WHS Newsletter
Winter 4
A Message from Principal Callaghan
Dear Staff, Students, and Families:
If the weather hasn't been evidence that Spring is on its way, turning our clocks forward one hour on Sunday certainly is. We typically feel genuine excitement and happiness when warmer days arrive, and it leads to more activity and positive energy. This is a welcomed annual development and I want to encourage all who come onto campus that vigilance and cooperation is still required to meet the health safety guidelines that remain in place.
Remember the 5 Ws:
Wear (face mask)
Wash (hands)
Wait (6 feet apart from each other)
Wipe (equipment and machines)
We are Westborough
In reviewing the Winter Newsletter #4, you will notice it is primarily dedicated to highlighting some of the goals and activities of the clubs that have been active this year and have provided opportunities for students to connect with each other in non-academic and meaningful ways.
I hope you find this information enjoyable.
Take Care and Stay Safe,
Brian Callaghan
District Updates
As you may have read in Superintendent Bock’s letter on Friday afternoon (linked below), WHS will be returning to full in-person learning on April 26th following April vacation. Students in the Remote Learning program can remain in their current model.
Faculty, staff, and administration have been eagerly planning for this event and have much more to do.
We will be ready to safely return students to WHS on 4/26. Please stay tuned for more updates in the weeks ahead.
Be sure to review the District update, FAQ and Timeline to share Westborough plans.
WHS Clubs & Activities
At WHS, our goal with Clubs & Activities is to foster and support the participation of all students in a wide variety of student activities such as clubs and organizations. Even though this school year has looked different, our clubs and activities are adapting and are active and vibrant.
Below, three of WHS's clubs are highlighted with an update on their recent activities this year.
Also, see the attached google slide show that showcases some of the various club opportunities available for our students.
Interact Club
The Interact club focuses on student service. Through out the past months, the WHS Interact Club collected over 1000 pounds of film plastics in the Trex Plastics Challenge. Students created posters to help spread the word about the event, received visitors and helped receive donations at events. In the end the plastics that they collected will be recycled and pressed into material that will be used to create a bench that will be enjoyed at WHS.
Best Buddies Club
Club Advisor: Ms. Peixoto
Best Buddies is a very active club at WHS. Most recently, the Best Buddies promoted the "Spread The Word To End The Word" (STWTETW) week where club members teamed up with their buddies to make daily announcements about the event to the school, decorated the school with posters, and fundraised by selling candy from the BORO Sugar Shack to students and staff at snack breaks.
Mindfulness & Stress Reduction Club
Mindfulness & Stress Reduction Club is a newly formed club at WHS this year. On March 12th the club hosted a socially distanced "Can Jam" event on the turf field where many students were expected to participate, have fun, and enjoy the outdoors and nice weather.
Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy
Westborough High School participates in a national recognition program, the Seal of Biliteracy, which honors students who demonstrate a superior level of language fluency in four identified skills: speaking, writing, listening, and reading. The Seal celebrates qualifying seniors with an official seal on their high school transcript to recognize their language competence in English and another language by high school graduation.
This year, we are proud to announce that WHS has over 50 students testing in 11 languages aiming to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.
The State Seal of Biliteracy aims to:
● Encourage students to study and master languages
● Recognize the value of language diversity
● Provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills
● Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of high-level
skills in languages
● Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society
● Strengthen intergroup communication and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community.*
*Taken from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.
Parent Book Study- Raising Human Beings: Creating a Collaborative Partnership with Your Child
Parents and guardians, you are invited to participate in a Parent Book Study on the book, Raising Human Beings: Creating a Collaborative Partnership with Your Child written by Dr. Ross W. Greene, renowned child psychologist and New York Times best selling author. This book explains how to cultivate a better parent-child relationship while also nurturing empathy, honesty, resilience and independence.
The Book study will be facilitated by Kim Tynan, Westborough District Clinical and Social Emotional Learning Coordinator, and Maura Kovaleski, Mill Pond Assistant Principal. Please see the the attached document below for full course details and online sign up form.
Participants will be expected to purchase their own copy of the book, read designated chapters prior to class, participate in discussion and attend all 5 Zoom meetings. Virtual meetings will take place on Thursday evenings 5:30-6:30 pm: starting April 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th and May 6th (there will be no class on the 22nd - school vacation week).
Westborough Connects - Kindness Week Starts 3-21-21
WHAT IS KINDNESS WEEK?
It is an annual celebration coordinated by Westborough Connects which demonstrates the kindness in our community - a time to shine a spotlight on the good and inspire people to spread kindness through their own actions. Kindness Week this year is a virtual program that focuses on kindness to others, kindness to self and kindness to the earth.Please click here to register!
The Lobby Observer
Ranger Spirit Shop
Westborough High School
Principal: Brian Callaghan
Assistant Principal: Jessica Barrett
Assistant Principal: Matt Lefebvre
Email: callaghanb@westboroughk12.org
Website: http://whs.westboroughk12.org/
Location: 90 West Main Street, Westborough, MA, USA
Phone: 508-836-7720
Twitter: @WboroPrincipal