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“Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.”
 Principal NotesThis week Mr. Lussier and our very own Choruses took us on a magical mystery tour of Beatles' songs, which was the theme of the winter concert. The singing was upbeat and the audience was swept away by the energy of the singers and the accompanying band members. Mr. Lussier solicited a little help from his friends and those of us in the audience recognized the instrumentalists as Mr. Merkle (better known as our Tech Ed teacher), Mr. Ruhmann (aka Math teacher), and Mr. Sacco (Mrs. Sacco's husband, on drums, and perhaps Ringo incognito?). I especially enjoyed being transported to my own yesterdays in middle school. We loved it, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Last Call
Please follow this link and provide us with your input and feedback about Parent/Teacher Conferences. Changes in parent/teacher conference formats will have their greatest effect on our parent community. We would like your input on any decisions that will be made in this area. Thank you in advance for any insights you can offer.
Math Placement Meeting Reminder
Each year our Math Coordinators hold meetings for parents to communicate the math placement process in grades 5 - 8. They are also including 8th grade parents in case they are interested in the math sequence for next year’s 9th graders. Parental feedback indicated that the meetings were very informative and provided a better understanding of the placement process. In an effort to provide on-going communication with parents, we plan to offer these presentations again this year. The presentations will include information on the curricular differences between the standard and accelerated math programs, as well as placement criteria. Characteristics of successful accelerated math students will also be discussed with parents. The meetings will be held at two different times but the presentations will be the same on both
nights.
Thursday February 2, 2012 7:00-8:00 pm Stony Brook Middle School
8th Grade Transition
Mark Lucey, Director of Guidance, will be hosting a parent information night on Wednesday, February 8th at 6:30 PM at Westford Academy for any parent who has questions regarding the transition. Parents can ask questions of the guidance department, or seek additional info here: http://wa.westfordk12.us/pages/WestfordWA_guidance/index.
Eighth grade parents are encouraged to begin reviewing the 2012-2013 Program of Studies now available on the WA website. Students will be receiving scheduling instructions and materials during Advisory on Wednesday, February 2.
WMSPTO News ...
The Middle School PTO is in need of parent volunteers of 5th, 6th and 7th graders for the 2012-2013 school year! Many of the current board members are parents of 8th graders and will be moving onto WA next year. Getting involved in the PTO is a great way to learn more about your school, get connected with other parents, and make a significant impact on your child's educational experience. Come share your ideas, talents and time with us at our next meeting on February 29th @ 7 PM. Interested parents should contact WMSPTO President, Chris Ross for location of the meeting via email / chrross.ma@gmail.com or visit www.westford.com/mspto for more info.
Just a reminder that the 'Invest In Your Child' (IIYC) Fundraising Campaign is on-going with 100% of the proceeds benefitting our children and schools. WMSPTO accepts monetary donations anytime throughout the school year. Visit www.westford.com/mspto to download a form and send in an envelope to your school marked WMSPTO / IIYC.
Westford Academy Athletic Boosters "Hot Jazz" Night
The Westford Academy Athletic Boosters are hosting a "Hot Jazz to Chase the Winter Blues Away" event on February 11th at the Chelmsford Elks on Rt. 110 in Chelmsford. The event will run from 7:30-11PM, and will include "Hot Jazz Music" provided by Tony Salvo's Jazz Band (Tony is a Westford resident.), appetizers and desserts, and a silent auction. Tickets are $25 per person...and there is a cash bar. All are welcome! Anyone who needs a reason to get out of the house and enjoy a fun evening with friends should plan on joining us!!
Tickets will be sold at WA on Friday evenings at the Varsity Basketball games, or you can purchase them from a Booster member you may know, or by emailing SMHanly@earthlink.net or WABoosters@msn.com. All proceeds will benefit the WA Athletic Boosters, a 502(c)(3) organization that provides scholarships to graduating senior athletes, hosts the annual Senior Athletic Banquet, purchases all athletic banners, letters & pins, and purchases needed athletic equipment that is not covered under the athletic director's budget. (please see www.westford.com/waboosters for more information.)
Save The Date!
The Westford Education Foundation cordially invites you to the seventh-annual Big Event Benefit Gala. Join us Saturday, March 24, 2012, at 7:00 PM for a semi-formal reception with an abundance of gourmet passed appetizers, mouth-watering international food stations, and delectable sweets. Come mingle and dance, bid on some auction items, bring your friends and make new ones, all while raising money for innovative educational programs in Westford.
The Big Event Benefit Gala will again be held in the beautiful Pavilion Ballroom, Saints Vartanantz Church, 180 Old Westford Road, Chelmsford (a short two-mile drive from Westford Center). Live entertainment will be provided by District 21. Dust off your dancing shoes and check out the band’s website: http://www.nightshiftent.com/content.php.
Tickets for the Big Event Benefit Gala are $100 each, and are limited. Only 250 will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. (No reserved tables required.) As in the past, the Westford Education Foundation is holding the Big Event Raffle in conjunction with the reception. The grand prize is $2,000 cash, and the second-place prize is $500 cash. Raffle tickets are $25 each, and winners need not be present that evening to win. Only 500 raffle tickets will be sold. In addition, a number of fun luxury items will be auctioned off that night.
Proceeds from the seventh-annual Big Event Benefit Gala will be used to fund educational programs for the Westford Public School system and Nashoba Valley Technical High School. WEF has awarded more than $140,000 in grants to the Westford community since 2003.
Please help us further our mission of promoting excellence in education by joining us on March 24, 2012. We are grateful to our loyal corporate sponsors who share our vision, and make our work possible. They include Dana Wallboard, Goodrich, Kimball Farm, Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Peacock Photography, Red Hat, and Stony Brook Primary Care. Can’t attend the Big Event but want to make a tax-deductible donation? Or become a corporate sponsor? Contact WEF President Kelly Guthrie at kguthrie@WEFweb.org for more details. For Big Event Benefit Gala reception and raffle ticket order forms, go to WEF
What's Up?
National Alliance on Mental Illness – “BASICS” EDUCATION PROGRAM free for parents/caregivers of children living with mental health issues and behavioral challenges. Classes Start: Tuesday February 7th, 7-9:30 PM Concord, MA. Co-Teachers are Dee (978.697.3441) deefebba@comcast.net and Angela (978.618.7521) angela@samuelthomas.com. Registration is required. Classes are limited to 22 persons. This program is sponsored and funded by MA Department of Mental Health www.namimass.org .
Child Search Notice
If you know of any child attending public or private school, or who is homeless or has left school, and could benefit from a special education evaluation under Chapter 766 or educational services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please contact the Special Education Department in Westford (978-692-5565). Every effort will be made to contact the parents to advise them of their rights under these laws. Thank you for assisting us in this important matter.
Important Date Changes
The School Committee has approved the following dates as make-up days for lost school days this fall:
- February 21 and 22
- April 17 and 18
School Council
The next School Council meeting of this year will be held on Tuesday, March 20 at 4 PM.
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Thursday, February 2
- Gr 8 Westford Academy Guidance Presentations
- Grades 4-8 Math Placement Meeting, 7-8 PM, Stony Brook Middle School
Tuesday, February 7
- Early Release, Dismissal at 11 AM
- Teacher Professional Development
Thursday, February 9 to Thursday, February 16
- Book Fair, BMS Media Center
Friday, February 10
- BTA Production of Once Upon a Mattress, BMS Auditorium, 7 PM
Saturday, February 11
- BTA Production of Once Upon a Mattress, BMS Auditorium, 2 PM and 7 PM
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Monday, February 20 Thursday and Friday, February 23, 24 Friday, March 2
- 6th Grade Social, 4:30 to 6:30 PM
- 7th/8th Grade Dance, 7 to 9 PM
Friday to Sunday, March 2-4
- Ski Club, Family Ski Weekend
Thursday and Friday, March 8 to 9
- MASC Conference, Student Council
Monday, March 12
- BMS vs. SB Faculty Basketball Game, PTO Fundraiser
Tuesday, March 13
- Early Release, Teacher Professional Development, Dismissal at 11 AM
- Mix It Up Day
Wednesday, March 14
- Grade 6 PTO Enrichment, Poetry in Motion
Thursday, March 15
- Special Assembly, Speaker Patrick George
Friday, March 16
- MASC State Conference, Student Council
Tuesday, March 20
- School Advisory Council Mtg, 4 PM
Wednesday, March 21
- Grade 7 PTO Enrichment, Lincoln Labs
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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
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.
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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