White Hill Bell Schedule for All Grades

 Monday

 Tuesday

Wednesday

 Thursday

 Friday

Teachers          To phone, dial 415-454-8390 and enter extension

Site Council Members

White Hill Community Members:

White Hill Staff Members:

Meetings: 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. in the White Hill Library

Our academic program offers a breadth of challenge and opportunity with core English, History, Science, and Math classes and award-winning art, music, technology (STEAM), and foreign language electives. Forty-one credentialed teachers, twenty-five staff members, one counselor, two counseling interns and two administrators support an engaging and rigorous education program. White Hill is enriched by broad parent and community support and is a active partner in the work of our district's YES Foundation.

Located on the western edge of Fairfax at the base of White's Hill, the school campus is surrounded by beautiful rolling hills and open space and sits on a 22-acre site that includes Lefty Gomez Field. White Hill was built in 1969 and has gone through three major renovations (1985, 2000 and 2013). December 2013 marked the opening of 25,000 square feet of new buildings and classrooms which provide our students and staff with a first class facility for 21st-century learning.  

The White Hill Parent Club takes great pride in supporting our entire school community with community building events, our school Fun Run Fundraiser, and parent education throughout the year.  We have variety of ways that parents can support our work and welcome your input, ideas, and assistance.  For more information, please contact our parent club chair, Kristina Riemer at kristina_riemer@comcast.net  and Karen Zamorsno at karenlzamorano@gmail.com.

Thank You

Check out the White Hill Parent Club website!

White Hill Parent Club

Back to School Night is September 3rd from 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Calendar this date now and plan to attend this important evening where you will meet your child’s teachers and learn more about what’s in store this year!

White Hill Related Items from August 6th and August 20th Board Briefs.

For the full reporst, please see the Board Briefs page.

Instructional Technology Lease Agreement:  The Board approved a lease agreement for technology for teaching staff at White Hill Middle School. The Board opted to use this form of acquisition as it strategically provides us options at such time the equipment needs to be replaced. At the end of the 3-year lease, there will be an option to either buy the technology for a small fee or return it and start a new lease on new technology, depending on the devices being used. In this manner, our schools get the maximum useful life of the equipment for the lowest cost. (8/6/13 meeting)


Bond/Construction / White Hill Middle School:  There are about 11 more weeks left until the buildings are ready to be occupied by the school.  The exteriors of the building are almost complete and the developer is concentrating on interior finishes, including acoustical treatments in the music rooms, casework and furnishings in classrooms and learning centers.

The remaining exterior landscape is starting to pull the campus spaces together, providing a real sense of how things will feel and look when construction is completed.  The amphitheater walls are being formed and the walkways and pavement projects will commence next month.

An improved and more robust technology infrastructure has been installed which will allow for much improved internet access, provide new switches for data transmission and in-classroom projection.  These improvements will substantially improve staff and students ability to effectively utilize technology in the classroom. (8/6/13 meeting) Note: The Board of Trustees took a tour of the new buildings on Thursday, August 8. 
 
Technology Coach:  At the request of the Foundation, a representative of the YES Foundation presented information and engaged the Board in a discussion regarding full funding for the proposed technology coach position.  The outcomes of this discussion were:
¥    The Foundation will engage their Board in a discussion regarding the possibility of allocating Schools Rule funds towards this position
¥    District staff recommend the Board not allocate additional funds at this time as uncertainty continues to exist around the new State funding formula for schools
¥    District has stated a preference that the position be funded at full time to attract a highly qualified, certificated teacher to support the integration of technology in the common core curriculum
¥    The Board expressed their gratitude and appreciation to YES for its generous support of this position and asked that the district and YES continue to work together to make  this position become a reality as soon as possible. (8/20/13 meeting)

Aeries Student/Parent Portal Log-In Information

If you have not yet done so, please make sure you log onto the student/parent portal through Aeries and get set up to check your child’s assignments, grades, and attendance throughout the school year. If you were set up last year you should be able to get right onto the system using your existing user name and password. If you are new to White Hill or want to add another user, please follow the instructions on the letter that went home with each student schedule. When setting up a user name and password you will be notified to wait for an email and then to click on the link to proceed. If this part of the process does not work please try logging on and you should get right in without following the link you received via email. Doesn’t work or confused? Contact our Registrar, Meg Heimbrodt, at mheimbrodt@rossvalleyschools.org for assistance.

White Hill Bell Schedule

Wondering how our schedule works each week?  Check out the White Hill Bell Schedule.  Warning:  Trying to understand the ins and outs of this schedule is hazardous to your health! There are many variables that have gone into the creation of this schedule and you need to trust us when we tell you that is works great and is conducive to a first class learning environment.

6th Grade Parent Reps for School Site Council

We have openings for 6th parent representatives for our school site council.  Please contact Kristin Pederson at kristin@dpemploymentlaw.com if you are interested.  Thank you!

Dress Code Updates/Clarifications

We’ve completed the first week with our new dress code and I want to thank our parents and kids for their cooperation. I recognize that this change is significant for some and we appreciate that many families have had to have more conversations around this topic than they would have liked. Please see the attached dress code information for a complete list of what works and what doesn’t.One issue that has come up more than once: Spaghetti straps or other non-approved tops with straps may only be worn with a shirt or blouse that covers up the straps. Kids may not wear tops with non-approved straps and a hoodie or sweater that opens in the front. Furthermore, the exact same expectations apply for boys and girls with regard to strap width on tops (2 inches minimum) – boys may wear tank tops as long as the straps are 2 inches minimum in width.

Finally, keep a close eye on skirt and dress length. Shorts must be mid-thigh or lower. Skirts and dresses must be no more than 3 inches from the knee. Some kids are confusing the mid-thigh shorts rule with skirts and dresses. They have different length expectations. Thank you for your attention to this information.

YES Theatre! Chateau La Roach

Please plan to join our fantastic theatre program for the production of Chateau La Roach, a slapstick performance that will be a wonderful time for our kids and the audience alike.  Cast Registraiton Form  KidTech registration Form

Campus Supervision Openings!

White Hill currently has three 45 minute openings for campus supervision during lunch.  Two of the openings can be combined for 1.5 hours/day of supervision while the other opening is a standalone 45 minute position.  Interested in seeing what happens out here during lunch and have a chance to interact with our terrific student body day in and day out?  Please contact Lori Ross in the HR department for more information.  lross@rossvalleyschools.org

PE Uniforms Information

More inventory of PE clothing is due in to T&B Sports on August 29th.  Call them today at 453-2433 to reserve clothing for your son/daughter and you can pick it up later this month in San Rafael.

School Picture Dates!

Please note the dates for school pictures at White Hill this year!  Calendar them and plan your haircuts and salon trips accordingly!  No paperwork is required for the pictures to be taken.  Proofs will follow after the photo shoot is complete.
6th Grade – 8/26
7th Grade – 8/27
8th Grade – 8/28

White Hill Cross Country – Run Wildcats Run!

Cross Country sign-ups took place this week but it’s not too late to sign up if you are interested!  Practices are on Tuesdays and Fridays from 3:30-5, beginning September 3rd.  There are four meets in September and October.  All levels of running ability welcomed and encouraged.  Coached by Coach Alex.  For more information contact Coach Alex at runneronthebridge@gmail.com   The permission slip is attached for those kids who plan to participate.  Please bring it in to Coach Alex next week!

White Hill Sports and Activities Information - Funded by the YES Foundation!

White Hill has great sports and clubs that all students are welcome to join. In the Fall we have volleyball and cross country teams; in the Winter we offer basketball, and in the Spring students can participate in track, golf and wrestling. We also have two 10-week sessions of lunch time and after school clubs.  Students can check out a Strategic Games club, take Introduction to Jazz, or Mountain Bike with a group of White Hill friends.  Clubs will start mid-September.  More details soon!

CALLING ALL VOLLEYBALL COACHES!  Believe it or not, it’s back to school and volleyball season is here!

We are looking for coaches for our girls’ volleyball program, which consists of two “seasons” so that everyone has the opportunity to play.  In September we’ll have an instructional-intramural league to learn skills and positions and play round robins.  At the end of September, the coaches will have an assessment for those interested and select a smaller travel team of about 10 to 12 girls per grade that will continue practicing through early November and travel to weekly games.   We are looking for coaches that can help with either or both of these two seasons, especially in 6th and 7th grades.  We will hold a Volleyball Coaches’ Meeting at the White Hill Library next Thursday, August 29, at 6pm. Please contact Amy Forrest (a4nfam@comcast.net, 485-9255) if you can help. The success of our program depends on our wonderful volunteer coaches!

CALLING ALL VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS!

We are excited to get our White Hill volleyball program under way. If you are interested in playing volleyball this year, please download and fill out the after-school sports permission slip and bring it to the White Hill office. We hope to have volleyball practices start the week of September 3. Please contact Amy Forrest (a4nfam@comcast.net, 485-9255) if you have any questions.

CROSS COUNTRY STARTS SOON! WE ENCOURAGE & WELCOME ALL LEVELS OF RUNNING ABILITY!!

Cross Country sign-ups continue next Thursday, August 29 at both lunches, right near the White Hill Library. Practices will start on Tuesday, September 3 and will be held every Tuesday and Friday from 3:30-5. There will be four meets in September and October. Coach Alex Sebastian coached White Hill’s track team last Spring, and is excited about this Fall’s Cross Country team. For more information contact Coach Alex at runneronthebridge@gmail.com. Questions or Comments, please contact Amy Forrest, White Hill Activities Coordinator, at a4nfam@comcast.net or 485-9255.

Please see Community News for information from around our towns.
 
Please have a great weekend and we will see the kids back here Monday morning.
 
Go Wildcats!

David

6th Grade Parent Reps for School Site Council

We still have openings for 6th parent representatives for our school site council.  Please contact Kristin Pederson at kristin@dpemploymentlaw.com if you are interested.  Thank you!

Yes Theatre! – Chateau La Roach

Please plan to join our fantastic theatre program for the production of Chateau La Roach, a slapstick performance that will be a wonderful time for our kids and the audience alike.  See the attached documents for information on cast registration and KidTech registration.  Sign up Today – Registration closes soon!

Volleyball for Boys

If you have a BOY who wants to play volleyball, we will have an afterschool club for that! Please have your son sign up for the club during Club Sign Up Day on Friday, September 13, in the White Hill Gym, during both lunches!!

White Hill School Site Council Meeting – Tuesday, September 10th – 3:45-5:15 – White Hill Library – Please Join Us!

Agenda

• Introduction/welcome
• Open time
• Approval of minutes from last meeting
• Distribute copies of By-Laws and review purpose of the Site Council
• Appointment of new representatives (if applicable) and/or discussion of election procedures (if applicable)
• Elect officers
• Appoint representative to RVSD Round Table meetings
• Review parent and student survey results
• Brief overview of Site Plan work to be completed by the Site Council
• Updates
• Principal
• Assistant Principal
• Teachers
  
  

Parent Club Meeting Dates!

Please join us for our parent club meetings this year.  We want your input and need your help!  We have lots to do and would love to capture the energy of our entire parent community.

October 17th  7-8 pm  White HIll Library

Agenda
2013-2014 Draft Budget Review/Fundraising Plans/Volunteer Needs

January 29th  7-8 pm  White Hill Library – Agenda TBD

Spring Date – TBD

White Hill Sports and Activities are all sponsored by the YES Foundation! Go YES!

White Hill Girls Volleyball Is Here! - We have some fantastic parents and Drake High School students who have stepped up to coach our 2013 volleyball season!  Starting next week, on Monday, September 9 we’ll have an instructional-intramural league open to all girls to learn skills and positions and play round robins.  At the end of September, the coaches will hold assessments for those interested and select a smaller travel team of about 10 to 12 girls per grade that will continue practicing through early November and travel to weekly games against other Marin County schools. If your daughter is interested in playing volleyball for White Hill, please fill out the attached permission slip and have her bring it on the first day of practice. Please remember that permission slips are MANDATORY to play sports at White Hill.
 
Questions or comments, please contact Amy Forrest, White Hill YES Activities Coordinator, a4nfam@comcast.net or 485-9255.

Practice Schedule
 
Monday         
4-5:30        6th grade                                           
6-7:30        7th grade        
 
Tuesday         
3:15-5        8th grade        
 
Wednesday   
2:30-4        8th grade        
4-5:30        6th grade        
 
Thursday        
6-7:30       7th grade      

Clubs, Clubs, Clubs!

Calling all White Hill Students: check out White Hill Clubs next Friday, September 13 in the White Hill Gym at lunch!! Club mentors will answer questions about clubs and also have signup sheets for you. Most clubs, such as the Myth Club and Cartooning/Comics Club, will be held during lunchtimes, but we’ll have some afternoon clubs: the Guitar Club will be on Wednesdays after school, while the Mountain Biking Club and Hiking Club will be on Thursdays after school. Descriptions of the clubs will be posted at the White Hill Office next week, and next week’s Wildcat Wrap will have all of the details.
 
Questions or comments, please contact Amy Forrest, White Hill YES Activities Coordinator, a4nfam@comcast.net or 485-9255.

Allergic Kids at White Hill – Important Information!

Please be mindful of the fact that we have several highly allergic kids at White Hill – kids that have life threatening allergies to food items (fish, nuts, etc.) and bee stings.  Please remind your kids of this fact and encourage them to clean up after themselves, throw away their trash, and help keep our campus, and our kids, safe.   The teachers who have our most highly allergic kids have reached out to their families when appropriate but we’d like to ask that everyone in our school community do their part to keep these kids safe.  Thank you.

White Hill 2013-2014 YES Assembly Schedule

We have lined up three terrific speakers for our assemblies this year at White Hill. 

Our 6th-grade assembly with be will Bobby McMullen of RideBlindRacing. Bobby is a legally blind mountain bike racer who provides kids with an inspiring message about beating the odds and persevering no matter what the circumstances. 

Our 7th-grade assembly just took place this past week and was provided by David Roach and his wife, Marlena. Please ask your kids about this special assembly and, for a first-hand look at their presentation, see www.davidroche.com/LASS.

Our 8th-grade assembly this year will be equally amazing with the return of Melba Beals, one of the Little Rock Nine, those brave nine students who helped integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. This presentation is aligned directly to our 8th graders studies in History class.  

Thank you to everyone who is able to support the YES Foundation.  Without your support these assemblies would not take place.

Staff Appreciation

We our hosting our next Staff Appreciation event on Friday, September 19th.  It made a big difference last year, the staff loved all the wonderful food and have felt very appreciated.  So, we're going to do it again!
 
Parents - please bring in your extra garden bounty as we are planning a “Harvest Market” for our much-appreciated staff to take home and enjoy.  We need your fruit, vegetables (those extra zucchinis), and any herbs and flowers you may have growing and would like to share.   If you are not a gardener and would like to contribute -one option is the Fairfax Farmers Market, Wednesday evening from 4-8pm. You can pick up dinner there too!
 
Please sign up at www.timetosignup.com/whitehill/signupsheet/19044 (no password or login needed) or email rgoebel1@comcast.net .
You can also call Robin at 456-0276 to let her know what you would like to bring in, or if you can help with set-up after 1:30pm.  The fruits and vegetables may be delivered to the front office on September 18th all day and on September 19th before 11am.  
 
It is most helpful if you bring your items in non-returnable containers.  
 
Thank you!
Robin Goebel, White Hill Parent Club Staff Appreciation Coordinator

White Hill Late Work Policy – Please Read Carefully!

The White Hill Late Work Policy is intended to support students staying on top of their work and meeting expected deadlines for assignments.  The goal is to help students become responsible for their school work and successfully participate in the learning culture of their classroom.  When students consistently turn their work in on time, they will learn more, feel better about their classroom experience and develop the confidence and executive functioning skills necessary to be successful in the future.
 
Generally:
1.      All assignments (including long-term assignments) are due on the due date.
2.      Late assignments turned in within a week will result in a reduction in grade (percentage reduction determined by departments and/or grade level teams.)
3.      After one week, if the missing assignment is not turned in, the student will earn a “0” for the assignment and the assignment will not be able to be turned in at a later date.
 
Absences:
In the case of student absence, work will be accepted for full credit up to the number of days the student was absent.
 
*Special circumstances may allow for this policy to be adjusted with teacher/administrative approval.
**Students with an IEP may also have this policy amended per teacher recommendation.

Important!  Messages for Kids Should be for Emergencies Only

Please refrain from calling in messages to kids during the school day that pertain to play dates, who is going on what bus, change in soccer practice times, etc. unless it is absolutely essential that your child has this information and you were not able to get it to them before they left for school.  We could hire a full time person to simply run messages around campus all day and we’d still not get to everyone!  Please do your very best to give your kids the information they need for the day before they go to school.  We completely understand that things come up and we are happy to help but it should be a last resort.   Thank you for your understanding.

Greenbrae Mini Maker Faire - Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. - Bon Air Center, Greenbrae, CA

Greenbrae Mini Maker Faire will be Marin’s largest ‘Do-It-Yourself’ festival, showcasing local makers with activities, show-and-tell, and exhibits on arts, crafts, science, robotics, music, technology, sustainability, education, food, and creativity.  White Hill Engineering classes will have four tables teaching people how to make Blinky Bugs, EV3 Robots, and explaining 3D printing.  Come Make with us!  makerfairegreenbrae.com

News from Our Nurse – Laurel Yrun

Dear Parents, welcome to a new school year.
 
During the year I will be screening all students in 8th grade for vision and hearing as mandated by state law. I will notify parents if their child needs further evaluation by a health care provider. I also screen students by staff or parent request, students in special education and new students.
 
Please notify us if your child needs any medication(s) during the school day. An authorization to administer medication form must be completed and signed by both the parent and health care provider for ALL medications, including over the counter medicines. Please do not send medication to school with your child without this authorization. Students with asthma may carry their inhalers if the authorization to self administer portion on the form is completed and signed. All medication(s) must be in the original container and must be clearly labeled with the student’s name.

If your child takes medication(s) on a daily basis for a medical condition, we advise parents to complete the 72 hour medication authorization form and send a 3 day supply of the medication(s) to the school office. The medication(s) must be in the original prescription container and must be clearly labeled with the student’s name.
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
 
Laurel Yrun, RN, School Nurse
Voicemail: 451-4078
laurel@rossvalleyschools.org

Aeries Student/Parent Portal Log-In Information

I am sorry to hear that some of you are experiencing Aeries Student and Parent Portal Log in issues and are not able to get online to see your child’s profile.  We are working with Aeries now to address them and will be in touch asap with any information we can provide. This is a new problem this year but we are determined to figure it out.  If you are able to get on the site but now can’t find the link b/c the website has been modernized, please go to www.rossvalleyschools.org and then to Our Schools – White Hill Middle School – lower left panel on the side.  You’ll find the Parent Portal icon there.

PE Uniforms Information – T&B has received the new order of PE clothing.

Stop by to pick up your order.  If you’d like, call them today at 453-2433 to reserve clothing for your son/daughter and you can pick it up this weekend or sometime next week.

Stay cool this weekend and keep your eye on those Badgers.  41 – 7 over Tennessee Tech!
 
Go Wildcats!
 
David
 
David Finnane
Principal
White Hill Middle School
101 Glen Drive
Fairfax, CA  94930
415.454.8390 Phone
415.454.3980 Fax

RVSD Board Briefs

Regular Board of Trustees Meeting, September 10, 2013
Policy Review
As part of our ongoing commitment to reviewing, revising, and updating the District policies, the Board and staff devoted the entire open-session portion of the meeting to policy review. Portions of the following policy series were discussed.
Series 3000: Business and Non-Instructional Operations
Series 4000: Personnel
Series 5000: Students
Series 6000: Instruction
 
Special Board of Trustees Community Meeting, September 12, 2013
Bond Sales
The Board, staff, and RVSD financial and bond sales advisors met with members of the community at a special public meeting on September 12th to provide information and gather input on our upcoming bond issuance.
RVSD business manager Jim Cerreta presented a brief history of the District’s decision to increase classroom capacity to meet the needs of our growing enrollment, and explained the various bond configuration options that remain available to us to fund the next stages of the project. Some of these options will provide funds much sooner and in greater amounts, but carry greater interest cost. Others are less expensive but will result in a delay of our building projects.
 
In a nutshell, because home prices are now recovering while interest rates still remain relatively low, the outlook has improved dramatically since the previous estimates from the county were released earlier this year. Given the revised estimates, RVSD ought to be able to realize between $8.5 and $11 million dollars with a December, 2013 bond sale, which is projected to be sufficient to complete classroom construction at all four elementary sites.
Whether we decide to opt for the $8.5 million option or the $11 million option has not yet been decided. The Board requested additional information on the potential future effects of various home price valuation and interest rate fluctuations from our financial advisors before a final decision is made. We want to be sure we are maximizing our ability to serve our students and community while minimizing undue expense and/or risk to our general fund – and getting it done as quickly and prudently as possible.
 
We want to thank the community who came out to participate. A lot of good thinking and advocacy went on, and it was extremely useful to gain insight into the preferences of some of our community members.

Being Neighborly

Please, please, please do not park in our neighbor’s reserved spots along Glen Drive or use their driveways as temporary waiting zones.  Our neighbors have immense patience but when they come home and can’t park in their spots it’s especially frustrating and does not shine a positive light on our parents or our school.  Thank you for your consideration.

Aeries Student/Parent Portal Log-In Information

Please go to this link today if you have not already and get yourself and your child signed up for the portal:
parent.marinschools.org/rossvalley/LoginParent.aspx?page=default.aspx
If the portal does not seem to be working for you, please email me here with a explanation of exactly what the problem is and I will make sure our I.T. department addresses it immediately.  Every family should be viewing the Portal by now if at all possible.

Edmodo for Parents!  

Need some tips? Go to this link for a TechTip from our very own White Hill technology teacher, Kaki McLachlan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H06GhhjXshA&feature=youtu.be

Full Color White Hill Yearbooks For Sale Now

White Hill Yearbooks Are On Sale For $36.50.  Get your yearbook today by ordering online!
 
Financial assistance is available for families in need. Use these forms make payment with a check or request financial assistance. For more information contact Yearbook Teacher Emma Beauchamp at emmab@rossvalleyschools.org

Forms are also available in the main office.  All yearbooks must be ordered on or before Dec. 20, 2013.  Sorry, yearbooks are not available after Winter Break.  Please order your copy today!

White Hill Late Work Policy – Please Read Carefully!

The White Hill Late Work Policy is intended to support students staying on top of their work and meeting expected deadlines for assignments.  The goal is to help students become responsible for their school work and successfully participate in the learning culture of their classroom.  When students consistently turn their work in on time, they will learn more, feel better about their classroom experience and develop the confidence and executive functioning skills necessary to be successful in the future.
 
Generally:
1.      All assignments (including long-term assignments) are due on the due date.
2.      Late assignments turned in within a week will result in a reduction in grade (percentage reduction determined by departments and/or grade level teams.)
3.      After one week, if the missing assignment is not turned in, the student will earn a “0” for the assignment and the assignment will not be able to be turned in at a later date.
 
Absences:
In the case of student absence, work will be accepted for full credit up to the number of days the student was absent.
 
Special circumstances may allow for this policy to be adjusted with teacher/administrative approval. Students with an IEP may also have this policy amended per teacher recommendation.

6th Grade BBQ and Bingo Night – Get Those Forms In!

Please fill out the RSVP form today!  Send in with your child or email me back a scanned form.   Thank you!

Staff Appreciation Day is Coming Thursday, September 19th

We our hosting our next Staff Appreciation event on Thursday, September 19th.  It made a big difference last year, the staff loved all the wonderful food and have felt very appreciated. So, we're going to do it again!
 
Parents - please bring in your extra garden bounty as we are planning a “Harvest Market” for our much-appreciated staff to take home and enjoy.  We need your fruit, vegetables (those extra zucchinis), and any herbs and flowers you may have growing and would like to share.   If you are not a gardener and would like to contribute -one option is the Fairfax Farmers Market, Wednesday evening from 4-8pm. You can pick up dinner there too!
 
Please sign up at http://www.timetosignup.com/whitehill/signupsheet/19044 (no password or login needed) or email rgoebel1@comcast.net .
 
You can also call Robin at 456-0276 to let her know what you would like to bring in, or if you can help with set-up after 1:30pm.  The fruits and vegetables may be delivered to the front office on Wednesday, September 18th all day and on Thursday, September 19th before 11am. 
 
It is most helpful if you bring your items in non-returnable containers.  Thank you!
 
Robin Goebel, White Hill Parent Club Staff Appreciation Coordinator

Art Room Needs

Cleaning out your sock drawer this weekend?  Please collect your gently used children’s colorful socks (or yours) and send them to the art teachers!  We are looking for stripy, patterned, and colorful knee socks. We do not need any boring old plain black or white socks, or any sports socks-thanks anyway.  We will take them all year, so please file this bizarre request away for later if you don't have any that are outgrown right now.
Socks can be dropped at the office or left in front of Room 302.  Thank you!  Questions? send them to emmab@rossvalleyschools.org

Important Notes From Our Librarian

Hi Parents, two quick things:
 
The library is trying something new this year. We are asking students to keep their paperback core literature books in a sturdy gallon-size plastic zipped baggie. The baggie should have their name written on it and one baggie can be used for the whole year.  We are hoping this added measure helps keep the paperbacks from damage by food, drink and dirt commonly found in backpacks.  Our aim is to minimize student fees and fines associated with damaged and lost books. Please help us help your students by supplying them with a baggie.  If you have questions or concerns, please contact Tina or Grisel in the library.
 
September is library card month at the Marin County Free Library.  All students are invited to get a free library card if they don't already have one, or if they had one and lost it. Just as in school, students can check out materials and have access to online databases - all from reliable sources.  And, for those students who want a FREE online tutor to work with them on a complicated math problem, or who need help editing a paper, Brainfuse HelpNow!  is available through our website in both English and Spanish. (San Anselmo residents will have access to tutor.com).
 
Students can go to www.marinreads.org for an application.
 
And, through September 30th, students can try their hand at the Digital Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a $25 Visa gift card!  The Hunt is accessible at http://goo.gl/NKG7tJ.
 
Happy Reading! Tina and Grisel

Dress Code Updates

Thanks to all of you for your efforts in support of our new dress code policy.  We are aware that there are some parents that don’t fully agree with this direction and we appreciate your input as we have moved forward. This is clearly a topic where we have no chance to find complete consensus amongst our parent population and therefore need to land on a policy that we think is reasonable and conducive to a healthy school culture.  We think this policy fits the bill on both accounts and intend to continue with the policy as is for the foreseeable future. This is not to suggest we won’t consider some adjustments down the road but the policy as advertised is what we plan to continue with for now. With this in mind – here are a few friendly updates: 

--Spaghetti straps underneath a see-through blouse is not dress code compliant. 
--Any sort of strap or undergarment or otherwise should be concealed while at school. We get that from time to time an undergarment will be shown and that is perfectly normal and understandable.  What’s not acceptable is if a child’s wardrobe intentionally displays an undergarment or a shirt with straps that are not dress code compliant. 
--Reminder re: boys and tank tops – two inches thick on the width of the straps (same as the girls) and the tank should not hang well below the arm pits – it should hang just around the arm pit area. 

Thank you again for your assistance in this area.

White Hill School Site Council Meeting Recap

Our official minutes will follow but we had a very productive meeting last Tuesday.  Please consider joining us for our meetings if you are able.  We will meet this year from 3:45-5:15 in the White Hill Library on the following dates.  Upcoming topics will include awards assemblies, dress code update, student surveys and much more!
 
September 24
October 8
October 29
December 3
January 14
February 11
March 18
May 6

Parent Club Meeting Dates!

Please join us for our parent club meetings this year.  We want your input and need your help!  We have lots to do and would love to capture the energy of our entire parent community.
October 17th  7-8 pm  WH Library – Agenda – 2013-2014 Draft Budget Review/Fundraising Plans/Volunteer Needs
January 29th  7-8 pm  WH Library – Agenda TBD
Spring Date – TBD

White Hill Sports and Activities are all sponsored by the YES Foundation! Go YES!

Your generous contributions to the YES Foundation support all of our awesome activities and sports at White Hill!
 
Go Wildcats!! White Hill Girls Volleyball Is Here! - We have some fantastic parents and Drake High School students who have stepped up to coach our 2013 volleyball season!  Our volleyball clinics are still open to all girls to learn skills and positions and play round robins.  At the end of September, the coaches will hold assessments for those interested and select a smaller travel team of about 10 to 12 girls per grade that will continue practicing through early November and travel to weekly games against other Marin County schools. If your daughter is interested in playing volleyball for White Hill, please fill out the attached permission slip and have her bring it on the first day of practice. Please remember that permission slips are MANDATORY to play sports at White Hill.

New Schedule Information Our White Hill travel volleyball teams will start games the week of September 30th: 6th grade games will be on Mondays, 7th grade on Tuesdays, and 8th grade on Wednesdays. All games will be held at Davidson Middle School in San Rafael; game times will be at 3:45 pm.
 
Questions or comments, please contact Amy Forrest, White Hill YES Activities Coordinator, a4nfam@comcast.net or 485-9255.
 
Fall Volleyball Practice Schedule
 
Monday        
4-5:30        6th grade                                          
6-7:30        7th grade       
 
Tuesday        
3:15-5        8th grade       
 
Wednesday  
2:30-4        8th grade       
4-5:30        6th grade       
 
Thursday       
6-7:30       7th grade       

Calling All White Hill Students! Our Club Sign Up Day was today!

We encourage students to come check out clubs whether they signed up or not. Parents, please note that Mountain Biking and Hiking require permission slips. Please make sure your child brings the permission slip to school either before the club starts or the day of the club. Most Clubs start next week, the week of September 16th, but some start in October, please check the fine print! Here are the clubs that White Hill has to offer this Fall
 
Lunchtime Clubs
 
Art with Miss Emma
Mondays at 6th Grade Lunch, starting on October 21, Room 302
(10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/12 [Tues that week], 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16)
6th graders, this club is just for you! Gather with your old friends and new in Ms. Emma's art room. We will draw for fun andmake some art that you can use for gifts.  Club time is your time so if you want a place and space to tap into your creative side-this is it! Materials will be provided. For those that like to follow a project we will be creating pinwheels, greeting cards, pop-ups, bookmarks, and doing rubber stamping, and spirograph.
 
Cartooning and Comics Club with Stephen Ezell from Golden Gate Tutoring
Fridays at 6th Lunch, Room 107 and 7th/8th Grade Lunch, Bungalow 12
This club will be a fun time for students to learn about Comic Book history, writing, art, and much more. Sixth grade students will have the opportunity to place an order for Larry Marder's Beanworld. Seventh and eighth grade students will have an opportunity to orderAsterix the Gaul, which is the first volume of the widely popular French comic Asterix by Goscinny and Uderzo. These are all age comics that will enthrall all readers. We will analyze and discuss these books during the latter weeks of the club. Each book is $20 for the collected edition. Students will design their own character and give him traits and will have the opportunity to present their creation to the rest of the club. This club is centered around Comic Books, but will also be a nice gateway to creative endeavors for students to do together. The goal is to have the club members create and learn while having a lot of fun!
 
New!  Flying Pigs Club
Tuesdays at 6th Grade Lunch, Room 101
Ever seen a stuffed pig fly? Join Ms. Marrero and 6th graders to build catapults to make stuffed pigs fly, create tools to track their flights, advertise your findings and have lots of fun!!
 
Geography Club with Mr. Krause
Fridays at 7th/8th Grade Lunch, Room 303
Do you know where Mongolia and Marrakesh are? Curious about how many mountain ranges we have in North America? Join other students to learn about different parts of the world and prepare for the White Hill Geography Bee! There will be theme days to celebrate different countries, and some quizzes and competitions.
 
New!  Knitting Club with Ms. Ruzzier
Tuesdays at 7th/8th grade Lunch, Room 301
Learn how to knit or sharpen your skills with Ms. Ruzzier!
 
Myth Club with Ms. Politzer                                               
Mondays at 6th and 7th/8th Grade Lunches, Room 97
If you love Mythology, Holidays and Urban Legends, if you suspect that one of your relatives may be a werewolf, or if you are a regular kid with an inquiring mind, MYTH CLUB is the club for you!  Club Mentor Ann Politzer returns to lead this fun club.
 
Mathletes with Mr. Pommier
Tuesdays at 7th/8th grade lunch in Room 4, plus 4 Tuesdays after school for competition
Mathletes is a great activity designed to challenge students at all levels to USE their math skills to solve interesting and unusual problems.  The topics we cover are very different from topics you are learning in Math 7A, Math 8A, or Geometry.  We focus on unusual topics, which include changing bases, geometry, probability, word problems and math riddles.  Join Mathletes’ mentor, Juan Pommier, and exercise your brain with critical thinking and problem-solving while having fun as we compete against teams from other schools throughout the county.  Go Wildcats!
 
Minecraft with Mr. Pommier
Thursdays at 7th/8th grade Lunches in Room 4
Join Mr. Pommier and explore the online world of Minecraft!
 
Ping Pong Club with Ms. Vidal or Ms. Krick
Thursdays at 6th and 7th/8th Grade Lunch near Room 100
Do you like to play ping pong? Join Ms. Vidal, Ms. Krick and some friends and play some ping pong each Thursday at lunch.
 
New!  Sewing Club with Miss Emma
Wednesdays at 7th/8th Grade Lunch, starting on October 23, Room 302, (10/23, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11, 12/18)
Join Miss Emma and your friends and learn how to sew or work on your budding skills!!
 
New!  Volunteer Club with Ms. Hickman
Fridays at 6th grade Lunch in Room 105
Come find out what this club is all about!
 
Strategic Games with Mr. Dines                 
Tuesdays at 7th/8th Grade Lunch, and Fridays at 6th Grade Lunch, Bungalow 7
The Strategic Games Club is a safe and relaxing place for students to make friends and interact in an environment where they have common interests with their peers.  The room is stocked with card games to board games and we encourage students to bring in their own as well.  Over a dozen students take part in the Strategic Games Club every week and get to eat lunch and hang out in a positive social environment.
 

After School Clubs
 
Advanced Mountain Biking Club with Coach Desmond
Thursdays after school, starting in October
Join Coach Kirk Desmond and have fun exploring the back trails in Marin.  Coach Kirk will lead mountain bikers with advanced experience, weather permitting.  Days may change and there may be some opportunities for weekend rides.  Bike handling skills and safety will be discussed.  Parents are welcome and encouraged to ride along.  Contact Kirk to volunteer or if you have questions:  kdesmond@rossvalleyschools.org
 
New!! Guitar Club with Joe Marquez from the Marin Community Music School
Wednesdays after school, in Room 97
Join guitar teacher and Manor School parent Joe Marquez and play guitar! Beginning and intermediate levels welcome.
 
Hiking Club with Ms. Bodle and Ms. Krick         
Some Thursdays after school (Sept 19, Oct 10, Oct 17, Nov 14, Nov 21), 3:30-4:30pm
& one weekend hike (2-3 hours), date to be determined
Join Club Leaders, Natasha Krick and Liz Bodle, and enjoy hiking in the beautiful Open Space near White Hill.  All levels of experience welcome.
 
New!  Photography Club with Reid Thaler
Wednesdays after school, classroom to be determined
Local, professional photographer Reid Thaler offers students a photography course that teaches a variety of skills, ranging from learning to use an adjustable camera, optimizing images using image editing software, and taking photowalks, along with other exercises. For more information on Mr. Thaler, please go to: lumiograph.com.
 
New!  Boys’ Volleyball with Ms. Pelton
Thursdays after school, 3:15-4:30, White Hill Gym
Join your White Hill friends and play some volleyball! We will have practices and games at White Hill, and scrimmage with other Marin County boys’ volleyball teams.

Allergic Kids at White Hill – Important Information!

Please be mindful of the fact that we have several highly allergic kids at White Hill – kids that have life threatening allergies to food items (fish, nuts, etc.) and bee stings.  Please remind your kids of this fact and encourage them to clean up after themselves, throw away their trash, and help keep our campus, and our kids, safe.   The teachers who have our most highly allergic kids have reached out to their families when appropriate but we’d like to ask that everyone in our school community do their part to keep these kids safe.  Thank you.

Important!  Messages for Kids Should be for Emergencies Only

Please refrain from calling in messages to kids during the school day that pertain to play dates, who is going on what bus, change in soccer practice times, etc. unless it is absolutely essential that your child has this information and you were not able to get it to them before they left for school.  We could hire a full time person to simply run messages around campus all day and we’d still not get to everyone!  Please do your very best to give your kids the information they need for the day before they go to school.  We completely understand that things come up and we are happy to help but it should be a last resort.   Thank you for your understanding.

Greenbrae Mini Maker Faire – Tomorrow! - Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.  Bon Air Center, Greenbrae, CA

Greenbrae Mini Maker Faire will be Marin’s largest ‘Do-It-Yourself’ festival, showcasing local makers with activities, show-and-tell, and exhibits on arts, crafts, science, robotics, music, technology, sustainability, education, food, and creativity.  White Hill Engineering classes will have four tables teaching people how to make Blinky Bugs, EV3 Robots, and explaining 3D printing.  Come Make with us! http://makerfairegreenbrae.com/

TLC Homework Club at White Hill – Starts Next Week!

Directors:  Bonnie and Mike Zaleski
Homework Help and Foundation Review, Improve Study Skills and Organizational Skills, Prioritize Workload, Learn How to Keep up with your Planner, Supervised Tutoring Instruction
 
Tutors:       Excellent, Responsible, Knowledgeable, Accessible
 
Hours:        1.5 hrs after school Mon-Th
                   Mon/Tu/Th’s:       3:15-4:45pm
                   Wed’s:                 2:15-3:45pm    
                   
Where:       White Hill Room 103
 
Fee:            $30 per hour (1 time per week minimum participation)
 
Register:   Contact TLC Tutoring directly at 415-453-1852 or email us at:  director@tlctutoring.org, or visit our website:  www.tlctutoring.org

Community News – See the attached document for important info. from around our towns as well as information on how to use Agenda Online – our School Board’s online access point for board meeting agendas and minutes.

I know, you can’t wait for the prediction.  Here it is:  Wisconsin 31 – ASU 30 in a back and forth contest for the ages.  Bucky prevails!
 
Go Wildcats!
 
 
David

Staff Appreciation Recap

Holy smokes was that an amazing Staff Appreciation Day yesterday! Thanks to all of you who were able to donate items for the Harvest Festival. We are all so grateful to work in such an amazing community.
 

Independent Study Requirements

Please make sure that you give White Hill 5 business days or more notice for any independent study trips that you set up with your family.  Independent studies can be set up for any child missing a minimum of 5 consecutive school days but we must have at least 5 days notice to prepare the study packets.  Contact Vicki Bornstein at vbornstein@rossvalleyschools.orgto arrange for an independent study trip or with any questions.

Being Neighborly

Please, please, please do not park in our neighbor’s reserved spots along Glen Drive or use their driveways as temporary waiting zones.  Also, please avoid double parking in front of our school as it creates chaos in front of the school with buses, etc.  Our neighbors have immense patience but when they come home and can’t park in their spots it’s especially frustrating and does not shine a positive light on our parents or our school.  Thank you for your consideration.

Snack and Lunch Drop off in the Office

If you must drop off a snack or lunch in the office for your child during school hours please try to let him/her know that morning that you will be dropping it off and ask him/her to look in the office for it later that day. We are getting tons of requests in the office to get kids their snacks and lunches after school has begun and soon we will need to hire a snack-lunch delivery person! Thanks for thinking ahead!

Aeries?  Edmodo?  What is for What?

Aeries is for checking if a student has turned in his/her assignments and staying up to speed in each class.  You can also get a child’s current grade by checking Aeries (disclaimer:  it takes time to grade assignments – not every grade is real time but teachers update grades as quickly as is possible).  Edmodo is for checking a student’s assignments/homework and communicating with other kids (or the teacher in some cases) re: what is due, when, etc.  Two very helpful services with different purposes!

Aeries Student/Parent Portal Log-In Information

Have you logged into Aeries yet?  Has your child?  Please go to this link to get on and get in the game!  
https://parent.marinschools.org/rossvalley/LoginParent.aspx?page=default.aspx
If the portal does not seem to be working for you, please email me here with a explanation of exactly what the problem is and I will make sure our IT department addresses it immediately.  Every family should be viewing the Portal by now if at all possible.
 

Edmodo for Parents!  Need Some Tips?

Please go to this link for a TechTip from our very own White Hill technology teacher, Kaki McLachlan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H06GhhjXshA&feature=youtu.be

Homework – How is it Going?

We care a lot about how homework is going at home and we are especially concerned when a child is overwhelmed by homework.  If this is the case for your child, please contact the relevant teacher immediately and ask to talk by phone or in person so we can help determine next best steps.  Kids should not be spending more than 1 – 1.5 hours a night on homework M-TH.  No homework on F-Sa-Su unless it is for a project over time.  Please let us know if homework is a problem for your child/family – we want to help!

White Hill Disaster Preparedness Parent Representative

White Hill is looking for a parent to represent our school at County quarterly disaster preparedness meetings.  Please contact Ms. Hoyt at mhoyt@rossvalleyschools.org if you can help!

YES Fundraiser!

Join the 3rd Annual Co-Ed Mountain Bike Ride and After Party for YES on Sat. Sept. 28 hosted by White Hill parent, Michael Lipson.  Enjoy any of 2-3 group local trail rides, an afternoon BBQ and a live house blues band (attendees invited to join the jam), and renown bike schwag lottery. Click here to make your reservation now.

Full Color White Hill Yearbooks For Sale Now! - White Hill Yearbooks Are On Sale For $36.50 -  Get your yearbook today by ordering online!

Order your yearbook online at  http://jostensyearbooks.com?REF=A00597768.
 
Financial assistance is available for families in need. Forms for check purchases and financial assistance information are available. If you have questions contact Yearbook teacher- Emma Beauchamp at emmab@rossvalleyschools.org.

Forms are also available in the main office.  All yearbooks must be ordered on or before Dec. 20, 2013.  Sorry, yearbooks are not available after Winter Break.  Please order your copy today!

6th Grade BBQ and Bingo Night – Get Those Forms In!

RSVP today!  Send your form in with your child or email a scanned form back to me. Deadline is Monday!  Thank you!

School Picture Proofs

School picture proofs are here and they will be distributed to students on Monday.  Pictures can be ordered online -just follow the instructions on the proofs envelope.  If you prefer to write a check you can fill out the information on the envelope and return it to the school office no later than Wednesday, Sept. 25th. You can also elect to have your student take a re-take. The envelope states that  the deadline for electing a re-shoot is Monday, Sept. 23rd. That deadline has been extended to Wednesday, Sept. 25th. If you would like your student to take a re-take please check the appropriate box and return the entire proof page to the office by Wednesday, Sept 25th.

Art Room Needs

Cleaning out your sock drawer this weekend?  Please collect your gently used children’s colorful socks (or yours) and send them to the art teachers!  We are looking for stripy, patterned, and colorful knee socks. We do not need any boring old plain black or white socks, or any sports socks-thanks anyway.  We will take them all year, so please file this bizarre request away for later if you don't have any that are outgrown right now.

Socks can be dropped at the office or left in front of Room 302. Thank you! Questions? Emil emmab@rossvalleyschools.org.

White Hill School Site Council Meeting Recap

Our official minutes will follow but we had a very productive meeting last Tuesday.  Please consider joining us for our meetings if you are able.  We will meet this year from 3:45-5:15 in the White Hill Library on the following dates.  Upcoming topics will include awards assemblies, dress code update, student surveys and much more! For more information on dates and to read minutes go to our Site Council page.