Whittier Elementary School Family Weekly Newsletter
April 28 – May 2
“Commitment: It's not about the competition;
The goal is to exceed my own expectations.”
For the 2013-2014 school year, commitment is our motto. Our staff and students are committed to setting and exceeding challenging goals.
WELCOME BACK!
Students Report to School on Monday, April 28th!
WE MISSED YOU!
PTA Treasurer
If you are interested in helping our school and participating in the PTA, we are looking for a PTA Treasurer. Anyone interested can contact Mrs. Koehler at
Tiki Torchin’ for Technology
Don’t Forget about the exciting Tiki Torchin’ for Technology Night on May 17th. See the flyer that is attached to this newsletter. We hope to see you there!
Earth Day Activities at
Whittier Elementary School
Friday, May 2
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Please e-mail Mrs. Clark at if you are interested in helping.
All Whittier students will participate in a variety of environmental awareness and Earth-friendly activities in honor of Earth Day. “Wonderful Wisconsin” is our theme as presenters will share information pertaining to many of our state symbols and what makes Wisconsin Wonderful. Activities will be held outside on the south playground. Please dress for outside activities.
· 8:00 – 9:10 Explorer Family
· 9:15 – 10:25 Adventurer Family
· 10:30 – 11:40 Trailblazer Family
Presenters for Morning Activities:
· Ms. Valerie Mann – Pringle Nature Center Naturalist; discussing state
bird-robin; state flower-wood violet
· Ms. Jane Losee – Representative from WI Dairy Council; discussing state beverage - milk
· Ms. Linda Dubaniewicz – retired Whittier Teacher; discussing state wildlife animal – deer; state animal – badger
· Mr. Tim Fulton – Retired Speech Therapist; bee keeper; Bee Council member; discussing state insect – honey bee
· Ms. Kylee Dycus – Intern with UW-Extension; Environmental Science Major at Carthage College; discussing state grain – corn; state domesticated animal - cow
· Mr. Mike Sieger – DNR Forestry Leader; discussing state tree – sugar maple
· Mr. Steve LaMotte – Ocean Spray Employee; discussing state fruit – cranberry
IT’S TIME FOR THE TALENT SHOW!
Talent Show Information
1. This year’s talent show will take place in the multipurpose room at 1:00 P.M. on June 11th, 2014.
2. Any Whittier student may try-out to be in the talent show.
3. Three teacher/staff judges will view the auditions and select approximately 20 “acts.”
4. Try-outs will be in late May. They are tentatively scheduled for Friday May 16th and Friday May 23rd. Students will fill out an audition form and must try-out on the day and at the time they are scheduled.
5. The location for the auditions has yet to be determined. Besides the judges, parents may watch their own children try-out.
6. Students may try-out for no more than two acts. They can be a solo act or a group act.
7. Acts must be around 3 minutes in length – no exceptions.
8. If students do a singing act and they use recorded music, the music must be of a karaoke nature – no vocals on the recording. (All of the songs in our singing books have this format available.)
9. Students who are chosen to be in the show must be available for one of the after school practices that will take place on Friday May 30th and Friday June 6th as well as the dress rehearsal that will be after school on June 10th.
Some “Try-Out” Pointers:
1. Acts should be of performance quality at the time of the try-out. If it still needs lots of work, it probably won’t be selected.
2. For singing acts, stick with child-friendly songs and stay away from mature content, such as boy/girl relationship songs.
3. For singing acts, adding some movement or props adds interest…in other words; try not to just stand there. However, remember that you will have to use a microphone, which will restrict some of your motions.
4. Students who take any kind of lessons are encouraged to audition to share their talent with the rest of the Whittier students.
5. Be creative. Put together an act that no one else would think of.
6. Don’t limit yourself to the obvious. Past talent shows have included pogo stick routines, magic acts, joke telling, poetry readings, jump rope routines, Tae Kwon Do demonstrations, juggling, and hula dancing.
Bike Night Returns – May 6th
Whittier Elementary School will be hosting its Second Annual Bike Night. Students and their families are encouraged to join the PTA for a night of bike safety and activities. The event is free, and there will also be concessions for sale. The event starts at 6:30 P.M. in the Whittier South parking lot. Families can ride their bikes to the school or bring bikes in their cars. Cars must park in the North parking lot. Planned activities include:
Helmet Check, Bike Fit, Wheel Shop, Bike Safety, Ride Right Obstacle Course, and Safe Places to Wheel. Ray Rowe, Officer Friendly, andKenosha Velodrome Association will be hosting the stations.
Attention 5th Grade Parents!
We will be having a slideshow presentation at the 5th grade banquet on Thursday, June 5, 2014. We would like to include a baby/toddler photo of every 5th grade student.
Please send your child’s name and favorite baby/toddler photo to Paula West at to be included in the video. Don’t have a digital version? No problem! Send your image with your child’s name on the back to your child’s teacher and we will get it scanned and returned to you. Pictures are due by Friday, May 9, 2014.
More Fifth Grade News!
Save the date! All fifth grade parents should mark their calendars for our fifth grade banquet that will take place on Thursday, June 5th, 2014. Only the fifth grader and parents/guardians will be allowed to attend (no siblings). Mark your calendars today, and more information will follow soon.
Attention All Fourth Grade Parents!
Are you curious as to what goes on at our fifth grade banquet? Are you wondering what it will be like as you start thinking about planning for your next year? Don’t you just want to “take a peek” to get ideas for your banquet next year? If so, we have an opportunity for you! We are in need of fourth grade parents to come to the fifth grade banquet and help us out. We need names of parents who are willing to donate a few hours to check in people, monitor the food tables, and help out, in general. Please, please, please help out your fifth grade parents…we know that you’ll be glad that you did. Save the date of Thursday, June 5, in the early evening. Email if you can help us out that evening. Thanks!
Attendance Report: Interesting Whittier Data!
· Our attendance for the week of 4/7 – 4/11 was95.5%.
· Our attendance for the week of 4/14 – 4/17 was 96.9%.
· For the Quarters 1 through 3, our attendance was 96.16%. Out of the 28 elementary schools, including the charter schools, our percentage was the fourth best.
· For the third quarter, our attendance was 95.99%. Our percentage compared to all of the elementary schools was fourth best.
· Last school year, 2012-2013, Whittier’s total attendance for the whole school year was good. Again, we had the fourth best attendance.
· As of March 28, 2014, Whittier is one of four schools that does not have any truancies this year.
· We definitely have established a pattern. We consistently are in fourth place. What is most interesting is that the top three schools are not always the same.
We are sharing this attendance data with all of the Whittier families to challenge all of us to continue to work toward our goal of 97% attendance for the 2013-2014 school year. We are close, but we need a really good May to get us to 97%.
Finally, we would like to thank all of the families and the students for taking on this challenge. We appreciate that everyone recognizes the importance of being in school. We know that Whittier can make it! Stay healthy! Be in school!
Kid’s Castle Daycare – Summer Hours
Kid’s Castle will be offering summer hours at Whittier. Starting on June 16 through August 27, Kid’s Castle will be open from 6:30 A.M.-6:00 P.M. at Whittier. If you have any questions, please contact Kid’s Castle. Flyers went home in the Thursday Folders.
Camp Invention
Don’t forget to sign up! Please consider this wonderful opportunity for your child. The camp is at Whittier from July 28-August 1, 9:00 A.M.-3:30 P.M. If you have any questions, please e-mail Mrs. Schneider at
4K and Kindergarten Registration
We are accepting 4K and Kindergarten registrations. Please visit our office for all of the details!
Thank you and Congratulations!
· Congratulations to Teams Galley, Quintero, Knudtson, Preston, and Mangelsdorf! Great job in the Slam Dunk Lunchroom Incentive Contest!
· Thank you, Ms. Vangie, Ms. Melanie, Ms. Barb, and Ms. Anita! The students loved the Slam Dunk Lunchroom Incentive and the assembly. Thank you for the basketballs, the treats, and most of all your generousness and caring. We appreciate you!
· Thank you, ELVIS Kingfish, for your guest appearance at our Lunchroom Incentive Assembly. WE LOVED IT!
· Thank you to everyone who participated in the SPRING BREAK READING CHALLENGE. The pictures were superb! We will share the results in next week’s newsletter.
· Thank you, Meredith Jumisko, from the Kenosha Visitor’s Bureau. The third grade students loved your presentations.
· Thank you to all of the families who attended the Kindergarten/First Grade Concert.
THIS WEEK: April 28-May 2
Monday, April 28
· 2:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. – 4th Grade Minecraft Club
Tuesday, April 29 150th Day of School
· 2:30-3:30 – Chess Club
Wednesday, April 30
Tornado Drill – The KUSD –wide Tornado Drill is May 1 at 1:30 P.M. The Lance Middle School Choir will be performing in the multi-purpose room at that time. We will have our Tornado Drill on April 30, Wednesday, at 1:30 P.M.
· 11:15 A.M. - First Grade Field Trip to James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts in Grayslake, IL, to see Henry and Mudge
· 2:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M.- Choir Practice
· PTA Fundraiser pick-up from 4:30 P.M.-6:30 P.M.
· Chat and Chew on Autism – free childcare Dinner served at 5:30 P.M. Free Seminar at 6:00 P.M.
Thursday, May 1
· 2:30 P.M. – Bible Club
· 2:30 P.M. – 5th Grade Intramurals
· 5:30 P.M. – 5th Grade Banquet Committee Meeting
Friday, May 2 K-5 Student dismissal is at 12:30 P.M.
EARTH DAY!
Upcoming Events:
· May 5-9 -WHITTIER STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK!
· May 6 – PTA Bike Safety Night
· May 8 – Last Bible Club Meeting
· May 9 - K-5 Student dismissal is at 12:30 P.M.
· May 9 – Early Education Afternoon Session – 9:18 A.M.-12:30 P.M.
· May 12 – PTA Meeting
· May 15 – Mrs. Tenuta’s class visits the One Room School House at Hawthorne Hallow – 8:30 A.M.-1:45 P.M.
· May 16 - K-5 Student dismissal is at 12:30 P.M.
· May 16 - Early Education Afternoon Session – 9:18 A.M.-12:30 P.M.
· MAY 17 – TIKI TORCHIN’ FOR TECHNOLOGY – ADULT FUNDRAISER
· May 20 – Fourth Grade Field Trip to Madison
· May 21 – Mrs. West’s class visits the One Room School House at Hawthorne Hallow – 8:30 A.M.-1:45 P.M.
· May 22 – Mrs. Alho’s class visits the One Room School House at Hawthorne Hallow – 8:30 A.M.-1:45 P.M.
· May 22-23 – 5th Grade Field Trip to Phantom Ranch
· May 22 –Popcorn Day
· May 23 - K-5 Student dismissal is at 12:30 P.M.
· May 23 Early Education Afternoon Session – 9:18 A.M.-12:30 P.M.
· May 23 – ½ Day for Staff
· May 26 – Memorial Day – No School
· May 28 – Market Day Pick-Up
· May 28 – Joint Concert – Orchestra, Band, and Choir – 6:00 P.M.
· May 29 – Third Grade Field Trip to Kemper Center/History Center 8:45 A.M.-2:00 P.M.
· May 30 - K-5 Student dismissal is at 12:30 P.M.
· May 30 Early Education Afternoon Session – 9:18 A.M.-12:30 P.M.
· June 1- Action Territory from 1:00 P.M. to close (Information will be sent home.
· June 3 – Last Chess Club Meeting
· June 5 – 5th Grade Banquet
· June 6 - K-5 Student dismissal is at 12:30 P.M.
· June 9 – Kingfish Baseball Night
· June 10 – Track and Field Day (K-2 will be in the A.M., and 3-5 will be in the P.M.)
· June 11 – Fourth Quarter Ends
· June 11 – Early Education Morning Session – 7:25 A.M.-10:32 A.M.
· June 11 – Early Education Afternoon Session – 11:13 A.M. – 2:25 P.M.
· June 11 – 1:00 P.M. – Talent Show
· June 11 – K-5 Student dismissal at 2:25 P.M.
· June 12 - Early Education Morning Session – 7:25 A.M.-10:32 A.M.
· June 12 - K-5 Student dismissal is at 12:30 P.M. – Last Day for Students
Have a euphonious week!
Jo