A newsletter for the families and friends of Westchester Country Day School

From the Head of SchoolMaster Planning: Envisioning a Campus for the Next Fifty Years

Since Westchester’s founding in 1967, our campus has grown from a single building into the picturesque, fifty-three acre setting we enjoy today. Two generations of Wildcats have called this campus home during this time, and the first member of the third generation of Wildcats joined our pre-kindergarten this year.

As we plan to celebrate the first half century of Westchester, the Board of Trustees has decided to take take time this year to look closely at our campus and develop a long range master plan to guide us in our work to grow and improve.

The Board has contracted with WGM Design, an architecture firm out of Charlotte, to lead us in this effort. Bill Monroe, the firm’s founder, will be at the helm. Since the firm’s founding in 1988, Bill has worked to develop master plans with more than thirty independent schools throughout North and South Carolina and Virginia. He brings both a wealth of independent school experience and a well-developed and effective planning process to the table. Click here to learn more about WGM Design.

The best campus plans are comprehensive, driven by our mission, and built upon a clear sense of who we are as a school community and what we hope to become. The Board has convened a steering committee with representatives from the board, faculty, alumni, and student body to serve as the primary point of contact with WGM during this effort. Bill’s firm has a very well-developed master planning process; over the coming months, working closely with the Steering Committee, they will walk us through five key stages:

The Who: To connect quickly and richly with who we are as a school, Bill and his partner will hold one-on-one interviews with a cross-section of the WCDS community--trustees, faculty, students, staff, and alumni.

The What: This stage will identify what we currently have, what facilities are missing at this time that are needed to better fulfill our mission, and what facilities we need to consider adding in future years.

The Where--Today: Working from existing blueprints and survey data, WGM will input all of our current building plans into their computer system to facilitate a detailed site analysis.

The Where--Tomorrow: Based on the work detailed above, WGM will develop at least four master plan concepts to be presented to the Steering Committee. We will then be presented with two final plan concepts based on dialogue about these concepts from which our final plan will be derived.

The When: We will finalize our plan and work with WGM to develop phasing plans, an overall implementation plan, and cost estimates.

October 2015 Newsletter

In This Issue...

Headlines

Upcoming Events

Meet Your Wildcats

Arts Update

Athletics Update

For the College Bound

Counselor’s Corner

International Travel Update

WAPA Notes and News

Welcome, New Wildcat!7th GradeMiss Emma Whitlock*Ms. Jennifer Whitlock and Mr. Dave Bates

*Denotes a new family to WCDS.

Once completed and approved, this master plan will serve as our roadmap in the coming years as we work together to grow and improve our school. For so many students and families, this campus is and has been a second home--a place to learn and grow, to build lasting relationships, to realize personal potential, and to nurture children toward meaningful and productive adult lives. As the third generation of Wildcats begins to enroll, we have a powerful opportunity as a school family to guarantee that they and the generations to come over the next fifty years have the perfect place to call home.

I hope this news is as exciting to you as it is to me, and I welcome the chance to speak with any of you who may have ideas, questions, or suggestions as we move forward. My door remains open; let me know if you’d like to talk.

Cobb

Visit WestNet Community for address information.

Odyssey of the Mind Opportunity

Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving competition for students of all ages. Under the guidance of an adult coach, a team of up to seven students is given a “problem” for which it must create a “solution.” A team spends months creating this solution and then presents it in a competition against other teams in the same division. Team members come up with all the ideas for their solution and do all the work themselves; the coach plays a limited, but important, role. He or she may help teach skills and educate the team about ways of approaching the problem and evaluating their solution.

This year’s Odyssey program is scheduled to begin the week of October 26; however, we need more coaches to ensure a successful program! Please contact Deb Tuggle to volunteer! Lower School teams will meet one day a week (day to be determined) from 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Middle School teams will meet on Fridays from 1:45 - 2:45 p.m. to allow students to participate in Odyssey as well as sports. As the teams near the March regional competition date, additional practices will be necessary.

Participants MUST be available on the following dates:

Regional Tournament: Northwest Guilford High School, March 5thState Tournament: Wingate University, April 2nd (3rd - 11th graders only) Click here to register now! We must have registrations by Oct. 4.

Middle School Girls Young Peacemakers

Westchester Country Day School eighth grader Caroline Clodfelter (right) was one of the winners of this year’s Young Peacemakers Award, sponsored by Win-Win Resolutions and the YWCA of Greensboro.She was recognized at an awards ceremony on Sept. 19 at Grandover Resort. Caroline and fellow eighth grader Gaby Culler were Westchester Country Day School’s nominees for the award during the 2014-2015 academic year and attended the ceremony together.

“I am so proud of these students and their courage to demonstrate and demand kindness and responsibility for others. They are both role models of compassion,” said Mary Keever, Head of Westchester’s Middle

School. Clodfelter was nominated for the award by her English teacher, Evelyn Jenkins. Culler was nominated by her math teacher, Debby Noyes.

The mission of the Young Peacemakers Awards is to reduce violence and prejudice in schools and communities by teaching conflict resolution and positive social skills through interactive drama and mentoring programs. The awards event recognizes and honors Guilford County middle school youth who exemplify “Peacemaker” qualities.

Senior is Rotary Student, National Merit Scholar Semifinalist

Westchester Country Day School senior Casey Crouse (pictured with High Point Rotary Club President Tim Mabe) was named the High Point Rotary Club’s Student of the Month for September. He gave a speech and was recognized at the club’s meeting on Sept. 17. He is the son of George and Kim Crouse of High Point.

The Rotary Student of the Month program recognizes outstanding students who excel in both school performance and community volunteer activity.

Crouse also recently learned he is a semifinalist in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. The approximately 16,000 semifinalists have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.

Headlines

Library Launches New Databases, Book RecommendationsWe are pleased to announce the addition of two new online research databases to the WCDS library. These databases are available through WestNet and are located on the library’s home page:

Britannica School (PK - 12)• Appropriate for all divisions• Includes articles, multimedia, primary sources, games, and other learning resources with intuitive

searches• Creates standard citations• Students will be able to create customized folders for their research• Pre-K students, along with their parents, will be able to access the Britannica Learning Zone where

they will find interactive learning games and tools

Gale Student Resources in Context (6 - 12)• Middle and upper school appropriate• Delivers innovative, multimedia sources with curriculum-aligned content that fosters critical thinking• Creates standard citations• Database is compatible with Google Drive and allows students to highlight and customize their

findings

We are excited to offer students a more streamlined approach toward online research. These clean and user-friendly databases will assist them in navigating internet information more fluidly and with purpose.

We also have started a list of Wildcat Nation’s “Great Read” book suggestions! All WCDS students, faculty, and parents are encouraged to submit a suggestion. Please stop by the library to fill out a suggestion form, or feel free to email your suggestion to Andrea Mattox, Library Coordinator. The email needs to include the book title, author and illustrator, and the reason why you love the book. The list will be updated frequently and can be accessed on the library webpage in WestNet.

We invite our Westchester community to visit the library website and try these exciting new online resources!

Seniors Recognized for Performance on PSAT

Seniors Paige Hetley (top photo) and Sarah Wahid (bottom photo) have been named Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their performance on the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). They will receive a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as two of approximately 34,000 students throughout the nation recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the competition for scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is a non-profit organization established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 440 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

Students Honor “Hometown Heroes”Westchester Country Day School commemorated 9/11 this year with an all-school assembly recognizing the significance of the day, as well as honoring six “hometown heroes,” who were nominated by students.

The school’s C.A.R.E.S. Crews committee reviewed the submissions for the heroes, and the students who nominated the finalists read their tributes aloud during the assembly.

“We were very pleased to receive so many wonderful nominations from students of all ages,” said C.A.R.E.S. Crews coordinator Blair Hawley. “It was hard to narrow it down to these six.”

This year’s “Hometown Heroes” were: • Mandy Azar, a resident of Lexington who has

opened her home to be a foster parent for several children over the years who were in need of a loving family. She is married to an orthopedic surgeon and has three children of her own.

• Katherine Covington, a High Point resident who is at the top of every volunteer list in the city. She has served in countless capacities for Family Service of High Point, the High Point Junior League, and Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. She was instrumental in the creation of Good Friends, a non-profit organization which helps raise funds for many local organizations including West End Ministries, Community Resource Network, and the Salvation Army. Even while battling breast cancer, she has never stopped in her mission of helping those less fortunate in the High Point and surrounding communities.

• Jake Gardner, who founded The Fort - Fortitudine Vincimus Rescue Center in Asheboro, N.C., in 2012. Jake was formerly of Villalobos Rescue

Center and Animal Planet’s hit TV show Pit Bulls & Parolees. After many years rescuing dogs across the United States, Jake brought his experience to North Carolina to help dogs here. Fortitudine Vincimus, Latin for “By Endurance We Conquer,” is a no kill, non-d i scr iminatory rescue dedicated to alleviating the suffering of all dogs, in particular the American Pit Bull Terrier. While the

focus is primarily pit bulls, The Fort does not discriminate against a dog based on breed.

• Lisa Hawley, owner of Southern Roots Restaurant in Jamestown and the creator of Feeding Lisa’s Kids, a grassroots movement aimed at alleviating the food hardship issue for so many in High Point. Lisa and her team of volunteers feed children and families in High Point each month who would otherwise go without. Recently, Feeding Lisa’s Kids teamed up with the YMCA of High Point to expand the reach and impact of the program.

• Evelyn Jenkins, who has been teaching seventh grade Literature and Language Arts at Westchester for 20 years. Beloved by her Middle School students, she was nominated for “being an outstanding teacher, always being there for students (emotionally and academically), and caring for her 91-year-old father who lives in New Jersey.”

• Dereck Mushayamunda, who, along with his brothers and their families, created the Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation (MCDF) in early 2000 to serve the people of the Matsai area in Bikita, Zimbabwe. MCDF seeks to partner with like-minded people and churches/organizations to create inspired serving opportunities directed towards disadvantaged communities, especially orphans and widows whose life processes have been changed by the prevalence of AIDS and poverty. The organization helps get clean water to villages, provides meals for kids in schools, hosts soccer tournaments for kids, and gives clothing and toys to kids and adults. The organization has headquarters in Zimbabwe and Winston-Salem.

“It has been a wonderful lesson for students to think about the definition of a hero and realize that they walk amongst these heroes every day,” said Hawley.

Middle School News from Mrs. KeeverFall is upon us, and Middle School students have certainly fallen into a routine of learning and adventure. From the classroom to the athletic fields to the stage and beyond, students are tumbling into education.We began our adventures in learning with our fall trips. Upon our return, we have settled into our classroom routines with the assistance of our new Chromebooks. Middle School students have never been so organized or prepared; this tool is serving us well.

Our Middle School art club members spoke the language of love - their love of art - as they served at Day in the Park at City Lake Park. They helped art lovers of all ages create whimsical lanterns (right).

Our athletes are nearing the end of their cross-country, volleyball, and soccer seasons, while our thespians are just getting started with their rehearsals for Annie JR. All are humming the tunes in the halls with anticipation! It is certainly not a hard knock life for us! Just look at these smiling faces of our new “B” volleyball team (left).

Even though Middle School

students are forging their own paths, they are still grateful to be members of our Wildcat community as evidenced by their support for the kindergarten celebration of the colors yellow (right) and orange and C.A.R.E.S. crew events. It’s a great time to be a Wildcat in the Middle!

First Graders Celebrate Apple DayFrom first grade teacher Ms. Mac: “Apple day is a special tradition for first grade! We started the day by wearing our homemade t-shirts and taking a class picture. That is a treasure! Next, all of the children rotated among six groups. With the help of teachers and parents, the children played apple math games, made apple pizzas and homemade applesauce, had an apple taste testing, wrote an apple poem, did an apple word search, and played “find the apple” on the playground. Whew! It was a fun day! We also measured and weighed our apples. Elin Prifti won the apple weight contest with a Fuji apple that weighed 13 oz. Thank you to all who helped make this day such a success!”

At right, Mrs. Sexton made a guest appearance to help with the apple peeler!

Upcoming EventsGrandparents DayFriday, October 2. This is an 11:30 a.m. dismissal day for all students. No lunch will be served.

Scholastic Book FairFriday, October 2 - Thursday, October 8

Spirit WeekMonday, October 5 - Favorite Hat/SunglassesTuesday, October 6 - Black OutWednesday, October 7 - Country/Western DayThursday, October 8 - Throwback Thursday (Decade Day)Friday, October 9 - Blue/White Spirit Day

School Picture RetakesWednesday, October 7

PAWS No Homework NightWednesday, October 7

End of Quarter 1Thursday, October 15

Faculty Professional DaysFriday, October 16 Friday, October 23No school for students

Conferences Thursday, October 29 - no school for Lower School students; 11:30 dismissal day for Middle and Upper School students Friday, October 30 - no school for students

Meet Your WildcatsName: Amanda Zimmerman Fulton

Title: First Grade teacher

Family: Chris and I have been married for almost 12 years. We have one son, Webb, who will join the Wildcat family next year as a kindergartner!

What was your favorite subject in school? I loved foreign language and almost majored in French!

What book are you reading? I am currently not reading a book, but my favorite book is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Name of the last movie you watched: Probably Cars 2 with Webb!

Favorite Restaurant: Lantern on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill

Dream Vacation: The Maldives

Something most people don’t know about you: I hate being late!

Favorite thing about WCDS:The best thing about Westchester is that children are allowed to be children. They are given time to blossom and develop in their own time without the confines of assessments and benchmarks. They are encouraged to create, build, draw, write, think, and discuss in ways that tap into their interests and that stretch them to be themselves. I love having time in my classroom to teach the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, but more importantly, time to teach life lessons about being good stewards of our community and loving others unconditionally. This is what brought me to Westchester as a parent and what I enjoy most about working in this wonderful place!

Walk-In ednesdaysWhile every day is an open house at Westchester, we also offer the following Walk-In Wednesdays, during which prospective families are encouraged to drop by at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about us! Please spread the word!

October 7 October 14October 21 October 28November 4 November 11November 18

Arts Update from Ann Parks

Students are using their imaginations and discovering the world around them, as well as finding out new things about themselves. Whether it’s a talent that just needs some development or an idea that needs to be visualized, our students are creating and learning every day. Look--and listen-- Art is found around the school as we celebrate the Arts: Together!

Our fall production of Annie JR. is in rehearsal, and cast members are learning their songs, choreography, and blocking. Students and parents are building and painting scenery as our production begins to take shape. If you have carpentry and painting skills, come join us on Saturdays in October!

Our students are also using the Arts to serve. At Day in the Park, both Middle and Upper School Art Club students helped children in the community make pirate figures and decorative lanterns. During Grandparents Day, students will be helping with art projects, and Footnotes will perform. Look for our booths at Blue/White Spirit Day for face painting and fun crafts.

Our Arts Integration initiative is gaining momentum with the faculty collaborating to bring the Arts into all aspects of the curriculum. One such project with fourth grade students brings their creative writing efforts into the art room by making collages of their “I am From” poems. Look for the final pieces to be presented during Grandparents Day.

Objectives for this project are:• Create a portrait without the pressure of creating

a likeness.• Gain ownership by visually describing things/

people/activities that are important to them.• Visually interpret sensory experiences.• Distinguish a variety of textures.• Distinguish foreground, middle ground, and

background.• Practice drawing from observation and through

feel.• Work in a variety of media within a single

composition: Collage

Westchester is pleased to present the 2015 K-12 fall musical:

7:00 p.m. Friday, November 137:00 p.m. Saturday, November 142:00 p.m. Sunday, November 15

Rives Hall

*Watch for ticket information soon!

Prop needs for Annie JR.:• Rolling laundry hamper: large enough for Annie

to hide in• 1930’s cathedral style desk top radio• Old wooden office desk and rolling chair• Fully upholstered loveseat and chair, traditional

style, 1930’s era• 6-8’ Christmas tree

Please email Ann Parks if you can help with any of these items!

October is going to be a great month to be a Westchester Wildcat! All of our teams are positioning themselves to have a great last few weeks of their fall seasons. Championship

moments and memories will be happening all over the state for our Wildcat student-athletes!

The Varsity Girls Tennis team is improving every week, and the girls are ready to make a run in the upcoming tournaments. Coach Sterling Smith has the Wildcats performing at their peak right now, and the end of the season promises to be exciting.

The Varsity Girls Volleyball team is also looking to defend its conference tournament championship. Coaches Dani Smith and Wes Hawkins have the girls playing their best volleyball just at the right time.

The Varsity Cross Country teams are positioning themselves to make a run at both the boys and girls TAC Championships and state championship later this month. Coach Tim Anderson is very excited about the overall improvement of all the runners, so the next couple of weeks should be fun to watch.

The Varsity Boys Soccer team is starting to pick up some momentum and will be looking to defend its conference championship. They are also looking forward to defending Kennedy Field at the state championship the last weekend of October!

At the Middle School level, participation numbers are tremendous for Girls Volleyball, coached by Mark Sharpe and Samantha Hauser, and Boys Soccer, coached by Rustin Thomas. Both teams will be looking to compete for the T-MAC Championships in the middle of October. The Middle School Cross Country team is running on all cylinders, and Coach Jeb Burns is loving the great opportunity to work with our running stars of the future.

For those making plans on their calendars, here are some events to keep in mind: Senior Night for fall athletes will be Friday, Oct. 9. Please get to Westchester early that day, as we also will be having Blue/White Spirit Day, Middle School soccer and volleyball games, Varsity soccer and volleyball games, and a Varsity girls tennis match at Willow Creek …all vs. Caldwell Academy! We will also be hosting our only on-campus Varsity Cross Country race …needless to say, the Wildcat spirit will be at an all-time high! The fall senior student-athletes will be introduced before the Varsity soccer game at 7:00 p.m. Conference and state tournament information

is available below. Please continue to check the website for updates, and thank you for supporting Westchester athletics!

Conference Tournament Info:These dates are subject to change due to weather! Please check the website for the most up-to-date information!

Varsity Cross Country – 10/22 - @ Cedar Rock Park (Burlington, NC) – 4:30 p.m.

Varsity Soccer10/12 – @ Higher Seed10/13 – @ Calvary Baptist 5:00 p.m. (1/8 vs. 4/5) / 7:00 p.m. (2/7 vs. 3/6)10/16 – @ Calvary Baptist 7:00 p.m. - Championship

Varsity Tennis10/13 – @ Higher Seed10/15 – @ Carolina Friends School – 1:00 p.m. / 4:00 p.m.10/16 – @ Carolina Friends School – 3:30 p.m. – Championship

Varsity Volleyball10/20 – @ Higher Seed10/22 – @ Salem Academy - 4:00 p.m. (1/8 vs. 4/5) / 6:00 p.m. (2/7 vs. 3/6)10/23 – @ Salem Academy - 5:00 p.m. – Championship

MS Boys Soccer10/12 – @ Higher Seed10/13 – @ Canterbury - 3:30 p.m. (1 vs. 4/5) / 5:00 p.m. (2 vs. 3/6)10/15 – @ Canterbury – 4:00 p.m. - Championship

MS Volleyball10/12 – @ Higher Seed10/13 – @ Caldwell – 4:00 p.m. (1 vs. 4/5) / 5:00 p.m. (2 vs. 3/6)10/15 – @ Caldwell – 5:00 p.m. – Championship

MS Cross Country10/13 – @ Canterbury – 4:15 p.m.

State Tournament Info:

Varsity Cross Country: 10/30 – McAlpine Park – Charlotte, NCVarsity Tennis: 10/23, 10/27, 10/30, 10/31 – Final Four – Barton College, Wilson, NCVarsity Volleyball: 10/27, 10/30, 10/31 – Final Four – Charlotte areaVarsity Soccer: 10/23, 10/27, 10/30, 10/31 – Final Four – Westchester

Athletics Update from Coach Schwartz

For the College BoundWe had numerous college representatives on campus in the month of September, including five who graciously gave their time to serve as panelists at an evening question-and-answer session for parents and students. Admissions representatives from Wake Forest University, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, High Point University, and Hampden-Sydney College were in attendance that evening, as well as Westchester alum Doug Esleeck (‘01), the Associate Head Coach for Men’s Basketball at Mercer University. The explanations and advice relating to the admissions process and NCAA eligibility requirements provided by these five professionals made for a very informative evening for those in attendance.

Even more college admissions representatives are scheduled to visit Westchester in October, including the following:

• Guilford College• Duke University• Randolph College• Roanoke College• Elon University• Hollins University• Queens University of Charlotte• George Mason University• Wofford College• Emory University• College of Charleston

In addition to these opportunities on our campus, students are encouraged to attend the large college fairs being held in Winston-Salem and Greensboro the first week of October. The first one will take place in Winston-Salem on Monday, October 5th, from 5-8 pm at Benton Convention Center; the second one will be held at the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion on Tuesday, October 6th, from 5-8 pm.

Sophomores and juniors will take the PSAT during school on Wednesday, October 14th. This test will serve as a preview of the redesigned SAT, which debuts in March 2016. Students have received practice booklets, which they are strongly encouraged to utilize before the test, and we are also offering a two-day PSAT Boot Camp October 10th-11th from 1-4 pm each day. Please contact Renee Hetley if you are interested in signing up for this camp. The PSAT is especially important for juniors because it serves as the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Senior Casey Crouse was recently named a National Merit Semi-Finalist for his performance on the 2014 PSAT, and seniors Sarah Wahid and Paige Hetley were named Commended Students for their performances.

Parents of juniors, a College Information Night is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4th, at 6:30 pm in the Library, so please mark your calendars. We will cover a multitude of topics that evening, including a timeline for the rest of junior year and the beginning of senior year, standardized testing, admission plans, essays, recommendations, and financial aid and scholarships, among other things! I look forward to answering any questions you may have that evening!

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns.

Raegan AtkinsonDirector of College Guidance

Hello, and welcome to fall! The leaves are changing, and it has certainly gotten significantly cooler! As this is happening, the first quarter is starting to wind down; actually in just a couple of weeks (Oct. 15)!

Our students in the Middle and Upper School have had their first quizzes, tests, and projects and are becoming more familiar with assignments, homework loads, and teacher expectations. If your student is struggling with time management, organizational skills, or stress and anxiety – please do not wait any longer to contact the Counseling Office. If your student is battling any of these challenges, please understand that this is totally normal and usually occurs during the first quarter. I would like to start meeting with your student now, in hopes of building skills in the above areas so that he or she will improve and ultimately be prepared to be successful throughout his or her career here at Westchester. If your student needs to brush up on a few of his or her skills in these areas, please send him or her to my office or feel free to make a referral on-line or by email.

In my last newsletter article, I offered parents an opportunity to gain information and knowledge about parenting your child diagnosed with ADD or ADHD by receiving confidential emails throughout the year. If you did not respond, it’s not too late. Email me today! Here is a sample:

7 Ways to Get Your Child with ADD or ADHD More Organized

1. Double up on school supplies. Remembering to tote school supplies and books back and forth every day can add significant stress for children with ADD. If the books are available, you can even request a second set of textbooks to keep at home if that would be helpful. Stock a cabinet or closet with supplies. Post a checklist inside the door, and have your student make a note whenever he or she removes an item.

2. Stop pushing those papers. Come up with a paper management system at the beginning of the school year. For younger children, it might be something as simple as putting three pocket-type folders in a binder. Label them “Homework to Do,” “Homework Done,” and “Notices.” Teach your child to put homework and notes from the teacher in the right folders. Ask your child for input because he or she will be the one using the system.

3. Write it down! Have your student write his or her assignments in a planner, and each evening you can help your student check assignments against the assignments on Haiku to ensure accuracy. Encourage your student to keep a daily to-do list and divide tasks into two groups according to priority: “Important” (do it now!) and “Less Important” (do it anytime).

4. There’s no such thing as too many reminders. Give your child a pad of sticky notes and encourage him or her to post reminders on mirrors, doors, and other places he or she is likely to see them. These will serve as visual reminders of important dates and deadlines.

5. Keep the right tools handy and in the home.Keep a three-hole punch, stapler, and paper clips on your child’s desk to make sure that important papers can be easily inserted into the school binder. Provide a shelf for books and a bulletin board for important reminders. Keep a case full of standard supplies (sharpened pencils, scissors, etc.) in your child’s backpack, so that he or she doesn’t waste time re-sharpening a pencil or digging for a highlighter.

6. Schedule frequent clean-ups. Take two minutes to organize papers every day. As your student begins homework each evening, have him or her use the first two minutes to clean out papers and organize them into folders. This simple habit helps students transition into doing homework. Check belongings daily and hold a weekly clean-up (possibly on Sunday evening) when you clear out and straighten backpacks, assignment notebooks, and work binders.

7. Keep a clean locker. Make a list of everything your student needs in his or her locker (textbooks, dance shoes, class schedule, etc.), and then make sure everything has a spot. Have separate spaces for textbooks and personal items, and organize textbooks and notebooks by class. If need be, add extra shelves or hooks. Get rid of trash and anything that is not useful. Then decide on a regular time to clean it out. (This could mean a weekly straightening or a once-a-semester deep clean, depending on the child.)

As always, please feel free to contact me at anytime by email – heather.singer@westchestercds.org - or by phone at 336-822-4085.

Heather SingerMiddle and Upper School Counselor

Counselor’s Corner

October 2015Upcoming Traveling Abroad Opportunities:

Deadline for summer 2016 “Charting the Galapagos” trip is Oct. 1!

www.eftours.comTour Number: 1596586MU

Group Leader: Margaret QuallsRequested Departure Date: 6/13/2016

Requested Return Date: 6/21/2016

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Heather Singer, Margaret Qualls, or Christine Beale.

Our next trip will be to the Mediterranean during the summer of 2017!

Please plan to attend our Interest Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.

• If you are a current 5th, 6th, or 7th grader, you will be traveling together to the Mediterranean.• If you are a current 8th, 9th, or 10th grader, you will be traveling together to the Mediterranean.

• We will ALL be traveling together once we arrive for the first 8 days. The difference between the two groups is that the Middle School group will be doing the 9-day trip, and the Upper School group will be traveling two additional days in Madrid for an 11-day trip.

We will visit Milan, Cinque Terre, Monaco, French Riviera, and Barcelona. Upper School students will also see Madrid.

For a full itinerary, please click here:http://www.eftours.com/eLiterature/DBD/M/EMC.pdf

If you have questions, please plan on attending the Interest Meeting!

WAPA Notes and NewsBlue/White Spirit Day October 9

Blue/White Spirit Day is Friday, October 9, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Plan to join us for the afternoon and evening as there is a full assortment of events that support the Westchester community. The Booster Club will be selling dinners and concessions to support Westchester athletics. Area business owners will set up displays to showcase their outstanding products, and there is a full slate of Wildcat athletic events:

3:00 - MS Boys Soccer vs Caldwell Academy Kennedy Soccer Field3:00 - MS Girls Volleyball-B vs Caldwell Academy Finch Center, Brooks Gym3:30 - Varsity Girls Tennis vs Caldwell Academy Willow Creek Country Club4:00 - MS Girls Volleyball-A vs Caldwell Academy Finch Center, Brooks Gym4:15 - Varsity Cross Country Conference Meet Cross Country Trail5:15 - Varsity Girls Volleyball vs Caldwell Academy Finch Center, Brooks Gym6:45 - Fall Athletics Senior Night Kennedy Soccer Field7:00 - Varsity Boys Soccer vs Caldwell Academy Kennedy Soccer Field

Admission, running, bouncing, and climbing are free, but please bring some cash to enjoy dinner and take home some irresistible gifts. Hot dog ($5) and hamburger ($7) plates include chips, drinks, and a cookie. The juniors will be taking donations to wash cars in the Lower School circle. You’ll also want to be sure and grab a delicious slushy! - Chris Kopchik, Blue/White Spirit Day Chair

Innisbrook (Wrapping Paper) Fundraiser

Hurry, the last day to turn in order forms to your child’s teacher/advisor is this Thursday, Oct. 1! Let’s have a big push to the finish for our 2015 sale! The Lower School class with the most sales will celebrate with a pizza and ice cream party! The top five sellers from the Middle and Upper School will receive $10 iTunes gift cards! Proceeds from Innisbrook sales support our school through important teacher mini-grants and are used to purchase classroom equipment and supplies not covered by tuition. We’re grateful for your support! Contact Amy Cecil (848-0482) or Tina Elsayed (906-3120) with questions.

Westchester Country Day is a college preparatory school that seeks to educate each child toward moral, academic, artistic, and athletic excellence in a nurturing, family environment where students, teachers, and parents support one another. By respecting the student and honoring learning, Westchester aims to cultivate informed citizens who are ready for a rapidly changing world and to graduate students who view the pursuit and wise use of knowledge as a lifelong joy.