January 2014 issue
WISH
INSIDER
Leadership
Coffee with Dr. Draxton
Mystery Teacher
Operations
WISH Charter Middle
School Update
Calendar
Community
Partnerships
Art in the Community
Good Neighbors
Race for Success
Student Life
Walk Through California
January Art Focus
4th Grade Q&A
Kid’s Corner
Family Holiday
Traditions
Sun Catcher Craft
Book Reviews
Coffee with Dr. Draxton and the WCA Leadership
by Kimberlie Traceski
We all know that WISH is a unique space – a community united through our varied voices where everyone is encouraged to
participate. We are afforded a number of opportunities to come together to share thoughts, ideas, concerns and our ambitions
for the betterment of our school, knowing that we will be heard. Dr. Draxton has a standing appointment with WISH parents
every other month and, without fail, parents show up to discuss with her the issues most pressing to our community. Friday
December 13th was our second Coffee with Principal Draxton and more than two dozen parents took time from otherwise busy
schedules to attend to discuss current happenings at WISH.
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Though our new facility has large classrooms, a huge field, and several areas to assemble for celebrations, we continue to
work with the LAUSD facilities team to get a few of the remaining safety issues resolved. Parents coming to campus late in the
day are well aware of how dark the Emerson entry gate area can be once the sun sets. We are now on the sunnier side of the
Winter Solstice but we’d all like to see a more permanent solution for this issue as it is one of safety. As part of an LAUSD
campus, we have to follow the process for such permanent solutions. In addition to obtaining district approval for any
alternations, we also need to ensure all alterations are WCA approved, and work with the LAUSD plant manager who
processes the requests. The LAUSD facilities folks are our partners throughout the Prop 39 process. This is the 6-month
process we go through each year to negotiate facilities. We expect to hear from them on 2/1/14 regarding our facilities offer for
the 2014-2015 school year.
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The discussion at the “Coffee” is that our community focus must remain on ensuring that our essential needs are met, and
remain positive while we slowly make headway with the other elements we want or need for safety, comfort or aesthetics. We
have a Facilities’ team whose primary concern is securing a permanent campus for WISH schools, on adjacent campuses;
WISH K – 5; WISH 6 – 8, and WISH 9 – 12. We will keep you posted as they move further along with their plans to open.
(continued on page 2)
LEADERSHIP"
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COFFEE WITH
DR. DRAXTON
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Mystery Teacher—Whoooo Am I?
by Jayme Younger!
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Born and raised in Palos Verdes, our mystery teacher of the month
received her BA in Psychology from UCSB and her MA and Teaching
Credentials from Pepperdine.
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In high school, she traveled with her drill team to Paris for the opening of
Euro Disney.
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She loves camping with her family along the coast.
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From age 3 through high school she was an avid skier but discovered
snowboarding in college and is still hooked on it.
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Age 3 was a busy year as she also learned violin and by age 4 had
memorized and performed Dvorak Humoresque’s violin piece for a
Winter Program Performance. Her now 96-year-old grandmother was
her teacher and her mother still currently teaches private violin.
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When it come to education, our mystery teacher has an impressive
background, having babysat and tutored during high school, worked at a
daycare center during college, an elementary school after school
program during graduate school and now has 12 years under her belt in
elementary school education.
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When asked who inspires her, she replied, “My mother has been my role
model growing up and continues to inspire me each and every day with
her patience, energy, and positive outlook on life.” (Go to page 10 to
discover the identity of the mystery teacher.)
(continued from page 1)
Sitting in the Orville Wright
cafeteria at tables built by
our own third graders as
part of a service learning
project, was a perfect segue
to another topic at the
forefront of parents minds the new lunch procedure of
sharing the cafeteria with
STEAM Magnet. The
transition has been smooth
and everyone is adjusting to
the new measures that have
been set in place. Faculty
and staff understand that
some students are eager to
rejoin their friends from
classes other than their
own, but during the
transition period,
maintaining a structured
lunch system is essential for
the safety of our children.
Concerned parents can again
find comfort in knowing the
current guidelines will be
loosened as students,
teachers, paras and staff
become accustomed to the
new routine.
Do you have questions,
concerns, comments or ideas
that aren’t addressed here?
The next Coffee with Principal
Draxton and the WCA
Leadership team is scheduled
for Friday February 21st. Come
join the WISH community,
support the WISH café then
share your voice with WISH
leadership.
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OPERATIONS "
Upcoming Events
WISH Middle School Update
January
by Sarah Whitney!
Get the word out that the lottery enrollment
deadline for WISH Middle School Charter is
March 28, 2014. Next fall WISH Middle
School Charter will open with three seventhgrade classes with 22 students in each class.
There will also be a total of three sixth-grade
classes at WISH Elementary Charter next
year, so that students from the elementary
school can feed into the middle school.
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WISH is currently interviewing to fill the
principal position for WISH Middle School.
The committee interviewing candidates is
made up of WISH Elementary administrators,
teachers, members of the Board of Directors,
and WISH parents.
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Newsletter Team
EDITOR IN CHIEF
CHRISTIE KOBATA
CONTENT EDITOR
JAYME YOUNGER
LAYOUT/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
SARAH WHITNEY
ISABEL ALVAREZ
Leadership Contributor
Kimberly Traceski
Operations Contributor
Sarah Whitney
Student Life Contributor
Maggie Iha-Petersen
Community Partnership
Contributor
Stefani Turner
Student Life/Kid’s Corner
Contributor
Paula Tomizawa-Mendoza
Book Review Contributor
Allison Grover-Khoury
29"
February
8"
WISH Middle School Informational Beach Clean-up!
Meeting 9 a.m.!
Toes Beach - Playa del Rey!
WISH Campus!
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12!
Monthly Award Assembly 1:15 2:00 p.m.!
WISH Auditorium!
WISH Middle School Informational
Meeting 6 p.m.!
WISH Campus!
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PRESIDENT’S DAY - NO
SCHOOL!
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WISH Elementary Informational
Meeting 9 a.m.!
WISH Campus!
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WISH Board Meeting!
WISH Campus!
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Coffee with Principal Draxton !
9 a.m.!
WISH Campus!
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Monthly Award Assembly 1:15 2:00 p.m.!
WISH Auditorium!
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Trimester Ends
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If you would like to be part of our
team, send letters to the editor,
submit materials or photographs to
be considered, please contact Christie
Kobata
at
[email protected]
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COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Race for Success
by Stefani Turner!
There is a great community-building event
coming up in the month of March. The Race
for Success 5K Run/Walk is an annual event
held in Westchester. This year the event will
be held on Saturday, March 8. You can run as
an individual or as part of a team. There is a
1K Fun Run for the kids, too. There is also a
participation competition element to this race.
The school with the most runners, both
physical and virtual, gets an additional cash
bonus. WISH has won this the last two years
in a row, but last year the margin of victory
was thin. So let's get everyone signed up! If
you can't run physically, you can be a "virtual"
runner for $10. Out of town relatives that
would like to help support WISH can do the
same. Remember to select “WISH Charter”
as the school you are supporting when you
register. So get out those running or walking
shoes and let’s all support WISH!
The
website with all the information can be found
at http://raceforsuccess5k.wordpress.com/
Good Neighbors
by Stefani Turner!
When the WISH family moved to the Orville Wright
Middle School Campus this past summer, we
became part of a neighborhood. WISH leadership
has been proactive in encouraging our community
to be good neighbors with helpful reminders such as
refraining from parking in front of the homes directly
across from WISH and the VONS parking lot,
driving slowly in the area and being mindful when
pulling out from the valet line. In a warm gesture of
appreciation, WCA leadership reached out to our
neighbors just before the holidays with a delivery of
cards and poinsettias. In doing so, WCA leader
Vonda McNeil had a nice conversation with a couple
named Rocco and Libby. They expressed how
much they appreciate having WISH in the
neighborhood and enjoyed coming over to the
school during the book fair to purchase gifts for their
grandchildren. Being new to the neighborhood gives
us a wonderful opportunity to serve as role models
for our children by demonstrating our commitment
to being trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair,
caring and good citizens, the values upon which
WISH is built. And we can make some new friends
in the community as well!
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Business Shout-Outs!
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Community
Business Sponsors
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A special thanks to all of
our business sponsors
who donated items or
gave them at a
discounted price for our
prizes, gift cards and
foods for our Winter
festival. Please support
our business sponsors this
holiday and let them
know we greatly
appreciate their
partnership. !
The Good Pizza
Langer Juices
Rhonda Made It! Cakes
Starbucks Whole Foods Pizza Hut
Staples (Westchester)
Torre Fitz of Fitness
Fusion Los Angeles
Spectrum Gym
Trader Joes LA City Council member
Mike Bonin (for booklets
and coloring books inside
bags)
Morgan-Wixson Theatre
(for step units and pie in
face board)
Vons/Pavillions
Ralphs
Costco
Albertson's
Menchie’s
Artwork Displayed Around Our Community
Three different businesses, The Humble Potato, Jiffy Lube and Yogolicious in
Westchester/Playa del Rey are proudly displaying our children’s artwork. Below
are some pictures and a list with the names of the children whose artwork is
there so they can go and check them out!
(Please note: that the grades that
are listed are the grades the children were in when they completed the artwork,
not the grades/rooms they are currently in).
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The Humble Potato
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Yogolicious
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8321 Lincoln Blvd
8601 Lincoln Blvd
Noelani Straughter- 2A
Seren Eva Back- 2C
Melia Kaszacs- 2A
Zachary Jacob Olf- 1A
Julian Cruz-Hornstein- 2B
Jayden Villarreal- 2A
Henry Avery Kufeldt- KA
Kalie Louise Little- 1C
Julia Marie Kotch- 4th
Ethan Gifford- 2A
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JiffyLube
8525 S Sepulveda Blvd
Alexander Orlando Bishop- 1B
Prema Reyes- 4th
David Mathew Merille- 4th
Sophia Giovanna Pollono- 2C
Mira Claire Keller- 2A
Benjamin Carter Schwab- 2A
Trinity Opaline Rice- 1C
Shane Anthony Florez- KC
Jake Ryan Villarreal- KC
Camryn Mae Blum- 1C
Josephine Renee Rivera- KB
Duncan Price Rampen- 1A
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STUDENT LIFE
Walk Through California—4th Grade Field Trip
by Maggie Iha-Petersen!
Our 4th graders are having fun learning about California.
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Last December our students were able to participate in a “Walk through California” presentation by a
company called “California Weekly” as part of their social studies. California Weekly has taken teaching
to a different level by taking a subject, in this case California, bringing some props, having the students
dress up as historical figures or landmarks and using a game show format to relive history. This makes
learning history a fun and interesting subject where everyone has the opportunity to take part. Instead of
reading history, they get to “experience” history.
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Their classroom was divided into groups and by having students read or recite their part, they get
points, making it into a fun game. Learning this way sure makes it easy to remember those dreaded
dates and suddenly those characters that are difficult to picture in our minds are more relatable and we
are able to connect with the past.
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We are grateful that our school is open to innovative ways of teaching and learning and for allowing this
into our classrooms. Again, thank you to our WISH families for their financial support. The Wish Café
was one of the ways this project was funded.
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January Artist Study: Faith Ringgold
by Courtney Coleman
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Faith Ringgold is an African-American artist who is famous for her colorful, patterned “story” quilts. She
paints a story on canvas, and often frames them with beautiful, fabric borders. Actual words on the
piece often tell the story of her work.
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Art Vocab: Abstract, designer, frame, pattern, color, and shape
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4th Grade Class Q&A
by Maggie Iha-Petersen!
1. How many students are in 4th grade?
Our fourth grade has 23 delightful students.
2. What are some areas that the students will be focusing on learning this year?
Fourth grade has read many short stories this year and did an in depth novel study of Island of the Blue Dolphins. We
have started our next novel study on a fictional story that takes place during California’s Gold Rush called By the
Great Horn Spoon. In mathematics, fourth grade has focused on numeration, problem-solving, and multi-digit
multiplication and division. We will continue with a focus on geometry, fractions, and measurement. In writing, we have
focused on writing detailed narratives, and strong personal and persuasive essays. We are currently working on our
expository writing. In social studies, fourth grade has gone on a journey through California’s history, studying the
regions of our state, Native Californian tribes, Missions, Mexican California, and the Bear Flag Revolt. We are
currently exploring the Gold Rush and will continue with statehood, railroads, agricultural advancements and modern
California. In science, we have explored geology and the processes that change the surface of our earth. We are
currently learning about life science by creating food webs to further understand the delicate balance that is our
ecosystem. Later on in the year, we will learn how motors and light circuits work through hands-on experimentation
with electronics.
3. Where will the students visit on their field trips?
Fourth grade visited the San Gabriel Mission and has experienced an on-campus adventure called, “Walk Through
California.” We hope to have more adventures in the spring.
4. As teachers, what are you most excited about this coming year?
We are most excited about what we have already seen in student growth this year. We look forward in this coming
year to see the continued growth of all students, student engagement in our upcoming brine shrimp experiment, our
class collaboration on our service project, the student artwork for the spring auction and the fun of creating and eating
a miner’s recipe called, “Dirt Cake.”
5. What's special about the 4th grade year and the students?
The fourth grade year is a time when students grow in their independence and responsibility. Students independently
research to write their own reports. This year students have researched in groups about the regions of California and
then moved into independent research by studying and creating a report on a Native Californian tribe of their choice.
Students have applied their research skills to write more detailed, persuasive essays. Fourth grade is special as a
year where students come into their own personalities and develop their own insights and opinions. With this in mind,
we encourage critical thinking and independent problem-solving.
6. Anything else you would like to add?
We cannot express enough how much we enjoy being a part of the WISH community. We are both overwhelmed by
the generosity of parents in giving resources and their time to help our class. We love being a part of a team and find
collaborative teaching to be both effective and fun.
4th grade teachers Kerry Hinsche and Samantha Gross
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KID’S CORNER
Family Holiday Traditions
by Paula Tomizawa-Mendoza!
The Friends of the World Festival was a great reminder
of the beauty in all the different customs and cultures in
this world. Even within our WISH community, the same
beauty exists in the varied ways families celebrate
during the holiday season.
Ellie Zamir (3C) celebrates Hanukkah. It is her family
tradition to light the candles and make special treats like
"latkes" and “sufganyot." Her family also invites friends
over for celebration and they celebrate at other friend’s
homes as well.
In the Kobata family, Joshua, (2A) Isabella (KB) and
Daniella (KB) gather every year to do "mochitsuki" which
involves making Japanese rice cakes for the new year.
The mochi (rice cakes) is added to a special soup called
"ozoni" which traditionally is eaten on New Year's Day for
good luck and prosperity.
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Lila Rae Abercrombie (1B) opens tiny gifts from their
advent calendar, which they open daily. This year, Lila
decided that it might be nice to include the whole family
so she helped fill the slots and alternated opening them.
Luna Wicks (1B) traveled to see her uncle in Toronto and
braved an ICE STORM! She even enjoyed her first-ever
White Christmas. Then she was off to New York to visit
Grandpa and ride the subway with her family.
Our family enjoyed the company of six cousins, many
sleepovers and late-night laughter during the holiday
season.
From the lighting of candles to the pounding of rice,
though the traditions vary far and wide, one common
denominator seems to be the common joy of being with
family and friends during the holiday season.
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Craft: Heart Sun Catchers
by Paula Tomizawa-Mendoza!
Materials Needed
Crayon Shavings (use a pencil sharpener or
cheese grater)
Wax Paper
Newspaper (protecting iron-on surface) Iron (adult supervision required)
Dish Cloth
Scissors
Pencil
Ribbon
Hole Puncher
1. Lay a large area with newspaper
2. Place wax paper on the newspaper
3. Place the crayon shavings onto the wax
paper. Then place another piece of wax
paper on top.
4. Place the dish cloth over the wax paper
5. Now, iron over using low heat until all the
crayons have melted
6. Let it cool
REVEALED!
The Mystery
Teacher is
7. After cooling, trace and cut out desired
hearts
8. Punch a small hole and string a ribbon
9. Hang and enjoy!
Mrs. Lim.
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BOOK REVIEWS
by Allison Grover Khoury
Big Snow
by Jonathan Bean
David is waiting for snow. It is supposed to come
today, but it is hard to wait. His mother invites him to
keep busy while waiting: making cookies, cleaning
the bathroom, changing his sheets. All these tasks
end up reminding him of snow – often with hilarious
results. It finally does snow and David gets the big
snow he was waiting for. In this delightful follow up to
Building Our House, author/illustrator Jonathan Bean
again captures the magic and humor of childhood love
and excitement for snow. This is a perfect winter book
whether you live in a snowy climate or Los Angeles.
When the Butterflies Came by Kimberly Griffiths Little
Good read for 4th or 5th grade even though it is listed for
grades 5-8
This intriguing mystery follows 12-year-old Tara as she
navigates the grief of losing her grandmother and the
excitement and desperation to understand and solve the
mystery her grandmother left her in the form of letters.
From the Bayous of Louisiana to the islands of the South
Pacific, Tara races against time and unknown enemies to
unravel the mystery and save the butterflies and the
important research her grandmother was working on
when she was tragically killed. Well-written, clever and
emotionally honest.
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