Panther Pride
From the desk of Mr.McElhinney
Spring Vacation
Vacations always seem to come at just the right time. I think our students are tired and showing signs of lacking the 180 day stamina needed to make it to june 21st. Hopefully this week will be the recharge they need.
We wrapped up the MCAS ELA test this week. If your child missed the test, makeups will continue after break- April 25th-28th. Math MCAS will begin May 11th and 12th.
Pto is still looking for support- se below.
Mr. Mac
Performing Arts Sign up
Dear Parents of Incoming Grade 6-8 Students,
We are thrilled to be able to invite you and your child to view this short informational video relating to Performing Arts classes available to your student for the 2022-2023 school year. In order to enroll your child, you will need to click on the right side of the slide and complete the google form. Please be sure to complete the google form labeled with your child's school no later than Tuesday, April 12. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Andrea Mejia
K-12 Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum Coordinator
Protecting our Tweens and Teens
Protecting our Tweens and Teens:
Anxiety Awareness and Suicide Prevention
The tween and teen years bring an explosion of developmental milestones. Coupled with the excitement of personal growth, adolescents are already anxious about grades and college admissions, relationships, finances, and a host of unknowns. Adding the wallop of an endless pandemic, plus global concerns such as the war in Ukraine, today's young people are living with unprecedented stress. This special forum offers practical strategies to help youths in the face of anxiety, mental health issues, and the risk of suicide.
WHO: Concerned family members, emergency responders, school staff,
MRC volunteers, nurses, counselors, and care providers
WHAT: Forum on crisis mental health and our region's youths
FEATURED SPEAKER: Jon Mattleman, MS
WHEN: Monday, May 23, 2022
TIME: 6:30 p.m. – Registration with light refreshments
7 to 9 p.m. – Program with Q&A
PLACE: Stony Brook School Auditorium
ADDRESS: 9 Farmer’s Way, Westford
CONTACT: Nancy Burns, 978-399-2549, nburns@westfordma.gov
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 2.4 CEUs for nurses and 2 contact hours
for WPS staff. Requesting 2 OEMS hours for EMTs and 2 CMEs
for social workers.
Jon Mattleman, a mental health consultant, is returning to update our ability to help local adolescents through the current mental health crisis. Jon believes in teaching people the language to use when dealing with a mental health challenge in a family member, friend, student or colleague. Participants leave with proven tools that can be implemented immediately; who has time to wait?
This program is hosted by the Upper Merrimack Valley Medical Reserve Corps, the Westford Health Department, and Westford Public Schools.
8th Grade field trip Information
8th Grade Field Trip:
Location: NH Lakes/Mountains. Dinner Cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee
Date: Wednesday June 15, 2022. 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Cost per student: $199 plus optional trip insurance
Registration is completed with Capitol Tours. www.capitaltours.net
Scholarships are available. (information to follow)
If you would like to contribute toward scholarships for students needing assistance, please send your donation to Laurie DeTolla in the main office.
Parent Information includes links and forms as well as an itinerary.
SEE VIDEO BELOW
Civil Rights Information
PTO UPDATE
THE PTO NEEDS YOUR HELP for Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2 to May 6)
We are requesting donations of food/beverages, raffle items or cash for the Teacher Appreciation Week. We still have a lot of open slots so please do consider donating to help us make the week special for our dedicated & hardworking teachers & staff.
Donate Items HERE
Donate Money HERE
PTO Team 2022-23
The PTO is in urgent need of parent volunteers to fill several open positions in the 2022-23 school year. We invite you to see the list of open positions and SIGN UP to join the PTO team. Help & support will be provided by current PTO members to all new team members.
PTO Meet & Greet
Come meet the Stony Brook School PTO team and get more information on ways to get involved at our next Meet & Greet scheduled for 6:00 PM on Thursday, May 12 at Evviva Trattoria, Westford. Please mark your calendar & RSVP HERE
Get more SBSPTO information from our website HERE
If you have questions or comments please email us at stonybrookschoolpto@gmail.com
Students Experiencing Homelessness
Child Search
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. (978-692-5560 ext. 2111)
Every effort will be made to contact the parents to advise them of their rights under these laws.
Notes from the Clinic
Notes from the Clinic 4/8/2022: (Links may need to be copied and pasted into your browser.)
6th grade parents: Please continue to send in your child’s physical and immunization records as you take them for physicals. We require up to date physicals and immunization records prior to 7th grade not during the 7th grade year. A physical dated after Sept 1st 2021 is the one I am looking for! Immunizations needed for 7th grade are Tdap and Menactra. I will be sending out letters in May letting you know what is missing and then again at the end of the school year. Many parents have been taking pictures of these records and emailing them to me.
7th grade parents: Vision and hearing letters for students who failed the screenings were just sent out today. Sorry for the delay.
8th grade parents: Roberta Oehley and I completed the SBIRT screenings last week. It was a nice opportunity to have one to one conversations with students about substance use and abuse. Please ask your child about the conversations. It is not too early to begin having discussions with your children about the dangers of vaping, drinking and drug use. The brain continues to develop until 25: During this period of development, the brain is highly addictive. We used visual graphs to show why it is dangerous.
The state used to mandate scoliosis checks on every student in grades 5-9. With most children seen on a yearly basis with their pediatrician, scoliosis screenings are no longer mandated. It is now opt in only. Email me if you would like me to screen your child for scoliosis.
In the past, I have run a mental health parent support group with my friend Dianne Walsh, LICSW. COVID demands on my time have put this group on a back burner. I plan to begin sending emails again with information about resources and setting up an in person meeting going forward. If you are interested in being added to my distribution list, please email me at my personal email: smhanly1@gmail.com
If your family is struggling to make ends meet, St. Vincent DePaul is a local organization that wants to help. Please go to the following link for more information: https://www.blessedtrinitycatholic.org/svdp You do not need to be Catholic or a parishioner to receive assistance. We also have a food pantry in Westford out of the Cameron Senior Center. They are open Wednesdays from 6-8P and Fridays from 9-11. Here is a link for more information: https://www.westfordfoodpantry.org/
We have had 2 cases of COVID this week in our school community and 26 in the Westford Public School system. Please make sure to email me or call if your child tests positive for COVID. Continue to send in COVID vaccination records as well.
I hope you have a nice weekend.
Sue Hanly, MSN, RN, NCSN
Boys Volleyball
Westford Middle School Boys Intramural Volleyball Program
Due to the increase of popularity in volleyball, an intramural volleyball program for middle school boys will be piloted this spring!
There has been some discussion at the middle school level to expand the current spring volleyball league to include both males & females. At this point in time, the majority of teams that the middle school’s will be competing against only have females on their teams. Until the division creates two separate leagues, an intramural boys’ volleyball program is a great way for both middle schools to come together and participate in this growing sport.
The objective of this program is to have any middle school boy at Blanchard or Stony Brook interested in participating in volleyball to compete and improve their skill set.
Location: Stony Brook Middle School Gymnasium
Timeframe: Six-week Program
Dates: Monday’s 4/11, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/23
Time: 4:00pm-5:30pm
Registration: FamilyID
Price: $90 Per Player (Check written out to Westford Public Schools or an online payment through MySchoolBucks)
Please contact Roberta Oehley (roehley@westfordk12.us) at Stony Brook or Cathie Casey (ccasey@westfordk12.us) at Blanchard if interested.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Westford Academy athletic program is to provide a safe opportunity for all student athletes to participate and share in an inclusive environment of spirited competition. Our goal is to instill basic values that build student-athlete character as an individual and member of a team through the involvement in the interscholastic athletic program.
ATHLETIC UPDATE
Pick Promptness
Please be mindful of the end times for your children's practices and games. Please be available to pick up at the designated end times for the day's event (game/practice). Coaches have other commitments, responsibilities and families to get to after coaching. Our coaches do not want to leave children alone after games or practices so your promptness will guarantee their safety and security after events. Your prompt pick up supports your children's continued participation.
SEPAC
What is the SEPAC? Massachusetts statutes and regulations require that every school district in the state establishes a SEPAC. This public body serves as an adviser to the School Committee on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities. In addition, the SEPAC has a duty to meet regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the district’s special education program.
For more information on SEPACs, please visit the Federation for Children with Special Needs’ MassPAC page.
The Westford SEPAC also encourages community members to follow our Facebook page or sign up for our mailing list to get information about upcoming Westford SEPAC events, as well as topics that the SEPAC Board of Directors believes is of interest to families of students with special needs in our community.
Westford Summer Music Program 7/11/22 through 7/15/22
Westford Summer Music Program 7/11/22 through 7/15/22
Come join the fun for a week-long program where band and orchestra ensembles will rehearse daily from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Stony Brook School! During the week students will learn new music while building community and friendships. We will conclude the program with a free performance on Friday, July 15th at 11 a.m. This program is open for band and orchestra students entering grades 5 through 9 in September 2022.
Summer Band directed by Mr. Adam Shekleton
Summer Orchestra directed by Mr. Todd Hamelin
For more information and registration please visit: www.westfordk12.us/summermusic
For questions, please contact:
Julie Ottesen - jottesen@westfordk12.us