|
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
The holidays are always a good time to reflect on the good things in
our lives and be thankful. I am particularly thankful for the students
at Westview. Recently, as part of a lunch celebrating academic
achievement, several PTSA moms handed out popsicles to our kids at
lunch, and they were so impressed with the manners that were exhibited.
Students waited patiently and said “please” and “thank you”. I think
that as parents we sometimes wonder if all of those lessons are getting
through. I’m happy to tell you that your kids reflect what you’ve taught
them. Westview students are kind, polite, and hardworking young people.
I am also grateful for our Wolverine parents. There is an obvious
correlation between parent involvement and student success. Westview has
more volunteers than any high school I’ve ever seen, and it makes an
enormous difference to the climate of this school.
And finally, I am deeply thankful for the staff I get to work with every
day. These are fun, smart, caring people who put in enormous amounts of
time and energy because they want every child to be successful. I am
lucky to work with them.
I have used this column to share our success stories, and I have two
more this month. Westview is one of a very small number of high schools
in the state to be named to the 2006 Honor Roll by the California
Business for Education Excellence Foundation. Todd Cassen, Area
Administrator, represented Westview at a ceremony in Los Angeles last
month as Westview was recognized for its success in academic achievement
for all students.
I am also pleased to announce that Vicki Wang, grade 11, earned a
perfect score of 2400 on the SAT exam. Congratulations, Vicki!
My best wishes to you all for a wonderful holiday season.
Dawn Kastner
Principal
HOLIDAY CONCERTS AT WESTVIEW
::
Choir
Concert
Wednesday, November 29 @ 7:00pm
Friday, December 1 @ 7:00pm
Westview Theatre
Tickets: General seating $5, Reserved $8
::
Orchestra Concert
Tuesday, December 5 @ 7:00pm
Westview Theatre
Enjoy classical music performed by our outstanding Westview Gold
Orchestra
Tickets: Free!
::
Instrumental Ensemble Concert
Thursday, December 7 @ 7:00pm
Westview Theatre
Tickets: Free!
::
Dance Concert
Wednesday, December 13 @ 7:00pm
Thursday, December 14 @ 7:00pm
Friday, December 15 @ 7:00pm
Westview Theatre
Tickets: General seating $8, Reserved $10
::
Band Concert
Thursday, December 14 @ 7:00pm
Westview Gym
It's not the holidays without music!
Tickets: Free!
Winter
Sports
The following Winter Sports are underway.
Visit the links below for more information and game schedules:
•
Basketball (Boys)
•
Basketball (Girls)
•
Roller Hockey
•
Soccer (Boys)
•
Soccer (Girls)
•
Water Polo (Girls)
•
Wrestling
What’s coming up...
Check the
school
calendar for more events
Dec. 18-29 District Recess - NO SCHOOL
Jan. 1 New Year's Day - NO SCHOOL
Jan. 15 Martin Luther King Day - NO SCHOOL
Jan. 26 Semester Break - NO SCHOOL
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.
College Readiness
College fairs and expo events are listed on our
counseling website.
WESTVIEW DANCE PRESENTS
The
Westview
Dance Department and 2006 USA National Champion Dance Troupe
Cordially Invite You to Attend
Mistletoe Mayhem
December 13-15, 2006
Westview Theater
7:00pm
Enjoy a festive evening of energy and creativity, as the Westview
Dance Department captures your artistic imagination through Mistletoe
Mayhem.
Join us on December 13, 14, or 15 at 7:00pm, in the Westview Performing
Arts Theatre, for an exciting dance production showcasing student and
faculty choreography featuring hip hop, tap, jazz, lyrical, character,
modern, and ballet.
Reserved seating is available for $10 or general admission tickets can
be purchased for $8. Westview student general admission tickets can be
purchased for $7 (Wednesday December 13 only). Tickets are currently
available on a pre-sale basis by contacting
Ms. Eliza
Panzella or may be purchased at the door, subject to availability.
The Westview Dance Troupe will also be conducting their fourth annual
Silent Auction fundraiser during the December 14 and 15 performances
(cash or check only).
Please join us for an evening to remember!
BARNES & NOBLE BOOK FAIR
On December 9, Barnes and Noble will be hosting a book fair for
Westview students and parents. A percentage of all purchases will go
towards Westview AVID's college field trip this spring. All you have to
do is mention Westview!
For parents, at 5:00pm local author and SDSU Dean of Students, Dr.
Darlene Willis, will be speaking about her newly published book which
she co-authored with Marsha Dodson, entitled Empowering Parents: A
Guide to Taking Control of Your Child's Educational Journey. These
motivational speakers are the co-founders of College Bound San Diego,
co-host an educational radio program, and they have a proven track
record for helping to decrease the educational achievement gap. Through
this book readers will be inspired to become proactive and strategically
ensure the academic success of America 's children. More info may be
obtained here.
For students, at 7:00pm there will be a poetry reading where students
can read their own poetry or works by other authors. All students are
encouraged to either stop by or participate.
DO YOUR CHILDREN NEED HEALTH INSURANCE?
Low-cost and no-cost medical and dental insurance programs are
available. The San Diego Kids Health Assurance Network (SD-KHAN) offers
free help to parents in finding and signing up for low-cost and no-cost
health insurance for children. Costs range from $0 to $15 per month
depending on income and family size. The plans cover medical, dental,
and vision care.
SD-KHAN can help you find the best health insurance for your children,
answer questions about health care programs, and help you fill out the
application form. You can reach them at
www.sdkhan.org or 1-800-675-2229.
|
PTSA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
It's been a busy
month! PTSA hosted our Reflections Awards Ceremony on November 9. Our
thanks to Chair, Jennifer Duffy, for her coordination of the Reflections
winners, the ceremony and submitting the 18 winners to Palomar Council
for further judging. See Jennifer's article
about the winners. She'll keep us informed if anyone wins at Council!
Our Hospitality Chair, Dora Gray, had an incredible "spread" for those
who attended. I think that our motto is "If you feed them, they will
come." Keep it up, Dora!
Thank you to all who helped with the Grad Fair on November 9. What a
wonderful opportunity for parents to discover all of the opportunities
for their seniors to celebrate! Thank you ASB and Laurie Norcross for
hosting this event and inviting PTSA's Grad Nite Committee to
participate.
Thank you to Cathy Carpenter for chairing our
Mock
Testing program. Over 100 students took the mock SAT on Saturday,
November 11, and results were presented November 16. Thank you to all
who helped with this program and participated. PTSA believes this is a
very important service provided to our community.
Thank you also to Dora Gray, Cindi Wade, Kathy Govea, Debbie Govea, Ina
Gibson, Gail Durso, Lynn Langley and Rima McCrady for helping decorate
and distribute popsicles to all students during "A Day at the Beach" on
Thursday, November 30. Westview celebrated many successes -- completion
of WASC, AP scores, API, to name a few!
Student/Staff Recognition will be January 3 --
read more in this newsletter about this very
heart-warming event. Encourage your student to participate in this
program by nominating their teacher, homeroom teacher or another staff
member.
Grad Nite
continues to plan for a wonderful event for our seniors. If you want to
be involved, please contact our VP-Grad Nite,
Cindy Kodama.
And don't miss the Holiday Home Tour on December
6 from 5:00-9:00pm. Visit 8 decorated homes in our area and support Grad
Nite with your ticket purchase.
Thank you to all who have joined PTSA this year. It's still not too late
to join! You can pick up membership envelopes at the front desk! Your
membership entitles you to:
4Online parenting resources and access to
expertise on children's issues.
4The PTA Parent e-newsletter, designed to
inform and assist parents.
4This Week in Washington e-newsletter,
bringing important legislative information to members.
4Special promotions from Member Benefit
Providers, available at
www.pta.org/benefits.
4Leadership training opportunities
in-person and on-line.
4Discounted convention rates and magazine
prescriptions.
4The Member-to-Member Network connecting
you to Congress when help is needed on issues important to children,
schools, and families.
PTSA members have power! We want you to be a part of it.
Have a wonderful Winter Break. Whatever you celebrate -- Christmas, Eid,
Hanukah, Kwanzaa -- enjoy it with your kids! That's what life is all
about!
Carolyn Epple
PTSA President
WESTVIEW STUDENT DIRECTORY
Is there school tomorrow?
Is it okay to expose my midriff at Westview??
What time is Period 3 on Tuesday???
These and other questions can be answered in the all new exciting
fact-filled Westview Student Directory! Filled with names, emails
and phone numbers of lots-of-kids, and many fun facts; you shouldn’t
leave home without one!
Be sure to get one for your parents, your car and your girlfriend too!
Order yours now. Supplies are limited.
Betty:
You’ve had that directory long enough Jim, it’s my turn!
Jim: Hold your horses, Betty! You can buy your very own
Student Directory at the Finance Office for only $5.00!
Betty: $5.00?? Jim, You’re Amazing!
CHARACTER COUNTS!
PILLAR - TRUSTWORTHINESS
As mentioned last month, both the Student
Services staff on campus, as well as the Westview PTSA, help to
implement the Character Counts! program adopted by our school district a
few years ago. This national character education program consists of six
ethical values (or “pillars”) - these being Trustworthiness, Respect,
Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. This month’s
newsletter article will be devoted to the first pillar –
Trustworthiness.
Trustworthiness is the most complicated of the six core ethical values
because it concerns a variety of qualities – including honesty,
integrity, reliability and loyalty. There is no more fundamental ethical
value than honesty. We associate honesty with people of honor, and we
admire and rely on those who are honest. But honesty is a broader
concept than many may realize. It involves both our communications and
our conduct.
Being honest is the most important facet of being trustworthy. If we are
truly honest with others, at all times, they will naturally believe in
us, believe in our word, and hold us in high esteem. Simply refraining
from deception is not enough to be truly, completely trustworthy,
though. True trustworthiness means: 1) Being honest - not deceiving,
cheating or stealing, 2) Being reliable – doing what we say we’ll do, 3)
Having the courage to say (and do) the right thing, 4) Building a good
reputation, and 5) Being loyal and standing by our family and friends.
Character development at school can be complemented by similar character
education at home. Our teens are still at a very impressionable age, and
it is our duty to continue to mold them into the adults we wish them to
be. We invite you to support our efforts by talking about these
important traits of trustworthiness with your student at home. Discuss
with them how it feels when a friend of theirs has let them down,
perhaps because they haven’t been fully honest, or their word wasn’t
good. Talk about people you know who are trustworthy, and, most
important, remember to model trustworthy behavior yourself. Assure your
child that they can achieve trustworthiness, and that no character trait
is more important for both personal and professional success in life.
Feel free to visit
www.charactercounts.org for more information about the Character
Counts! program in our schools.
Cindy Ruecker
Westview PTSA Character Counts! Liaison
REFLECTIONS - MY FAVORITE PLACE!
On November 9, Westview students participated
in the 2006-2007 PTSA Reflections Award Ceremony. Eighteen entrants were
honored as finalists and will advance to the Palomar Council level of
competition.
Reflections is a national PTSA program that provides an opportunity for
students to showcase their talents in art, photography, literature and
music. This year’s theme was “My Favorite Place” and each entry was
judged for its originality, creativity and how the art reflected the
theme. All participants received a Certificate of Merit, and the
finalists received both a certificate and a medal. The medals were
awarded by Principal Dawn Kastner and PTSA President, Carolyn Epple. The
finalists included:
For Music: Justin Scheid
For Photography: Michael Groesbeck, Darve Campbell and Alison
Stapley (3 awards)
For Visual Arts: Chris Price, Rebecca Eichten, Denise Tran,
Willie Yao, Olivia Lui, and Chris Liu
For Literature: Jessica Westberg, Alice Main, Danielle Wickens,
Mark Mann, Chris Eisenhart, Denise Doan, Christine Sun and Nate Fulk
Thanks to the PTSA Hospitality Chair Dora Gray for providing a wonderful
array of refreshments, and the Westview administrative and janitorial
staff for all their assistance. Congratulations to all the talented high
school students who participated in celebrating art in our community!
Jennifer Duffy
PTSA Reflections Chair
|
Barnes
& Noble Book Fair
Character
Counts
College
Deadlines
College
Readiness
Community
Colleges
Counselor's
Corner
Dance
Clinic
FAFSA
Financial
Aid Workshop
Grad
Nite Fundraisers
Health
Insurance
Holiday
Concerts
Holiday
Home Tour
Jack
in the Box Fundraiser
Mistletoe
Mayhem
Principal's
Message
PTSA
President's Message
Reflections
Student
Directory
Student
Services
Student-Staff
Recognitions
Quick
Web Links
What's
Coming Up
Winter
Sports
WESTVIEW’S 1st ANNUAL HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
The Westview PTSA Grad Nite Program is pleased to announce its
First Annual Holiday Home Tour as one of its many fundraising
efforts.
The tour includes eight homes in the Rancho Penasquitos area and is
planned for Wednesday, December 6, from 5:00-9:00pm. Each home will be
elaborately decorated in the spirit of the holidays.
In addition, members from Westview’s choir and band will provide musical
entertainment. Raffle tickets will be available at each home for a
chance to win a variety of prizes from facials to an overnight hotel
stay.
Tickets for the tour are $20 per person and can be purchased through
Westview’s Finance Office. All proceeds from the event benefit
Westview’s Grad Nite program.
For more information regarding the Holiday Home Tour, contact
Cindy Koenig (619) 980-0220.
JACK IN THE BOX TASTERS NEEDED!
 HELP
WANTED
Grad Nite is participating in the Jack in the
Box taste test fundraiser on Thursday, December 7
and needs your help!
This is a HUGE opportunity to raise $4000 in four hours and we urgently
need 130 people who can come for just one hour each.
We will taste Mozarella Cheese Sticks and Seasoned Curly Fries-yum! The
only restriction is that participants must be between the ages of 18-64
and have no food allergies.
Please contact
Jennifer Kuhlman if you can attend (484-2701). Thank you!
Bamboo Hut Pacific Grill & Sushi
Bar Fundraiser for Grad Nite 2007
The wonderful people at Bamboo Hut in Mira Mesa would like to invite
you to visit the restaurant. Every time you go bring one of the coupons
and they will donate 10% of your total bill to Westview Grad Nite!
Print out all three coupons and give them to your friends. See coupon
for map and restrictions. If you have any questions email
Beth
Byloff.
P.S. You can find the Wades and the Byloff's there most Friday evenings,
come and join us!
View Coupon
DANCE CLINIC
Save the date & mark your calendars
The Westview High School Dance Troupe cordially invites you to attend
our 3rd annual
Dance Clinic
Friday January 26 and Saturday January 27
More information to come on the
Westview Dance Troupe web page
Student Services
We would like to thank ASB, PTSA, and RAAP PAC/FNL for continuously
helping support our students and our efforts. In November we celebrated
both Mix It Up Day and The Great American Smokeout.
During Mix It Up day, we encouraged students to step outside their
socio-cultural norms and initiate a conversation/friendship with someone
they would not usually hang out with. Many students took the opportunity
to do so and found the experience rewarding. We hope that you will
continue to take the time to share a smile or kind word with unfamiliar
people as you never know what it might mean to them.
During The Great American Smokeout, three of our fine students, Caleb
Malaer, Benj Roth and Taylor Restaino, helped put together survival kits
to hand out to smokers to aid them in avoiding cigarettes for 24 hours.
The goal is to challenge people to stop using tobacco and raise
awareness of
effective ways to quit for good.
We would also like to remind parents that although the holiday season
can bring great joy to teens, there are also associated stressors:
4routine
is interrupted
4teens
miss their friends from school
4nothing
to do while parents are at work
4too
many holiday activities; too many people coming and going
4changes
in family dynamics: separation or divorce
4traveling
(remember that teens are often without a choice in travel plans)
Here are some tips to help you make the holiday break more enjoyable:
4Prepare
teens in advance for upcoming holiday events. Tell them what the
schedule will be and ask for their input or suggestions.
4Take
notice of teens eating and sleeping habits. Remember they still need a
routine and your guidance.
4Make
sure teens have time with their friends while on vacation.
4Make
time for yourself to relax and unwind-teens will reflect your relaxed
mood.
T
his holiday season we are grateful for wonderful and dedicated parents.
Wishing you all the very best.
Charly Bartley
Abbie Davis
Janina Santoyo
STUDENT-STAFF
RECOGNITIONS
It is time once again to honor students and teachers who contribute
in a positive way to Westview.
Nomination details can be found here. Deadline is Friday, December
8, 2006 at 4:00pm - no exceptions.
Inspirational
Thought
"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn
around and give up.
Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or
work around it."
- Michael Jordan
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
|
