WEST PTC | WEST PTC CALENDAR | WEST SCHOOL | NCPS DISTRICT

This week, our PTC provided teachers with a week of special treats, with a Farmer’s Market theme. On Monday, teachers received a green tote with a Westy imprint along with a loaf of French bread. Each bag had a yellow sunflower attached with a different message from students. One of them said “My teacher helped me become a better friend and role model.” Each message from students told how our teachers help them to grow. Teachers were also provided a special lunch salad and desserts from Silvermine Market's "Farm to Table." To round out the week, there were sweet treats in the faculty room, plants in the lobby and a Friday breakfast in faculty room. Thanks for making the week so special and fun!

During the past few weeks, students have been observing some unique and informative “Science Demos” in an effort to increase student interest in participating in the science fair. Students enjoyed a demonstration about tooth decay that is caused by acid that bacteria creates from sugar. Students watched a demonstration about tooth decay and saw how acids from cola soften and dissolve egg shells. A special thanks to our PTC parents for preparing these special demos for students. Students will be watching more of these in the weeks ahead.

Over the past few weeks, several of our parents have shared their musical expertise during music classes. Our music teacher, Mrs. Fitzgerald, sent out a “Calling all Musicians” notice to invite parents to share their musical talents. Students enjoyed listening and learning about the piano, and other instruments shared by our parents!

Monday, May 23rd and Tuesday, May 24th (times will be sent via email)

Incoming kindergarten students will visit West and spend time in a “mock” kindergarten classroom to get to know our teachers and some of their future classmates. Save the date!!

Please visit the New Canaan Public Schools website, to register your child for kindergarten. All registration paperwork must be completed and submitted via our district registration process prior to attending the orientation session. The health form can be submitted at a later date based upon your child’s next physical. Please contact Janine Farkas at janine.farkas@ncps-k12.org or 203.594.4409 if you have any questions.

In response to the needs expressed by the community, the NCPS have been seeking to expand before and after school programming offerings for elementary and middle school students. We are excited to share that, starting in 2022-2023, Right at School, a national provider of quality experiences for students, will be offering programming for all NCPS students K-6.

As a complement to our excellent existing programs, Right at School offers flexible scheduling (1-5 days/week), and programs typically begin immediately after school and run until approximately 6:00pm based upon parent need. More information is available for West parents here. They were at our Meet and Greet on Wednesday, March 16th. Go here for their recent recorded webinar.

At the Monday, May 3rd Board of Education meeting, the board voted to adjust the 2021-2022 school district calendar to modify the number of student days to 180. The current last day of school is Friday, June 17, 2022.

Science Fair entries due

Nurse Appreciation Day

Art Show and Family Social

Sunday, May 15th, 2:00 - 4:00pm (rain date Sunday, May 22nd)

Incoming Kindergartener Bike Rodeo

Tuesday, May 17th, 5:00 - 6:00pm (rain date Thursday, May 19th)

Science Fair

Friday, May 20th (rain dates Friday, June 3rd and Monday, June 6th)

Field Day

Wednesday, June 1st (rain date Thursday, June 2nd)

Save the date for the Third Grade Concert

Thursday, June 9th (rain date Tuesday, June 14th)

Save the date for the Fourth Grade Concert

Memorial Day

This week has been full of special treats for the West school staff in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week! A big thank you to chairs Kristin Scholz, Lisa McLean, Connie Boville, Kate Regan, and Joanna Tonovich for organizing "The West School Farmer's Market".

The West School Art Show and Spring Family Social is Friday, May 13th from 5:30-7pm. Enjoy our students' works of art throughout the halls of West and then join us on the back playground for a magic show and ice cream truck treat, sponsored by the PTC. This event is free, bring the entire family and a picnic blanket! Pre-order Joe's Pizza here. Orders are due by Monday, May 9th.

Here is a schedule of events for the night:

5:30PM | Art Show begins inside West

6:00PM | Family Social begins on back playground; pizza table opens for pickup

6:30PM | Magician show begins

7:00PM | Art show ends

For questions, please contact Emi Basaran & Anne Emson for art show, Jamie Buschman & Kristen Costello for social, all can be reached at art@westschoolptc.org.

We are so excited to welcome volunteers back to West School! West Parents Care is a new volunteer opportunity that will be available on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30-11am and on Mondays from 1:00-2:30pm. There is a table set up in the lobby of the school, along with bins of projects requested by our amazing teachers-copying, laminating, cutting for class projects etc. A link to sign up can be found here. Please kindly only sign up for 1 spot to allow as many parents as possible the opportunity to volunteer. Please email Eileen Hojnacki and Frances Sacripanti at parentscare@westschoolptc.org with questions. 

As the end of the year approaches, we want to encourage students in some math activities that hopefully will continue over the summer: measuring distance walked or biked outside, trying a new recipe, keeping track of weather and temperatures, trying a game as a family such as Monopoly or Checkers, practicing basic addition and subtraction facts, etc. More ideas on the Mighty Math Website. The Mighty Math Team will carefully track grade level data for the month of May. The class (for each grade level) with the most minutes practiced during the month of May, will earn an extra recess! If you have any questions, please email mightymath@westschoolptc.org.

Please join the West School PTC Instagram page @westptcnc ! You can learn important school information, and receive reminders and event recaps on the site. Please contact Carolina Castellano with any questions at socialmedia@westschoolptc.org.

At the Monday, May 3rd Board of Ed meeting, the Board was given a Health Program Update by Mr. Jonathan Adams, K-8 Health and Physical Education Coordinator. The Board then received a Healthier Start Times Update from Dr. Luizzi & Cabinet. The schedule for West school next year is school start: 8:35am, school end: 3:10pm. Bus pick up and drop off information will be sent over the summer for all students. The next Board of Education meeting is Monday, May 16th. Questions, email Meghan Gould at edurep@westschoolptc.org. The agenda and prior meeting minutes are here.

After a three year hiatus, the annual May Fair will be held on Friday May 6th and Saturday May 7th at St. Mark’s Church. May Fair is a 70+ year tradition of Outreach and one of the largest and most anticipated annual events in New Canaan. The May Fair team is looking for volunteers to help out at the many fair venues. For more information, click here. Come to the Fair, meet your neighbors, have some fun and join this New Canaan family tradition.

Join Rebecca Comizio, MA, MEd, co-author of The Resilience Workbook for Kids, at the New Canaan Country School on Thursday, May 19 at 9:30am. She will provide strategies and tips for teaching children how to be resilient in the face of obstacles and hardships. Register here.

9 to 5, The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in 1979, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic. Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers, Doralee, Violet, & Judy, concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss, Franklin Hart. Come watch as these three women take control and take charge! You’re sure to laugh out loud, tap your toes, and maybe even sing along! Three performances only! Friday, Jun 3 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, June 4 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The show contains adult humor and situations. Tickets and info are available here.

As New Canaan Library's Family Services department plans to transition into the New Library next year, we are eager to identify ways that we can more effectively serve all members of our community. We would love to meet with families with preschool- and elementary-aged students with special needs/disabilities to learn how the Library can better meet families' needs in terms of programs and access to resources. If you are interested in participating in this conversation, please email Rebecca Fox, Assistant Manager of Family Services, at rfox@newcanaanlibrary.org.

Looking for an affordable, fun and educational day camp for your 1st-5th grade son or daughter? The Hoyt Adventure Day Camp offered by Connecticut Yankee Council of the Boy Scouts of America in nearby Redding, CT may be just what you're looking for. Five weeklong sessions available from late June to late July. Click here for more information and to register.

Connecticut Yankee Council of the BSA is hosting a camp weekend for all family members at its Deer Lake scout reservation in Killington, CT. Activities will include swimming, shooting sports, archery, games, slingshots, crafts, and other Scout fun. You do not need to be members of a scouting unit to participate. Click here for information and to register.

Looking for local summer camp options for your kids? Enroll your rising K-9 student in Ben Young All-Sports Camp! Offering an inclusive, welcoming, and positive environment, Ben Young welcomes children of all ages, genders, and athletic abilities who come together, regardless of their level of experience, to have fun. Children will take part in activities that range from basketball, soccer, and baseball, to kid-favorites like kick ball, capture the flag, and four-square - over fifteen different sports/games will be played each week!. The staff is an impressive crew of high school and college counselors that are all highly charismatic, mature, nurturing, and responsible. And this year, Ben Young welcomes a fully certified PE/Health teacher as Camp Manager. Ben grew up in New Canaan, attending our incredible public schools, and graduated from Bucknell University, where he was a 2-year co-captain of the Division I tennis team. This is now Ben’s 14th year at Saxe, and he absolutely loves being a 7th grade language arts teacher and a member/advisor of numerous clubs and committees. Additionally, Ben is the proud Head Coach NCHS boys varsity tennis team. Sign up for Summer 2022 today!

St. Luke's School is offering four sports camps in 2022 for ages 5-14. The popular multisport camp returns for five weeks (5-14) and campers can choose between full-day and half-day. Also returning is the St. Luke's Baseball camp (6-13) run by St. Luke's Varsity Head Baseball coach Sam Colon. The half-day camp will be focused on providing a fun learning experience for all with individual skill development at the forefront. Also this summer is another two weeks of St. Luke's Football Camp (6-13). This full-day camp is led by St. Luke’s Varsity Football Coach Noel Thomas, players will thrive in a football family environment that builds confidence and what Thomas calls supreme character. New this Summer is the St. Luke's Basketball camp (5-13). The half-day camp will work on individual skills, while also competing in age-appropriate competitions and games, with individual skill development and love of the game at the forefront. The camp is led by St. Luke's Varsity Basketball Coach Matt Ward. For more information and to register please visit here.