October 22, 2021
PRESIDENTS' MESSAGE
Lauren Erickson and Meghan Gould
The Halloween Parade Returns! 
We are thrilled to have the Halloween parade return on Friday, October 29th at 10am. Please send your child to school DRESSED in their costume, and enjoy the parade at designated areas around the school.
Suggested Viewing areas: 
FRONT LOOP-Parents of students in Prek, Kindergarten and Grade 1 
BACK BLACKTOP PERIMETER-Parents of students in grades 2, 3 and 4 

If you have more than one child, please view from your youngest child’s area. Please remind your children that no toy guys, swords or other weaponry will be allowed as part of the costume at school. The parade will be held outside (masks required). All students in grades Pre-K through 4th grade will participate in the parade. The parade route has been expanded in order to allow for more room to spread out. We look forward to seeing you there! 
New West School Instagram Account! 
Big news! The West PTC has launched an Instagram account, @westptcnc. We plan to keep parents updated about school information, announcements, reminders and event recaps. This is a closed account, available only to current West School parents. Please join today! If you have questions, or need help joining, please email Carolina Castellano at socialmedia@westschoolptc.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, October 29th
Halloween Parade, 10:00am

Thursday, November 11th
Veterans Day Assembly, 10:00am

Friday, November 12th
Performing Arts Committee presents Surcari

Friday, November 19th
Spirit Day

Wednesday, November 24th
Early dismissal, 1:05pm

Tuesday, November 30th - December 3rd
Parent teacher conference, 1:05pm
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS (NO SCHOOL)
Tuesday, November 2nd - Professional Development Day

Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th - Thanksgiving Break
WEEK IN REVIEW
BUBBLES & BREW
On Tuesday the PTC treated the West School staff to coffee and breakfast from Bubbles & Brew thanks to your generous donations for Teacher Appreciation in September. A warm drink was appreciated by all on a chilly fall morning! Stay tuned for another opportunity to thank our amazing faculty coming in December.
VISITING AUTHOR, GORDON KORMAN
West School 3rd and 4th graders were treated to a virtual visit with acclaimed author Gordon Korman this morning. Mr. Korman is known for his many popular books including Masterminds, Restart, Swindle, and Ungifted. He engaged students with stories about writing his first book at the age of 12, how he gets his ideas for books, and the power of “What If.” He also answered student generated questions, moderated by Ms. Creutz. Thank you to Ms. Creutz and West's Library Media Specialist, Mr. Murren for facilitating such a fun and inspiring virtual visit. 

Several of Gordon Korman’s books are available for purchase via the Elm Street Books website. He has graciously offered to provide a personalized bookplate with your child’s name for any of his books purchased before October 24th. Please click here to order your signed copy!
WESTY ANNOUNCEMENTS
WESTY MEMORY BOOK COVER ART
Attention all 4th Graders! The West School Memory Book needs you to design its cover! First and second place winners each receive a free Memory Book! All submissions must be returned to your teacher by Friday, November 12th. See flyer for additional details. Any questions, please contact the Memory Book team at memorybooks@westschoolptc.org. Be creative and have fun!
4TH GRADE BABY PHOTOS AND QUOTE FOR WESTY'S MEMORY BOOK
Help make it extra special for our fourth graders! Please fill out the Google Form and submit a baby photo (.jpg format please, with a filename in the format of StudentnameTeachername.jpg) as well as your child's answers to the two questions listed in the Google form. All submissions are due by Monday, November 15th. Please email memorybooks@westschoolptc.org with any questions.
MIGHTY MATH
Mighty Math has launched, don't forget to log your at home math minutes to win prizes! Mighty Math is a program open to all West School students. It is designed to encourage the practice of mathematics at home and recognize students at school for their efforts. This program is voluntary, although we encourage all students to give it a try. 
 
Click here to learn more about the program, including examples of Mighty Math activities and how to record minutes. If you have any questions, email mightymath@westschoolptc.org.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
On Monday, October 18th, Athletic Director Jay Egan presented the board with an Athletics update. Mr. Egan reported that New Canaan has the most FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) championships in the league's history, with 162 NC teams winning the FCIAC. Overall athletic participation is up from 2019, and the New Canaan Boosters Club helps provide valuable resources for our NCPS athletic programs. Dr. Bryan Luizzi gave an update on the School Start Times Implementation Committee, which included a report on "Right at School," an afterschool program that is being considered for the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, Dr. Joanne Keating gave a summary of the BOE accounts.

The next BOE meeting is Monday, November 1st at 7pm. The meeting agenda and prior meeting minutes are here. Questions? Please contact the West BOE representative Meghan Gould at edurep@westschoolptc.org.
COMMUNITY LINKS
FILLING IN THE BLANKS HOLIDAY BACKPACK NEEDS!
Please help Filling In The Blanks fill the Holiday Backs with food and gifts. The backpacks are essential because kids use them all year long to carry home their weekend meal kits. The number of children has grown to over 3,000 students in our local communities. Please help by clicking on the Amazon wish list and sending the purchase directly to the FITB warehouse.
HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE DECORATING
Drop off your kids (ages 5 & up) at the Carriage Barn for Halloween themed creative fun with friends on Thursday, October 28 from 4-5:15pm ! Create 4 adorable Halloween-themed cupcake designs with step-by-step instruction. Each participant will package their cupcakes in a pretty bakery box to take home and share. Workshop is limited to 12 kids, masks should will be worn and social distancing will be practiced. NOTE: This class contains allergens such as nuts, eggs, dairy and gluten. Sign up here.
NCHS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
New Canaan High School is proud to present our first live production this fall. William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be held October 28th, 29th and 30th at 7pm in the New Canaan High School auditorium. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is set with a Steampunk twist. With a royal wedding on the horizon, audience members will watch as the mischievous fairy, Puck creates chaos between lovers in the forest with her magic. While the King and Queen of the fairies feud, a group of lowly mechanics rehearse a play to be performed for the Duke, only to have one of the actors end up with the head of a donkey and a night he’ll never forget. Chris Myers is the Director of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Prior to becoming New Canaan High School’s Theatre Coordinator & Financial Manager, Chris was the dance captain and performed in Mamma Mia! on Broadway and the national tour. *New Canaan High School’s 950 seat auditorium will be capped at 50% capacity. Audience members are required to wear masks. To purchase tickets please visit here.
AFTERSCHOOL WOODWORKING CLASS
The Carriage Barn Arts Center is offering a three-week after school woodworking class on Mondays, Nov. 1, 8 & 15 from 4-5pm. Register kids (ages 7 & up) here. Participants will learn basic woodworking techniques to build a wooden grabber tool. They will then personalize and paint it with their own design. All materials will be supplied. The cost for this three session workshop is $145, or $130 for family members. Class is limited to 12 kids, social distancing will be practiced.
NEW CANAAN BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRE-TRAVEL BASKETBALL PROGRAM GRADES 3-4
The NCBA, a competitive Travel Basketball program, is excited to announce that we are adding a NEW Pre-Travel program for 3rd and 4th Grade Girls and Boys. Experienced, professional coaches will run a fundamental basketball skills and games program from November 2021 through February 2022 out of a gym in Norwalk. Tryouts are tentatively set for the week of November 1st. Click here for more information and to join the NCBA email list.
WELLNESS FAIR
Join the Team at 84 Sports for our very first Wellness Fair on Saturday, November 6th from 11am to 3pm! Our goal is to celebrate local businesses while providing mental health and awareness, and raise funds for the charity RADical Hope. We will teach you how to get mentally and physically fit with activities, games and fun for the whole family! RADical Hope’s groundbreaking wellness programs empower and equip young adults with skills to stay well and stay resilient. Join us!
NEW CANAAN YOUTH WRESTLING
We are excited to announce NC Youth Wrestling is Back for the 2021-2022 season! Season kick off begins Monday, November 29th and ends with our annual King of the Room tournament and banquet on Thursday, February 27th. More info to come about tournaments, dual meets and practices with other towns. Register here.