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"The position of the earth is changed by the weight of a tiny bird resting upon it.” —Leonardo da Vinci
 Principal NotesOn behalf of the faculty and staff at the Blanchard, I would like to express my appreciation for the lovely luncheon that you provided for us on Wednesday. The library tables were decorated with the vibrant colors of spring and set an inviting ambiance for a relaxing lunch, a treat that we don't often enjoy. Thank you for your contributions to the delicious repast that we enjoyed.
8th Grade Breakfast
As the end of the school year approaches, plans for many annual eighth grade celebrations and activities are being made. The students will celebrate the end of their middle school years at Blanchard with a class trip to Canobie Lake Park on Friday, June 15th. Traditionally, the eighth graders have started this day with a breakfast at Blanchard. Parent volunteers would like to continue this tradition and have offered to provide the breakfast for the eighth grade on June 15th. To cover the cost of the food, they have suggested a donation of $5.00 per student by June 1st. Students can turn donations in to their homeroom teachers. Your support is much appreciated! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tina Vanaria(kvanaria@comcast.net), Kim Chevalier(thechevaliers@aol.com), Angela Waszak(acwaszak@gmail.com).
AM Drop-Off Safety Compromised
We are becoming concerned about parents dropping off students in the main parking lot rather than at the drop off point by the side of the building. That drop off point was set up so students would have a safe walk to the entrance by walking on the sidewalk rather than crossing the parking lot and the bus line. Please note that we have teachers on duty to ensure your children's safety and depend on your cooperation to help enforce our safety procedures. Let's work together for the safety of your children.
Grey Ghost Basketball Clinic
The WA Girls' Basketball program will be running their annual summer clinic from Monday, June 25 through Thursday, June 28, 2012. The afternoon session for girls entering grades 6, 7, 8, and 9 runs from 12:00 - 3:00 pm. Please download a flyer from the Blanchard Middle School home page or the WPS home page. Please email Coach Russ Coward at rcoward@westfordk12.us with any other questions you might have. Girls' BB Hoop Flyer Girls' BB Approval Form
Yearbook
Blanchard's 2011-2012 Yearbook is ready to be reserved! Our publisher allows for yearbook orders to be placed directly over their website. This year's yearbook will cost $25.00. Students and parents who select to purchase a copy can do so by going to the Blanchard yearbook website CLICK HERE, and following the hyperlinks to the purchasing page. Reserve now so you ensure there is a copy available for your child. Last year the yearbook SOLD OUT!!!!!
Westford Middle School PTO News
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon - Thank you to all those who donated their time, cooking skills or financial support towards this worthwhile event for our teachers/staff.
MSPTO Board - Open Positions for 2012-2013
Our Middle School Parent Teacher Organization relies upon it's many volunteers to provide and support the numerous events, fundraising activities, and arts & education programming that contribute to an inviting school environment for our children. Please consider volunteering for one of these open positions for next school year ...Webmaster, Fundraising Coordinator, and Chairperson(s) for each of these fundraisers; Magazine Drive, Yankee Candle, Apparel Sale. Please contact Chris Ross / chrross.ma@gmail.com or Kristy Rodman / kristyrodman@comcast.net with any questions about these positions. Any person interested in a position, should plan on attending the next WMSPTO general meeting on June 6th at 4:00 PM.
Westford Education Foundation and Parent Connection Updates
Graduation is right around the corner. Have a Westford Academy graduating senior this year? Send some shiny, maroon and silver Westford Academy mylar balloons to your favorite graduate! The Westford Education Foundation is selling balloons for $5 and will deliver them right before graduation. Congratulate your Class of 2012 member in style. Deadline to order is May 20. Go to the WEF website for more information and for an order form.
Mark your calendars for the Big Event 2013: Champagne And Roses. The WEF Big Event Benefit Gala will be held Saturday, April 6, 2013. Save the date! Go to http://wefweb.org/ for more details about this and other programs. Thank you for your support.
Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment begins on Tuesday May 1st and ends on Friday June 29th. Any parent requesting to have their child attend an out of district school in Westford needs to have filled out a request form here at Central Office. Requests are not accepted after that date. Families are notified of the status of their open enrollment requests after registration in August when final student enrollment numbers are determined. Additional information about Open Enrollment and the Superintendent's letter can be found by following the link.
Food Service
Our Food Service Department has a new web site equipped to handle all their food service information, such as menus, forms, and nutrition information.
School Council
The final School Council meeting of this year will be held on Tuesday, June 5 at 4 PM.
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Wednesday to Friday, May 23 to 25
- Grade 8 Trip to Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, May 23
- PTO Enrichment, Grade 7 Author Visit
Monday, May 28 Tuesday, May 29
- Spring Chorus Performance, 7 PM, BMS Auditorium
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Tuesday, June 5
- 7 Green Field Trip to MFA
- School Council Mtg, 4 PM, Office Conference Room
Wednesday, June 6
- 7 White Field Trip to MFA
Thursday, June 7 Friday, June 8
- BMS Band/Orchestra Field Trip
Friday, June 15
- Gr 6 Field Trip
- Gr 8 Breakfast and Canobie Lake Park field trip
Monday, June 18
- Last day of school for students, Dismissal at 11 AM
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PARENT COMMUNICATION
Parent Conference Scheduling
Within every 6-day cycle, teachers' schedules include a block of time during which they are able to schedule conferences with parents. These blocks provide parents and teachers with on-going opportunities to meet in a timely manner to resolve concerns related to student performance and/or behavior. All members of your child's teaching team are available to meet with you during this time or you may prefer to have a conference with only those teachers who can most directly address your concerns. In an effort to facilitate conferencing with teaching teams during the school year, we have developed an online sign-up format. Please use this resource to schedule appointments. Our secretaries will call or email you to confirm your appointment. Please use the following link: Weekly Parent Conference Sign-Up
Important Date Changes
For Eighth Grade Parents
Type to Learn
Blanchard Middle School students have access to this online keyboarding program thanks to a generous grant awarded to Special Education Teacher Jill Hartmann and Instructional Technology Specialist Ken Bogacz through the Westford Educational Foundation as part of the Fall 2011 Innovative Grant Program, October 28, 2011. Click Type to Learn for the information and installation page.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
To keep up with after school activities, visit Activities on our school website.
We encourage all students to find an activity that will cultivate a current or new interest. There is only one activity fee, $50, that will allow your children to participate in several clubs or activities. Activites such as theatre and chorus are included in this fee. Most after school clubs meet from 2-3 PM on late bus days. Keep up-to-date on the activities of these clubs by visiting After School Clubs.
 The calendar of events is available at the Westford Parent Connection (WPC) website. The WPS is one of the community partners that brings important information about raising children and current health and safety issues to families in Westford. Another resource to access for themes about substance abuse and risky behaviors is  .
TEEN CENTERS
Teen Centers will be changing this year. Please check in her for updated news about Teen Centers. Teen Centers are sponsored by the Westford Middle School Teen Center Committee and are chaperoned by parent volunteers. Parents are invited to volunteer for Teen Centers of any grade level. If you would like to be added to the Teen Center email list to receive Teen Center updates, or would like to volunteer please contact Debbie Carter at westfordteencenter@comcast.net, 978-692-9673. Volunteers, who are needed to help chaperone this student event, must have a current WPS CORI on
file.
We are happy to inform you that the Teen Center will be returning to the middle school again this year. The dates are as follows:
- March 23, 2012 – 6th Grade Teen Center
Parent volunteers are always needed. Please contact Debbie Carter at westfordteencenter@comcast.net, 978-692-9673. Volunteers, who are needed to help chaperone this student event, must have a current WPS CORI on file. Teen Centers will be located at the Blanchard Middle School.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO
Fundraising Campaigns, just a few reminders....
- Magazine Drive: Don't forget that out of town friends and family can support our schools by ordering magazines on-line at www.aphearst.com. Enter school code WC3679. Magazine subscription renewals count towards prizes too!
- The Invest In Your Child fundraising campaign is ongoing with 100% of the proceeds benefitting our children and schools. WMSPTO accepts monetary donations now and throughout the school year. Visit www.westford.com/mspto to download a form and send in bottom portion with your donation to the school office in envelope marked WMSPTO / IYC.
HEALTH WATCH
As part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Regulation 105 CMR 201.000 "Head Injuries and Concussions in Extracurricular Athletic Activities" students and parents are required to complete one of the free online training videos provided below. By signing the Westford Public Schools Athletics Release Agreement, parents and students acknowledge their completion of this regulation. (A completed certificate does not need to be turned in with other forms.)
Required Free Online Training Video Links for Parents/Students - Please complete one.
For 8th Grade Parents/November 2011
Letters will be coming home with 8th graders who are currently taking health informing parents of the last topic this year, Human Sexuality. If you have any questions about this unit of study please contact Mrs. Humphrey, the health teacher. If you prefer that your student not receive these lessons, please send the exemption form at the bottom of the letter back to school.
For 6th Grade Parents/November 2011
Letters will be coming home with 6th graders currently taking health informing you of upcoming Puberty lessons. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Humphrey, the health teacher. If you do not want your child to receive these lessons this year, please return the exemption form at the bottom of the letter.
Make Up Flu Clinics for Westford
These clinics are by appointment only and are being held at the Town Hall, 55 Main Street, 2nd floor on the following dates and times: Thursday, December 8 between 2 and 4:30 PM or Friday, December 9 between 12 and 1:30 PM. Call the Westford Health Department at 978-692-5509 to sign up. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent. Please bring your health insurance information, as the town can seek reimbursement from insurance carriers. There is no charge for the flu vaccine, regardless of insurance status. Both injectable and nasal spray forms will be available at these clinics.
Energy Drinks Advisory
It has recently come to our attention that a product called “Zip Fizz” was being consumed by some of our students at school. Zip Fizz is a powder substance sold in bright colorful tube containers and is added to water to become an energy drink. Energy drinks such as Monster, Red Bull, and Zip Fizz are marketed under the guise of being a healthy drink, and “are purported to boost energy, decrease fatigue, as well as enhance concentration and mental alertness.” Most energy drinks contain a mix of vitamins, amino acids, herbal substances, and caffeine. While these substances may not appear to be dangerous on the surface, most have reported side effects including irritability, jitteriness, nervousness, irregular or rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, upset stomach, and
insomnia. The caffeine content in these products can range from 80 to300 mg- many times more than a can of coke, which contains about 35mg. Zip Fizz contains 100 mg. The American Academy of Pediatrics states: “Caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents..
We wanted to bring this to your attention so that you can educate your child about the ill health effects of energy drinks. Helping your child understand the marketing schemes used by these companies is a great first step in their decision to steer clear of these products. Our goal is to encourage life style choices such as a healthy diet, plenty of water, exercise, and 8 hours of sleep as the best way to promote wellness. You can help us out by educating your child about these drinks and making sure they are not brought to school.
News From the Clinic
Mrs. Pabreza and Mrs. Carpenter want to let you know that in January they will be mailing home the results of your child's height, weight and BMI screening that was conducted last October. Please remember that this is not a diagnosis, but simply a screening and one data point of your child's overall growth. This information is strictly confidential and is shared only with each child's parents. They are also including a parent newsletter about our Signs of Suicide program which is taught during the seventh grade health class. They are including this newsletter because it was not available to us when we mailed the information about SOS earlier in the year, and they would like to save on postage. Thank you so much for your understanding.
Healthy Kids Coalition
Our school system is collaborating with the Westford Healthy Kids Coalition in an effort to bring forth positive, healthy suggestions for enhancing physical fitness, healthier food options and overall student wellness in our schools. Superintendent Olsen is asking that you devote a few minutes to completing the survey that was developed by the Coalition. We will provide the results of this survey on our website once it has been completed. Thank you for your cooperation. Westford Healthy Kids Coalition Survey.
HANDBOOK
TRANSPORTATION
Dee Bus requires that changes in transportation be requested directly from their office. The number to call if you want to notify the bus company about a change in your child's transportation routine is 978-392-8639.
Late Bus Passes
There is a fee to take the late buses that run on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3:00 PM to accommodate after school activities. The fee for this school year is $50.00. If students have purchased a regular bus pass, they can use that pass to get on the late bus. They do not need to purchase a separate late bus pass. Any student planning to ride the late bus must have purchased a late bus pass by September 26. Students without late bus passes after that date will not be allowed on the late bus.
Late bus service begins on September 13.
IMPORTANT LINKS
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