WHITTIER WIRE 1457 Maine Street, Poland, ME 04274 P (207) 998-3462 F (207) 998-3481 Physical Education When students have PE, they must bring a change of clothes and wear a pair of sneakers. Monday (2/4): Mrs. Goss s Math classes Mrs. Shanning s Math class Tuesday (2/5): Mrs. Swenson s Social Studies Ms. Moore s ELA classes Wednesday (2/6): Ms. Karaffa s Social Studies Mrs. Adams Learning Lab Coming Events Feb. 8: Winter Wonderland Semi-formal Dance Feb. 12: Whittier History Day Feb. 12: Durham Math Meet Yearbooks for Sale Preorder a yearbook now! Soft cover yearbooks are on sale for $20 (add $5 for hard cover).to order a yearbook for your child please visit, ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter our school code, 12966519. It s National School Counselors Week, and we are fortunate to have one of the very best at Whittier Middle School! Somehow Bonnie Robbins develops and implements school counseling curriculum, serves as the 504 case manager, does individual student planning, provides responsive services, while also consulting and collaborating with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations. She meets with students individually, in small groups, and in full classes. Additionally, Bonnie is an advisor for the Civil Rights Team, Run Club and the Kindness Club. She also coaches the cross-country team and indoor track team. Outside of school, she teaches at the University of Southern Maine and has mentored dozens of successful school counselors across Maine and beyond. She is the President-Elect for the Maine School Counselor Association and a proud ambassador for Whittier Middle School. It s a great week to thank her for the great work she does for our school and students. Thank you, Bonnie Robbins! Winter Wonderland Semi-Formal The Civil Rights Team and Yearbook Club are hosting a Winter Wonderland Dance on February 8th. Parents are welcome from www.rsu16.org/wms/wms.html 2018-19, Volume 19 1
6:30-7:00 for pictures and a dessert reception. The dance will take place from 7:00-9:00pm. Please pick up your child promptly at 9:00pm. Whittier was well represented at the Mid Winter Classic 10-miler in Cape Elizabeth this morning. Whittier History Day Whittier History Day is Tuesday, February 12. This is crunch time for students! Please check in with your child and ask him or her about where he or she is in the process. At this point, students should have completed their research and notes quiz. They must get the okay from their social studies teacher to move forward into the project. The deadline is coming soon and we want to make sure every student has their work ready for the judges. This dance should not be an added expense for families. While we encourage students to dress up, we also encourage using what you have. Tickets will be on sale throughout the week for $5 in advance or students may pay $6 at the door. This dance is for Whittier Middle School students. Spanish Club The Spanish Club wrapped up our 'Pulsera Project' sale of bracelets handmade in Nicaragua and Guatemala this week. We earned $210 from the sale of these bracelets that will go directly to needy families in these two Central American countries. Big 'gracias' to Sage Fuller and Jonathan Crump for volunteering to sell our colorful bracelets at lunch! Spanish Club is open to all seventh and eighth graders whether currently enrolled in Spanish or not. We will soon be planning our second field trip to Margarita's in Auburn, so look for permission slips to go home at the end of February. You are invited to attend Whittier History Day Open House from 8:15-9:15. This is a great celebration of students' research and hard work on historical topics of choice. Students are asked to dress business casual for the event. We still need about 15-20 more judges for our History Day event. Contact Logan Landry to get involved. Welcome, Mrs. Gagnon! Mrs. Jen Gagnon was officially hired this week to teach 8th grade math at Whittier. She received her Bachelor s of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Math from the University of Maine Farmington, She earned her Master s of www.rsu16.org/wms/wms.html 2018-19, Volume 19 2
Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Instructional Technology) from Grand Canyon University and her Assistant Building Administrator certification from St. Joseph s College. Jen has two kids, Abby and Colby who go to Minot School. Mrs. Gagnon previously taught for five years in Minot and Greene and stayed home for the last 7 1/2 years to be with her children. She says she thrives on being busy and working hard. She also describes herself aa a big math nerd and loves puzzles of any kind. I am excited to teach and be in a classroom again, and I am so thankful to be a part of the Whittier Team! Meet Mrs. Robbins New Intern, Julie Martin I am Julie Martin and I will be interning with Bonnie Robbins this semester to complete my Masters in school counseling at USM. I will be at Whittier Middle School on Mondays, Tuesdays, and half of Wednesdays. I will be working under Mrs. Robbins supervision to support Whittier students academically, socially, and emotionally through one-on-one meetings as well as small group work. Please feel free to contact me at julie.e.martin@maine.edu if you have any questions or concerns; I would love the opportunity to speak with you. Indoor Track is Starts Thursday Indoor track starts Thursday, February 7th. Practices will be everyday from 2:30-4:00. Please register your child before Thursday. Athletes will need running sneakers, change of clothes and a water bottle. Please contact Coach Bonnie Robbins or Coach Desiree Menard for more information. See more notes below from Mr. King. www.rsu16.org/wms/wms.html 2018-19, Volume 19 3
Math Meet Whittier participated in the Southern Maine Math Meet in Portland on Thursday. Mathletes participating from 7th grade were Alerick Sands, Jonathan Crump, and Levi Olson. Mathletes participating from 8th grade were Joseph Elliott, Jeffrey Hutchinson, Jack Tetreault, Kai Anderson, and Emma Moreau. Whittier's top scorers were Jonathan Crump and Joseph Elliott! Math Club meets every Monday after school with Mrs. Goss from 2:10 to 3:15 and during lunch on Tuesday. We are in need of more participants so come join us! Our next math meet is Tuesday, February 12th in Durham. We will leave Whittier around 3 pm and return around 7 pm. We stop for supper on the way home at Burger King or McDonalds so bring money to eat out. Eating dinner together is always a fun part of our trip so come join us! Co-Curricular Opportunities Ensemble is now meeting after school on Mondays from 2:05-3:00. Kindness Club will meet Monday at lunch. Yearbook will meet on Monday from 2:20-3:20 in Mr. Landry's room. Math Club will meet after school on Monday from 2:15 to 3:15. We also meet Tuesday during Flex next week with Mr. McMahon in Mr. Webster's room and Tuesday at lunch time with Mrs. Goss. Civil Rights Team will meet Tuesday during Roundtable. Student Council will meet Tuesday after school until 3:15. We are planning some new projects around community service and fundraising. Drama Club meets after school on Tuesday and Friday, from 2:30-4, in the auditorium Whittier Writers meets Friday during lunch (the club will resume Tuesday Flex meetings after the February break). STEM workshop will meet Wednesday to continue exploring VR. Students are encouraged to bring cell phones and have "google cardboard" and "cospaces" downloaded. The Readers Club will begin meeting on Wednesdays during lunch. Students can grab their lunch and bring a book to read and come to Mrs. Wood's room. Happy Reading! Spanish Club will meet Thursday at lunch. Guitar club will meet Thursday from 2:10:3:20. Drawing Club meets Thursday at lunch in Mr. Knott's Room. Whittier Athletics: Mr. King Whittier Basketball is coming to a close for the season. On Monday, the boys are home versus Sacopee Valley at the regular 3:30/4:45 times and will have a season ending pizza and certificates following the seventh grade game. Coaches will collect uniforms after the game. The girls are at Sacopee Valley and will www.rsu16.org/wms/wms.html 2018-19, Volume 19 4
have their season ending pizza and certificates on Monday 2/11 in the high school. Thank you for a good season. Your kids have been fun to watch, and a pleasure to work with. We will provide pizza for the kids. Please check with coaches regarding desserts or drinks. Indoor Track practices will begin next week. Please make sure your child is registered on FamilyID.com (organization is RSU16), and we have a current physical or note from your doctor allowing participation. Athletes without this will not be allowed to practice. Thursday, Feb 7 at 2:30-4:00. MS Gym Friday, Feb 8 at 2:30-4:00 MS Gym Monday, Feb at 11 2:30-4:00 HS Gym Tuesday, Feb at 12 2:30-4:00 HS Gym Wednesday, Feb 13 at 2:30-4:00 HS Gym Thursday, Feb 14 No Practice Friday, Feb 15 at 2:30-4:00 MS Gym There will be no practice during vacation. Coaches are Bonnie Robbins and Desire Wante Many questions surround Football at the PRHS. Here are a few notes: -Coach Emerson will be our coach. -We are playing 11 man football -The MPA has voted to have 4 classes next season and we will be in Class C If you have questions about football at the HS or MS level, please feel free to ask. www.rsu16.org/wms/wms.html 2018-19, Volume 19 5