The View—Volume VIII, No. 1 | September 2009

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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Welcome back to another great year at Westview!

As I write this letter, I have just returned from visiting every classroom. What a pleasure that was! Westview has terrific students and creative, dedicated teachers. It was such a wonderful way to start my day! 

I’d like to share some information about our attendance system for those of you who are new Wolverines. Westview does not have a traditional attendance office in which one or two employees handle attendance issues for nearly 2,400 students. One of the pillars of our mission statement is connectedness, and the Homeroom system was designed to ensure that every family has at least one adult who knows their student personally. Our goal is to create that small school feel that you were familiar with at the elementary level. When you call the homeroom teacher to excuse an absence or request an off-campus pass, you will be speaking to someone who knows you and your child.

Because of this system, Westview has a positive campus culture, good attendance and minimal discipline incidents. However, there may be times when you leave a message and the absence will not be cleared due to technical problems or teacher absence. If you receive an automated message telling you that your child has an unexcused absence and you believe the message to be in error because you already left a message for the teacher, the problem can quickly be resolved by contacting our attendance secretary at (858) 780-2000 ext 3060.

In closing, I want to share a quote I read recently:

"Parenting is the most difficult and important job ever invented. You mess it up and society pays the price. We should give up on trying to make our kids happy and concentrate on raising children with good values, compassionate hearts, a mighty work ethic, respect for others and a willingness to take responsibility for their actions. We should teach them to follow their passion and strive to succeed, but to never forget that we learn a lot from failure. And much of the rest will fall into place." (Aaron Cooper)

Westview students reflect some exceptional parenting! Have a great year.

Dawn Kastner
Principal

What’s coming up...

Check the school calendar for more events

FALL SPORTS

Support your Westview teams by attending their games. The following sports are being played during the fall. Click on the links for their schedules:

• Cross Country

• Field Hockey

• Football

• Golf | Ladies

• Tennis | Ladies

• Volleyball | Ladies

• Water Polo | Men

Quick web links

Daily Bulletin – visit the daily bulletin to see what’s happening today!

School Calendar – see what events are coming up throughout the year.

General Information – can’t find what you’re looking for? Try this link.

Athletics – support your Westview Wolverines – visit the athletic pages to see when your favorite team is playing.

Counseling – graduation requirements, colleges visiting Westview, scholarships, course catalog, etc.

PTSA Webpage - see all that the Westview PTSA has to offer.

CALIFORNIA SCHOLARSHIP FEDERATION

All 10th, 11th, and 12th graders...

Now is the time to apply or reapply to C.S.F. (California Scholarship Federation) for the fall 2009 term. We will accept applications every Friday in September at lunch at the tables outside of Room D105. Come early to avoid long lines!

To find out all about CSF, view FAQ's (frequently asked questions), or print out an application, please see the school's website.

You may contact Diana Loo, CSF advisor, if you have any questions.

PTSA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Happy Endings and New Beginnings

Here’s to happy endings; you know the ones in the movies where the shy, lonesome guy gets the beautiful girl, when unbearable sadness turns to unexpected joy, and warm lazy summers turn to cool fall excitement. Happy endings mark new beginnings for me and for my family. The ending of summer means new classes, new teachers, and renewed friendships for my son and daughter, and becoming your PTSA president - definitely a new beginning for me. Happy endings for these prestigious past presidents as they passed their torch onto the next: Debbie Govea to Colleen Salzetti to Carolyn Epple to Sue Hasselmann and then to me. Thanks to each of you for setting such a great example to follow; I am honored to follow in your footsteps.

When I first came to Westview in 2007, I was amazed at the amount of parent volunteers that seem to be everywhere. I could tell by the professionalism and dedication that each board member offered that this PTSA was different and better. Together, the chairpersons and members of these numerous committees performed like a well-oiled machine, efficient, productive and dependable.

At this year’s registration, you would have seen this well-oiled machine at work. PTSA representatives Kris Shetter & Sheida Barstad at the volunteer table, Gudrun and Maren Fichter, Sabine Schroeder and Ulrike Lobbia at our cashier table, Colleen Salzetti and Cathy Carpenter at our membership and directory table. Janet Ranshous selling logo tees, Valerie Chau handing out information on Mock SAT tests, and Jennifer Kuhlman handing out students' schedules. The grad night table on senior registration day was manned by Maria Westberg, Jeanine Fischer and Darlene Woodworth, and of course, we have to mention Gina Benson, our Registration chair, who organized all the volunteers for the entire five days of Registration. Whew! What a huge undertaking that was!!

So many more awesome registration volunteers to mention - I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone. Sorry if I’ve left off your name here; you’re ALL appreciated and we send you our gratitude for all you did at Registration.

Another great beginning to talk about was our Back to School Breakfast on Tuesday, August 18, that fed 110 Westview staff members. This is a great yearly tradition hosted by the PTSA. Kudos to Lisa Tripp-Smith and crew who pulled together another great event that helped to usher in the new year with a tasty, warm breakfast.

These are just 2 programs that we can boast about that support our teachers, staff and students directly, and we are only 3 weeks into the school year! Remember that the PTSA is here to support you, our parent community, and we welcome your input and ideas and talents. Feel free to email me at TheArcios@gmail.com.

Membership is just $8.00 for the entire school year. We hope you will become a part of this well-oiled machine and perhaps become more involved in some small way. Volunteers are always welcome.

We currently have openings in the following chairs: Reflections, Publicity, and Honorary Service Awards. Any position sound like a new beginning for you? Contact Sheida Barstad, our volunteer chairperson at sheidasd@yahoo.com for more information.

Yes, we are in the midst of a new beginning, and it is my hope that you will also enjoy your happy endings and new beginnings in your own lives and with your own family.

Allison Aquino-Arcio
PTSA President

California Scholarship Federation

Fall Sports

Inspirational Thought

JROTC

Parent Volunteers Needed

Principal's Message

PTSA 2009-2010 Board

PTSA Membership

PTSA President's Message

PUSD College Fair

TB Tests

Quick Web Links

Senior Event Package

TB Tests

What's Coming Up

2ND ANNUAL PUSD COLLEGE FAIR

The PUSD College Fair will take place on Tuesday, October 20, at Del Norte High School.

Two sets of workshops are scheduled from 6:15-7:00pm and from 7:05-7:50pm. Students and parents will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from over 100 colleges from 6:00-8:30pm in the high school gym.

This is a wonderful opportunity for PUSD high school students (especially 10th, 11th and 12th graders) and their parents to find out more about college opportunities.

Representatives from technical schools, art schools, community colleges and 4-year colleges and universities from throughout the country have committed to participating.

Be sure to mark this date on your calendar and check out the college fair website at www.pusdcollegefair.org.

If you would like to volunteer to help at the College Fair (students and parents are encouraged to volunteer), visit the website for more information.

If you have any questions, please email College Fair Coordinator Colleen Salzetti at pusdcollegefair@san.rr.com.

SENIOR EVENT PACKAGE

Parents, our senior event package offers discounted prices for all the exciting senior events to be held this year.

It includes senior giveaway days, broomball, a harbor cruise, a Disneyland trip, the senior breakfast and senior picnic. The package is available for $200, a savings of $55 over a la carte prices. Click here for more information.

Senior packages must be purchased by December 18, 2009.

NAVY JROTC

The Westview Navy JROTC program begins the year with 75 cadets ready to better last year's record performance. Commanding the unit this year is Cadet Commander Sheridan Martini and her more than capable Executive Officer is Cadet Lieutenant Commander Youngkun Weiss.

Even though school was out starting early June, the Cadets stayed busy over the summer beginning with Cadet Weiss attending the US Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, MD.

In late June, six cadets attended six days of JROTC Leadership Academy at the University of San Diego where cadets were pushed to the limit in academics, physical fitness, military drill and room/locker/personnel inspections. During the graduation ceremony, each cadet was awarded the coveted "silver chord" identifying them as Leadership Academy graduates.

The cadets marched in the Rancho Bernardo 4th of July Parade (along with the Westview Band) and performed various color guards.

Cadet Ernsten attended a week-long Science and Technology Seminar held at USD which was supported by the US Navy.

Ten cadets performed community service supporting the Solana Beach Triathlon in late July.

August found the color guard performing at Petco Park for the San Diego Padres and onboard USS Midway for an active duty retirement ceremony. Cadet Indoc was held for all incoming new cadets.

JROTC cadets incur no military obligation but do stand a better than average chance at earning ROTC scholarships to major universities across the nation. Last year, six senior cadets earned over $900,000 in college scholarship money over the next four years.