Abbot Update
May 15, 2020
Thank you for your patience and understanding as our staff has been working to gather students' belongings, close out their classrooms for summer maintenance and continue to support remote learning. I don't think we could have imagined how emotional it would be to be back at Abbot without the students. We miss your children more than words can express. Please give them an extra hug from their Abbot School family.
Have a great weekend!
Please see important updates below.
Sincerely,
Lori McDermott
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ
Student Belongings Pick-Up
On Tuesday, May 19, we invite families to come to the school to pick up student belongings. The schedule of times can be found below.
Mrs. DuBois and I coordinated our times for those who have students in both schools, so you can gather from both schools in one trip. Hope this helps.
Last Name
A-F - 9:00-9:45
G-L - 10:00-10:45
M-R - 11:00-11:45
S-Z - 12:00-12:45
Please enter on Fisher Way and take your first right into the Abbot School parking lot. Proceed around the perimeter of the parking lot toward the side of the building until you come to the cones in front of the gymnasium. Staff members will be there to assist you.
We ask that you display a card on the passenger side window with your child’s last name, first name, grade and teacher name. Runners will gather the bags (organized alphabetically by last name in the gym). Please pop open your trunk and the runner will place the bag inside. We ask that you remain in your car so social distancing guidelines and safety protocols are followed.
At this time, we will also be collecting library books and any classroom materials, such as vocabulary books, books and book bags. Please have those in your trunk in a bag labeled with either “library”, or the name of your child’s teacher. Runners will collect these items from the trunks of cars.
If you have medications at school, Mrs. Grassi will be in touch. Epipens will be in the bag with other student belongings.
In addition, there are many student belongings in our Lost & Found. We will display the items on a table in front of the old main entrance. Please pull over to the side to take a look. Please maintain the appropriate distance when accessing the table. After May 19, all items will be donated to charity.
Should you have any questions or are unable to leave your home, please send me an email for alternative options.
Lexia
Virtual Field Day
We are excited to share that Mr. Elder is organizing a Virtual Field Day for Abbot students and families in June. More details coming soon!
Daily Challenges
This week's Daily Challenges:
Day 36 - Create your own game
Day 37 - Read/Write Limericks
Day 38 - Visit worldwildlife.org
Day 39 - Try to guess what song Mrs. Tietze is playing
Day 40 - Play Multiplication War
More to come next week!
Attention Parents of 5th Graders
The following message was sent to all parents of Abbot fifth graders from Dr. Chew today:
Hello Future Stony Brook Families!
While I wish it were possible to meet everyone in person and welcome you to Stony Brook face to face, that will have to wait.
In the meantime, I created a video presentation that talks about Life in the Middle and hopefully provides a glimpse as to what your students can expect 6th grade to look like. Please take the 34 minutes and 30 seconds to enjoy my attempt at walking through our typical information session along with Mr. McElhinney's quick walk through the typical 6th graders day. Along with the video presentation, I am including the links to the actual slide presentation so that you can access the documents and resources linked in the slides as well as a link to the PBL Information Letter.
Video Presentation- https://youtu.be/k5sPu3ggXns
Slide Presentation- t.ly/YBKV
After viewing the information, please fill out this Team Structure Survey which is also included at the end of the presentation.
We all look forward to meeting you soon!
Chris
Dr. Christopher Chew
Principal
Stony Brook School
Westford, MA 01886
(978) 692-2708
PTO Messages
Square 1 Art
Square 1 Art is in! PTO volunteers will be making home deliveries over the next week. If you ordered a coffee mug in addition to other items, you may be receiving 2 separate deliveries. Thank you for your patience and your generous support of this Springtime fundraiser!
Please stay well!
Sincerely,
PTO Elections
Our next PTO meeting will be held remotely on May 27, and we will be holding elections for the PTO Board for next year. Please consider attending the meeting, and please contact us for more information or check out the link below if you are interested in one of the following open positions: Secretary, School Store Committee, Spring Social Committee, Mini Grant Coordinator.
In addition, we are always looking for volunteers to get involved as general board members, or to help with any of our many events. Serving on the PTO board is a wonderful way to get involved at Abbot. The board sets the priorities for fundraising, community building activities, student enrichment, grants to Abbot teachers and staff and more. We are very flexible, and we can work with your schedule and interests! Please contact us at abbotschoolpto@gmail.com if you are interested in getting involved and we would love to discuss in more detail.
reminders from previous updates
Virtual Band Concert
I'm excited to announce we will be having a virtual spring recital on Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:00pm. This would have been the night of our Spring Concert and since we are unable to be together in person I thought we could show some support for our student musicians virtually via google meet. Students will perform solo songs if they would like. Unfortunately due to lag time in sound we are unable to do group performances in real time on google meet.
4th and 5th grade band students can sign up HERE.
Please see the attached invitation for more details and information. All students, parents/families, as well as Abbot teachers/staff will be invited to join us on google meet on June 3rd.
Thank You,
Trish Gately
Morning Announcements
Social Emotional Support/Resources
A Message from our Abbot School Counselors
Did you know that Ms. Wendler and Ms. Newton have a Counseling Blog? During this time that we are not in school, it will be updated weekly with a few strategies for students and families, including some "mindfulness moment" ideas and some activities your child might want to try at home.
Please check out the link below:
Social Emotional Health and Well Being Website
The WPS School Psychologists, have created a terrific website for tips and resources during this challenging time. Click Here to check it out.
additional MESSAGES FROM WPS
A Message From WPS Food Service
Westford Public Schools remains dedicated to offering lunches to our students. Parents may order lunches on a weekly basis using an online sign-up sheet found on the district website via this LINK.
Every Monday, through the end of the 2020/2021 school year (Governor's Stay At Home Advisory), a week's supply of lunch items will be available for pick-up at the side entrance of the Westford Academy cafeteria. Pick-up times are from 10:30 to 12:00 noon.
Lunch orders need to be placed weekly, by Sunday night at 6:00, for the upcoming week.
Regards,
Colleen
Food Service Director
cwallace@westfordk12.us
Community News
Westford Summer Music Program
Due to school closure through the end of FY 20, unfortunately there will be no Westford Summer Music program this July.
COVID-19 INFORMATION
WPS COVID-19 Website
The district will be sharing information regarding COVID-19 on the WPS website that will be updated regularly. Please click HERE to check it out.
Abbot School
Email: lmcdermott@westfordk12.us
Website: https://www.westfordk12.us/as
Location: 25 Depot Street, Westford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-692-5580
Twitter: @AbbotElementary