the p aw rint whitmore charter school arts and technology...

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 2014-2015 School Year:

President: Heidi Starkweather

Vice President: Tracy Cortez

Treasurer: Briona Mendez

Secretary: Renee Gaskill

Booster Comments or [email protected]

Paw Print Editor: Julie Lynn Martin-Borba

Content provided by: WCS Teachers, Staff and Parents

Printed by: CUSD Media CenterFunded by: WCSAT

Full color copies are available for download at the WCSAT website: http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT

Newsletter comments, questions or feedback?

[email protected]

the

The Paw Print http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT Apr/May 2015 Volume 8, Issue 5

Welcome to spring!! It is so nice to see the sun on a more frequent basis, and hear the students outside enjoying the weather. Due to the Common Core standards students will no longer be tested using the California Standards test (CST’s), except students in grades 5, 8, and 10 will be tested in Science only. This testing began on April 20th.This is a very exciting opportunity for your child and our school. As you may already know, we are participating in the English Language Arts and Math Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) modern assessment system designed to help shape teaching and learning in the classroom. Also known as the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress – or CASPP – these computer-based tests replaced the STAR program. These tests are aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English and math, which California adopted in 2010 to describe what knowledge and skills students need to be well prepared for college and careers, no matter where they come from or where they live. This year will be the first year of reported data, which will then provide our school with baseline data to then move forward from. The test will be administered to students in grades 3-8 from March 16th through May 22nd. If you want to see what types of questions students will be asked or how the test will be presented, there is information available online at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/.

Lastly, Whitmore Charter School of Arts and Technology along with the Ceres Uni-fied School District are going “1:World” next year. The motto, “1:world” denotes that each student, grades K-12, will receive a technology device to be used to access both school and research materials. Technology plays a large part in 21st century learning and devices in the classroom will enable students to access online resources, research instantly, collaborate and communicate in ways that were not possible before. It also equalizes the playing field for students in preparation for career and college. Our goal is to equip students and teachers with the right tools to enhance classroom learning. This will support students’ path to be college and career ready. Across the district schools will be having Student Device Parent Information Meetings. These meetings will be relatively the same in order to allow access for parents to attend a meeting that fits their schedule. Whitmore will be holding an information meeting on Wednesday May 13 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

If you ever have any concerns, questions, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to con-tact me at (209) 556-1610 or you may email me at [email protected].

David Viss,Principal


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

February 2015 - Perseverance Grade Teacher Student K Mrs. Burnett Anakin Ingwerson K Mrs. Rodrigues Matthew Velarde 1 Mrs. Mariano Sophia Freitas 1 Mrs. Tornquist/Berger Elias Lupercio 2 Mrs. Lewis Wyatt Barr 2 Mrs. Fischer Jubilee Armenta 3 Mrs. Benitez Arianna Bejaran 3 Mrs. Crawford Justice Franco 4 Ms. McNeal Mateo Lopez 4 Mrs. Terrones Connor Bilyeu 5 Mrs. Aguiar Ian Wescott 5 Mr. Sundy Sergio Mendoza

March 2015 - Work Ethic Grade Teacher Student K Mrs. Burnett Julian Huaracha K Mrs. Rodrigues Travis Looney 1 Mrs. Mariano Caleb Partlow 1 Mrs. Tornquist/Berger Reese Donaldson 2 Mrs. Lewis Jonas Hayes 2 Mrs. Fischer Ellie Hart 3 Mrs. Benitez Mason Baker 3 Mrs. Crawford Tatyanni Coconi 4 Ms. McNeal Bella Carrera 4 Mrs. Terrones Grace Looney 5 Mrs. Aguiar Kayla Zhu 5 Mr. Sundy Maryn Curry

K-5 Encore Model Student Awards

March 2015Music Simon Hayes Art Emma Goodwin Dance Riley StarkweatherDrama Haleigh Pearce

Tech Carson Ulrich PE Zach Martinez Maryn Curry

2.


3.

WCSAT Career Day On March 25th, Whitmore Charter had their first official K-8 Career Day. Students ranging from kindergarten through 8th grade were able to listen to some of our parents and family members speak about their careers. There were a total of 16 presenters with careers ranging from physical therapy, beekeeping, and even someone who works with the San Francisco Forty Niners! The students had a great time roaming from class to class learning what life is like for some adults.

The presenters were amazing and the Whitmore students and staff were grateful for this day of educational fun. A special thanks goes out to the presenters and the time and effort they put into their presentations. Thanks again to:

Kristen Knudsen Steve Joseph Michelle Murphy Alicia Mclelland

Raquel Hatfield Nick Terrones Christina McKnight Annie Meyer

Reta Mclelland Rob Beckhart Luke Crawford Sylvia Scott

Antony Little Jessica Rice Dave Sundy Joe Daniels & guest


Mrs. Terrones and Miss McNeal’s 4th graders took a trip back in time to try their luck in the California Gold Rush. The classes traveled to Columbia State Historic Park this month to experience life in a min-ing town in the 1850’s. The classes were generously given a grant from the CUSD Foundation that allowed covered the cost of the bus as well

as allowed students to participate in a gold panning lesson. No one struck it rich but they did have a wonderful time rolling up their sleeves and swishing those gold pans.

After panning, the classes explored the town and stopped into Bixel’s Brewery for a hearty lunch of hot

dogs and sarsaparilla while listen-ing to a guitarist singing old miner’s tunes. They then headed up to the oldest 2 story brick school house in California to meet their teacher and spend an hour experiencing school as students in 1860. They finished the day on a guided tour of the town. It was a wonderful day full of “rich” California history.

4th Grade Field Trip FunPhotos and article provided by Alana Terrones

4.


Middle School NewsWhitmore Charter’s Middle-School Interact Club attended an optional and entirely voluntary “Leadership Legacy” Y.E.S. tour in Disney’s California Adventure’s during our ski-week break on February 9, 2015.

5.

Pi DayOn March 13th, we celebrated by pieing our teachers! The teachers selected were Ms. Jones, Mr. Shapses, and Mr. Sundy. $213 was raised for the Interact Club!


6.

Whitmore’s 1st Father/Daughter Dance March 13, 2015


7.

Raffle Fundraiser Results

K-4 top seller – Harlye Holliday5-8 top seller – Brian WinchesterBoth received a bike. Top seller overall, Har-lye, received a Kindle Fire and $50 Amazon gift card.WCSAT earned $2,992, with an additional $1,403 earned for the CUSD Foundation. The CUSD Foundation provides a Teacher Mini Grant program for Ceres teachers, with many being awarded to WCSAT teachers over the past few years.

5-8 Top Seller Brian Winchester

Literacy Night

On February 25th WCSAT hosted a Family Literacy Night. Each participating student received a free book and book bag. Students also had a chance to purchase books from the book fair and participate in fun activities. The Library Mouse made an appearance, too!

Fine Arts Night

On March 17th WCSAT hosted a Fine Arts Night for students to display their art work and to raise funding for the Fine Arts Depart-ment. Over $700 was raised that evening.


Important Dates!!!

8.

= Turn in Box Tops the last school day of each month to your child’s teacher.

School Volunteer Requirements

If you plan to serve as a school volunteer for 10 or more hours

during the 2014-2015 year, volunteer application requirements must be met.

Volunteer applications and addi-tional information are available in the Whitmore Charter School main office.

Questions ??? Whitmore Charter School

(209) 556-1610

June 2015SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

1

HS Gradua-tion 6pm

2

8th Grade Promotion 6pm

3 4Last Day of School Early Dismissal 12:30pm

5 6

7 8

Summer Break

9 10 11 12 13

14 15

Summer Break

16 17 18 19 20

21 22

Summer Break

23 24 25 26 27

28 29Summer Break

30

Safety Tips of the Month!

Stay hydrated in hot weather. Use caution when entering and exiting

busy parking lots. Slow down and enjoy the

Spring season.

Life Skill of the Month

Integrity

ASES After School Program If you plan to have your child attend

the ASES Program, registration packets are available in the

Whitmore Charter main office.

= 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.

May 2015SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

1K-5 Life Skills Assembly 2:30pm

2

3 4

Teacher Appre-ciation week

5 6 7 8 9

10

11 12 13Open House 6pmMS Living Museum 6:30pm

14 15 16

17 18

Springfest Rehersal 4-6

19 20 21

K-12 Dance Recital 6pm & 7pm

22 23

24 25

No School

26MS Springfest 6pm

27 28 29 K-5 Life Skills Assembly 2:308th MS Assembly 10am 8th Dinner & Dance 6pm

30

Life Skill of the Month

Common Sense

Happy 9th Birthday

Hannah and Haleigh

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