Abbot Update
August 28, 2020
Welcome Teachers!
Dear Abbot Families,
We are moving forward with our reopening plan. This week was largely dedicated to pod and class placement. We take our placement process very seriously and we will continue to work through the finer details in collaboration with Nab, Stony and WA. We are expecting to be ready to inform you after Labor Day. We appreciate your patience as we give student placement the time and attention needed to ensure a successful school year for all students.
We are excited to welcome our teachers and staff back on Monday. There is nothing quite like watching the school come back to life after a long, lonely summer. Many teachers have already been in the building decorating their classrooms and they look amazing!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Please see below for additional information and an important date change.
Sincerely,
Lori McDermott & Carolyn Jerzylo
Parent Information Night
As we continue to move forward with the reopening of school, we will be moving our Virtual Welcome Back to School Information Night to Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 PM. This will allow us to provide you with the most up to date information.
We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we navigate our way through the complexity of the reopening process.
Mrs. Jerzylo and I look forward to to providing school specific details around a hybrid school day, including arrival/dismissal, transitions, mask breaks/snack, classroom instruction in both the hybrid and the Remote Learning Academy (RLA) models, along with health and hygiene information.
We will share the meeting links as we get closer to the date.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 PM.
In case you missed Chromebook Pickup Day
No worries! Please contact Ms. Edgecomb at sedgecomb@westfordk12.us to schedule a time to for pickup.
Reminders about Chromebooks:
All students in the hybrid model will need to use a school device. At the K-8 level, students are not permitted to bring their own device from home for use in school. Students who will be attending the Remote Learning Academy may choose to pick up a school device or not; however, WPS will not be able to provide tech support for personal devices.
Each student will receive one chromebook and a charger. The students will be expected to bring the Chromebook to and from school each day, as it will be utilized throughout the school day in all learning areas.
In the event a student forgets their Chromebook or needs their assigned Chromebook to be repaired, there will be a limited amount of loaner devices available at the school. A detailed handout will be attached to each chromebook with appropriate use expectations, log in information, technology tips and resource assistance.
Please review this Chromebook information document carefully. Thank you!
A Message From Nurse Grassi
School Start/End Times
We are planning to begin the school year with our existing start/end times (8:25 AM-2:30 PM). After the first full week we will have a better idea of how it's working out and may need to make a slight revision to these times.
Bus Registration
Bus registration is open and live. This year we are using MySchoolBucks.com as the registration and payment portal.
Masks are mandatory on the bus for all K-12 students.
Bus fees for September through January are $150 for the first student, $300 for two students, $400 for three or more students. The family cap is $400.
More information is available on the district website: https://www.westfordk12.us/district/transportation
Link to bus registration Grades K-5:
https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?ref=ZZHCKVF90G01ERQ_ZZJGWKDLTJ0O9Q2
Bus Safety Video
PTO
Welcome back, from the Abbot PTO! This year certainly may not be a traditional school year, but we still want to keep you informed and connected! Please take a few moments to fill out this Google form which includes permission to include your contact information in the Abbot Directory and permission to include your child’s photo and name in the Abbot Yearbook.
https://forms.gle/4xrNKGAuLoXRJ97L7
Third grade parents: The Abbot PTO is happy to be able to provide an Abbot t-shirt complimentary to welcome all incoming third grade students. These shirts will be distributed shortly after school begins. If you have opted for remote learning, stay tuned for more information about delivery of your student's shirt! When filling out the Google Form linked above, please be sure to provide your child’s T-shirt size. Please complete this form by Sept. 1 so that we can have the shirts shortly after the students return to school.
Many PTO operations will be on hold this fall, but we are planning to hold a meeting at the end of September (remotely, via Zoom; date TBD) to discuss the coming school year. All are welcome! We are still seeking a Secretary for this coming school year. If you are interested, or if you have any questions, please let us know at abbotschoolpto@gmail.com.
Like and Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with everything the PTO is up to: https://www.facebook.com/abbotschoolpto In addition, the Abbot PTO sends out a monthly newsletter as well as occasional updates and calls for volunteers. Please subscribe to our electronic newsletter using this link: https://tinyurl.com/AbbotNewsletter
SEL Reopening Committee's "commercial" featuring WPS students
Check out our SEL Reopening Committee's "commercial" that was put together with WestfordCAT, featuring our very own Westford students. It's being run on the local cable network.
Made me miss the students even more than I already do!!!
REMINDERS FROM PREVIOUS UPDATES
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.
The best way to reach me or Assistant Principal, Mrs. Jerzylo is through email.
Please feel free to reach out at any time. We are here to help!
Elementary FAQs
Revised 2020-2021 WPS School Calendar
Click HERE or see the attachment below for the 2020-2021 WPS School Calendar.
COMMUNITY NEWS
CUB SCOUTS
Interested in Cub Scouts? Westford is home to 3 Cub Scouting packs. We invite you to come and meet our packs, and learn more about scouting during the Westford Farmers Market on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, at the town common, from 2:30-6pm. We welcome boys and girls in grades K-5.
If you are unable to make it to the farmers market, but would like to learn more, please visit our Westford Cub Scouting page:
https://sites.google.com/view/westfordcubscouts/home
At such a tumultuous time, scouting gives our youth a sense of normalcy. It is a chance to interact with their peers, and provides structure as they progress through adventures and rank advancement. This helps children build confidence and remains a constant in their life. The Spirit of Adventure scouting council follows the current government regulations for health, safety and social distancing.
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