Wekiva Whispers
Wekiva Elementary School
Welcome Back to School Edition: January 2010
Principal: Michael Pfeiffer
Principal’s Message
I hope everyone had a wonderful and
restful holiday with friends and
family. Do you know what season
comes after the holiday season? If
you said FCAT season, you’re right!
And just like the holiday season, stress
is also associated with FCAT season.
Parents, teachers, students, and
especially principals get a little tense
around this time of year, but I remind
everyone to relax. Remember, when
you combine expert teachers with
students who try their best, you get
outstanding success. In other words,
you get Wekiva.
Koala MusicKidz News
Koala MusicKidz had a busy winter!
All three groups of Koala MusicKidz
performed at Santa in the Park, the
Florida Retirement Living Center, and
the winter concert is scheduled for
January 18, 2011, at 7 p.m.
AR Club News
AR Club will resumed on Monday,
January 10, 2011. If your child is
NOT an AR Club member but is
interested in joining, please have your
child see Mrs. Curtis in the media
center for a permission slip. This club
is open to students in grades 2-5 and
meets in the media center from 7:45-
8:15 a.m.. 2nd and 3rd graders meet
on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 4th
and 5th graders meet on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays.
Holiday Art Contest
Congratulations to Natalie Rincon and
Carlie Cooper, who received an
Honorable Mention in the Orlando
Sentinel’s Holiday Art Contest.
Thank you to all Wekiva students who
participated. There were over 1,300
entries submissions to the Sentinel!
www.scps.k12.fl.us or www.wekivaelementary.com
1450 East Wekiva Trail
Longwood, Florida 32779
Phone: 746-3150 Fax: 746-3163
Assistant Principal: Michelle Baker
Celebrate Literacy
Wekiva will take part in Celebrate
Literacy Week sponsored by Just Read
Florida. Look for green "Hog Wild"
reading logs for your child to
complete over the holiday break. If
our school reads 75,000 minutes over
the break, Mr. Pfeiffer will dress up
like a pig! Encourage your child to
compete in our Celebrate Literacy
poster contest too. Directions and
paper can be picked up in the media
center. Deadline for ALL posters is
Wednesday, January 19. Prizes for
the top posters will be awarded and all
the posters will be on display at
school. Students who turn in a green
reading log will also be eligible to win
prizes from our random drawing.
Celebrate Literacy Wekiva!
Cross Country News
Congratulations to all Wekiva Cross
Country athletes who participated in
the Winter Springs Kangaroo Run on
December 11th at Central Winds Park.
Listed below are those who placed in
the Top Ten!
Six Year Old Girls: Renna Duarte 4th
Nine Year Old Boys: Clay Ulmer 4th
Ten Year Old Girls: Sarah Pfeiffer 9th
January 22nd - Wekiva (please call
or email Coach Prose if you can
help with the meet-407-746-3157)
Jan. 15 Bear Lake
Jan. 22 Wekiva
Jan. 29 Partin AND Carillon @
Hagerty High School
Feb. 5 Keeth
Feb. 12 Forest City
Feb. 19 Lawton
Feb. 26 Crystal Lake @ Lake Mary
High School
Mar. 5 Hamilton
Mar. 12 Bentley
Seminole County Public Schools
Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Ms. Chimere
Turner, Wekiva’s Teacher of the Year.
As a principal and parent, I can attest
that she is one of the most dynamic
teachers who I have had the pleasure
with which to be associated. In her
current position as a third grade
teacher at Wekiva Elementary School,
Ms. Turner has proven herself to be an
invaluable asset. With reading the
centerpiece of academic instruction
and critical thinking skills at the
forefront of all lessons, Ms. Turner
melds traditional teaching strategies
while simultaneously introducing new
innovative technologies and
successfully accomplishes what every
teacher desires: she cultivates students
into eager, independent individuals
capable of exploring and learning on
their own.
School Related Employee of the
Year
Mrs. Grass, who serves as an
instructional assistant for
kindergarten, first, and second grades,
is a Godsend to her students and to our
Wekiva teachers. With school
budgets cut to the extreme and the loss
of several of her fellow assistants, she
has gone from supporting one grade to
three, without missing a beat. Serving
a number of students across several
grade levels, she can be seen on the
car ramp in below freezing
temperatures with gale force winds, in
the cafeteria creating order out of
kindergarten chaos, or covering a class
when a teacher has an emergency.
Her work ethic and professionalism is
beyond compare and she is truly
deserving of this award!
 FCAT Trek for Tech School Survey Results
Please mark your calendars Wekiva will hold our annual TREK Thank you for your comments and
accordingly regarding the 3rd-5th grade FOR TECH fundraiser on Friday, participation in the Parent Climate
FCAT schedule. It is essential that February 4th. This is the only Survey. The complete survey results
your children are in attendance and on fundraiser where we keep 100% of the are available in the office. The
time on the days below: donations. All proceeds from this statements below show the percentage
Test Grade Test Type walk-a-thon will be used to renew our of respondents that agreed or strongly
Date annual online site licenses, purchase agreed with each statement.
3/1 4 Writing new software, and other technology- 98.4% My child enjoys going to this
3/2- 4 Writing Make- related equipment for our classrooms. school.
The funds we raise this year are more 98.7% A positive atmosphere exists at
10 ups
necessary than ever due to cutbacks in this school.
4/11- 3, 4 Reading 98.4% Academic excellence is
12 5 Math school funding. We need your
promoted by the entire staff.
4/13- 3,4 Math help…if your business or someone 95.0% The school building and campus
14 5 Reading you know can donate prizes, gift is clean, neat, good repair.
4/18- 5 Science certificates or passes for our student 97.4% My child feels safe at school.
19 prize drawing, please contact Mrs. 94.2% The principal of this school
4/15- 3, 4, 5 Make-Ups Cook at 407-746-3151. Parents are demonstrates strong leadership.
invited to help out by marking lap 96.0% The school uses a variety of
21
cards, passing out water, or walking ways to communicate with
with their child during their PE time. parents.
Robotics Club Competes 98.1% Parents feel welcome at this
The Wekiva Robotics Club competed More detailed information will be sent
school.
in the Robotics Regional Competition home after winter break. Thank you 97.8% Parents are encouraged to
on December 11th at UCF. A great for supporting technology at our participate in school activities.
time was had by all!!! school! 97.8% The overall quality of
education my child receives at
Recycling this school is good.
Student Council News Don't forget to donate all your old
Student Council is still collecting Pop working cell phones, digital cameras, Important Dates
Tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. laptops and game systems after 1/10 Classes Resume
The school which collects the most Christmas! Please be sure to include 1/12 SRI Improved Lunch
Pop Tabs will be recognized by Local any cables and power supplies.You'll 3rd Gr. Parent Info FCAT
6 News, win a cash prize, and a be helping us earn money to purchase Night, 6:00 p.m.
trophy! ink for our printers while also helping SAC, 5:00 p.m.
the environment. Thank you for PTA Board, 6:15 p.m.
Reflections supporting our Recycling Program at Progress Reports
Congratulations to the following Wekiva! 1/17 No School
Wekiva PTA Reflections contest 1/18 Winter Concert, 7:00 p.m.
winners going to county competition: Don’t Forget to Clip 1/19 ABCS Lunch
Visual Arts: Joseph Molina, Evie Make sure to keep clipping Box Tops, 1/22 Cross Country @ Wekiva
Foster, Lindsey Follese, Harley Miller, Tyson labels, and Campbell Soup Elem.
Alivia Indek, Isabella Adams Labels. We also participate in Coke 2/2 SAC, 5:00 p.m.
Literature: Jack Klinger, Dana Rewards. PTA Board, 6:15 p.m.
Cassidy, Kendall Clark 2/4 Trek for Tech
Photography: Marissa McCauley, Crossing Guards and Safety 2/8 Science Expo and PTA Gen.
Miqdad Jaffer, Derek Molina, Ryan Wekiva’s crossing guards remind all Mtg, 7:00 p.m.
McCauley, Jason Templeton, Cassidy students that safety always comes 2/9 Super Scientist Begins
Curtis first! Dismount bikes and wait until 2/16 3rd Grade Student/Parent
the guard secures the crossing and Book Club Night, 6:30 p.m.
FCAT Parent Night calls students; check left, right, left 2/17 Spring Pictures
Wekiva would like to invite all 3rd prior to leaving the curb; walk and 1st Gr FT to Black Stallion
grade parents to attend an informative continue to scan traffic for any cars. Blood Mobile
FCAT Night on Jan. 12th, at 6:00 p.m. No “horse play”, as it leads to 2/18 Spring Pictures
Teachers and administration will dangerous situations and lack of 2/21 No School
explain format, grading, ramifications, paying attention. Let’s keep all 2/23 ABCS Lunch
and answer any questions that parents students safe by going over these 2/25 End of Trimester
might have regarding this achievement simple safety tips with your child.
test.

Seminole County Public Schools

www.scps.k12.fl.us or www.wekivaelementary.com