Abbot Update
August 25, 2021
Welcome Back!
Dear Abbot Families,
I hope you are enjoying these last few weeks of summer. Abbot School is coming to life and I couldn't be more excited! The teachers have been busy moving furniture, organizing supplies, creating beautiful bulletin boards, preparing lessons and collaborating to create a welcoming environment for our students. Ms. Edgecomb and Mrs. Roberge have been hard at work in the office checking in supplies, registering new students, preparing documents and answering many questions. Our incredible custodial team continues to work tirelessly to put the finishing touches on our building's deep clean in preparation for opening day. I am so appreciative of everyone's hard work.
I am beyond excited to welcome everyone back to Abbot next week. I feel so grateful to be looking at a more typical start to the school year and feel completely confident in our district protocols, especially with what we learned from our lived experiences last year. School was, is, and will continue to be a safe place for students and staff and we are thrilled to be back to our welcoming, flexible, collaborative learning environments.
Please continue reading below, as I have included a LOT of important information. Please carve out a few minutes to read it through carefully. I promise - the update won't be this long every week!
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Lori McDermott
Abbot School Principal
STAFF UPDATE
Please join me in welcoming the following new staff members to our Abbot School family:
- Kim Burke - Speech & Language Pathologist
- Nichole Cailler – Assistant Principal/Student Support Leader
- Erin DaSilvaneto – ELL Teacher
- Brendan Ferrari - Part-time Music Teacher
- Caroline Kinne – Special Education Teacher
- Kaitlyn Mackinnon – Interim Adjustment Counselor (Mrs. Wendler is taking a one year leave)
- Pati Mari - Library Media Specialist
In addition to new staff members, we have some current staff members who will be taking on new roles:
- Ms. Bassett is moving from grade 5 Classroom Teacher to grade 4 Classroom Teacher
- Ms. Braga is moving from grade 3 Classroom Teacher to grade 4 Classroom Teacher
- Mrs. Cailler is moving from Student Support Leader at Nab and Abbot to Assistant Principal/Student Support Leader at Abbot
- Mrs. Jerzylo is moving from part time Assistant Principal at Nab and Abbot to full time Assistant Principal at Nabnasset School.
- Ms. Morrissey is moving from Special Education Teacher to grade 3 Classroom Teacher
COMMUNICATION
In addition to general notices and reminders, please expect a weekly Abbot Update. These email messages will be sent on Fridays through Blackboard Connect, which is the mass notification system that is linked to our iPass database. Messages will be sent to the email address you provided. Please be sure to send email address changes to Ms. Edgecomb (sedgecomb@westfordk12.us) as needed. I will also post the weekly updates on the Abbot School Website under the News tab.
I will do my best to keep the weekly updates brief. Please forgive the lengthiness of this first message, as there is a great deal of information to share as we begin a new school year together.
The best way to reach me or Assistant Principal, Mrs. Cailler is through email.
Please feel free to reach out at any time. We are here to help!
In the event that you aren't sure who you need to speak with? Click here to for our Who Ya Gonna Call Information Sheet.
STUDENT SUPPLIES
Chromebooks
Students in Grades 3-5 will continue to bring their fully charged school issued Chromebook to and from school each day during the 2021-2022 school year. If your child does not have a device or it is not working please submit a ticket to: homesupport@westfordk12.us
Classroom Supplies
BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS
Prior to the first day of school please complete the following important Back-to-School electronic forms:
Additional Forms Coming Home Soon:
Student Biographical Report, Health Emergency Card & PTO Class List Permission - these will be sent home with students on their first week of school. Please complete and return to school by September 10th.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Early Arrival Option
We are happy to inform you that the popular Early Arrival Option will be available again. The fee for the K-5 opportunity has increased to $500 per child/per year. Students made be dropped off between 7:00 - 8:00 AM.
Students will be supervised by our school staff. Please be aware that there is no EAO on school delays or snow days. To register for the Early Arrival Option, please complete this form and return with payment to the Abbot School office. Please make checks payable to Westford Public Schools (EAO).You can also pay online at www.myschoolbucks.com (same log-in as for School Lunch payments).
Bus Riders
Buses will begin unloading at 8:15am at the front of the building. Staff members will be present to greet students outside and in the lobby each morning as they enter the building. Students are expected to be in classrooms by 8:25am for the start of school.
Please click here to Register for 2021-2022 Bus Pass Registration. You will need a My School Bucks account in order to register. There is no in-person bus registration. If you are new to our school or an incoming kindergartener, do not “add a student” as it will not recognize the student. Please click “Bus Registration for kindergarteners and students new to district” and from there you can enter your child’s information and register for the pass.
If you are two miles or closer to the school, the bus fee is $350 for one student, $700 for two students, $850 for three or more students. The family cap is $850. More information regarding Bus Registration can be found on the WPS Website, click here.
Car Riders
Parents who are driving students to and/or from school must stop by the office for a car placard to be displayed on the right hand side of the car windshield. Car drop-off and pick-up will take place on the parking lot side of the school this year. This is the same as last year. Car riders should aim to be in the car line by 8:10am to ensure a prompt arrival and by 2:25pm for dismissal. The school day ends at 2:30pm.
Dismissal Notes
Late Arrivals and Absences
Student arrival begins at 8:15am with school starting promptly at 8:25am. It is important for students to arrive on time and ready to learn. In the event that your child will be absent or late, please call the main office at 978-692-5580 to inform us so we can account for all students.
Safety and Security
All visitors and volunteers are required to sign in at the main office to receive a badge so we know who is in the building at all times. Please remember to sign out and return your badge before leaving. Thank you for following this important safety procedure.
Parents planning to volunteer in school must complete a CORI Form for the District. CORI Forms are completed annually.
Please take a moment to review our District Reunification Guide.
SCHOOL LUNCH ACCOUNTS
I recommend having conversations with your child regarding expectations around allowable purchases for lunch. I have seen students in the past purchase two entire lunches and several desserts at one time. You can and should view balance/purchase information on a regular basis. Please reach out to Rose Lawlor, our Cafeteria Manager, for any further assistance (rlawlor@westfordk12.us).
Click here for more information regarding the School Lunch Program. More information regarding school lunches will be shared from the Food Service Department prior to the start of the school year. Please note, that all school meals will remain free to all students for the 2021-2022 school year.
Please click here for the Free and Reduced Lunch Application.
HEALTH PROTOCOLS
Hand washing/Sanitizing
Illness
- Fever, chills or shaking chills
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Muscle aches or body aches
- Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
- Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
- Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
- Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
Masks & Mask Breaks
As shared in a previous communication from Dr. Chew, Superintendent of Schools, all K-12 students and staff in WPS will be required to wear masks when indoors, through October 1st. More information will be shared as the district will be revisiting the decision and provide a clear timetable for potential changes.
Students are required to wear a 2 ply mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth for the health and safety of all. Parents/guardians are asked to supply disposable or reusable masks/face coverings for their child(ren). Fabric masks must be washed daily to ensure cleanliness. Bandanas will not be allowed and it is recommended that gaiters be folded over twice to be 2-ply or have a changeable filter. Please do not wear face masks with exhalation vents or valves.
Masks are required for all students when riding the bus to and from school.
Mask breaks occur each day, even if there is inclement weather. As our New England weather can be unpredictable, please have your children dress for the weather. We make every effort to get our students outside as much as possible for mask/snack breaks, PE, and recess. Students should come dressed/prepared for all types of weather.
Building Cleaning
Lunch/Recess
Students will eat lunch in the cafeteria and attend recess each day. To maintain personal space and 3’ of distance, we will split the grade levels (half at lunch/half at recess with a switch mid-way). Students will be seated at the lunch tables in a configuration that allows for at least 3 feet of distance. The students will be able to choose their lunch spot and will not have assigned seats.
To maintain a healthy environment, we will continue to communicate the importance of washing hands and using hand sanitizer throughout the day as well as respecting personal spaces and encouraging 3’ of distance whenever possible. Students will have access to hand sanitizers on their way into the cafeteria, and when they are exiting the cafeteria. Tables will be sanitized after each lunch period.
A MESSAGE FROM MRS. GRASSI
Due to the many number of students with severe peanut/tree nut allergies at Abbot School, all classrooms will be peanut and tree nut free areas. We are asking for your assistance in providing the students with a safe classroom learning environment by providing snacks for your children that do not contain any peanut or tree nut products.
Your child may bring in peanut and tree nut products for lunch and eat them in the cafeteria. The Abbot School has a designated peanut/tree nut free table in the cafeteria. If you would prefer that your child sit at the nut free table, please reach out to Mrs. Grassi at tgrassi@westfordk12.us.
We appreciate your support and cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Terry Grassi M Ed, BSN, RN, CPN
Abbot School Nurse
978-692-5580 x3454
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
WPS Elementary Handbook
Please click here to review the WPS Elementary Handbook with your student(s).
School Cancellations/Delays
If Westford Public Schools cancels or delays school, there are multiple places to find this information. You may visit: https://www.westfordk12.us/ and local news stations (Fox 25, CBS, NBC, etc.) or their websites. In addition, you will receive an email and a phone call the morning of from an automated system alerting you of the delay/cancellation. Please note that the number called, and email address used, will be the first number/email address listed in your child’s iPass account. To change this information, please call the office to ensure the correct phone number and email address are being used.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteer Orientation
PTO
ELEMENTARY CORE VALUES
SPIRIT
We are thrilled to share with you that the six K-5 elementary schools have adopted and will implement a new, consistent set of core values- utilizing the acronym SPIRIT- during the 2019-2020 school year. A consistent set of core values will pull our six elementary schools together to create a closer community feel, and the same consistent message will travel with the children and staff as they grow and move on to new elementary schools within the district. The creation and development of these consistent core values is the culmination of feedback and work of the elementary staff throughout the district. We are excited to continue our work next fall as we more clearly define our social-emotional learning expectations as those that identify civic and character education as vitally important to the development of well-rounded students.
We will build this respectful community by asking our students to “Show their SPIRIT!”
Safety
Students of the Westford Public Schools will demonstrate SAFETY. They will honor others' space and property, and will keep their hands, feet, and other objects to themselves. They will exhibit self-control by walking as they travel throughout the school building, by using an appropriate voice level for the setting, and by following directions and instructions given by adults the first time. They will use words and adult intervention to solve problems.
Perseverance
Students of the Westford Public Schools will demonstrate PERSEVERANCE. They will set goals and strive to reach them each day. They will work hard and not give up even when something is difficult. They will demonstrate a growth mindset when met with challenging tasks and activities. They will keep a positive attitude.
Inclusion
Students of the Westford Public Schools will demonstrate INCLUSION. They have a responsibility to break down barriers by inviting new people into teams, circle of friends, and experiences as they work to be a unified, collaborative community. They will show acceptance to everyone around them.
Respect
Students of the Westford Public Schools will demonstrate RESPECT. They will think about others before speaking or taking any action. They will appreciate the contributions of others, while showing respect for themselves, other people, personal and/or community property, and the environment. They will treat others the way that they want to be treated.
Integrity
Students of the Westford Public Schools will demonstrate INTEGRITY. They will do the right thing, even when no one is watching. They will show good character. They will be honest, fair, and humble. They will exercise their best effort and judgment in all activities in which they participate and will set goals that promote positive academic, social, and personal development.
Teamwork
Students of the Westford Public Schools will demonstrate TEAMWORK. They will encourage others to do their best. They will listen to the ideas of others, while also sharing their ideas to ensure the best end product. They will show empathy, considering another person's situation, feelings, or motives before speaking or taking action. They will compromise when necessary. They will behave in a manner that allows all others to enjoy a safe, positive learning community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Welcome Back Wildcats
We invite you all to attend our Welcome Back Wildcats event on August 30 from 4:00-6:00 PM. The building will be open from 4:00-5:00 PM for students to visit their classrooms. Please be advised that teachers will likely not be in the classrooms, however it is still fun for students to see their new learning space.
The office staff will be available during this time to assist with the completion of CORI and Early Arrival forms and to give out car placards that are necessary for car riders.
Mrs. Cailler and I look forward to seeing you there!
Band & Strings
Please click here to learn more about the elementary band and strings program.
Students will wear masks and will remain at least 3 feet apart while singing or playing wind instruments. Students in band classes will use additional PPE including wind masks and bell covers and use absorbent padding for droplets left behind on the floor.
Picture Day
Back to School Night - Save the Date
DATES TO REMEMBER
August & September
- August 30 - Welcome Back Wildcats, 4-6pm
- August 31 - First day of school for students
September 3 - No School
September 6 - No School (Labor Day)
- September 14 - PTO Meeting, 4:00-5:00 PM
- September 17 - Volunteer Orientation, 1:30-2:30 PM
- September 29 - Picture Day
Abbot School
Email: lmcdermott@westfordk12.us
Website: https://www.westfordk12.us/as
Location: 25 Depot Street, Westford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-692-5580