Newsletter for the families of p AW RINT Whitmore Charter ... Prints/Paw Print...Newsletter for the families of Whitmore Charter School of the Arts and Technology 3435 Don Pedro Road,

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 down-load 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 Feb /Mar 2015 Volume 8, Issue 4

F R O M T H E P R I N C I PA L

Well here we are, just over the half way point of the school year. We’ve been busy as a staff planning the second half and end-of-year school activities. Having success-fully completed the first semester, we stand ready to finish the school year with many achievements. My hope is that you too, will look forward to the challenges of this second half, build on your successes and put away any past disappointments. With the upcoming Literacy Week and Family Literacy Night (2/25/15) 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. When seeking 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 your child close his/her eyes and imagine how this part of the story may appear. Look for words your child is not familiar with. When reading a story, point them out and help your child 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/her continue their love of reading!

Lastly, WCSAT has teamed again with the Ceres Unified School District Foundation for their annual raffle fundraiser. Raffle tickets for the Ceres Street Faire drawings contain several wonderful prizes. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase from March 2nd - March 20th. This is a great opportunity to raise funds that directly benefit Whitmore classrooms and students. Students will also have the opportunity to win top-selling prizes. Further information will follow.

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].

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

December 2014 - Commitment Grade Teacher Student K Mrs. Burnett Isaiah Ruiz K Mrs. Rodrigues Joellene Roton 1 Mrs. Mariano Addison Hulsey 1 Mrs. Tornquist/Berger Olivia Gutierrez 2 Mrs. Lewis Akua Flores 2 Mrs. Fischer Sydney Castillo 3 Mrs. Benitez Andy Guevara 3 Mrs. Crawford Jorge Guerrero 4 Ms. McNeal Arya Flores 4 Mrs. Terrones Avery Hulsey 5 Mrs. Aguiar Jason Kiefer 5 Mr. Sundy Matthew Sanchez

January 2015 - Cooperation Grade Teacher Student K Mrs. Burnett Lawton Hartsfield K Mrs. Rodrigues Ty Swain 1 Mrs. Mariano Payton Baker 1 Mrs. Tornquist/Berger Jason Trevino 2 Mrs. Lewis Zachary Looney 2 Mrs. Fischer Evan Webster 3 Mrs. Benitez Terryn Mendez 3 Mrs. Crawford Andrew Ruiz 4 Ms. McNeal Taylor Clawson 4 Mrs. Terrones Samuel Caulkins 5 Mrs. Aguiar Kylie Maines 5 Mr. Sundy Mariah Palofox

K-5 Encore Model Student Awards

December 2014Art Isis Balderas Drama Karan Athwal Music Brendan Martin

Dance Itzel Mendoza Tech Sammy Lloyd PE Makayla Burrow Nico Gil

January 2015Music Arleth Serafin Art Faith Garrett Dance Harley Holliday Drama Olivia Ruiz

Tech. Elijah HollowayPE Jason Trevino Sukhnoor Toor

2.


3.

WCSAT Honor Roll2014-2015 1st Semester

Crawford Benitez Terrones Mc Neal Aguiar SundySilver

Hannah Martin Borba Lianna Padilla Brinley Adams Joshua Lybarger Blake Barr Mattison AdamsHannah Methvin La Dre Sengsoury Williams Karan Athwal Devin Stroup Dominic Gonzalez Jazmine Carver

Larkin Meyer Elise Swain Avery Bezanson Jessica Scott Julian GutierrezJessica Potts Analy Gomez Taylor Hill

Katelyn Keifer Leah JosephNathan MirandaDean RawlinsOlivia Solache

GoldElias Corona Faith Garrett Taylor Clawson Guillermo Garibay Maritza PalafoxMason Baker Carter Sneed Isaac Garcia Brooklyn Howe Matthew SanchezElliott Hayes Heather Starkweather Samantha Oller Zackary Martinez

Gavin Stone Olivia RuizIzaak Sengsoury

Jose SerafinAcademic Excellence

Tatyanni Coconi Carter Berger Makayla Burrow Bella Carrera Bronson Burrow Alyssa Jimenez Mei Lien Cortez Cameron Bradshaw Sam Caulkins Logann Meyer Kylie Maines Jaden JoyJustice Franco Josiah Sandoval Nicolas Gil Valene Perillo Blake Ratajczak

Kameron Gearhart Andy Guevara Harlye Holliday Breanna Rice Noah Trevino Jorge Guerrero Terryn Mendes Avery Hulsey Kayla Zhu

Andrew Ruiz Preet Pannu Grace LooneyJerry PorrasAleecia Silva

3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade

Happy 8th BirthdayKaylee

SENGSOURY WINS WHITMORE GEOGRAPHY BEEEighth-grader Taleyna Seng-soury outlasted nine other com-petitors to win the Whitmore Charter School Geography Bee on January 28th sponsored by the National Geography Society.

Sengsoury won the champion-ship round against seventh-grader Tony Cortez when she correctly identified Afghanistan as the name of the country that connects to Pakistan via the Khyber Pass.

Taleyna will be given a qualify-ing quiz that will be forwarded to the National Geography to be considered for the State Geographic Bee and possi-bly the 27th annual National Geographic Bee where $50,000

in college scholarships will be doled out to the champion. Up to 100 of the top scorers on that test in each state will be eligible to compete in their State Bee on March 27.

The competition, held at Whit-more Charter School started out with 10 competitors in fifth-graders Jason Keifer and Rayana Coleman; sixth-graders Vivien Chen and Adriana Huaracha; seventh-graders Naiyleah Arellano, Tony Cortez, Elias Collins and Kadine Richardson; and eighth-graders Sengsoury and Iraya Cross. To reach the competition, the 10 competed in seven rounds and beat out 24 of their classmates.

This was the second Geographic Bee that Sengsoury and Cortez have participated in.

“These guys have sacrificed their lunch breaks and many times after school sessions, to study and to prepare for this moment,” said Bee overseer and teacher Matt Huttsel. “It’s an honor to make it here.”

Source: Ceres Courier, Feb 4, 2015 Jeff Benziger, Editor

Taleyna Sengsoury


Mrs. Terrones and Ms. McNeal’s 4th grade classes traveled to San Juan Bautista Mission and State Historic Park in January. They learned what life was like for the missionaries and Native Ameri-cans during the mission days while completing a scavenger hunt.

The state historic park included a museum, hotel, carriage house and jail house. Students were able to actually see what it was like for early settlers. Fun fact: the Breen family (survivors of the Donnor Party) settled here when they finally made it to California.

Fourth graders also completed their mission projects this month. Students were given the choice to visit the mission and make a video or pictorial tour, research the mis-sion and create a Power Point or build a mission model.

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

4.


Dance-A-ThonOn January 16th, students across WCSAT moved and grooved to some great music provided by Mr. Hunn, WCSAT’s very own DJ (and of course greatest music teacher)! A total of $6,525.60 was raised. The classes that raised the most in grades K-5 were; 1st place McNeal $761, 2nd place Burnett $662, and 3rd place Terrones $621.

5.

Photos provided by Renee Gaskill


6.

On February 3rd and 5th, students of WCSAT, performed the musical event Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids.

The directors of this produc-tion included the WCSAT Fine Arts team: Gail Benge - Drama; Damon Hunn - Music; Tanaia Green - Dance; and Mark Gal-legos - Visual Arts.

“The mid-year musical has become a tradition that we enjoy as part of the Whitmore experi-ence,” stated Mrs. Benge.

Thank you to the Parent Booster Club for coordinating the volun-teers over two separate evenings.

Thank you for supporting the arts at Whitmore!

Photos provided by Renee Gaskill


7.


Important Dates!!!

8.

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

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:

http://wcs.ceres.k12.ca.us/WCSAT/.

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

March 2015SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5PBC Mtg 4pmStaff Room

6

PBC Morning Brew 8am

7

8 9 10 11 12 13

Father/Daughter Dance 6-8pm

14

15 16 17Fine Arts Night 6pm

18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25Dismissal 1:42

26Dismissal 12:30

27

Dismissal 12:30

Middle School Life Skills As-sembly 10am

K-5 Lifeskills Assembly 8:15am

28

29 30 31

Safety Tips of the Month!

Drive slowly and safely in rainy weather.

Use caution when entering and exiting busy parking lots.

Slow down and enjoy this holiday season!

Life Skill of the Month

Work Ethic

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.

Feb 2015SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

15 16

No School

17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25Family Lit-eracy Night 5:30-7:30pm

26 27K-5 Lifeskills Assembly 2:30

28

Life Skill of the Month

Perseverance

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Literacy Week

Order Your Child’s

Birthday Announcement (Photos accepted)

$5 for business card size ad. Follow the instructions above for

placing an Ad in the Paw Print.

Documents

Newsletter for the families of p AW RINT Whitmore Charter ... Prints/Paw Print...Newsletter for the families of Whitmore Charter School of the Arts and Technology 3435 Don Pedro Road,