The Big Train
The Newsletter of the Walter Johnson PTSA - MARCH 2015
Walter Johnson PTSA
The Walter Johnson High School PTSA is a dedicated group of parents, teachers and students who work together in support of the school and community.
Email: ptsapres@walterjohnson.com
Website: www.walterjohnson.com/parents/ptsa.aspx
Location: 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD, United States
Phone: 301-803-7100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walterjohnsonhighschoolptsa#!/pages/Walter-Johnson-High-School-PTSA/406475452770593
Twitter: @wjptsa
PTSA President's Message
I write this column after attending WJ’s first Health and Wellness Summit, a two-period program for all students held on Friday, Feb. 27th. The team that developed this program -- a group of parents, counselors, teachers and administrators -- asked more than 1,000 students what was on their minds and what they said sounded familiar: stress, work/life balance, anxiety and depression. Each student heard both a scientific explanation of what the body was going through when it was stressed or anxious, and how they could create an environment where the stress didn't overwhelm them. There was an auditorium presentation for everyone, followed by a classroom presentation where the students could ask questions and have a discussion with a mental health professional.
The experts said that our kids may not be communicating if, and why, they are stressed, and we parents may not be listening to what they are saying. Our kids heard today that they need not only to work hard, but to also to take care of themselves, to get enough sleep, to eat well, and to build some de-stressors into their lives. They need to laugh and to develop their own passions, and to communicate when the expectations of others does not match the choices they want to make.
It’s not easy for parents to let go of the responsibility of making every choice for our kids. After all, we've been doing that since they entered our lives. And although they still look to us for guidance and example (even when we think they are not listening or watching), they need to flex some of those decision muscles themselves. In a few short years, they will be on their own, making many more decisions, far out of our sight and knowledge. So making a few more decisions now is good practice.
Now that every student has heard the same thing, this might be a good time for us parents to flex those listening muscles. Ask your student if they are anxious. What would they would like to do to de-stress their lives? For example, what would they like to stop doing? Or start doing differently? And how can you help? Then just sit back and listen.
Barbara Ferry
PTSA President
News from the Principal's office
Despite the recent below-freezing temperatures and several weather-related delays and closings, our second semester is off to a fabulous start. It is also great to be back at Walter Johnson! I would like to thank Afie Mirshah-Nayar for doing an excellent job as acting principal for these past six weeks. Her leadership has been outstanding and I truly appreciate the tremendous support from our community members through the various transitions.
Watching our students in action throughout February is always a wonderful way to reaffirm that we have an extraordinary and caring student body at Walter Johnson. As you know, our students are very engaged in the WJ community and are incredibly philanthropic. Many of you are well-aware of our past efforts to raise funds for the Pennies for Patients organization. The proceeds benefit the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. Since 2008, we have raised over $300,000 for this great cause. Click here to make an online donation.
This year, thanks to a fabulous planning committee consisting of incredibly committed staff and parents, we held our very first Health and Wellness Summit on Friday, Feb. 27. Over 50 speakers came to and speak with our students. The topics varied, but the focus was on physical and mental health as well as managing stress. The goal was to arm our student with practical tools to help maintain a healthy work life balance. We are very excited that we were able bring this program to our students and grateful that we have so many caring speakers coming to share their knowledge on behalf of our students. A huge thank you goes out to everyone on the planning committee for all of your efforts.
Also, along the lines of teen health and wellness, please note that at the end of March students will experience the program "Every 15 Minutes." This is a very powerful program that graphically illustrates the potentially lethal impact of drinking. The program offers the real-life experience without the real-life risks. More information may be found at www.every15minutes.com
Finally, registration will be closing soon for Advanced Placement testing. Due to the weather-related school closings, online AP Registration has been extended and will remain open until March 6, 2015. If your child is taking one or more AP classes here at Walter Johnson, please have them sign up online at
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/wjhs/programs/ap/registration.aspx
For questions about AP testing please email: ap@walterjohnson.com
Buddha once said, “If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.” We appreciate all that you have shared this year. We particularly enjoy seeing you at our events sharing in the joy of a play, sporting event, concert, parent meeting and any of the other many exciting events held at our school. The generosity of our community is outstanding. We look forward to seeing you very soon.
Jennifer Baker
Principal
Email: jennifer.baker@walterjohnson.com
Phone: 301-803-7106
Twitter: @WJPrincipal
Update on the Noah Marks fund
Health and Wellness Messages Reinforced at WJHS Summit
More than 50 health and wellness professionals – physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed therapists and acupuncturists, and mindfulness practitioners – met with Walter Johnson High School students on Friday, Feb. 27. Stress, anxiety, and balancing school work and home life were the topics of discussion at the school’s inaugural Health and Wellness Summit. The two-hour event, designed to meet the social-emotional needs of students, featured both keynote and breakout sessions.
All students had the opportunity to hear two members of the Walter Johnson community, Dr. David Jobes, professor of psychology and associate director of clinical training at Catholic University,, and Dr. Colleen Roche, an emergency physician and residency program director for emergency medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Jobes addressed mental wellness and Dr. Roche focused on physical wellness. The goal was that all students would hear the same presentation and take away specific messages regarding their health. The session ended with a brief video about the benefits of laughing – one of the best medicines for reducing stress – that had students smiling, if not chuckling, as they left the auditorium.
Tools for reducing stress, handling anxiety, and balancing school work with other obligations were provided in classroom sessions by more than four-dozen health and wellness practitioners from Montgomery and Fairfax counties and Washington, D.C. Practitioners engaged the students in stress-reduction activities and discussion.
Initial feedback from practitioners, students, and school officials was positive.
“I found it to be valuable on many levels and think that many of the kids in my classes took something away from the discussion,” wrote one practitioner in a follow-up email.
“It was a joy to interact with the students," another said. "They were respectful and inquisitive.”
Students, practitioners and teachers will receive a follow-up survey that will be used to identify program strengths and weakness and capture suggestions for improvements. Parents will be able to see a directory of Healthand Wellness Summit participants no later than Thursday, March 5. Information about how to retrieve the directory will be posted to the WJPTSA listserv.
The Health and Wellness Summit, sponsored by the PTSA, was led by a steering committee that included Afie Mirshah-Nayar, principal intern; Naomi Gelfand, media specialist; Erika Murray, counselor; Geri Acquard, social studies teacher; and Nicolas Atencio, social studies teacher. Several parents – Karen Finucan Clarkson, Catherine Paschal, and Honey Aboutorabian – help plan the event and recruited health and wellness professionals.
A discussion of the event and follow-up survey results will be shared at the March 17 PTSA meeting.
Karen Finucan Clarkson
About 50 speakers wait to
meet with students at the
WJ Health and Wellness Summit
Used Book Sale is this weekend! Volunteers are still needed.
The Walter Johnson High School Used Book Sale is THIS weekend (March 7-8) from 9am-2pm! There is an entrance fee on Saturday from 9-10 am of $5 per person; entrance at all other times is free. Books are $3 hardback, $1 softback. Children's board and paperback books are 2 for $1! CDs and vinyl records are $2 and DVDs are $3. Special items are as marked. Get there early for the best selection! On Sunday you can purchase a box of books for $20 and a bag for $10.We provide the boxes and bags.
VOLUNTEER INFO:
There are still slots that need to be filled for the Used Book Sale. So if you wanted to sign up but just hadn't gotten around to it, please sign up now at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c48a9aa2dab9-used.
Also, if you are scheduled to volunteer but now have a conflict, please let us know ASAP.
If you have any questions or need to cancel your volunteer slot, please contact Amy at waychoff@comcast.net or text her 240-393-5550.
Saturday, Mar 7, 2015, 09:00 AM
Walter Johnson High School cafeteria
Prom Breakfast
The Senior Class and WJ Prom Breakfast Committee continues to work hard on plans for the 2015 Prom Breakfast, which will be held at WJ immediately following the May 1 prom. This post-prom celebration is designed to be a safe, substance-free party running until 4 am and is free to all seniors, whether or not they attended Prom.
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. 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, Prom Breakfast needs to dazzle them by transforming the school into another setting, wow them with great entertainment, delight them with amazing food, and entice them to stay all night for the opportunity to win hundreds of prizes like movie tickets, dorm supplies, TVs, and even an iMac. But to make this happen, it takes money, and this is where you come in.
Walter Johnson High School believes that Prom Breakfast 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! Will you please help make this possible for our WJ students?
All donations are welcome and encouraged. If you can, please consider:
- A contribution of $60 or more if you are a parent or guardian of a senior
- A contribution of $30 if you are the parent of a freshman, sophomore, or junior
If you have a business that contributes $100 or more, we will include the name of your company on the Prom Breakfast T-shirts, and will recognize your support on the listserv and in the Big Train newsletter.
Checks should be made payable to "Walter Johnson Prom Breakfast" and sent to:
Walter Johnson High School
6400 Rock Spring Drive
Bethesda, MD 20814
Please reference "Prom Breakfast" on the envelope. Our tax identification number is 526070784. Please consult your tax adviser to determine whether your contribution is tax deductible.
Or click the button below to make a secure online donation.
Debbie Teicherand Tonja Olson, Prom Breakfast Committee Chairs
Jane Macedonia, Prom Breakfast Fundraising Chair
BOOSTER BYTES
- President
- Vice President
- Clubs Committee Chair
- Sports Committee Chair
- Graduation DVD Chair
- Sports Banner Sales Chair
If you have any questions about any of the open positions, please contact James and Jill Joseph.
WJ Cluster Coordinator (and WJ parent) Joe Piff (on right) testifies before the County Council in support of school construction.
Guidance Advisory Committee
If you have missed any of the GAC events, you can obtain handouts from those meetings here on the Walter Johnson website.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Winter/Spring Meetings
- Mon., Mar. 2 - Naviance/Family Connections Parent Meeting, - CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
Tues., Mar. 10 - Naviance/Family Connections Parent Meeting - 7:00 pm - Cafeteria
Wed., Mar. 11 - Naviance/Family Connections Parent Coffee, 7:45 am - Cafeteria
- Mon., Mar. 30 - Mock ACT/SAT Results Interpretation, 7 pm - Cafeteria
- Mon., Apr. 20 – College Admissions Panel Night, 7 pm - Cafeteria
Float Our Boat, hosted by WJ Crew
You’re invited and admission is free.
For a complete list of auction items up for bid, see our online catalogue at www.walterjohnsoncrew.org/auction.
Saturday, Mar 14, 2015, 07:00 PM
WJHS Cafeteria
WJ Crew "Float Our Boat" Benefit Auction
Enjoy an extraordinary night of live music by UMD Jazz Combo with Chris Gekker, Newgrass Effect with Tom Gray, and gypsy jazz by Djangolaya. What’s more, Gotta Swing will teach you the right moves you need to cut up the cafeteria linoleum and enjoy dancing with your partner.
While you’re there, we encourage you to BID* locally during the Auction! We have over 120 items sponsored by local restaurants, retailers and neighborhood businesses.
What’s more, we have loads of stuff for your WJ student:
Driving lessons from I Drive Smart
College prep from Capitol Educators
Tuxedo Rentals, make-up and hairstyling for Prom
Studio tour at WUSA Channel 9 for budding reporters and TV producers
Singing lessons for rising stars on WJ S*T*A*G*E
We even have restaurant gift cards, entertainment vouchers and great adventures like baseball tickets and vacation homes that you can buy at the auction then donate to Prom Breakfast if you want to. There really is something for everyone. For a complete list of auction items up for bid, see our online catalogue at www.walterjohnsoncrew.org/auction.
Even more, we will announce the winner of the WJ Crew and Booster Club raffle drawing for a GoPro Hero4 Black Camera* and a Concept 2 Rowing Machine at 8:45 pm. Until then you can still purchase your winning ticket during the Booster Club Used Book Sale March 7-8 from 9 am-2 pm
Float Our Boat is an auction benefit hosted by the Walter Johnson Crew Team. The evening is open to students and their families. For more information, please write to auction@walterjohnsoncrew.org
*sponsored by Hudson Trail Outfitters
The WJ Education Foundation
Thanks to a number of parents who made end-of-year donations and some of our share of the proceeds of the Kensington 8K Race, we reached our goal to purchase an additional Chromebook cart for the school. The school will benefit soon from the complete cart with 30 Chromebooks, software and set-up. As we continue to fund requests from the school and staff, please note that we appreciate donations of any amount, large or small. Perhaps you know a local business who would like to support our school with a donation. We are accepting requests from staff for spring/summer professional development grants. The courses, conferences, or materials that teachers can access through these funds benefit students in many ways. For example, last year a teacher took a course in teaching yoga, which allowed an additional section to be opened up for WJ students.
The Engraved Brick Challenge is Underway for the Class of 2015
We continue with the challenge to the Class of 2015 to lay more bricks in the Wildcat Walkway than any class before or after. As we get close to the deadline to purchase a brick to be installed this summer, don’t be left out.
We sell the engraved bricks each year and install new bricks each summer. The proceeds from the brick sales go to support programs at the school for students and materials. The donation of a brick is a wonderful way to thank a coach or staff member in addition to honoring students and teams. We have bricks that honor winning teams, alumni, and some that are in memory of deceased staff and students. The walkway has become a nice place to visit again and again. If you have not seen the Wildcat Walkway, please do. It is by the rear entrance to the gym and the drop-off loop.
To order a brick, go to the Education Foundation website , or if you have questions, please write to wj.bricks@gmail.com.
You can find more information about the foundation or access donation forms at wjedfoundation.org
Marney Jacobs
WJ Ed Foundation
"Shrek the Musical" Coming to WJ Next Month
It will be performed Friday and Saturday, April 17, 18, 24, and 25 at 7:30 pm. There will also be a special matinee performance on Sunday, April 19, at 2 pm. Ticket prices for the Sunday matinee will be $20, slightly higher than the evening shows, but this will include a meet the cast and crew party during with snacks, activities, and a chance to take pictures with cast members.
Online ticket sales will stop at 5 pm on the nights of the evening performances. Tickets may be purchased after that time at the box office through cash or check only. Patrons should also know that tickets purchased after the 7:30 pm curtain time will be general admission only with seating in the back.
WJ Mugs Are Now in Stock. Get yours for only $5.
SPECIAL EVENING OPENING
Shop during the Winter Sports Awards on Monday, March 16,from 6:30-8:30 pm. We will be set up outside the auditorium.
OR VISIT OUR STOREFRONT LOCATION
The School Store is located in the hallway outside the cafeteria. We are open most school days from 10:45 am to 11:30 am. Credit cards, checks and cash accepted.
"Infrastructure & Growth: Are We Keeping Pace?"
Please join us for a forum hosted by Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner.
When you register, there is an opportunity to submit questions. Representative questions will be selected by the moderators and all questions submitted will be provided in an information folder that will be distributed to those who attend.
Please try to attend this important program.
Saturday, Mar 7, 2015, 08:30 AM
Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD
2014-15 PTSA upcoming meeting schedule
March 17
April 21
May 19- PTSA business meetings are normally held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 pm in the Media Center and are open to all parents, students and teachers.
- PTSA meetings include an update from the principal and committee chairs and a discussion of ongoing business.
- Agenda items for meetings should be sent to the PTSA president a week prior to the meeting so that enough time can be allocated for discussion.
- Speakers sponsored by the PTSA are held at various times during the year and are organized by the Guidance Advisory Committee or the Health and Safety Committee.
WANT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR WJ WITHOUT TAKING ANY MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET?
You can do this by linking your store loyalty card to Walter Johnson. WJ earns money every time you shop at Giant, Target, Safeway, Food Lion and Harris Teeter, as long as you designate WJ as your beneficiary school. You can also opt to support more than one school. But you can’t help if you don’t register. And many stores require you to re‐register every year. Please take a moment and follow the links below. Use the following ID numbers and sign up now to help WJ earn.
Target Red Card Visa - School ID: 58206
Harris Teeter - School ID: 7371
Safeway - WJ Group ID: 6679161
Giant - School ID: 00646
Food Lion (including the former Bloom stores) - School ID: 219715
Submit an Item for The Big Train Newsletter
The Big Train is the PTSA monthly newsletter, posted online. The upcoming submission deadlines are March 25, April 29 and May 27.
Articles, questions and comments may be submitted via email to thebigtrain@walterjohnson.com with the article in the body of the message or as an attachment (please indicate file type). The Big Train is posted on the WJ website, so please do not include information you would not want to see online. Please supply email addresses as well as phone numbers for contact information whenever possible.
All persons associated with WJ are encouraged to submit news and information.
Please also include photos if you have them. In addition to the newsletter, we will post them on the PTSA Facebook page.
The Big Train is compiled, laid out, and edited by Linda Parker, Stephanie Brown and Jonathan Salant.