p AW RINT Call of the Whitmore Wolves Newsletter for the families of Whitmore Charter School of the Arts and Technology 3435 Don Pedro Road, Ceres, CA 95307 • (209) 556-1610 WCSAT Parent Booster Club Officers for the 2012-2013 School Year: President: Heidi Starkweather Vice President: Tracy Cortez Treasurer: Meliesa Stiles Co-Treasurer: Rosa Vasquez Secretary: Libby Anderson Booster Comments or Questions? [email protected]The PAW PRINT is edited and published bi-monthly by the WCSAT Parent Booster Club. Editor: Julie Lynn Martin-Borba Assistant: Cheri Lloyd Content provided by: WCS Teachers, Staff and Parents Printed by: CUSD Media Center Funded by: WCSAT Full color copies are available for download at the WCSAT website: hp://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Newsleer comments, questions or feedback? [email protected]the The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Feb / Mar 2013 Volume 6, Issue 4 In this Issue: Pup Club 2 Life Skills 4 Important Dates 8 On January 25th, Whitmore Charter students celebrated the 100th Day of School. This day marks the point in the school year in which students and teachers recognize we are in the second half of the school year. This is a good time to revisit some tips for keeping students focused and on target with homework. Helping your child with homework is a great way to connect school and home. As a parent, you are able to encourage your child to participate in class, learn topics more thoroughly, and spend time working through difficult subject matter. Logistically, it can be helpful to provide a quiet place without distractions, and offer help when your child asks for it. Instead of answering questions directly, offer hints or an explana- tion of an idea. Talk with the teacher if more help is needed. What’s better than curling up with a good book? Sharing it with someone you love! So make reading a family affair. Sharing books is a wonderful way for families to bond, explore their cultures, and stay connected. Encouraging your child to read every day will help him/her build vocabulary, enhance creativity, improve concentration, and support improved analytical thinking skills. With the upcoming Literacy Week and Family Literacy Night activities, I want to invite every Whitmore Charter family to continue to support literacy in our school and at home, by encouraging our students to read every day. Reading in unusual places also adds to the fun. Look for unusual places children can read. You might consider: • Outside, under a shady tree, in a sandbox or hammock, or at a nearby park. • Under a tent made by tossing a sheet over a clothesline or table. • In the car during road trips or traffic delays. Keep books in your car’s glove box. • Sitting on a blanket spread on the floor for an indoor reading picnic. Here are some strategies to help your child build comprehension while you are reading together: • Read a part of the story without showing your child the pictures. Have him close his eyes and imagine what something in the story looks like. • Look for words your child is not familiar with. When reading a story, point them out and help him understand their meanings. • Ask your child questions about a text. Begin questions with who, what, where, when, why, or how. Ask “thinking questions” such as: How did you know, why do you think the character did that? How were you able to figure out what that word meant? • Smart readers learn to make comparisons. Ask your child to compare a book, concept, or character with another book. By using these strategies, you are building your child’s reading comprehension and helping him or her continue their love of reading! Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Amanda Rodrigues, our new Kindergarten teacher! Amanda is now transitioning into the classroom and we are thrilled to have such an enthusiastic, talented educator join the Whitmore Family! If you ever have any concerns, questions, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (209) 556-1610 or you may email me at [email protected]. Lynnette Chirrick Principal
Transcript
pAWRINT
Call of the Whitmore Wolves
Newsletter for the families of Whitmore Charter School
of the Arts and Technology
3435 Don Pedro Road, Ceres, CA 95307 • (209) 556-1610
WCSAT Parent Booster Club Officers for the 2012-2013 School Year:
The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Feb / Mar 2013 Volume 6, Issue 4
In this Issue:
Pup Club
2
Life Skills
4
Important Dates
8 On January 25th, Whitmore Charter students celebrated the 100th Day of School.
This day marks the point in the school year in which students and teachers recognize we are in the second half of the school year. This is a good time to revisit some tips for keeping students focused and on target with homework. Helping your child with homework is a great way to connect school and home. As a parent, you are able to encourage your child to participate in class, learn topics more thoroughly, and spend time working through difficult subject matter. Logistically, it can be helpful to provide a quiet place without distractions, and offer help when your child asks for it. Instead of answering questions directly, offer hints or an explana-tion of an idea. Talk with the teacher if more help is needed.
What’s better than curling up with a good book? Sharing it with someone you love! So make reading a family affair. Sharing books is a wonderful way for families to bond, explore their cultures, and stay connected. Encouraging your child to read every day will help him/her build vocabulary, enhance creativity, improve concentration, and support improved analytical thinking skills. With the upcoming Literacy Week and Family Literacy Night activities, I want to invite every Whitmore Charter family to continue to support literacy in our school and at home, by encouraging our students to read every day. Reading in unusual places also adds to the fun. Look for unusual places children can read. You might consider:
• Outside, under a shady tree, in a sandbox or hammock, or at a nearby park. • Under a tent made by tossing a sheet over a clothesline or table. • In the car during road trips or traffic delays. Keep books in your car’s glove box. • Sitting on a blanket spread on the floor for an indoor reading picnic. Here are some strategies to help your child build comprehension while you are reading together:
• Read a part of the story without showing your child the pictures. Have him close his eyes and imagine what something in the story looks like.
• Look for words your child is not familiar with. When reading a story, point them out and help him understand their meanings.
• Ask your child questions about a text. Begin questions with who, what, where, when, why, or how. Ask “thinking questions” such as: How did you know, why do you think the character did that? How were you able to figure out what that word meant?
• Smart readers learn to make comparisons. Ask your child to compare a book, concept, or character with another book.
By using these strategies, you are building your child’s reading comprehension and helping him or her continue their love of reading!
Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Amanda Rodrigues, our new Kindergarten teacher! Amanda is now transitioning into the classroom and we are thrilled to have such an enthusiastic, talented educator join the Whitmore Family!
If you ever have any concerns, questions, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (209) 556-1610 or you may email me at [email protected].
Lynnette ChirrickPrincipal
The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Feb / Mar 2013 Volume 6, Issue 4
The Pup Club The place for Our Young WCSAT Artists
Here are some art favorites displayed by our WCSAT Wolves.
Thank you for supporting the Arts!!!
Artist: MateoGrade: 2nd Title: The Mayflower Medium: Watercolor
Artist: AngatGrade: 4th
Title: Hot Cocoa Medium: Marker
Artist: Andy Grade: 1stTitle: Penguins Medium: Digital Media - Kid Pix Program
Artist: JessicaGrade: 3rd Title: Self-PortraitMedium: Crayon, Marker, Textured Paper
Provided by Mrs. Cheri LloydK-8 Studio and Digital Arts TeacherFine Arts Department Chair
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The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Feb / Mar 2013 Volume 6, Issue 4
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Dance-A-Thon!On January 17th, students across the Whitmore Charter School campus danced to raise funds for their individual classrooms. Each student who raised $5 or more in pledges recieved a glow bracelet to wear while they danced. Prizes were awarded to each class for best costume, best dancer, and top earner. All students receiving awards will participate in an ice cream sundae party. Also, a pizza party will be enjoyed by the top earning K-5 class - Mrs. Aguiar’s 5th grade raised $832.26! Middle School - Mrs. Knudsen’s class raised the most at $447. The three students who raised the most overall were - Erika Preciado $285, Harlye Holliday $175 and Alex Shaw $130.
Photos by: Renee Gaskill WCSAT Parent
Awards Grade Teacher Top Earner Best Costume Best Dancer (Party Rocker) K Burnett Taylor Moring Sophie Stivers Calen Adams K Redding Ellie Hart Arleth Serafin Zachary Looney 1 Stitt Hannah Borba Analicia Ruvalcaba Elliott Hayes 1 Tornquist Haley Gaskill Jayden Borden Abigail Melendez 2 Lewis Harlye Holliday Avery Hulsey Carter Sneed 2 Reyes Aleecia Silva Grace Looney Katelyn Kiefer 3 Benitez Brookly Howe Breanna Rice Mariah Palafox 3 Crawford Alyssa Jimenez Mattison Adams Maryn Curry 4 McNeal Samaria Trevino Allie Barnes Jordan Shinn 4 Terrones Jett Stitt Allison Stiles Brooke Starkweather 5 Aguiar Erika Preciado Jared Muirhead Halley Sexton 5 Sundy Alex Shaw Kadin Richardson Paige Janich
by Heidi Starkweather, PBC President
The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Feb / Mar 2013 Volume 6, Issue 4
Each month teachers are pleased to face the challenge to select just one student who exemplifies the traits of this year’s life skills. Please join the WCSAT staff in congratulating the following students for earning the recognition as a “Life Skills Student of the Month” for his/her class.
K-5 Life Skills Model Student Awards
December 2012 - Commitment - the act of being dedicated to a cause or activity -
Grade Teacher Student K Mrs. Burnett Hayden Partlow K Ms. Redding Evan Webster 1 Mrs. Stitt Grant Miceli 1 Mrs. Tornquist Angelina Perez 2 Mrs. Lewis Mateo Lopez 2 Mrs. Reyes Grace Looney 3 Mrs. Benitez Mariah Palafox 3 Mrs. Crawford Maryn Curry 4 Ms. McNeal Gregory Methvin 4 Mrs. Terrones Kailey Gearhart 5 Mrs. Aguiar Tony Cortez 5 Mr. Sundy Elizabeth Soto
January 2013 - Cooperation -the act of working together in harmony -
Grade Teacher Student K Mrs. Burnett Riley Starkweather K Ms. Redding Brooke Trio 1 Mrs. Stitt Nicolas Casetta 1 Mrs. Tornquist Justice Franco 2 Mrs. Lewis Nico Gil 2 Mrs. Reyes Josue Padilla 3 Mrs. Benitez Matthew Sanchez 3 Mrs. Crawford Blake Barr 4 Ms. McNeal Natalya Lemus 4 Mrs. Terrones Olivia Gil 5 Mrs. Aguiar Erin Lewis 5 Mr. Sundy Lilyana Sengsoury
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WCSAT will be holding the Kindergarten enrollment lottery for the 2013-2014 school year on March 13.
If you have a child starting kindergarten this school year please submit their application no later than March 12.
All siblings will be given first priority in this lottery.Applications are available in the front office and on our website at
http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us
WCSAT Kindergarten Enrollment Lottery
Photos by: Cheri Lloyd K-8 Studio and Digital Arts
Teacher
The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Feb / Mar 2013 Volume 6, Issue 4
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Middle School Winterfest Just before Winter break, the Middle School students performed their annual WInterfest production. There were several shows for parents, peers, younger students, and staff. Winterfest is a culmination of dance, drama, and music put on by the Fine Arts team and the students who take one of these classes as their elective. The students worked hard to prepare and we were very proud of them.
The Middle School Drama Class performed two pieces for Winterfest, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens and “A New York Minute” by Matt Thompson. Many of the students performed in both productions. “Christmas Carol” was the most involved show at this level in terms of costuming. The students were involved in the process, try-ing to put together costumes of a certain era, as well as solving all of the staging challenges.
Those of you who attended the recent Middle School awards assembly know that we gave the drama award to Cippy Salazar, who played our Scrooge, but also acknowledged was Lilly Spi-natto for taking a very proactive role with cos-tuming backstage, and Roman Ortiz for his initial interest in the play and vision for the production.
The group that we nickname “band” is really an ensemble because we include string instruments. Keely Garcia plays violin, Marlee Baker plays the viola, and Aryana Perillo plays piano. Our other members play traditional band instruments. Ashley Gleason plays the flute, Emily Sutherby plays clarinet, Stuart Joseph and Jacob Boelter play the alto saxophone, and Cristian Gutier-rez plays percussion. By far their favorite piece was the theme from “Transformers” the movie. It is filled with powerful, lyrical lines with mili-tary percussion beats and inspiring cymbal rolls.
The Middle School Dance Class performed 5 pieces, all with their own unique signature. The show began with a whole group performance to Disney’s Shake It Up. This certainly did it’s job, “shaking up” the audience and leaving them excited to see more! The second perfor-mance was Enrique Eglesias’s Bailamos in which 3 boy/girl pairs did a Middle School esque Latin dance. The next number was by Maroon 5, a ballad called Sad. The students choreographed a ballet/lyrical dance that had the attention of everyone in the room. Lights by Ellie Goulding came next, which was a short, fun number in which the students wore all white and certainly shined. The finale was a compilation of several songs and titled “Tainted Love”. As a class, we had a blast choreographing this piece which had several styles and genres of dance and featured all students. Mrs. Berger was very proud of the energy and success of her very first dance group!
by Angelina Berger, Dance Teacher Fine Arts Department
The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Feb / Mar 2013 Volume 6, Issue 4
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Thank you WCSAT! We just wanted to express a heartfelt thank you to the
Whitmore Charter community for all of the support they have shown to our family. Your cards, thoughts, gifts, and
prayers have been so appreciated. Mr. Stark loved Whitmore. He loved coming to work each and every
day. He loved his students...all of them, and came home each day with another cute story about something that happened in class. Your children brightened his life. The
words “Thank You” are 2 very simple words yet carry such a huge meaning from our hearts.
Connie and Spencer Stark
Box Tops The class with the most Box Tops for December was Mrs. Burnett’s kindergarten class. Congratulations!
Please submit cleanly cut Box Top labels the last Friday of each month to your child’s teacher. Please place them in plastic/snack bags in quantities of 50. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents! The more turned-in, the more money the school can earn! Over 9,000 box tops have been collected this year!
Track Whitmore Charter Schools’ progress at http://www.boxtops-4education.com/progress/SchoolEarnings.aspx?t=s.
Alexandra and
Jessica
Happy Birthday!
Love Papa and Grandma!
Happy 14th
Birthday Chase!
Love Mom, Brian, Dad, Grandma Judy
& Lloyd
Happy
10th
Birthday
Jordan!
The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Feb / Mar 2013 Volume 6, Issue 4
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Advertise Here! Articles and/or Digital Photos from WCSAT families would be greatly appreciated.
To place your ad or announcement in the Paw Print, complete and submit an application with payment.
To get our application OR to send articles and/or digital images, please visit the WCSAT website at:
The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Feb / Mar 2013 Volume 6, Issue 4
• Thanks to all the parents who assisted with the Dance-A-Thon.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU!
Feb 2013SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
3 4 5 K-5 Musical Alladin 6 & 7 pm
6 K-5 Musical Alladin 6 & 7 pm
7PBC Meeting 4 pm Rm 39
8 No School
9
10 11
No School
12 13 14
15
No School
16
17 18 No School
19 20
21 22
K-5 Life Skills Assembly 2:30
23
24 25 26
Book Fair
27
Week
28 Literacy Night 6 pm
Important Dates!!! Howl Out To:
= Box Tops collected on the last Friday of each month
WCSAT PBC Happenings...
The WCSAT Parent Booster Club supports many activities throughout the year to help raise money for school trips, events, activities and so much more. Here is a summary of
22 End of QuarterMS Life Skills Assembly 12:30pmK-5 Life Skills Assembly 2:30
23
24 /31
25Classified Staff Appreciation Week
26 27 Parent/Teacher Conferences Normal Dismissal 1:42 pm
28 Parent/Teacher Conferences Early Dismissal 12:30 pm
29
No School
30
Life Skill of the MonthPerseverance
Life Skill of the MonthWork Ethic
= Spirit Fridays, wear your WCSAT gear and colors
Reminder BackpacksBe sure to check your child’s backpack each Wednesday for important infor-mation provided in the communication folder. Return all items as requested.
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You could be helping WCS right now! All you need to do is swipe
your Save Mart S.H.A.R.E.S. card at the register before you pay. Here is how it works: Each time a card
is swiped, S.H.A.R.E.S. points are issued to WCS’s account. One
S.H.A.R.E.S. point equals $1.
22nd Annual Ceres Rotary Read-In
This year’s Read-In is scheduled for Fri-day, March 22, 2013 from 10:30–11:30 a.m. If you’d like to participate, all you have to do is write a check for $20.00 (payable to Ceres Rotary Club) and complete the required form in the WCS Office. A book will be purchased for you to read to two classrooms, and then the book will be do-nated to the school’s library. The students love having community members come to their classes. They want to hear about you and how you use reading in your daily life. Deadline: Wed, Feb 20th
