WCSD Summer Newsletter

Summer vacation brings more time for us to relax and enjoy our favorite things. It is also a great time to read. Reading is a great way to learn something new, travel to a new place or get to know new characters.

Summer Reading Tips:

1. All reading is good reading! Encourage your student to read about a topic they are interested in. Someone who enjoys cooking may want to read a new recipe. A person who enjoys music may want to read the lyrics to a new song.

2. Help your student find a comfortable place to read. Some readers prefer to read indoors, while others enjoy reading on a blanket outside.

3. Talk about reading. Reading is a social activity. Talking about reading is a great way to share the joy of reading, build comprehension and get new ideas for what to read next.

4. Join a summer reading program - see below

How is i-Ready going at home? This is a great time to pause and talk to your student about the i-Ready lessons that they are completing. Engaging in conversations about summer learning shows students that their hard work is noticed and valued. You can begin by asking them about the lessons they are completing in both reading and math. Below you will find a list of questions to get the conversation started. Feel free to add to this list. These questions can be revisited on a weekly basis.

• What did you learn about today (or this week)?

• Which lessons did you enjoy the most?

• What did you find challenging this week?

• What would you like to learn more about?

i-Ready Support

Many family resources can be found at the i-Ready Family Center. If you or your child needs additional support with i-Ready, please feel free contact Sarah Bottomley via email at sbottomley@whittiercity.net or call (562) 789-3059.

Did you know that Sunday, July 14 is National Mac & Cheese day? This week’s newsletter is filled with fun ways to celebrate this exciting day. The tasty combination of cheese and noodles is enjoyed by so many. Have you ever tried mac & cheese sushi or a “macuterie board”? Click here to access the Kraft website for new, creative recipes.

Fun Facts

• Nobody knows the true origin of Mac & Cheese, but some people believe the first recipe came from southern Italy in the 13th century. It consisted of sheets of lasagna made from fermented dough which were then cut into small squares that were boiled and mixed with grated cheese.
• Mac and Cheese Is an Official Color. In 1993, Crayola named one of its crayon colors “Macaroni and Cheese.”
• Mac and cheese is a lot older than you think. The first recognizable recipe for mac and cheese appeared in an early 14th-century cookbook from Italy.
• The largest dish of mac and cheese ever made was more than 2,000 pounds.

• Click here to access the City of Whittier event calendar. Here you’ll find information about Story Time, Summer Meals, and MORE!

• June 19 - July 29 - Whittier Public Library’s Summer Reading Club
• August 13 - First Day of School (6th grade only)
• August 13 - WCSD School Board Meeting
• August 14 - First Day of School