President's Message

If you have a preschooler who will be going to kindergarten next fall in a public school, I strongly recommend going to that school's fall festival or fun fair.  There is usually a minor fee for the games/activities (payable at the door) and a good way to walk around the building and check out the school.  The games/activities are geared toward elementary school kids but they can always eat the pizza and do the cake walk...

Hilliard Fall Festival - Oct 14th 5pm

Bassset Harvest Day- Oct 14th 6pm

Dover Fun Fair- March 11th -6pm

Holly Lane Fun Fair- Feb 11th- 6:30pm 

I attended the Parent Information Night on Monday and wanted to share the following summary about new school construction.  They are currently doing soil surveys, wetland surveys, etc etc and plan to begin breaking ground for both Lee Burneson and the High School late summer/ early fall of 2011.  The Red Brick building will be demolished this fall.  I know my son has already asked if he can see them take it down but they didn't give a specific date.

The move date into the new Lee Burneson (7-8th grades) is scheduled for January 2013. The new High School (9-12th grade) move in date is August 2013.  They will then renovate the old Lee Burneson for the 5th-6th graders and be ready for fall of 2014.  They have drawings of the new buildings on the westlake website. 

I attended the Parent Information Night on Monday and wanted to summarize Dr. Keenan's message about full day kindergarten.  He told us that the board has opted NOT to apply for another waiver next year.  That means we WILL have full day kindergarten in the fall of 2011.  They are installing trailers to each of the four elementary schools this fall.  The individual schools will decide what class will be held in the trailer but it will not be kindergarten.  They will focus this year on staff development and curriculum planning.  This spring they will finalize the curriculum and interview up to 6 candidates.  We have invited Dr. Keenan to come speak to our group this fall and will announce his date as soon as it is scheduled. In addition, Kindergarten Readiness is January 20th and any parent with a kindergartner scheduled for the fall 2011 should make every effort to attend.  We also invited him to speak at our February meeting so that anyone who doesn't have a kindergartner next fall can come and learn about the new program.

 I asked him if there will be a half day option and he said he is considering offering it but it would be on a limited basis and likely only at one school.  We will keep you posted as to the date he will speak to our group!

WESTLAKE SCHOOLS’ PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

The Westlake Council of PTAs is sponsoring a Westlake Schools’ Parent Information Night on Monday, Aug. 30, at the Performing Arts Center. Doors open 6pm, presentations 7pm. All community members are welcome

This is from the school board update....

MASTER FACILITIES: PHASE I

With passage of Phase I of the Master Facilities Plan, the Westlake Schools can move forward on a much-needed building project that will include:

·        Renovating and adding space at Lee Burneson Middle School to turn it into an intermediate school for grades 5-6. Estimated completion:  Winter 2013/2014.

·        Building a new middle school for grades 7-8 near the existing building. Estimated completion:  Winter 2012/2013.

·        Rebuilding an extensive portion of Westlake High School while preserving the 2005 additions. Estimated completion: Fall 2013.

Programming meetings were held with staff from WHS and LBMS, along with the architecture and construction firms (MKC Associations and Turner Construction, respectively).  The district met with the 20/20 Vision Committee and neighbors whose property abuts WHS and LBMS. An oversight committee of district staff, Board of Education members and community members also was formed to provide immediate feedback on the project. Work also was done over the summer regarding geotechnical work, environmental surveying, property surveying/staking and traffic studies.

Phase II will involve consolidation through renovating the existing Parkside Intermediate School into a PreK-4 building, and building two new elementary schools. This will be revisited with the community before being placed on the ballot. It is important to note the district will have a tax millage drop-off in 2017 that potentially would equal the cost of implementing Phase II, amounting to a tax neutral situation for the community.

If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to email bonvissuto@wlake.org or call 250.1258

I've had a few moms stop me and ask questions so I thought I'd post the basics. First, if your kid is going to school THIS year (i.e. Aug 25th) register NOW at the Board of Education. They are finalizing class lists.  But if you have a kid like mine that will go in Fall of 2011 the process begins on Thursday, January 20th, 2011 with a Kindergarten Readiness Program.  WECPTA will post location, time, etc. as the event gets sooner. Basically, it is a long meeting where the administrators describe the multi-step registration process.  At the meeting, they hand out a packet of information for you to fill out and you sign up for a date/time to register.  You actually have to meet someone and go over every single piece of paperwork to make sure it is all correct.  It is important to get it done early, however, because occasionally schools "overflow" and kids who are registered late go to schools that aren't their "neighborhood school."  That can be a big hassle so I advise you to register early.

If you have to miss the Kindergarten Readiness Program, you can go to the school board beginning Friday January 21st, 2011 and pick up the packet and sign up for a time to register.   You can always call me and I'll fill you in on as much of the meeting as I can remember!

And again, we will get Dr. Keenan to come speak to our group...we are just working out dates.

Amy Havelka was over last week (she is President of Bassett PTA) and told me they hired a replacement for Mr. Rickard who retired.  His name is Ben Hodge and he is coming from Berea City Schools- Parknoll Elementary.  Amy is planning a "Meet the Principal" night before school starts- check the Bassett PTA website for info. 

I heard about this at the pool and thought it was neat enough to share! The environmental club at Lee Burneson (grades 7-9) went to Kenya this summer to create original art and music with the Messai tribe.  The science teacher, Daniel Grigson, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer "we are not going to help the African people or ourselves.  There is no charity or social work.  We are not going to learn from their culture or teach them ours.  We are going to create original art and music together."

I think that is pretty cool.  Right now, I can't imagine my kids spending the night at Grandma's let alone going to Africa but one day....

The plain dealer article is at www.cleveland.com/tipoff/index.ssf/2010/06/westlake_students_traveling_to.html

I ran into Dr. Keenan (the Superintendent of Westlake Schools) at Clague Park last night.  Both of our kids were kicking the dirt...I mean playing t-ball :).  Julie Jacono asked him if and when Westlake would have full day kindergarten.  He told us that it was approved to move forward for Fall 2011 (that is next fall ladies...not this year).  There is always the possibility that the Board could still change its mind if the financial situation changes drastically, however, he doesn't think it will and plans to get set for 2011-12 are already in the works.  He has the business manager already engaged in the process of ordering trailers for all four elementary schools because they don't have enough space and they will likely be in place before the fall semester is over.  (The trailer is for the older kids, not the kindergarteners).  There will be half day option available too.  I am sure he will be happy to come speak to us once plans are finalized and he can speak about the details. Laurie Gettings is planning on making him a featured speaker after a meeting as soon as he says he is ready to discuss the details!

Thought other people besides Julie and I would be interested in this update.  Also, yes my kids did come home covered in dirt.  At one point my four year old had his mitt on his head, his hands in his pockets and didn't even see the ground ball that bounced right in front of him.   But he begs to wear that t-ball t-shirt every day. "Will you do the laundry today Mom, please????"  Stay cool everyone!