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

Thanks to your generous donations during our WestFest capital campaign, the PTC is excited to sponsor the Proud to Read Aloud program, designed to promote reading aloud together by sharing one book with all West School families. The book this year is “Be You” by Peter Reynolds, who is also our PTC sponsored visiting author this spring. PTRA will begin on Monday, January 31st. The book shares a message that we are all unique and meant to be our best selves. Click here to hear the book being read aloud. You can also purchase the book at Elm Street Books in town or by clicking here.

In the interest of holding more PTC events and programs in person, we are in the process of adjusting the dates of several upcoming events this spring. Math night will now be Wednesday, March 9th (snow date, Wednesday March 16th). Please stay tuned for modified dates for the Parent Social, Science Fair and the Art Show. We look forward to seeing you back at West!

Spirit Day

Joint Elementary PTC Meeting, 9:30am

Variety Show, 6pm (snow date: Thursday, February 10th)

Spirit Day

Math Night, 5:30pm (snow date: Wednesday, March 16th)

Winter Break

Are your kids fighting all the time? Do you feel like a referee? If your children bicker, tease, tattle, and battle, then this workshop is for you. Join NC Cares on Tuesday, February 8th at 9:30am on Zoom to hear from Leonore Dweck and learn how to prevent conflict before it happens, and things you can do to help your siblings resolve their conflict themselves. Click here for more information.

The West School Variety Show is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9th at 6pm at the Saxe Middle School Auditorium! West students are invited to cheer on our talented 3rd and 4th grade performers. We will assess relevant COVID safety protocols as the event date approaches. Questions? Please contact Erin Marich and Jaime Smith at variety@westschoolptc.org.

The Memory Book team wants your photos! Our team is hard at work designing the 2021-2022 West School Memory Book. If you have any candid photos from Fall Family Fun Night, The Halloween Parade, Trivia Night or anything West School related from this year, please send them our way! Email them to: memorybooks@westschoolptc.org. IMPORTANT: Please save your jpeg photo in the following format: firstname.lastname.teachername Thank you for your help in making this year's Memory Book incredibly special for our children.

Mighty Math is on a roll with 3rd Grade in the lead followed closely by the 2nd grade. It is not too late for the other grades to catch up. Every new Mighty Math participant counts towards your grade's total. Check out the numbers on the Mighty Math boards. Don't forget to log your minutes to earn fun prizes as you reach each milestone. Next week we will introduce MM to the kindergarten classes! More info will be sent in the next few days. Click here to learn more about the program including examples of Mighty Math activities and how to record minutes. Any questions, email mightymath@westschoolptc.org.

In the interest of hosting Math Night in person, the event will now be held on Wednesday, March 9th (snow date Wednesday, March 16th). We know how hard every child has worked on their project, and we want them to be celebrated by parents and students who share a love of Math. This will also give a few extra weeks for families to work on their awesome inventions! Please note that the visual of student inventions (a prototype, diagram, etc.) along with completed Reflection Form (reflection forms for grades K-1 are here and grades 2-4 are here) are now due on Thursday, February 17th. If already completed, please feel free to deliver projects to our Math Specialist, Mrs. Willman. Visuals and responses will still be photographed and/or recorded, in the event anyone needs to attend virtually, and sent to the entire West School community. We will assess relevant Covid protocols as the event approaches. Questions? Please email mathnight@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, January 24th BOE meeting, the Board approved a $225,000 donation presented by the Saxe PTC for Phase 1 of their OLC, "The Hawks Nest," to be completed this summer. Dr. Bryan Luizzi gave a Covid update, which included information on proposed adjustments after the winter break with positive trends continuing. These adjustments include more flexible seating in the classroom, full capacity in the cafeteria, in-person events, conferences and PTC meetings, and parent volunteers returning inside the schools. The NCPS Charting our Course website with more information can be found here. Following the Covid update, the 2022-2023 NCPS Budget was adopted. The next BOE meeting will be Monday, February 7th, 2022. Questions? Email Meghan Gould at edurep@westschoolptc.org. The agenda and prior meeting minutes are here.

First Presbyterian Nursery School (FPNS) is now seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Director for the 2022-2023 school year. For full job description and details, see here.

The New Canaan Public Schools are looking to hire substitute teachers. Candidates must be 18 years or older with a Bachelors Degree. Must be able to produce Covid-19 vaccination card per CT Executive Order 13C. Daily rate is $125.00. Click here for more information. 

Come visit the 42nd Annual Photography Show at the Carriage Barn Arts Center juried by award-winning photographer PLATON. The exhibit is open through Saturday, February 19th and features a selection of images chosen from submissions by professional, amateur and student photographers. For further details click here.

Join us via zoom on Thursday, February 3rd for a discussion with exhibiting photographers & special guest Jane Beiles covering visual storytelling, the creative journey and standing out from the pack. For more information click here.

Spring is coming!...which means softball is coming! All Kindergarten to 8th graders are invited to join the fun this Spring 2022. No experience required! What better way to get ready for warmer days ahead than to register for spring softball! Last day to register before late fees start is Friday, February 18th. Register here!

Registrations are open for preschool children ages 2 1/2 to 4 years for this Spring and we are accepting applications for the Fall/Spring 2022/2023 school year. The preschool is located at New Canaan High School and high school Child Development students provide activities and learning activities as part of their course work. For further information contact nchspreschoolprogram@ncps-k12.org.

Back by popular demand Filling in the Blanks will be holding its third annual SOUPerBowl Challenge. A Weekend Meal Bag staple, let's help them restock their inventory of kid-favorite soups for local kids in need. Who will win this year? Returning champion Chicken Noodle or underdog Tomato? Visit their virtual food drive here and to support your community and your favorite soup.

Squash K-4 registration is open for the winter sessions! Session I begins Session II begins January 29th. All levels are welcome. Head to www.ncsquash.com to learn more or click here.

Register for New Canaan Library's Winter Reading program! Track your reading, complete wintry activities, and earn prizes as you go! Every day is a snow day at New Canaan Library, and we have a blizzard of books and activities for you to enjoy. Challenge yourself to spend some time reading every day and track your progress on Beanstack. Read books, complete activities, and record how many minutes you read to earn virtual badges and prizes. Complete at least 8 badges to earn a special prize. If you have any questions, please email the Library's Children’s Department (child@newcanaanlibrary.org) or call us at 203-594-5002. Click here to register for Winter Reading!

Participate in the New Canaan Land Trust’s First-Ever Winter Hiking Challenge! We invite you and your families to explore the trails at our seven open-to-the-public preserves by participating in the 2022 New Canaan Winter Hiking Challenge. Take in the beautiful scenery as you traverse through woodlands, wetlands, and meadows right here in New Canaan. The Challenge goes from now through the end of winter (March 20th). A great way to get outside in the new year! Share proof of your hike by finding trail markers along the way, snap a selfie and post it to social media using special hashtags. Submit your information to the Land Trust and be entered into a raffle to win a handcrafted walking stick. Click here for more information.

Let’s come together and give back to our community! Join New Canaan CARES and New Canaan Library to get crafty and create projects reflecting kindness and caring in this monthly program from January to April for 1st/2nd grades and 3rd/4th grades. Children will share their creations to bring joy to others and themselves. Please check the library’s event calendar for dates, times, themes and registration.