Wildcat Wrap 4.22.2016

Dear White Hill Community,

We are ending the week with quite a lot of rain today (Prince is thinking of us) which is a nice change of pace. I hope you all had a great spring break – the kids all came back prepared for school and ready to take on the home stretch with enthusiasm and effort. Please see below for the latest and greatest – it’s a long one today but please take a minute to see what applies to you -

Ms. Hoyt is Retiring! – It is with a great deal of mixed emotions that I am announcing that Whitney Hoyt (our school assistant principal) has decided to retire and will not be returning to White Hill next year. Whitney has been a key part of our White Hill staff for the past three years and has been instrumental in the operations of our school since she arrived on campus. Her reasoning is hard to truly understand but for some reason she thinks that days on the golf course and at Giants games is a better gig than working at White Hill! We’ll miss her a great deal and wish nothing but low scores and SF wins starting in mid-June. Congrats, Whitney.

New Assistant Principal – Gabe Lund – The RVSD and White Hill are pleased to announce that Gabe Lund has been hired as our new assistant principal. Gabe is currently a part-time science teacher and part-time assistant principal/CELDT Coordinator at San Jose Middle School in the Novato Unified School District. He has been at San Jose Intermediate since 2011 and previously (since 2007) taught 6th/7th grade science at Hill Middle School in Novato. Gabe previously taught middle school science in the Dixie and Reed school districts. He earned his B.S. in microbiology and chemistry from California State University at Chico, where he also earned his single-subject teaching credential in science. He received his M.A. and Preliminary Administrative Services Credential from San Francisco State University. He is described as a talented teacher who easily establishes rapport with everyone, has a great sense of humor, loves music, has excellent oral and written communication skills, is reliable, organized and tech savvy. We’re excited to welcome Gabe to White Hill!

National Bike to School Day – May 4^th – White Hill is doing great when it comes to green travel to school. Seventy-five percent of our students walk, bike, bus or carpool to school - that's impressive! Twenty-five percent are driving in their single family vehicles - that’s still 200 cars arriving every day. Let's try to reduce the single car trips even further. Please encourage your student to bike to school on National Bike to School Day, Wednesday, May 4th. Join in the fun on National Bike to School Day! If you don’t normally ride, give it a try. Maybe ask a friend to join. There will be a prize for every rider!

May 5^th WHMS Screenagers Movie Showing – Sign up here: http://www.screenagersmovie.com/white-hill-middle-school-fairfax-ca

6th Grade Dance! - May 6th - 6:30-9:00 pm in the White Hill Gym! $12.00 tickets! RSVP here: http://whitehill6thgradedance.bpt.me/ Tickets are also available at the door but we would love to know our numbers before the night of the dance so please RSVP if you know your child is coming. Thanks!

Year End Parent Club Meeting - Come one, come all!

White Hill Library

May 23rd

3:45-4:45 PM

Revised 2016-2017 Calendar To Be Considered By Trustees At The May 3^rd Board Meeting - In an effort to align school district calendars throughout Marin County, particularly with regard to high school districts and their elementary feeders, a recommendation will be made to our Board of Trustees on May 3, 2016, that the RVSD calendar for 2016-17 be modified as follows:

First day of school changed from Thursday August 25, 2016 to Wednesday August 24, 2016

Monday October 17, 2016 is changed from a student day to a non-student day (teacher staff development)

Winter break moved from 12/19/16 – 12/30/16, to 12/23/16 – 1/6/17.

Spring break moved from 4/17/17 – 4/21/17, to 4/10/17 – 4/14/17.

The Ross Valley Teachers’ Association has voted to approve these modifications, which if approved by the Board on May 3^rd would align our major breaks (winter, mid-winter and spring) with the Tamalpais Union High School District.

Parent Input Forms – Parent/Guardian Input forms for class placement decisions for the 2016-17 school year are available in the office beginning Monday, 4/25/16. They are due no later than Friday, May 6^th. You may use this opportunity to provide information about your child to help us make optimal and balanced placement decisions for next year.

Ross Valley Free The Children Clubs’ Walk For Water! – This Sunday at 8:00 am! - We are walking from Wade Thomas Elementary to the top of Bald Hill and back. Water stations, music, hint water, snacks and a great raffle at the end! Join kids, parents and community members and Club members from Wade Thomas, White Hill, Manor, and Brookside!

Sponsors include: Tam Realty, Hint Water, Tamalpais Pediatrics, Comforts, and Good Earth.

This community, KID-driven event will raise $20,000 to bring clean water to the children of Ecuador. Their recent earthquake makes this goal more important than ever! Join your community, get some exercise, bond with your kiddos and feel proud that you're supporting an important cause while teaching your children to THINK ABOUT & DO kind acts for others in need!

It’s all about CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN and these kids need your help!

Register to walk:http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2534242

Donate to the cause: https://www.scholasticchallenge.com/events/3pCgiI@25>

Join our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WalkforWaterFundraiser/

If you own a business that wants to sponsor or donate to the Free the Children 501(c)(3) to support the White Hill Students in this club, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

P.S. All RVSD teachers and staff walk for free - email Annelise.bauer@gmail.com to RVSP

Questions? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you,

The RVSD Free The Children Clubs

Community News – Click Here.

Sincerely,

David

David Finnane

Principal

White Hill Middle School

101 Glen Drive

Fairfax, CA 94930