Phone 240-236-4000 FAX 240-236-4050 December 7, 2007 Issue 2007-4
Calendar:
Fri. Dec. 7 – 2 hour Early Dismissal (1 pm)
Mon. Dec. 10 – PTSA Meeting
7 pm
Tues. Dec. 11 – WFMS Band
Winter Concert 7 pm Gym
Wed. Dec. 12 – WFMS Chorus
Concert 7 pm Café
Thur. Dec. 13 - PTSA Cultural Arts for 6 & 7th
grades
Fri. Dec. 14 – Holiday
Dance sponsored by 7th Grade
Newsletter, 6 – 8 pm Gym
Wed. Dec. 19 – Red Cross
Blood Drive, 3–8 pm Café
Mon. thru Tues. Dec. 24 – Jan. 1 – Winter Break
A GENEROUS GIFT
WFMS received a generous gift today from a parent who
stated he and his family had been the recipients of our help a couple of years
ago and now he wanted to return the favor. Mr. Duvall said his family had
to relocate here after Hurricane Katrina and WFMS helped his family during the
Christmas season by “adopting” the family and making sure the family had a nice
Christmas. The Duvall’s have remained in the area and Mr. Duvall works
for BP Solar. Mr. Duvall made a generous donation to WFMS as his charity
of choice and BP Solar matched his donation. Mr. Duvall asked that we
help another family or families in the same way we helped his family. Our
heartfelt thanks go to the Duvall family and to BP Solar for this donation and
for thinking of WFMS. We will indeed use the money to help families have
a bright holiday season. Denise Flora
Math Department
We wish to thank Ed York, owner of York Automotive in
Come celebrate at the Holiday Dance sponsored by the 7th
grade Newspaper. BRING YOUR ID for admission.
When: Friday, Dec. 14th
from 6 – 8 pm in the Gym. Cost: $5 per person. Refreshments will be available for sale. Come support the Cadet Chronicles !!
WFMS Cultural Arts Programs
Thanks to
our PTSA, students at WFMS will be attending the following cultural arts
programs. On December 13, 2007, our
sixth and seventh grade students will view a program from Motivational
Productions entitled, Freedom Calls. “Motivational
Productions will offer hope to young people around the world through our big
screen multimedia assemblies. The programs are designed to inspire, motivate,
and challenge young people to make healthy choices and develop strong
character.” On May 23, 2008, our eighth
grade students will enjoy a production of Shakespeare
Alive! The Maryland Shakespeare
Festival “brings the passion, magic and poetry of the world's greatest
playwright into action.” We look forward
to the performances.
Be
a Hero this
Give
the Gift of Life!
Did you know that by donating just one unit of blood,
you can save up to three lives? Did you also know that statistics
show that 95% of the American population will need blood at some point in their
lives?
If anyone you know has ever needed blood, then you
recognize the value of the gift that an unknown hero gave. Our local blood banks are low. If
you, or anyone you know, is in good health, at least 17 years of age (16 with
parental consent), please donate blood at our holiday blood drive on Wed., Dec. 19, at WFMS, from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m.,
sponsored by the WFMS Student Council. Please call X64024 and
leave a message as to your preferred time frame. Thank you! Melanie
Laffer
WFMS rolled out the school wide honors book
project last week. The program allows honors level language arts
students the opportunity to earn extra credit points by reading classic
literature of their own choosing. For a copy of the book lists given to
students see the Media Center News page on the
Creative Arts
We are currently working on our independent projects.
Students have chosen a wide variety of ways to express their creativity.
Students will be moving into the Greek and Roman art unit later this week. We
will study and create myths. We will also create a (paper) Greek vase
illustrating a scene from a myth.
Music News
You are invited to the Winter Concerts at WFMS! The Band
concert is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11th beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the
gymnasium. The Chorus concert is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12th
beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. The students have worked very hard to
prepare music for you; we hope to see you there!
The Tri-M Honor Sociey has been very busy this fall. We
inducted 23 new members, to bring our total to 32 members of the WFMS chapter.
Our first activity was to walk in the Light the Night Walk at
- Orchestral
Instruments: flute, trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, violin, etc.
- Method and
song books
- Reeds,
mouthpieces, slide & valve oil, and cork grease
- Folding
music stands
- Monetary
donation (sponsors to help with shipping costs and incidental expenses)
Congratulations to the following band students for being
selected to the All-County Honors Band or Orchestra: Nicole Anderson (trumpet,
8th), Siqi Chen (saxophone, 8th), Olivia Herrera (flute, 8th), Tina Huang
(violin, 6th) Karen Johnson (clarinet, 8th), Jessica Li (flute, 6th), Sung-Joo
Park (violin, 8th) and Chris Rother (trumpet, 7th). They will begin rehearsing
in January to prepare for a public concert in March.
Student
Incentive Card Program Begins
The WFMS Incentive Card Program is now underway. Each student began carrying an orange Cadet
Code incentive card this past November. This card gives students the
opportunity to earn rewards for positive school behavior. Students carry their cards in their agendas
or in their binders.
Here is a brief explanation of how the card works. Any time a student violates one of the elements
of the Cadet Code and has received a previous warning during a class period,
the teacher places his or her signature in one block of the incentive card
along with the Cadet Code letter that was violated. At the end of a four week period, cards are
collected from each student. Students
who have six signatures or less qualify for level one rewards. There are other rewards available for level
two and three students, also. A student
can receive no more than one signature per class period. More than one violation per class results in
the teacher following regular disciplinary procedures.
The incentive card plan was devised by a group of teachers
and implemented in the second semester of the 2006-2007 school year. The response from both students and teachers
has been very positive for several reasons.
First, students who show the best behavior receive incentive rewards.
Second, incentive rewards are available for students who are able to reach
goals at other levels, as well. Third,
the incentive period of four weeks gives all students a fresh start at the
middle and end of each report card period.
Please be sure to discuss the incentive card with your son
or daughter. Check it often to see how
well he or she is working toward earning an incentive reward. If you have any questions, please feel free
to call Mr. Pond. Input from parents is
welcome!
The Cadet Code:
C – Come to class with all materials.
A – Arrive on time.
D – Demonstrate respect for others, both students
and staff.
E – Exhibit posture for learning and “hands off”
behavior.
T – Talk at appropriate times, no side conversations.
S – Stay on task until your work is finished
Life Skills- 8th grade
Life Skills students are in the process of choosing service
learning projects to perform. It’s a great time of the year to reach out and
help someone else! Students will choose projects in which they can use skills
they have learned in Life Skills and other classes. Students, remember that
service learning projects done outside of school can earn service hours toward
high school.
Sign
Language Club!
All grades are welcome to
participate! The club's first meeting will be
held on Dec. 11th 2007. All
meetings will be held on Tuesdays,
after school from 3:00 - 4:00 in Rm. 210. Students are encouraged
to come and make new friends, learn a new way to communicate and join in the fun and games. Students
are welcome to ride the activity bus home. Students will need written
parent permission to stay after school. Pls. contact
Mrs. Denise White for more information or call 240-236-4077.
CHAT with our Superintendent
Got
questions for FCPS’s Superintendent Dr. Linda Burgee? This year’s CHAT will be held at
Tuesday, Jan. 8th 1 – 2:30 pm
Tuesday, Feb. 5th 7 – 8:30 pm
(snow date is 3/10/08 1–2:30 pm)
WFMS Wall of Honor
Attention
Parents and Students !! It’s time to
update our Wall of Honor! If you, or a
member of your family, are currently serving in the Armed Forces (or a
Veteran), please send in a photo along with their name and duty station to Mrs.
Boyd. We want to include as many members
of the WFMS family as possible! What a
great way to recognize someone special!
Photos may be dropped off at the front office or emailed to Catherine.Boyd@fcps.org
and will be placed on the wall throughout the school year. Thanks for your
support.
Donate Used Inkjet Cartridges
The technology department will once again be fundraising to
help with technology related expenses by collecting used inkjet cartridges (no
toner cartridges please), old cell phones and chargers, and this year we will
accept old video games and controllers as well. Instead of filling the
landfill, you can donate these items to WFMS and help recycle them. Send your
tech items to be recycled to Mr. Dacey in room 218. Thanks !
FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE
FLU -- What it is: A virus that
usually attacks between October and April, peaking in the winter months.
Symptoms include severe, all-over body aches, vomiting, high fever, chills, and
often-nasal congestion and sore throat. When
to keep your child at home: As long as their fever is above 100 F and achiness,
lethargy, and digestive problems last, which is usually for 5 to 7 days.
How to avoid spreading it: The flu is passed in droplets that are
coughed or sneezed into the air or rubbed on hands or belongings, so frequent
hand washing and tissue use are important.
COLD -- What it is: A viral
infection that brings on runny nose, scratchy throat, lethargy, and sometimes
fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach-ache.
When to keep your child at home: When there's a fever above 100 F,
accompanied by symptoms like excessive lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea.
How to avoid spreading it:
Encourage your child to wash their hands often to prevent spreading the cold,
which can last 7 to 10 days. They should
also try to sneeze into a tissue and cover their mouth when they cough.
Dental Health Concerns: If your
child is in need of Dental Health Care, Please notify the school nurse, Carol
Forbes, RN @ 240-236-4059.
FCPS
News:
Families That Care – Guiding
Good Choices - A Five Session Program on Effectively
Parenting Preteens and Teens
Available for free to the community
-- What do the five Guiding Good Choices Workshops cover?
•
Setting Guidelines: How to Develop Healthy
Beliefs and Clear Standards
• Avoiding Trouble: Helping Children Handle
Peer
Pressure
• Managing Conflict: How to Express and
Control
Anger Constructively
• Involving Everyone: How to Strengthen Family
Bonds
Being
provided Wednesday evenings 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the
Series 2 Jan. 9 – Feb. 6th, 2008
Series 3 April 2 – April 30th, 2008
Please
register prior to attending. To register call 301-600-3357. For an up to date schedule:
www.co.frederick.md.us/HealthDept/substanceabuse