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What's Happening in May 2008

• President's Message
• Minority Achievement News
• ANGP News
• After Prom Party
• Landscaping Committee
• Reflections News
• Tidbits
• FCPS Newswire
• Community Programs
• Events Calendar
• Links of Interest

• Fairfax County Public School
• Fairfax County Council of PTAs
• Northern Virginia District PTA
• Virginia PTA
• National PTA
• US Department of Education
• Safe VA Highways
• Alliance for Virginia Students

• FCPS Family Gram
• FCPS Parent Resources
• FCPS Inclement Weather Plans
• Sign up for FCPS Keep In Touch

• Athletic Boosters
• Band Boosters
• Choral Boosters
• Guitar Boosters
• Orchestra Boosters
• Theatre Boosters
  
  

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President's Message

As I update my calendar I realize we only have about 6 weeks left of school! Thank you to Julie Wilson, Karen Duncan and Cindy Baker and their committee for their hard work on the 5K Run. Cooperative weather brought on 200 runners and raised over $8,000 for scholarships. The Class of 2008 is very lucky to have such dedicated parents working for their benefit!

The deadline for PTSA scholarships is Monday, May 5 at 2:30 PM to the career center. Applications can be picked up in the career center or downloaded from the school web site or PTSA web site. Our last Honor Roll Recognition with ice cream treats for students was held on April 23, thanks to Denise Stalnaker and our ACE committee  AP Exams and SOL testing are coming up in early May. Please refer to the school web site for the schedule.

The school was fortunate, thanks to the Westfield Business Community, the PTSA, the Westfield Community Coalition, and the Westfield Administration for orchestrating the presentation, The Ultimate Learning Experience, by motivational speaker Chris Skinner on April 18th. Chris has a gift for conveying positive energy and hopefully the kids, primarily juniors and seniors who heard his message , will make decisions about avoiding peer pressure and substances. Please encourage students to talk about his message at home. To learn more go to www.chrisskinner.org

I am certainly grateful that the weather cooperated this past Saturday for the annual Mulch Day for ANGP. Thank you to everyone who ordered mulch and to the students and parents who helped with all facets of the delivery. It is amazing to see how it all comes together- the 18-18 semis delivering 15,000 bags of mulch to the school parking lot, seniors Brandon Ferrell, Kent Bailey and Kevin Stewart running forklifts to unload the pallets and load box trucks- I think they enjoyed the boy toys- you know men and machines; Boy Scout Troop 30 leveling off the pallets to fit into the trucks and manning the fort until sunrise; Tracy Porter as "Dispatcher Central" processing orders putting together routes, and numerous other tasks to keep things moving; Marty Kacvinsky, Kay Leon, Suzanne Olijar, Molly Cash, Jan Guthrie, Jan Sucher, Stacy McDonald, Karen Cheatwood and many others who were indispensable to delivery, feeding volunteers throughout the day and general volunteer operations. Though the day was gorgeous, long and exhausting, I think few would say they didn't have fun chatting with and meeting new people. It was also fun working alongside the teens, and many even had their complete families represented! Volunteering for mulch delivery was also an awesome way for students to earn Bulldog Bucks. If you still don't know what Bulldog bucks are, please refer to our web site or call me for a quick tutorial! 

Time is running out before the price of ANGP tickets go up on June 1st. If your child is ambivalent about going, please be aware that prom night and graduation night are among the most dangerous for teens to be out and about in the community. If you don't know what All Night Grad is all about, pop in and help us for a few hours on June 18th and check it out! I didn't have a clue three years ago when I first volunteered at the event. Kids and adult volunteers that I have talked to had a great time at the event. Please join us for our remaining organizational meetings on Wednesday, May 14th 6:30pm in room A101, and on Wednesday, June 4 6:30pm in room A101.

The PTSA needs you!! We are currently seeking nominations for the upcoming school year for Executive Board positions such as President, First Vice President, and Treasurer, as well as ANGP chairs for each grade level, Mulch Sale Director, After Prom, Directory, Ethics Day, Bulldog Cafe, Hospitality, Laptop Loaner, Legislative, Parent Programs, Silent Auction for the Bulldog BBQ and Ways and Means. There are numerous ways to get involved and, with most of us working, the tasks do not interfere with a day job! We will be soliciting volunteers of parents of rising 9th graders from Rachel Carson and Stone Middle Schools, so if something piques your curiosity, please ask!

Sincerely,
 Jennifer Campbell, WHS PTSA President
ptsa_president@westfieldhs.org

ANGP News

The Westfield High School ANGP Mulch Committee recently completed the successful sale and delivery of over 15,500 bags of mulch. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

However, before we can consider the mulch activities complete for the year we have one more task. In year's past, the track team offered to spread mulch to purchasers who paid for this service. Unfortunately, the team was not able to offer that service this year due to prior commitments. However, before this option was removed from the on-line order form, 7 families elected and paid for this service. The ANGP Mulch Committee would like to honor those purchases by spreading the mulch this Saturday May 3, 2008. We would like to meet at door 11 of the high school at 9 am on Saturday morning and then disbursing in teams to the 7 locations. In order to make this successful we need the help of parents and students alike!!

Therefore, we are asking for each of you, along with your child, to volunteer an hour or two of your time on Saturday starting at 9am to spread the mulch at these 7 homes. The ANGP Committee is awarding $5,000 Bulldog Bucks to every student who helps with this effort as well as $5,000 Bulldog Bucks to the student whose parent helps. Come join us for a few hours of fun!

Please email bulldogmulch@westfieldhs.org or call 703-815-9457 to let us know if you and/or your student can help.

Tracy Porter, ANGP Co-Chair

5K Run Information

The 5k Race for Scholarships was a big success with over $8000.00 raised for scholarships. We had a beautiful day which brought out a lot of last minute runners. Thank you to the 200 runners who participated in the race.

Congratulations to Ben Campbell and Stephanie McGuire for winning the top male and female high school runners. They both received a trophy, a $30.00 gift certificate to VA Runners and a $25.00 gift certificate to Glory Days! Artist Susie Plummer was given a $75.00 check and a race t-shirt that has the logo she designed on it.

Runners enjoyed raffles from brunch at Westfield Marriott to a Swedish Massage at Alexandria De Paris to a $50.00 gift certificate to the Blue Iguana Restaurant and more.

Last but not least, thank you Principal Tim Thomas, Ray Clements, the police, Westfield Marshalls, and the chorus group for singing The National Anthem. View all the winners and sponsors online.

Minority Achievement News

Mark your calendars:

• Next MAC meeting May 20, 2008, Library
• Next Parent Coffee, June 5, 2008, Cafeteria

2008 Scholarship Resource Guide

Sincerely,
Mark Richardson, MAC Chairperson
Minority Achievement Homepage

9th Annual Bulldog BBQ & Silent Auction

Organizational meeting on Wednesday May 7th, 6:30pm in the main office conference room. Is your club or organization interested in participating? Spread the word - we need volunteers to help with the BBQ Committee as well as donations for the Silent Auction. All are welcome at this meeting! If you cannot attend the meeting or will not be able to volunteer for the BBQ Committee this time around, please let me know. We will be reviewing last year's successful event, and any improvements we can make. Bring fresh ideas and your energetic enthusiasm! Contact Rebecca Rice or Amy Coulbourne at bdbbq@westfieldhs.org for information.

After Prom Party

The After Prom Party, which is included in the Prom ticket cost, will be held at Bowl America Chantilly from 12:30 to 4:30 am (the wee hours of June 8, right after the June 7th Prom). Parent volunteers are needed to help purchase/solicit prizes, to help at the check-in desk, to serve as chaperones for all or part of this special late night, an annual tradition since WHS opened.

    The Party will include free cosmic bowling; free ice cream sundaes, sodas and breakfast; disc jockey; and prize drawings throughout the event, including grand prize flat screen HDTV — all to keep our sons/daughters safe and drug/alcohol free during this memorable evening. For safety reasons, students may not leave and re-enter the bowling alley.

    With financial support from the Westfield Community Coalition, local police officers will provide security, but parents assist here too. Some of you have already signed up and provided us your email addresses, but for those who missed that earlier opportunity, here's your chance to be part of the fun.

    If you are interested in helping at After Prom, please contact Sue Kiely or Nancy Kruchko: afterprom@westfieldhs.org. Your time and effort will be greatly appreciated.

Landscaping Committee News

Heartfelt Landscaping Thank You

My heart was filled with pride and thanks for all the work that was done by Westfield students, parents, and teachers on Saturday, April 26 during the Arbor/Earth Day Celebration. Gregory Dellaperuto, one of the Westfield Geosystems teachers helped organize this very successful event. He's a great teacher. I hope some of you can sign up for Geosystems next year. Thank you also to Spanish teacher Anna Lentz and Security Officer Kathy McGinness for their incredible help! Billy Rardin, the custodian, was there as well helping to spruce up our school grounds and courtyards. When you see them, please thank them as well!

I would like to thank Layng's Flower Farm for donating over $100 worth of flowers for decorating the set of "Romeo and Juliet". Layng's is located in Loudoun County on Evergreen Mill Road between Leesburg and Arcola (just about 20 minutes from Westfield HS). For more information, please visit their web site:  http://www.layngsflowerfarm.com/

Don't forget to call RulyScapes for all your landscaping needs. RulyScapes donates labor and materials every fall to beautify our school. For more information, please visit their web site: http://www.rulyscapes.com/

Mona Miller, Landscape Coordinator

Reflections News

Congratulations to Sarah Crossland, 12, won the National PTA Award of Merit and Virginia State PTA Outstanding Interpretation in the Dance Choreography category.  View other reflections winners.

~Michele Ford Reflections co-chair

Tidbits

• Academic Celebration of Excellence & Special Education Scholarship applications are now being accepted. Deadline May 5, 2008 by the end of the school day. The PTSA is offering 2 $1,000 and 4 $500 scholarships to graduating seniors. PTSA scholarship applications are available in the WHS Career Center or you can down load them from the PTSA website. Applicants need to be a current member of the PTSA.
• 2009 Virginia PTA PPLP Letter and Survey (recommend submitting survey online) Have your voice heard!
• Project Hospitality — Safe Community Coalition's Project Hospitality Tackles Serious Local  And National Problem: Underage Drinking. Download information to make a safe year end graduation year for Senior. 
• Institute for the Arts (IFTA) - Deadline Extended
  It's not too late for your creative young person to apply to the prestigious Institute for the Arts (IFTA) for a summer full of dance, music, visual arts, and theatre. Applications will be accepted until full enrollment is reached. For more information you may call 703-227-8443 or visit the web site.
• Transportation Task Force in support of later school start times submitted their report to the FCPS School Board on March 10. The School Board will announce dates for meetings to provide wider community feedback and discussion later this year. View see the TTF Report. Read the FCCPTA related letter
• Coming Soon: New and Improved Keep in Touch System Fairfax County Public Schools will soon be introducing a completely new and improved Keep in Touch (KIT) system. The goal is the same: to keep you informed about what is happening in FCPS, your school, and of course, emergencies (including delays and closings). Along with a new vendor to provide improved services, some changes will be implemented based on past experiences, as well as the best practices already tried and tested by other large K-12 school systems.

FCPS Newswire

High School Summer School Plans Take Shape

As you may know, FCPS is redesigning the summer program, but the high school summer school program will remain similar to last year's program. Four central sites—Edison High, Lake Braddock Secondary, Oakton High, and Westfield High—will offer programs in course recovery, SOL remediation, ESOL elective credit, and acceleration classes. Read more

2008-09 School Year Calendars and Registration Requirements Available

The calendars for the 2008-09 school year have been posted and are available online at http://www.fcps.edu/cal.htm. Registration requirements for 2008-09 are also available.

2008 Virginia School Census — We're Counting On You The 2008 Virginia School Census began on March 1, and we are counting on you to bring our sales tax dollars home to our schools. The commonwealth of Virginia requires each school division to conduct a census every three years as a means to distribute a portion of our state sales tax dollars to school divisions. Fairfax County Public Schools counts all persons residing in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax with birth dates on or between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 2007. Each child counted in the 2008 census will bring approximately $3,000 back to Fairfax County Public Schools in tax dollars. Read more.

Community Programs

Fairfax Partnership for Youth

FAIRGRADE ADVOCACY GROUP PRESENTATION

Please Join Us on Tuesday, May 6th, 7:30 pm. There will be a meeting at CVHS for those interested in learning more about FAIRGRADE. Check out what all the Buzz is about. . . Go to: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fairgrade/ Click on the signature tab and read the comments

Pathways to Success: Alternatives to Four Year College Resource Fair The PTSAs of Lake Braddock Secondary School, Robinson Secondary School and West Springfield High School Invites You

• When: May 8, 2008 Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
• Where: West Springfield High School Cafeteria 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152 Explore the endless career & training opportunities that are available to students after high school graduation.
• This is a fabulous opportunity to guide yourself down the road to a successful future as you meet with representatives from area apprenticeship programs, companies, two-year residential colleges, technical schools, organizations & associations to learn about the endless post-secondary career opportunities that await you. For additional information, download the flyer http://www.fcps.edu/ss/prc/workshops/Pathways2Success.pdf or contact Margaret Fisher by email jrosenthal2@cox.net or phone (703)968-2971.

Look at what The FCPS Parent Resource Center has coming up!

View a complete list of all upcoming Workshops and Activities posted to the PRC web site.

Westfield Community Coalition

Underage drinking parties can be reported anonymously to the police at 703-691-2131 where they will disperse police assistance, or 703-246-2333 for the "Shut it Down" Hotline, to report date, time, and location of an underage drinking party. To report WHS security concerns, contact Ray Clements at 703-488-6307 or Ray.Clements@fcps.edu

Under Age Tip Line 703-691-2131. Underage drinking parties can be reported anonymously to the police at this number. They will disperse police assistance.

Shut It Down Hotline 703-246-2333, to report date, time and location of an underage drinking party if you hear about it ahead of time.

Leslie Churn, MA, Substance Abuse Counselor for Westfield HS - Contact 703-488-6308 or at Leslie.Churn@fcps.edu for a free and confidential assessment.

Ethics Day at Westfield HS (Cluster 8; Westfield HS)
Sophomores learn valuable lessons about decision-making and consequences. (5:15 min) http://www.fcps.edu/DIT/streaming/is8_ethicsday.asx

Parents Who Host Lose the Most (Safe and Drug Free Youth; All Clusters)
Interview with Diane Eckert, Safe and Drug Free Youth and Tim Thomas, Westfield HS. (4:26) http://www.fcps.edu/DIT/streaming/is8_int_hostlosemost.asx

Westfield Community Coalition Coordinator: Jennifer Cooper (jalcooper@aol.com) 703-966-8304. Contact Jennifer to be on the email list to receive free information about prevention programs and upcoming events.

Parent Guide to Personal Safety for Youth

Because of the exceptional popularity of the KidSafe Virginia parent guides, the Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (GOSAP) recently worked to revise, update, and combine the previous parent guides into one guide. The purpose of the new publication, Prevention Comes First: Parent Guide to Personal Safety for Youth, is to educate parents about some of the potential safety threats children may face and to assist parents in communicating with their children about personal safety.
  The topics covered in the guide include: fire safety, internet safety, driving safety, bullying, gangs, inhalant abuse prevention, and underage drinking.
  Beginning December 1, 2007, the parent guides will be available at fire and rescue stations and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices throughout the Commonwealth. To locate your nearest visit DMV office homepage.
  Copies of the parent guide may also be downloaded from the GOSAP Web site.
  Questions may be addressed to Jacklyn Varela, special assistant to the Secretary of Public Safety at (804) 692-2568 or by e-mail: jacklyn.varela@governor.virginia.gov.

DonorsChoose.org

FCPS Instrument Donations

SIGN UP FOR GIANT BONUS Bucks

You can turn your grocery shopping into cash for Westfield through Giant's A+ BonusBucks program. Sign up for the program and designate Westfield High School. Go to A+ Bonus Bucks Homepage, click on A+ Bonus Bucks ["designate your schools"], and provide the first three letters of your last name and your 12-digit card number (if you already have one) with no spaces. To designate Westfield High School enter the School ID number 03798. You can designate up to three schools and your Bonus Bucks will be divided equally among them. If you don't have a Bonus Bucks card, you can pick one up at any Giant grocery store. The program runs from October 5, 2007 through April 3, 2008. Even if you have signed up in the past, you must do this each year to allow Giant to designate funds to the school of your choice.

Office Depot 5% Back to School Program

Every time parents, students, faculty, and other Westfield High School supporters make purchases at Office Depot, the school receives 5% of the qualifying purchases to use for free supplies. All you need to do is tell them at the cash register when checking out that you want Westfield High School to get credit for the purchase. They will look up the Back to Schools ID number for our school and enter it into the system at check out.

GoodSearch.com

Search the Web? Westfield can earn a penny every time you searched the Internet. GoodSearch.com is a search engine (similar to Google) that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. Go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Westfield High School PTSA, Chantilly VA as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! And, be sure to spread the word to family and friends who want to support our high school.

Watch D.O.G.S. (Dad's of Great Students)

WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students) is the safe school initiative of the National Center for Fathering that involves fathers and father figures to help create a more safe and secure learning environment in our nation's schools. A great starting point to explore ways to get more men involved in PTA.

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