Notes from the Head of School

Happy Friday!

* Wolfpack basketball season started this week with practices under Coaches Gumina and Rida. With a full bench of 14 players, the team is already looking strong!  They are building teamwork and communication as well as their basketball skills. The team's schedule is on the White Oak website on the Sports Calendar.

*With the help of 7th Grader Lucie G.,we will be starting a Pep Squad to support our basketball team! Open to all grades, students will learn a few cheers to perform on the sidelines at home games, create signs for our team members, and be the spirit that will propel the Wolfpack to their wins! Practices will be mostly in school, with the possibility of an after school session to practice and complete posters before the 1st home game after the holiday break. Sign ups start on Monday- listen to announcements to hear where to add your name to the list!

*Last chance to order White Oak clothing and hats! Please complete this Google form and send in a check for payment by next Friday the 12th! Use this Google Form to order:

https://forms.gle/e3GWiDyahhVKtNKW7

*Join us on Monday, January 19th at the Springfield Thunderbirds game! Our school chorus will perform "God Bless America" on the ice and 10 lucky students will ride the Fanboni between periods! There is no school that day - students should attend with families or arrange for drop off and pick up to attend with friends. Scan the QR code on the attached flyer to buy your tickets now!

* Around the school today in Club meetings: there was an intense Connect Four tournament in Board Games Club, the American Sign Language Club was practicing sentences using color words, the Helping Hands Club made holiday cards for our local First Responders, and the Knitting/Crocheting Club were hard at work on their projects. These are just some of the exciting things happening in our clubs!

Ways to contribute this holiday season:

- The Helping Hands Club is still collecting non-perishable food items and personal care items for the Common Goods Pantry on Westfield State's campus. Donations can be put near the orange bin in the cafeteria. Items needed include: canned goods, dry boxed items (cereal, pasta, rice), peanut butter, shampoo, soap, deodorant.

-White Oak is also doing a donation drive for Safe Passage, a local shelter for domestic violence victims. Items that would be helpful include full-size toiletries such as: toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, and deodorant. Also, size 2 diapers or larger. All items must be unopened. Thank you for giving back to the community! Gift cards or passes would also be

appreciated:Gift Cards:● Visa/Mastercard gift cards● Grocery store gift cards● General store gift cards(Walmart, Target, CVS, etc)● Gas Cards● Local Salon/Spa gift cardsPasses:● PVTA bus passes● Look Park passes (includingactivity passes)● Museum passesWe will collect donations up until December 5th.

*FUNDRAISER COMPETITION ALERT: The student with the most gift card sales through the RaiseRight gift card fundraising site from December 1 - December 15 will win a $25.00 gift card of their choosing!

How can students participate? Share, send, distribute the information on the attached flyer. Where? Social media, email, work spaces, family & friends gatherings, local groups/businesses.  When people use their name while purchasing, they will get credit! Thanksgiving is a great time to get the word out about our fundraiser - people are purchasing gift cards anyway - now they can support White Oak School with no extra cost to them!

Here's our link:

https://raiseright.onelink.me/Gei8?af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.raiseright.com%2Fenroll%3FenrollCode%3DRR-YRQDYHHQ2N&af_xp=custom&pid=web_invite&c=P2P&deep_link_value=EnrollmentCode%3Fcode%3DRR-YRQDYHHQ2N&af_dp=swsapp%3A%2F%2FEnrollmentCode%3Fcode%3DRR-YRQDYHHQ2N

***If you have difficulty with our link, let me know! ****

This weekend will be busy with the Winter Wonderland semi-formal dance tonight and a big team participating in the Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage on Sunday. Watch for highlights from these 2 events!

Stay warm!

Jody

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