Posted 11.05.09

Swine Flu Information
The flu virus causes symptoms such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and fever of 100 degrees or greater. To prevent the spread of any type of flu, here are some ways to protect your family from getting sick or spreading flu through our community:  If your child is sick, have them STAY AT HOME until s/he has been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. This includes staying away from school, child care or other gatherings. For information on the H1N1 virus please visit this link http://www.seattleschools.org/area/safety/panflu.xml

Student Assignment Plan Update
Seattle Public Schools has made many changes to the proposed attendance boundary maps that were initially presented to the Seattle School Board on October 6, 2009. These changes reflect many of the more than 1,000 suggestions made by parents and other community members at public meetings and via mail, email, comment cards and an online survey. The boundary maps mark a return to a neighborhood-based assignment system with the goal of placing students in a school close to home.

The School Board is scheduled for a vote on the boundaries on November 18. There is still time to have your voice heard if you have questions or concerns about the assignment plan in its current form. See schedule below:
Upcoming Boundary Meetings
Nov. 4: Proposed boundaries discussed at School Board meeting, 6 p.m., John Stanford Center, 2445 Third Ave. S.
Nov. 5: Information meeting to explain the rationale behind the recommended maps and gather feedback from the community, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Roosevelt High School, 1410 N.E. 66th St.
Nov. 7: Information meeting to explain the rationale behind the recommended maps and gather feedback from the community, 10 a.m.-noon, Rainier Beach High, 8115 Seward Park Ave. S.
Nov. 9: Public hearing, 6-8 p.m., John Stanford Center, 2445 Third Ave. S.
Nov. 18: School Board votes on boundaries, 6 p.m., John Stanford Center, 2445 Third Ave. S. See links below for information on how to sign up to testify at these public meetings and hearings: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/board/publictestimony.pdf  http://www.seattleschools.org/area/board/index.dxml
Additional Information For additional general information regarding the assignment plan, as well as updated maps, see the link below: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign/index.html 

 Art Room Update
The art room is now being used everyday by 4 classes - one ceramics class and three painting and drawing classes. The kids are experimenting with new mediums and making some wonderfully, creative art pieces. Please check out some of this art now on display in the Library.

We have discovered 2 completely brand new video libraries (profiling particular artists and art movements) that are in VHS format. We would love for teachers to share this information with the students. Unfortunately, we need a TV and VCR to watch them. If you happen to have one or both and would like to donate them to the art department please contact Kim Owens at ksowens@ankiradesign.com to make arrangements. Thank you!

As always, we are looking for volunteers for our developing Art Docent program. There will be a meeting to discuss how to support our teachers and students as they explore the arts at Whitman. Please join us at the home of Kim Owens (7714 25th Ave NW) on Monday, November 9th from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. All are welcome - no art experience necessary!!

Posted 11.03.09

Whitman Food Drive Begins Next Monday:  Last year you brought in hundreds of pounds of food that were greatly appreciated by many families in our community.  Let's do it again this year!  The food drive begins Monday, November 9 and runs until November 20.  We need non-perishable food items, focusing on breakfast and lunch food.  The class that brings in the most food wins. 

New Orchestra Teacher Hired
After an exhaustive search, I am pleased to announce we have hired a highly qualified orchestra and choir teacher. Our new teacher is Ms. Elizabeth Stoyonovich. Ms. Stoyonovich will begin on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. She will have a crossover day with Mr. Jacquet on Tuesday and begin full-time on Wednesday.
Elizabeth Stoyanovich comes from a background rich with music education and performance. She has over 20 years experience teaching and performing in the public schools K-12, at the college level and has directed a number of youth, honors, community and professional orchestras. Ms. Stoyanovich was educated at the University of Michigan School of Music, is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education and served on various boards supporting music education including the League of American Orchestra Youth Orchestra Division. She lives on Bainbridge Island with her husband, Patrick, who serves as Composer-in-Residence at Saint James Cathedral, their two daughters, both play string instruments in the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. She is currently volunteering as Artistic Director of the Saint Cecilia Festival and plays Principal Oboe with the Rainier Symphony Orchestra. We are very pleased to have her joining the Whitman staff. We look forward to the contributions Ms. Stoyanovich will bring to the Whitman Music Department.
I also want to take this time to thank Mr. Jacquet for getting his dedication and planning for our orchestra, choir, and band classes. Mr. Jacquet provided a stabilizing factor for us to start this year and for that we are very grateful. I appreciate your patience with us which helped us get an extremely qualified teacher. Sincerely, Mike Starosky Principal

All School International Potluck November 19
Save the date and get out your recipe cards, it's time for the third annual All School International Potluck.  We need volunteers for decorations, set-up, help during, and clean up.  If you can help at all please contact Peg Radford at prad94@gmail.com.

Posted 10.10.09

Gearing Up for the International Potluck
The All School International Potluck will be Thursday, November, 19th. There will be a planning meeting for this event on Thursday, Oct. 22nd, 7pm at the home of Peg Radford.  We will brainstorm ideas about student performances, transportation for those in need, food options, decorations, invitations and more. If you would like to be involved please contact Peg at 206-706-0828 or prad94@gmail.com.  It is one of Whitman's most fun  events!

Posted 10.8.09

Seattle School District Released New School Assignment Boundary Lines
The District has created a new way to assign students to elementary, middle and high school.  This will take effect next year.  There will be a series of communities meetings to discuss this new assignment plan and the boundary lines.
To read about the new plan:
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign/index.html

The nearest community meeting will be held:
Wednesday, October 14 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Ballard High School
1418 NW 65th Street Seattle, WA 98117
For the entire list of community feedback meetings:
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign/communitymeetings.html

Posted 10.2.09

Back to School Night and PTA Meeting
This Thursday, October 8th, is Whitman’s Back to School Night. The night begins at 6:30 with a coffee social and book sale in the library, followed by a short PTSA meeting at 7:00 in the auditorium. Then it’s time for the parents to go “Back to School” -attend your students classes and meet their teachers. This is an informative night to learn about your students studies at Whitman. It is also a great night to be informed about happenings in your PTSA. Look for information coming home this week. We look forward to seeing you on the 8th.

Welcome to the Whitman Building Improvement Committee Volunteer Opportunities
Our first target this year is to welcome our new music teacher and help launch a new chapter in Whitman's drive to be a great school. If you have never seen the music rooms (and especially if you have) they could use a little sprucing up.
We will be looking at tackling these untouched icons of the previous century on October 24th, a Saturday, as the first of our B.I.C. (see the long inflated title above) work party Saturdays. We usually run the work parties from 9 am to 12 noon. There is no specific commitment of time on your part: show up when and if you can, leave when you have to. Any and all parent involvement in their kids' schools (whether in the classroom, hallway, or elsewhere) goes a long way toward making the experience richer, more stimulating, satisfying, and meaningful.
This is a great opportunity to meet other parents, check out the school, and enrich the learning environment for all the Whitman students! Please join us if you can. Watch the school emails for future dates for other times as well and feel free to send me your email if you are interested in getting reminders of other work party times. Thank you, Doug Yaple B.I.C. Chairman dyaple@comcast.net 

Posted 9.18.09

Seattle School District to Announce Assignment Plan
On October 6, Seattle Public Schools will present new attendance area boundary maps at an afternoon workshop of the School Board. The maps will be posted online after the workshop begins at 4:00 p.m.

Links to the maps will be posted at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign/maps.html 
Current Maps (2009-10) http://www.seattleschools.org/area/eso/referenceareas.html
Walk Route Maps - http://www.seattleschools.org/area/transportation/walk/index.dxml
Community Meeting Timeline- http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign/communitymeetings.html

Changes to Whitman Music Department

LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
September 9, 2009

Dear Parents/Guardians of Whitman Band, Orchestra, and Choir Students:
I am writing to inform and explain some of the unforeseen staffing circumstances which are impacting the beginning of the school year for your student. I would like to apologize for the stress that it may be causing and to try to explain how this happened and what we are doing about it.

Currently, your son or daughter was assigned band/orchestra which was scheduled to be taught by Mr. Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin made the difficult decision to retire this week, effective immediately. Ms. Cleary, who was scheduled to teach a section of 6th grade choir, resigned her teaching position and accepted a similar position in East Wenatchee last Saturday. These late notices have resulted in Whitman needing to start the year out with substitute teachers in music.

These late announcements have left us scrambling to advertise, interview, and hire a highly qualified music teachers.  My plan is to find music teacher candidates who are fully committed to growing and sustaining a vibrant music program at Whitman. I have notified our PTSA Board of the impending opening in music. I have also contacted our feeder high school music teachers to involve them in the hiring process. I have also contacted Pam Ivezic, Visual and Performing Arts Music Coach for Seattle Public Schools, to also help our search for a dynamic music teacher.

Until we interview and hire our new music teacher, I have arranged for Mr. Jacquet-Acea who is an experienced music teacher. Mr. Jacquet-Acea has agreed to continue to be the substitute teacher in that position until we find our new music teacher.

We will not be completing any schedule changes to move students from music classes until after our music teacher has had adequate time with our students. My hope is that even more students will want to be in music. I know that it is a critical responsibility to provide a stable classroom environment for our students, especially at the start of a new school year. I realize there is no effective alternative to the presence of the regular teacher in the classroom but I am doing my best given the current circumstances.

I appreciate your understanding and patience during this time. We share the same belief which is to have the most qualified teacher teaching our students. I am doing everything I can to help make this a reality despite some unforeseen obstacles. I appreciate your patience with us.
Si Sincerely, Mike Starosky Principal

Receive Whitman Communications Online
To receive your Whitman Weekly and the Daily Bulletin online you will need to sign up to the Whitman email Yahoo group. Send an email to: WhitmanPTSA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  from the email you want on the list. They will immediately send an email back to you asking if you are sure you want to join this group. Respond to the directions in that email. You do not have to establish a Yahoo ID to join this group. Once you respond to that email you will part of the group until you unsubscribe. You will not need to re-subscribe every school year. If your email server is vigilant the return email may end up in your junk mail file. So check for it there.

Our New Ceramics Class Needs Items
Ms. Barefield is starting a new ceramics class and needs items that many people throw out every day.If you have some of these items and would like to donate them to the ceramics class please contact Ms. Barefield at klbarefield@seattleschools.org
Items People Throw Out - Newspaper,Plastic dishes with lids (butter/margarine – Cool Whip), Pringles cans – Lays Stax –  snacks containers (any plastic container with lid), coffee cans with lids, cardboard tubes (aluminum foil, wax paper, paper towel toilet paper rolls), sheets of cardboard, old prepaid phone cards or store gift cards (no monetary value left), glass or plastic jars with lids, linoleum scraps with nifty textures, lace pieces, empty shoe polish bottles with sponge tops, 5 gallon paint buckets with lids. 
 Other Items -Zip-lock storage bags, natural sponges, duck cloth, plywood, .75 in cut into 15 inch squares, 1 inch diameter dowel rods cut to 15 inch lengths, wooden clay sculpting tools, electric skillet, small paint brushes, pizza cutters, non-serrated table knives.

Posted 8.24.09 - Updated Bell Schedule

The start and end times for Whitman middle school have changed. Here is the updated schedule:
2009 Bell Schedule
First Bell 8:00 a.m.
1st Period 8:05-9:05
2nd Period 9:10-10:05
3rd Period 10:10-11:05

1st Lunch (6th Grade) 11:05-11:35
4th Period 11:40-12:35
4th Period 11:10-11:35

2nd Lunch (7th Grade) 11:35-12:05
4th Period 12:10-12:35
4th Period 11:10-12:05
3rd Lunch (8th Grade) 12:05-12:35
5th Period 12:40-1:35
6th Period 1:40-2:35

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