Whittier Weekly Newsletter
December 18, 2020
Wishing You a Peaceful Holiday Season
Dear Whittier Families,
On behalf of our staff, I would like to wish our Whittier families and community a peaceful and joyful holiday season. It is a time of year that can be filled with many emotions all at once - happiness and anticipation for some, sadness and loneliness for others, the joy of being with loved ones, and the sorrow of missing those who are no longer with us.
As an immigrant to the United States back in 1996, one of the things that has always struck me most about the people of this country is their generosity of spirit, the willingness to help those in need, and the community spirit that looks out for those less fortunate. I see this in the Whittier Community also, and it is an honor to be a part of such a community.
I wish all of you and our students the best for the remainder of this most unforgettable year, and so much more goodness to come in 2021!
My best regards,
Lorcan OhEithir, Principal
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Reese and Mrs. Leatherman
Hello Whittier Families!
The “Winter Break Challenge” is an OPTIONAL activity that will give each student at Whittier the opportunity to maintain/increase their fitness levels and reinforce healthy nutrition during winter break. The program will start the first day of winter break and will end the day before we return to school. For each day, students are assigned an activity to perform and to make a healthy food choice for the day.
Wishing everyone a safe, fun and healthy winter break! Winter Break Challenge
Support for Military Parents: Beginning in January, the CYB Military Family Life Counselor, Lauren Wynn, will be hosting a virtual group for Military Parents. Please reference the linked flyer if you are interested in joining this group that helps to connect Military Parents. For questions, Contact Lauren Wynn at 240-818-5730. Military Parents Connecting
Student Small Groups: We are still welcoming participants for the Military Child Small groups! Lauren Wynn, LCMFT will be facilitating the virtual “Military Lunch Bunch” every Monday at 2:30 on Zoom. If interested, sign up here: Military Child Small Group Sign Up or contact Mrs. Reese for details.
Kids Like US: We have been selected to pilot a Virtual Small Group called, Kids Like Us.
We will begin working with fourth grade students who are interested in participating early next year. An email was sent to parents of 4th grade students this week.
Read on for additional information. Kids Like Us Small Group
Happy Holidays! Wishing you all a healthy and happy winter break! - Mrs. Reese and Mrs. Leatherman
Meals During Winter Break
FCPS Nutrition Services
2020-2021 SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Please see below for specific information regarding meal service over winter break. If you are planning to access meals on 12/23 and/or 12/30, you may want to consider bringing a box or bags to carry your meals. Food services will be distributing 5 days worth of meals on these days.
SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR WINTER BREAK
*Students and kitchen staff are off on Thursday December 24 through Sunday January 3 for winter break.
- Meals will be distributed at all locations from 11am-1pm on Wednesday December 23 for Monday December 23-Sunday December 27.
- Meals will be distributed at limited schools (see the list below) from 10am-1pm on Monday December 28 for Monday December 28 and Tuesday December 29.
- Meals will be distributed at limited schools (see the list below) from 10am-1pm on Wednesday December 30 for Wednesday December 30-Sunday January 3.
Community sites will not be open on December 28 or December 30. All children can visit one of the schools open for meal distribution on December 28 and 30.*
The locations that will serve meals on Monday, December 28 and Wednesday, December 30 are:
Ballenger Creek Elementary
Lincoln Elementary
Sugarloaf Elementary
Brunswick Elementary
Middletown High
Thurmont Middle
Butterfly Ridge Elementary
Monocacy Elementary
Walkersville High
Centerville Elementary
Myersville Elementary
Waverley Elementary
Crestwood Middle
North Frederick Elementary
Whittier Elementary
Deer Crossing Elementary
Spring Ridge Elementary
Windsor Knolls Middle
Governor Thomas Johnson High
Some Questions as FCPS plans to move to the Hybrid Instructional Model on January 28
a. participating in hybrid instruction OR b. remaining in the full virtual model
If we left you a message, please call us back at 240 236 3100 on Monday morning or email Mr. OhEithir with your choice of hybrid or virtual and, if hybrid, what transportation method will you need (bus, car, walker).
The next steps in the process of preparing for this change will begin when we come back in the New Year.
I will share some specific communication with families in the first Whittier Weekly Newsletter of 2021 with details of what the Hybrid Model will look like and how we can make it a success.
In the meantime, please be aware that many questions related to the Hybrid model and much more can be found at https://www.fcps.org/update/hybrid-faq
Whittier Elementary School - Believe, Achieve, Succeed
We will also communicate through our school website
Follow me on Twitter @fcpsOhEithir where I will communicate school news and happenings
Email: lorcan.oheithir@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/whes/home
Location: 2400 Whittier Drive, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
Phone: (240) 236 3100
Twitter: @fcpsOhEithir