A crumby update!
An unexpected outcome of early preparations for Halloween was having an entire conversation with parents today while donut crumbs lingered in my grizzly adams facial hair. Initially, I thought the conversation went very well, but the fact that they maintained their composure while I had food on my face impressed me even more once I discovered it. Just another downside to looking like a character from a 70s TV show and a grim reminder that I shouldn't have been eating an apple cinnamon donut for breakfast.
Earlier in the week, I was able to have conversations without food on my face when talking with colleagues from other districts about the many wonderful things that our students are doing here at Stony Brook in and out of the classrooms. They were very impressed to learn about all of the extra-curricular activities that our students participate in while still maintaining such impressively high academic performance. Our students are very well-rounded and the variety of their interests supports both their academic and social emotional growth overall when kept in balance. Our challenge is to help them maintain the joy of learning and exploring their interests without letting it tilt into stress or unhealthy pressure. We discussed at length the correlation between student interest and academic performance and how robust activities can directly support classes as students and teachers are able to make connections between the skills being developed in the classroom and those developed on the fields or in the garden or in the rehearsal rooms or during the variety of club meetings taking place throughout the building after the bell rings on any given day. The other educators were impressed to see how we keep the quality of student-centered activities in line with the quantity.
The unfortunate part of our expansive opportunities is the need to collect activity fees. Students participating in an afterschool activity (SBTA, Math Team, Speech and Debate, Fantasy Game Club, Art, Roller Hockey, etc.) are expected to pay a one time fee which is due at this time.
Please turn in your fee to the office this coming week. If you are unable to pay the fee, please contact me directly as we do not want any student to miss out on an opportunity due to the inability to cover a fee. Visit our Activities page for more information and to download the activity fee payment form.
The idea of quality combined with the fear of talking to people with food on my face reminds me that Thursday Oct 27 is picture re-take day! O'Connor studios will be returning (hopefully, without another impromptu fire drill) to photograph students who were absent on the original picture day or for those who need to have another portrait taken. If you would like to order pictures, please use the original order form, or pick up a new form in the office. For students (or parents) wishing to have the pictures retaken, return the original package to the photographer on retake day. No order form is necessary.
While on the subject of order forms, our 6th graders will soon get the opportunity to meet with Newbery Medal-winning author, Jack Gantos, when he visits Stony Brook 6th graders on November 18 sponsored by the WMSPTO. Don't miss an opportunity to have him sign a book for your child that they can treasure forever. You can send in a book or pre-order one through the WMSPTO at a significant discount. Note that the pre-order is for BMS and SBS 6th graders ONLY.
Learn more here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1g3cFh7x-7XQzFvQ2xyX0xLZG8/view
The 3rd floor was glowing pink in the rain today. The entire 7th grade participated in Pink Day to honor those impacted by breast cancer. It was a heartwarming sight to watch nearly 187 students dressed in pink mixed among the 6th and 8th graders enter the building under the grey clouds and light drizzle this morning and climb the three flights of stairs to their advisories.
Last Wednesday night, the coordinators for the 8th grade trip to Washington DC held an informational session. Forms to register for the Washington DC trip are available in the main office or on the Stony Brook website. The conduct contract is due the Stony Brook by Friday October 28, signed by both student and guardian. This contract lets us know that you are at least considering registering for the trip. Registration is done through Capitol Tours. The registration deadline is December 2, 2016.
Any parent who is willing to help with fundraising toward scholarships can let us know through the form below. We appreciate any help in supporting all students who are interested in traveling with us.
We have utilized parent chaperones in the past when we did not have enough staff able to travel with the students on the trip. If you are able to chaperone, please check with your student first, then let us know through the form below. Chaperones would need a completed CORI and fingerprint check. We will know if we will be in need of parent chaperones by the end of January.
Volunteer and Chaperone sign up:
Westford Parent Connection has released this year's Speaker Series. The flyer can be accessed here. I encourage everyone to review the series as many of the presentations are incredibly helpful for parents of middle school students. This is an wonderful resource here in Westford and we need to help make more parents aware of it.
Finally, we have been asked to include this important notice from our Special Education Department:
If you know of any child attending public or private school, or who is homeless or has left school, and could benefit from a special education evaluation under Chapter 766 or educational services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please contact the Special Education Department in Westford (978-692-5560).
Every effort will be made to contact the parents to advise them of their rights under these laws.
Thank you for assisting us in this important matter.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Chris
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