The Palestine Herald
September 09, 2007 12:12 am
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JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
• Important Dates — Monday, 7th and 8th Girls Volleyball vs. Groesbeck at Westwood; Thursday, Pep Rally — “Twin Day” and football vs. Brownsboro (There); Friday, Student Council elections.
• Student Council Elections Begin — Student Council elections will be Friday. Those who have been approved to run may campaign with posters, flyers, etc. this Monday through Friday. For more information on the elections contact Mrs. Goetcher at 903-723-0423 or visit the district’s web site at www.westwoodisd.net and go to the WJH home page.
• WJH Playing Test Scheduled for Band Students — The first playing test — Westwood School Song — is due by 3:45 p.m. Friday. Mr. Rodriguez is available from 7:30 to 7:55 a.m. and from 3:20 to 3:45 p.m. Monday through Friday for the students to come play.
Parents are encouraged to remind the band students about their test. Those with questions may contact Mr. Rodriguez at jrodriguez@westwoodisd.net or by calling the school at 903-723-0423.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• Music and Choir — In music classes, Mrs. Fargo is starting off the year with a unit on the U.S. Constitution. Our Constitution is celebrating its 210th anniversary, so the students are learning about the Constitution and its Preamble.
All third, fourth and fifth graders are learning the history behind the document, and the meaning of its preamble. The students will also be learning to sing the preamble as part of this unit.
The sixth grade choir is up and running, with help from new choir director Melody Lord. The choir is reviewing basics of good singing technique and testing voices. The choir will perform a Christmas concert in December.
• Fourth Grade — Westwood fourth grade is off to a great start. The weekly writing sessions began Tuesday. A great challenge has been given to incoming fourth graders! Last year students scored a whopping 95 percent on the TAKS Writing Test, and teachers believe these new students will follow in their footsteps.
The first six weeks reading/writing curriculum is focusing on “Perspective,” so the writing workshop began with the telling of the story of the Three Little Pigs from the pigs’ point of view and then the wolf, who said that the story was bogus, told his version of the Three Little Pigs.
The students then wrote a brief outline using graphic organizers to help remember the details of the stories. Upon returning to class, the students were given further instructions in rewriting the story from one of the points of view.
Students choose to write from the wolf’s point of view, the pig’s point of view, some even wrote the story from the viewpoint of the mother and from a newspaper reporter’s view.
Weekly, students will continue to see progress as they improve in all areas of writing a wonderful composition.
Mrs. Love’s class is baby sitting Chantz Betsil’s python. It is so much fun to observe the habits of different creatures. People come in to visit the class daily and check on the critters. The class is also enjoying three gerbils from Mr. Phelp’s science collection. As always, spiders are spinning a web. Students were able to experience another picture of the wonderful food chain! The class has moved to the outside wing, so the students have adopted a new garden area that will be an ongoing project.
The teachers are excited about an awesome school year and all that awaits our inquiring minds.
• Fifth Grade — School has began with a bang! Everyone in their new clothes and ready to work hard. The fifth grade teachers are excited about this year and welcome all of the students. We plan a great year. Again, reading is the top objective and the fifth grade plans to have more AR points than the other classes. Yeah fifth grade!
Fifth graders are back into the swing of things. Students conducted an experiment with pennies and water this week in science lab.
They were excited to see the new science lab teacher Mrs. Wild. Students also participated in their first DARE class with Officer Green. Students in these classes learn about drug abuse, peer pressure, and making right decisions in life.
• Sixth Grade — The sixth grade students are off and running at Westwood Elementary. They have almost gotten adjusted to their school schedules. Having four teachers a day is quite a change for most students, but the sixth graders are doing great. This will help prepare them for the junior high. They are a wonderful bunch of children and we are all excited to have them in our rooms.
• Special Thanks — Westwood Elementary would like to send a thank you to the Church of Glad Tidings for the donation of backpacks and the First United Methodist Church for the donation of school supplies.
Thank you Westwood Baptist Church for the wonderful luncheon you provided for all our faculty and staff.
PRIMARY SCHOOL
• Grandparents Day — Westwood Primary will celebrate students’ grandparents with a “Goodies for Grandparents” breakfast from 7:20 to 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Grandparents, as well as grand-friends, of Westwood Primary students are invited to come share a breakfast treat with their grandchildren. This is a very popular event, so patience is appreciated as we endeavor to serve everyone who comes.
Also, parking is limited, so car-pooling is encouraged. Overflow parking is available at the baseball field area behind the Primary campus.
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