PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

One of the most important reasons for Westview’s continuing success is the prominent role parents play at this school. Westview always has an impressive and caring parent community, but this year has exceeded anything I have ever seen at the high school level. I can never name all of the parents who deserve accolades for supporting teams, clubs, performing groups, and class activities, but please know how important you are to our students. Whether it is helping to build homecoming floats, providing food for the football team, getting the pit equipment onto the field at a band tournament, meeting with students to prepare for Science Olympiad, or the many, many other things that you do, you are helping our students learn skills and make memories that they will treasure forever.

I’d like to give special thanks to some folks who have taken on mammoth tasks that have helped the entire school. Thank you to our PTSA volunteers for all of your help with Registration. Thank you to our Foundation Board for their efforts to raise money to improve technology. (We have already been able to purchase 36 additional computers and are now hoping to raise enough money to put an LCD projector in each classroom!) And thank you to the PTSA parents from all four high schools who put in so much work to plan the PUSD College Fair. This event turned out to be far more popular than anyone anticipated, but the parent volunteers did an outstanding job of adjusting. We have heard many wonderful stories from students and parents about what they learned that night.

Finally, a big congratulations to Westview Drama Teacher Doug Smith! Our very own Mr. Smith has been named Outstanding Theatre Educator of 2008 by the California Educational Theater Association (CETA.) You’ll see why when you attend the Fall production of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” This is a challenging production for high school students at any time, but our drama program is doing the play with an orchestration written by Bella Voce student Mark Suennen. Earlier this month, Mr. Smith brought in a professional Shakespearean actor to coach the students. Congratulations to a very creative, inspiring educator.

Dawn Kastner
Principal

What’s coming up...

Check the school calendar for more events

November 11	Veterans Day - No School
November 24-28	District Recess - No School
December 9	PTSA Student/Staff Recognition Night
Dec. 22-Jan. 2	District Recess - No School
January 16	Quarter 2 Ends
January 19	Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
January 20	Semester Break - No School
January 21	Quarter 3 Begins
January 26	Professional Growth Day - No School

WINTER SPORTS

Winter sports officially begin in November.
Get the latest information about try-outs, locations, practice times and schedules by clicking the links below:

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.

PUSD COLLEGE FAIR

Over 5,000 students and parents attended the PUSD College Fair on Wednesday, October 22, at Westview.

This was the first district-wide college fair in over 12 years. Parents and students visited with the college reps from 143 colleges, asking them questions and receiving information. The colleges included 4-year universities, 2-year community colleges and trade and technical schools. Organizations that offered scholarships and other educational organizations were also present.

A big thanks goes to the Westview Administration, security personnel and custodians for their support and assistance during and after the event.

Thanks also goes to the Westview parents and students who volunteered to help with this event. We also appreciate the signs that the Westview ASB made to promote the event.

Please visit our college fair website at www.pusdcollegefair.org to get information from some of the workshops that were presented at the fair.

SUPPORT THE WESTVIEW LIBRARY!

On Friday, November 21, from 5:00–10:00pm, the Westview Library will be holding a fundraiser at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Carmel Mountain Ranch. A percentage of all sales will go to our library for the purchase of books.

Please come and support the Westview Library. It’s a great time to start holiday shopping!

See the flier for more information.

PTSA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Politics are not my bag. Having married a political science major, however, I am frequently goaded into conversations relating to politics. This election year, of course, was no different. What was different this time around, though, was the added dimension of my children’s perspectives on the candidates and the issues. My oldest was able to vote for the first time in her life; my senior was engaged in discussions in some of her classes at Westview. Both had strong opinions and in our conversations we didn’t necessarily always see eye to eye.

It can be unnerving as parents when we find our children on the other end of the table on issues that are really important to us. It’s so much easier when they are younger to immerse them in our beliefs and values, to involve them in our causes, to maybe even limit their exposure to others’ positions. But at some point, they will start to work it out on their own, and that may or may not mean a departure from what we have tried to teach them. The opportunity becomes then, as I see it, not about convincing them of our viewpoints, but instead about how we respond to those whose opinions differ from ours.

It’s difficult, especially with issues that evoke strong emotions and challenge our fundamental beliefs, to exercise tolerance. This election year saw a number of those issues. My daughter was taken aback by the organized demonstrations right here in Penasquitos and the outspokenness of some customers who came in to her workplace. For me, I guess you could say it presented a number of those “teachable moments” … both for my kids and for myself. I had to work on biting my tongue against my own negative campaign ads and allowing my kids to work through their own platforms without overexerting my influence. As Aristotle wrote, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” If this year’s election controversies helped my children to achieve that, I am satisfied.

To quote author and journalist Jerome Nathanson: The price of the democratic way of life is a growing appreciation of people's differences, not merely as tolerable, but as the essence of a rich and rewarding human experience. In this month of giving thanks, I am grateful for the opportunity to agree to disagree and wish for you a rich and rewarding Thanksgiving!

Sue Hasselmann
PTSA President

PTSA OCTOBER ACTIVITIES

The PTSA was hard at work during the month of October on activities in support of our goals and objectives. Here’s a summary of some of the things accomplished:

Reflections – On Tuesday, October 21, Westview and Mesa Verde collaborated to hold an awards ceremony for all Reflections participants. Entries by students from both schools were displayed and finalists were announced. Many thanks goes to Reflections Chair Sabine Schroeder for all of her hard work, and to Hospitality Chair Lisa Smith for putting together the refreshments for the evening.

Grad Nite Rummage Sale – Over $2000 was raised for Grad Nite at the Foundation-sponsored Rummage Sale. Kudos to organizer Barbara Freeman for achieving such a successful event, and to all those who supporting by donating, volunteering and shopping!

API Scores Celebration – PTSA worked with the Administration and ASB to help put together a lunchtime celebration for the students for increased scores on last spring’s API testing. Thank you to Hospitality Chair Lisa Smith for delivering popsicles (funded by PTSA) on an incredibly hot day, and coordinating the volunteers, as well as to all parents who stopped in to help that day.

Character Counts!/Red Ribbon Week – Thanks goes to Character Counts! Chair Lynn Langley for her work with Student Services and ASB to put together activities to promote healthy lifestyles and exemplary character. PTSA also provided financial support to Student Services and ASB for the purchase of supplies.

A gigantic thank you also goes out to PTSA Treasurer Diana Buell for her behind-the-scenes work on completing the PTSA taxes for the 2008 plan year. It is greatly appreciated!

WESTVIEW GOLD PLACES 2ND AT TOURNAMENT

The Westview Marching Band competed in its first tournament on Saturday, October 25, at Mt. Carmel High School. In its division, Westview Gold placed 2nd, missing 1st place by less than a half point! The entire tournament was very successful and it was a great warm up for next weekend's tournament at Rancho Bernardo High School.

WESTVIEW GOLD
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FALL CONCERT

On Thursday, October 23, Westview Gold’s Instrumental Ensemble joined with the Westview Gold Orchestra to present an Instrumental Music Fall Concert that spanned the ages and the globe: from Mozart to Battle Stations, from Ireland to Dixieland. Students chose ensemble pieces that highlighted their instruments and musical strengths, and the evening passed too quickly for those of us in the audience.

During the first portion of the concert, Orchestra and Instrumental Ensemble students directed themselves and presented seventeen ensemble pieces that showcased their musical skills in duets, trios, and quartets. The musicians treated the audience to works by Bach, Handel, Gurlitt, Lu-Yan Guo, Pachelbel, Wade, Haydn, Schneider and Mozart, among others.

The second portion of the evening consisted of pieces performed by the full Orchestra and Instrumental Ensemble. Mr. Michael Schmidt directed the Instrumental Ensemble in a wholly settled and robust rendition of “Flight of the Thunderbird,” exhibiting none of the tentativeness one might expect from a first term performance. Miss Jeri Webb then directed the Full Orchestra in three pieces, including “Concerto for Four Solo Violins, Mvt. I.” This piece featured four talented solo violinists of the Chamber Orchestra who presented a thrilling and energetic movement of Vivaldi’s concerto.

Congratulations to our talented directors and our wonderful musicians for creating a sparkling evening for the Westview community. We look forward to their return in December. Bravo!

In This Issue

Counselor's Corner

CSU and UC Deadlines

Eat Your Breakfast

FAFSA and Financial Aid

PTSA President's Message

2008 VALLEY LEAGUE CHAMPS!

Westview Varsity Boys Water Polo team
wins game against rival Mt. Carmel November 6 earning them the title Valley League Champs! Congratulations!

Varsity Boys Water Polo Team Senior Recognitions
Seniors from left: Garrett Boccara, Connor Farrington, Nick Earnest, Ryan Rock, Hayden Boal, Jacob Lam, with Coach Ian McKercher.

WESTVIEW HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

Mark your calendars! This year's Holiday Home Tour fundraiser will be held December 7 from 4:30-8:00pm. Tickets are $20.00 and include refreshments and entertainment.

This year tour will include six beautifully decorated homes in Rancho Penasquitos area. All proceeds will go towards providing a safe Grad Nite for our senior class.

Please click to print out the flier to purchase tickets.

GIRLS LACROSSE INFORMATIONAL MEETING

The informational Parent Meeting for Westview Girls Lacrosse 2008-2009 Season has been scheduled for Monday, December 1, in Room D115-117 at Westview High School at 7:00pm.

The Coaching Staff and Steering Committee Board will be present at this meeting to answer all questions pertaining to the Westview Girls Lacrosse Program i.e., pre-season conditioning and play, try-outs, equipment, volunteer opportunities, and more.

Please plan on attending if your daughter is interested in playing lacrosse in the upcoming 2008-2009 season.

NAVY JROTC

The cadets of Navy JROTC continue to operate at a high tempo. At a recent Quarters, the Commanding Officer, Cadet Commander Sara Escobedo was awarded a Letter of Commendation from a Navy Flag Officer, Rear Admiral Lotring, for her work as a Staff Cadet during the Navy JROTC Area 11 Leadership Academy at Cal Lutheran University. Cadet Seaman Recruit Alex Paler was awarded "Cadet of the Month" for September 2008. The photo shows Cadet Paler (Left) receiving the Cadet of the Month medal from Cadet Commander Escobedo.

The Battalion is heading into the competition phase of the year with JROTC Field Meets and Marksmanship events every month through March. Already the Battalion has finished first or second in events at MCRD San Diego's Boot Camp Challenge, the Orange County JROTC Athletic Field Meet and Coronado's Neptune Olympics. In addition, the Battalion performs color guards and promotes community service.

The goals of JROTC are to promote patriotism, develop informed and responsible citizens and to promote habits of orderliness and precision, among others. If you are looking for "manpower" to support or assist a community service event, let us know!

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Happy Thanksgiving!

EAT YOUR BREAKFAST!

You’ve probably heard it many times, maybe from your mom, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Well, mom was right and there’s scientific evidence to back her up. Unfortunately, breakfast-eating frequency declines through adolescence when developing bodies and minds really need the benefits of healthy eating.

Teens should know that besides causing them to miss out on important nutrients, skipping breakfast can lead to getting fat. Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) was a 5-year study of eating patterns and weight concerns among adolescents conducted by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota. The scientists performing the study found that adolescents who ate breakfast daily had lower Body Mass Indexes than those who never or occasionally ate breakfast. Their findings were published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

There is speculation that after having no breakfast, many teens more than make up for those calories later in the day by snacking and binging, often on junk foods loaded with unhealthy fats.

If you’d like to read the article in Pediatrics cited above go to: Breakfast Eating and Weight Change in a 5-Year Prospective Analysis of Adolescents: Project EAT (Eating Among Teens). blog.americanfeast.com/ weight_control/

FAFSA and FINANCIAL AID

Whether you are applying to a 4-year college/university, plan to attend a community college or a specialized training program; you can receive financial assistance through scholarships, grants and/OR low-interest loans. TO BE ELIGIBLE, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline, which is March 2, 2009.

However, many merit-based scholarships and grants are awarded by late January and early February. Many require that the FAFSA be filed to be eligible. Go to FAFSA online to obtain your student personal identification number (PIN), and file your FAFSA beginning January 1, 2009. (www.fafsa.ed.gov/)

We also hope you will be able to join us for Westview’s Financial Aid Night for Parents in January (date will be announced). We will begin in one of the computer labs for those of you who would like assistance in accessing FAFSA on-line to register for a PIN. The Financial Aid presentation itself will then commence in the Westview Theater. Details to follow next month.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Some may come in the form of grants from private businesses, philanthropic organizations, individuals, or from the colleges themselves. Many scholarships, as well as financial aid, have deadlines. All scholarship opportunities are available through Family Connection.

In addition, new for this school year, Kathy Bloomfield is offering a scholarship workshop for students interested in information on how to write scholarship essays, locate scholarships, keeping organized, etc. The next workshop dates are December 3 or December 8 during Professional Time, 8:00-9:00am. Students will not miss any class time if they choose to attend one of these sessions. E-mail Miss Bloomfield at kbloomfield@powayusd.com with your student’s name to reserve a spot for him or her. Seating is limited!

RESULTS of PSAT

If a student took the PSAT in October, we expect score reports to return to campus in December. Each student will receive a report with the results of their test, as well as a copy of the test booklet from the examination. This test is a good predictor of how a student might perform on an actual SAT and will help students in their preparation. If juniors took the PSAT, their scores may qualify them for National Merit Scholarships, based on how they performed.

REMINDER of CSU and UC DEADLINES

November 30 is the last day to file an application to the California State University and University of California systems. While some CSU’s have historically extended their deadlines in the past, this is never something to expect. For example, San Diego State University always holds firm to their November 30 deadline, while CSU San Marcos extended their deadline until January 31 during the last application cycle. It is always advisable not to wait until the last minute. For the last two years, the Internet traffic on November 30 has prevented many applications from being submitted by the deadline. Please plan ahead!

THE VIEW — WESTVIEW
13500 Camino Del Sur, San Diego, CA 92129
Westview
Palomar Council of PTAs | Ninth District PTA, Inc./CCPTS

Principal Dawn Kastner | PTSA President Sue Hasselmann | Editor Crystal Ranj | Webmaster Margaret Lupfer

The View—Volume VII, No. 3 | November 2008