Shaffer Times
October 2009
Principal’s Perspective
Last month was indeed a “New Beginning.” We lived up to this theme
with a very positive start to our new school year. It was a pleasure to see
so many Shaffer families at our recent Open House. Let’s keep the
momentum going as we progress through the school year. Again, I
strongly encourage our parents to get involved in your child’s
educational experience. For the month of October, we are working on
the theme “Respect.” Please reinforce our theme with your child at
home. In addition, we are also working on Anti-Bullying Education.
Together, we can ensure that your child gets the best of what we have to
offer. As always, keep the lines of positive communication open.
Yours in Education Excellence,
Principal Leonard
Visit whsd.net for up-to-date Shaffer and District news!
Pupil Poetry Time
Thanks to Mrs. Gable’s students in Room 116!
Sun of . . . Summer
Cooking me as I play.
I feel like toast and I
Feel like steam, even in
My dream I have to
Use sun cream.
I feel like a flaming hot
Dragon with lots of power.
Like taking a bath or a
Nice hot shower.
-Anthony Snowden, Sixth Grade
Anthony is also an amazing artist, so look for his work
outside the sixth grade classrooms!
Autumn: The Beautiful Season!
I woke up on a chilly autumn morning
To the sound of birds singing and leaves twirling in the
Wind.
I threw on my sweater for our annual trip
To the far-away pumpkin patch.
When we arrived at Schramm’s Farm
It was a beautiful sight: rows and rows of dazzling orange
Pumpkins, of all sizes.
We strolled through rows to find the ideal pumpkin.
It didn’t take long until I spotted
A perfectly shaped, intense orange gourd.
On our way back to the car
We stopped at the bakery (which we couldn’t pass up).
YUMM! The delicious, mouth-watering scent of fresh-baked
Pumpkin pie.
Now that’s my idea of a perfect autumn morning!
- Shayna Soles, Sixth Grade Student
Recess
School is fun but recess is better
Especially when there is warm weather
Because you can play, you can jump, and you can do
Whatever you want
But once the bell rings, play time is over
No more recess just till tomorrow
- Raven Bass, Fifth Grade Student
-
Waking Up In Fall
When I’m waking up in Fall,
I wake up to a foggy morning.
I look to go see what’s out my window.
In the sky I see
Long, blue, skinny clouds,
And on the trees I see
Colorful leaves.
I open my window and put my head out
And all I feel
Is the chilly air against my face.
I look at the tree
Again
And all I see is an orange leaf,
Swaying side to side.
LaTaya Davis, Sixth Grade Student
Your Own Person
If you can’t understand and
You’re scared to raise your hand
Because of what people will think.
Be your own person.
Not what people want you to be.
Be the one you want to be.
-Destiny Johnson, Fifth Grade Student
Fun in the Sun
I love summer because
Birds fly high in the sky,
There is always music playing
And me and my friends play outside.
Summer is fun because
Swimming is fun. While I am
With my friends the best part
About swimming is floating on my back.
Having picnics with family
And friends makes summer
All the better and more worthwhile
And I can’t hardly wait ‘till it comes again!
- Kayla Murphy, Sixth Grade Student
Summertime
Summer’s great because
I can go swimming, play
baseball, play with
!
My friends. Go out for
dinner and best of all,
Going swimming makes me
Cool, speedy, powerful,
Baseball will always rule,
Fun with my friends is exhilarating
Being free is totally for me.
- Jeremy Pike, Sixth Grade Student
More Student Submissions . . .
The Test
Once long ago I had a dream about getting a bad grade on
my reading test only because I didn’t study. When I
got to school in my dream the first thing we did was
THE TEST. I was nervous and I was feeling very
parched. Ms. Johnson laid the test on my desk and I
cracked my knuckles like I knew what I was doing.
During the test I panicked about the vocabulary.
When I got the test back, I actually got a “B” on it!
That was a time when I had a nervous break down!
-Dominique Clark, Sixth Grade Student
Why is Shaffer Great?
Shaffer Students are great because they use teamwork to help
their
friends excel. Another reason why is because we have great
teachers at
Shaffer to help us learn new things. Lastly, we act safely so that
children
and teachers at Shaffer are safe and great!
Thanks to Madison Miller in Rm. 113 for this “GREAT”
tribute!
STUDENT STAND-OUT TIME
Hello, my name is Sheyenne and I’m in the sixth grade. I was
wondering if we could put up signs saying “Help the Animal
Shelters”? You could donate food, treats, toys and little beds. If
you are animal fans, maybe you could donate those items. I am
an animal fan myself! I also know that there is a population for
those animals. So would you be helpful and save those animals’
lives? Thank you!
Thank YOU Sheyenne, for your compassion!
Katie Lynn Ryan writes . . . My gym teacher is Mrs. Bynum-Ratliff.
She told my class she could get us into tip-top shape. Well, she
was right!! I haven’t had many classes with her, so I was
amazed when my mom brought home two 24-packs of Pepsi for
my dad and it turned out I could carry both packs up the stairs in
my front yard to the kitchen at the same time! I carried them all
by myself! I was very truly surprised! For that experience, I
would like to say “Thank You Mrs. Bynum-Ratliff!!”
Thank You Katie for sharing your “strong” story!
Domonic Hutsenpiller in Room 113 writes . . . What I think is we
all should have longer math time so we can learn more and be
smarter. When we grow up it should be harder because it is too
easy right now. So that is why math time should be longer and
harder. So we can learn faster and be smarter. That is my math
time report.
Thanks Domonic for your hard work!
Shaffer Times
More News . . . More Often
Watch for student columns every month. . . Do you have news
from Turtle Creek or Churchill? Care to share event information?
Email it to tarareis@verizon.net for inclusion in future editions.
PTO Elections
Children are welcome and feel free to bring a snack to share!
At our October meeting, on Tuesday, October 13th at
7pm, we will be having PTO Elections and discussing
fundraisers and upcoming events. Plus, a representative
from OASIS Tutoring will be making a brief presentation on
how they help our children!
BoxTops/Labels
Start clipping those Box Tops and Campbell’s labels! Put them
in an envelope marked PTO with your child’s name and
room #. Students will win prizes and the school will get
great free stuff! It’s a WIN-WIN for Shaffer Elementary!
Reading IS Fundamental
Shaffer PTO participates in RIF, a national program to promote
literacy. We do it because we love books and want Shaffer
Students to love them too! Each Shaffer student will receive a
free book at the end of October and two other times during
the school year. Do you love books and reading too? Be sure
to read with your child! If you are available during the
day once or twice a month, consider being on the RIF
Committee. We choose the books to be offered to students,
order and organize them, and run distributions 3x per
year. Contact Debbie at 4pikes@comcast.net or Tara at
tarareis@verizon.net, or come to the October PTO meeting to
find out more.
Fall Fundraiser with Superb
Thanks to everyone who purchased items from the Superb
fundraiser! This really helps pay for all the wonderful things your
PTO does with the students. FUNDRAISER PICKUP IS ON
Wednesday, November 4 (3:00-6:30pm). If you still wish to
participate, the PTO will accept late orders until 11am, Monday,
October 5. Unable to participate at this time? Consider a gift of your
time. We need helpers from 2pm –6:45 on Distribution Day
(11/4). Contact Debbie at 4pikes@comcast.net or send a note to
school if you can help out. Thanks everyone!
Teacher Tidbits
Fifth Grade Classrooms are still in need of boxes of
tissues!
Mrs. Simon, PTO Enrichment Coordinator, wants to
remind everyone that the show “Hoofing in America II”
of Gateway to the Arts will hit the Shaffer Stage on
Friday, October 16th at 2pm. Families are welcome!
Did you know? Mrs. Smith may be new to Shaffer, but she has
been teaching in WHSD for 12 years! Most of her teaching
experience has been with Wilkins Elementary teaching Second and
Third Grade. Teaching Fourth Grade is a new and exciting
experience for her. Mrs. Smith wanted to take a moment to tell the
students of room 111, “Thank you for a great start to a new year.
Your respect and thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. We are
going to have a GREAT school year.”
Thanks for sharing Mrs. Smith and welcome!
Did you know? Mr. Hertrick can do the moonwalk!
We are having a GREAT time in Kindergarten! We are rapidly
learning letters and sounds-making our first steps toward
independent reading. We are learning about sorting and classifying
objects and counting up anything we can find during math class.
Next we will be learning about color and shape patterns. We need
parents to keep up the GREAT WORK and continue to check
backpacks and go over work with their children daily.
Thanks K-Team!
Book Fair Time
Students will be able to shop the Scholastic Book Fair during
their library class the week of October 19th. Fliers
featuring books on sale will be sent home the week
prior to the fair. Feel free to come in and shop with
your student!
It’s Lunchtime!
Want to put a huge grin on your child’s face? Join them for
lunch! Kindergarten has lunch from 12n-12:30pm.
First and Second graders have lunch from 12:30pm-1:00pm.
Third and Fourth graders eat from 11:30am-12Noon,
and Fifth and Sixth graders dine from 11am-11:30am.
Bon appetit!
Music Time
The beginning band and orchestra students will start lessons in the
2nd week of October. Information regarding instrument rentals has
been sent home with the students. If it has not been received yet,
some information is still being handed out to students. If there are
any questions please contact Mr. Hertrick or Mrs. Klicker at
Shaffer Elementary.
Here are some practicing tips for the students.
1. Find a designated quiet area to practice to help focus and
where they will not be disturbed or disturb others.
2. Sometimes practicing during commercials of their favorite
TV shows can be an efficient way to get the necessary time of
practicing in.
3. Remind your children to think about what they're
practicing, not just go through the motions. Practice doesn't
make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.
4. The children do not always have to practice the full
instrument at once, just practicing fingerings and not making
a sound, or buzzing on the mouthpieces for wind players, can
be an effective way of practicing, especially for beginning
students.
5. Make sure they have fun and enjoy it!!!!!!!
Mr. Hertrick just recently graduated from Youngstown State University this
past December. This is his first year teaching in the WHSD. He teaches
general music at Shaffer and Ben Fairless Elementary as well as the band
and 6th grade chorus at Shaffer Elementary. He also is an assistant with the
WHHS marching band. Mr. Hertrick is an active musician playing
many jazz gigs on the saxophone and other various gigs on the other
woodwinds, mainly bassoon. He is very excited to be a part of the
WHSD and as part of the music staff at Shaffer. Welcome Mr. Hertrick!
Guidance Time
Greetings Parents and Guardians of Shaffer Students!
Please remind your child(ren) each day about how to
respect others and use their good manners. The STAR
theme for the month of October will be Respect, so
teachers will be looking for students who show that
they are using the skills that are being taught at school
and at home as they pick who will come in for lunch
bunches and who will earn prizes throughout the
month. Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,Mrs. Jessica Cohen
Notes from the Nurse
All students K-1, 6th are required to have Physical
Examination
completed. All K-1, 3 students are required to have a Dental
Examination completed.
Reminder: The first line of defense against the flu is
HANDWASHING!
Shaffer Shield Time
Did you know that the SHAFFER SHIELD STORE is
Coming soon to our school? The children will earn paper
"Shaffer Shield money" for positive behaviors in school,
which they can then spend at our store. The discipline
committee will have the kickoff after our October 12th in
service. It will be in connection to our anti bullying
campaign. Heroes are needed to volunteer through the
PTO to set up and man the store a few hours a month.
Help is also needed to gather items to "sell" at our store.
We can use items that are solicited from businesses or maybe
you have some things at home that are new, or like new, and
you would like to unload them! Mrs.Maus has a friend who
recently gave up her daughter's Beanie Babies that have
never even had the tags taken off! There are at least 200 of
them! Thanks to Mrs.Chunik, Mrs.Gable, Mrs. Smith, and
Mrs. Romito for their generous donations already. Just bring
items to school and Mrs. Maus,in Room 100, will take them.
Popular items are erasers, pencils, markers, folders, crazy
scissors, regular scissors, small stuffed animals, journals,
notebooks, novels, picture books, chapter books, jewelry,
small toys, small games, and of course, sports stuff
of any kind.
Shaffer Shield Store Superstars - - We Salute You!
Storytown Online Time
Parents and students can now access Shaffer Elementary’s
researched-based reading and language arts series, Storytown, from
home. You can reread the weekly stories, download Practice Book
and Spelling Book pages, and preview upcoming skills and lessons.
We have established online Storytown accounts for all our Shaffer
students. You can access their account by going to
http://www.thinkcentral.com/. Once you are on the site:
1. Input the state, district, and school information.
2. To save time in the future, click on “Remember My
Organization” and bookmark the page.
3. Enter your student’s username. This is the student identification
number he/she uses to access Skills Tutor and other web sites at
school.
4. Enter your student’s Storytown password. Their password is
simply the word “think.”
5. All the student materials can be accessed by clicking on the
“Library”
If you have any questions concerning accessing Storytown
materials online or Shaffer’s Reading Program, please contact
Mr. Sharp at 412-371-4535 ext. 2291 or sharma@whsd.net.
Coming in November. . . Shaffer
IDOL Takes the Stage on
Tuesday, November 3rd at 7pm
October Events: PUT ON FRIDGE!!
2nd
9th
12th
13th
16th
19th
20th-22nd
22nd
23rd
30th
Spirit Day: Wear WH Colors – Turquoise & Black
WH vs. Central at the Wolvarena at 7pm
School Picture Day
WH Homecoming Parade at 6pm; game at 7pm vs. Kiski
NO SCHOOL
PTO Meeting at 7pm in Library
2pm “Hoofing in America II” show for students
WH @ Fox Chapel 7pm kick-off
Set up for Book Fair
Students Shop Book Fair During Library class
Pack up Book Fair after school
WH @ Plum kick-off at 7pm
RIF Distribution All Day in Library
WH vs. Penn Hills (Senior Recognition) 7pm kick-off