USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1956-1962 > Part 60
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ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will vote to authorize and direct the Board of Selectmen to appoint a permanent Committee of seven (7) members to be known as the School Planning Committee, whose function
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and duties shall be to make continuing studies of the future educa- tional possibilities and needs of the Town and on the basis of such studies to report its findings and recommendations to the Town at least annually; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate a sufficient sum of money to defray the expenses of the Building Code Committee; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of Twenty-Five Hundred ($2500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, to defray all expenses of the Board of Health in connection with the proposed establishment of a new Town Dump, including site, devel- opment, labor, equipment, materials and supplies ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 30. To see if the Town will vote to authorize and direct the Board of Selectmen to appoint a Committee whose function and duty shall be to study the advisability of building a new Town Garage, to determine the most practical and convenient location of and the avail- ability of a site for such Garage, said Committee to report its find- ings and recommendations to the Town at the next Annual Town Meeting; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 31. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate a sufficient sum of money for defraying the cost of repairing a fence on the easterly side of the Frost School and Whitney Playground and for the installation of a new fence in the same general location; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 32. To see if the Town will vote to accept a gift made to it during the year 1961 by the Isabel F. Hyams Fund, Inc., formerly known as the Solomon Hyams Fund, Inc .; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 33. To see if the Town will vote to accept miscellaneous gifts made to it during the past year by various individuals, Clubs and Organizations; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 34. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate, the sum of Nine Hundred ($900.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of providing suitable quarters for the Nabnasset American Legion Post No. 437 and the Auxiliary of said Post, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6539 and the Auxiliary of said Post, and the Frederick S. Healy American Legion Post No. 159 and the Auxiliary of said Post; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 35. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install the following street lights:
1. Two lights on Acton Road on Poles number 1 and 7
2. Two lights on Concord Road on Poles numbered 6 and 15
3. One light on Old Lowell Road on Pole numbered 23
4. One light on Snow Drive on Pole numbered 9
5. One light on Chamberlain Road on Pole numbered 62}
6. One light on Tadmuck Road on Pole numbered 8
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7. Three lights on Myrtle Avenue;
or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 36. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from available funds a certain sum to be deducted by the Assessors under the provisions of Section 23 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, as most recently amended, from the amount required to be assessed by them; or act in relation thereto.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up true and attested copies thereof at the Town Hall and at each Post Office in said Westford, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord, 1962.
John J. Kavanagh Arthur L. Healy Horace F. Wyman SELECTMEN OF WESTFORD
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Annual Report
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD
EST
R
ORATED
SEP
For the Year Ending December 31 1961
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ORGANIZATION - SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Arthur A. Abbood
Term expires 1962
Everett E. Miller
Term expires 1962
R. Andrew Fletcher, Jr., Chairman
Term expires 1963
Robert J. Spinner, Secretary
Term expires 1963
Term expires 1964
J. Austin Healy, Jr. Maurice Huckins, Jr.
Term expires 1964
Mary R. Lambert
Term expires 1964
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Westford Academy
Lloyd G. Blanchard, Superintendent
Telephone MY 2-6561
Kenneth H. Robes, Administrative Assistant
Vera E. Bettencourt, General Secretary
Emma G. Egerton, Financial Secretary
SCHOOL TELEPHONES
Westford Academy MY 2-6771
Cameron School
MY 2-6542
Roudenbush School
MY 2-6911
Sargent School
MY 2-6553
Wm. E. Frost School MY 2-6230
Nabnasset School
MY 2-6233
Guidance Department MY 2-8825
Music & Physical Education MY 2-4031
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
John H. Lambert Medical Associates
Lowell, Mass.
Tel. GL 8-6881
SCHOOL NURSES
Ruth N. Hall, R.N., Westford, Mass. Dorothy Healy, R.N., Westford, Mass. Tel. Office MY 2-8431, Academy
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF WESTFORD, the School Committee re- spectfully submits its report for the year ending December 31, 1961.
This is a pictorial report. Following the preliminary informa- tive items and the 1961 Summary is a selection of twenty pictures taken in our schools during the past year depicting the varied activi- ties which are a part of the Educational Program of Westford's boys and girls.
SCHOOL HOURS 1961-62
Academy
Grades 8 - 12
8:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
Roudenbush
Grade 7 8:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Elementary
Grades 1 - 6 8:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
SCHOOL VISITS
You are welcome in your Schools to talk with the School Principal and staff whether or not you have children in the Schools. However, you are urged 1) to check in with the Principal before visiting a class and 2) to make an appointment if you wish to discuss your child's progress with the teacher. Otherwise, the class is interrupt- ed and valuable learning time is lost.
SCHOOL ADMISSION
A child is eligible for enrollment in Grade 1 if he reaches his sixth birthday prior to November 1 of the school enrollment year. Birth certificate and evidence of successful vaccination are necessary for registration of any child new to Westford. Those transferring from other schools should present transfer cards.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The School Committee meets in regular session the second Monday of each month, 7:30 P.M., in the Academy Cafeteria. On the fourth Monday of the month there is usually a special School Committee Meet- ing. Meeting and Agendas are published. Public is welcome.
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1961-62
Teachers' Meeting
September 5
Fall Term
September 6 - December 22
Winter Term
January 2 - February 16
Spring Term
Summer Term
February 26 - April 13 April 23 - June 22
Total - 187 Days
Days Omitted:
Columbus Day
October 12
Teachers' Convention
October 27
Thanksgiving Recess
November 23 and 24
Memorial Day
May 30
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REMARKS
It is the policy of the School Department to keep schools in ses- sion on all days during which it is safe for buses to be operated. The widely varying conditions in the several parts of Westford make it difficult to reach decisions equally fair to all.
ON DAYS WHEN THE WEATHER CONDITION IS QUESTIONABLE, PARENTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE THEIR OWN JUDGMENT AS TO THE WISDOM OF SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.
1961 IN REVIEW
March 14 the School Committee welcomed two new members, Mrs. Mary R. Lambert and Dr. Maurice Huckins, Jr. The Committee then or- ganized with Mr. R. Andrew Fletcher, Jr., Chairman and Mr. Robert J. Spinner, Secretary. Formal action on the creation of Written School Policy for the Westford Public Schools was inaugurated at this meeting with the approval of the purchase of the National School Boards Asso- ciation "Reference Manual" and "Guides to Procedures". In subsequent meetings the suggested index was adopted, The Superintendent was di- rected to draft policy statements on selected decisions previously rendered by the School Committee as well as on current policy deci- sions and to offer a statement of philosophy for Committee action. Here follows the Statement of Philosophy adopted by the School Commit- tee August 21:
Schools are for pupils. First, last and foremost, our schools shall serve the best interests of the children of Westford. Our every policy statement, every administrative decision, may be justified only to the extent that it furthers the interests of our children. Policy statements and administrative regulations shall be kept at a minimum so that we do not lose sight of the child because of the complexity of our organization.
Organization is for enhancing instruction. Our graded system was originally developed for its educational advantages, as was our con- cept of the optimum pupil-teacher ratio. As more effective ways of grouping children for instruction evolve, so shall the organization of our schools be modified.
The instructional program is developed from our knowledge of the psychology of learning. Each child is an individual and has a right to a program suited to his interest and his potential. Every child has a right to enjoy continuous progress towards his chosen goals. Continuous encouragement shall be given to program adjustments direct- ed towards the realization of the maximum achievement for each pupil.
Teachers are for teaching. Policy and regulations shall be geared towards freeing the teacher for teaching. Teachers shall be encouraged to assume leadership roles in the areas of their special strengths and shall be expected to command the respect which enables them to be effective teachers both within and without the classroom.
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All other school personnel serve the teacher.
Good school-community relations serve the interests of the pupils Comprehensive and timely public information is the key to good public relations.
The expenditure of public funds dictates maximum return on the dollar and accurate accounting. Policy governing purchasing and ac- counting shall be directed towards quality with economy.
Progress on Westford's proposed Middle School has been reported periodically by the Secondary School Building Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. E. Kennard Fletcher. The educational specifica- tions developed by the Staff Committee and edited by the Educational Consultant were formally adopted by the School Committee and the School Building Committee in joint meeting May 15. From several draw- ings submitted by the Architect a basic plan was selected by the Building Committee and approved by the School Committee on September 25. The December 14 Special Town Meeting directed the Building Com- mittee to plan initially for the fully expanded 750 pupil school. The architects are now preparing final drawings. Of the twenty-nine School Committee Meetings during the 1961 calendar year, eleven have been devoted entirely or in part to discussions and decisions on West- ford's proposed new Middle School
Pupil safety has been another frequently repeated agenda item. Officer John F. Sullivan, Jr., met with the School Committee on Jan- uary 9 to discuss danger points of crossings and highways for our stu- dents who walk to school. January 12 a letter was mailed to the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen urging inclusion in the Police Budget Funds to provide two hours per school day Special Police ser- vices to safeguard our children against traffic hazards. A second letter urged completion of the Plain Road sidewalk prior to school opening September 1962. An open letter to parents March 20 urged that parents repeatedly caution their children against accepting a ride from a stranger, or even approaching a stranger in a car to answer questions. The policy statement governing pupil transportation is written with pupil safety as its objective. More recently the School Committee has been concerned with pupil safety in case of atomic at- tack. October 23 the Committee voted to adopt dispersal of children as the Public School Civil Defense Policy. Transportation details are still under study.
The School Committee enjoyed first hand information on the In- structional Program through visits from staff members at regular meet- ings January 23 through June 12. A total of ten teachers reported. This practice proved very informative and shall be continued in 1962.
Many items of public interest occurred at the Academy this past year. Students bade a sorrowful farewell to Christiane Bracquart, their guest from France, and a happy welcome to Mari Hareide from Norway. The Town is indebted to the local Chapter of the American Field Service for making these exchanges possible.
The new Language Laboratory was ready to operate shortly after
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school opened in September. This National Defense Legislation project, initiated by Academy Principal, Mr. Daniel Desmond, and language teacher, Mrs. Madeleine Spaulding, provides thirty pupil hearing-re- cording booths, all controlled by a console under the direct control of the teacher. Mrs. Spaulding attended a special language lab tech- niques course at M.I.T. this past summer to assure her effectiveness in the use of the lab. Where formerly each pupil had an opportunity to recite once or twice a week, now all pupils can recite constantly while the lab is in operation. Of course there is a limit to the time a pupil can profitably spend in this concentrated instructional expe- rience. The value of the lab is the training of the ear to hear, the brain to comprehend and the vocal chords to reproduce accurately and instantly French phrases, questions and expressions.
The Athletic Teams and the Band have enjoyed a successful year under able coaching and directing. These organizations have helped develop better boys and girls even while contributing to an increasing unity among students and among Westford's adults too.
During the past year affirmative action was taken on recommenda- tions made by the Academy Principal. 1) Beginning with the class of 1965, specified minimum grades in Introductory Courses must be at- tained before continuing Courses might be elected. 2) Under certain controlled conditions, a student may be awarded a Westford Academy Diploma even though final diploma credit requirements are fulfilled elsewhere.
Several Westford Academy students have reflected honor on their School this past year. Paulette MacMillan won first prize of $800 worth of clothing in the Cherry & Webb Essay Contest. Alison Hogg's essay, "Why Hire the Handicapped" topped over 300 State-wide entrants and placed well at the National level. Loretta Alling was fourth in the Annual Lowell Sun Spelling Bee. Fay Lamson placed fourth in the Knights of Pythias Speech Contest. Ann Goucher and Susan Morash placed one, two, in the Hampton Scholarship Award sponsored by the Massachusetts Industrial Editors' Association, for their essays "Why I Like Being School Editor". And Nancy Roderson won a trip to the United Nations on her essay on "The United Nations".
A follow-up on our 1961 graduates reveals that 21 of a class of 67 are enrolled in a four year college. Six others are enrolled in a two year college, one in nursing and two in prep school. 37 of the 67 are not continuing their formal education. Eighteen are in clerical employment, nine have gone in the service, five are employed in mis- cellaneous occupations and the remaining five are married.
Each year fewer Westford students are enrolled in the Lowell Trade School. The reason for the decline is that where so many in the greater Lowell are seeking admission, entrance requirements have be- come quite restrictive. The need for a Regional Vocational School to serve the area west of Lowell has been discussed in School Committee Meeting. That such a School would be an added attraction for new industry in the area should be no less an incentive to encourage study by area citizens than the simple fact that Westford Academy and the High Schools in neighboring communities are not equipped to offer the
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program needed by many of our boys and girls. Here are the facts as presented to the School Committee April 24:
1. The Vocational Division of the State Department of Education will conduct a survey if a request is made by as many as two communities.
2. Only if a city is involved is it necessary to introduce a bill in the Legislature.
3. Minimum efficient enrollment is about 500 pupils for a four year school.
4. Such a school would not replace present Industrial Arts Pro- grams .
5. The curriculum would be determined by a Planning Committee selected by the School Committees of the towns involved.
6. Regional Vocational Schools are encouraged through generous provision of State and Federal Funds for both construction and operation.
The Elementary Schools too have been making news this past year. The original organizational plan for 1961-62 involved the transfer of grade 3 Nabnasset children to empty classrooms in Cameron and Sargent. The plan was altered in deference to the wishes of Nabnasset parents and fourteen class groups were housed in the twelve room Nabnasset School. This was accomplished through the creation of two teaching teams of three teachers each at the first and second grade levels. The multipurpose room, teachers' room, clinic and conference room served as supplementary instructional areas, each group of three teachers planning as a team for all the children of the grade level. It is too early to evaluate the instructional advantages of this plan but both teachers and pupils have responded favorably. Sargent School has embarked on a slightly different team approach, involving group planning by the three intermediate grade teachers. One teacher in Cameron School is teaching Intermediate Science and supervising the Audio-Visual Program with assists from the other two intermediate teachers in the supervision of his group. All Elementary School teachers are seriously concerned with more efficient use of staff and plant to absorb growing enrollments even while steadily increasing the effectiveness of the instructional program.
An afternoon Arithmetic Fundamentals Workshop was held at Nabnas- set School March 22 to review current practices and new techniques. The scope proved too broad for the limited time alloted, but there was a healthy exchange of ideas and the survey indicated no serious gap in the elementary sequence of study.
Two schools are now offering Pupil Savings Plans. Nabnasset has a Banking Plan handled almost entirely by a Bank Representative and Frost School's Postal Savings Plan is administered by local Postal employees.
The Cameron School Library, organized by the pupils under teacher direction and with Cameron PTA financial assistance, has proven very effective in broadening the reading interests of the children. The installation of a library in the former special class room in Rouden- bush is in the planning stage and the Nabnasset library is growing in
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volumes and service. The necessity of a School Library to supplement our Reading Program and to serve as a resource area, is becoming in- creasingly obvious.
The Parent-Teacher Council, embracing all the Parent Teacher As- sociations of the Town of Westford, as represented by the individual PTA Officers, released a Spring Newsletter near the close of the 1960-61 School Year summarizing important School dates, explaining the purposes of the Council and reporting on individual Association activ- ities. The By-Laws of the Council list its purposes 1) To coordinate the work of the Parent-Teacher Groups in the Town of Westford, includ- ing the scheduling of meetings so as to avoid conflicts, 2) To dis- seminate information concerning the Westford Public Schools, 3) To act as a sounding board for school plans and as a clearing house for suggestions, and 4) To exert community leadership on behalf of better public education and the welfare of children.
Square Dancing has become very popular in Westford, thanks to the contagious enthusiasm and capable direction of Mr. Henry Leyland, Principal of Sargent School. January 9 Mr. Leyland, then President of the Teachers' Association, petitioned the School Committee for use of Academy facilities for weekly Square Dances, any surplus funds to be turned over to the Scholarship Fund. A Square Dance Club has been or- ganized and now there are two groups, beginners and advanced, with a teen-age group meeting irregularly. And the sum of money which has accrued to the Scholarship Fund is quite impressive.
The adoption of the revised Salary Schedule for the 1960-61 school year provided the desired Staff Stabilization. There were but seventeen new teachers appointed this past year and of this total five filled new positions and five were maternity replacements. The re- maining seven replaced teachers who had left Westford for a variety of reasons, but none because of dissatisfaction with the system or the salary.
We were all saddened by the death of two of our custodians this past year. Mr. Michael Mosscrop had served as custodian of Cameron School for five years and Mr. Raymond Wall was an assistant at the Academy since May 1959.
Prior to school opening in September the School Committee made a tour of the buildings to evaluate summer Maintenance Projects and custodian housekeeping, and to identify maintenance needs for the 1962 Budget. Among the projects completed under 1961 Budgeted Funds were the replacement of two Cameron fire doors, refinishing of the Cameron blackboards, refinishing of Cameron floors, weatherstripping of doors and windows at Sargent, installation of a hot top parking area at Frost, painting of Roudenbush lockers and installation of a limited number of blackout shades and screens. Painting was deferred to the 1962 Budget. Repair work on the Academy boiler costing over $1,000 was an unanticipated expense.
Each year the Enrollment Forecast has been adjusted upward and this year is no exception. Enrollments exceeded forecast for October 1961 by a total of seventy-five pupils, or roughly, three classrooms.
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Where last year's annual report anticipated a total enrollment of 2400 by 1970, the current forecast has moved this figure forward two years. It is anticipated that large subdivisions will further accelerate the population growth of the Town and the Schools. A 10% increase per year, which/entirely reasonable in view of growth experiences of area communities, would place the 2400 enrollment figure again two years earlier, in September 1966.
The net increase for 1962 is $95,860, or about 17.5%. The use of Federal Funds to cover some unbudgeted obligations of 1961, including the Language Laboratory, has substantially reduced the Available Funds for 1962 Offset. About 2% of the net increase is due to this reduced offset. Recent net Budget increases have been about 11%.
Approximately $38,000 of the increase can be attributed directly to the cost of accomodating the additional pupils enrolled and antici- pated. This figure includes $27,000 for additional administrative, teaching, clerical and custodian services, $5,000 for transportation, $3,000 for texts and supplies and $3,000 for reopening Old Nabnasset.
Scheduled salary increases account for $32,000 of the total in- crease, two thirds of this figure obligated by the salary schedule revision written into the 1961 Budget.
The balance of the Budget increase, about $25,000, may be broken down as follows: $8500 reduction in Federal offset, $5250 improvement of Roudenbush heating and lighting, $3500 replacement of Academy dish- washing machine, $4500 miscellaneous building maintenance projects, deferred from previous Budgets and $2500 has been set aside for a con- centrated summer effort on the strengthening of the Mathematics cur- riculum.
Budgeting for school operation is becoming an increasingly com- plex problem because of the accelerating enrollment growth and the intensifying search for more effective teaching tools and techniques. Two members of the Finance Committee were welcomed to this year's series of School Committee Budget Meetings and both Committees felt this liaison proved very helpful in arriving at the final Budget docu- ment. A copy of the 1962 School Budget has been placed in the Fletch- er Library.
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PICTORIAL REPORT - WESTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
In an attempt to better acquaint you, the residents of the Town of Westford, with your Schools, the following pictures are offered. These twenty pictures can provide, at best, but a very limited impres- sion of the great variety of learning experiences which constitute the day by day program of the Westford Schools. You are urged to become active in your PTA and to visit your child's school frequently. If you have no children in the Westford Schools, you are invited to visit anyway .
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We learn to read in small groups
This was not meant to be pupil furniture but
All pictures courtesy of Mr. Kenneth H. Robes, Administrative Assistant
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The Speed-i-o-scope keeps us alert and accelerates our reading speed
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