At the School Committee Meeting on Tuesday, May 27, committee members received a proposal from the Class of 2026 officers regarding their senior trip, reviewed the middle school improvement plan, and passed an update to graduation requirements involving freshmen health.
2025-2026 Field Trip Proposal
The Class of 2026 officers presented their proposal to the committee for an overnight end-of-year trip during their senior year. The proposed trip would take the Class of 2026 to the Omni Resort & Spa in Mount Washington. Taking place from May 26-28, 2026, the trip’s cost would range from $610 to $760, and transportation would involve an approximately 2.5 hour drive on an ADA-compliant bus.
The main goal of the trip is to provide all students with the opportunity to attend, no matter their financial situation or needs. There will be a wide variety of activities that will allow students to explore the destination, but the trip will also be balanced with structured schedules to cater to every student’s needs.
The class officers explained the itinerary for the trip to the School Committee as well. After settling in and arriving on day 1, students would be able to get lunch and start exploring an activity of their choice. They would then have some free time at night with an 11 p.m. curfew. Day 2 would include a relaxed morning with breakfast, followed by a second activity and lunch. Later there would be a group BBQ dinner at the Base Lounge to close out the second day. Day 3 would mainly involve making their way back home, with a stop at a local national park to conclude the trip.
The class officers reviewed all the activities that would be available to students, the cost of the trip, and the trip’s physical accessibility. They also discussed the meal plan and the price breakdown for the trip in its entirety.
“This trip to the Omni means a lot to us as class officers because it’s more than just a getaway for our classmates, it’s a chance to come together one last time before graduation, which is why we pushed so hard for this to happen,” Class of 2026 secretary Joanna Finney said. “After everything we have been through these past few years, […] it feels like we’ve earned a moment to pause and actually enjoy the people we’ve grown up with since middle school.”
The committee will hold an official vote to approve or reject the proposal at their next meeting on Monday, June 9.
Middle School Improvement Plan
Stony Brook Middle School principal Allison Hammer shared the proposed goals for the Middle School Improvement Plan. The first goal was focused on expanding equitable student outcomes.
Hammer reported that the middle schools have been working together to ensure consistent middle school experiences for all students. She went on to explain that one of the new strategies includes continuing to improve communication and feedback to students and families about their questions and concerns.
Progressing work on increasing a general sense of belonging was also discussed with a focus on Universal Design for Learning and celebrating student voices and choices through PRIDE, A World of Difference, and Student Council.
The final school improvement goal centered on social emotional and academic engagement. The use of Yondr Pouches for limiting cell phone use and the promise of later start times were both shared as advancements for this goal. Minor updates to the middle school handbooks were shared as well. Most notable was the new language regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the schools.
The committee also congratulated Blanchard Principal Timothy Hislop, who is moving on to a new district.
“I’m going to miss Westford a lot […],“ Hislop said. “[I have] nothing but love for Westford. It’s been a great place to work and build my career.”
P6110 Graduation Requirements
There has been much discussion surrounding WA graduation requirements this year and how students can balance their desired electives with the current PE and Health requirements.
The proposed update to graduation requirements would combine the current mandatory freshmen PE and Health courses into one semester of wellness per year. In doing so, 2.5 credits will remain open, which will provide students with more freedom in choosing classes.
At the beginning of the meeting, there were a few public comments regarding this topic. While WA health teacher Melanie Jozokos shared the importance of requiring a full semester of health, other community members shared the desire for more flexibility in schedules.
There was further discussion among the committee members regarding the pros and cons of the change, but ultimately, the vote passed 6-1, with committee member Bill McDonald being the one opposing vote.
“I think there is a greater issue here about serving students on [individualized education programs] IEPs and their course schedules that don’t necessarily have to do with freshman year [Physical Education] and health […] I think there is a larger equity issue at stake that deserves more attention and more discussion across a lot of distinct partners,” McDonald said. “But it’s my opinion that right now, given the standards, [what we’re proposing] would ask our teachers to take on [supporting more high need students] in each section with less time to cover more objectives and topics.”
