Whiting Lane School 47 Whiting Lane West Hartford, CT 06119 Telephone 860-233-8541 Fax 860-236-9367
Karen Kukish, Principal
Greetings from the Principal
June 12, 2014
The end of the school year is quickly upon us as the month of June comes to a close. It is hard to believe that summer is right around
the corner! We have had a very busy month here at Whiting Lane. The rich and diverse learning activities and school wide events
have been abundant. Our School Fair was once again a huge success, under the leadership and coordination of our fabulous PTO.
Many thanks to all of the parents who assisted by donating their time, talent and energy. Bravo! I’d like to recognize several
student leaders who arranged for a “Crafts for Cancer” table, donating funds raised to help CCMC cancer research. My gratitude
goes out to Rylie D, Ava G, Libby S and Sabria R. Excellent work! Several of our student athletes successfully participated in
the annual Townwide Track Meet, under the direction of PE teachers Judy Wilcox and Michael Joseph. In addition, Field Day
was a fantastic experience for all of our kids – a true community event. Our running club, “The Flash,” recently participated in
Celebrate West Hartford’s Fun Run and 5K as a culminating activity to their second season at Whiting Lane – a truly incredible
opportunity for our students! Many thanks to Myra Wahl and Emily McMurray for their leadership, as well as the countless
number of parent volunteers who contributed over the past several weeks. Our ESOL teacher, Ryan Cronin, and his “Cultural
Connections” students proudly finished the first installment of their Mobile Peace Museum, the result of a yearlong collaboration
with Hall High School students. The museum is located in our foyer; please take a moment to admire it the next time you’re in the
building. Within our classrooms this month I have had the privilege of experiencing Caribbean Day in grade three, the wonders and
marvels of Japanese culture in grade two, and the Wax Museum of Connecticut explorers and important historical figures in grade
four. I learned a great deal from our students! The Art Show was absolutely fantastic – a showcase of all of the talented artists here
at Whiting Lane! Kudos to Jen Hopkinson for her high expectations and supreme dedication to her work, and for allowing our kids
the opportunity to shine. And thank you to Sarah Chasse and Kim Hannan for their support and participation to ensure that the
show was a success. We are anxiously awaiting our school wide “Zumba Party” in the gym this Friday, a culminating activity and
reward to celebrate the overwhelming success of our PBIS program ths year. Our very own Evelin Miranda, paraprofessional in
the ELC and a certified instructor, will lead this wonderful event for all of our students.
As always, I’d like to conclude by saying thank you for your support of our school and our continuous efforts to do what is best
for kids, each and every day. It is a true pleasure to work with you. On behalf of the entire staff here at Whiting Lane, I wish
you all a wonderful summer filled with joy, special memories, and meaningful moments spent with your family and loved ones. ☺
Sincere regards,
Karen
Karen Kukish,, Principal
From the Health Room
State Board of Education regulations require that medications
not in use, outdated or discontinued, be returned to the parent
or guardian. Please make arrangements so that you can pick up
these medications by the last day of school. If we do not hear
from you by then, we will assume that you have consented to
the destructions of these medications and will accordingly
destroy them.
The school cannot store or keep medications over the summer
months when students are not in attendance. Please plan to
have an ADULT pick-up the medication from the health room
no later than the last day of school (June 19, 2014) between
the hours of 8:30 am and 12:00 noon. Any medication still
remaining at school will be discarded.
In addition, we are required by state regulations to have
new medication orders for each school year. Please return
a completed form and have an ADULT bring your child’s
medication at the start of the 2014-2015 school year.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Nancy Driska RN, Karen Fiori RN, Lisa Nowak RN
Whiting Lane/ELC School Nurses
Elementary School
Summer Reading Program
The West Hartford Public Schools and the West Hartford
Public Library work together to develop the Pre-K-5 summer
reading program. Each year we select a new theme and provide
a suggested list of authors and titles. Librarians from the
West Hartford Public Library visit each elementary school in
the spring to perform an original skit introducing the summer
reading theme. This summer’s theme is Fizz Boom Read
Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead (Science Technology Engineering
Art Math).
We ask students to pledge to read 15 minutes each day for
at least 40 days during summer vacation, which is reported
on the summer reading record. Please visit any branch of the
West Hartford Public Library during the summer to receive
your sticker. Students should return their summer reading
records AND nature journals to their classroom teacher the
first week of school.
For more information on summer reading lists, middle school
reading assignments, etc. please visit the summer reading page
on the whps district website http://whps.org/offices/
library_media___educational_technology__lmet_/
summer_reading.
West Hartford Schools Summer Program –
A Regional Gem for Skills Building and
Get-Ahead High School Credit
The 2014 Summer School Program welcomes students to
a wide selection of enriching courses and great activities.
The offerings range from four-week preschool & kindergarten
activities at Aiken School, to classes for both middle school
and high school students held this year at Sedgwick Middle
School while the high school buildings undergo repairs and
updates.
For very young students, we have three programs. Summer
Fun for Preschoolers provides many activities for 3 to 5 year
olds in small group settings. G.R.A.S.P., or Get Ready at
Summer Pre-School, emphasizes early learning skills for
children entering kindergarten this fall. And Moving on Up
offers more formal educational skill development for children
“moving up” to first grade this fall. All three of these programs are scheduled from 8:30 to 11:30 each morning for four
weeks, beginning on Monday, June 30 and ending on Friday,
July 25 (No class on July 4).
For students entering grades 7 and 8, we are adding
Technology classes in graphic design and web design,
as well as our popular Introduction to Algebra and Study
Skills for Middle School courses. In addition to more than 30
credit classes that can be taken for get-ahead or remedial high
school credit, such as Modern World History for incoming
ninth graders, or Health and American Government for
sophomores, we have added some exciting elective classes
in Introductory Chinese and, for students entering grades 11
and 12 Anatomy & Physiology, which isn’t offered during the
school year. Course descriptions and registration procedures
can be found now online at whlifelearn.org, or by phone at
860-561-6900, or in person at the Continuing Education office
at Town Hall. The high school Program of Studies has our
summer information at the back of that guidebook, and our
own summer course catalog will be mailed to all homes in late
April. It will also be available at our schools and libraries.
Informational Flyers/Booklets
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2014-2015 School Year Calendar
Playhouse on Park Young Actor Training Program
WH Leisure 2014 Summer Camps Week At-a-Glance
YMCA 2014 Summer Camp Registration form
Be the Media Workshop - Summer 2014
When Is The Last Day Of School?
Dates to Remember
6/12
8:50 am - 1:45 pm
1:30 - 3:45 pm
2:45 pm
7:00 pm
6/13
8:45 am-12:15 pm Grade 1 to India Rock
2:45 pm
August Birthday Party/cafe
6/14
6:35 pm
6/16
9:00 - 10:00 am
Grade 4 Book Swap/café
9:00 am -12:15 pm Grade 1 Beach Day
10:00-11:30 am
Kindergarten Water Fun Day
6/17
9:00 am - 2:00 pm Grade 2 Beach Day (Raindate: 6/18)
9:00 am - 3:00 pm Grade 4 Beach Day (Raindate: 6/18)
Attention ELC Parents
6/18
9:15 - 11:15 am
The last day of school for the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,
and Friday ELC students will be Tuesday, June 17, 2014.
On Monday, June 16, 2014 and Tuesday, June 17, 2014 we
will follow a regular closing schedule:
6/19
9:00 am - 1:30 pm Grade 3 Beach Day
1:00 pm
Kindergarten Picnic
2:00 pm
EARLY DISMISSAL
The official last day of school for students is
Thursday, June 19, 2014.
Students will be dismissed at 2:00 pm.
Parents/guardians should make arrangements ahead of time
so children are not left waiting for pickup after school.
Attention WLEDC Parents: WLEDC will be closed
in the afternoon on the last day of school.
•
Full day students will start at 9:00 am and will be
dismissed at 2:45 pm.
•
Morning students will start at 9:00 am and will be
dismissed at 11:30 am.
•
Afternoon students will start at 12:15 pm and will be
dismissed at 2:45 pm.
Grade 5 to Camp Chase
Farmer’s Market
July Birthday Party/cafe
PTO Meeting/TBA
Whitng Lane Night @ Rockcats
Grade 5 Recognition Ceremony
HAPPY
SUMMER!!!
Report Cards
The last day of school for students who attend school on
Wednesday will be Thursday, June 19, 2014. We will be
following the regular Wednesday schedule for your child on
both Wednesday, June 18, 2014 and Thursday, June 19, 2014.
Report cards will be sent home with students on
Tuesday, June 17, 2014.
Attention Parents
Whiting Lane School Directory
In order to get the most accurate numbers as possible for
next year’s enrollment, we need your assistance. If you will
be moving out of the Whiting Lane School district for the
2014-2015 school year, please call the office at 233-8541.
If you haven’t already done so, please complete a
“2014-2015 Whiting Lane School Directory “ form and
return it to main office.
Parents of Grade 5 students: If your child is not going to
be attending one of the WHPS middle schools, please notify
the office so we can forward student records to the
appropriate middle school. Thank you.
If you are moving to another address in West Hartford (even
within the neighborhood), you must contact the Residency
Office (561-6620) located in the Town Hall at 50 South Main
Street. Addresses cannot be changed in the school office
without notification from the Residency Office.
It is very important that you return this form so
we have the most current information for next year’s
school directory.
When Is The First Day Of School ?
The first day of school for students is
Wednesday, August 27, 2014.
Outstanding Whiting Lane Students (OWLS)
As part of our school-wide effort to explicitly teach and
motivate the students to live our code of being “respectful
and responsible, making good choices and always taking care
of each other,” the faculty and staff have been handing out blue
OWLETs (Outstanding Whiting Lane Expectation Tickets).
The students are given an OWLET when they have been
observed living our code.
On Friday afternoons, the number of tickets earned by
Whiting Lane students is totaled. Ms. Kukish pulls 3 tickets
at random and announces the lucky winners over the loud
speaker. Those children get their picture taken with our mascot,
Flash, and Ms. Kukish. One copy of the photo is sent home
and a second is posted on a bulletin board in the main office
for everyone to see our proud OWLS!
Please join our Whiting Lane and ELC Community
as we congratulate our May/June OWLS winners:
Nevaeh M., Jamie B., Cindy S., Christopher M., Will F.,
Nicole D., Evelette F., Payton G., Miranda M., Minah A.,
Kayli W-C. and Finley K., Bibi Fatima W., Alicia E.,
Kinsey W., Owen S., Evan P. and Brice L.
Calling All
Library Books!
Whiting Lane Night
at New Britain Rockcats
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Spend an evening at the ballpark with family and friends.
The Whiting Lane Chorus and Band will perform to
kick off the game - please arrive by 5:30! Students who are
performing should plan on wearing shorts and a white
or navy blue T-shirt.
West Hartford Cultural Council
The West Hartford Cultural Council would like to
thank all the Whiting Lane parents and students who helped
make this fund-raising drive a great success! To date, we
have raised $1,222.81 - this money will go towards next
year’s programming. While no class turned in all of their
envelopes, Mrs. Mazzarella’s class had the most envelopes
returned and, therefore, will win the pizza party!
Autism Speaks
The library will be closing at the end of the school day
on June 12, 2014 to allow the library media staff
time to conduct inventory - all library books must be
returned by that date.
A special thank you to all who came and walked with
the Whiting Lane Wizards on June 1st.
Thanks to the generosity of the Whiting Lane community,
we donated over $800 to Autism Speaks!
From the Cafeteria
Save the Date!
Please make sure there is enough money in your child’s
cafeteria account to last until the end of the school year.
The “Fall into Fun” Adult Social will take place on
Saturday, September 27, 2014.
Lost and Found
Townwide Track & Field Meet
By this time of year, the “lost and found” is overflowing!
Please take a look behind the cafeteria for lost clothing items
or in the office (for jewelry, glasses or other valuables).
Items that are not claimed will be donated to charity.
Congratulations to the following students who represented
Whiting Lane at the Inter-Elementary Townwide Track and
Field Meet at Conard High School on June 3rd:
We have an assortment of dishes and utensils that were left
in the staff lounge after Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week.
Zoe B., Chris D., Amy D., Jordan F., Grace F., Teddy G.,
Evan J., Chris L., Campbell M., Grace M., Colin M., Aidan O.,
Christian P., Emma R., Josh S., Patrick S. and Drew T.