November 2024 - News & Notes

Welcome to the second marking period! Thank you to our students, staff, and parent community for making the first quarter of this school year so rewarding for Whitman. As the month of November gets underway, we are reminded once again of how thankful we are to have the opportunity to serve such a supportive community and work alongside so many staff who go above and beyond to support our students in a variety of ways. We hope all our Whitman families have a wonderful Thanksgiving week with family, friends, and loved ones.

As we approach Election Day on Tuesday, I want to emphasize the importance of our unity. The social studies teacher in me has always cherished the profound discussions about the peaceful transfer of power that unfolds during election years. This country’s essence is woven into our ability to forge ahead. However, I recognize that this election may weigh heavily on our students, staff, and community members, regardless of individual political beliefs. Above all, let us remember that compassion and kindness must guide our interactions with one another.

The upcoming weeks may present emotional challenges due to discussions and developments related to the election. As such, the well-being of our students remains our top priority. No matter the outcome of Tuesday’s election, we encourage students to reach out to a trusted adult, counselor, or administrator for support. In addition, our school social worker, Julian Smith, and Bridge to Wellness staff will be available to students.

Monday-Tuesday, November 4 & 5: No School

Wednesday, November 6: Town Halls

Thursday, November 7: Whitman Cluster Instrumental Music Concert, auditorium, 7:00 pm

Friday, November 8: Seal of Biliteracy Assessment, Media Center, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Monday, November 11: SGA Blood Drive, small gym, 8:00 am-1:00 pm; Parent/Caregiver Open House; Report Cards available in ParentVUE

Tuesday, November 12: Stressbusters Event, 7:00pm

Wednesday, November 13: OneWhitman; Report Cards sent home; Choral Concert, auditorium, 7:00 pm

Thursday, November 14: Meet the Superintendent, commons, 7:00 - 8:00 pm

Friday, November 15: First day of Winter Sports

Wednesday, November 20: Walt Wisdom Time; Winter Sports Season–Meet the Coaches Night, cafeteria, 6:00 pm; Whitman Cluster NAACP Parents of Black Students Event, commons, 6:30pm

Thursday-Saturday, November 21-23: School Play: Macbeth

Monday, November 25: Early release for students, 12:00 pm; Parent-Teacher Conferences; 1:00-6:00 pm

Tuesday, November 26: Early release for students, 12:00 pm

Wednesday-Friday, November 27-29: Thanksgiving Holiday, no school for students and staff

In alignment with MCPS safety and security procedures, starting on November 6th, all students will be required to wear their school-issued ID visibly at all times while on school grounds. This measure is designed to enhance campus safety and ensure a secure learning environment for everyone. Students must display their ID throughout the school day and be prepared to present it at all MCPS-sponsored events.

To support this initiative, WWHS will provide lanyards for all students, ensuring ease of use and accessibility. In the event a student loses their ID or forgets to bring it to school, a temporary sticker ID will be issued so they can seamlessly continue their daily activities while arranging for a replacement. This process ensures students remain engaged in school activities without disruption while upholding safety protocols. For further information, please review the Community Letter. All students will attend grade level town hall meetings on Wednesday, November 6 to review expectations for student IDs.

We are excited to welcome parents/caregivers to our annual Open House at Walt Whitman on Monday, November 11. Open House traditionally provides an opportunity for parents/caregivers to observe portions of their students' school day. Open House at Whitman will be available for parents/caregivers during periods 1-5.

Please note, due to safety and security regulations, all visitors must sign-in in the front vestibule at the main entrance to our school as well as exit Whitman through the front entrance. Visitors must also display a Visitors Badge at all times while in the school building. Parking is limited but school security staff will be on hand to assist our visitors.

To help maintain our focus on teaching and learning, we are encouraging all parents/caregivers to please leave younger siblings at home while you visit.

To help us plan accordingly, please take a moment to complete the following survey (link here) to RSVP. Your response will help us ensure a wonderful experience for everyone attending.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held this year on Monday, November 25th from 1:00-6:00 pm. In accordance with MCPS guidelines, virtual and in-person options will be available. Please see below for the schedule for Parent Teacher Conferences. Additional information will be sent to the community by Thursday, November 14th.

Monday, November 25th from 1:00-6:00pm

• 1:00pm - 3:10pm Virtual Parent/Caregiver Conferences. Each virtual conference will be 10 minutes. Parents/Caregivers will sign up through ParentVUE.

• 3:45pm - 6:00pm In-person Meet and Greet. Parents/Caregivers can stop by and meet teachers in-person for 5 minutes.

Our Senior Prom date is Friday, May 2, 2025, from 8 pm until midnight at the Bethesda North Marriott. The Post Prom celebration is on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 12:30 until 4 am at Walt Whitman High School.

The Class of 2025 will graduate on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. We are excited to return to this beautiful historic venue to celebrate our students' achievements.

On Monday, June 9, 2025, there will be no school for students in Grades 9-11 to allow our staff to attend the Commencement Ceremony. School will resume on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Save the date: We will share updates about Prom, Post Prom, and Graduation at a Senior Parent Meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2024, at 7 pm.

Staff to contact with any questions regarding the Class of 2025:

• Kristi McAleese, Assistant Principal, Grade 12 Administrator - Kristi_McAleese@mcpsmd.org

• Marisa Del Savio, Class of 2025 SGA Sponsor- Marisa_M_Delsavio@mcpsmd.org

• Anne Fletcher, Resource Counselor - Anne_H_Fletcher@mcpsmd.org

• Joselin Hunzelmann, Counseling and Career Information Coordinator - Joselin_Hunzelmann@mcpsmd.org

• Suzy Johnson, Graduation Coordinator- Suzanne_M_Johnson@mcpsmd.org

Test Date: November 8, 2024 in Media Center (Make Up Test Date: January 10, 2025)

Are you a Junior or Senior?!?! Are You Interested in Earning the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy?

The Maryland Seal of Biliteracy is an award from the Maryland State Board of Education, given by participating school systems, that recognizes a student’s high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.

High school graduates who can function in two or more languages are equipped with the knowledge and skills to participate successfully in college, careers, and a diverse 21st century society. The Maryland State Seal of Biliteracy is established to recognize and reward excellence in language learning as measured by rigorous proficiency assessments.

**If you have already earned a 4 or above on a WL AP test, you have already earned the MD Seal of Biliteracy and do NOT have to take this test in the same language!**

Details About Testing:

• Testing will take place on November 8th during the school day, in a 3-hour session.
• There will be a makeup date on January 10, 2025 ONLY for students who registered for the first date and cannot make it.
• There will be a mandatory pre-test meeting during lunch on November 1st.
• Test-takers will be expected to make up the work they miss in classes during testing.
• Testing is FREE for Seniors. Juniors must pay a $21 test fee.

If you are interested in earning this Seal by taking the Avant STAMP 3S, 4S or Avant WorldSpeak Exam, please complete the Registration Form using this LINK. This form must be completed by October 28th.

If you have any questions, please contact World Language Resource Teacher, Rebecca Zatz at Rebecca_L_Zatz@mcpsmd.org

For the 2024-2025 school year, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will continue covering the costs of all Advanced Placement (AP) exams, in line with the Maryland Blueprint and the MCPS strategic plan. Students should have registered for their AP exams through the College Board website by using their teacher-provided AP Classroom join code. Once enrolled in AP Classroom, the system automatically orders an exam for the May 2025 exam period. However, students not enrolled in their AP Classroom for their respective courses by November 13th will incur a $40.25 late fee that MCPS will not cover this year.

Please note that for the 2024-2025 school year, MCPS will cover the cost of all AP exams for students enrolled in an AP course. Students enrolled in an AP course are expected to take the corresponding AP exam. Those who choose not to take the exam should complete the "Canceling AP Exams" form before November 13, 2024, to avoid the $40.25 cancellation fee.

Please review the information below for further details:

• Please see the tentative AP exam dates schedule.

• Students who register between Wednesday November 13th, 2024 and Friday February 28th, 2025 will be responsible for a $40.25 late fee.

• If a student does not show up for the scheduled AP exam and or decides to drop their AP exam after Wednesday November 13th, 2024, a fee of $40.25 will be assessed to cover administrative costs.

• If a student is retaking an AP exam from a previous year, they are responsible for a fee of $94 that will cover administrative costs.

• Students who elect to take an AP exam and are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course MUST complete the AP Exam Registration (Not Enrolled in AP course) form. These students will be responsible for paying a fee of $94 that will cover the AP exam.

Whitman’s IT team will be trading out the devices of our Class of 2027 sophomores for new Chromebooks starting this week. These exchanges will take place through English classes. Students should return their current Chromebook AND charger for the new models.

Remember to bring your Chromebook to school every day. Our supply of loaner Chromebooks is limited and does run out. Please return loaner Chromebooks and chargers at the end of the day to avoid incurring a financial obligation for having two or more Chromebooks or chargers. Students with more than one Chromebook will begin to incur financial obligations until the device is returned.

If you would like to purchase a spare charger to keep at home or in a backpack, here is a link for the correct charging

cord: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LYR9GP3?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_SVXYEKKJ2M7N1XDBRF0A

www.WhitmanAthletics.net: Your home for Whitman Sports info: schedules, GoFan tix link, swag via the "SHOP" tab, streaming/replays, X/Instagram links, boosters club link, scores, and more.

Fall Sports Info and Play-offs! Congratulations to all of our teams and student-athletes for a very successful fall season. Whitman made history in October when we won three county championships on the same night! Kudos to those 3 teams, Boys and Girls Soccer and Field Hockey for bringing home the titles!

Winter Sports Info:

• Registration is OPEN! For more info on registration, eligibility, pre-participation physicals, coaches, CLICK HERE.
• Winter sports: Boys/Girls Basketball, Allied Bocce, Wrestling, Indoor Track & Field, Swim & Dive, Cheer, and Poms!
• Try-outs start: November 15 for all winter sports except for Allied Bocce & Swimming
• "Meet the Coaches" Night: November 21 at Whitman, Time - TBD

Winter AND Spring Schedules are already posted! To view all fall/winter/spring schedules, go to www.WhitmanAthletics.net and click your desired season at the top.

Whitman Vikings SWAG - perfect for the holidays - order today! Official Whitman Vikings swag (shirts, hoodies, pants, blankets, hats, etc...) make perfect gifts and are on sale now. Conveniently delivered to your home. Items say "Whitman Vikings" AND we sell specific sports gear too (e.g. "Whitman Field Hockey", "Whitman Cross Country", and all Varsity sports.) Lastly, our store features "Proud Whitman Grandparent" merch! Go to www.WhitmanBoosters.org and click the SHOP tab, or CLICK HERE.

Our NEW RIVALRY: Our Whitman, B-CC, Wootton, WJ, and Churchill HS Athletic Programs are excited to announce a new contest! Beginning with this school year, we'll compete to determine the top program in our area. It will be based on the win/loss records in head-to-head match-ups between our schools' varsity teams. The purpose of this new competition is to introduce an additional layer of excitement and recognition for all of our teams. We believe that this initiative will highlight not only our major sports but also provide greater visibility and value for our smaller sports, especially as we approach the end of the school year. Each school is accepting name ideas from their students and will compile a list of their best ones. Lastly, we'll poll our communities. The winning name will be revealed during our winter season. Following the naming contest, we'll then accept trophy designs. GO VIKES/DOGS/BARONS/PATS/CATS!

Whitman's new gym foyer - shiny, proud, and all black-and-blue! Thank you to Bill Toth, Sam Mason, John Floyd and our Whitman All-Sports Boosters Club for energizing our foyer! It showcases new trophy cases, photos, and a "Next Level" board which features our Vikings who have graduated and play(ed) for their respective college teams. Come visit our new "Vikings Country!"

As we move into November, the counseling department is buzzing with activity! Counselors continue to provide support for seniors navigating the college application process. By November 1st, more than 75% of the senior class had submitted college applications. Counselors are also working to finalize second semester schedules for students. Believe it or not, we are beginning to plan our college readiness meetings for our current juniors. Be on the lookout for more information pertaining to our juniors and helping them prepare for post-secondary life.

November is National Gratitude Month, a time to recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of our lives. Reflecting on that for which we are grateful is a powerful tool to build resilience and create positive emotions. Consider taking the time to identify areas of your life where you can feel gratitude and encourage your children to do the same. You might try mindfully thanking those who you feel supported by, and/or for whom you are grateful. The article linked here from PositivePsychology.com has some great activities that promote gratitude and may even become part of your family’s traditions or routines.

EIDOLON Submissions Now Open! Whitman’s Literary Arts Magazine of over 60 years is now open for submissions! Our Winter 'Zine is in the works and is set to be distributed in December/January! We accept photography, art, short stories, poems, and anything else the Whitman creative community has to offer. Students who would like to be published on our website and considered for publishing in the Winter 'Zine can complete this form. Past editions and more information can be accessed on the WWHS Eidolon website.

Fun English Language Development (ELD) Facts! Did you know that the Department encompasses Emergent Multilingual Learners (EML) who speak eleven different first languages? Our students speak Spanish (36%), Portuguese (13%), Chinese (10%), Albanian (5%), French (5%), Turkish (5%), Japanese (5%), Amharic (5%), Hungarian (3%), Indonesian (3%), and Ukrainian (3%).

Writing Contests! Many local and national contests are listed here on our Writing Center website. Some noteworthy contests with upcoming deadlines include the Bethesda Urban Partnership & MoCo360 Essay/Poetry Contest, the Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest, JFK Library and Museum Profile in Courage Essay Contest, The PoArtMo Anthology, The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest. Please encourage your students to participate!

We are pleased to announce that Admissions Counselor, Dennis Vielman, from the School of Visual Arts will be visiting on November 7th. He will provide important information regarding the art school application process and will review portfolios during periods 1-4, from 7:25 am to 10:15 am in Room 228. If you or your child wish to attend a morning session but do not have an art class scheduled during that time, please see Ms. Stanton in Room 218 to obtain a pass for attendance.

Information about competitions and art opportunities is continually updated and displayed on our bulletin board located in the 2nd-floor art hallway. If you would like to receive email notifications regarding these events, please contact Katherine_M_Stanton@mcpsmd.org to be added to our distribution list. Additionally, we are still accepting artwork for a special exhibition titled “What ONEWhitman Means to You?” with submissions due by November 15th.

A docent opportunity has recently opened at the Yellow Barn, a local art gallery in Glen Echo, MD, for students interested in earning SSL hours and gaining experience related to exhibition. This opportunity is available this weekend, Saturday, November 9th, from 12-8 pm and Sunday, November 10th, from 12-8 pm. It presents a valuable chance for students to learn about the intricacies of exhibiting artwork, engaging in sales, and networking within the art community. Interested students should reach out to Kara Stanton in room 218 for further details.

Our Featured Artist of the Month is Olivia Zhao, a Junior in Mr. Burgess’s AP Drawing Class. Over the past month, she has created a canvas composition titled Self Portrait. This acrylic painting employs symbolism to reflect on her Chinese identity, illustrated by the red backdrop and the luminous radial balance of the moon positioned behind her head.

The Instrumental Music Department held a successful inaugural performance of the academic year on October 17th at the Whitman Auditorium, showcasing five of our performing ensembles: the Concert Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble. The next event on our calendar is Cluster Concert 1, scheduled for Thursday, November 7th at 7 pm. This concert will feature the 7th and 8th grade band and orchestra students from Pyle MS collaborating with the Whitman Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Drumline, and Jazz Ensemble. This performance aims to engage our cluster families and provide insights into the musical opportunities available at Walt Whitman High School. For a complete schedule of performances for the 2024-2025 school year, please click here.

Additionally, all piano students, regardless of their skill level, participated in their first recital of the year in October. AP Music Theory students are actively delving into the study of harmony and Roman numeral analysis, while Music Technology students have been creating diverse musical compositions using digital audio workstation software. The Chorus is diligently preparing for the Winter Concert, which will take place on Tuesday, December 17th at 7 pm.

Physical education instructors have been working together to organize fitness days for students, drawing on data gathered over the past month that concentrated on the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) in fitness activities. Mike Dickel actively involves students in enhancing their hockey skills on the court. Meanwhile, Joe Cassidy facilitated a collaborative discussion focused on reflective thinking as a means to assist LFI students in improving their net skills for volleyball in the Main Gym.

All students are participating and developing their confidence and abilities, contributing to increased strength, flexibility, and endurance. Our dedicated Health and PE teachers consistently emphasize the significance of physical activity for mental well-being, social collaboration, and overall lifelong fitness, promoting healthy choices that support academic and cognitive success.

We hosted the 45th Annual University of Maryland Math Competition for 45 students on October 23rd. Students who score well will be invited to participate in the second part in the future. Next up is the Mathematical Association of America’s AMC Competition.

Do you still need help outside of seeing your teacher at lunch? Come to the Math Workroom on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 2:30-4:00 pm in Room 347. There is a teacher as well as peer tutors to support all courses up to Honors PreCalculus. Just added ~ AP Calculus help on Wednesdays!

This month in the LASJ program, we have been continuing to focus on recruiting new students from schools outside of the Whitman cluster to apply for the program. For our current students, our monthly seminar focused on the upcoming election and ways for students to get involved, even if they are not of voting age. Action opportunities included postcarding, phone and text banking, and serving as election judges. We welcomed back a Whitman LASJ alumna, Becca Levy, to share her experience at college with social justice and action during the election season. As we approach the November election, students in the LASJ program will be capable of having challenging and courageous conversations with others.

Additionally, this month, Ms. Freedman and two current LASJ Seniors, Suzy Samayoa and Meera Krishnan, were invited by the Maryland State Department of Education Environmental Literacy teachers to speak about our Environmental Justice course and how to expand it to other school districts. Whitman High School piloted this course two years ago and we are excited to be a model for other schools.

We are excited to announce the launch of a new initiative aimed at supporting community members in need: The Leadership Academy for Social Justice (LASJ) Pantry. This pantry will provide essential resources and assistance to those experiencing food insecurity in the Whitman area and beyond.

Why a Pantry?

In our community and surrounding areas, there are individuals and families facing difficulties in accessing essential resources. Our objective is to reduce this burden by offering a dependable source of these necessities and collaborating with our local partners at So What Else. We are committed to ensuring that everyone has equal access to essential supplies, and we believe this pantry will serve as a crucial resource for those in need.

Pantry Details:

• Location: Walt Whitman High School

• Operation: We will organize monthly donation drives where students, teachers, and community members can bring items to a central collection point at the commons during the weeks of collection from Tuesday through Thursday. Drives will be divided by type of donations, and all types will be collected at least once a month.

Resources Collected and Provided:

• Non-perishable food items

• Personal hygiene products

• Gently used clothing items, specifically Whitman spirit wear

Additional information will be shared later this month about details aligned to the LASJ pantry.

This month we spotlight our CTE Child Development program.

Child Development prepares students with life skills as well as college and career readiness in the field of education, psychology, and other positions pertaining to working with children such as sociology or pediatrics. This program teaches students how to collaborate, develop time and project management skills, take responsibility, plan preschool lessons and work directly with children between the ages of 3-5. Students can use this program to:

1. Have hands on practice teaching preschoolers, developing lessons, working in groups and studying child psychology and education theories (CD 1-2)

2. Complete case studies directly related to psychology, observe, assist, and encourage preschoolers in the development of appropriate Kindergarten readiness skills, go on field trips to the Pumpkin Patch, Zoo, Natural History Museum, Air & Space Museum and more. Assist with our Preschool family events-Preschool Orientation, Winter Celebration, Mother’s Day Tea, Donuts with Dads, Preschool Graduation (CD3)

3. Participate in the Education Internship- Preparation to become an educator as you work in one of our Elementary cluster schools alongside a mentor teacher every afternoon. This accolade is extremely beneficial for opening doors, networking and applying to colleges and has helped many students earn admission into their top schools and scholarships. (CD4)

--- OR ---

• Completion of the CDA-alternatively to the Education Intern option, there is a CDA internship option. This is a highly prestigious certificate to assist with their acceptance for job positions in childcare or preschool after completing a rigorous exam, portfolio and extended internship hours in a childcare or preschool facility. (CD4)

Why work with preschoolers?

Our preschoolers add so much joy, light and happiness to our program, there is never a dull moment with them here! Our highschoolers learn just as much from our little ones as they learn from our highschoolers. We have up to 12 preschoolers each year between the ages of 4-5 from 8:45-11:45 4 days a week. In addition to working with preschoolers we have interns in our feeder elementary schools. During 7th and 8th period everyday, interns go to a local elementary school-usually the same one they went to, often to assist one of their favorite teachers during their time there. They work in a classroom alongside a mentor teacher assisting them and teaching their students.

The following information can always be found on the Whitman Science webpage:

• Whitman Science Registration/MCPS Course Requirement Quick Guide (PDF)

• Whitman Science Course Registration presentation (Google Slides)

• An updated list of science internships, events, and competitions (Google Doc)

Astronomy with Physics measured and mapped the orbits of major celestial objects.

Physics students calculated velocity based on drop distance to correctly time when to release a water balloon from the third floor to hit a staff volunteer walking below. Special thanks to our many staff volunteers!

November is Remembrance and Reconciliation Month. The purpose of Remembrance and Reconciliation month is to bring the people of Montgomery County together to build a better understanding of the county’s history in relation to African Americans. Remembrance and Reconciliation Month was called for by the Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation in 2019. The Commission designated November to be a month of Remembrance and Reconciliation in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland has designated November 1 as Emancipation Day to commemorate the day that enslaved people in Maryland were emancipated on November 1, 1864. Commemorations, lessons, civic awareness activities, and community awareness on local history will take place countywide in the month of November. This year, students will learn about how life was unequal for African Americans in Montgomery County and what residents did to fight for equality. There are five K-12 lessons that should last about 15 minutes each and will be taught in Whitman Social Studies classes during the month of November.

Learn more about the Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation.

Are you a Junior or Senior?!?! Are You Interested in Earning the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy?!?!

The Maryland Seal of Biliteracy is an award from the Maryland State Board of Education, given by participating school systems, that recognizes a student’s high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.

High school graduates who can function in two or more languages are equipped with the knowledge and skills to participate successfully in college, careers, and a diverse 21st century society. The Maryland State Seal of Biliteracy is established to recognize and reward excellence in language learning as measured by rigorous proficiency assessments.

**If you have already earned a 4 or above on a WL AP test, you have already earned the MD Seal of Biliteracy and do NOT have to take this test in the same language!**

Details About Testing:

1. Testing will take place on November 8th during the school day, in a 3-hour session.

1. There will be a makeup date on January 10, 2025 ONLY for students who registered for the first date and cannot make it.

2. There will be a mandatory pre-test meeting during lunch on November 1st.

3. Test-takers will be expected to make up the work they miss in classes during testing.

4. Testing is FREE for Seniors. Juniors must pay a $21 test fee.

If you are interested in earning this Seal by taking the Avant STAMP 3S, 4S or Avant WorldSpeak Exam, please complete the Registration Form using this LINK. This form must be completed by October 28th.

If you have any questions, please contact World Language Resource Teacher, Rebecca Zatz at Rebecca_L_Zatz@mcpsmd.org

The SGA is proud to host a blood drive with INOVA Blood Donor Services on November 11, 2024 for students, staff, and community members. The blood drive will take place in the small gym from 8:30 am until 1:30 pm. In order to donate, students must be at least 16 years old, and all students, even if 18 years of age, must turn in a signed parental consent form. Forms can be obtained in room 110 or room 307. Community members should sign into the main office with valid photo ID and obtain a visitor badge. To sign up for a donation slot, please use this link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849A9AB2DA0F8C07-52235246-whitman/52120974#/

Tuesday, November 19 - PTSA General Membership Meeting

** Speaker: PTSA DEI Committee hosting the first Community of Care of this school year at 7 pm in the Commons. Open to all Whitman Cluster Community of Schools.

Just in time to get organized for the second marking period, m

ark your calendars for Stressbusters November community event, "Setting Yourself Up for Success!"

In this helpful workshop for students and parents, you'll learn more about

• executive functioning,

• what you can do to improve your own, and

• tools you can use to reduce stress while reaching your goals!

Presented by WWHS's very own expert, Joan Cline, Academic Intervention Coordinator.

Note! There is a change to this date due to the Superintendent's event on 11/14.

New Date: November 12th at 7 pm, Virtual (stay tuned for a Zoom link)

In the Whitman Commons, November 20th from 6:00-8:00 pm, Meeting with the Parents of Black Students (Part 2). This event will be hosted in the Commons to include a 30-minute social event, followed by four breakout groups led by the Cluster Principals, wrapped up by NAACP Reps and Principal Miller. The focus is on academics.

November 7th: Visit to Glenstone Museum

November 14th: Book club (Night of the Living Rez) focusing on the theme of November

As part of celebrating our cultural diversity, on November 15th, a Thanksgiving luncheon will be held at a member's home in Bethesda. The significance of this American holiday will be showcased and described. As one of our signature events, the entire WhitWorld community is encouraged to attend.

November 19 after the PTSA meeting in the Commons. Open to all Whitman cluster community of schools.

We are hard at work planning for our seniors Post Prom taking place on the evening of May 3rd. Prom is May 2nd. We are still in need of volunteers and especially need one extra co-chair to join our other two amazing Entertainment chairs. A letter will be going out in mid November to senior parents with ways to help. Stay tuned for details on our Senior Class meeting where you will learn more about Post Prom and what it takes to make this event happen.

To volunteer, reach out to postpromwwhs@gmail.com for details.

Have you or your student benefited from any Stressbusters Activities during MCPS Mental Health Awareness Week? Your annual voluntary membership dues provide 80% of our funding for the year for events and activities like Whitman Student Clubs Night, Homecoming, staff appreciation events, Stressbuster speakers, WhitWorld, CAC, and graduation. There is a range of membership levels that provide a quick option to show more support for these traditions. Our most popular level is $50, and our preferred level is $100. We have a “basic” membership for families for whom membership may be a financial burden. We have achieved almost 75% of our membership goal so far. We want all Whitman families to be part of the PTSA, YOUR PTSA because together, Whitman is a stronger community.

The Whitman PTSA provides invaluable programming to the students, staff, and community throughout the year, and we could not have done this without your membership and generous donations.

Please note that membership is annual, so even if you joined the Whitman PTSA last school year, you'll need to re-join to be an active member this school year.

To Join the PTSA:

Navigate to "Annual Whitman PTSA Membership" on your MembershipToolkit app or by logging into your account at https://whitmanptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/

You may be prompted to update your contact information and verify your student(s) information.

Thank you for supporting the Whitman PTSA! If you need help logging in or creating an account or have any questions, please contact Meg Press, Whitman PTSA VP Membership, at margaretuapress@hotmail.com

Walt Whitman High School remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a supportive and welcoming environment for all students.

Sincerely,

The Walt Whitman High School Administrative Team

Go Vikes!