Emotional 3rd Annual Veterans’ Day Assembly By: Christy Weaver, Bugle Editor

SERVING THE TheThe BugleBugle OCTOBER 2009 WOODRIDGE LOCAL SCHOOLS COMMUNITY Survey Says—Students and Staff Agree, Woodridge is a Safe Place to Be

Woodridge Schools are a safe and caring place according to  95% of parents felt that their school provides a safe learn- students and parents surveyed by the district last spring. ing environment for all students. Inside this This is important information, because of the impact of learn-  Less than 4% of students reported that the adults in their ing climate on children and adolescents. If students do not issue: building did not care about them. feel safe, then common sense as well as achievement data,  13% of students reported being bullied. (Grades 7-12) tell us that they may have trouble with both behavior and  5% of students admitted to bullying. (Grades 7-12) academics.  7% of elementary students felt that other students were WMS Homework 2 mean to them. Center Non-academic barriers like feeling disrespected or being uncomfortable with both teachers and peers can have a  4% of elementary students reported being mean to others. WPS Students of negative impact on our students’ ability to concentrate, re- 2  Less than 5% of the students reported feeling that they the Month flect, and comprehend what they are reading and learning. were treated unfairly by adults in the building.

Is Your Child The district’s Continuous Improvement Planning Committee  96% of students felt that they have multiple Gifted in Visual 2 opportunities to participate in co-curricular activities. or Performing recognized this concern when they met in the 2008-2009 Arts? school year and decided to survey parents and students  88% of parents said that their school cared about all stu- about their perceptions of the learning climate in the Wood- dents. Woodridge Graduate ridge Schools. The survey was designed by the Summit  95% of parents said that their school taught students the 2 Receives Emmy County Educational Service Center. They also compiled the difference between right and wrong. Award results and recently made them available to the district.  32% of parents worried about crime and violence in the

WIS Boo at the school. 2 School The survey included questions about fair treatment, interac- tions with teachers, interactions with other students, vio- Superintendent Jeff Graham reflected on the survey, “Although Engrave Your lence, and respect among all members of the school commu- the overall results of the survey are positive, until 100% of our Name in 3 kids feel safe and cared about, we still have work to do. In Woodridge nity. The overall result was that parents and students feel History good about the learning climate in Woodridge. Woodridge, it is not acceptable for any child to slip through the cracks. Through the district Continuous Improvement Planning Here are some highlights of the results of the WMS PSO process, the data from the surveys will help us to guide our Election Day 3 survey given in May of 2009: Bake Sale decision making so we can meet the needs of all of our stu-  95% of our students did not have concerns about their dents. Although learning climate is not one of the measures WMS Students safety in school. 3 required by the No Child Left Behind accountability system of the Month  96% of parents did not have concerns about the safety (NCLB measures reading, math, physical violence, and sci- of their children in school or at school activities. A Few Gifted ence), if Woodridge is to maintain its Excellent with Distinction 3 Updates rating, then we must look at all aspects of our learning Is Your Child Gifted in Visual or Performing Arts? community.” Latin Club Pulls 3 By: Terri Sigler, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Chariot of Victory A Few Gifted Updates from This Year’s Gifted Staff Sally Murphy, Gifted Intervention Specialist, WIS Woodridge Local Support Your Laura Rorrer, Challenge by Choice Coordinator, WMS School Through 4 Schools is searching Terri Sigler, Director of Curriculum and Gifted Coordinator Market Day for students who are gifted in the visual WPS Visited by Looking for opportunities for 4 Brass Quintet and/or performing gifted students or enrichment for arts. This includes your child? Look no further. We WIS Destination music, drama, have completed phase one of the 4 Book Fair dance, and art. If district resources for gifted stu- you believe your dents and enrichment opportuni- Barbershop child is gifted in any of these areas, pleased call Christy ties in the Woodridge Local Quartet to 4 Perform for Weaver, Secretary to the Director of Curriculum, at 330-928- School District. The site is 9074 ext. 591213, before November 13, 2009. housed under the Curriculum and

Kindergarten Instruction link, which is included in the pull down menu on the 4 Upon receipt of your nomination, a brief evaluation form will be Pumpkin Pickin’ district homepage. This site has a new link titled ‘District Gifted sent to your child’s teacher(s). If your child meets the criteria, Program.’ On this updated site, we have included information he/she will be given the opportunity to be evaluated at the about the Student Acceleration Policy and the District Gifted county-wide level to determine if he/she is, in fact, gifted in this Program Brochure. In the future we intend to also incorporate area. This evaluation will occur in February 2010. If you have various website links and titles of books and movies for parents any questions, please call Terri Sigler, Director of Curriculum and students. We hope to showcase the vast opportunities and Gifted Coordinator, at 330-928-9074, Ext. 591214. Woodridge students have for enrichment. Middle School Homework Center Open Woodridge Graduate Receives Emmy Award By: Linda Singer, WMS Teacher By: Christy Weaver, Bugle Editor

The Middle School Homework Cen- Vince Balunas, a 1994 graduate of Wood- ter is available to middle school ridge High School, was recently awarded students who desire a designated an Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing time for study. It is open Mondays for a Series for his work on Battlestar – Thursdays from 2:30 – 4:30. Stu- Galactica “Daybreak” on the SyFy dents have a certified teacher in the Channel. room to help with organizational skills, homework, and research After graduating from Woodridge, Vince projects. The students will meet in the library where there are 12 attended the University of Akron for three computers for their use and have the library resources at their years and then relocated to California. disposal. Students should pick up a permission form from the Now residing in Los Angeles, Vince works main office, guidance office, or from Mrs. Singer in Room 811. for a small company called AnEFX in Any questions, contact Mrs. Singer at 330-928-7420. Burbank, California. For his award, he was the Dialogue and ADR Editor. He states, “I supervise and direct the cast members in any re-recording of production WPS Students of the Month dialog as well as any added lines, then edit that into the edited dialogue By: Pat Kennedy, WPS Guidance Counselor session. Pretty much any spoken word in the show, I was responsible for.” Along with his work on Battlestar Galactica, Vince works on Gossip Girl, Trauma, Warehouse 13, Royal Pains, Psych, In Plain Sight, Eureka, and the Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica, coming out next year.

Vince was part of the Woodridge Local Schools from second grade to graduation, and he attributes his time here to forming a large part of who he is as an adult. During high school, Vince was part of the band and choir, as well as tennis, golf, basketball, French club, and Honors Society. He states that the knowledge in music he received from band and choir has help tremendously in his line of work. One of his fondest memories of Woodridge was the opportunity to sing a solo Harry Connick Jr. song in front of more than 1000 people at Blossom for graduation. “I am very grateful to all of my teachers for the inspiration they provided during my time at Woodridge. I would have to say a special thanks and shout out to Mrs. Murphy (PACE), Mr. Morton (Band), Mrs. Wright (French), and Mr. Weaver (Chemistry/Physics).”

Congratulations to the Woodridge Primary School Students of the Month WIS Boo at the School for September. These students were chosen from their classrooms for By: Besty Gorrell, WIS Principal doing an excellent job showing respect; our Building Character Word of the Month. On the evening of October 29th, there

Back row: Ryan Miller, Daisha Lewis, Atavia Robinson, Libby Howard. were many scary faces and boo-tiful 3rd row: Ariela Peters, Lidija Pyle, Anastasia Bakuhn, Kaden Papa, artwork appearing on pumpkins at the Jaliyah Bonner. 2nd row: Ellie Kleinhenz, Jayda Radovic, Arianna second annual Boo At the School at Kendrick, Collin Bragg, Ebany Ray. Front row: Joseph Colby, Falyn Woodridge Intermediate. Families Stalnaker, Molly McDermott, Max Batu. Not pictured: Madison Randall, gathered for pumpkin carving, Allison Palm, Baylee Shumaker fellowship, and snacks as the continued success at our greenhouse was discussed. WMS PSO Election Day Bake Sale Teachers Jodi Crawfis and Jayna Treen were awarded a GAR grant By: Linda Ocepek, WMS Principal in the Spring of 2007 to develop a greenhouse program for the The Woodridge Middle School Parent students of Woodridge Intermediate School. Inspiration came from Service Organization will be holding a a novel the fifth grade students read, Seed Folks. It was their hope bake sale at the school on election that the greenhouse, and the lessons concerning it, would actively day, November 3. Free coffee will be engage students in their learning. By providing a hands-on experi- provided to go with any cookie, ence for children, they could realize that plants are a living thing brownie, or other sweet treat the vot- which must be cared for, discover where food comes from, and ers would like to purchase. participate in real life experiences using information they have

The middle school is the official learned in science, math, and language arts classes. polling place on election day for The WIS garden provided many goodies this summer including Cuyahoga Falls precincts 8-C, 8-D, 8- tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs. The hope is that in the future the E, and 8-F. Voters will come in through the south doors and immedi- children will grow their own pumpkins in the WIS gardens to for next ately enter the gym. Signs will be year’s Boo at the School.

posted on the front doors to direct voters away from the main part of We would like to thank the parents, staff, and the Woodridge PTO the school. A police officer will be on duty in the morning during student who donated their time decorating, making cookies, and helping the arrival and again in the afternoon during student dismissal. The polls night of the event. Everyone had a great time and left with a jack-o- will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. lantern and family picture to commemorate the evening.

PAGE 2 Engrave Your Name in the History of the New Woodridge Field House For only $150, you can purchase a laser engraved 8” x 8” paver to be placed in the gathering area in front of the new Woodridge Field House. In addition to marking your place in Woodridge history, you also get the opportunity to earn money for the Woodridge organization of your choice. For every brick you purchase, $15 will be donated to the organization of your choice (i.e. Football, Latin Club, Band, PTO, Alumni Organization.)

Bricks can contain up to 6 lines of text without clip art, and 2 to 4 lines of text with clip art. Each brick is 100% tax deductible. For more information and an order form, please visit our website at www.woodridge.k12.oh.us or contact the Board of Education office at 330-928-9074.

WMS Students of the Month Latin Club Pulls the Chariot of Victory By: Linda Ocepek, WMS Principal By: Tom McCaffrey, WHS Teacher

The Latin Club participated in two important events in the last month. First, members of the club were involved in the annual Woodridge Community Day Celebration held at the Middle School on September 19. Vari- ous members prepared baked goods which were offered for sale to the public. All money raised was donated to the Lupus Foundation of America. On October 9 the Latin Club also participated in the Homecoming Latin III students Emily pep assembly. For the Parade Anderson, Amanda Green, and of Wagons segment of the pep Lacey Ensign with the Latin We would like to congratulate our Middle School Students of the Month: rally, several club members dis- Club chariot. 8th graders Katrina Folk and Eric Bissonnette; 7th graders Trandon played a chariot that contained Ware and D'Asia Woods and 6th graders Amanda Wojcik and bilingual signs urging the Bulldogs on to victory. The chariot was built Da'Zhana Anderson. These students were selected by their grade by club vice-president Lacey Ensign and fellow members Emily Ander- level teachers for their good character, scholarship, service, citizenship, son and Amanda Green. During the Parade of Wagons Lacey served and/or leadership. as a “horse,” while being accompanied by Emily and Amanda, who were dressed as Roman guards. Latin III student Emiko Waight rode in Diversity Club Celebrates Cultures the chariot as Empress, while classmate Alex Frederick portrayed the By: Lynn Doskocil, WMS Guidance Counselor Emperor. The chariot won a trophy as the "Most Colorful."

Woodridge Middle School is fortunate to have students from thirteen countries. "Best Paw Forward" Diversity Club celebrated this by creating an "Our Cultures Day" last spring.

Each country was spotlighted with a story board containing information about teens: what they wear, what their schools are like, how they dress, what they spend their money on, interests they have, and educational opportunities they are offered. In addition, Mrs. Kalinowski and her Family Con- sumer Science classes made foods to sample. Money for the food was provided by Kaitlin Grant, a Student of the Month recipient of the Northampton Rotary Club of Cuyahoga Falls.

The student body and staff were invited during lunch periods to learn about the countries, try activi- ties, and sample foods. Parents and friends assisted as well as Ms. Doskocil, the club's advisor. Gloria Castillo shows guest, Mrs. Student chairpersons were Maurissa Brown, Kaitlin Grant, Essence Howell and Arian Daniels. Other Rodriguez, where she was born. Diversity Club members who researched and participated were Adam Njie and Amber Willis (Africa); Tyla Tucker (China); Nathan Llewellyn (Germany); Troy Smith and Arian (Mexico); Leah Mally (Panama); Angela Stafford, Alex Harmon and Gloria Castillo (Peru); Sir’Vante Wright and Naomy Caraballo-Romero (Puerto Rico); Aleah Consolo (Romania); Cameron Fishback and Katie Austin (Russia); Kaitlin Grant (United States); and Collin Wagner, Naziyah Heller and Brandon Andrade (Venezuela).

PLEASE VIEW PHOTOS from this event under Diversity Club Photo Album on our school’s website.

PAGE 3 In the Classroom and on the Field Support Your Schools Through Market Day! WIS Destination Book Fair November 9-13 By: Alison Schneider, WHS Teacher By: Courtney Rae, WIS Library Tutor

No time to bake those Woodridge Intermediate School Thanksgiving pies? students are getting ready to travel The thought of cutting to far away lands! Our Destination and decorating holiday Book Fair will transport the WIS cookies have you feel- library around the world from ing a little like Scrooge? Plan ahead and order from Market Day! There are many quick, convenient seasonal items available to help ease that November 9-13, 2009. Students will holiday stress. Plus, every order helps support Woodridge schools. A be able to visit distant cities, make portion of the proceeds from the sales goes to each of the buildings to friends from other countries, and help off set the cost of various activities through out the school year. It embark on new adventures – if only is also the biggest fundraiser to help keep the cost of prom low for our they will read around the world! high school students. Parents, grandparents, guardians and friends are encouraged to Market Day is famous for its quick and convenient nutritional dinner join your students at our book fair. We will have books, activities items such as individually wrapped Chicken Steaks and scrumptious and games for kids of all ages! Please consider taking advantage ready to go desserts and snacks like pudding cakes, cookie dough, and of our extended evening hours of 4-7 PM on Tuesday and cheesecakes. Did you also know that Market Day’s web site, Thursday during parent-teacher conferences. www.marketday.com, offers promotional specials, clearance items, and even discounted gift wrap and seasonal items? Be sure to click on the Let your imagination be carried away by a great book when you “Clearance” button when you visit the website to take advantage of join us for our Destination Book Fair! these great deals! Also, check the web site and enter any promotional codes for little freebies throughout the year. Barbershop Quartet to Perform for Senior Lunch Bunch

Order forms can be picked up from the school offices or go to By: Deanna Levenger, Treasurer www.marketday.com and choose Woodridge High School for your pick up location. Market Day items can be picked up from the High School On November 16, 2009, the Cafeteria from 3:30-5:30 pm on the specified dates. Below is a list of Woodridge Senior Lunch due dates for orders as well as pick up dates. Please contact Lidia, our Bunch will have the Market Day representative at 330-620-3787 for any questions and late opportunity to enjoy a musical phone orders. treat when a Barbershop

Thank you for your continued support! Quartet will be performing. This exciting event will take Order Forms Late Phone Internet Pick-Up place at the Woodridge Middle due to the High orders to Orders (3:30-5:30 pm) School Lidia (by 11:00 PM) School starting at 1:00 p.m. Lunch will not be served during this (by 3:00 PM) (by 8:00 PM) meeting, but dessert and coffee will be enjoyed after the quartet Wed., Nov. 4 Thurs., Nov. 5 Fri., Nov. 6 Wed., Nov. 11 finishes. The cost of the event is $2.00. Please call the Wed., Dec. 2 Thurs., Dec. 3 Fri., Dec. 4 Wed., Dec. 9 Woodridge Middle School at 330-928-7420 to make reservations. Wed., Jan. 13 Thurs., Jan. 14 Fri., Jan. 15 Wed., Jan. 20 Invite your friends to join us for this special entertainment!

Wed., Feb. 10 Thurs., Feb. 11 Fri., Feb. 12 Wed., Feb. 17 Kindergarten Pumpkin Pickin’ at Kingsway Pumpkin Farm Wed., Mar. 10 Thurs., Mar. 11 Fri., Mar. 12 Wed., Mar. 17 By: Jodi Beskitt, WPS Teacher Wed., Apr. 14 Thurs., Apr. 15 Fri., Apr. 16 Wed., Apr. 21 th Wed., May 12 Thurs., May 13 Fri., May 14 Wed., May 19 On Tuesday, October 6 , Woodridge Primary School’s WPS Visited by Akron University Graduate Brass Quintet kindergarten classes took a By: Tina Gutierrez, WPS Music Teacher field trip to Kingsway Pumpkin Farm in Hartville. Here, they On Wed. October 7th, the Children's enjoyed many different Concert Society provided WPS with activities having to do with a lovely performance by the pumpkins and the fall harvest. University of Akron Graduate Brass The children watched a puppet show about how pumpkins grow. Quintet. The performances lasted They also went on a hayride through the fields, stopping so that about 45 minutes in length. The each child could pick a pumpkin off the vine. The children chose quintet consisted of one tuba, one two gourds from the field to take home as well. trombone, one French horn and two trumpets. There were two per- formances that included several different styles of music and Other activities included a train ride, face painting, a maze explained many aspects of the instruments. Some of the various through hay bales, and a petting zoo. The children were able to topics covered were the evolution of the instrument, how to use a feed and pet the animals, and some were even lucky enough to mute, mouthpieces, and much more. They took questions from the give the calf a bottle. One of the favorite activities was the corn students and invited a few volunteers up to help out. The children pit, in which the children went down a slide into a large play area really enjoyed the performance. They clapped for the performers full of corn. Many came back to school that afternoon with a little and pretended to play their imaginary instruments during the in their pockets! Thanks to the help of many parent volunteers, it performance. was a wonderful day that the children won’t soon forget!

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