Wildcat Wrap 3.2.2018

March

Thurs., 3/8 Angst Movie and Panel Discussion 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Fri., 3/9 Parent Coffee Chat 9:00 am

Mon. 3/12 Teacher work day - No students

Wed., 3/14 White Hill Student Action Day

. I Am Remarkable Google Visit 5:00 - 7:30 pm

Fri-Sat., 3/16-17 Spring Play

Wed., Mar. 21 Open House 6:30 - 8:00 pm

News

Parent Movie Screening and Panel Discussion: Angst - Thursday, March 8

We are screening the movie Angst with a panel discussion for parents on Thursday, March 8 beginning at 7:00 pm in the White Hill Library. Click on this link for more information: Angst: Raising Awareness About Anxiety.

Parent Chat - Friday, March 9 at 9:00 am

Our next Parent Chat is scheduled for March 9 at 9:00 am in the Library. There is no formal agenda. However, several things we may want to discuss include: emergency preparedness, principal recruitment, Social Emotional Learning, and vaping. Looking forward to having you join us at our next informal gathering. Coffee and treats provided.

6th and 7th Grade Parents/Guardians - Elective Choice Forms Due Fri., March 9

A letter informing students and parents about elective choices available for the 2018-19 school year was distributed today (3/2) in 6th grade homerooms and though 7th grade history classes. Attached to the letter is a form to complete and elective course descriptions. Please review these with your child, make the selections, sign the form, and return it to the appropriate teacher no later than March 9.

White Hill Student Action Day - Wednesday, March 14

Today, a group of White Hill students began planning activities in solidarity with students across the nation, in support of the movement created by the survivors of the recent Florida mass shooting. Our Day of Action is taking place on March 14. A student committee is working with staff to create a program of activities designed to provide students with options to express feelings about Congressional inaction regarding safety on campuses. This event is not a "walkout". No students will be leaving campus, nor are the activities required of students.

I Am Remarkable - Wednesday, March 14

For the second year, the Women@Google Organization has invited our girls to attend an event entitled, I Am Remarkable, at the San Francisco Google Office on March 14, 2018. #IamRemarkable strives to empower girls and young women to speak openly about their accomplishments at school, in the workplace, and beyond. The initiative motivates participants to promote themselves in front of peers to break gender related norms and glass ceilings. The worship will be broken into: introduction to Googlers, data, and research regarding self promotion and unconscious biases; main exercises to help participants articulate their achievements and practice self promotion; and discussion and take home exercises. A summary video is available to review video. This opportunity was limited to the first 200 registrants and is now full.

Good Eggs Shopping

This spring, White Hill is running a fundraiser through Good Eggs, the online grocery market in the Bay Area bringing absurdly fresh groceries to your door. Some parents at our school already use Good Eggs and swear by it. During March and April, anytime our school community shops on Good Eggs, they will donate 10% back to our school. All you need to do to enroll is:

1. Visit schools.goodeggs.com on your laptop.

2. Enter the code wh2018 and click “Join fundraiser!”

3. Shop and 10% goes back to the school! Next time you order from Good

Eggs, you

do not need to enter the code again.

Enroll in the fundraiser by March 15th and you will be entered to win a week of free Good Eggs dinners!

Emergency Preparedness

Last Tuesday’s lockdown/classroom evacuation drill was very successful. The kids were well prepared and demonstrated a maturity about a serious practice that was as good as we have had all year. Each time we ramp up the complexity of our drills, we made mistakes and learn from them. This time we asked Fairfax Police and Fire personnel to observe and give us feedback. They want to continue this collaboration in our upcoming drills. The following are recommendations they made:

Paint large visual markings that identify our individual buildings to assist the police should they be called for an emergency at our school. It would make it easier for them to quickly identify the location of an intruder.
Put window tint on classrooms, offices, etc., to make it impossible to see inside.
Have a distinct bell tone that everyone recognizes indicates an intruder on campus and signals an immediate lockdown, whether during class time, break, or lunch. Add an additional alarm switch in the outer office for immediate response.
Use vests to identify the different roles staff plays in emergencies (i. e., incident command, search and rescue, first aid, student release, etc.,)
Have master keys available for police use when an intruder threat has been neutralized and the classrooms must be cleared for evacuation to the field assembly area.
Invest in walkie talkies for all classrooms to guarantee communication with all staff.
In the event of a fire emergency coming out of the hills, the Fire Department is recommending the large field as the best assembly area. In the event of almost any emergency, the police will close Sir Francis Drake Blvd. This will give us the time we need to account for everyone, prior to the onslaught of nervous parents.

There is still more work to be done with regard to what steps to take if an intruder were to appear during a passing period, break, or lunch. The general consensus is to lockdown classrooms if teachers are in them. However, if students and staff are outside, the plan is to run and hide. Next steps will be to identify where to run and practice this type of evasive action. We understand this is a difficult subject to consider, let alone prepare for. However, it is our hope that knowing we are doing everything we can to prepare for the unthinkable will be of some comfort.

Cascade Canyon Village Parking

The residents have requested that we not use this area to park and pick up students after school. Please help us be good be neighbors and respect this area near our school. Thank you.

Reminders

Dealing with Teasing, Bullying, and Harassment

We continue to be encouraged that more and more students and parents are coming forward and reporting incidents of unwelcome and unwanted conduct on and off campus. This information makes it possible for us to ensure that students are feeling safe and supported at White Hill. Without the collaboration and trust of parents, we might not know about something happening to a student(s). We encourage you to let us know immediately when your child has experienced unwelcome conduct in the form of teasing, bullying, or harassment. It’s our commitment and responsibility to extinguish the unwanted behavior and provide ongoing social and emotional learning to eliminate these behaviors from our campus. With your help this can become a reality.

8th Grade Parents - Graduation and Permission Forms

Please be reminded of two things:

The Graduation Ceremony, scheduled on Thursday, June 14, will be held at White Hill. The Ceremony will take place on the large grass field at 5:00 pm. In the unlikely event of bad weather, Drake High School has been reserved as a backup location.
Signed permission forms for 8th grade year-end activities were due on February 16. In the event, parents were out of town or unavailable to sign the form please do so this weekend. We will be accepting forms in the office this week. Students may not participate in year-end activities without submitting this form.

Parent Education Opportunities

Building Connection, Compassion, and Community A Conference for Parents, Caregivers and Educators, Co-hosted by Community Institute for Psychotherapy & The Marin County Office of Education. Saturday, March 3, 2018, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Marin County Office of Education,

1111 Las Gallinas Ave, San Rafael, CA 94903

Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives: Wed, Mar 21st, 6:30-8:30pm, COM Auditorium

RSVP: Eventbrite

Rachel Simmons will discuss her new book, Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives" which gives parents/adults the tools to help girls in high school and college reject “supergirl” pressure, overcome a toxic stress culture, and become resilient adults with healthy, fulfilling lives.

Additional Information about Programs for Students

The C4C Challenge - April 29th

It’s coming! Mark your calendars! This is the best event of the year, but we can’t do it alone.

This year we are really blowin’ it out, but we need your help! Get involved! Join one of our action teams or just give an hour of your time. ALL is appreciated! Learn more and sign up to help by emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Volunteer Opportunities & Fun Events Coming Up!

Feb 28:Farmers Market Style Food Bank
Feb 28 - Cucina Give Back Night
Mar 4 - Protect Endangered Species Fundraiser & Bake Sale; Imagination Park
Mar 7:Gilead House Game Night
Mar 7 - "Putting Rest to Rest" - Youth In Action: Tackling The Homeless Problem In Marin -RSVP!
Mar 9:REST Feeding the Homeless Night
Mar 11: Marin Crop Hunger Walk -RSVP!

Intrigued to get your family more involved in C4C? Don’t be shy! Encourage your child to visit our lunch time meetings in Room 206! And for you, sign up to volunteer or learn more by emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Yes! Sports Programs

A detailed email went out to parents/guardians about the spring sports. A summary is listed below. If you need further information or did not receive the email, please contact the Activities Coordinator, Margo James, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mountain Biking Club

Please join our parent volunteers, Matt Adams, Justin Sobieraj, and Markham Connolly on Thursdays from 3:30-5:30pm for Mountain Biking. They will meet by the PE lockers near the gym and bike the hills behind White Hill. This club will start on March 15th! Please come with your bike, a helmet, and a permission slip. A permission slip is required on the first day or the student won't be able to participate. If your student participated in the fall session, they are still covered by that permission slip. Permission slips are attached and available in the office. They should be submitted to the coach or to the office.

Wrestling

Boys and Girls can join Coach Johann starting Monday, March 19th in the gym to learn wrestling. Practices will be on Mondays (3:30-5:00), Wednesdays (2:30-4:00), and Fridays (3:30-5:00). A permission slip is required (attached and available in the office) and should be turned into Coach Johann or the office.

Track & Field

Track & Field will be coached by volunteer parent, John Richards. Practices will be held on Mondays (6:00-7:30pm) and Fridays (3:45-5:15pm) at the Drake High School track. The program starts on Monday, March 19th. A special Track & Field permission slip is required for the FIRST practice. A copy is attached and available in the office. John would like to you to email him your completed permission slip at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you are unable to do this, please turn it into the office and Margo James will ensure the slip gets to John by the first practice.

Rick van Adelsberg

Principal

White Hill Middle School