Walters Junior High School Newsletter February/March 2014

Walters Jr. High School Brian W. Weems, Principal Phone (510) 656-7211 39600 Logan Drive Jana Holmes, Assistant Principal Fax (510) 656-4056 Fremont, CA 94538 Tracy Clark, Secretary www.fremont.k12.ca.us/Walters Cheryl Baldwin, Registrar http://walters-fusd-ca.schoolloop.com Alana Sumbler, Attendance Clerk

Principal’s Message……. Assistant Principal’s Message……. We are turning the corner of the academic school year as we get closer to June. I want to encourage students We are excited to start the second semester of the and parents to communicate in any way with your child’s school year with a Unity Day. Students and staff take a teachers. When parents are connected to the school, stand against bullying on this day by wearing our school the results will be problem solving and educational colors: purple and gold. We continue to create a positive investment. There are many avenues of communication academic environment and have many fun spring we have provided: School Loop, phone extensions, activities planned. In February we will celebrate Black email, website, automatic phone calls (Bright Arrow), History Month, Valentine’s Day and have a lunch time and marquee. Please call the office if you have any Hockey Tournament. In March we will enjoy a St. questions about upcoming events or important dates. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Find and kick off our Anti- Look for your student’s semester one report card in the Smoking Campaign.

mail around the first week of February. They will be Please continue to monitor your child’s grades using mailed to the address on file. School Loop and through communication with their teachers. Eighth grade students who have more than I also encourage you to volunteer and participate in one F grade will be excluded from the 8th grade events and meetings. There are many ways to offer promotion ceremony, dance and/or field trip. Please your time in PTSA, dances, promotion, and committees review the school rules that are outlined in the agenda (SSC, ELAC, DELAC). We have many important dates with your son or daughter, as violations may lead to coming up as we near registration for the next year. exclusion from the 8th grade field trip and/or dance. If Please keep yourself informed and ask questions when you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to they arise. the Walters’ teachers, School Counselors or Administration. We look forward to a productive second Testing is getting closer and closer with the writing half of the academic year. assessment March 3-5. Our Smarter Balance Assessment (SBAC) window is 4/28-6/16. The Science Jana Holmes, Assistant Principal CST/CMA window will be 5/5-5/16. We will communicate schedule changes if necessary as we get closer to the dates. I continue to be impressed with our students, parents, EARLY RELEASE and staff. This has been a great first half of the year and I feel confident it will be even better as we go forward. ONLY THESE DAYS Thank you for the many contributions you give every day for your child’s educational experience. (Collaborative & Minimum Days)

Brian W. Weems, Principal School will end at 12:19 p.m. only on these early release days. Many of these days are collaborative planning days that allow our teaching staff some much needed discussion time for planning future lessons and for developing new and improved programs to FIRST SEMESTER better serve our students. Refer to the website for bell REPORT CARDS schedules.

th The first semester ended January 24 . February 13 March 26 May 23 Report cards will be mailed home and February 26 April 17 June 11 should arrive around February 4. March 12 May 7 June 12 April 16th @ Walters MPR – 5:30pm Followed by Open House FEBRUARY/MARCH/APRIL CALENDAR February UPCOMING TESTING DATE 5 Site Council Meeting - 2:45 PM (in Library) PTSA Association Meeting – MPR - 6:00 PM The 7th & 8th grade Writing Assessments will be given on 10 Girls’ Basketball Pictures – MPR - 2:30 PM March 3 rd & 4 th , 2014. It is very important that all ELAC Meeting – 2:45 PM (in Library) students be present. Please do not make doctor or 13 Collaborative Day – Early Release 12:19 PM dentist appointments on this day. 14 Staff Development – No School 17 Holiday – President’s Day – No School 19 DELAC Meeting at Glenmoor – 6:30 PM PTSA Executive Meeting – 7:00 PM 25 8th Grade Parent Night – Kennedy MPR 5:45PM 26 Collaborative Day – Early Dismissal 12:19 PM March 3-4 7th & 8th Grade Writing Assessment PARENT COMMUNICATION 6 Progress Reports Mailed Please review the many ways you can stay informed 12 Collaborative Day – Early Dismissal 12:19 about Walters: PM 19 PTSA Executive Meeting – 7:00 PM 26 Collaborative Day – Early Dismissal 12:19 WEBSITE - www.fremont.k12.ca.us/walters Access PM information regarding early dismissals, school calendar, Spring Pictures – during lunch & after school and other helpful school information. “Jump Into Spring” PTSA Fundraiser in PE 28 “Pom Pom Zombies” Performance MPR 7 PM NEWSLETTERS – sent home approximately every 29 “Pom Pom Zombies” Performance MPR 2 PM other month and is also posted in its entirety on our April website. 1 3rd Quarter Ends 2 Site Council Meeting - 2:45 PM (in Library) MARQUEE – We post early dismissals, holidays, and 4 Silent Auction/PTSA Assoc. Mtg – MPR – 6 PM upcoming events on the school marquee. 11 Spring Dance – MPR – 2:30-4:00 PM 16 6th Grade Parent Night – MPR – 5:30-6:00PM BRIGHT ARROW – is an automated system that can ELAC Meeting – 5:30 PM (in Library) call and email parents regarding early days, holidays, Open House – MPR – 6:00-7:15 PM and other announcements. If you have not been PTSA Executive Meeting – 7:15 PM receiving any calls or emails, we may not have your 17 Minimum Day – Early Dismissal 12:19PM current contact information. Please provide us up-to- 18 Staff Development – No School date information. 21-25 Spring Break – No School 30 DELAC Meeting at Harvey Green – 6:30 PM SCHOOL LOOP - is a web and browser based application designed specifically to provide parental access to individual student information such as grades and homework. The “Daily Bulletin” read to the students each morning is posted along with other school events.

YAHOO GROUP - is managed by Walters PTSA to NIGHTS provide timely reminders about activities and events at Walters as well as school related topics. All Walters families are welcome to join the yahoo group, PTSA The following informational parent nights have been membership is not required. Go to scheduled for parents with students who will be entering http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/Walters_PTSA/ to sign th th 7 or 9 grade next year. up.

th Current 8 Grade Parents COUNSELOR’S CORNER February 25th @ Kennedy gym – 6:30-8:15pm AVID/Academy Information – 5:45-6:20pm The Counselors will be going into each History class in February to discuss with students their six-year plan.

th The dates are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday February Current 6 Grade Parents 4-7 for the 8th grade, Tuesday and Thursday February 18th and 20th for the 7th grade. We will be in the SDC physicals is available from the coach. It is classes the week of February 24th. Please ask your recommended that all required medical verifications be student to share their six-year plan with you. completed as soon as possible. WJHS PRODUCTION OF 2014-2015 It's time to enjoy the delightful musical comedy "Pom Pom Zombies"! It's the 1960s, a big nuclear blast to the Pre-Registration for the 2014- past! School's out for the summer, and the teenagers of 2015 school year will begin Ocean View High are ready to surf, sun and have some later this month. fun. Their favorite hangout is Barnacle Betty's Beach Club, which happens to be right next door to the evil For current 6 th grade students we will be going to the Ivana Ratnik's nuclear power plant. But, ooops! Cindy elementary schools and presenting to the students Sue, the head cheerleader, accidentally gets some beginning March 3rd. Elective selection forms and nuclear slime on her hot dog instead of pickle relish, and annual proof of residency will be due back to 6th grade soon the beach is overrun with pom-pom wielding teachers within one week of the time they are distributed zombies! Her all-American boyfriend, the beatniks, the as outlined on the form. Proof of residency requirements nerds and the tough girl gang named the Barracudas are the same as in previous years and will be clearly rally their forces to save the beach from the atomic outlined in the paperwork your child brings home. attackers. A sci-fi spoof of those beach blanket flicks of the '60s, the score explodes with hilarious hits. The For our current 7 th graders, paperwork will be passed students have been working so hard to give you the best out on February 21st and will be due back on February Walters Junior High School production to date. Tickets 25th. Proof of residency will also be required. are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Presale ticket forms will be available in the office starting March 15th. Current 8 th grade students will meet with Kennedy counselors on Monday, February 24th. Kennedy Get your tickets early as we are sure to sell out! freshman parent night will be on Tuesday, February 25th. Performances are Friday, The counselors will return on Thursday and Friday of March 28th at 7pm and that week to go over the forms with the students and Saturday, March 29th at 2pm in collect them. Proof of residency will also be required the Multipurpose Room. with the Kennedy paperwork. More information on the lottery and residency requirements is available on the district website.

If you have further questions, you can contact our school Registrar, Cheryl Baldwin, at (510) 656-7211, ext. GIRLS BASKETBALL 28162. Feb 11 Thornton @ Walters Feb 13 Walters @ Hopkins Feb 20 Newark @ Walters Feb 25 Centerville @ Walters Feb 27 Walters @ Horner SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY Mar 6 Walters @ Thornton Mar 11 Hopkins @ Walters REPORT CARD (SARC) Mar 13 Walters @ Newark "Federal and state laws require school districts to make Mar 18 Walters @ Centerville accountability reports available to the public online. Mar 20 Horner @ Walters Accountability report information is based on data and information from the previous year. Dates will run one year behind.

We are pleased to inform you that our district's School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) are available in English, Spanish, and/or Chinese, as required. You may view the SARCs on the Fremont Unified School District web site at www.fremont.k12.ca.us under Parents & BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL Students, or by visiting your school office. To answer any questions regarding the SARCs, there are BEGINS END OF MARCH designated personnel available at each school site. Tryouts for boys’ volleyball will be announced in the daily bulletin. All students participating in our after For more information about SARC requirements, see the school (interscholastic) sports program MUST have a California Department of Education (CDE) SARC web physical examination within the past year. A form for page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/." BUY A 2014 YEARBOOK! EIGHTH GRADE PICNIC AND What an excellent gift for a student! Don't let those junior PROMOTION ACTIVITIES high memories slip away! Preorder your 2014 yearbook now. Purchase the 60 page, full color, hardback book for Walters is committed to rewarding students for $40 online at www.yearbookordercenter.com (order maintaining good behavior, attendance and academic #6803) or with check/cash in Rm. 12. You'll be performance. Therefore, we extend the opportunity for guaranteed a book in June if you buy now. Don't delay! all 8th grade students to fully participate in promotional activities. The promotion activities consist of; the 8th Another gift idea: Parents--Are you looking for a special grade all day field trip, the 8th grade promotion ceremony way to acknowledge your child? New this year: you are and the 8th grade promotion dance. Students will be able to purchase an ad space in the back of the invited to participate with these stipulations: yearbook to congratulate your 8th grader on promotion and wish him/her well onto high school. You can even REASONS FOR EXCLUSION FROM TH purchase one for your 7th grader too to send a lasting 8 GRADE PROMOTION: message. You will create it directly online with easy  2 or more second semester “F” grades directions on www.yearbookordercenter.com. This can (per School Board Policy) make a super gift to stay forever in the yearbook. Check it out! REASONS FOR EXCLUSION FROM 8TH GRADE FIELD TRIP & DANCE: DONATIONS  2 or more second semester “F” grades The Publications class would love to start doing more (per School Board Policy) serious photography with an SLR camera. This will not  4th quarter suspension or multiple only enhance the newspaper and yearbook, but offer suspensions throughout school year more artistic skills to students. Please send any  Three or more second semester referrals to donations to the office, if you'd like to help contribute Vice Principal funds to a new camera. (We also could use point/shoot  A record of truancy for the 2nd semester digital cameras to give students more opportunities to  Uncleared, unpaid school debts practice photography skills.) Thanks for the  5 or more RC referrals consideration!