Whittier Middle School
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Whittier Middle School
Whittier Middle School March 2010 Newsletter W h i t t i e r W e b s i t e : w w w. n o r m a n . k 1 2 . o k . u s / 5 0 4 News From Ms. Swanson I want to extend my gratitude for your flexibility with our snow days this winter and for your support of the District’s plan to make-up the instructional time. In addition, thank you for attending our recent Parent/Teacher Conferences. As we all know, we are partners in your child’s education, and your involvement is sp valuable to us. I also want to thank our wonderful Whittier PTA for providing food for teachers during conferences. Those are long days for our faculty and staff, but the time spent is so worthwhile. As we approach spring, our eighth graders have finished their first round of state testing. The CRT Writing Test took place on February 24. As we enter March, we feel the relative calm before the bulk of the state testing storm. Spring Break is March 15-19, and afterwards, teachers and students really buckle-down and focus heavily on preparing children for success on the standardized tests. The state testing window opens on April 12. Once the testing window opens, we begin testing sessions as soon as possible each day. So please, look ahead on your calendars and help your children be on time to school. That way, they will not have to make-up testing sessions separate from their peers. Also, make sure they are well-rested and well-fed during this time, to maintain energy and stamina. At Whittier, we try to shutdown all school-related activities during the testing window to provide free evenings for students and to provide uninterrupted content review and testing sessions during the school day. Obviously, this is a very hectic and high-stakes time for our students and teachers, which is why I’m giving everyone advanced warning about testing. This is certainly not the time to take your child out of school for appointments or vacations, unless it absolutely cannot be avoided. I appreciate your help with this as always! Here are the tentative dates of testing for you to put on your calendars. These are fairly “firm”, but they are subject to change before April 1. Therefore, always check the new and improved Whittier Website (www.norman.k12.ok.us/504) for the most current testing schedule. April 12 – Testing Window Opens/Paper-Pencil Testing Begins 6th and 7th grades will take OCCT math test. 8th grade will take OCCT science test. April 13 - 6th and 7th grades will take OCCT reading test. 8th grade will take OCCT U.S. History test. April 14 - Online Testing Begins Core 8-1 Reading Test Core 7-1 Geography Test April 15 - Core 8-2 Reading Test Core 7-2 Geography Test April 16 – Core 8-3 Reading Test Core 7-3 Geography Test April 19 - Core 8-1 Math Test Page 2 March 2010 Whittier Middle School Newsletter Ms. Swanson, cont. from page 1 April 20 - Core 8-2 Math Test April 21 - Core 8-3 Math Test April 22 - 8th graders will take the District Fine Arts Test. April 23 - 7th graders will take the District Fine Arts Test. April 26 - 6th graders will take the District Fine Arts Test. April 27 - EOI Testing Begins (according to current ACE Legislation, a student must pass 4 of 7 EOI tests to graduate high school in Oklahoma. Algebra I is a required “passtest.” English II is also required.) 8th Grade Algebra I EOI Test (Section 1, a.m.; Section 2, p.m.) April 28 7th Grade Algebra I EOI Test (Section 1, a.m.; Section 2, p.m.) April 29 8th Grade Geometry EOI Test (Section 1, a.m.; Section 2, p.m.) April 30 8th Grade Biology I EOI Test (Section 1, a.m.; Section 2, p.m.) As I already stated, this is a busy and hectic time for staff and students. We would also appreciate anyone who is available to monitor tests on any of these days. Each testing room requires an administrator and a monitor. While the administrator must be a certified teacher, the monitor does not have to be certified. If you are interested and available, please contact Terri Welborn at school or by e-mail: twelborn@norman.k12.ok.us. Here are some other reminders for you and your child when preparing for standardized testing: (1) make sure your child understands the directions; he/she is encouraged to raise a hand and ask questions before the testing officially begins. (2) Calm and reassure your child about testing. Confident children do better on tests; (3) Remind students to read each question and every answer choice carefully. Then, choose the best answer for each question; (4) Students should go back and check their wok, if they finish early. The extra time may be used to answer any questions that may have been initially skipped; (5) If students cannot finish the test within the time allotted, they will be given additional time to complete the test; (6) Students should not spend too much time on any one question. If a question takes too long to answer, they should skip it and answer other questions. They may return to skipped questions after they have finished that section of the test. More parent information is included in the Student, Parent, and Teacher Guides, which will be sent home the closer we get to the testing window. Teachers may be using practice tests to familiarize your child with the testing procedures and format. Sincerely, Ms. Swanson Order Yearbooks Now! Parents—Have you forgotten to purchase a yearbook? No worries! It's not too late! Even though online ordering has expired, you can still get an order form from the office or in Ms. Clarke's room (Rm. 301). Second chance yearbooks are now $37, cash or check made payable to Whittier Middle School are accepted. The new deadline is now March 9, 2010. After this deadline, you may still purchase one on Distribution Day for $40 cash only (end of May). If you don't know if you have purchased a yearbook, you may e-mail Hollis Clarke at hclarke@norman.k12.ok.us to verify your order. Forgot a date? event? social? or other information? Check out the PTA Webpage at http://staff.norman.k12.ok.us/~rbell/ whittierpta0607index.htm. Send your web information to Webmaster Regina Bell at rbell@norman.k12.ok.us. Page 3 March Whittier Middle SchoolNewsletter Newsletter March 20102010 Whittier Middle School PTA NEWS During the month of March, the Whittier PTA will be busy preparing for the next school year. We will be assembling a new slate of officers and soliciting new committee chairpersons. If you are interested in being active in PTA next year please let us know. You may find more information in this newsletter or refer to the Whittier PTA webpage at the Whittier website. The annual CRT standardized tests are just around the corner. Help is always needed with monitoring the classrooms. If this is something with which you would like to help, please call the office at Whittier. As an added benefit, volunteering as a monitor is one way to directly observe the kids in the classroom. The 6th and 8th grades had their class socials in February. The 7 th grade social is coming soon. Thank you to all parents who helped make the events possible. The kids who attended had a great time. I wish everyone a safe and relaxing spring break. Laura Cooper The March Whittier PTA Board Meeting is scheduled for March 11th at 12:00p.m. in the Whittier School Library. There are important items up for vote on the agenda—please join us! Make-up Days Scheduled for Instructional Days Lost Due to Inclement Weather The following inclement weather make-up day schedule has been announced by the Norman Public Schools. By Oklahoma State Statutes, public school districts are responsible for providing 175 instructional days for students. Superintendent Dr. Joseph Siano stated, “As you are well aware, the recent winter storm has caused challenges with our school calendar. The district must make adjustments in the instructional calendar to meet the state requirement.” Three days will be made up with the following adjustments in the current school calendar: · Day 1 – Monday, February 15 – previously scheduled holiday for Presidents’ Day · Day 2 – Friday, February 26 - previously scheduled Parent/Teacher Conference Day Conferences will be restructured. · Day 3 – Friday, May 28 – previously scheduled snow make-up day The make-up schedule for the fourth day has yet to be determined. The current calendar designates the week of June 1 as alternative days. The district is investigating recent changes to state law that provide for more flexibility in making up instructional days. Dr. Siano explained, “We know this is disruptive, and the district will work to accommodate parent, student, and staff conflicts that may be caused by this calendar adjustment.” Page 4 March 2010 Whittier Middle School Newsletter Attention 8th Grade Students and Parents: 8th grade English will soon begin the highly anticipated Holocaust unit after Spring Break. On March 24th, we will have a very special guest, Holocaust survivor Michael Jacobs, visit the 8th grade students in the morning and an open community presentation in the evening with a message of hope and belief, not one of hate. He will be presenting his experience and testimony of events he endured during the Holocaust as a 16 year old teenager. This has turned into a treasured tradition at Whittier and an unforgettable experience for the students. Before Spring Break, students will be given a parent letter and an opportunity to purchase an autobiography which Mr. Jacobs will inscribe. The morning presentation will be strictly for 8th grade students, and the evening presentation (time TBA) will be open for all interested families, previous students, etc. More details will be available on the Whittier website. Attention all 7th Graders! The 7th Grade Social will be held on Friday, March 5th, in the Whittier Gym. Cost is $5.00. We will have a DJ, Photo Booth, and contest. Food and Refreshments will be provided. The theme is Lollipops! Box Tops for Education Please look on food labels, personal hygiene items, Kleenex, etc. for Box Tops for Ed. Save these and send them to Mrs. Poole in Room 242. CONGRATULATIONS MS. CLARKE! Hollis Clarke, Whittier Middle School English teacher and 2009-10 Site Teacher of the Year has been named as a finalist for Norman Public Schools' District Teacher of the Year! We are so proud of Ms. Clarke on this well-deserved honor! The District Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Celebration of Teaching Banquet in April. Whittier Middle School has had a District Teacher of the Year Finalist for 7 of the past 10 years! Also, the 2009 District Teacher of the Year is Mrs. Mary Pace, a Whittier Middle School English Teacher. Former social studies teacher, Judy Burns was District Teacher of the Year in 2006 and principal Holly Swanson was District Teacher of the Year in 2000. 8TH GRADE BOOKMANIA CLASS SKYPES WITH YOUNG ADULT AUTHOR ALANA FERGUSON! Check out her website at http://www.alaneferguson.com/ The students talked to her "live" about the writing process, creating novels, doing research for writing, etc. ... and all from the comforts of their own classroom with the assistance of librarian Karin Perry and their teacher, Leah Esker. A very authentic learning experience to say the least! Page 5 March 2010 Whittier Middle School Newsletter WOW WEEK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!! WOW week will be May 11 - 14. We will need LOTS of volunteers that week! Please respond to Toni Edzards: ezykid4@cox.net if you are interested in helping!! Whittier Students Dominate MathCounts Regionals Middle school mathematicians from central Oklahoma competed on Saturday, February 6th at Oklahoma City Community College for the Regional MathCounts Competition and Whittier Middle School of Norman came out on top. The top team was made up of 8th graders Joseph Gao and Yash Patel and 7th graders Steve Zhang and Nathan Yu. They are coached by Terry Littlejohn, Jen White and LeAnn Chastain, all teachers at Whittier. The second place team in the central Oklahoma region was Alcott Middle School of Norman and third place went to Westminster School in Oklahoma City. Whittier had seven of the top ten individual mathematicians out of the 104 who attended the comst nd petition. Steve Zhang placed 1 , Joseph Gao 2 , Defne Altan 6th, Jesse Yue 7th, Yash Patel 8th, Nathan Yu 9th and Julie Zhu 10th. All of these students qualified to compete at the State MathCounts Competition on Saturday, March 6th in Tulsa. The top 4 competitors at the State Competition will qualify to represent Oklahoma at Nationals this May at Disneyworld. March Page 2010 6 Whittier Middle School Newsletter Page 6 WhiWhittier Middle 2010 School 2009-10 Calendar WHITTIER CALENDAR DAY OF WEEK Wednesday Thursday Friday Tuesdsay Thursday Thurs. and Fri DATE March 2 March 4 March 5 March 9 March 11 March 11 and 12 Mon – Fri March 15 – 19 Monday March 22 Tuesday March 23 Thursday March 25 Friday March 26 Monday March 29 Tuesday March 30 Monday April 5 Wednesday April 7 Thursday April 8 Tuesday April 12 Thursday April 22 Friday April 23 Monday April 26 Saturday May 1 Monday May 3 Monday – Friday May 3 – 7 UPCOMING EVENT District Choir Contest CSI Read-a-thon District Band Contest (8th) Leadership Meeting NN Senator Elections Monday – Friday May 10 – 14 Friday May 14 Monday May 17 Monday May 17 Tuesday May 18 Wednesday May 26 Thursday May 27 Friday May 28 WOW Week LOCATION Western Heights HS Cafeteria Library PC North Rec Gym TIME CPA Norman North 6:15 – 8:15 PM TBA Lloyd Noble Lloyd Noble 7:30 7:30 Rec Gym CPA Norman North 8:00 7:00 5:00 – 8:00 Advisory 7:00 – 11:00 Advisory Spring Break Professional Day All City Orchestra Rehearsal All City Band Rehearsal Spring Pictures All City Concert – Band All City Concert – Orchestra Percussion Concert Honor Roll Breakfast Whittier Orchestra Concert Math and Science Olympiad EARTH DAY NI Cut Off NI Due Deer Creek Band Festival Open House Sex Education Spring Band Concert Yearbook Distribution 8th Grade Slide Show Spring Choir Concert Academic Awards Assembly Last Day of School Professional Day Deer Creek – Edm WMS CPA 7:00 Cafeteria Whittier CPA Lunch 7:00 6:30 Page 7 March Page 2010 7 Whittier Middle School Newsletter SPRING ATHLETICS COME OUT AND SUPPORT WHITTIER!!! Slow Pitch Softball Schedule First Time Frame is 8th Grade Games Second Time Frame is 7th Grade Games Date Location Team Time 3/1/10 Away Moore 4:30/5:30 3/2/10 Home Southmoore 4:30/5:30 3/5-3/6 Away Irving Round Robin TBA 3/9/10 Home Longfellow 4:30/5:30 3/11/10 Away Irving 4:00/5:00 3/22/10 Away Moore 4:30/5:30 3/23/10 Home Irving 4:30/5:30 3/25/10 Home Alcott 4:30/5:30 3/29/10 Away Westmoore 4:30/5:30 4/1-4/3 Away Purcell Tournament TBA 4/9/10 Away Alcott 4:30/5:30 4/12/10 Home Westmoore 4:30/5:30 4/15/10 Away Longfellow 4:30/5:30 4/22/10 Away Southmoore 4:15/5:15 Whittier Track 2010 Date Meet Location Thurs 3/25 P.C. West Track Meet P.C. West H.S. Fri 4/2 Yukon Track Meet Yukon H.S. Sat 4/3 Moore Meet Moore H.S. Sat 4/10 Norman Invitational Norman H.S. Sat 4/17 Plainview Track Meet Plainview H.S. Sat 4/24 Conference Meet Moore H.S. Nonprofit Organization Whittier Middle School 2000 W Brooks Norman, OK 73069 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Phone: 405-366-5956 Email: hswanson@norman.k12.ok.us Norman, OK Permit #65 We’re on the web www.norman.k12 .ok.us/504 PTA OFFICERS NEEDED The members of the nominating committee are: Kim LaBrie, Jenny Davis, Lori Neighbors, Shannon McCutchen, and Jill Fayak. We will be developing a slate for PTA Officers. The positions available are: President, two Vice Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretary. If anyone is interested in serving in one of these positions or would like to recommend someone for an office they can contact anyone on the nominating committee or e-mail Kim LaBrie at kimlabrie@hotmail.com.