Questions & Answers

June 2, 2008

Question: Has a start time been established?

Answer: Unfortunately no. Now that the middle and high school start times have been settled (I think), the district will begin scheduling all school start times. We should know something in a few weeks. Keep checking the website over the summer.

Question: When we can we register for Before and After Care?

Answer: Now! After meeting with all the approved vendors, I selected After School Programs, Inc. to be our provider. Applications are available at Lake Whitney at this time. If you would like more information about our provider, you can check out their website at www.aspkids.com.

Question: I have heard there is an “Open House” in July, what is that?

Answer: Once we are allowed in our building, I am going to have an evening when parents and students can take tours. This is not an official Open House or any type of Meet Your Teacher, but more about letting our community visit the school. It will still be a bit messy with boxes and items being delivered.

Question: What were the results of the Uniform survey?

Answer: Much to my surprise, 70% were interested in participating. This is voluntary of course, so our PTA decided that for those who wish to participate we will have red collared shirts and khaki pants, shorts, etc. Those are easy to purchase at various department stores. At our Open House in July (mentioned above), PTA will have a vendor on site to take orders. We will also have some PTA shirts (collared) on sale. Again this is VOLUNTARY, so participation is up to you!

Question: How will you communicate with us over the summer?

Answer: Well…the month of June will be difficult, so the website will be the only way to know what is happening at the school. In July, student information flips into our new school “account”. This means Westbrooke is official. I will have access to addresses, Connect Ed messages, etc. for our new school. I can then send home letters and make phone calls.

May 16, 2008

Question: What is the status of the Health Central Nurse? (Updated from March 21st)

Answer: We will not be participating. Health Central Foundation is currently accepting applications from schools who have participated in the past. If schools decide not to participate they may offer the program to other schools. We would be responsible for raising over $20,000. At this time I will be hiring for a Clinic Attendant. This position (which is in most OCPS schools) is paid for by the school district.

Question: Will I have a chance to join PTA?

Answer: Yes. PTA will be having a membership drive during the beginning of school. Dues are $10 per person. If you are interested in more information or would like to sign up to join a committee, please contact our PTA President, Nancy Golden at ngolden1@cfl.rr.com

Question: Is Meet Your Teacher scheduled yet?

Answer: Yes. It is scheduled on Thursday, August 14th from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. ** We will have an earlier date for parents and students to come tour the building. That is to be determined once we have moved in. **

Question: What Special Areas will be offered?

Answer: PE, Music, and Science Lab. During the interview process, the Art teacher position I hoped to hire for was not possible due to a district wide hiring freeze. Once the budget cuts began, our school was required to cut 6% for our 2008-2009 school budget. This meant several positions (including Art) were eliminated. Obviously I am not happy about the budget situation and not having Art, but we are working on ways to make sure we provide art activities and opportunities during the week. It is my hope that once the school year starts, we will be able to add an Art teacher to our school.

Question: What curriculum will the new school have?

Answer: Great question and my answer and I will try to keep my answer short. On our home page, look for the Curriculum link. It will provide you with some basic information about some of the curriculum we will be using at Westbrooke. We will continue to update this throughout the summer and school year

Question: Will we be participating in MyLunchmoney.com?

Answer: Yes! In June, after school is out, you will log on to your child’s account and simply change the school location to Westbrooke Elementary. If you have a balance in your child’s account, it will simply transfer over to the new school. If you are unfamiliar with MyLunchmoney.com, check out their website. It is an excellent way to pay for your child’s breakfast or lunch each week!

April 11, 2008

Question: Will the new school have a Gifted Program? Updated from March 7, 2008

Answer: The new school will be a center site which means other schools will send their students to our school for gifted services. (Not Lake Whitney or Thornebrooke students)

Question: Any updates on PTA? Updated from March 21, 2008

Answer: We had our first organizational meeting on March 26th. Several committees were formed to begin the process of chartering our new PTA. Our next meeting to elect officers will be on April 22, 2008. The meeting will be at Thornebrooke Elementary beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Question: Will the new school have VPK (Voluntary PreK)?

Answer: No, our school will not have the PreK program. In our area, Ocoee Elementary and Windermere Elementary will have programs.

Question: What are the school hours?

Answer: That has not been determined yet. It should be set by the end of April.

Question: Is kindergarten a full day or half day program?

Answer: It is full day.

Question: Does the new school have uniforms?

Answer: No. School uniforms in Orange County are a voluntary program. Schools can choose to look at that as an option, but even if parents opt to have uniforms, it still on a voluntary basis.

Question: Will we get supply lists?

Answer: Yes. They will be posted on the website in June.

March 21, 2008

Question: Will we have a Health Central School Nurse?

Answer: Not at this time. The Health Central Foundation stopped expanding their program three years ago. Any new school built in the area can no longer participate in the program. I have spoken with the Heath Central Foundation president about this matter. We will be funded for a school clinic aide. Our school does have the option of raising money for a school nurse, but it would cost us more (quite a bit more) because we don’t have the financial support of Health Central Foundation. I am looking into creative ways to help staff our new school. Maybe a part time nurse for a few hours each day? Or maybe having an LPN on staff like some schools in the Winter Park area, etc. I will be sending home more information in the summer.

Question: Any updates on the PTA?

Answer: Yes! We are having our first organizational meeting on March 26th at 7pm at Lake Whitney (Cafeteria). A representative from the Orange County Council PTA will be there to assist us with the process. I believe we will have to have a second meeting in April to finalize everything.

Question: Will the new school have patrols?

Answer: Yes. I will be working with both Lake Whitney and Thornebrooke to identify rising 4th graders. In many schools there are more patrols that positions, so we will create a program to rotate as many students through as possible. This will allow for all of the recommended students the opportunity to participate.

Questions: Will the new school have DARE?

Answer: We will be a part of the School Resource program with the Ocoee Police Department. I am not sure of the day(s) the officer will be on campus. That is usually determined during the summer months.

Question: There are all kinds of articles about budget cuts. How does that affect the new school?

Answer: Wow…this is a complicated question. I will try to answer without confusing you. According to our state legislators, there is simply not enough revenue coming in to continue the same level of funding as last year. The building of the new school is not impacted because that money has already been set aside. Everything that was promised is still included. Enrollment is the major factor in our school. When schools lose students, they lose funding. If we hit our target (510) then we should be in good shape. After enrollment, the biggest challenge will be to raise funds (PTA fundraisers, donations, etc.) to help us catch up with certain things or resources schools accumulate over time. The guided reading library is one such item. This is not library books, but rather resources that teachers use to help teach reading.

March 7, 2008

Question: Will the new school have a Gifted Program?

Answer: Yes. I have been in contact with Ms. Martha Kessler, at the district office, in regards to having our own unit at the new school. I have started gifted units at my two previous schools. We may be starting with a small unit and grow over time.

Question: Will the new school have a Strings Program like Thornebrooke?

Answer: We are at the top of the list for Strings because we are a direct feeder school into Lakeview Middle School. Mr. Mike Parks and Ms. Carol McGowan, at the district office, are working to find a way to help fund a program for us. This is a very tight budget year, but they are doing their best.

Question: Will the new school have an ESE program?

Answer: Yes! This has been one question with a lot of misinformation floating around. Each school services their own Exceptional Education students (SLD and EMH), so we will service our own students. For exceptionalities that require more support there are center schools. Thornebrooke, for example, serves students with Autism. Dillard serves TMH and Autistic students, etc. The new school will not be a center site.

Question: Do we have a PTA yet?

Answer: No, not yet. We have been in contact with the Orange County Council PTA to help us charter our new PTA. We are waiting on them to help establish a timeline and procedures. That is something they are supposed to do for us. We hope to have our first meeting by the end of March or first of April.

Question: Will there be the large wall separating the school from the Turnpike? (The large concrete wall)

Answer: I wish the answer was yes, but that is not in the builder’s or Orange County Public School’s control. That wall and where it goes is determined by the Florida Department of Transportation.

February 19, 2008

Question: If I am moving to the new school, do I need to register my child?

Answer: No…Current Lake Whitney/Thornebrooke students will automatically be enrolled in the new school on July 1st. The student information folders will be sent over once we are in the new building.

Question: How many students will be attending the new school?

Answer: We are projected to have 515 students to open, but over the next few years grow to around 800.

Question: How do we register new Kindergarten students who will be attending next year?

Answer: We are currently awaiting the official registration start date. I hope to have an area designated at one/both of the feeder schools to make it as convenient as possible. I will be sending out more specific information once I have it.

Question: What is the technology like in the new school?

Answer: Each classroom is equipped with 3 to 4 computers, a video presenter, document camera and audio enhancement (for teachers to wear a microphone). It is very impressive. We will also have two computer labs; one downstairs in the media center and another upstairs.

Question: How close is the building to the Turnpike?

Answer: Great question! Now I have to say that I haven’t measured, but I have been told about 450 feet. They contractor is scheduled to plant pine trees along the back fencing. I am sure that will be a project of ours to add more.

Question: Will you be having tours of the new building prior to the opening of school?

Answer: YES!!! Once I have the keys, I am going to schedule a day to have the school open so parents and students can mingle through and become familiar with building layout. This will be prior to our official “Meet Your Teacher.”

Question: Will have you before and after school care?

Answer: Yes, it will be run by the YMCAnswer: I currently do not have specific information about registration. Once a coordinator is in place, I will pass on the information.