Friday, October 18, 2019
Good afternoon,
In the spirit of Challenge Success I am sharing two presentations that will be taking place at Concord Carlisle High School this month. The Concord Carlisle School System is dealing with the same concerns as the Westford Public Schools Systemt; stress in students and the use of vaping devices. Our recent professional development was connected to understanding trauma induced stress and creating trauma sensitive classrooms. We are working hard in Westford to foster resilient learners and to help students manage the world we live in today. In fact, our professional development for the year will be focused on this topic. The plan is to provide teachers with strategies to suupport all students.
CCHS Parents Association presents Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience
On October 24 at 7:00-9:00pm in the CCHS Auditorium, the CCHS Parents Association will be hosting the movie screening of the follow-up documentary to SCREENAGERS: Growing Up In The Digital Age (www.screenagersmovie.com). This film examines the science behind teen's emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age. A post-movie discussion and Q&A will be held by LookUp.live (www.lookup.live). FREE tickets are available CLICK HERE
“What We Know About Teen Vaping Today: THC, CBD, Nicotine” the Center for Parents and Teachers invite you to learn about this vitally important issue. Come see actual devices on display. Monday, October 28, 7 to 9 PM at CCHS.
PRESENTED BY Dr. A. Eden Evins, founder and director of the Center for Addiction Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. To help with planning and learn more details, please pre-register HERE
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Compost Driver Volunteers Needed
Would you like to help our schools compost their fruit and veggie scraps at Westford Academy? We need volunteers to transport bags of fruit & veggie scraps, twice-a-week, from the Crisafulli and Blanchard schools over to Westford Academy, where students make compost. Compost drivers get free bags of compost! If interested, contact Sharon at westfordcommunitycompost@gmail.com
Westford Youth Basketball
Westford Youth Basketball is now accepting applications for high school student coaches for our rec basketball teams this season. For more information or to apply, please go to westfordhoops.com and select H.S. Coaches Application 2019-2020 from the menu. The deadline to apply is Thursday, October 31, 2019.
Friends Advancing Music Education
Friends Advancing Music Education is a non-profit 501(c)(3) all-volunteer parent organization that supports music students, teachers, and programs of Westford Public Schools K-12. Founded in 1983, FAME believes incorporating music into a child's education cannot be understated. There is a heap of incontestable research showing that an education rich in music improves students' cognitive function, boosts IQ, focus and overall academic performance. FAME activities would not be possible without the efforts of committed volunteers throughout our community. Join us to help keep the nationally-renowned WPS music program a treasured resource for this and future generations of student musicians. You can support WPS Music & FAME by attending school concerts, purchasing tickets for one of FAME's fundraising events, donating money to support the scholarship fund, or join FAME volunteers by committing 2 hours a month. Find out more about FAME and how we can work together to support OUR music students! Monthly meetings are on 1st Tuesdays, 7pm in Room 108 at Westford Academy. In order for FAME to continue to thrive, we need your ideas--and your help putting them into action. Thank you in advance for your support! Contact us by email fame.westford1@gmail.com
Ghosts & Goblins
WA PRIDE is looking for a few more high school students to participate in the Ghosts & Goblins program! In case you are not familiar with Ghosts & Goblins, it is a mentoring program in which WA students (Ghosts) meet with elementary school children (Goblins) one-on-one for an hour after school to help them with anything they may need help with (for example; homework, social skills, or just someone who will give them undivided attention).If interested, you will be paired up with a student and meet one-on-one with them on the above dates/times. We are looking for responsible students (male or female) who will be able to make all of these meetings. Students who participate in this program will earn community service hours and will feel great about what they’re doing to help these young students!Schools that we are in need of more Ghosts are Day School & Robinhson. For more information or if interested please contact Mrs. Jozokos by email (mjozokos@westfordk12.us) - or students may see her in room 121 at WA.
Calendars for each school:
TUESDAYS 2:30-3:30PM
(DAY SCHOOL)
October 22, 29
November 5, 12, 19
***no meeting 11/26 (conferences)
December 3, 10, 17
***no meeting 12/24 & 12/31 (vacation)
January 7, 14, 28
***no meeting 1/21 (WA Midterm exams)
February 4, 11, 25
***no meeting 2/18 (vacation)
March 10, 17, 31
***no meeting 3/3 & 3/24 (PD & conf)
April 7 & 14 (LAST DAY)
19 total meetings
WEDNESDAYS 3:15 - 3:55PM
(ROBINSON)
November 6, 13, 20
***no meeting 11/27
(half day)
December 4, 11, 18
***no meeting 12/25 (vacation)
January 8, 15, 29
***no meeting 1/1 (vaca) &
1/22 (WA midterm exams)
February 12 & 26
***no meeting 2/5 (half day) & 2/19 (vacation)
March 4, 11, 18, 25
April 8 & 15 (LAST DAY)
***no meeting 4/1 (half day)
17 total meetings
MILLER/DAY HALLOWEEN PARTY - 2019
Saturday, October 26, 2019 6:00 -7:30 PM, Stony Brook Middle School. We are in need of high school students to run games in the cafeteria, help with craft stations, and chaperone the dance area for K-5 elementary students. We also need help with set up and clean up. Earn community service hours and have fun! We will need students to come at 5:30 PM that evening. Please email westford.miller.pto@gmail.com if you are interested and/or have any questions. Thanks!
Have a great weekend. Enjoy the fall colors! Jim Antonelli