CHSW/CACTC Future Freshmen

8Th Grade Students:  Go check out the Future Falcon Open House this coming weekend.  Sunday, January 25, 2015 from 12:00 to 2:00.  Get a jump start on your transition to high school.  Check out the sensational programs offered by the Career and Technical Center.  Meet some teachers and students.  Don't miss out on this great offering.

Click here for a link to the full post card invite: 

http://cpsed.net/cactc/index/Front.pdf

Getting Organized

The Western Hills planner contains some great information about the school and the policies and procedures you'll need to follow to have a successful year.  It is also an amazing tool to keep organized throughout the school year.  Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your planner.

1. Record homework in your planner daily
2. Organize your planner by period to make it easier to record assignments
3. Check your planner before leaving school to be sure you bring home the right materials
4. Use your planner as a quick reference guide to find information about grammar rules, math formulas, etc.
5. Pack your school bag right after you finish your homework.  You can use your planner as a checklist to make sure you have all your work for the next day

Welcome to the 2014-2015 School Year!

Cheers to an excellent first day!  It was great to see all of your smiling faces as we embark on the 2014-2015 school year.

Be sure to watch this space as well as our Twitter Page for important information as well as tips designed to help you have a successful school year.

Have a great afternoon and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow. 

Study Skills Tune Up

Having a little trouble in one or more of your classes?  It may be your study habits need a little tune up.  Take this simple test and your guidance counselor will make an appointment with you to discuss the results.  We'll give you specific strategies based on your needs.

National School Counseling Week - Day 2

Today is the second day of National School Counseling Week.  The message today is about how a positive attitude can help you in building your future.

Many things can get you down; hard classes, friendship troubles, family problems and not understainding where you fit in.  When you're faced with tough times, it is very easy to lose focus and become distracted by the present.  The future seeoms so far away, bit it is not.

You have more control over your future that you think.  As your school counselors, we are here to help steer you in the right direction, to help you build your own magical future.

National School Counseling Week - Day 1

Today is the first day of National School Counseling Week.  Our focus for the week is “Building Magical Futures.”  

This week, we will talk about how you can build your future and make it magical in the process. It starts with setting a goal for where you want to be and steadily working toward that goal.

What are your goals? What is standing in your way?

Our job as school counselor is to help you look into the future and help you deal with the obstacles that stand in your way so you can be successful in reaching your full potential. 

Stop by the guidance office and talk to us soon.

Upcoming Events in the Cranston Public Schools

Attention 8th Grade Students:  8th grade students who may be interested in the NEL/CPS Construction and Career Academy Charter School should attend their open house on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 6pm.  See the photo below for more information.

 

Attention Parents:  There will also be a Parent Information Night at Cranston West on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 6pm.  See the picture below for the list of topics to be discussed: 

 

High School Transition Events

Attention 8th Grade Students

The Cranston Public Schools are offering two opportunities for 8th grade students to see their high school options.

Cranston High School West Future Falcon Open House

Will take place on Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 1pm. to 3pm.  You and your parents will get a chance to tour the building, meet some teachers and administrators, experience the CACTC Program and learn about all the amazing things that go on at Cranston West.

Construction & Career Academy Open House

Will take place on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 6pm.  If you would like to gather more information about the NEL/CPS Charter school go by and check them out.

Announcements for both events are below:

After School Theater Program

Interested in being part of a play?  Join the Western Hills After School Theater Program.  Auditions are on Wednesday, January 8 at 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

8th Grade Students - NEL/CPS Construction and Career Charter School Visit

Attention 8^th Grade Students:  If you are interested in learning more about the NEL/CPS Construction & Career Academy sign up for the information session in the Guidance Office.  Mr. Pecorelli will be back to answer your questions on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 8:00am.

Sign up for the session in the Guidance Office or by using the form below.  You will receive a pass in homeroom on December 18th for the meeting:
 

AR Books

 

Looking to see if a particular book is and AR book.  Check out the AR BookFinder Link and search for it.  You can see how many points a book is worth as well as a short description of the story.

Or check out the collections tab and see what other kids are reading.  You may uncover a book you'd never have known about.

• 
  Sign-Ups for Flag football will begin on September 26th and run through October 4.  Students must see their PE teacher for a permission slip.  Intramural flag football will run from 2:30 to 3:30 on Wednesdays and Thursdays.   We will begin on Oct 9^th and end on Nov. 7^th.  Intramurals are FREE.
  
• There will be a meeting for anyone interested in writing for the school newspaper on Wednesday October 2, 2013 in room 227.  This is open to any 7th and 8th grade student.  You must have a ride home by 3:00 p.m.
  
• Any student who is interested in joining Project Respect, the first meeting will be on Wednesday October 2nd in room 228.  Students must have a ride home at 3:15.  
  
• Any student, 7th or 8th grade, who is interested in Science Olympiad, please see Mr. Gamba in room 108 or your science teacher.  
  

After School Activities

Project Respect is looking for new members.  If you are interested in joining please come to room 228 on Wednesday October 2nd: 2:20 til 3:15 for the first meeting. 

Any students interested in playing Intramural Flag Football after school on Wednesday's and Thursday's can sign up in their Phys. Ed. class or see Coach Splendorio.  Intramurals start on October 9th and run from 2:30 to 3:30 Wednesdays and Thursdays through November 7th.  See sign up form below.

 

Tonight is Western Hills Middle School's Open House

---This night is for parents, homeroom begins at 7:00 p.m.

---Your child should have, or should be giving to you a copy of his/her Tuesday schedule.  That is what we will follow for this evening.  Students completed the schedules during school this week for you, so they should have it written out.  Please make sure that it has the room numbers.  

---Each class will last 10 minutes.  If you have a specific question concerning your child, please contact the teacher directly via email or leaving a message with the front office.  Teachers are not to discuss personal information in an open forum.  

---During homeroom you will receive information on how to log into Aspen, our online grade book program.  We only have the access information for those parents who have never logged in before, this or any other year.  Should you have a question about accessing Aspen, Mr. Vesey will be available in the media center after Open House to assist you.  

---You will also receive information regarding signing up for a PTO membership.  The PTO will be in the foyer until 6:50 and then after the night is over collecting memberships, as well as, selling spirit wear.  

 

onTRAC Planning

Start the school year off on your best foot. Get your planner organized.  Take a look at the onTRAC Planning tips located in the front of your student planner. 

onTRAC stands for Think, Record, Act, Check!  Awesome advice for a successful year.

Think:  A little pre-planning at the beginning of each week will help you see "What is important right now?"

Record:  Use the space in your planner to Record your assignments, tests, projects and deadlines.

Act:  Make sure you use your planner after school.  Block out your homework time and make sure you Act on it.

Check:  Don't forget to look back.  Did you complete the work?  Did you hand it in?  Do you think it may be important on an upcoming test?  Checking helps keep it current in your brain.

Taking the Bus?

If you are a bus student at Western Hills here's a quick reference sheet indicating where you'll be dropped off and where you'll need to wait at the end of the day.

Welcome Back

Welcome Back Western Hills Cobras!

Hope you all had a wonderful summer vacation.  So great to see all of your smiling faces this morning.  We've taken our first steps towards and exciting school year!

Don't forget to review your Student Planner this evening.  We need you to sign two (2) pages in the planner (pgs. 11&56) and return them to your homeroom teacher A.S.A.P.

Fire up your mind, focus your eyes and listen to your surroundings because:

Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. - Carl Sagan

Cranston Camp XL

Looking for a fun summer camp experience.  Try Camp XL!  Check out the flier below for more information. 

Field Day on June 21st

Hard to believe we are so close to the end of the school year.  Below are the permission slips for the 7th Grade Field Day to Teamworks Warwick and the 8th Grade Field Day at Dave & Busters.  Print these out in case you lost the one you received in homeroom.

Strategies for Responsible Internet Usage

Think twice before you act impulsively online.  This impulsivity combined with online anonymity could lead toward dangerous behaviors: cyberbullying, inappropriate photo or video uploads, illegal downloads, meeting strangers - even cheating.  Online interactions can become pretty intense - whether you are playing games, chatting with friends, or sharing work.

You are creating a digital footprint that can last a long time in cyberspace.  Things you post can be forwarded by others and viewed by anonymous audiences.  Remember to think twice before you post anything online.

The following strategies will help to keep you safe and responsible : 

* Visit age appropriate sites .

* Minimize chatting with strangers.   People aren't always who they say they
   are on the Internet.

* Think critically about what you find online.  Not everything you read and
   see online is true.

* If you wouldn't do it in real life, you shouldn't do it online.   Don't say
   mean things and don't cheat in games or at school.     

* Have rules about time and place.   Discuss limits with your parents and 
   agree on appropriate times to use the Internet....not while doing homework.

* Agree on downloads.  What music is okay?  Which video sites?  If you
   need to buy something online, your parents should be involved.

* Think about privacy.  When you post something online, you lose control of
   it.  It can be cut and pasted and sent around the Web.  Discuss privacy
   settings with your parents and use them.

* Report inappriopriate behavior.  If anything suspicious, mean, or scary
   happens, you need to tell a trusted adult ASAP.