April 1, 2022
PRESIDENTS' MESSAGE
Lauren Erickson and Meghan Gould
The West School PTC is thrilled to welcome award winning author Peter Reynolds for a virtual visiting author visit next Tuesday, April 5th. Peter Reynolds is our PTC sponsored visiting author this spring. Reynolds, who wrote West's "Proud to Read Aloud" book for this year, Be You, has written many popular books such as The Dot, Ish and The North Star. He will be presenting to all K-4 students. Thank you to our Visiting Author chairs Lesley Rotchford and Eileen Hojnacki for coordinating this presentation!
Several of Peter Reynolds’ books can be purchased at Elm Street Books. Click here or visit in person to order.
Thank you for an overwhelming response to volunteer in West’s Library Media Center! Sign ups for this school year are now closed. The chairs are in the process of training volunteers and assigning shifts. (This is based on each class, the rotating 6 day schedule and each volunteer’s availability.) They will be reaching out shortly!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, April 5th
Virtual Author Visit, 10:00am

Wednesday, April 6th
Coffee Connection
Kindergarten 9:15 - 10:00am
1st Grade 10:15 - 11:00am
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS (NO SCHOOL)
Friday, April 8th - Friday, April 15th
Spring Break
WEEK IN REVIEW
NCHS COLOR DROP
Westy had a blast with his friends last Saturday at the NCHS Color drop at Waveny. The event sponsored need based Scholarships which are awarded to NCHS graduates.
WESTY ANNOUNCEMENTS
WEST SCHOOL ART SHOW AND SPRING FAMILY SOCIAL
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. Bring the entire family and a picnic blanket! A link to purchase pizza coming soon.
SCIENCE FAIR IS BACK!
Save the date Tuesday, May 17th from 5.00-6.00pm. All science lovers, physicists, astronomers, biologists, geologists, chemists, meteorologists, engineers, this is the event for you! You can conduct an experiment, explore a scientific concept or demonstrate a scientific topic. Think out the box - do you have any ideas for renewable resources, alternatives to conventional materials or you care about sustainability and recycling? We would love to hear more! All students from Grades K-4 are invited to participate in this year’s Science Fair! More information next week, see here. Look for a registration form in your child’s home folder. Questions? Please email parent volunteers Kristina Ancker and Celina A. Allibhai at sciencefair@westschoolptc.org.
WEST PARENTS CARE
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. 
MIGHTY MATH
The Mighty Math boards will be updated on April Fools’ Day. Believe it or not the rewards will be distributed the same day! The kindergarten classes are on a fast track and we are so proud of them. Do you wonder which grade has the most participants? Your answer is on the BBT board. There is still time to make a difference for your class. Every minute counts. 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. 
WEST PTC INSTAGRAM!
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.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The next Board of Education meeting is Monday, April 4th. Questions, email Meghan Gould at edurep@westschoolptc.org. The agenda and prior meeting minutes are here.
COMMUNITY LINKS
SAXE 7TH / 8TH GRADE MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Come see the Revolting 7th/8th grade students of Saxe Middle School in their upcoming performance of Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical. We are excited to be opening our doors again to a full capacity live audience. Performances are Friday, April 1st at 7pm and Saturday, April 2nd at 11am and at 3pm. Tickets go on sale today, so click here to purchase your tickets. It's going to be Revolting, Naughty and nothing short of a Miracle!
FILLING IN THE BLANKS - EARTH DAY EVENT
Filling in the Blanks is partnering with Lesley's Recycling for Earth Day 2022! Join this initiative by collecting recyclables (bottles & cans only) to be cashed in. Proceeds will be used to purchase foods for Filling in the Blanks' Weekend Meal Bag Program! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Collect from Friday April 1st to Saturday April 30th! Please collect, sort, and count bottles and cans with the cashback recycling symbol. Recycle on Saturday, April 30th from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Feed Hungry Kids! See here full event details.
NEW CANAAN LIBRARY: ADVISORY MEETING ABOUT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS/DISABILITIES
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
MEET DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVIST JENNIFER KEELAN-CHAFFINS
On April 4th, from 4:15pm to 5pm, join disability rights activist Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins and author Annette Bay Pimentel for a reading of their book All the Way to the Top and a gripping discussion of Jennifer’s fight for disability rights, beginning in her childhood. Submit your questions for Jennifer and Annette when you register! Ideal for children in grades K to 6 and their families. Register here. This program is hybrid (simultaneously on Zoom and in person). Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins and Annette Bay Pimentel will join us via Zoom. Families may join on Zoom or gather together in the Library, whichever you prefer! See here for more details!
RECREATION SOCCER
New Canaan Recreation Soccer is starting soon. Parents are also welcome to help. $35 for the season. All games on Saturday, NO practices, Optional Friday games at 4:30. Register here.
MEET AUTHORS CARRIE SEIM AND SARAH MASLIN NIR AT NEW CANAAN MOUNTED TROOP
Are you crazy about horses? Join us at New Canaan Mounted Troop on April 30th from 4pm to 6pm, to meet middle-grade author Carrie Seim, author of Horse Girl, and New York Times reporter Sarah Maslin Nir, author of Horse Crazy. Carrie and Sarah will share their journeys as writers and riders. Instructors from New Canaan Mounted Troop will take us on a barn tour and give a horse-grooming demo! This program is ideal for horse enthusiasts of all ages, beginning with late elementary students. Register here. All children under 12 years must have an adult onsite for the duration of the program. New Canaan Mounted Troop is located at 22 Carter Street, New Canaan, CT 06840.
DANCE, RIDE, AND ROLL WITH AUTHOR VALERIE BOLLING
On April 14th from 2pm to 4pm, join us for outdoor games, an impromptu dance party, a book reading, crafts, and more in celebration of author Valerie Bolling’s newest book, Together We Ride. Weather permitting, we will meet on the lawn behind Lapham Community Center. (We’ll move indoors if necessary.) Ideal for preschoolers, elementary kids, and their families. Register here.
HOYT ADVENTURE DAY CAMP
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.
WEEKEND FAMILY CAMP
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.
BEN YOUNG ALL-SPORTS CAMP
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 SPORTS CAMP
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.