Calendar
5/4-5/8 Shakespeare Residency - 6th Grade.
5/6 Incoming Parent Coffee - Westbrook 5th Grade Parents. 8:45 - 10:00am.
5/7 Soccer vs. North Bethesda. 3:15pm. Girls home; boys away.
5/8 Staff Appreciation Lunch. 11:00am-1:00pm. Staff Lounge.
5/11-5/18 Shakespeare Residency - 7th & 8th Grades.
5/11-5/15 Outdoor Education - 6th Graders.
5/12 Tech rehearsal - Annie. 2:50-9:00pm. Cafeteria.
5/13 Incoming Parent Coffee - CCES & NCC 6th Grade Parents. 8:45-10:00am. RSVP to Alex Weiner.
5/13 Tech Rehearsal - Annie. 2:50-9:00pm. Cafeteria.
5/13 Soccer vs. Key. 3:15pm. Boys home; girls away.
5/14 Soccer vs. Pyle. 3:15pm. Girls home; boys away.
5/14 Spring Musical - Annie Jr.. 7:00pm. Cafeteria.
5/15 Spring Musical - Annie Jr. 7:00pm. Cafeteria.
5/16 Spring Musical - Annie Jr. 2:00pm. Cafeteria.
5/18-5/22 PTA Book Fair. Media Center.
5/20 6th Grade Band Concert. 7:00-8:00pm. Cafeteria.
5/21 Science Gallery. 6:30-8:00pm. Westland MS.
5/22 Celebration to Honor the Life of Ron Hegedus. 1:45pm.
Westland MS.
5/25 Memorial Day - No School.
5/27 Band Spring Concert. 7:00-9:00pm. B-CC Auditorium.
5/29 Williamsburg Trip - Music Dept. All day. |
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Westland Staff Rocks!
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and the Westland PTA has organized several events in an effort to show our fantastic teachers and staff how much we appreciate their work on behalf of our children!
First, the PTA has made a donation of $10 on behalf of every Westland staff member to the Ronald Hegedus Memorial Fund. The total donation is $1,130.00. Each staff member received a letter on Monday that said:
"THANK YOU for all you do to make Westland Middle School an exceptional school!
In your honor, the Westland PTA has made a donation of $10 to the Ronald Hegedus Memorial Fund. This fund provides scholarship support for Westland students in need.
The PTA values and appreciates the contribution of each and every staff member in ensuring that Westland remains a creative and caring educational community.
Thank you for your part in that effort!"
Second, the PTA is hosting a luncheon on Friday, May 8th from 11:00am - 1:00pm for all of our teachers and staff. Many thanks to all the parents who are contributing food & time.
But most of all - thank you to our wonderful Westland staff for all you do for our children each and every day!
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 Westland Wildcat Archives
If you missed an issue,
or just want to refer back to one, click here for the Westland Wildcat Archives! | |
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It's hard to believe there is just a little over a month of school left. And a quick glance at the calendar on the left makes it clear that those few weeks are going to be action-packed!
First, a few thanks are in order. The PTA Meeting on April 21 was well-attended and we appreciated the presentation by MCPS officials regarding the new course offerings for 6th and 7th graders. It was clear that there still remains work to be done on some of the logistics of implementation, and I will keep you posted as we hear more.
That same night, we also watched a brief video about The Perry School Community Services Center in D.C.Thanks to the hard work of our green-thumbed students and the generosity of the Westland community, Growing for Good's plant sale raised over $600 for the wonderful work done at this special place.
Thank you to several current Westland families for hosting coffees for incoming Westland parents. My family hosted a coffee for Bethesda Elementary, Ari Antonelli hosted a dessert for Somerset, deLancey Webster & Michelle Hainbach hosted Westbrook, and Alex Weiner will host CCES and NCC next week. We just need a host for Rock Creek Forest, and we're set! Many thanks to Principal Danny Vogelman and Assistant Principals Ben Costa & Anika Browne who've taken time out of their busy schedules to participate in these events.
One of the primary efforts underwritten by the PTA is in full swing this week. The Maryland Shakespeare Company is is residence at Westland! 6th graders are participating in workshops and performances this week, and 7th and 8th graders will do the same next week. Over 1/4 of the PTA's annual budget is used to fund this residency - approximately $10,000 - because the program offers such a great enhancement to the curriculum for every student in the school.
The PTA is already working hard to get ready for next year. A nominating committee has put together a slate of officers, and we've got a proposed budget. We've also got a calendar of events. All of this will be featured in a special Wildcat Wire issue in the next day or so. As you'll see, all that's missing is YOU!!!
As always, please contact me or Alex Weiner if you have any questions.
PTA President |
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3rd Annual Westland Wild Dash 5K!
 Conditions were pefect for the 160+ runners who turned out for the 3rd annual Wild Dash 5K on Saturday, April 25th. A little hilly, maybe, but that didn't slow down our top finishers. Eliot Gerson (age 16) set a blistering pace of 5:40 minute miles to turn in the winning time of 17:36. Eric Damtoft (age 17) was hot on his heels to finish second at 17:59. And Julien Dorsey (age 16) came in third at 19:18.
Among Westland runners, 7th grader Daniel Tineo took first place (11th overall) for the boys with a time of 21:27 and 6th grader Abby Fry won the girls (19th overall) with a time of 23:22. Mr. Vogelman's training paid off - he was the first place staff finisher (40th overall) with a time of 27:09. Click here for a complete listing of race results and winners.
Fourteen Westland students took up the "pie throwing challenge" and turned in faster race times than Mr. Katz and Ms. Lawthers. The whole school got to watch pies flying on live Westland TV Friday morning, May 1st. Many thanks to Steve Katz and Michelle Lawthers for providing this incentive, and for being such great sports about it!
In total, 38 Westland students ran the race. Each was awarded a medal for participation and honored at lunch on Friday. In addition, 8th grader Tori Silva-Lopes was recognized for her winning t-shirt design. And speaking of t-shirts, we still have some left. You can purchase them in the School Store during lunch.
Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors, without whose generosity this race could not take place. A complete listing will be available on the PTA website shortly. And, of course, many thanks to Race Co-Directors Melissa Peppe, Meredith Rainy Valmon, and Cynthia Walicki-Chan who did a fantastic job! |
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Westland Bookfair Is Coming 5/18-5/22!
 The second annual Westland Book Fair is just around the corner and it's going to be great! Working in partnership with Bookworm Central, our Fair Co-Chairs Karen Dubrow and Katherine McGreivy have put together a week featuring wonderful books and interesting events.
You're welcome to browse any time, but there are a few special events you won't want to miss. On Tuesday, May 19 from 7:50-9:30am, the 6th Grade is sponsoring a coffee featuring Mary Rubino, president of B-CC PTA, who will answer questions about the book she co-wrote with other Westland parents: "Like Whatever: An Insider's Guide to Raising Teens." On Thursday, May 21 from 7:50- 9:30am, 7th Grade parent Emily Yoffe will be available to talk about her book "What the Dog Did." And on Friday, May 22 from 7:50- 9:30am, Caroline Adams Miller, parent of an 8th grader, will answer questions about her book "Creating Your Own Best Life."
You'll find all the recommended summer reading books, as well as other wonderful selections for the teen reader. Please plan to stop by the Westland Media Center early and often! |
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Save $$$ and Support Westland Music!
Please support Westland's dedicated and talented teachers and students in the Music Department by purchasing a discount card. It's a win/win fundraiser - the music department raises money and you save money. The money raised through this fundraiser will be used for instrument repair, choral music, and scholarships for the upcoming Busch Garden music competition field trip in May, among other things. You decide what to do with the money you save by using the Discount Shopping Card!
Get one for every member of your household! The cards also make great gifts! Please contact Cindy Stauffer if you have any questions. | |
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Support Our Community Partnerships!
The PTA relies on the support of its community partners to help underwrite our many programs. But it takes two to make a partnership successful! Westland partners with the following organizations:
- Giant A+ - Westland has earned $3,804.25 to date! HOWEVER, Pyle has earned $5,293.44. Hmmmmm....Click here to check out school totals...and don't forget to use your Bonus Card when you shop!
- Safeway E-scrip - You can still register. Just click here! Designate Westland MS, Group # 6586159.
- Wordex Corporation - Go green and save green with this great ink cartridge refill program. Just take your empty cartridges to Wordex (4808 Auburn Ave.). You'll get a refilled cartridge at a cost that's less than half of buying new and Westland will get $3 for every refilled cartridge!
- Target "Take Charge of Education" - Register your red card today and earn money for Westland. Just click here!
- Snider's Supermarket and Chevy Chase Supermarket - Westland earns 1% of everything you spend! All you have to do is SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS. Then, send them into school in an envelope marked "PTA - Grocery Receipts."
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THANKS TO OUR WILDCAT SPONSORS!
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You can save money and support Westland music by purchasing a discount card. Just $10, the card entitles you to the following fantastic deals every day until 2/28/10 at these area merchants: