March 25, 2022
PRESIDENTS' MESSAGE
Lauren Erickson and Meghan Gould
Spring has arrived at West School! Thank you to former West parent, Anca Jordan, for keeping the front of the school looking happy and beautiful year after year. The West PTC Gardening Committee would love parent help with Spring Clean-up in the OLC. If you’re interested in general outdoor beautification, please email Holly Hopkins at gardening@westschoolptc.org (a green thumb isn’t required!).
This is the last call for media center volunteers this school year! With only 11 weeks of school remaining, and a tremendous parent response, we are currently scheduling library volunteers through June. If you are interested, please click here. All volunteers must attend a library orientation and also a media center training session before being scheduled. A huge thank you to chairs Celina Allibhai, Jessica Bottini, Udita Chek & Jane Xiao for organizing this treasured volunteer tradition at West after a 2 year hiatus. 
This Saturday is the NC Color Drop at Waveny! A helicopter will release 2,000 golf balls over a target at Waveny Park. Each ball will be numbered individually and the participant whose ball lands closest to the target will be the winner of one of the grand prizes! More information is below in Community Clicks. You can purchase a ball at nchs-sf.org (they are close to selling out so don’t wait!). All funds raised go towards the NCHS Scholarship fund.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, March 28th
Kindergarten Parent Orientation, 9:30am

Tuesday, April 5th
Virtual Author Visit, 10:00am
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS (NO SCHOOL)
Friday, April 8th - Friday, April 15th
Spring Break
WESTY ANNOUNCEMENTS
VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISIT
Peter Reynolds, is our PTC sponsored visiting author this Spring, coming to West virtually on Tuesday, April 5th. "BE YOU" 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.
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
Did you check the Mighty Math board in the 2nd grade hallway last week? The leading classes for each grade had their pictures posted. Don't forget to log your minutes to earn fun prizes as you reach each milestone. 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
At the Monday, March 21st Board of Ed meeting, the Board received a presentation on Social and Emotional Intelligence from Student Supports Coordinator, Dr. Susan Bliss. Dr. Luizzi and the cabinet gave a statement of accounts, enrollment update and the Board did a second review of the 2023-24 school calendar. Additionally, a NCHS Model UN trip was approved. The next meeting is Monday, April 4th. Questions, email Meghan Gould at edurep@westschoolptc.org. The agenda and prior meeting minutes are here.
HELP WANTED
NCPS IS LOOKING FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
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 LINKS
NC COLOR DROP 2022
The NCHS Scholarship Foundation (NCSF) will hold its second annual NC Color Drop on Saturday, March 26th, 2022. Buy your ball and watch a Bell407 helicopter safely release close to 2000 colored golf balls over a designated target in Waveny Park. 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, or 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. Golf balls are available for purchase online at here. Those who purchased a ball will be allowed to view the NC Color Drop form a safe distance in Waveny.
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!
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!
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.