February 10, 2020
Upcoming Events


FEBRUARY 14
Staff In Service Day - No School

FEBRUARY 17
Presidents Day - No School

FEBRUARY 29
Breakfast with the Bands - 8 am, WHS

MARCH 6
Spring Sports Begin

MARCH 12,13,14
WHS Musical: Chicago - 7:30 PM, WHS Auditorium


PTSO Notes

Mental Wellness Resources – The WHS PTSO supports mental-health awareness and has created an easy-access page of resources and free hotlines for teens and parents coping with loss or struggling with anxiety, stress or depression. 


WHS Sports

Click here for the complete and most up-to-date schedule of games, matches, scrimmages and other sporting events. You can also sign up to receive text alerts, and there is a mobile app available for download . 
SCHOOL NEWS
The Guy & Girl Thing - February 28th

Join the WHS PTSO Board

Please consider being part of the process that helps enhance the educational experience for students and encourages communications between WHS and parents. The WHS PTSO Board is looking to fill the VP of Communications and Recording Secretary positions. No experience is necessary but familiarity with Constant Contact is a plus for the VP of Communication position. Candidates must have a student enrolled at WHS for the 2020-21 school year and be able to attend PTSO Executive Board meetings at the school one morning each month during the school year.

To apply, submit your full name, address, email, phone and why you wish to be considered to Carolyn Miller at  carolynmiller@comcast.net by February 20, 2020.
Parent Volunteers Needed for Career Night - Respond by February 20th

Are you a small business owner, doctor, nurse, attorney, social worker, electrician or plumber? Or do you have a career in music/drama/fine arts, publishing/writing or STEM? Please consider volunteering for the PTSO's Career Night on Wednesday, March 18th, at 7 p.m. The PTSO is looking for Westfield parents who are willing to share their career path story with WHS students, particularly those who started in one career and moved to another. The goal of Career Night is to show students the many different career options available.

Contact (to volunteer or with questions):  whsptso@westfieldnjk12.org
February – March issue of Arts a la Carte

From the Department of Visual and Performing Arts
 
Below is the February – March issue of Arts a la Carte
 
Enjoy!
 
WHS Yearbook Ordering Information

*Yearbook ordering information for all grades can be found here:
 
 
Prices and dates:
Dec 21 - Feb 14 - $105
Feb 15 - May 15 - $110 

*Candid photo submission link (all grades welcome to submit):
We will collect candid photos throughout the year so no set deadline as of now
WHS Senior Checklist
SENIOR CHECKLIST -February 10th Update
This checklist will be updated regularly.

Senior Graduation Lawn Signs:   What a great way to celebrate your graduate and support WHS! Signs are 2 feet by 4 feet and come with metal lawn stakes, personalized with the graduate's name for $40, no name for $35. Signs will be available for purchase on the Class of 2020 store on the MobileArq app or online at  http://mobilearq.com/schooldirectory/ . Order form will be live on the MobileArq app and instructions will be emailed on February 20th, deadline is April.
 
Senior Photo : Portraits were delivered to school in December. You can call Normandy Studios 908-755-0431 to schedule a pick up if you have not received yours.


Parent Ads:   Parents can purchase a page or portion of a page in the yearbook to personalize with photos and text specific to their student. To see detailed pricing and place your order click  here .   Last day to order is February 13 th .


Prom:   Saturday, June 6 th  at 6 pm. Prom tickets will go on sale in the spring.
 
Graduation:   Tuesday, June 23 rd  at 3 pm. Open seating with no tickets needed for outside ceremony. If inclement weather, ceremony will be inside and tickets will be required. Detailed information will be provided in May.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
RIS Presentation on Suicide Awareness - February 20th
T he Roosevelt Intermediate School Counseling Department will host  a presentation on "Suicide Awareness and Intervention " on Thursday, February 20 from 7-9 p.m. with speakers from Caring Contact and the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council. Caring Contact Training Director Arlene Klemow will join Wendy Sefcik as presenters on this important topic. In addition to serving as chair of the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council, Sefcik is a board member for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a member of the Morris County Stigma Free Task Force, suicide prevention coordinator for Bergen County and a member of the Warrior Moms. Please click this  LINK  to register to attend.   The presentation will be held in the Roosevelt auditorium at 301 Clark Street in Westfield .
Try an Afternoon of Debate and Support the Westfield Debate Team  


The topic is Resolved: Objective morality exists.
Date: Friday, February 21st
Time: 3:30-7:30, you must participate in all 3 rounds and fill out the 3 minute survey at the end.
Location: Westfield High School
Eligibility: All middle and high school students
Cost: Free, pizza and snacks available for purchase

Details, Resources & Registration:  https://forms.gle/8aQdNM45bYaxVHoY7

All participants will receive a certificate.
The Debate Team will receive funding from a grant for every student who participates in the tournament so please join us!
EIS School Speaker Series - February 11th
Next up in the Edison Intermediate School Speakers Series: “ Help! There’s a Teen in the House!: Navigating and Understanding the Stressful World of Teenagers ,” an interactive panel discussion and Q&A session with mental health clinicians that include K-12 Director of Counseling for Westfield Public Schools Maureen Mazzarese, along with experts from Watchung Psychological Associates, Calm and Sense Therapy, and Light Street Psychotherapy. 

This informative event will be held on February 11 at 7 p.m. in the Edison auditorium. Admission is free. Space is limited; register at  https://edisonasktheexperts.eventbrite.com .
Making the Most of Your Summer - February 27th

All students and parents are invited to attend “Making the Most of Your Summers” on Thursday, February 27 at 7 p.m. in the Westfield High School Cafeteria B. Lisa Bleich from  College Bound Mentor  will discuss various summer options and present case studies to demonstrate different ways that students have productively used their summers. This event is free; no preregistration is required.  Click here  for more information. Sponsored by the PTC-Gifted Education Committee. Contact   gandtwestfield@gmail.com   and/or visit the    Gifted Ed Committee Website .
PTC Monthly Meetings
The PTC is the umbrella organization for all ten of the Westfield School PTOs. At these monthly meetings, the PTO presidents meet with the PTC board, Superintendent, and Board of Education representative. These are public meeting where all parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.  The next meeting will be held on  Wednesday, February 19th at 10:15am  in the BOE Building (302 Elm Street).  Future meetings will take place on the following Wednesdays: March 18, April 22, May 20 and June 10.
News from the Westfield School District
Last month, Dr. Dolan emailed to all parents and staff the January issue of “ The NEWS Letter, ” which focuses on mental health and wellness initiatives in Westfield Public Schools. You’ll find each issue of her e-newsletter posted in two places at  www.westfieldnjk12.org , under the “District Information” tab and on the  Superintendent page under “Departments.” Thank you for taking a moment to read “The NEWS Letter.”
IN THE COMMUNITY
A group of local volunteers, including students from Roosevelt Intermediate School and Westfield High School, is hosting “ Skating for Smiles ” at the Westfield Rink, 650 Fourth Avenue, on Saturday, February 29 from 5:50 – 7:20 p.m. $24 admission includes skate rentals and 90-minutes on the ice. The fundraiser will benefit Operation Smile, a charitable medical organization which travels the globe to perform life-altering corrective facial surgeries for free.
Don’t miss the Rotary Club of Westfield’s 54th Annual Breakfast with the Bands on Saturday, February 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon at Westfield High School. This popular event features performances by top bands from Westfield High School and Edison and Roosevelt Intermediate Schools, along with lots of great food. Tickets are $10 and available from Rotarians or at the door. All proceeds benefit the Rotary Club’s scholarship, community grants programs, and Project Hunger.
As part of the Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon series for March, which is Women’s History Month and the 100 th  Anniversary year of the 19 th Amendment granting women the right to vote, Dr. Susan Lederman will talk on the subject of “ 100 Years of the Women’s Vote .” The luncheon will be held on March 4 at Ferraro’s Restaurant (2 nd  Floor), 14 Elm Street in Westfield. Check-in begins at 11:45 a.m. $35 (members); $40 (non-members). Reservations before Friday, February 28 at  westfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com  or (908) 654-1794. More information at  www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org .
Did you know that Thomas Edison averaged one patent for every three weeks of life? Test your skills at the  2 nd  Annual College Woman’s Club Trivia Night  fundraiser on Saturday, February 29 at 7 p.m. in Hamersley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Westfield. $75 per person with proceeds to benefit the CWC Scholarship Fund.  RSVP by February 22. Checks accepted with paper registration; online registration preferred at  www.cwclubwestfield.org/events . Learn more about CWC by visiting the  club’s website . Questions? Contact  cwc.westfield@gmail.com .
Save the Date for the  Westfield Education Fund’s Trivia Night  on April 17 from 8-11 p.m. at the Italian American Club in Scotch Plains. 


Friendly competition, fun-filled trivia and lots of laughs. Tickets available in March. Limited capacity. Stay tuned for more information.

The Westfield Area Youth Mountain Biking Team is now recruiting students and coaches.  Open to all students in grades 6-12, a parent information session will be held on Thursday, February 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Jay’s Cycle Center , 227 North Avenue, East in Westfield. Click  HERE  for more information. Contact Jay McKeon at  westfieldmtbcomp@gmail.com  with questions.
As part of the Westfield Public School District's new website, there is a Community Flyers section under the Family Resources tab. Here you will find information about upcoming events sponsored by non-profit organizations in the community. The events will also continue to be included in the newsletter along with links to click for specific details. 
ABOUT THE WHS PTSO PRESS
Editor: Josephine Stack
Next editor: Josephine Stack
E-mail deadline for the Monday Issue of WHS PTSO Press: Friday at 12 noon. 
Click here to view the Article Submission Guidelines. Please ensure that your submissions adhere to the guidelines.