December 19, 2007

Quote of the week:

One kind word can warm three winter months.
       --Japanese proverb

Winton Woods High School News:
 
• There is a Winton Woods High School connection to this week’s "Clash of the Choirs" show that is airing in the evening on Channel 5.  Cincinnati choir member John Scott is a 1998 Winton Woods High School graduate who was part of the high school’s concert choir. 

• Congratulations to Winton Woods High School freshmen Antonio Poole and Malcolm Thompson, who received honorable mention in the Korean Spirit and Culture Essay Contest, a national competition. “My students read stories concerning Korean folklore and responded with their thoughts in an essay as a part of a Korean culture promotion project,” said Social Studies teacher Rosemary Petreccia.  “Of all the essays submitted from many high schools across the nation, Antonio and Malcolm received honorable mention for their essay entries.  I am very proud of their hard work and dedication that they both give to their World History class, and of their efforts to broaden their knowledge of other cultures beyond the classroom.”  All winners may be viewed at www.koreanhero.net.

• Winton Woods High School students are paying for the opportunity to “dress down” for the day on Thursday, December 20. The school is holding “’Tis the Season Dress Down Day” to raise money for a Student Council scholarship that will be awarded at the end of the school year. Students must pay $1.00 to participate.  Special Winton Woods Santa hats are also being sold for this event.

Winton Woods Middle School News:

• The Winton Woods Middle School Student Council Dance is Wednesday, December 19 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Tickets are $2.00.

• The Winton Woods Middle School Student Council has been collecting new and gently used hats, gloves, and coats to help make a difference in the community. The collection ends December 20.

• Everyone at Winton Woods Middle School sends their best wishes to staff members Dick and Marty Weber on their retirement from the district. The pair was celebrated by staff members and friends at a party on December 14.

Marty started working as a secretary for the district in 1979. She spent eleven years at Central Office, took a one year leave of absence and then began work at the Middle School. Dick started out as a substitute custodian for the middle school before being hired full-time in 1995.  
 
• On December 20, there will be a holiday bingo game during seventh bell. Students can pay 20 Warrior Bucks to attend. Each student will receive a goody bag, and there will be prizes for the winners.

Winton Woods Intermediate News:

• Happy Holidays from Winton Woods Intermediate School!  We wish your family a safe and enjoyable Winter Break.

• We would like to thank all parents that volunteered to assist us with our December events.  They helped judge our “Deck the Doors” Contest, helped prepare our candy grams, participated in our classroom celebrations, and served our teachers at the staff luncheon.  We appreciate your continued support of WWIS.

• Please continue 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 News:

• We had 102 third grade and 107 fourth grade students qualify for Fun Friday for November.  That's a bit less than half of the class in each case for our respective grade levels.  Thank you parents and great job students ... it's not easy to qualify for Fun Friday, so nice work!  Our kids do a wonderful job responding to the modern demands of school.  We are so proud of them. 

Fun Fridays are intended to recognize and thank those students who do exactly what they are supposed to do each and every day—many times even exceeding our expectations.

• WWES holiday parties are scheduled for Thursday, December 20 from 2:00 to 3:20 p.m.  If you're interested in being a room parent or you're willing to help out in some way, we'd welcome your time and efforts.  Please give us a call at 619-2490 or contact our WWC PTA at 619-2450.  Happy Holidays!

• The WWES Student of the Month luncheon for December is Thursday, January 10 at 11:30 a.m.  Parents are welcome to attend.  Students and families will be notified of our winners for the month of December once we return from break on January 3.
 
• January Dad's Club will be Saturday, January 5 from noon - 2:30 p.m.   We'll be bowling this time so come on out!  Remember that any significant adult male figure in the life of one of our students is welcome to attend.  A flyer will be coming home the week after the holiday break with further information.  We look forward to seeing you there! 

• Family Math & Science Night is Thursday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m.  More on this great night of fun and learning later.
 

Winton Woods Primary News:

• The Primary Schools wish everyone Happy Holidays!

• Did you know that Santa loves to read?  He loves it so much that he came to the Primary South library on Tuesday and read ‘Twas the Night  Before Christmas to every classroom.  After the story, he passed out candy canes to each child.
 
• Thursday will mark the end of Penny Wars at WWPS.  The Springfield Township Fire Department is taking a kindergarten, first, second and multi-handicapped student, along with Santa, to the Kroger store in Finneytown with our jars of pennies.  There, Santa will have the coin machine count the money.  Thank you to Kroger for waiving the coin-counting fee since the money will be going to charity.  We will then return to school on the fire truck, where everyone will watch from the windows to see Santa give a check for the Neediest Kids of All.  Students have been very good about bringing in their own money.  We are hoping for a big amount!
•  Primary North students enjoy reading and taking Accelerated Reader quizzes.  This week each student was presented with a "Good Reader Award" when they visited the library.  Primary North students would like to thank Taylor Sinkkings, grandmother, for supplying the great King's Island key chains and other items for reading prizes. 

• Primary North students and staff send Mrs. Amanda Denson best wishes in her new teaching assignment as Intervention Specialist at WWES.

• Primary North Students and Staff welcome Mrs. Tiffany Moore who will be teaching Mrs. Denson’s first grade class in Room 6 at Primary North.


Winton Woods Community PTA News:

• Due to inclement weather on Saturday during the Winter Festival, the Holiday Shop will be open tonight, December 19, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Winton Woods Intermediate School library. The shop will be open for children of all ages to shop for holiday gifts for their loved ones! If you have any questions about the shop or would like to volunteer to help out, please call Amy Murrell at 742-4823.

• Kindergarten through sixth grade students throughout Winton Woods Schools put on their walking shoes and raised over $13, 400 in the Winton Woods Community PTA’s 2007 Warrior Walk-a-thon. The money the students earned will be used to fund special in-school programs and assemblies.

Walk-a-thon grand prize winners were Nicholas Behrendt from Winton Woods Elementary School who won a Nintendo DS Lite; Hannah McCarthy from Winton Woods Primary South who won a bicycle; Jake Rengers from Winton Woods Intermediate School who won an I-pod Nano video; and Nia Butts from Winton Woods Primary North who won a bicycle. Each of these students raised the most money for their respective buildings.