The View—Volume VII, No. 10 | June 2009

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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

We are coming to the end of another good year at Westview as we prepare to say goodbye to our graduating seniors. What a terrific group of students this has been! I am very optimistic about the future knowing that our Wolverines are going to be leading the way. Congratulations to the Class of 2009!

As we prepare for graduation, please remind your seniors that this is a high school ceremony that belongs to ALL families. Behavior that distracts from each student’s special moment is unfair to the family and friends who are enjoying this proud milestone event. Beach balls and noisemakers are fun and have their place, but that place is not at a high school graduation. Thank you for emphasizing the importance of respectful behavior to your students.

I am very pleased to extend some staff kudos. Pierre Sawaya (AP Calculus AB) and Melanie Tornroth (World and American Literature) were recently honored with the Crystal Apple Award. Nikolette Lowery (AVID and English 1/2) was the recipient of the San Diego Hispanic Heritage Teacher Award. Congratulations to these teachers!

Westview families, thank you for allowing us to work with your students this year. It is always an honor, and we look forward to another great year as we welcome the newest group of Wolverines next year.

Have a great summer and we’ll see you in August!

Dawn Kastner
Principal

What’s coming up...

Check the school calendar for more events

Quick web links

Daily Bulletin – visit the daily bulletin to see what’s happening today!

School Calendar – see what events are coming up throughout the year.

General Information – can’t find what you’re looking for? Try this link.

Athletics – support your Westview Wolverines – visit the athletic pages to see when your favorite team is playing.

Counseling – graduation requirements, colleges visiting Westview, scholarships, course catalog, etc.

PTSA Webpage - see all that the Westview PTSA has to offer.

Baseball

Ages 12-14 - June 15-18, 2009 

Ages 7-14 - June 22-25, 2009

Basketball – Boys

Grades 5-8 - July 6-10, 2009

Grade 9 - Begins June 15

Basketball – Girls

Grades 4-7 - June 29-July 2, 2009

Grades 7-10 - June 15-24, 2009

Soccer - Boys

U13 to U18 - July 13-July 17, 2009

U8 to U12 - July 13-July 17, 2009

Volleyball - Girls 

Grades 7-12 - July 20-24, 2009

Grades 9-12 - August 10, 2009

Volleyball - Girls & Boys

Advanced - July 13-16, 2009

Intermediate - July 13-16, 2009

Beginner - July 13-16, 2009

Water Polo - Boys 

16U & 18U - June 15-July 28 & August 8-11, 2009

Water Polo - Girls 

16U & 18U - June 15-July 28 & August 8-11, 2009

Water Polo - Boys & Girls 

Ages 11-14 - June 18-July 30, 2009

Ages 6-10 - June 20-August 1, 2009

REGISTRATION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

It's true! We are already collecting names of people who are interested in helping at next year's Westview Registration!

Our registration runs so smoothly because of all the great parent volunteers!

To get on the list of "interested registration volunteers" email Kris Shetter at sdshets@sbcglobal.net. You will be contacted later for specific dates and times.

PTSA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

My oldest daughter returned home last Friday from her first year away at college. She and her soon-to-be high school graduate sister spent the weekend catching up and doing that “sisterly bonding” thing. This, of course, included watching old home videos together of when they were little ones while they laughed hysterically at their own antics. Looking at my toddlers bounding across the screen, both in diapers with limitless energy, I was reminded of a) how overwhelmed I felt at times back then and b) how often I heard the comment from total strangers, “Oh, enjoy it now. They will be all grown up before you know it. It goes SO fast.”

Fast forward back to present day: that parental sense of being overwhelmed still hits me from time to time and those total strangers couldn’t have been more right. How is it possible that those little toddlers will both be in college in the fall? Where did the time go?

It is remarkable to me that this school year is already coming to an end, and that my term as PTSA president is nearly over. As I look back over the past two years, I am very grateful for the experiences I have had and the amazing people I have met along the way. I am so thankful for the PTSA board members I have had the privilege of working with -- I wish I could name each of you individually. Your dedication, support, sense of humor, and patience have been invaluable. Thank you, too, to our Westview staff for all you do for the students at Westview, and especially to Dawn Kastner, whose commitment is unparalleled and whose professionalism is top-notch. Finally, I am excited to be passing the reins over to the very capable hands of Allison Aquino Arcio. With her energetic spirit and friendly nature I know great things will happen next year.

As the school year winds down, I hope you enjoy the flurry of year-end activity and anticipation of summer. Hopefully, we can all somehow manage to press the “slow play” button to give us the opportunity to savor some special summertime moments. The realization that I won’t be an integral part of the Westview community next year makes me a little sad, but I look forward to reconnecting in a few more years as my sixth grader enters high school. And based on past experience, I know that time will be here in just the blink of an eye…

Sue Hasselmann
PTSA President

PTSA MAY ACTIVITIES

The PTSA was hard at work during these final weeks of the school year on activities in support of our goals and objectives approved at the beginning of the school year. Here’s a summary of some of the things accomplished:

Staff Appreciation Luncheon – Our wonderful PTSA Hospitality Chair Lisa Smith treated our staff to a fabulous luncheon in celebration of staff appreciation week. Many thanks to Lisa, her assistant Mari Stryjewski, and the rest of the “catering crew” for making our staff feel so loved and appreciated.

Senior Scholarships – Four seniors were awarded with PTSA-sponsored scholarships in the amount of $750 each in support of our college readiness goals. A big thank you goes out to Nella Landau, Scholarships Committee Chair, and committee members who put much time and thought into selecting the recipients.

Honorary Service Awards – Honorary Service Awards were presented at the Volunteer Tea on May 28 to honor those individuals who have gone above and beyond in their volunteer capacities. Many thanks to Teresa Holland, Honorary Service Awards Chair, along with committee members Jennifer Kuhlman and Tami Wilcox, for your work in enabling us to honor the very worthy recipients.

Membership & Directory – Westview PTSA made its mark yet again by achieving the largest membership out of all PTA units in San Diego and Imperial Counties. THANK YOU to all our PTA members, and to Colleen Salzetti, Membership Chair, for organizing our membership campaign for this school year. Kudos also go to Debbie Vogel, Directory Chair, for putting together the directory named most outstanding among PUSD high schools.

Grad Nite – It’s almost here! This is sure to be an evening to remember for all our graduating seniors. Words cannot describe how much we appreciate the time and incredible commitment put in by Grad Nite Chair, Cindy Kodama, to make this event a success. Cindy, you are amazing! Thank you, too, to the amazing group of dedicated parents working week after week on all the details, big and small. 

And of course there are all the other things going on behind the scenes … the newsletter (named most outstanding among PUSD high schools - thank you Crystal
Ranj!), staff newsletter (thank you, Patsy Romero), annual PTSA report (thank you, Kim McCoy), volunteer coordination (thank you, Kris Shetter), student services support (thank you, Sue Reich), the website (given honorable mention for excellence by Palomar Council PTA – thank you, Margaret Lupfer). 

Please keep in mind that there are many opportunities to serve on next year’s board – no experience necessary! For more information, contact Allison Aquino Arcio at thearcios@gmail.com.

PTSA SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS

The Westview PTSA Senior Scholarship Committee is proud to announce our four winners. Congratulations to Samantha Mauro, Alexandra Ruby, Omid Saboori and Claire Shalinsky. All four will receive a check for $750.00 at the Senior Awards Reception on
June 2.

Special thanks to the Scholarship Committee comprised of Sue Reich, Cindy Woodward, Cathy Carpenter, David Landau and Committee Chair, Nella Landau.

WESTVIEW DANCE TROUPE PRESENTS THE NIGHT SKY

The Westview Dance Troupe is pleased to present "The Night Sky", their spring dance concert, on June 3-5 at 7:00pm in the Westview Theatre. Tickets are $10 general and $12 premier. You will see our national award-winning dance team performing in a variety of numbers and different dance styles along with dance class students. There will be a special performance on Friday by the Westview Special Education students. 

For questions and/or ticket sales contact bonnies@san.rr.com or shparker@powayusd.com.

ASB

Counselor's Corner

Dance Troupe

Inspirational Thought

Principal's Message

PTSA May Recap

PTSA President's Message

PTSA Senior Scholarships

Quick Web Links

Registration Volunteers Needed

Student/Staff Recognitions

Summer Athletic Camps

What's Coming Up

STUDENT/STAFF RECOGNITIONS

The Student/Staff Recognitions program is a PTSA-sponsored program that provides a forum twice each school year to honor outstanding students and staff members who make a positive difference in the lives of those around them.

Congratulations to the following students and staff members who were recognized at the fall Student/Staff Recognitions awards night on April 28:

ASB

Every Friday is Westview Spirit Day - wear black and gold.

JUNIORS
June is "Yogurt Month!" There will be a different flavor of frozen yogurt for sale every Friday. Stop by and support the Class of 2010!

SENIORS
Seniors don't miss these upcoming events: 

Disneyland: June 6, 7:30am-12:00am

Breakfast: June 9 @ Westview

Picnic: June 10 @ Views West Park, 11:00am-2:00pm. Click here for directions to the park

WESTVIEW SENIORS ARE MOVING ON!

Congratulations to Westview's fifth graduating class! Many of our students have reported that they are planning on attending a 4-year college/university, community college or a specialty school such as a visual/performing arts school or cosmetology school. Others plan to pursue careers in the military or working after high school. We are proud of our students' accomplishments and their dedication to continuous learning. We wish them well as they begin the next phase of their lives.

Preparing for next year (what I plan to do on my summer vacation)

Many students and parents have been wondering what they should be doing over the summer to prepare for next year.
The Counseling Department would like to offer a few suggestions:

~ Work on building up your college resume through involvement in community service.

~ Consider obtaining employment. You will gain important skills and earn money in the process.

~ Begin (or continue) exploring different colleges or career opportunities. It is never too early to begin to see what options are available.

~ Start working on scholarships. Essay prompts will be posted on Family Connection before the end of the year. 

~ Maintain and improve skills in Math, Reading, and Writing.

~ Rest, Relax, and Have Fun!

ENROLLING NEW STUDENTS

Counselors will be enrolling new students in August. New student enrollment will be by appointment only. This is only necessary for students who are new to the Poway Unified School District. To begin the process, new students must complete an enrollment packet. 

However, families should be aware that registration is required for every student. Registration dates will be available on Westview’s website at www.westviewwolverines.com.