Notes from the Head of School

Happy Friday!

It was another busy week at White Oak School as winter continues to hold on despite it being the first day of spring!

*On Tuesday, Ms. Crowe and Mr. Schindel took a group of high school students to tour Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, CT. They were able to observe in each of the shops, including in Robotics, Welding, and CNC Machining. In addition to seeing the hands-on opportunities presented for training in each of these fields, they heard about all of the potential avenues for jobs in each specialty.

*We had a school full of green on St. Patrick's Day - we were feeling the luck of the Irish! Helenya showed off her shirt which featured this week's school-wide vocabulary word- shenanigans!

*Students had class meetings today - they played games, did activities, planned field trips and bonded with the others in their grade!

*Students helped a few faculty members celebrate their birthdays this week!

*Last night's Senior raffle and pasta dinner was a SMASHING SUCCESS! Thank you to everyone who came out, bought tickets, or donated money. A huge congratulations to the senior class and their advisors - Mrs. Williams, Ms. Ramsden and Ms. Capobianco on a job really well done! Stay tuned to see what adventures they plan with the money raised!

*Week 2 of the Acts of Hesed leadership group brought more time with the animals while building confidence and skills through the use of proactive language and team problem solving!

*REMINDER: - next Tuesday the 24th and Wednesday the 25th, the 10th grade students will take the ELA MCAS test. Although the MCAS tests are no longer used to determine competency towards graduation requirements, it is still very important that students take the tests seriously and try their best. A good night's sleep and a protein-filled breakfast are big contributors to help as well.

*A NOTE FROM MRS. SUTTER - our upcoming PAC meeting will take place on March 25th from 9am-10am in Building C. The meeting will be presented by our very own Tara Armstrong, M.S., CCC-SLP. Details of the presentation are as follows:

Neurodiversity in 2026: Navigating the New Landscape

If it feels like the landscape of neurodiversity is shifting under your feet, you’re not imagining it. The 2020s have brought a wave of new information that changes how we see everything from basic health to the tools our kids use daily. This talk is about making sense of the big changes, trends, and talking points. We’ll have space for discussion and resource-sharing, so you can walk away with practical tools and updates you need to navigate 2026.

We’ll start with what the scientific community is learning about how whole-body health and neurodiversity go hand-in-hand. We’ll look at why things like chronic stomach issues, hormonal shifts, sleep struggles, or even being double-jointed are often connected to ADHD and autism—and how you can help your doctor see the big picture of your child’s health. We will also look at how the world is changing for students with dyslexia, as powerful accessibility tools have become standard features on the devices that we all use every day. Finally, we’ll take a look at the conversation currently happening around the autism diagnosis. While there have been some heated debates on social media lately, it’s a topic that researchers have also been exploring for quite some time. We’ll talk through these different perspectives and what they mean for the community.

Please RSVP by March 23rd via email at asutter@whiteoakschool.org so we can plan accordingly. I look forward to seeing you all there!

*On Thursday, April 2nd,  the Hampden County District Attorney's office will present their "Stop The Swerve" event at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. I have attended this event many times and it always proves to be educational and frankly a little shocking as students get to experience simulated drunk, drugged and distracted driving. There is also a presentation for parents on the liability of hosting teen parties. White Oak entered a billboard idea into their contest. I hope you will consider attending this event and supporting this really important educational source. (See attached flyer) - if you don't have parent conferences scheduled that night!

*MORE MCAS DATES:

-Tuesday, March 31st- Grades 4 & 6 ELA

-Wednesday, April 1st- Grades 5 & 8 ELA

-Thursday, April 2nd- Grade 7 ELA

Have a great weekend! Think Spring!

Jody

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Happy Friday!

We had a very busy week here at White Oak!

*Mrs. Lynch's OE class did a sequencing directions activity where they made paper airplanes and then they got to fly them, taking advantage of the beautiful weather earlier this week! So fun!

*On Tuesday, Mr. Micks took 16 students to a food industry trade show on the grounds of the Big E. There, the students explored various booths of products sold to kitchen and restaurant businesses. They learned about pricing and the volume of options available while getting some yummy samples!  

*We had some visitors on campus this week - a momma bear and her cubs awakened from their winter slumber. We were able to observe them from the safety of our cafeteria windows as they lumbered around the edge of the woods!

*On Wednesday, Mrs. Rida's and Mrs. Luongo's social studies classes visited the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA. Here's a summary from some of the students who went: "Mrs. Rida and Mrs. Luongo’s history class is learning about different wars and took a field trip to the American Heritage Museum.  We were able to learn about the different types of wars and their history.  First, we traveled a long way on the school vans to get there, which was fun.  When we arrived there, there were tanks parked in the back.  The tanks were epic to see!  Next, we entered the building, and there was a cannon there!  Next, we went into a room and watched an intense and interesting movie about all the wars from the earliest to the current war.  After the movie, we got to be in an actual trench, which simulated a battle going on around us.  This showed us what it was like to be a soldier at this time during WWI.  Then, we walked into a room where we saw the first tanks ever created and used.  After that, we got to watch another war video about WWII.  Other wars we learned about were the Vietnam War, the Civil War, the Gulf War, and the War on Terror.  Overall, the coolest things we saw were a giant missile, a big, big jet, a tank painted like a tiger, a boat that transports tanks, a super old prison cell, and a train that showed a movie in it.  This was a great trip, and we learned a lot!"  

By: Bradley, Callie, Madeleine, Finn, Richard, and Blake

We are grateful to the docents and the veterans who were there to enrich our visit with information and stories!

*On Thursday, we were privileged to have Professor Bob Benard from American International College speak to our 11th and 12th graders about the different options available to students after high school. He spoke about trade schools, 2 year and 4 year colleges. He also explained the differences students can expect as they leave high school and continue on post-high school tracks, including the need to be independent in seeking accommodations. Thank you to Mr. Benard for sharing this important information with our students!

*Today, a group of students embarked on our first 8 week program at the Acts of Hesed Farm in Southampton. This leadership program incorporates the use of animals such as horses, goats and donkeys in a safe, supported environment with an equine specialist and a clinician in addition to our Mrs. Kelly. The goal of this program is to generalize emotional regulation, social and leadership skills from the farm to the school setting.

We are so thankful to 11th grader Alyssa C. who introduced us to this farm. Alyssa has a passion for animal-assisted experiences. Much of this opportunity has been financially supported by St. Germain Investment Management in Springfield, MA in Alyssa's name. Alyssa is currently working on a project to share more information about the farm and her experiences there. I look forward to sharing it with you all soon!

*Don't forget to reserve your dinner tickets for next Thursday's senior raffle and pasta dinner! This is the biggest fundraiser of the year - bring family and friends! I will attach a raffle prize list to this email - you can:

*Purchase your dinner tickets and raffle tickets ahead of time and send the attached form in to Mrs. Williams

*Purchase just your dinner tickets ahead of time and buy raffle tickets the night of - please reserve your dinner tickets with Mrs. Williams ASAP

*Purchase just raffle tickets ahead of time - you do not need to be present to win! Fill out the form and send it in to Mrs. Williams.

There will be many more prizes than those listed available the night of the raffle, including themed baskets, gift cards, a night at Foxwoods Casino and more!

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*Senior Lauren B. is working on her Gold Award- the highest award a Girl Scout Senior/Ambassador, gr 9-12 can earn! For her project titled "The Power of Understanding Dyslexia, she wanted to help other kids & families struggling with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia, while also helping teachers with resources.  She is creating resources to teach others about these disabilities and the importance of early identification and intervention.  She is also creating a library of literacy resources and activities that teachers can both use and share with parents when kids are struggling.  Lauren is gathering donations to add an audiobook section in a local public school’s library.  Her hope is to help both struggling readers and all students reach their reading goals, and hopefully encourage more of a love for reading.To donate or support Lauren's project, please see the flyer below!

UPCOMING:

*Tuesday, March 24th & Wednesday, March 25th - 10th Grade ELA MCAS testing will take place.

*Friday, May 1st - The Drama Club presents Willy Wonka Jr.

*Saturday, May 9th "Once Upon A Time" Prom - open to grades 9-12 - The Carriage House at Storrowtown Tavern in West Springfield.

Have a great weekend - hope to see you on Thursday the 19th for the Senior fundraiser!

Jody

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Happy Friday!

*Here are some scenes from last week's snow time fun!

*Mrs. Benjamin's PE classes are splitting their time between required Health & Wellness classes and learning the game of Pickleball! Can you dink while staying out of the kitchen?!?!

*Today in Club Meetings, the Boardgames Club learned a new Spanish card game while the Helping Hands Club created inspirational rock art for a rock garden coming soon to campus! The Drama Club is preparing for their May production by watching the original Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

*The Luau Dance was so much fun! We did the Limbo, Cupid Shuffle, ChaCha Slide and Macarena. There were jump ropes, hula hoops and snacks! Thank you to everyone who came and thank you to the Student Council officers who hosted!

*The Seniors are busy gathering raffle prizes for their big fundraiser on Thursday, March 19th at 6PM! It's time to purchase dinner tickets - information is below. The prize list is coming together and attached to this email - many more prizes will be added before the winners are called on the 19th so join us for all the fun and excitement! The class continues to collect prizes of gift cards, theme baskets and more. Reach out to Mrs. Williams at twilliams@whiteoakschool.org with questions!

*UPCOMING:

*Tuesday, March 24th & Wednesday, March 25th - 10th Grade ELA MCAS testing will take place.

*Saturday, May 9th "Once Upon A Time" Prom - open to grades 9-12 - The Carriage House at Storrowtown Tavern in West Springfield.

*I'm including information about 2 opportunities:

 - There is a Lifeguarding Class being offered for those aged 15+ through the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield.

  - The Westfield Public Schools are looking for adults to volunteer to help run Credit For Life - a financial literacy fair that White Oak's Juniors and Seniors attend every year. If you, are someone you work with, are interested, the information is below!

* This week, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC with the Massachusetts Association for Approved Private Schools (MAAPS) to meet with lawmakers regarding Special Education funding and federal oversight that could impact schools like White Oak. Among those I met were House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (MA), Rep. Richard Neal (MA), and Rep. Jim McGovern (MA). I was fortunate to be one of the voices for our students and families!

Have a great weekend!

Jody

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