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March - 2012

In this issue:

From the Head of School – pg. 2

Upcoming Events – pg. 4

Headlines – pg. 5

Arts – pg. 10

Athletics – pg. 12

WAPA Notes and News – pg. 14

For the College Bound – pg. 15

Healthful Hints – pg. 17

Links

School Calendars

Scenes from School

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From the Head of School

Dear Westchester Families and Friends,

Recently I received a letter from a group of parents whose boys played

for the Warriors, a seven- and eight-year-old basketball team at the

Hartley Drive YMCA, and I can‘t resist sharing it with all of you.

The Warriors were coached this winter by four members of the

Westchester family: seniors Jonathan DiIanni and George Freiberger,

junior Charlie Branson, and alumnus Will DiIanni (‘10). All four are

talented athletes in their own right: Will plays college golf, Charlie is a

member of Westchester‘s varsity swim team, and both Jonathan and

George have signed to play varsity sports at Division I NCAA schools for

next year. As proud as I know we all are of our students and the ways in

which they represent Westchester Country Day School in the

community, we should all celebrate the generosity, depth of character, and willingness to

serve that these four young men have displayed.

Here is the text of the letter, signed by all of the parents of the boys on the team:

Dear Cobb Atkinson,

There are four students under your leadership that have greatly impacted our

community. In a society that seems to be “all about me,” four young men have

volunteered to give back. George Freiberger, Will and Jonathan DiIanni, and

Charlie Branson have coached a 7 and 8 year old basketball team at the

Hartley YMCA. After talking with them we learned that they are all students at

Westchester Country Day School. They have represented your school well.

Along with learning how to play basketball, the boys have absorbed many other

lessons. Using encouraging words, incentives, and leading by example, our

coaches taught respect for authority, being on time, looking your best, and

being prepared. Our children had fun and performed well as a team because

of the coaching environment. Often our schools display championship trophies

for athletics. I have included a picture of our undefeated Warrior team whose

outstanding performance is due to the character of the coaches who inspired

them. It is a testimony of excellent parenting, education, and direction that is

being passed from one generation to the next. Thank you for your part in

developing these young men.

Thankfully,

The Warrior Team Parents

Cobb Atkinson Photo by Photo Innovations

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When I asked a couple of these students to share with me a sense of how they went about

coaching the team, they described an approach to coaching a youth sports team that is, in a

word, extraordinary. The team motto was "E.L.E." everyone loves everyone, and they recited it

as a team again and again. As coaches, they worked to make each player feel special and

to build strong, trusting relationships both among the members of the team and between the

team and the coaching staff. They respected and recognized outstanding attitudes,

encouraged individual talents, and had players clap for each other after each repetition of

drills. In keeping with the YMCA‘s faith-based mission, they led a prayer before practice and

games and encouraged players to lead the team and other teams in prayer. Team members

were taught to use one another‘s names when making passes and calling plays, and players

brought their teammates to a higher level during team huddles during which each player had

to say something special about each one of his teammates. Perhaps most importantly, the

boys were taught that teamwork and character are more important than technique and

scoring, and this led the Warriors to an undefeated season.

As I listened to the students‘ description of the season, the team, and their coaching, I heard a

wonderful articulation of all that we strive to teach our student-athletes here at Westchester.

We should all be encouraged not only by what they have learned about sportsmanship,

integrity, teamwork, and community, but also by the wonderfully generous spirit that they

have shown in stepping out into the community and sharing these lessons with others.

At the end of the day, this is what being a Wildcat is all about.

Cobb Atkinson

Head of School

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News of Note - Upcoming Events

Blood Drive

Friday, March 2, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Click here to sign up to donate blood or if you are

interested in volunteering.

Book Fair

Monday, March 12 – Thursday, March 15

We need volunteers to help break down the fair on Thursday, March 15th at 3:00. Contact Mrs.

Jones if you would like to help.

PAWS Night

Thursday, March 15

Lower School Conferences

Friday, March 23 – No school for Lower School students

Teachers’ Professional Day

Monday, March 26 – No school for students, Grades K-12

Big Cat/Lil’ Cat Golf Tournament

Monday, March 26, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Emerywood Golf Course

Featuring: A mini-tournament, Big Cats paired with Lil‘ Cats, skills challenge, lunch, awards,

prizes, and tons of fun! Click here to sign up today!

Middle School Student-Led Conferences

March 27, 5:00 p.m.

March Parent Forum: Bullying in Our Middle School – Want to Know More???

Have you ever asked yourself this question when you hear something about bullying on the

radio or on the television? Have you ever asked your student this question? Has your student

ever talked to you about being the victim of bullying or about knowing someone who is being

bullied? This past fall Mrs. Singer administered a survey to all of our Middle School students and

103 out of 107 students completed the survey. We will be sharing the results of this survey with

all Middle School parents during this forum and will discuss bullying in our Middle School. We

hope that you will join us to hear and discuss the data that was discovered and learn what we

can do as parents to help our children if they find themselves in a bullying situation. This Parent

Forum will be Thursday, March 29th at 7:00 pm in the library. Hope you will join us!

If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Heather Singer, our Middle and Upper School

Counselor by email at heather.singer@westchestercds.org or by phone 822-4085.

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News of Note - Headlines

Middle School Mathletes Count

Middle School students have taken part in two math competitions so far this year. Twenty

students were selected to take the AMC-8 (American Mathematics Competition) during

school on Tuesday, November 15. This national test is designed for students in grades 8 and

below. Students have 40 minutes to complete 25 multiple choice questions. Students selected

were as follows:

6th graders – Alex Evans, Luke Evans, Govind Harish, Ambar Khawaja, and Edward Lindner.

7th graders – Adam Chinnasami, Sophia Danch, Eliza Fisher, Ryota Goto, Laney Henley, Abbi

Khan, Rachael Ormond, and Stephanie Thomas.

8th graders – Mike Bauman, Tommy Boggis, Miranda Bryson, Jack Crouse, Josh Evans, Carter

Gay, and Paige Hetley.

Within our school Ryota Goto placed first. Carter Gay, Mike Bauman, and Jack Crouse tied for

second. Edward Lindner placed third. Honor roll distinction, which is the top 5% nationally, was

awarded to Ryota, Carter, Mike, and Jack. Achievement roll status is awarded to students in

grades 6 and below who score 15 or above. Edward Lindner was recognized as an

achievement roll recipient.

Middle School Mathletes® from area

schools competed in a local contest of

the national MATHCOUNTS® program on

February 4 in Greensboro at North

Carolina A&T State University. North

Piedmont Chapter of Professional

Engineers of NC organized the

competition.

MATHCOUNTS is a national program

designed to improve math skills among

U.S. students. The program focuses on

middle school students, who are at a

crucial stage in developing and

sustaining math interest and ability. Students who do not begin developing strong problem-

solving, logical thinking and analytical abilities in middle school will face an uphill battle later in

life if they wish to pursue a medical, scientific, mathematical, engineering, or technical career.

A total of thirteen schools and ninety-one students competed. Students competing as a team

for Westchester were: Mike Bauman, Tommy Boggis, Jack Crouse, and Ryota Goto. Individual

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competitors included Miranda Bryson, Adam Chinnasami, Govind Harish, and Paige Hetley.

Westchester‘s team came in 4th, and Jack Crouse placed 11th individually. Our favorite time of

the day was celebrating our victory at Steak and Shake on the way home.

Seventh Grader’s Essay Receives Recognition

Seventh grader Eliza Fisher was awarded a prize for her

essay celebrating young Americans standing up to take a

stand against England 200 years ago during the war of

1812. At left, she is reading her award-winning essay to the

High Point Chapter of the DAR.

Frizz “n” T’s March Science Camp

After-school Science Camp for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders will

take place from 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. on March 6, 8, 13, and 15.

Camp includes ―hands on‖ experiments, snacks, computer

demos and a science movie. Each session is different. The

cost is $20 per session. Please make checks payable to

WCDS. For questions contact

judy.tomlinson@westchestercds.org.

Mr. B. Receives 40 Leaders Under Forty Award

Assistant Head of School and Head of Upper

School Gardner Barrier was recognized by the

Triad Business Journal as one of the area‘s ―40

Leaders Under Forty.‖ The publication sought

nominations for young leaders who stand out not

only in their professions but also in their passion for

making their communities better places to live. At

right are Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Crane, Mr. Barrier, and

Mr. Shigo at the awards ceremony on February

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Summer Camp Dates Announced!

Visit the Summer Programming page on our website or pick up a camp book in the Front

Office and sign up for Wildcats Summer 2012 today! Exciting extras this year include

transportation, early drop-off and late pick-up, and camp care.

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Mock Trial Team Competes

Pictured at left is our Mock Trial team at

the regional competition at Guilford

County Courthouse in High Point on

February 4. Will Davis won "Best

Attorney" in Round II. At right is our

outside counsel John Bryson, parent of

two Wildcats and a Westchester Board

member.

International Day Gives Perspective on Other Cultures

The Cats‘ Den came to life on February 15

when students, parents, and faculty

members set up booths from different

countries around the world to showcase

their cultures during the school‘s

International Day. The day was a unique

opportunity for our community to witness

all the diverse cultures that make up our

special school. The cafeteria got into the

spirit as well with Lunch Around the World

the week of February 13, featuring foods

from the home countries of Westchester‘s

seven exchange students. Mrs. Russell‘s

computer class created video interviews

with each of our exchange students which

were shown on the cafetorium screens

during lunch each day, and Mrs. English provided music from the home countries of the

students as well.

Fourth Graders “Become” Figures from the Past

Since returning from winter break in early January, the fourth grade students worked diligently

to prepare for the unveiling of the Interactive Wax Museum on Friday, February 10. The

Interactive Wax Museum was a culminating event in a study of biographies. One of the first

steps in the biography project was to choose a deceased person of interest to research. After

reading a biography and organizing notes about the person‘s lifetime, students wrote a

biographical report and speech.

View more photos on the Scenes from School link on our

website!

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On Friday, February 10, the Lower School

hallways were bustling with costumed

characters from all parts of history as the

students prepared to become ―statues‖

in the Finch Center. Some of the

characters included Steve Jobs, Pablo

Picasso, Cleopatra, Nathanael Greene,

Daniel Boone, Jim Henson, Orville Wright,

Helen Keller, Queen Elizabeth I, Dr. Seuss,

and Rosa Parks. Upon arriving in the

Finch Center, the students quickly took

their places and waited for someone to

come push their ―button.‖ Once pressed,

the button made the character come to

life, and the student shared the

character‘s brief story of his/her life. Parents, grandparents, faculty, and children of all ages

who visited the Interactive Wax Museum left with new knowledge about famous people

throughout history.

The best part of this entire experience was seeing the students begin to take ownership of their

learning. Throughout the month, students began to make connections between the people

they were researching. Some students were even able to make personal connections to the

struggles or successes of the people they researched. The students will always remember this

experience and the interesting facts they learned. Most of all, students learned that through

hard work and perseverance you can accomplish amazing things!

Welcome New Wildcat

Please welcome our newest Wildcat

11th Grade

Luke Puckett

Parents – Steve and Lori Puckett

NHS Process Nears

It is never too early in the school year for students to consider what their academic record

looks like and how important membership in the National Honor Society is. At the end of the

3rd Quarter, sophomores and nonmember juniors who meet the NHS scholarship requirement

(3.5 cumulative and weighted GPA) will be invited to be considered as candidates for

membership in the NHS. Those students who are invited to be considered for NHS membership

will submit candidate portfolios which demonstrate their desire and eligibility for membership.

When that time comes, portfolio materials and instructions will be posted on Cheryl

Cunningham‘s website, and she will be happy to meet with candidates to help them prepare

View more photos on the Scenes from School link on our

website!

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their portfolios in advance of their submission deadline. Students usually have two weeks,

including two weekends, to prepare their portfolios. Once submitted, the portfolios are

reviewed by a Faculty Selection Committee, which will select the members to be inducted in

May 2012.

Selection to NHS is a privilege, not a right. Students should understand that meeting the GPA

requirement and completing the portfolio on time do not guarantee selection into NHS. Not all

candidates are selected for membership, although they often will have more than one

opportunity to be considered. Membership is granted by the Faculty Selection Committee

only to those students who have met all NHS standards articulated in the national constitution.

These standards include not only the demonstration of outstanding performance in scholarship

but also in leadership, service, and character, all of which are explained thoroughly in the

WCDS Handbook.

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Fine Arts News

Fine Arts Notes

We will be well-versed in Shakespeare this month. On March 3, junior Julia Ormond,

accompanied by Mrs. Noyes, will be competing at UNCG in the regionals of the English-

Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition. There she will be performing both a

Shakespearean sonnet and a monologue she chose from Romeo and Juliet.

The Middle and Upper School students will experience the NC Shakespeare Company‘s

Shakespeare to Go on March 5. These shortened, fast-paced productions of A Midsummer’s

Night Dream for Middle School and Macbeth for Upper School engage the students in

interactive ways that are both entertaining and instructive.

This month our students will also have two opportunities to enter the magical world of opera.

On the 28th, Upper School music students will be attending a full production of Don Giovanni

produced by the UNCG Opera Theatre, and on March 29 the Lower School students will enjoy

Piedmont Opera‘s Three Little Pigs here at Westchester.

Many thanks go to both WAPA and the Friends of the Fine Arts for helping to bring these

performances to the Westchester campus.

Please note that our annual Celebration of the Arts has been moved from March 17 to

Sunday, April 15 at 5:00. You won‘t want to miss this excellent evening of great food and

entertainment.

Students Sing in All-State Chorus

Senior T. J. Baber and sophomore Jessica Barker represented WCDS in the All-State Chorus on

January 27 and 28. T. J. was part of the 11th-12th grade choir, and Jessica was part of the 9th-

10th grade choir. Each choir was comprised of about 300 singers from all over the state. They

participated in several grueling rehearsals and put on a great concert to a packed house at

the auditorium at the Greensboro Coliseum.

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Coming to Our Stage May 11, 12, and 13: Disney's “The Jungle Book KIDS”

Music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and Terry Gilkyson

Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and Terry Gilkyson

Additional lyrics by Marcy Heisler

Book adapted by Marcy Heisler

Music adapted by Bryan Louiselle

Music arranged by Bryan Louiselle

The jungle is jumpin‘ with jazz in this exciting Disney classic! Join Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie, and

the gang as they swing their way through madcap adventures and thwart the ferocious tiger,

Shere Khan. Specially adapted from the beloved film, this musical includes all your favorite

Disney tunes, like ―The Bare Necessities‖ and ―I Wan‘na Be Like You.‖ With colorful characters

and that toe-tapping jungle rhythm, Disney's ―The Jungle Book KIDS‖ is sure to be a crowd-

pleaser for audiences of all ages.

Auditions: “Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS”

Students in grades K-8 are encouraged to audition on Monday, March 12, or Tuesday, March

13, in the MS/US music room from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. Students will be taught a song from the

show and then each will be asked to sing it as part of his/her audition. Students interested in a

speaking role will be asked to read from the script. All main characters will rehearse

approximately three times per week. Those who are part of the chorus will rehearse one to two

times a week. Rehearsals will begin the week of March 19. A complete rehearsal schedule will

be posted the week before auditions.

Main Character Breakdown

Mowgli – the man cub

Bagheera – the panther

Baloo – the bear

Coconut Tree/Shanti – village girl

Colonel Hathi – leader of the elephants

Kaa – the snake

King Louie – king of the monkeys

Shere Khan – the tiger

Chorus Roles

Elephant Troop including a baby elephant

Kaa‘s five coils

Monkeys including an old monkey

Voices of Shanti‘s family – from the man village

Jungle Chorus – sun, moon, wolves, rocks, flowers, plants, bushes, trees, bees, prickly pears,

vultures, etc.

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Westchester Athletics

From the Athletic Director

The 2012 winter athletic season concluded with a bang!

The NCISAA 2A State Swim Meet was held at the newly

designed Greensboro Aquatic Center, where our boys‘

team finished 3rd overall, and our girls‘ team (with only six

swimmers), finished 8th out of 28 competing teams. The

Boys 200 Free Relay Team (Brian Ball, Charlie Branson,

Christian James, and Sean Ormond) were state

champions (1st place), and Christian James won a silver

medal for finishing 2nd in the 500 Free. At the conference

meet at Salem Academy, the boys‘ team finished 3rd,

and the girls‘ team finished 4th. All-Conference

recognition was given to Avery Goho, Kess Hendrix, Sean

Ormond, Jack Crouse, and Ben Bruggeworth.

On the hardwood, the Varsity Boys‘ Basketball team made an incredible run to win the TAC

Conference Championship, defeating the #2 seed Burlington Christian in the semifinals and

the #1 seed Caldwell Academy in the conference championship at Burlington Christian. They

qualified for the state tournament but lost to Caldwell Academy in a game for the ages at

WCDS. The Varsity Girls‘ Basketball team finished off a very impressive basketball season and

proved that it isn‘t the quantity of players but rather the heart of the players. With only seven

girls, the team finished tied for 2nd in the conference and made it the state tournament for the

first time in six years before losing to eventual state champion Carolina Day in Asheville.

Sadeeq Bello, Josh Burton, Keniece Purvis, and Meghan Ingram were all named to the TAC All-

Conference Basketball team. A special thank you to all of our Varsity Cheerleaders for an

incredible year supporting our basketball teams throughout the season and for bringing a

wonderful pride and passion to all of the games. Congratulations go out to this special group

as well for their 2nd place performance at the NCISAA Cheerleading Championship in

Fayetteville in early February.

The Middle School teams also had tremendous seasons, and all of our younger Wildcat

athletes performed at the highest level. A special shout-out to the MS ―A‖ Boys‘ team for

locking up their third consecutive T-MAC Conference Championship at Canterbury. The future

of Wildcat athletics sure does look promising!

Spring sports practices are off to a great start, so please check the website for games and

matches in the area, and come out and support the Cats!

State champion swimmers Christian

James, Brian Ball, Charlie Branson, and

Sean Ormond.

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Two BIG events to put on your calendar for the spring:

March 26 – 8th Annual Big Cat / ‗Lil Cat Golf Tournament at Emerywood Golf Course

May 12 – 8th Annual ―Hobey‖ W-Day 5K at Westchester

Please contact Adam Schwartz for information – adam.schwartz@westchestercds.org

Basketball Players Give Back

The Boys‘ Varsity Basketball team helped

feed the homeless on Monday, February

20, at the Open Door Ministry in High

Point. The varsity basketball team served

lunch at the Father‘s Table. It was a very

rewarding experience according to

Coach Nelson. ―We want to teach our

student athletes how important it is to

give back to the community and those

less fortunate,‖ he said. ―Our student

athletes continue to gain an

understanding of how vital it is to serve

others. We look forward to continuing to

serve in the High Point community.‖

Cheerleaders Place in Competition

The Varsity Cheerleaders competed in

their first-ever NCISAA State Cheer

competition February 4 and placed 2nd

out of four in our division (large varsity,

non-tumbling) and 8th out of 20 overall.

Go Cats!

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WAPA Notes and News

From the WAPA President

This month I had the pleasure of observing the 5th grade in action. Being in the classroom

gave me an opportunity to see some of the items that WAPA has been able to supply through

the Teacher Mini-Grants. Needless to say, a document camera out-performs an overhead

projector. The document camera allows the teacher and student to show materials they

have drawn on paper on the Smart Board - no more messy overhead projector sheets.

Several children had drawn sketches just a few minutes before, and they were able to display

them immediately via the document camera.

In the next classroom, the students learned fractions with the help of the Smart Board.

Students were able to draw fractions of a Hershey candy bar. What a delicious way to learn!

Another way that our Lower School students are learning is through differentiated instruction.

Blair Hawley will be our next featured speaker on March 8 at 8:15 a.m., in the library, and will

discuss differentiated learning. Everyone is welcome.

Gay James

WAPA President

Book Club The WAPA Book Club will meet on March 13 at 8:15 a.m. in the Lower School music room. The

book that we are discussing is Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. All parents are welcome.

Box Tops

We‘ve just closed the annual Box Tops submissions for the 2011-2012 school year, and we'll

have an updated total for you soon. Please continue to save and send in your clippings; these

will give us a jump start for next year. Each time you make an online purchase from an Apple

Computer product to a Dell Computer, from Gap clothing, or even prescription refills,

remember if you link from the Box Tops Marketplace to your chosen online store, our school

earns e-Box Tops! There are more than 175 retailers from which to choose!

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For the College Bound

Over the course of the last few weeks I have been talking to our Upper School students

individually about their course selections for next year. A topic that often comes up,

especially as I speak with rising juniors and seniors, is that of AP courses. Some students even

ask how many of these college level classes they should take and which would ―look the

best.‖ My response to many students is that AP courses are not for everyone, and many

Westchester students graduate and successfully go on to college without having taken a

single AP class. Ours is a college-preparatory curriculum, meaning it is an academic program

that is designed to equip our students for success at the college level. Our profile even states

that all of our courses are taught at or above an honors level. I have sometimes found that

parents, in particular, are confused by what is meant by the AP, or Advanced Placement,

designation so hopefully this article will answer any questions you might have about the

program.

The AP program, begun in the early 1950‘s to improve education in the United States, was

originally funded by the E. E. Ford Foundation. In 1952 a pilot program comprised of seven

schools and eleven subjects launched the effort. In 1955 College Board took the reins of the

AP program with 27 schools participating nationwide. Through the years the program has

grown exponentially, and in 2011 almost 3.5 million exams were taken by 1.9 million students in

33 subjects.

AP classes are college level courses taught to exceptionally motivated and capable high

school students within the context of the high school structure. At the end of the course, in

early May, students enrolled in AP courses take a standardized exam that covers the content

of the course. Scores on these exams range from a low of 1 to a high of 5, with a 3, 4, or 5

being considered as passing scores. Nationwide in 2011, 18.1% of the students taking an AP

exam made passing scores, while at Westchester that percentage was 74%. Based on their

scores on these standardized, cumulative exams, students may earn college credit or

advanced placement, thus saving parents money and/or enabling the students to take extra

classes while in college. Studies have shown that students enrolled in AP courses may achieve

a higher degree of success once in college because these courses foster mastery of writing

and require closer, more independent study skills. Because each AP course follows a syllabus

dictated by College Board, AP teachers may not have the flexibility to adjust pace and

content of the course if students fall behind; thus it is imperative that students aspiring to take

one or more AP classes understand the commitment enrollment in such a class demands.

Students taking AP classes can expect to have homework that exceeds the 30-minute nightly

average stated in the Community Handbook and may also have assignments to complete

over the summer. Our Curriculum Committee has established guidelines for admission to each

AP class, and students are typically limited to taking no more than three AP courses during a

given year, most typically the student‘s junior and/or senior years.

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AP courses are not for everyone but, for the especially motivated, talented student, they can

add extra rigor and depth to the student‘s high school experience. Successful AP students are

independent, critical thinkers who can analyze and apply what they learn. They have made

the intellectual shift from memorizing and regurgitating to understanding, applying, and

making connections. While we strive to maintain high standards and expectations in our AP

program, we want participation in the program to be inclusive, not exclusive. To that end, we

have found the most important criteria for success at the AP level is motivation and desire,

and the best way for a student who aspires to take an AP class to demonstrate those traits is

through consistent effort and performance in his current classes. If you have questions about

our AP program or about the admissions process for a given AP class, please don‘t hesitate to

call me.

The following seniors have received college acceptances since our last newsletter:

Chris Anderson High Point University

Matt Crooker Guilford College

Millsaps College

Sunam Dhakal East Carolina University

Western Carolina University

George Freiberger High Point University

University of Alabama

Nicole Harrah UNC Greensboro

Harrison Keefe Appalachian State University

Caroline Muir Clemson University

Adam Niner Clemson University

Rachel Nulty Clemson University

University of South Carolina

Sean Ormond UNC SA (filmmaking)

Lasse Palomaki UNC Greensboro

Katie Rice UNC Wilmington

Davis Tucker Lenoir-Rhyne University

Salisbury University

Luke Vandeplancke Clemson University

Betty Flythe, College Placement Advisor

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Healthful Hints from the School Nurse

What happened to winter this year? We‘ve enjoyed days and days of short-sleeved weather.

Students came to school with shorts in January, and I‘ve even seen some flip flips in February!

Could this be the reason why I haven‘t seen any flu in the school? Is the mild weather keeping

us all outside and not all cooped up inside spreading germs? As I write this article in late

February there hasn‘t been a documented case of flu at school. This flu season is one of the

latest starts in nearly three decades.

As for what can be done to fight the flu, health department officials say the old saying, ―An

ounce of prevention is a pound of cure,‖ still applies today — but some of the things from

which one could pick up the virus are much different from years ago.

―The nastiest thing you have around you is your cell phone. Think about it, the phone is in your

pocket, it‘s in your hands at different times, at work, at school, in the house, and when you

travel. There are more germs on a cell phone than on a toilet seat,‖ said Dr. Marion

Pennington, a regional epidemiologist with the Laurel County Health Department, who

recommends using a Clorox hand wipe or a hand sanitizer on your cell phone to kill the germs.

The best, absolutely the best, way to prevent flu is handwashing, period.

On a lighter note, once again this year we will be providing an opportunity for our student

athletes to obtain their sports physicals for next year. These examinations will take place in late

May here at school. I encourage all students interested in sports for the coming school year to

take advantage of these free physicals. Dr. Chris Brumfield and Dr. Michele Jedlica will be

donating their time to perform this much appreciated service to our school. Although there is

no fee for the examination, we will have a donation jar present in the hallway. Proceeds from

this jar will assist with funding medical supplies specifically geared for athletes.

Beth Kennedy, Director of Health Service