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PRINCIPALS' CORNER
Jan Murphy and Ashley Furnari
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KIDS CARE AT WEST
 On Wednesday, October 10th, Kids Care launched their Fall 2018 season with a collection of Halloween candy and letter writing to our service men and women. Candy donations, letters, and cards will be sent to the Operation Gratitude Organization, which will organize and ship them to troops throughout the country and overseas for Halloween and Veterans Day! For more information, please visit
here
. Thanks, Kids Care!
OCTOBER "CHECK - INS"
Over the next month, students across grade levels will have multiple opportunities to "check-in" on their learning as teachers make use of a variety of tools to monitor student learning and progress across subject areas. These assessments are embedded into our instructional practice throughout the year in order to collect important information on student growth and to ensure that all students are meeting district benchmarks. Evidence of student growth is collected in a variety of different ways in the form of student work samples, one-to-one conferences, paper and pencil tasks, formal assessments, and through the innovative use of technology. These offer students multiple opportunities to demonstrate new learning and understanding over time. In turn, the information is used to inform instruction that is differentiated to meet the needs of all learners. We use a strength-based philosophy, always looking for each student's strength and using it to strengthen other areas. This valuable information will be made available to parents during our December conferences.
DISTRICT PERFORMING ARTS COMMITTEE (PAC)
On Wednesday, the district PTC's Performing Arts Committee brought the band Boogie Chillun' to West School students. Boogie Chillun' is a six piece diverse multi-cultural and multi-talented musical group that is well versed in all styles of music. Originating out of New Haven, Connecticut, the band took students and faculty on a musical journey through the rich history of the United States. Each song they performed was given a brief introduction describing the song itself, the artist, and its contribution to American music. Boogie Chillun' encourages students to keep music alive through sing-alongs and interactive playing. A very special thanks to our PTC for providing this rich cultural experience to our students.
FORMER WEST SCHOOL STUDENT'S EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
Benjamin Clay attended West Elementary, Saxe Middle School, and is now a sophomore at NCHS. He is a Boy Scout in New Canaan's Troop 286 and is currently working on his Eagle Scout project. For his project, he has chosen to collect new and gently used winter outerwear, clothing, and boots for The Open Doors Shelter in Norwalk. The shelter needs items for ALL ages and ALL sizes before it gets too cold outside. He is hoping West School will support his project. A large plastic bin has been placed inside the lobby to collect donations. Items may also be picked up by calling 203-594-1253. For those who prefer to make a bulk purchase online, click
here to purchase from a wishlist. All items will be donated to the Open Doors Shelter. More information can be found
here
.
DONATE A CAN OPENER!
Girl Scout Troop 345 is collecting can openers to support People to People and their canned food drive. Please end hunger by donating a much need-needed can opener. Donations are being accepted between October 17th and November 11th. Can openers can be brought to school and left in the container by the campus monitor's desk. Please consider this worthwhile project to support the Girl Scouts.
HEALTH TIPS FROM NURSE BELL
Cold season is upon us! Here are some tips for keeping our children cold free:
- Wipe those iPad/iPhone screens. (Germs can live on surfaces for 48 hours.)
- Hand Washing - Wash for 30 seconds with warm, soapy water. Remember to wash the tops of your hands as well.
- Rest - Children need at least 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
Do you want to know what is happening at West School? Follow us on Twitter at
Principals @WestSchoolNC! Our recent tweets can be found on our West School website. Click
here to see our latest tweets!
CURRICULUM RESOURCE FOR PARENTS
Check out the NCPS curriculum resource for parents on our website. Click this
link and go to the Curriculum Menu to find an excellent resource created especially for parents.
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SPIRIT DAY, Friday, October 26th and Friday, November 2nd
Wear your
Green, White and Westy!
 HALLOWEEN PARADE, Wednesday, October 31st, 2:00 PM
Halloween is coming... Please be reminded that as your child begins to plan his/her costume for the parade, toy guns, swords, or other weaponry will not be allowed as part of a costume. Costumes must be of a non-violent nature. Also, be careful of masks and/or headgear that could block vision and/or scare others. The children will be walking a good distance and we want them to be safe in their costumes. We appreciate your cooperation and support. Parking will be available on the back playground after
1:40 PM. The parade starts inside the school at
2:00 PM and will finish by looping around the sidewalk portion of the bus loop. Parents are welcome to view the whole parade from the actual blacktop of the bus loop.
WEST SCHOOL ONLINE AUCTION, begins Monday, November 5th at 9:00 AM and ends Sunday, November 11th at 9:00 PM.
The West School online auction has everything you need for the holidays and the year ahead!
- Don't miss your chance for your child to be principal for a day, ride to school in a police car or get a singing telegram at school.
- Great seats to watch the NY Rangers, the Red Sox, and the WWE.
- Get yourself and your home ready for the holidays with beauty treatments and home decor.
More details to come! Questions? Contact
auction@westschoolptc.org
.
ENCHANTED FOREST BOOK FAIR - Family Night, Tuesday, November 13th, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Discover the magic of reading at the West School Book Fair starting Tuesday, November 13th through Thursday, November 15th
. Be on the lookout for class schedules, teacher gift certificates, and more in upcoming Friday Folders. Questions? Contact
bookfair@westschoolptc.org
.
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CALLING LUNCHROOM VOLUNTEERS!
 Click here to sign up for lunchroom shifts. It's a great opportunity to be in the school and see your child(ren) interacting with their classmates.
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ROSEMARY WELLS VISIT
West School students responded enthusiastically this week to our
PTC's Visiting Author, the renowned author and illustrator Rosemary Wells. Many thanks to
Melissa Thorkilsen
at
Elm Street Books
for making this visit happen and for organizing the book sales. During her visit, Rosemary shared that Max and Ruby are based on her own children! And she showed how she makes her own paints, how she textures her illustrations using breakfast cereals, and how listening to the people around her inspires her stories and dialogue. She encouraged everyone to spend a few minutes each day creating, whether it be writing, painting, drawing, crafting or anything else creative. A longtime proponent of literacy, and an advocate of reading to children, she said, "Reading to your little one is just like putting gold coins in the bank. It will pay you back tenfold. Your daughter will learn, and imagine, and be strong in herself. Your son will thrive." A big thank you to the PTC's Visiting Author Chairs, Annie Drapkin and Lesley Rotchford, for coordinating this special visit for our students.
BOOGIE CHILLUN' PLAYED THE BROWN BAG THEATRE
Boogie Chillun' played a variety of music genre this past Wednesday at the Brown Bag Theater! Everyone was singing and dancing along with their beautiful melodies! Thank you to the PTC for funding this culture enriching event and a special thank you to the Performing Arts Committee Chairs Michelle Seaver, Kristen Plumb, and Dana Posner.
THANK YOU TO FAMILY PHOTOS CHAIR
A BIG thank you to
Dana Posner for managing this year's
Family Photo Days. The effort raised critical funds for the PTC and provided lasting memories for many of you! Thank you to photographers
Andrea Chalon and
Lisa Wiltse as well.
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At the meeting on Monday, October 8th, Bill Egan and several NCHS department chairs presented the 9th-12th grade Assessment Report. Initial data was presented on the preparation and performance of NCHS students on standardized tests (i.e. SAT, ACT), AP and other college level coursework, as well as the new NGSS assessment in Grade 11. Please click here for full minutes, meeting videos and the presentation.
The next BOE meeting is scheduled for
Monday,
October
22nd
at
7:00 PM
, NCHS, Wagner Room. On the proposed agenda is the K-8 Assessment Report for the district. All BOE meetings are broadcast live on cablevision channel 78 and rebroadcast on
Thursdays
at
7:30 PM
and
Mondays
at
4:00 PM
. Questions? Please contact the West BOE Reps
Janée Hunter
and
Mary Blanc
at
edurep@westschoolptc.org.
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HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE DECORATING FUN
Kids ages 7 and up join us on
Friday, October 19th
from
5 PM
to
6:30 PM
at the Carriage Barn Arts Center for a Halloween treats and cupcake decorating workshop. Each child will receive step-by-step, hands-on instruction to create four custom designs, then creatively package each treat to bring home! Cost: $45 per child. Space is limited.
Click
here
to register.
New Canaan Girl Scouts is looking for parents of girls in grades K-3 to volunteer to start new troops at West School. Your unique strengths and skills will benefit and inspire girls. Our NEW process is QUICK and EASY to get a troop up and running. Our program is very flexible and progressive, so you are able to choose a schedule that works best for you! And if you are not able to be a Co-Leader, consider being a Troop Helper. For more information, please contact:
Michele Breed
at
mbreen@gsofct.org.
 New Canaan High School Theatre presents the wonderfully creepy and kooky musical comedy, "The Addams Family"
October 26th at
7:00 PM and
October 27th at
2:00 PM and
7:00 PM. This will be a fun way for families to celebrate Halloween as the lobby will be decorated like a haunted mansion. "Spooky" pre-show activities for children grades K-5. Halloween costumes are ENCOURAGED! Purchase tickets
here.
NEW CANAAN LIBRARY
Calling all readers ages 8 to 12! On
Sunday, October 28th from
1-3 PM, in partnership with
Elm Street Books, the Library will be hosting a
Middle Grade Author Extravaganza
! Eleven nationally published children's authors are coming out to New Canaan for the day and will be discussing their work and themselves at an informal panel discussion from 1-2 PM. From 2-3 PM there will be an opportunity for a meet, greet, and book signing with each of the authors upstairs in the children's section of the Library. Click here to register and click here for additional information about this event.
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