So, this could indeed be a first, but this update is coming to you from the Great Plains of Oklahoma! Thus, the nod to Rodgers & Hammerstein not to mention the time difference which is making it morning back in Westford by the time this is indeed sent. After wrapping up a great week at Stony Brook, I joined my family as we jumped on an evening flight out west to attend a family wedding on Saturday. Although it was dark when we landed, I already miss the foliage as the trees are few and far between out here. The clean energy seems to have taken hold well as many of the oil rigs I have seen in the past have now been replaced by wind turbines...the wind sure is sweepin' down the plains!
It is easy to forget how diverse the landscape of our country is or how we really live in an area carved out of the wilderness until you venture out of New England. While it is not all the way out in big sky country, the trip to Washington DC for our 8th graders in the spring is often the first opportunity some of our students have to visit a different region of the US. They are always surprised by the difference in architecture and overall design of the city and how the city seems to be full of 8th graders from all over the country making the same trip to explore our nation's capital. Some of our students are only able to participate in the trip due to the generosity of donated support from other families. At the parent information session for the trip, the chaperones mentioned to the parents that they could include donations to help defray the cost for others if that is something that they would like to do.
Speaking of something full of 8th graders, Dee Bus has asked us to remind everyone that due to the fact that the busses are running near full capacity this year, they can't allow students to ride on different buses in the afternoon to visit other students houses. So, we will not be able to provide students with bus passes to ride on different busses other than their own.
Something we would like to fill beyond capacity is our Room to Read book collection box in the lobby. A Westford Academy student reached out to us for help in collecting used books that could be sold at the WA Bazaar to raise money for a very worthwhile organization called the Room to Read Foundation which is focused on helping to build schools in third world countries and empower young women through education in these countries. Books of any genre are appreciated and can be placed in the collection box in the lobby.
Spreading the word about other good things, I have included more specific information below about the SEPAC schedule for this year, but wanted to include information about the organization in the main body of the update:
About the Westford Special Education Parent Advisory Council
The Westford Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is a government-mandated volunteer organization made up of parents. The SEPAC serves as a resource for families of children with special needs from preschool through high school, serving all Westford schools. The mission of the Westford SEPAC is to work for understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs in the community. Each academic year, the SEPAC hosts a workshop on the rights of parents and students in special education. In addition, the SEPAC hosts informational workshops on a wide variety of topics of interest to our members. All workshops are free and open to the public.
SEPAC membership is free and open to parents and guardians of children with special needs and anyone interested in special education in Westford. Send an email to WestfordSEPAC@yahoo.com for additional information or to request to join our distribution list.
Visit us on the web at www.westford.org/sepac to see our current schedule.
I hope you all enjoy your weekend and that the weather out west here does not preclude me from returning east on Sunday. My son wore his Patriots sweatshirt tonight and until I stepped off the plane I had forgotten that outside of New England people tend to exhibit disdain rather than praise for the current World Champions...there's no place like home.
Chris
