Whispers Sept

Wekiva Whispers Wekiva Elementary School 1450 East Wekiva Trail Longwood, Florida 32779 Phone: 407-746-3150 Fax: 407-746-3163 September 2009 Principal: Michael Pfeiffer Assistant Principal: Michelle Robinson Principal’s Message As we start the 2009-10 school year, I felt the best way to do so is to look back and highlight last year’s success. Wekiva is proud of our success and we plan to build upon this excellence. 3rd Grade Highlights: 2nd highest score ever in 3rd grade FCAT Reading. 90% of Wekiva's 3rd graders are at or above grade level on FCAT Math. 4th Grade Highlights: 2nd highest score ever on 4th grade FCAT Reading and its 2nd highest score ever on 4th grade FCAT Math. 90% of Wekiva's 4th graders are at or above grade level on FCAT Math. 5th Grade Highlights: received its highest score ever in 5th grade FCAT Reading, its highest score ever in 5th grade FCAT Math, and its highest score ever in 5th grade FCAT Science. All 5th grade FCAT scores ranked in the top 5 in the district (2nd Reading, 3rd Math, 5th Science) and also ranked in the top five in Reading, Math, and Science for "students at or above grade level". 93% of Wekiva 5th grade students are "at or above grade level" in Reading. 5th grade had 5 year gains of +16 points in FCAT Reading, and +16 points in FCAT Math, which at least doubled the gains the district and state made over the same period of time. Wekiva had a +17 gain in FCAT Science over 5 years. In Reading, Wekiva's 5th grade scored 13 points higher than the district average and 27 points higher than the state. In Math, Wekiva's 5th grade scored 25 points higher than the district average and 37 points higher than the state. In Science, Wekiva's 5th grade scored 22 points higher than the district average and 38 points higher than the state average.

Overall Highlights: Wekiva scored above the district and state averages on "mean scale score" and "percent of students at or above grade level" in the following categories: 3rd grade FCAT Reading and 3rd grade FCAT math; 4th grade FCAT Reading and 4th Grade FCAT math; 5th grade FCAT Reading, FCAT Math, FCAT Science. On another note, I would like to personally thank all staff, parents, and students for everything that they did to make Wekiva’s opening day of the school year the smoothest in memory. Parent Night Parent Nights will be held on September 3rd, 9th, and 10th (See Important Dates.) Parent Night is a time for you to hear more about the procedures, expectations, textbooks and curriculum in your child’s classroom. Due to limited space and the importance of this parent meeting, we ask that students not attend Parent Night. Supporting Wekiva Due to several factors which have created a “perfect storm”, Wekiva Elementary’s budget will be greatly impacted in many ways. Because of this, we ask that parents and friends support Wekiva as best they can by doing the following: • Support your child’s class by being a DIVIDEND. • Join PTA and Support PTA’s Fundraisers. • Support Trek for Tech. • Shop at Target and designate Wekiva as your “school”. • Turn in Box Tops for Education, Tyson labels, and ink cartridges.

Seminole County Public Schools www.scps.k12.fl.us or www.wekivaelementary.com

PTA We encourage all parents to join PTA, THIS INCLUDES DADS, and invite you to become involved as a volunteer or board member. If unable to volunteer, we still highly encourage you to become a PTA member. Your membership alone greatly supports Wekiva and your children. For more information, please call Damarys Morales-Melendez, PTA President, at 407-746-3173 (PTA Voicemail.) The first 500 families to join PTA receive a school calendar magnet. The magnet lists important phone numbers and the calendar for the year. General PTA Meeting On September 22nd, at 7:00 p.m., the PTA will be holding its first General Meeting of the year and will be hosting Wekiva’s annual Ice Cream Social and Book Sale. After general business, parents, students, and teachers are invited to “Get the Scoop on Wekiva.” This is a great opportunity to enjoy a tasty treat served by the Wekiva teachers and administration, and to enjoy time with your family, as well as the Wekiva family. School Hours School hours are 8:35 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. Students should not arrive on campus before 8:05 a.m. Students are dismissed at 2:05 p.m. on Wednesdays. The tardy bell rings at 8:40 a.m. Please make sure your child arrives on time each day and attends school every day. Avoid early dismissal and schedule appointments and vacations around the school schedule.

Car and Bus Ramp Safety Each year, Wekiva regrettably experiences some individuals that do not follow car and bus ramp safety procedures. For the safety of all students that attend Wekiva, parents are asked to strictly adhere to all arrival and dismissal rules. • Car riders are to use the car ramp to drop their children off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. • Car riders, please DO NOT use the bus ramp. The bus ramp is reserved for public school buses and day care buses. Although this may be convenient and save a few minutes in the morning, it puts students’ safety at risk. Also, it is unfair to those parents who patiently wait in the car line each morning and afternoon. • Cars are not permitted to make a left from Wekiva Trail onto Holderness. This cuts people in line, causes a traffic jam, but most alarming, blocks line of sight creating a substantial hazardous situation. • Never stop on Wekiva Trail and let your children out. • Never use cell phones while in Car Line. Your full attention is required at all times for a safe dismissal. • Do not park on the car ramp or bus ramp during arrival or dismissal times. Rainy Days and Change of Plans Parents are asked to set up a “Rainy Day” plan with their child in case of inclement weather. Also, please be advised that changes to dismissal will not be accepted after 2:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Exceptions must be approved by administration. Fall Festival The Wekiva Elementary Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 17th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this year. There will be fun for every member of the family with great activities for the kids. Meanwhile, mom and dad can taste test some of the best chili in Central Florida at the Chili Cook-off. And in what’s become one of the area’s most anticipated traditions,

everyone will get to witness the annual “Sliming of Mr. Pfeiffer”! D÷v÷dends and Visitors Just a reminder to our Dividends and visitors, please make sure to always sign in at the front office and to wear a visitor sticker at all times. Parents eating lunch with children must sign in every time. If choosing to eat outside, please use the picnic tables on the patio. D÷v÷dend Volunteers Wekiva loves D÷v÷dends, our school volunteers, as they truly make a difference in the quality of education our children receive. Remember, all volunteers in the classroom, attending classroom parties, and chaperoning fieldtrips must be registered D÷v÷dends. Moms, dads, grandparents, and community members are welcome! We have something to fit everyone’s interests and schedule. All D÷v÷dends must renew their registration EACH year online at (www.scps.k12.fl.us). Thank You PTA and Hospitality The Wekiva staff would like to extend a warm thank you to the PTA and the PTA Hospitality Committee. Their generosity and hard work welcomed Wekiva staff back to school with a breakfast and fiesta lunch, supported by our business partners, Chick-fil-A, Tijuana Flats, and Gator’s Dockside. PTA and the PTA Hospitality Committee also sponsored the Kindergarten Coffee and Kleenex for our new kindergarten parents. 2nd Grade Needs a Refrigerator If any parent or community member has a working refrigerator they would like to donate to Wekiva, 2nd Grade teachers would be thrilled. It is wonderful to have a place where teachers can put their lunches and keep them cold. Your generous donation will allow us to use school funds to support student instruction. Please call Mr. Pfeiffer at 407-7463100 if you can help.

Seminole County Public Schools www.scps.k12.fl.us or www.wekivaelementary.com

Jellybean Garden Takes 1st Place! Congratulations to Mrs. Prose and her kindergarten class who won 1st Place and a $500 prize for “Growing Good Kids” in the Florida School Garden Competition. The Jellybean Landscape Club vegetable garden is a wonderful way to integrate instruction through all subjects into a hands-on learning experience, while at the same time involving the community to support a wonderful service project. Way to go! Important Dates Girl Scout Kick-Off, 7:00 p.m. 9/2 4th Grade Write Score 9/3 5th Gr. & ESE Parent Night, 6:30 p.m. 9/7 Labor Day, No School 9/8 AR Club Start Date 9/9 SAC, 5:00 p.m. 3rd & 4th Gr. Parent Night, 6:30 p.m. 9/10 PTA Board, 5:00 p.m. 1st & 2nd Gr. Parent Night, 6:30 p.m. 9/14 Writing Prompt #1 9/16 SAC Training at School Board Bld., 5:30 p.m. 9/20 Family Bike Ride 9/22 PTA Ice Cream Social, 7:00 p.m. 9/23 ABCS Lunch Boy Scout Rally 9/24 Boy Scout Night, 7:00 p.m. 9/25 T-Shirt Orders Due 9/28 Teacher Work Day, No School 9/30 Picture Day K-2, Pre-K, and Ms. K 10/1 Picture Day 3-5 10/6 Progress Reports Papa John’s Night 10/7 SAC, 5:00 p.m. PTA Board, 6:15 p.m. 10/12-16 Book Fair 10/17 Fall Festival, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 10/21 ABCS Lunch Chick-fil-A Night, 5:00-8:00 p.m. 10/22 Red Ribbon Week 10/30 Teacher Work Day, No School 9/1