http://schools.fcps.org/wfms

Phone 240-236-4000 FAX 240-236-4050 January 11, 2008 Issue 2007-5

Calendar:

Fri. Jan. 18 End of Term 2 & First Semester

Jan. 21 – 23 No School for Students - Martin Luther King Day & Staff Development

Thu. Jan. 24 Term 3, Second Semester Begins

Tues. Feb. 12 Schools Closed for Election Day

Mon. Feb. 18 Schools Closed for Presidents’ Day

Fri. Feb. 22 2 Hour Early Dismissal (1 p.m.)

Media Center News: Honors Book Project

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 WFMS Media Center webpage at: http://schools.fcps.org/wfms/mediacenter/news.htm.

Music News

Band Concert Update !

The December 11^th Band Concert was amazing! I am so proud of all the band students for their hard work in preparing for the concert.

I have many people to thank:

*Nicole Anderson, Caroline Bunch, Madison Christensen, Enrico Dumadag, Spencer Korb, Jeong-Kyu Lee, and Rachel Ryu for decorating the stage and entrance so beautifully!

*Laura Hicks for taping the concert!

*The 6th & 8th grade teachers for allowing the students to miss a class for a rehearsal!

*The evening custodians for having everything arranged for us, and cleaning up afterwards!

*The parents for renting/purchasing instruments and supplies, enduring the at-home practicing, and providing transportation and support for these talented children... and also for sharing your children with me!

A band program is only as strong as the people who support it... thank you for being so supportive! Have a wonderful day! Heather McEndree

Tri-M Honor Society

The Tri-M Honor Society 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 Baker Park on October 13th. We raised over $600 in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Currently, we are collecting items to support school music programs in South Africa. A student from Elizabethtown College will be traveling to South Africa in March to personally deliver the instruments and spend a week teaching students and faculty basic instrumental techniques. If you have any of the following, please contact Mrs. McEndree (240-236-4034 or heather.mcendree@fcps.org) to make a donation:

• 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.

PERFORMANCE NOTES!! Happy New Year from Ms. Stefanizzi and Ms. McEndree. 

We are in the process of auditioning our Mystery Dessert Theatre production.   Rehearsal schedules and other important information can be found on Ms. Stef's webpage which is accessible through the WFMS webpage.  Our show will be on Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22 beginning at 7pm. Tickets will be $5.00 which will include a show as well as desserts and beverages.  Last year's show was a total sell out...packed house both nights.  Be certain to get your tickets ahead of time to secure your seat.

We are in full All County Band and Chorus mode too. Please refer to the papers your students received when they were accepted in to the ensemble.  All times and rehearsal locations along with concert information is included in the packet. 

Time to begin thinking about our Spring Concerts!  The spring Choral Concert will be on Tuesday, May 13 beginning at 7pm.  Our Spring Band Concert will be on Wednesday, May 14 beginning at 7pm.

We try to keep our WebPages updated for your convenience. Please drop by at http://schools.fcps.org/wfms/home.html, click on Staff, find our names and retrieve the information you need.       SEE YOU AT THE SHOW!!!

Creative Arts

Students have been hard at work on their final Independent Projects. Students have done a wonderful job. Projects have included filmmaking, photography, collage, drawing, baking knitting. This has been a wonderful opportunity for students to express their creativity. Many students put an amazing amount of thought and effort into their work. Students also recently completed their illuminated manuscripts.

RENZULLI News

Kaye Stefanick, Judy Reilly - 240.236.4085

Congratulations to one of our 8^th grade stock market teams, which won first place in the middle school division for the state of Maryland! Team members are Marqus Burrell, Christian Morales, Sophia Donan, Ellen Back, and Samuel Khai. They made over $19,000 in nine weeks and will be attending an awards banquet in May at Towson University.

Our “newspaper” dance was a huge success. We made over $1000, which will be used to print the papers in color. Thanks to all the parents that either supplied refreshments and/or donated their time as chaperones! A wonderful time was had by all!

More than 40 students entered the FCPS Young Authors’ Competition. WFMS winners were announced on December 17: Madelyne Xiao, Crystal Dorantes, Mabelrose Roberts, Laura Lindner, Alex Barretto and Dewit Yonnas will have their amazing poetry and short stories advance to the county-wide competition. The students won gift cards to Borders Books.

WFMS historians—75 strong—are beginning their research for the National History Day competition. The Frederick event will be held March 29. Mary Mannix, librarian for the Maryland Room at the C Burr Artz Library, came to West Frederick on December 20 to show students the best ways to access primary resources on the Web.

Think magazine, West Frederick’s literary magazine, is up and running. Submissions are now being taken for short stories, poetry, essays and artwork. Eighth grader Karen Johnson is editor. Parent volunteers are more than welcome!

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

Guidance Counselor Corner

Build a Foundation for Educational Success

Responding to your teen’s educational and personal needs both at home and at school will help you build a foundation for educational success.

At home:

• Establish a routine for study
• Develop a calendar to help your teens stay on track
• Ensure that they have comfortable, quiet places to study, as well as the necessary resources
• Provide help when needed
• Respect effort
• Recognize that doing one’s best is success
• Encourage positive work habits
• Emphasize the importance of school with actions, as well as words

At school:

• Show that you care by attending school activities
• Get to know the teachers and school administrators
• Know who to call for specific information
• Understand the school policies, particularly how they apply to student evaluation, the grading system and graduation requirements
• Monitor your teen’s progress by staying in touch with teachers
• Contact teachers; don’t wait for them to contact you
• Stay informed by reading newsletters and visiting the school Web site
• Consider volunteering

Sign Language Club!

All grades are welcome to participate. 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.

TECH ED

This term the eight graders will be designing and building their own mazes, the 7th graders will be designing, building and testing their own catapults and the 6th graders will be working on their transportation unit by designing and racing their own down hill cars.  Wes Parker

ELL News !

Ms. Matthews's ELL classes collected almost three dozen food items that were donated to the Frederick Food Bank. Thank you for the support.

CHAT with our Superintendent

Got questions for FCPS’s Superintendent Dr. Linda Burgee? This year’s CHAT will be held at 7630 Hayward Road in Frederick:

Tuesday, Feb. 5^th 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.

Media Center News

Frederick County Public Libraries has plenty of online tools to answer your questions and help with homework or research papers. You can use the Library’s online collection (magazines, newspapers, references, e-books, etc.) over the Internet. It’s free and available from home 24 hours a day. All you need is your library card number. Go to www.fcpl.org, click on “Research” and then “FCPL Online Databases.” Our newest resource, the Teen Reference Loft, has e-books for homework help without leaving your computer!

Online resources include:

• Teen Reference Loft (e-books)
• Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (great for those contemporary issue assignments.)
• Science Resource Center (science project ideas)
• History Reference Center
• Literature Resource Center
• Biography Resource Center
• MasterFile Premier (full-text magazines)
• National Newspaper 5 (full-text of 5 major newspapers)
• Student Resource Center (a great starting point for almost any topic)
• Grolier Encyclopedias & World Book Online Reference center
• NoveList (look for something good to read)
• PSAT, SAT, and AP Test Preparation
• And MUCH more!

This virtual library is free with you library card at www.fcpl.org. Thanks so much! Laura Hicks

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 !

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 Frederick County Health Dept. 350 Montevue Lane, Frederick in Room 2-139.

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

Hmmmmm …… pondering thoughts: Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her "beauty tips."   It was read at her funeral years later...

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands: one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others. From: Kelly Katzenbarger

TALENT SHOW and ART SHOW -- COMING SOON

WFMS will have an Art Show and a Talent Show in the school gym during the week of February 11 – 15^th. The exact date is not yet determined. This is to celebrate “Bring your Family to School Week”, a PTSA sponsored event. Ms. Stefanizzi and Ms. Van Kirk are coordinating this event and specific details will be forthcoming on the morning announcements and in the next PTSA newsletter. Stay tuned!

FIRST FREDERICK COUNTY SPELLING BEE

The Gazette Newspaper and the Frederick County Public Library is sponsoring a county spelling bee. Elimination Bees will be on February 21, 22, and 24 with the Championship Bee on March 7^th at the C. Burr Artz Library. This is not an FCPS event, so students must register on their own at www.fcpl.org/spelling. If your child is interested in participating and would like some practice words or ideas, he/she may see Ginny Hines, our Literacy Specialist during school hours.