November 9, 2007

Quote of the week:

We increase whatever we praise.  The whole creation responds to praise, and is glad. 
--Charles Fillmore

 
District News:

• The Winton Woods Community is invited to attend the district’s Financial Outlook presentation on Tuesday, November 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school library.  Information will be shared regarding how our school district  is funded.  The evening’s theme is “First FIRE (Financial Information on Revenues and Expenditures).  Guests will move from room to room learning various financial and funding facts while enjoying donated refreshments.

• The district will be honoring staff and community veterans at a Veteran’s Reception on November 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school library.  Following the reception, veterans and their guest will be given complimentary seating at the Winton Woods High School fall play, It’s a Wonderful Life.  All staff and community members who are veterans are invited to participate.  Please R.S.V.P. to Gina Burnett at 619-2301 by November 13.

• Winton Woods Primary School North will once again honor men and women of the military with its sixth annual Hall of Heroes Open House on Saturday, December 1. The Hall of Heroes is the creation of retired Winton Woods fifth grade teacher Glenn Grundei, and is a permanent display of photos, newspapers, and memorabilia that tells the story of every war since World War I. It is also Grundei’s way of thanking members of the military for being modern day heroes.

 The guest speaker for this year’s Hall of Heroes is retired Air Force Col.  Dean Smittle, who serves as military analyst for WLW-AM (700) and is heard on Jim Scott’s morning show. Displays at this year’s event will  include:

 World War II Women’s Army Corps (WAC) - Dr. Lynn Ashley 
 World War II Navy Nurses - Bonnie Rost
 Korean War Veterans - Bob McGeorge 
 Military Memorabilia – Dusty and Dakota White
 Military Memorabilia - Delhi Veterans 

 “This year’s program is dedicated to Edna Johnson, a World War II WAC  from Greenhills and to all veterans who have passed,” said Grundei.

 The Hall of Heroes Open House of a free event and is open to the public.  It will be held on Saturday, December 1 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Winton  Woods Primary North located at 73 Junefield Avenue in Greenhills.

Winton Woods High School News:

• Cincinnati Bell is giving back to local schools through the CB Learn program. To participate in this program and earn money for Winton Woods Schools, go to www.CBLearn.com and fill out a registration form. There you will be able to designate your school and choose from accounts set up for either the Winton Woods Community PTA, the Winton Woods Middle School PTA, the Winton Woods High School PTSA or the Winton Woods Varsity Ensemble China trip. Signing up for CB Learn earns your designated school $10. Signing up for other Cincinnati Bell services can earn even more. Register now for the 2007-2008 school year and earn $10 for our schools.

• Winton Woods High School will have its High Schools That Work (HSTW) Technical Review visit this week. “We have representatives come in to review our school, its curriculum and our improvement efforts and determine our strengths and challenges,” said principal Anita Williams.  This two-day accreditation process takes place every three years.

• Fall conference night is Thursday, November 8 from 5:00-8:25 p.m.  

• The Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble will be visited by WCET-TV on Monday, November 19 in anticipation of its December 1 performance at CCM’s Feast of Carols.  Channel 12 visited VE in October to highlight their upcoming trip to China.  To view the Channel 12 video, go to  http://www.local12.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=21430@video.wkrc.com

• Students in Lisa Dye’s class are collecting pop tabs to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. “Years ago I heard that one million pop tabs would be enough to pay for an electric wheelchair,” said Dye. The class has already collected about 250,000 tabs—a quarter of the way to their goal. Pop tabs may be dropped off in the Winton Woods High School office. 

• Congratulations to seniors Karen Budke and Shelly Owen who will have their artwork displayed in an art exhibit called Selections '07 at the College of Mount St. Joseph.  The show runs from November 11 – December 9. The opening reception is Sunday, November 11, from 1-4:30 p.m.

• Congratulations to sophomore bassoon player Evan Schultz and junior tuba player Tyler Lendl for making District 14 Honor Band this year. Honor Band is open to all schools in Hamilton and Clermont Counties. 
 
• Rehearsals have begun for the Winton Woods High School fall play, It’s a Wonderful Life.  Performances will be November 15, 16, 17 at 8:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door.

Winton Woods Middle School News:

• Congratulations to eighth grader Dominique Hill who was honored as an MVP during half-time ceremonies at UC’s homecoming game on October 13.  Dominique and her parents, Drunette and Lawrence Hill of Forest Park, were named the game’s MVPs by UC’s Athletic Department and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Dominique was the recipient of a liver transplant at Children’s Hospital in April.  This was the first liver transplant for a child whose parent is an employee of Children’s.

• Winners for Winton Woods Middle School’s positive behavior raffle are: Jacob Jenkins, Oveair Gorden, Jalen Walker, Martha Pande, Stephon Gaston, Jermaine Myrick, Princess Dean, Maurice Pope, Will McNeil, and Nyiyah Rowland. Winners received UC Women's Basketball tickets and Cincinnati Cyclones tickets.

Mrs. Jung and Mrs. Mitchell are the lucky teachers who wrote winning Warrior bucks and whose names were drawn for the teacher raffle. Congratulations to all!

Winton Woods Intermediate News:
• Winton Woods Intermediate School celebrated Fall Achievement on Wednesday, October 31.  One hundred and thirty-three students were recognized for earning a place on the A/B Honor Roll and maintaining a clean disciplinary record.  We would like to thank all the parents who assisted with our celebration.  We would also like to thank the parents that donated bags of candy.  We appreciate your support

Winton Woods Elementary News:

• Community heroes will be honored at Winton Woods Elementary School on Friday, November 9.  The school’s Veteran's Day observance entitled "Eat Lunch With a Hero" will take place during lunch time from 11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.  Veterans, retired or active military personnel, police officers and firefighters from Forest Park, Greenhills and Springfield Township are invited to attend.  A special lunch will be served and students will have the chance to sit down with a real-life, modern-day hero and share and ask questions.  There is an open invitation to any veteran, police officer or fire fighter in our community, with or without children in our school system. 

Also check out the school’s Veteran's Day Wall that’s in the process of being put together.  The wall is made-up of paper "bricks" with the picture, name, rank and branch of service for each of the school’s veterans.  We'd love to post your brick as well if you are a veteran.  Please call 619-2490 for further information.
 
• Picture Retake Day is Thursday, November 8 from 1:45 - 2:45 p.m.  Students who missed Picture Day in September will have the opportunity to have their photo taken. Any parents who'd like to have their child's picture retaken can do so that day. Students may bring a tasteful and reasonable non-uniform top to change into prior to the picture retake.  They may have their photo taken or retaken in the top/shirt/blouse of their choice and then change back into their uniform top after the picture.  Picture retake forms are available in the main office.
  
• Fun Friday for third grade for the month of October is scheduled for Friday, November 9 during our school-wide Intervention & Enrichment time.  Fun Friday for our fourth grade students will take place on Friday, November 16 during the same time frame. 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 (as we recognize through the “V.I.W. Brag Book”). 

Incentives are a critical part of WWES’s overall school-wide discipline plan and help to shape the culture of our building in a positive fashion.  Students must meet all of the fairly stringent criteria to qualify for Fun Friday.  These include all homework turned in, no unexcused tardies to school and no disciplinary referrals to the office, detentions or other disciplinary actions during the past month (e.g. card turns or check marks).  “We have so many great kids here and good things going on. It is critically important that we take time to recognize them,” said Principal Steve Denny.
 
• The WWES Dad's Club will meet on Saturday, November 17 from 12:00 - to 2:30 p.m. for skating.  Information will travel home soon.
 
• First quarter ended on Friday, October 26 and report cards went home with students on Wednesday, October 31.
 
• Our Warrior-Walk-A-Thon Incentive and Recognition program will be Tuesday, November 20 during lunch and at the end of the school day.  This special program is put on by the Winton Woods Community PTA and recognizes those students who met the fundraising goals set by the PTA for the Warrior-Walk-A-Thon and the pledge collection.  

• As we enter this holiday season, we hope as many of you as possible can come out to the Forest Park Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 3 at the Forest Park Fire Station and City Hall on the corner of Winton and Kemper Roads.  The WWES fourth grade Select Chorus will perform that evening to open this event.  Bundle up and join us at 7:00 p.m. at the firehouse for an evening of musical warmth and winter memories. 

Winton Woods Primary News:

• The Scholastic Book Fair is here and students at both primary schools have been visiting the fair, making their "wish lists" and buying new books.   This is a great opportunity to "Give the Gift of Reading" to your child.  Book prices are $4.00 and up.  There is a special bargain cart of books priced from $1.00 - $3.00, only while the supply lasts. 

Also, remember to surprise your teacher by purchasing a book from the Teacher's Wish List.  These books will be used for classroom reading, and the students will have a nameplate put in the book they buy for their teachers.  All proceeds from the Scholastic Book Fair will be used to buy books for the school library.  We especially would like to thank our super parents, grandparents and Full Circle volunteers for all their help.  We could not do this without you.  Remember "Today a Reader ... Tomorrow a Leader."
 
• School Picture Retake Day is Tuesday, November 13 for Primary North students. Primary South students will have their pictures retaken on Tuesday, November 20.  Students, please remember to wear your uniforms and a smile!
 
• Operation Letter Storm is the opportunity for all students in the Winton Woods City School District to write letters or create works of art to show our thanks and support to those who are currently serving in our military.  This tribute and community service project teaches students character education, patriotism and citizenship. 

Winton Woods students will be sending the second phase of cards, letters and drawings to our troops for Thanksgiving.  Please send all items to Karen Emmons at Winton Woods Primary North by November 8.