December 13, 2007

Quote of the week:

"The foundation of every state is the education of its youth."
        --Diogenes

District News:

• There will be no school from December 21 – January 2 for the holidays.  School will resume on January 3. 

Winton Woods High School News:

• Students in Irene Shedd’s economics classes were chosen to participate in a new nationwide program concerning financial literacy by the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program.  The program introduces students to the importance of making wise financial decisions and demonstrates the importance of planning, goal setting, and thoughtful decision-making within the context of personal financial decisions.

Edward Gemperle, CFP, and David Feldstein, CFP, from Ameriprise Financial Services, visited the classroom to instruct students on: the concept of budgeting and learning how daily chores affect the ability to save for the future; investment options and making plans for the financial future; credit options and avoiding credit pitfalls; behaviors that contribute to identity theft and learning to take necessary actions to protect their identity; and different types of insurance and how each type provides protection.
 
• Congratulations to Mr. James Cobb, business consultant for Mrs. Shedd’s economics classes, who was named the Junior Achievement Volunteer of the Year.  Mr. Cobb, a retired, self-employed businessman, has served as business consultant for the economics students of Winton Woods High School for many years.  We are grateful for the wealth of experience and personal business expertise that Mr. Cobb brings to the classroom.

• The Museum of Human Rights will be open in the Winton Woods High School on  Thursday, December 13, during the school day. It will also be open on the evening of December 13 from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. during the band concert.

The exhibits for this year’s event are based upon the rights addressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that acknowledges the basic rights that every human has regardless of the rules set by their government.  Students in Lauren Sabour’s World Affairs class have researched cases in which people are still being denied basic rights such as safe water, freedom of religion, freedom from slavery, right to education, and the right to seek asylum, among others.  

• The Winton Woods High School Winter Band Concert is Thursday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

• The Winton Woods High School Choir and Orchestra Concert is Wednesday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Alumni from all choruses are invited to participate in the singing of the “Halleluiah Chorus” at the end of the program. 

• Congratulations to Nina Booker, Winton Woods High School Student of the Month, who was honored at the December 10 Board of Education meeting.

• Members of the Winton Woods High School KEY Club are collecting canned goods during first bell. No boxed or bagged foods please—only canned items will be accepted.  The winning first bell class will receive a continental breakfast.  The class with the second most items will receive candy bars.  All items will be donated to Hartwell Baptist Church for its food pantry.

• Winton Woods families and community members are invited to “Wok 'n Rock at Molloy's,” a benefit in support of the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble’s trip to China.  The benefit will take place on Thursday, January 10, 2008 from 7:00–10:00 p.m.  Tickets are $25 per person in advance; $30 per person and cash only after January 3.  Food and soft drinks will be provided, and a cash bar will be available.

The evening will also feature entertainment by former Varsity Ensemble member Anna Beljin and her father, Milovan (www.annaandmilovan.com). Anna and Milovan have created an acoustic pop/folk/blues sound that will take guests from the 60's to the current hits.  Anna is currently a freshman at Miami University, but she and her father still perform regularly at such venues as Parkers Blue Ash Grill, The Blind Lemon, Arnold's, College Hill Coffee, and the Dilly Deli Restaurant.

Profits from this benefit will help the Varsity Ensemble further defray the cost of traveling to China in March 2008 to perform at “A Choral Salute to the Beijing Olympics.” All donations are tax–deductible. Checks should be payable to "Winton Woods Educational Foundation" and marked "China Trip."

For more information or for special table reservations for groups of 8–10, call Barb Cooper at 513-602-5602. Molloy’s is located at 10 Enfield Avenue in Greenhills.

• Winton Woods High School will hold its annual Financial Aid Night on January 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the school’s library.  “Representatives from Miami University’s Financial Aid Department will be here to provide step-by-step instruction for filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid),” said College Counselor Kevin Jones. “It is great information.”

• After-school peer tutoring is available for all high school students every Monday through Thursday in room 112.

• Congratulations to the Winton Woods High School Students of the Month: Alandria Allen, Arica Burke, Christian Dillingham, Candido Garcia, D’Angilo Hankerson, Mariah Hendricks, Dayeesha Hollins, Ariel Johnson, Juan Leon, Darien Mattocks, Derek McCain, Shelly Owen, Samantha Paratore, Daniel Pommeranz, James Rice, Specha’l Roberts, Rakim Rowland, Janae Sneed, Demetre Underwood, Brook Williams, and Geneva Williams. 

Winton Woods Middle School News:

• Winton Woods Middle School is proud to announce its Students of the Month for November 2007. These students were nominated by the teaching staff because of the quality of their work, their efforts in class, their responsibility level and behavior at school, their attitude, and their relationship to their peers and teachers. November Students of the Month are: 7th graders Taylor Baird, Tony Gall, Steven Gaston, Ruhi Gulati and Kevin Sand; and 8th graders Luis Guerrero, Kayla Rogers, Berenice Ruiz, Andrew Topits and Zachary Williams.

• The Winton Woods Middle School Choir and Orchestra Concert is Tuesday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the middle school auditorium.

• The middle school’s Positive Behavior Holiday Store is open this week for students to buy gifts for friends and family with the Warrior Bucks they’ve earned this year for good behavior. The store will be open during homeroom in the school library.

Winton Woods Intermediate News:

• The bake sale to benefit the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble’s trip to China was a great success.  The bake sale collected over $228 to support the students.  Your generosity and commitment is most appreciated.  Thank you!

• The band, orchestra and choir performances were outstanding at the WWIS Winter Program on Tuesday, December 11.  We are so thankful to all of the parents, families, and community members that came out to show support for our students.  We truly appreciate your attendance.

• Winton Woods Intermediate School will host the district’s Winter Festival on Saturday, December 15 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Holiday shopping, games, gift wrapping, food, and free crafts will be available.  Come and enjoy the holiday season. 

• Students can send a “Holiday Wish” card for 25 cents at WWIS.  These can be purchased by students and/or parents during the school day.  They will be delivered next week to the students prior to leaving for winter break.

• Congratulations to Jacob Rengers, first prize winner of the PTA Walk-A-Thon.  Jacob chose the iPod Nano as his prize. 

• Students and teachers are eagerly decorating their homeroom doors for the “Deck the Doors” competition.  Volunteer parents will be judging the doors next week to determine the winner. 

• Next week is Spirit Week.  Monday is wear a white shirt day, Tuesday is holiday socks day, Wednesday is wear a holiday shirt day, and Thursday is wear a Santa hat day.

• Students elected as Student Council representatives are planning many activities for the student body during the month of December.  December calendars were sent home in the newsletter to help you keep track of everything that is going on this month. Holiday parties will take place on Wednesday, December 19 in the classroom from 2:00-2:55 p.m.  Students will return to their homerooms, and our technology department will make a holiday film available for all classrooms in the building.  Some homerooms may decide to do alternative activities during this time.  Parents are encouraged to send treats to the classroom.  

• As the temperature continues to fall, please remember that students should be dropped off no earlier that 7:50 a.m.  We are unable to supervise students prior to this time and do not want to have them waiting outside in the cold.  We also remind you to dress your child in layers.  Students are permitted to wear navy, green, and white crew neck sweatshirts and sweaters over their uniform shirts.  Please remember hooded items and coats cannot be worn in the classroom.  Students should also come to school with a warm coat, gloves, and a hat for outdoor recess.  Please remember to write your child’s name in these items so that we can return lost items.   

Winton Woods Elementary School News:

• Marsh Supermarkets is again providing a program to earn free educational, technological and extracurricular equipment for Winton Woods Elementary School.  Fresh IDEAS for Education is an easy way to contribute to our school. To earn equipment for WWES, go to http://www.marsh.net/srb_education.html. Then simply scan your Marsh card each time you shop at your local Marsh store.  Your purchases will automatically accumulate points for to be used toward much needed items that tight budgets cannot provide.

• Fun Friday for fourth grade students for November is scheduled for Friday, December 14 during our school-wide Intervention and Enrichment time.  

• Holiday parties are scheduled for Thursday, December 20 from 2:00 - 3:20 p.m.  If you're interested in being a room parent or are willing to help out in some way, we'd welcome your time and efforts.  Please call the school at 619-2490.  Happy Holidays!
 
• If you have not already purchased a WWES yearbook for 2007-2008, they are back on sale for a limited time.  The sale ends this Friday, December 14.  The cost is $8 for a high-quality yearbook that will capture memories from this school year for years to come.

Winton Woods Primary News:

• District nurses are coordinating a canned food drive.  Join us in helping families in the district this season by sending in a canned food item with your child.  Collections began on December 11 and will end Tuesday, December 18.  Boxes will be in the front hallway for your convenience.  Thank you in advance for helping those in need this holiday season.

• Penny Wars is off to a great start!  Kroger's is allowing us to use their coin counting machine to count the donations without charging us a fee.  We are encouraging parents and staff to make contributions.  Primary South second graders sold popcorn at lunch to raise over $200.00 for the fund.  Remember this is a friendly competition between the North and South Poles (Primary schools), but the real winners will be the children who receive the money which will be donated to Neediest Kids of All.  This is a caring project for our students to give to others not as fortunate.

• Congratulations to Byron Hazlett from Winton Woods Primary South who was honored at the December 10 Board of Education meeting with the Kiwanis Character is Key award for respect.

• Welcome back to Mrs. Porter, Winton Woods Primary South music teacher.  She had been on medical leave and was missed by all.
• Popcorn will be for sale during lunch hour at WWPN on Friday for only 25 cents.  Students who earned "high five hands" this week may trade them in for free popcorn on Friday.