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

On Wednesday, February 9th the West PTC hosted our first in person event of 2022, “West’s Got Talent!” Bravo to all of the 3rd and 4th graders who performed at this year’s Variety Show! Featuring an appearance by our mascot Westy and an introduction by Principal Jan Murphy, it was an unforgettable night full of fun, creativity and positivity.

Congratulations to all of our talented performers, who dazzled the audience: Claire Amundsen, Elisa Angeles, Michaela Bogal, Elizabeth Clay, Mina Ciolli, Kiera Dahill, Emmie Del Percio, Amelia Emson, Margot Emson, Camilla Erickson, Annamaria Federici, Nick Frisch, Ryan Fulk, Emma Hansen, Tenley Jones, Mia Liu, Makenna Mara, Hadley Marich, Ava McClure, Katherine McMahon, Colleen Moore, Amelia Palmer, Chloe Raymond, Kieran Rogers, Samantha Salvatore, Sydney Salvatore, Danny Schwedel, Ellie Skidmore, Charlotte Sousa, Ellie Sousa, Alana Siekhaus, Evelyn Stevenson and William Tucker. Thank you to our wonderful host Mae Fitzgibbons. Thanks to our incredible emcees Sava Brooks, Eva Hassan, Ava McClure and Elliana Sparacino. Thank you to the amazing Backstage crew: stage manager Jamie McGee, student helpers Grace Amundsen, and Alex McGee, and parent volunteers Kathryn Amundsen, Jill Carles, Kate McGee and Nathalie Schubert. Parent volunteers Anne Emson, Martha Harper, Chad and Cathy McClure, Liz Moore, Danielle Siekhaus and Lisa Stevenson. Finally, a HUGE thanks to our incredible chairs who produced a magical evening all of West will remember with a big smile—Erin Marich and Jaime Smith. The West PTC is truly lucky to have parent volunteers like you! Please visit the West School instagram page @westptcnc for more photos of this incredible night. To view the performance, please click here.

Winter Break

On Tuesday, February 8th the joint Elementary PTCs hosted a virtual New Canaan Cares presentation about sibling relationships. If you were unable to attend, a link can be found here. 

February is Kindness Month! Let’s show the teachers and staff at West School how much they are loved and appreciated! This week, each child has brought home 2 paper hearts. Do they have a special memory of when a West teacher or staff member has shown them kindness that they would like to share? If so, please have them write/draw/decorate/etc each memory on an individual heart. No memory or act of kindness is too small! Please have your child bring their completed hearts back to school in their take home folder. We will be displaying them all over the walls of the staff and teacher lounge! Hearts are due the week of February 14th.

West School will be recognizing our bus drivers during the week of February 14th to celebrate Bus Driver Appreciation Week. Thanks to your generous support of WestFest, the PTC is participating with all of the other NC public schools to bring the Bubble & Brew coffee truck for the bus drivers on Thursday, February 17th. In addition, families are welcome to join us in showing your appreciation for the great work they do for our students by giving cards of appreciation to your bus driver next week.

We look forward to seeing everyone in person for Math Night on Wednesday, March 9th! The visual of your child's invention (a prototype, diagram, etc.) along with a completed Reflection Form (reflection forms for grades K-1 are here and grades 2-4 are here) are due on Thursday, February 17th. 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.

The memory book sale page is open and ready to receive your orders. Order your West School Memory yearbook now for lifelong memories! Deadline to order is by Friday, March 11th. (Late orders will be charged a $5 fee.) Please click on the link here to get started. Thank you for supporting our program!

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.

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, February 7th Board of Ed meeting, Ms. Melinda Meyer and Mr. Michael LeDuc gave a K-12 district Science and STEM update, including a description of the Next Generation Science Standards for each grade level. Dr. Bryan Luizzi and the Cabinet gave a Covid update. Finally, the School Start times for the 2022-2023 school year were approved by the Board. Option "B" was adopted, which has the following school times: Grade 7-12 8am-2:20pm,  K-grade 4 8:40am-3:10pm, Grade 5-6 9:15am-3:45pm. The next BOE meeting will be Monday, March 7th. Questions? Email Meghan Gould at edurep@westschoolptc.org. The agenda and prior meeting minutes are 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. 

Community Announcement New Canaan Baseball is winding down our Spring registration and we have programs for all ages (4-15) and abilities. Please go here for complete details. Spring will be here before you know it. PLAY BALL!

This spring, join us to explore the forests, fields, and ponds of the New Canaan Nature Center during our new after school program! Create hypotheses, conduct experiments, and get ready for some awesome hands-on collaborative learning. Delve into fun and engaging weekly themes while exploring our natural world. For students in grades K-2 during the 2021-2022 school year. Program Includes: Bus transportation to the Nature Center from the 3 NCPS Elementary Schools; snack time; outdoor free play (whenever possible); sustainable nature STEAM activities; and homework/quiet indoor time. Registration opens Monday, February 7th for our Spring Session which runs from April 18th-June 17th. Click here for more information.

Join NYT bestselling author Dr. Cara Natterson on Tuesday, February 15 at 7pm on Zoom to learn about puberty from a medical, emotional and social standpoint. Why is it starting earlier? How can we best guide kids through it? Cara is a pediatrician, consultant, founder of puberty company OOMLA, and a mom of two teens who speaks to audiences across the country about understanding and owning their health and wellness. Register here.

Winter warmer evening Friday, February 18th from 5 - 6:30pm with wine and chocolate! Come and see the 42nd Annual Photography Exhibit juried by award winning photographer Platon at the Carriage Barn (before it closes on Saturday, February 19th). Children welcome, there will be children's crafts. Enjoy a glass of wine and chocolate and brownie tastings from Knipschildt Chocolatiers, Le Pain Quotidien and Edible Arrangements. Suggested donation per family $25. Check here for details.

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!

The NCHS Preschool Program will open this Spring 2022 in early March. 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.

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.

NCSF Announces the 2nd Annual NC Color Drop The NCHS Scholarship Foundation (NCSF) will hold its second NC Color Drop on Saturday, March 26th at 10am. After a successful event last year, a sleek Bell407 helicopter, courtesy of HeliNY, will once again fly over the skies of New Canaan and hover over Waveny Park, safely releasing more than 1500 colored golf balls over a designated target. Each golf ball will have an assigned number. The lucky person whose ball lands closest to the target will win a fabulous prize, such as a Momentum Transend Electric Bike, a Pet Portrait by Emma Sims, Mayfair Tickets, and an 84 Sports NC Gift Basket. The winning balls will be announced immediately. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the NCSF for need-based scholarships given to NCHS graduates. Bill Egan, NCHS Principal and Chairman of the NCSF, believes the 2022 NC Color Drop is an opportunity for the community to make a difference in the lives of students. “Transitioning to the Color Drop last year was so exciting and we are looking for the same amount of enthusiasm this year. Seeing a rainbow of golf balls raining down on the field was a thrill and knowing that each bit of color represented a donation to help a student made the NC Color Drop a special way to celebrate NCSF.” Spectators will be allowed to view the NC Color Drop from a safe distance in Waveny. Golf balls will be available for purchase online beginning March 1st at nchs-sf.org.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 7th, when the Cub Scouts of New Canaan will be hosting their annual model-rocket event at Waveny Park from 6 - 7:30 pm. Learn about the scouting programs in our town and enjoy a fun-filled evening of model rocket launches. Open to the public. No charge to attend. Online registration to open in early May. Email recruitment@ncpack7.com to receive updates. Rain date is Wednesday, June 8th.