Welcome to Whitman
2015-2016
Walt Whitman PTSA
Email: cpscherr@verizon.net
Website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/whitmanhs/ptsa/
Location: 7100 Whittier Boulevard, Bethesda, MD, United States
Phone: 301-320-6600
PTSA President's Message
Dr. Goodwin often refers to Whitman as a “small town.” For me, it is a compelling image. Every school day, approximately 2100 students and staff are in the school to obtain knowledge, develop skills, and share experiences. The size of the community grows as you factor in Whitman parents who are so generous in committing their time and financial support. This community of students, staff, and parents is what makes Whitman one of the best high schools in the country. Below, you will find a “roadmap” to help you and your student(s) navigate Whitman and take advantage of (and support) all of the great opportunities that Whitman offers.
Please take a moment to join the Walt Whitman PTSA. Your membership dues – and any additional tax-deductible funds which you donate to the PTSA – will go a long way towards enriching the Whitman experience. By joining the PTSA, you help to provide a wide range of programs and support for students, staff, and parents: counseling advisory events, stressbuster events, speakers addressing a wide variety of topics, advocacy before the Board of Education and the County Council, Spiritwear, staff appreciation events, Whitworld, Clubs Night, and funding important school needs. For example, due to a rising enrollment requiring additional classrooms and concurrent budget cuts by the State and County, a critical school need recently funded by the PTSA was the purchase of 32 Chromebooks to offset the loss of two computer labs which will now be used as classrooms. Moreover, our large membership numbers are extremely powerful when the Whitman PTSA is advocating on behalf of our community before the Board of Education, the County Council, the State legislature, and our state delegates and senators.
Please remember that the membership drive is the PTSA’s primary fundraiser. The PTSA receives some additional funds from PTSA Spiritwear sales.
To stay informed about what is happening at Whitman, please attend PTSA meetings (see dates below), download the Whitman app by searching "Walt Whitman High School" in the App Store (iPhones) or Play Store (Android phones), visit the Whitman PTSA website at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/whitmanhs/ptsa/ and join Whitnet www.groups.yahoo.com/group/whitnet. To receive informal communications about Whitman related topics, join Whitcom at WhitcomMgr@yahoo.com.
Joe and I are looking forward to meeting you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, we would love to hear from you.
Cathy Scherr, PTSA President (cpscherr@verizon.net)
Joe Busch, PTSA Executive Vice President (jbusch@urban.org)
Dr. Goodwin
I hope you and your family enjoyed the summer. Much has been happening at Whitman this summer in preparation for the new school year. We are excited about new staff members who will join us. Also, many of our current teachers have participated in various types of training to enhance the classroom experience for students. Even the building has undergone a facelift with fresh paint and new roofing.
To help students prepare for the school year, please review the 2015 Student and Parent Handbook. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/whitmanhs/students/STUDENT%20HANDBOOK%2014-15.pdf The Handbook contains information about policies for attendance, cell phone use, social media, bullying, attire, and other important topics. Also, the Counseling Advisory Committee (CAC) maintains tip sheets covering a range of important academic and social topics. http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/whitmanhs/counseling/tipsheets.aspx. Please review the Handbook and tip sheets with your students. You will find both resources on the school website, under the heading Whitman HS Quick Links. Another important reminder for students is that the Whitman school day has different hours this year: first period begins at 7:45 a.m. and eighth period ends at 2:30 p.m.
Whitman offers an academically challenging and enriching environment so student engagement in the classroom is very important. Teachers often are available during lunch, before, and/or after school to assist students who need additional support. Whitman also provides an outstanding Writing Center and Vike-to-Vike lunchtime peer tutoring and the Media Center is open before and after school. In addition, contact information for paid tutors is available through counselors, teachers and Whitcom. Please encourage your students to take advantage of these resources.
The student experience at Whitman is not measured only by academic achievements. We also strive to facilitate the student’s social and emotional development. Students who are involved in school activities will have a much richer high school experience, so please encourage your students to take part in extracurricular activities. Whitman offers a wide range of activities to provide something of interest for every student: sports, the arts, student-run clubs, and even one hour a week activities through our partnership with Flex Academies for those students who may want to “tiptoe” into an afterschool activity or add on just a bit more to their other activities. Please encourage your students to attend Whitman Clubs Night on September 16 at 7:00 p.m., to learn more about the wide-range of available clubs. Also, as the school year begins, you will hear about additional initiatives to support students’ social-emotional well-being (i.e., UMTTR, SOS, and 5 SIGNS).
Whitman parents add much to our school community and for this reason I encourage you to get involved in one or more of our excellent parent organizations. As you read through the Newsletter, you will find more information about all of the various parent organizations which do so much for our students and Whitman. Whitman is fortunate to have many parents who lend their time and expertise to support our booster programs, and attend events and extracurricular activities.
I extend a special thank you to Cathy Scherr and Joe Busch, our PTSA president and executive vice president, for their willingness to serve on behalf of our parents, staff and students. Please plan to attend the first PTSA meeting on September 16 at 7:30 p.m. while students are attending Clubs Night.
Finally, I urge you to sign up for Whitnet, as well as the new Whitman app, so you will receive important notices about school meetings, events, deadlines and opportunities.
I am looking forward to the new school year and hope to see you at Back to School Night and other events throughout year.
Alan Goodwin
Principal
Class Notes
* Thurs,, August 27 -- Freshman and New Student Orientation -- 7:45 - 11:20 am
* Thurs., August 27 -- Principal's Coffee for New and Freshman Parents -- 7:45-9:00 am
* Wed., Sept. 9 -- Freshman Parent Meeting -- 7:30 pm in the Auditorium
* Wed., Oct. 14 -- Surviving and Thriving Freshman Year and Beyond: Parent Discussion -- 7:30 in the Media Center (Stressbusters)
Sophomore Class
* Thurs., Feb. 4 -- Sophomore and Parent Meeting: Planning the Junior Year Schedule -- 7:30 pm in the Auditorium
Junior Class
* Wed., Jan. 27 -- Junior and Parent College Planning Meeting -- 7:30 pm in the Auditorium
* Thurs., April 21 -- Junior and Parent College Admissions Panel -- 7:00 pm in the Auditorium
* TBA -- Colleges that Change Lives -- 7:30 pm at Walter Johnson High School (Stressbusters)
Senior Class
* Thurs., Sept. 17 -- Senior and Parent College Application Process Meeting -- 7:30 pm in the Auditorium
* Thurs., Feb. 11 -- Senior Parent Meeting regarding graduation, senior prom, and post prom -- 7:30 pm in the Auditorium
* Friday, May 13 --- Prom -- 8:30 pm - 12:30 am -- Rockville Marriot
* Sat., May 14 -- Post Prom -- 1 am - 5 am -- Whitman
* Monday, May 23 -- Senior Transition to College Meeting -- 7:30 pm in the Auditorium
* Fri., May 27 -- Senior Graduation Rehearsal and Last Day for Seniors
* Wed., June 8 -- Senior Graduation -- 7:00 pm
Counseling Advisory Committee
Comprised of volunteer parents, counseling staff, and administrators, the Whitman Counseling Advisory Committee (CAC) works to provide volunteer support to the Whitman Counseling Department and to facilitate communication between the department and the school community. The CAC is part of the Whitman PTSA. The CAC sponsors a number of meetings during the school year on topics related to student academic, emotional, and social development; speakers are usually members of the Counseling Staff or Departmental Resource Teachers (RTs). Allison Smith Gordon gordon_family@mac.com and Jodi McGill jodimcgill@verizon.net serve as CAC co-chairs.
All parents are invited to attend the following monthly CAC meetings for the 2015-2016 school year (usually 4th Thursdays when the MCPS calendar permits). These meetings are held during the school day (usually 8th period) when the Counseling, Administrative, and Teaching staff members are available to speak. Detailed minutes are taken and posted on Whitnet for those parents unable to attend.
Sept 24 – Meet the Counselor Breakfast 9:00-10:30 am in the Courtyard (Cafeteria in the event of rain)
Oct. 22 – Ask the Counselors Panel 1:15 pm in TV Studio/CIC
Nov. 19 – Guide to Electives w/ RTs from World Languages, Art, Journalism, Technology Education, Childhood Education, etc.
1:15pm (venue TBD)
Jan. 28 – Registration Considerations w/ RTs from English, Math, Science, and Social Studies 1:15pm (venue TBD)
Feb. 25 – Whitman Internship Program 1:15 in CIC
March 17 – Topic TBA 1:15 in CIC
April 28 – Q & A Panel on Transition to High School for parents of Pyle 8th-graders 1:15 in CIC
Detailed announcements concerning all of these meetings will be posted on Whitnet and the school website.
Stressbusters Committee
Dr. Goodwin started the Stressbusters Committee in 2004. A subcommittee of the Counseling Advisory Committee (CAC), Stressbusters is part of the Whitman PTSA.
The Committee aims to help students, parents and staff:
· build resilience for handling some of the “normal” stresses associated with high school;
· identify and reduce unhealthy stress levels and their sources.
Resources
Drug & Alcohol Information: Stressbusters has compiled useful information for parents and students. Click “Drug and Alcohol Resources” under “Whitman HS Quick Links,” on the Whitman web site.
Comment Box: Students, parents and staff may submit feedback any time (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DVKDCHL). Comments are anonymous, unless you choose to include your name. The link is also available on the school website.
Stressbusters Page: Access the Stressbusters page under “Quick Links” from the Counseling or PTSA pages of the school website, or click on the following link:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/whitmanhs/counseling/stressbusterss.aspx
After-School Programs/Flex Academies: Through Flex Academies, the PTSA offers activities specially designed for Whitman students, with NO tryouts or experience necessary. Classes are held right after school, at Whitman, only 1 hour a week. Whitman's Flex programming is intended to allow students a chance to unwind after school, pursue a hobby, or try something new. Activities run for 8 weeks each session, and some scholarships are available. Go to http://wwhsflex.asapconnected.com/default.aspx for more information.
Calendar
In 2015-16, Stressbusters will continue to offer mindfulness programming in addition to the following.
Flex Academies After-School Programs
Fall session: September-November, registration opens August 24, 7:00 PM
Winter session: January-March, registration opens December 7
Spring session: April-May, registration opens March 14
Surviving & Thriving, Freshman Year & Beyond: Parent Discussion
Wednesday, October 14
7:30-9:00 PM -- Media Center
Speaker Event (TBA)
Wednesday, November 4
7:30-9:00 PM -- Auditorium
Speaker Event (TBA)
Wednesday, March 2 (snow date, Monday, March 7)
7:30-9:00 PM -- Auditorium
Colleges That Change Lives (co-sponsored with B-CC and WJ)
Monday, March 7
7:30-9:00 PM -- Walter Johnson High School
Whitman High School Education Foundation
The Whitman High School Education Foundation (WHSEF) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds to support projects that enrich the intellectual, social and physical experience of Whitman students and staff. WHSEF collaborates with Dr. Goodwin, Whitman staff, and student and parent leadership to identify and respond to unmet school needs.
WHSEF grants extend the media center’s hours, purchased needed technology, provide program support, fund professional development and improve facilities. In addition, the foundation makes an annual donation to Wheaton High School, our sister school.
For more information, visit our website at www.whitmanfoundation.org.
Whitworld
Whitworld is a parent-volunteer, PTSA-supported activity. Our mission is to assist families with issues that are relevant to the parents and families who are new to the Whitman community. In addition, we connect international and American families through social and cultural events including: book clubs, cooking classes, introduction to language and culture program, international night, visits to art museums and galleries. For more information please contact co-chairs: Lucy Kramer- lucykramer@sbcglobal.net or Margaret Tsang - margaretmytsang@gmail.com.
Chinese language and culture class
A visit to the Kreeger Museum in Washington, DC
Mexican cooking class
Clubs Night
Whitman All Sports Boosters
The Whitman All Sports Booster Club is a 501 c 3 organization that exists and operates under guidelines established by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for sports booster clubs. Under those guidelines, the club supports, directly and/or indirectly, through its fundraising and use of those funds and other activities, those athletic programs approved and sanctioned by MCPS and the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA). The sports include baseball, basketball, bocce, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, indoor track, lacrosse, pompons, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, team handball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.
In brief, the Booster Club supports Whitman athletes and teams in the following ways.
Available to each sport is a $600 annual grant that the coaches may use to purchase sport-related materials and equipment as long as the funds are not used for food or items that the athlete would retain after the season.
Coaches may submit a written request for funds in excess of $600 to cover the cost of more expensive items needed for their sport to the club board through the athletic director. A copy of the funding request form is available on the athletic web site, www.whitmanathletics.org.
In addition to specific team funding requests, Booster Club funds are used to provide safe and adequate athletic facilities at Whitman.
Over the last five years, the Booster Club has spent about $500,000 supporting Whitman athletic programs.
The club’s board meets once a month during the school year from September through May. Meetings start at 6:30 PM in the CIC and usually last for less than 90 minutes. Meetings are open to all, and parents are urged to get involved in the various club committees, including the mulch sale; the Viking Spirit (production and advertising sales); physical day; concessions; the Chichester award; the practice SAT/ACT tests; membership; fields; and team fund raising. Parents may also serve as the Booster Club representative for their child’s team, an excellent way to begin involvement in the club’s activities. If serving on the Booster Club board, a board committee, or as a team rep interests you, please contact the current club president, Todd Morrison, at tamorrison@comcast.net.
Music Boosters
The Walt Whitman Music Boosters is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the school’s music program in a variety of ways. These include:
· Raising funds to cover expenses essential to maintaining the high quality of the program, such as sheet music, instrument tuning and maintenance, stipends for guest clinicians, CD recordings, concert attire and accessories, professional development for faculty, scholarships for students who would otherwise not be able to participate in activities, and special purchases like choral risers or sheet music storage systems.
· Keeping families informed of music department activities via email, website, and meetings.
· Providing ongoing assistance to the music department for tasks such as fitting and ordering student concert attire, working with the Festival of the Arts committee, coordinating luggage check-in for the annual music trip, and chaperoning competitions and concerts.
· Organizing social events including a fall party, the winter concert receptions, and other post-performance receptions.
Whitman Music Boosters is open to all parents of students in the music program.
For more information, visit our website at www.waltwhitmanmusic.org or contact Whitman Music Boosters President Elise Browne Hughes at whitmanchorus@gmail.com.
Art Boosters
Drama Boosters
Walt Whitman Drama Boosters, Inc. is a 50(c)(3) not-for-profit Maryland corporation that supports the Whitman Drama program, as well as its theatrical productions and related activities. Whitman Drama Boosters supports and promotes the Drama program’s mission of educating students in drama, musical theater, singing, dance, technical theater, and production management. The organization coordinates volunteer efforts and raises funds to support the activities of the Drama program. Funds support each season’s production costs, new equipment including sound and lighting improvements, workshops with local professionals, summer theater opportunities including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and other projects for all students interested in the theater – both on stage and in the technical areas.
Post Prom
Walt Whitman Post Prom is an annual event put on by the PTSA's Post Prom Committee. This alcohol and drug free event, held at Walt Whitman High School, is a free, safe, fun alternative to after Prom parties. All WWHS Seniors are welcome and encouraged to attend whether they go to Prom or not.
Keeping our students safe on prom night poses a unique challenge. Prom season is the time of year when high schoolers start to feel liberated from school and look toward graduation. It is one of the highest risk nights of the year. We need parents to pledge not to have an after party at their homes and let us take care of them for the night.
To get the kids to come and stay all night, Post Prom needs to dazzle them by transforming the school into another setting, wowing them with great entertainment, delighting them with amazing food, and enticing them to stay all night for the opportunity to win hundreds of prizes like movie tickets, dorm supplies, TVs, Go Pros and even a Macbook.
This wonderful night is not school funded and depends ENTIRELY on contributions of money, time and raffle items from parents, guardians and the community. We need your help to sustain this special evening!
Whitman believes that Post-Prom is a community event. We need the support of all families with students in grades 9-12 to make this a reality for the kids. After all, they will all be seniors one day. Be on the lookout for Post Prom fundraising activities later in the fall. We look forward to your support.Spirit Wear
Want to be fashionable, trend-setting AND show your Whitman spirit? Do we have a deal for you! Walt Whitman Spirit Wear is now available through the Whitman Spirit Committee!! Our stock on hand is varied and top quality!
Click the Spirit Wear link below for pictures of some of our merchandise or the order link for an order sheet. Stop by the main office and check our our display board to see all of our SpiritWear items close up.
Place your orders now and support the Walt Whitman High School and the WWHS PTSA!
NEW Under Armour Sweatpants
NEW Under Armour Half-Zip
Hooded Viking Sweatshirt
Order Yearbook
Yearbooks can be purchased at Back to School Night, September 3, 2015, and Clubs Night, September 16, 2015. Yearbooks and senior ads also may be purchased through http://www.yearbookforever.com/ after the second week of school.
The Black & White
The Black & White is the independent student-run newspaper of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland and has a print edition and an online counterpart. The Black & White is as an open forum for student journalism and expression. The Black & White print edition is published 9 times a year and the Black & White Oline seeks to inform the Whitman community about local events in a timely fashion by providing updates every day of the academic school year. All content is reviewed to ensure that it meets the highest levels of legal and ethical standards with respect to material that is libelous, obscene or invasive of privacy. Accuracy is of utmost importance to the Black & White staff.
Signed opinion pieces reflect the positions of the individual staff member. Opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Walt Whitman High School or Montgomery County Public Schools.
Students and staff can pick up the paper free of charge. Mail subscriptions cost $35. If you would like to purchase a subscription, please contact blackandwhiteadvertisement@gmail.com. The address of the Black & White Online Edition is www.theblackandwhite.net. Find us on Facebook at The Black & White Online, on Twitter @bdubbsonline, on Vimeo at BlackWhiteOnline, on SoundCloud atBlackWhiteOnline, and on YouTube at TheBlackWhiteOnline.
Raise Funds for Whitman with your Giant and Target Red cards
Each year, from October through March, Whitman has the opportunity to earn cash through Giant's A+ School Rewards Program. Through this program, you can earn money for Whitman every time you shop at Giant and use your Giant card. This program does not interfere with your Giant card savings or gas rewards, and it does not cost you anything! Each month, the amount of cash awarded to Whitman will be updated on the Giant website, and Whitman will receive a check at the end of the program. The money raised through the program is used for a variety of our school's educational needs. Last year, this program raised over $9,000 for Whitman!
In order to register for Whitman, go to this link and register your Giant card using Whitman ID # 00683:
http://www.giantfood.com/savings-and-rewards/rewards-program/aplus/
Note: If you designated Whitman as your school last year, you do not have to re-designate again this year.
Please keep in mind that you cannot register with just your telephone number. You will need your 12-digit Giant card number found on the back of the card. If you do not have a Giant card, please visit your local Giant store to obtain one. If you do not know your Giant card number, you may call the Card Hotline at 1-877-366-2668, option 2. The Card Hotline can also assist you with designating Whitman. Don't forget to encourage your friends, neighbors and relatives to do the same!
Also, if you have a Target Red Card, please visit www.target.com/tcoe to designate Whitman as your current school.
JOIN THE PTSA TODAY
There are 3 easy ways to join:
(1) ONLINE -- Go to https://www.pay4schoolstuff.com/
(2) BY MAIL -- get your PTSA Membership form at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/whitmanhs/ptsa/WhitmanMembershipFormUpdated1-7.pdf and send it to “Walt Whitman PTSA,” Walt Whitman High School Attn: Membership, 7100 Whittier Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20817 or
(3) DROP OFF -- put your PTSA Membership form in an envelope and drop it in the PTSA Box in the lobby at school
Walt Whitman Highlights Calendar 2015-2016
AUGUST
12 Fall Sports Begin
24 Flex After-School Programs Fall Registration Opens
25, 26, 28 Freshman Band Camp 10 am – 2 pm
27 New Student Orientation 7:45-11:20 am
27 Principal’s Coffee for New & Freshman Parents 7:45-9:00 am
31 First Day of School
SEPTEMBER
3 Back to School Night
7 No School – Labor Day
9 Freshman Parent Meeting 7:30 pm
11 Newcomer’s Coffee 9:30-11:30 am
12 ACT Exam
14 No School
16 Whitman Clubs Night 7:00 pm
16 PTSA Meeting 7:30 pm
17 Senior and Parent Meeting 7:30
23 No School
24 Meet the Counselors Breakfast 9-10:30 am
OCTOBER
2 Early Release
3 SAT Exam
12 Open House for Parents – Columbus Day
14 Stressbusters Parent Discussion 7:30 pm
16 No School
19-24 Homecoming Week
19 Hall Decorations 2:15-9:00 pm
20 PTSA Meeting 7:00 pm
21 Battle of the Classes 6:00 pm
22 CAC Meeting 1:15
23 Pep Rally & Homecoming Game
24 Homecoming Dance 8:30 pm
24 ACT Exam
30 1st Marking Period Ends
NOVEMBER
2 No School – Professional Day
4 Stressbusters Speaker Event 7:30
5 Blood Drive 6:30 am
7 SAT Exam
19 CAC Meeting 1:15 pm
19 Art School Forum 2:30-9:00 pm
20, 21 Fall Musical
25 Early Release
26 & 27 No School – Thanksgiving
DECEMBER
2 New York Art Field Trip 6:30 am
3 8th Grade Parent Meeting 7:00 pm
5 SAT Exam
7 Flex After-School Programs Winter Registration Opens
10 Instrumental Music Concert 7:00 pm
12 ACT Exam
17 Whitman Choral Concert
24-31No School – Winter Break
JANUARY
1 No School – Winter Break
4 School Resumes
15, 19-22 Final Exams
22 2nd Marking Period Ends
18 No School – MLK DAY
19 PTSA Meeting 7:00 pm
23 SAT Exam
25 No School – Professional Day
28 CAC Meeting 1:15 pm
29 Whitman Idol 7:00
FEBRUARY
3 Battle of the Bands 7:00 PM
4 Sophomores and Parents Meeting 7:30 pm
6 ACT Exam
7 Red Rush 8:00 am
10 Guy Auction 7:00-9:00 pm
11 Senior Parent Meeting 7:30 pm
15 No School – President’s Day
20 bRAVE 6:00 pm
25 CAC Meeting 1:15 pm
26 Early Release
25-27 Winter Play
MARCH
2 Stressbusters Speaker Event 7:30 pm
5 SATs
7 Colleges That Change Lives (at Walter Johnson High School)
10 International Night
14 Flex After-School Programs Spring Registration Opens
15 PTSA Meeting 7:00 pm
23 Talent Show
24 3rd Marking Period ends
25-31 Spring Break
APRIL
1 Spring Break
4 School Resumes
9 ACT Exam
13-14 Festival of the Arts 6:00 -9:00 pm
14 Blood Drive 6:00 am
15-17 Music Trip to Philadelphia
19-20 MCPS College Fair
21 Juniors & Parents College Panel 7-9 pm
26 No School – Elections
28 CAC Meeting 1:15 pm
29 Fashion Show 7:00 pm
MAY
2-13 AP Testing
7 SAT Exam
13 Prom: Rockville Marriott 8:30-12:30
14 Post Prom: Whitman 1-5 am
13-14 One Act Play 7:00 pm
17 PTSA Meeting 7:00 pm
20 Senior Picnic
20 Mr. Whitman
23-26 Senior Exams
27 Senior Graduation Rehearsal & Last Day for Seniors
30 No School –Memorial Day
JUNE
4 SAT Exam
8 Senior Graduation 7:00 pm
11 ACT Exam
13-16 Final Exams
17 Last Day of School & Makeup Exams
17 Principal’s Coffee for Rising 9th Grade Parents 9:00-10:00
Please refer to the “Calendar of Events” on the Whitman website for a comprehensive schedule of academic and community events: www.montgomeryschools.org/schools/whtmanhs/about/calendar.aspx. Times are subject to change, so please refer to the website to confirm dates and times.