The Paw Print

November 2016, Issue 3

Victoria A. Casey, Principal • Renee Osuntuyi, Asst. Principal • Eva Brooks, Administration • Sarah McKee, Attendance • Jennifer Manning, PTA President • Karen Valverde, Editor

Events & School News

Whetstone Elementary School

19201 Thomas Farm Road

Gaithersburg, MD 20879

301-840-7191

A PTA Publication

Dear Whetstone Families,

Happy Fall, Wildcats! October was a fun and busy

month at Whetstone; after-school activities and clubs

began, and we enjoyed several fun events. We had

our first PTA meeting, where we heard a special

presentation on PAX, received grade-level updates,

reviewed the calendar, and approved the 2016-2017

PTA Operating Budget.

We also held our Annual Scholastic BOOK FAIR, which

was a HUGE success! We were thrilled to see so many

of our children and parents excited about reading! We

would like to give a big shout-out and “THANK YOU!” to

PTA Member Cindy Weiss for coordinating the BOOK

FAIR and to all of the volunteers who helped during the

week.

We would also like to thank Ms. Casey, Ms. Osuntuyi,

teachers, and staff for hosting a fantastic LITERACY

NIGHT! The classrooms were bustling as parents and

students engaged in activities with Chromebooks, Peb-

blego, Daily 5 centers, creative writing, illustrating, puz-

zles, and word searches. Literacy Night is one of our

best traditions at Whetstone; thank you for participat-

ing in this important event.

We would like to remind you about our upcoming FALL

DANCE on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4th from 7:00-9:00 pm in

the gym. Admission is FREE if you bring a canned good

for Manna Food Center; otherwise admission is $2.00.

We will have a DJ and, once again, transform the gym,

so put on your party clothes and bring your dancing

shoes!

Our FALL FUNDRAISER IS OFFICIALLY ON! You should

have received information on our delicious fundraiser

with GERTRUDE HAWK CHOCOLATES. Please review

and participate as you are able; invite friends, family,

and neighbors to indulge in the yummy chocolate

treats, perfect for Holiday entertaining or late night

cravings! This fundraiser will determine the level of sup-

port we are able to provide to Whetstone Elementary

next year, therefore, the success of the fundraiser is

critical. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Finally, we encourage all of you to join the PTA and

learn how you can get involved to help nurture a cul-

ture at our school which encourages learning, growing,

and sense of community. Without you, we cannot be

successful.

Sincerely,

Your Whetstone PTA Executive Board,

Jen M., Jenn J. & Katia

I pledge to Be Here, Be on Time,

Be Prepared, and Be Respectful,

so that every day I can learn

more and more.

Each school day Whetstone Wild-

cats begin the day with this pledge.

The “Four Be’s” are the basis of our

school’s discipline policy and cap-

ture in “kid” language our expecta-

tions for Whetstone students. They

are simple to remember and allow

Whetstone staff to use a common

language to talk with students

about their behavior and what they

need to do to be successful here at

Whetstone.

The “Four Be’s” are posted in each

classroom and in other strategic

places in our school. They are there

as continual reminders to staff, stu-

dents, and parents of expectations

for Whetstone Wildcats.

One of the ways

we recognize

those students

who consistently

demonstrate the

“Four Be’s” is

through our Stu-

dent of the Week

and Student of

the Month pro-

gram. Each week

we recognize one

student from each

class as Student of

the Week. This

gives every stu-

dent a chance for

recognition of being a Great Wild-

cat and a chance at being select-

ed as the Student of the Month. A

Student of the Month is chosen by

each grade level to recognize con-

sistent demonstration of the “Four

Be’s.” Please ask your child who is

the Student of the Week for their

class each week, and we will cele-

brate the success of all our Whet-

stone Wildcats together.

Mrs. Casey

NOVEMBER 2016, ISSUE 3 PAGE 2 THE PAW PRINT

Me Comprometo a Estar Aquí, Llegar a Tiempo,

Estar Preparado(a) y a Ser Respetuoso(a), para que

todos los días pueda aprender más y más.

Cada día escolar los Whetstone Wildcats (Gatos

Montés de Whetstone) comienzan el día con este

compromiso o promesa. Las “Cuatro Bs” son la base

de las normas de disciplina de nuestra escuela y

captan en el lenguaje de “niños”, nuestras expectati-

vas para los estudiantes de Whetstone. Son simples

para recordar y le permiten al personal de Whetsto-

ne usar un lenguaje común para hablarles a los estu-

diantes sobre su comportamiento y sobre lo que ne-

cesitan hacer para tener éxito aquí en Whetstone.

Las “Cuatro Bs” están publicadas en cada salón de

clases y en otros lugares estratégicos dentro del plan-

tel escolar. Están ahí como recordatorios continuos

para el personal, los estudiantes y para los padres de

familia, sobre las expectativas de los Whetstone Wild-

cats.

Una de las maneras de reconocer a aquellos estu-

diantes que constantemente demuestran las “Cuatro

Bs” es a través de nuestro programa Estudiante de la

Semana y el Estudiante del Mes. Cada semana reco-

nocemos a un estudiante de cada clase como el

Estudiante de la Semana. Eso le da a cada estudian-

te una oportunidad de reconocimiento por ser un

gran Wildcat y una oportunidad para ser selecciona-

do como el Estudiante del Mes. Un Estudiante del

Mes se escoge por cada grado escolar reconocien-

do que demuestra de manera consistente las

“Cuatro Bs.” Por favor pregúntele a su hijo(a) quién es

el Estudiante de la Semana en su clase, cada sema-

na y nosotros celebraremos juntos el éxito de todos

nuestros niños Whetstone Wildcats.

Sra. Casey

NOVEMBER 2016, ISSUE 3 PAGE 3 THE PAW PRINT

Joining the PTA is a great

way to become active in

your child’s education.

Annual dues help our PTA

support a wide variety of

programs and activities

that enrich the school

year for students and their

families. By joining, your

dues help support PTA

programs & events such

as the Ice Cream Social,

Cultural Arts Assemblies,

the Annual Dance Party,

Staff Appreciation Week,

The Paw Print newsletter,

and much more! Please join us! The more mem-

bers we have the stronger

our voice when advocat-

ing for our children.

Complete & return this

form with payment at-

tached (cash or check

payable to Whetstone

PTA) to your child’s

teacher. Thank you!

Why join the PTA? The number one reason to join

the Parent Teacher Association is to benefit your child. In

doing so, you also help your school. But there are many more

PTA advantages:

Get Connected. There’s no better way to know what’s hap-

pening in your school.

Discover Great Resources. The PTA offers a variety of

programs designed for parents as well as students.

Tap into a Network. PTA functions are opportunities to

meet other parents and teachers, building rapport and dis-

cussing issues that are on your mind. You can share ideas,

concerns, and experiences.

Watch Yourself Grow. By volunteering with your PTA, you put your skills and hobbies to use for a no-

ble cause—your child and all children in the community.

Speak Up. PTA can be a way for you to more effectively suggest change at your child’s school.

Witness Improvement. By getting involved at your child’s school you’ll be part of the solution, helping

make positive changes. Local PTAs play an important role by supporting improvements through advoca-

cy and by fundraising for curriculum-based programs and social events.

Be a Role Model. By becoming a PTA member, you’ll be demonstrating to your child the importance

you place on education.

NOVEMBER 2016, ISSUE 3 PAGE 4 THE PAW PRINT

Put on your dance shoes, because it’s

time for another great night at

Whetstone! The DJ will play our favorite

tunes, and there will be snacks & drinks

for sale.

Admission is FREE if you bring a

canned good for Manna Food Center!

(Otherwise, admission is $2.)

If you’d like to volunteer to help

with the dance, please email

Jenn Jacobson at

whetstoneelementaryschoolpta@gmail.com.

Take a night off cooking, enjoy a meal out with the family,

and support the Whetstone PTA at the same time! Bring

your flyer when you go, and the PTA will receive 10% of

the profits to help support programs at Whetstone.

8401 Snouffer School Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20879

President: Jen Manning

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice President: Open

Treasurer: Katia Gilliam

Recording Secretary: Jenn Jacobson

Corresponding Secretary: Open

MCCPTA Delegate #1 and #2: Open

Family Fun Night December 13th

PAGE 5 THE PAW PRINT NOVEMBER 2016, ISSUE

November 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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NO SCHOOL Professional Day

Fall Dance 7 pm

NO SCHOOL Election Day

HALF DAY Parent-Teacher

Conferences

HALF DAY Parent-Teacher

Conferences

Fundraiser Forms Due

Ay Jalisco Restaurant Fundraiser

HALF DAY

NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving

NO SCHOOL

Fundraiser

for instructions for ONLINE FUNDRAISING! Online orders placed within the sale dates below can choose to have their orders delivered for free with the main shipment

(seller delivers the order) * OR * out-of-town friends & family can choose to send their orders directly to their home (shipping fees apply) from now through 12/18/16!

Order forms (top copy) and money are due

Friday, November 11, 2016. Paper Order Forms should NOT include any online sales.

Make checks payable to Whetstone PTA.

Estimated order pickup date is Tuesday, December 6, 2016.

We need your participation to support programs at Whetstone! Brochures have been sent home in your

child’s backpack. EARN AWESOME PRIZES!! Every

student who sells at least ONE ITEM will receive a PRIZE!

Please check the back of your brochure

Our Gertrude Hawk Chocolates Fall Fundraiser is underway!

Coming up in December:

Dec 6th: Getrude Hawk Fundraiser Delivery Dec 6th: PTA Meeting, 7pm Dec 13th: Ledo Pizza Restaurant Fundraiser Dec 26th-30th: Winter Break

Parent Focus Team Meeting

6-7:00 pm