Greetings from the Interim Principal June 8, 2017

“Don’t worry that your children never listen; worry that they are always watching you.”

(Robert Fulghum, Author)

This may seem like an odd quote to start my very last Whiting Wire Principal’s message; however, I thought it might not be a bad

idea to turn the tables around a bit. We seem always to be watching our children. Looking for the good things to praise. Are they

following the Code? Does this or that action require a Thinking Sheet? As adults, it is my firm belief that we rarely stop to take a

spot check of our own behavior. Few things more fully influence the way children consistently behave than the actions of the adults

around them. We like to think it’s their peers, and to some extent it is; nonetheless, it is the grown-up behaviors that are more likely

to elicit certain reactions - both positive and negative. Remember this as well: your children LOVE to share where they have seen

or heard those reactions. Just sayin’…

I cannot think of a better way to close my career here in West Hartford. It’s been a remarkable year. Thanks to everyone in this little

community for making it so incredible! I am so blessed. As life changes for me, it will also be changing for a few others we have

come to know and love. The following Whiting Lane citizens will be joining me in the Retirement Brigade: Noreen McQueeney

(ELC Social Worker), Pat Orticari (Kindergarten Teacher), Nancy Driska (Whiting Lane School Nurse) and Nancy Chant (Special

Needs Paraeducator). The combined number of years that these skilled and dedicated professionals have unwaveringly served the

children and families of Whiting Lane School are too numerous to count. I know you join me in wishing them nothing but good

health and peace on the next leg of their life’s journey.

Also bidding a farewell to the West Hartford Public Schools are vocal music teacher, Melissa Rooklidge and third grade teacher,

Deb Kantrowitz. Melissa will be moving with her husband to Ithaca, NY. Deb has moved to Washington, CT and has

accepted a position as a curriculum writer. As it will be with all those who are retiring, Deb and Melissa will be sorely missed.

The good news is that Karen Kukish will be returning to our little community to resume her position as Principal of this awesome

school! How cool is that? Pretty cool, I’m thinkin’!

One piece of business for next year: 2017-18 student classroom assignments will be delayed approximately one week until August

10, 2017 in order to be responsive to any changes in school and district enrollments. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

I can’t leave without one last favorite quote. This one was a bit hard to choose but, here goes:

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” (Winnie the Pooh)

Until next time,

Nancy ;-)

2017 Commissioner’s Summer Math Challenge:

Math All Around Us

Our school welcomes the exciting invitation to participate in

the 2017 Commissioner’s Summer Math Challenge: Math

All Around Us recently announced by the Connecticut State

Department of Education (CSDE). The CSDE in partnership

with Metametrics is offering this FREE math skills

maintenance program based on grade-level standards to

students who have just completed grades 1 through 8.

Interested families can enroll online at http://Quantiles.com/

summer-math and receive daily emails from June 19, 2017

through July 28, 2017 with fun activities and links to

educational resources. Each week of the six-week program

targets a different grade level concept.

The challenge's math log and registration information

for all Grade 1-5 students will be sent home before the last day

of school. Information for the Commissioner’s Summer Math

Challenge can also be found on the State Department of

Education Web site at http://www.ct.gov/sde/

summermathchallenge.

If you choose to register your child, please enter your child's

grade level and overall math performance (finds math at grade

level easy, usually performs at grade level, or struggles with

math at grade level). This information will support you and

your child's engagement with the program activities. Please

leave the sections on Quantile measures blank or, if prompted,

"do not know." This math challenge is being sponsored in

many states across the country, and Quantile is not a measure

currently used by all CT districts.

We hope you choose to engage in this enjoyable Summer

Math Challenge with your child this summer! If you have any

questions, please contact our school office or Kerry Jones,

Director of Elementary Education, at kerry_jones@whps.org.

Attention All Families of 5th Grade Students

Middle School Physical Exam and

Immunization Requirements

All children attending school in West Hartford

must be in compliance with the State of Connecticut

physical examination and immunization laws.

During 6th grade, make sure your child has the following:

• a physical exam done AFTER July 1, 2016

• these immunizations: Varicella #2, Tdap, and Menactra

Your child’s primary care provider will need to complete the

blue State of Connecticut health assessment form and provide

an updated immunization record. Once obtained, send to your

middle school nurse. Thank you.

Kathy Condon RN and Melissa Hawkins RN

King Philip Middle (860-929-5260)

LisaMarie Vitelli RN and Melissa Wren RN

Sedgwick Middle (860-929-5310)

Julie Schwartz RN

Bristow Middle (860-929-5210)

Safety Reminders

Please remember that students who are walkers must leave

the premises at dismissal unless their parent/guardian is

there to supervise them while they play on school grounds.

Parents/guardians are reminded that public school grounds

become public parks once students are dismissed and the

responsibility for supervision of their children shifts to them.

Also, there is no re-entry into the building after dismissal

for the bathroom, water fountain or nurse’s office.

No Dogs Allowed

Dogs are not allowed on school property,

especially during arrival and dismissal times.

Students may be allergic and/or very scared of dogs.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

From the Health Room

Dear Whiting Lane Families,

I want to make you aware that I have made the decision to

retire this June, after a career in the district that has spanned

32 years. All but three of those years have been spent at

Whiting Lane School. I have been privileged to spend my

tenure in a school that fosters such a culture of caring. I am

hopeful for the future when I see our students demonstrate

inclusiveness, live the code, and work at being good stewards

of the earth. I am embarking on this next chapter of my life

with mixed emotions, but thank you all for letting me share

in a little bit of your lives.

Regards,

Nancy E. Driska R.N. M.S.

Whiting Lane School Nurse

Dates to Remember

5/27 - 6/25 Ramadan * (Islam)

6/9 8:45 am - 2:45 pm Grade 5 to Camp Chase

9:15 - 11:15 am Raindate: ELC Water Fun Day

12:30 - 2:30 pm Raindate: ELC Water Fun Day

2:45 pm June Birthday Party/cafe

6:30 - 8:00 pm ESOL Literacy Night @ Faxon Library

6/12 2:45 pm July Birthday Party/café

6:00 - 7:00 pm Kindergarten Daisies/cafe

6/13 9:00 - 10:30 am Grade 4 Book Swap/cafe

9:00 - 11:45 am Grade 1 Beach Day

2:45 pm August Birthday Party/cafe

6/14 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Grade 2 Beach Day

6/15 8:45 am - 1:45 pm Grade 4 to Science Center

9:15 - 11:00 am Grade 5 Recognition Ceremony

10:00 am - noon Kindergarten Fun Day

7:00 pm PTO Meeting @ the O’Toole home

6/16 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Grade 4 Beach Day

9:00 - 11:45 am Raindate: Grade 1 Beach Day

6/19 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Grade 3 Beach Day

1:45 pm Grade 5 “Clap Out”

2:00 pm EARLY DISMISSAL

* All holy days begin at sunset the day before.

When Is The Last Day Of School?

The last day of school for Whiting Lane School is

Monday, June 19, 2017.

Whiting Lane students will be dismissed at 2:00 pm.

Report cards will be hand carried by students

on the last day of school.

The last day of school for the Early Learning Center is

Friday, June 16, 2017. ELC students will follow their regular Friday schedule.

Whiting Lane/ELC School Directory

If you haven’t already done so, please complete a

2017-2018 WL or ELC School Directory form and return

it to the school office no later than Friday, June 9, 2017.

It is very important that you return this form so we have the

most current information for next year’s school directory.

PTO Email Blast Sign Up

Please sign up to receive PTO blasts and the electronic

copy of the newsletter by following these easy steps:

1. Go to the Whiting Lane PTO website (whitinglanepto.net).

2. Click on the red Sign Up box to register.

3. Enter your email address.

4. Choose which list you need (ELC Lane Families & Staff

or Whiting Lane Families & Staff).

Are You Moving?

If you are moving to another address in West Hartford

(even within the neighborhood), you must contact the

Residency Office (860-561-6620) located in the Town Hall

at 50 South Main Street. Addresses cannot be changed in the

school office without notification from the Residency Office.

Parents of Grade 5 students: If your child is not going to

be attending one of the WHPS middle schools, please notify

the office so we can forward student records to the

appropriate middle school. Thank you.

When is the First Day of School?

The first day of school for students is

Wednesday, August 30, 2017.

HAPPY

SUMMER!!!

2017-2018 Class Placements

Student classroom assignments for 2017-2018 will be

delayed approximately one week until August 10, 2017

in order to be responsive to any changes in school and district

enrollments. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Calling All

Library Books!

All library books must be returned by Friday, June 9, 2017.

The library will be closing at the end of the school day on

Monday, June 12, 2017 to allow the library media staff

time to conduct inventory.

Thank You!

A special thank you to Molly Smith and Kiley Mattsson

for the beautiful plantings by the main entrance.

Outstanding Whiting Lane Students (OWLS)

As part of our school-wide effort to explicitly teach

and motivate the students to live our code of being “respectful

and responsible, making good choices and always taking care

of each other,” the faculty and staff have been handing out blue

OWLETs (Outstanding Whiting Lane Expectation Tickets).

The students are handed an OWLET when they have been

observed living our code. On Friday afternoons, the number

of tickets earned by Whiting Lane/ELC students is

totaled. Three tickets are pulled at random and the lucky

winners are announced over the loud speaker. The three

winners receive a special OWL water bottle. A group photo

of the winners for each month will be taken and displayed

on a bulletin board in the main office.

Please join our Whiting Lane and ELC Community as we

congratulate our May OWLS winners:

Adam A., Faith S., Mason M., Markus S., Linda M.,

Ben C., Jacquelyn D., Hala K., Vivian N., Ryan C.,

Kyle R. and Dayana A-L.

The following bus students were recognized for

demonstrating outstanding bus behavior in May:

Bryce B., Jack K., and Luke H.

Informational Flyers/Booklets

⇒ 2017-2018 School Year Calendar

⇒ FWHPS Teacher Thank You Gift Forms

⇒ WHPS Connections - 4th issue

From the Cafeteria

Please make sure there is enough money in your child’s

cafeteria account to last until the end of the school year.

Lost and Found

Please take a look behind the cafeteria for lost clothing items

or in the office (for jewelry, glasses, etc.). Items that are not

claimed by Monday, June 19th will be donated to charity.

Townwide Track & Field Meet

The following students represented Whiting Lane at the

Inter-Elementary Townwide Track and Field Meet at

Conard High School on June 8, 2017:

Kylie A., Cody B., Elise B., Bryce B., Fabian C.,

Chris D., Frankie D., Cassidy G., Payton G., Justin I-P.,

Malaika K., Jack K., Nova K., David L., Dayana L.,

Patrick L., Lily M., Tommy N., Bebe P., Olivia P.,

Jack S., Anna S. and Kinsey W.

Whiting Lane

Math Challenge Winners

Congratulations to all of our Whiting Lane Mathematicians!

We received over 100 completed submissions.

Here is a list of the winners at each grade level:

ELC - Liam M.

Kindergarten - Walter T.

First Grade - Ellie J.

Second Grade - Max E.

Third Grade - Sayde D.

Fourth Grade - Mary Margaret H.

Fifth Grade - Cassidy G.

Congratulations to Second Grade, which had the highest

percentage of participation! They have earned a night

of no math homework.

WLEDC Parents

WLEDC will be closed in the afternoon on Friday, June 16th.

They will be open for both sessions on the last day of school.