upon submission, you'll receive an email with the Certification page and Supplemental Code. Email the "Certification" page to Mrs. Halloran at khalloran@westfordk12.usor bring it to Guidance by the deadline of Tuesday, November 6, 2018

For application and certification questions, or to request a paper application form, call 855-670-4787

Counseling Department - 9th Grade Health Classes

Between October 17 and 23 the counseling department will be visiting freshman health classes to discuss mental health. Students will discuss stress and depression in a program that consists of classroom lessons, guided discussions and tools to identify signs and symptoms of depression.

Boy Scouts - Troop 95

Girls and Boys ages 11 - 17 interested in joining Boy Scouts - Troop 95 will hold an information night at the United Methodist Church at 10 Church Street on October 25 at 7:30 PM on the lower level. Learn about the Boy Scout program - becoming “Scouts BSA” and how Troop 95 plans to work with the program. Then join us for Troop 95's Annual Feast in the Forest, Saturday November 3rd from 1-7:00 PM - Girls are especially welcome! MIT's Haystack Observatory, 99 Millstone Road, Westford, MA. See our website, http://www.westfordtroop95.com/for more information or call (978)-692-6935. Get to know the life of a Scout! Stop by and try stations for fire building, wood splitting, shelter building and cooking, and stay for the finale - turkey dinner cooked in the woods!

Have a great weekend. Jim Antonelli