The Owl Observer
August 7- August 12
Greetings Owls
Dear Students and Families,
It's time! Welcome to the first week of the 2022-2023 school year. I believe it is going to be a wonderful year and I hope you are actively preparing for the same. Please review the reminders, news, and updates included in this email to support a great start to the year.
Sincerely,
Mariah Walker
Child Abuse Information
Per a directive from NC DPI, information on child abuse and neglect, including age-appropriate information on sexual abuse, must be provided by all North Carolina schools to students in grades 6 through 12 at the beginning of each school year.
This law requires actions by schools including:
- Sharing a document with information on child abuse and neglect, including age-appropriate information on sexual abuse, with students in grades 6 through 12 at the beginning of each school year.
- Posters located in visible, high-traffic areas throughout each public secondary school that includes specific required information and resources as listed in the law.
This is information is also shared with families. To view, please click the link below.
Meet Our Team
Congratulations and welcome to our newest WYWLA leaders.
- Welcome, Kalila "Kallie" Abu-Sharr, Middle School Counselor
- Welcome, Donna Laiosa, Media Specialist
- Welcome, Joseph Pettiford, Admin Team Intern
- Welcome, Amaya Wall, PE
- Welcome, Kristen Whitehead, Intervention
Annual Parent Forms
CARPOOL UPDATES
⭐CARPOOL PROCEDURES
If your child is not riding the bus, please review the following carpool procedures. Carpool will move slower during the first few weeks of school, but it will quickly get back to a swift pace.
WHERE DO WE ENTER/EXIT?
WYWLA families must use the Western Boulevard entrance and follow the designated carpool route. The Western Boulevard entrance is located next to the NC. Dept. of Agriculture Building. Enter through the gate that is labeled Western Blvd Gate and turn right at the first intersection onto Perimeter Rd. Follow the road until you reach the stop sign. Wait at the stop sign until a staff member motions for you to turn left onto Campus Rd to enter the carpool circle. After you unload/load, you will continue around the circle, turn right onto Perimeter Rd and exit following the same route that you used to enter. Drivers will enter and exit from Western Boulevard.
WHERE DO WE UNLOAD/LOAD?
Carpool drivers should release ALL students in front of Lineberry Hall during morning arrival.
Drivers should pull all the way around the circle to allow as many cars as possible to unload. Drivers should follow the same procedures in the afternoon. Campus Security and WYWLA staff will direct traffic during drop-off and pick-up. High School students use the same route. Parents may not drive directly to Currin.
WHY CAN'T WE USE THE MAIN ENTRANCES?
The main entrances are reserved for school buses and the employees who park on campus. Although we are a small school, the main entrance does not allow enough cars to enter and load or unload without blocking Ashe Avenue. We understand that this route may not be the most convenient for some families, but it is the safest for all students and employees who use the GMS Campus. This is the identified route from WCPSS safety management.
WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO KNOW?
To ensure the safety of WYWLA and GMS students, carpool drivers should follow the guidelines below:
- Drive slowly on campus and follow the directions of staff members who are assisting with carpool.
- Yield right-of-way to school buses and pedestrians moving about the campus.
- Follow the designated carpool routes; do not create different transportation routes to expedite your drop-off/pick-up. This is extremely important for the visually impaired GMS students who must adjust to our traffic routes as they are moving about campus.
- Do not drop off in areas not identified such as the dining hall, gym, or high school building.
- Pull around the entire circle as far as possible to allow as many cars to load/unload as possible.
- Encourage your daughter to load or unload as quickly as possible.
- Families should not park near the dining hall, gym, Currin or the parking lot next to the Lineberry to pick up students. Parking spaces are for parents and guests who are visiting.
- It is important to follow these procedures in the morning during drop-off and in the afternoon for pick-up. These procedures should be followed even if staff members are not present to direct traffic.
WHAT TIME CAN WE DROP OFF AND PICK UP?
Staff members report to work at 7:05am each morning and will report to carpool duty at 7:10am. If you arrive prior to 7:10am, please wait at the stop sign until a staff member directs you to pull into the circle.
School dismisses at 2:10pm. Cars can line up and stop at the stop sign prior to 2:10pm. Please wait at the stop sign until a staff member directs you to pull into the circle. Your daughter must be picked up on time. Carpool ends at 2:30 pm.
ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
If you are coming from the Cary or 440 side of Western Blvd, you will need to make a u-turn to access the Western Blvd. entrance. If you are coming from the downtown area, stay in the right turning lane as you pass Central Prison.
ABOUT EARLY COLLEGE STUDENT AT SAU?
Early college carpool students may arrive no earlier than 7:05am. Parents should enter through the main entrance and drop off in front of Boyer Hall. SAU security officers will be on site to provide directions.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
We offer assistance to families who want to carpool with other WYWLA families. If you need assistance or can provide assistance, please click on the following link: Carpool 22-23 Sign Up This link is also posted on our website.
Yellow Rose Ceremony
WYWLA will host our annual Yellow Rose Ceremony on Monday, August 8, 2022.
- Middle School (6-8) students report to the dining hall upon arrival. **MS bookbags can be left in Ms. Lowry's room. **HS bookbags can be left in Dr. Terry's room.
- High School (9-10) students report to the dining hall upon arrival.
- Early College (11-12) students report to the front of Lineberry Hall upon arrival.
On Monday, August 8, all juniors and seniors will report to main campus for the traditional Yellow Rose Ceremony. We will have special activities planned to welcome our juniors to the college experience and celebrate the success of our seniors; the Class of 2023! Juniors and Seniors WILL RETURN TO SAU AFTER THE YELLOW ROSE CEREMONY.
Parents if you plan on attending Yellow Rose, there is limited parking available on campus. You may park in the back lot. The back lot entrance is located immediately to the right of the main entrance. You can see this lot from Ashe Avenue along the backside of the Cole Building and Fisher Building. There are also parking spaces across the bridge, in the pay lot immediately on the right (right after crossing the bridge). Please park in the back lot or off campus and then walk safely to the parent area for the Yellow Rose Ceremony.
- Students in grades 6-10 should arrive in full uniform.
- Juniors and seniors should arrive dressed in a solid colored shirt (School colors—navy, light blue, or white) or a WYWLA spirit shirt. Students should wear pants, a skirt, or Bermuda shorts in khaki, navy, or black.
- Juniors and seniors will be on main campus for the Yellow Rose Ceremony only.
- Juniors and seniors will leave main campus and return to SAU after the ceremony to learn more about their classes and structures at SAU.
- Juniors and seniors are welcome to drive and park in designated parking on main campus.
- An extra curricular activity bus will support students who need transportation to SAU after the ceremony.
Uniform Dress Code & Reminders
⭐Students in grades 6 –10 are required to wear school uniforms to school each day. Please visit our website to review the complete uniform policy which contains guidelines for each uniform item and vendor information.Your student will be required to meet the uniform requirement beginning on August 8 (the first day of school).
Early college students on the SAU campus will follow the WCPSS Dress Code Policy and the SAU Dress Code Policy.
Our uniform vendors are Flynn O’Hara and French Toast. Flynn O’Hara is located on Glenwood Ave or shop online at https:// www.flynnohara.com/. French Toast is an online vendor: https:// www.frenchtoast.com/schoolbox/schools/wake-young-women-s- leadership-academy-QS61SUN
All students will be expected to arrive in proper school attire daily beginning August 8th. Your student will be asked to adjust their uniform to meet the WYWLA uniform requirements when needed.
All middle school students will need to purchase the required PE attire. High students who are enrolled in PE classes will also need to purchase the required PE attire. PE attire can be pur- chased from Flynn O’Hara or Tee’d Up (Email Jaime at teedupcustomoutfitters@gmail.com).
Please visit https://www.wcpss.net/Page/4317 to review our uniform policy.
If you have concerns related to agreed upon school uniforms, please email Mrs. Walker at mwalker4@wcpss.net.
WYWLA SPIRIT WEAR DAYS!
We have designated one Friday each month as spirit wear day! Our first Spirit Wear Day will be Friday, August 12th!
WHAT TO WEAR
WYWLA spirit t-shirt, with blue jeans or uniform bottoms. No shorts (except uniform shorts), no leggins or jeggins. Jeans with no rips, holes, or tears. Sneakers may be worn with jeans. Uniform shoes must be worn with uniform bottoms.Open House Spirit Wear Sale
Spiritwear sales during the Open House will be cash or check only. Credit card purchases will be available for pre-order on Memberhub August 3rd through 20th with shirts delivered to students by the end of August at the latest.
Price List
T-shirts are $15
Screen printed Sweatshirts are $24
Car magnets are $5
Cups are $2
We have limited supply on hand of the items listed above, but all items will also be available for pre-order if we don't have their student's size on hand.
Embroidered sweatshirts are available as pre-order only (no stock on hand) and will be $36.
Owl Athletes
WYWLA students who are eligible may try out and participate in interscholastic athletic programs at Broughton High School and Oberlin Middle School. Interested students should visit each school’s website for more information. Students must complete a physi- cal form prior to the start of tryouts and must meet all WCPSS athletic eligibility standards.
To learn more visit https://www.wcpss.net/oberlinms or http://broughton.wcpss.net
Transportation Reminders
The Wake County Public School System provides bus transportation to all eligible students based on their school assignment. The system's transportation department is committed to providing students with safe, efficient, and reliable transportation service that contributes to their overall academic success.
WYWLA students will use the Southeast Raleigh High School Express Bus transportation system. Each student will be assigned a bus and route number. Students will only be allowed to ride the assigned bus.
Please visit the WCPSS website and click on Transportation for more information.
Families can find up-to-date transportation information (including route number and stop location) in your student’s Home Base/PowerSchool account. https://www.wcpss.net/Page/41
WCPSS Parent/Student Handbook
We believe that parents, students, and staff must work together to provide a quality educational experience. Students and parents should also become familiar with information contained in the WYWLA Student Handbook, the WCPSS Parent /Student Handbook, and the Saint Augustine’s University Handbook. These documents are designed to provide support and assistance throughout the school year. We strongly encourage parents and students to review information contained in all Parent/Student Handbooks. By becoming acquainted with school policies, you will understand the high academic and behavioral expectations we hold for all of our students.
We will provide student agendas this year. Each student will receive an agenda during the first week of school. The 2022—2023 WYWLA Parent/Student Handbook will also be posted on our website prior to the start of school. Grading structures are updated and expressed through classroom syllabi.
To preview the 2022—2023 WCPSS Parent/Student Hand- book, visit http://www.wcpss.net.
Please visit http://www.st-aug.edu/ to review the Saint Augustine’s University Handbook.
Please note that students are expected to contribute to a safe and positive environment at all times. Students who are unable to honor the WYWLA Creed, the safety of themselves, the safety of others, or contribute to the WYWLA community in a positive way, will receive in re-directional alternatives in line with the WCPSS Student Code of Conduct.
Picture Day Is Coming
Picture Day is Wednesday, August 17, 2022. Information is sent directly to your email from LifeTouch Photography.
Juniors & Seniors,
- Remember to upload your Covid information into the SAU Vaccination Portal as soon as possible.
- SAU will hold a vaccination opportunity on Monday, August 8, 2022, in the gym. This is optional for WCPSS students.
- Senior Breakfast is Tuesday, August 9, 2022, in the Seby Arts Lobby & Auditorium.
#BlockParty
Our Back to School Block Party is 6-8:00pm. Students should be picked up no later than 7:50pm. This is NOT a staff supervised event. Our PTSA supports and manages this event.
Students and families should remain on the parking lot area near Lineberry!
Food Menus🍽️ 8/8-8/12
Welcome WYLA Families,
Welcome back to our returning families, teachers and staff! To our new families: Welcome to the WYWLA community! I look forward to meeting and supporting you! As a WYWLA Parent, I am dedicated to the work of our PTSA and to supporting the needs of our entire community.
The WYWLA PTSA is an integral part of our school. Not only do we normally host fun events during the year, we fully fund educational enhancements that benefit all of our students, families, and staff. This year we are thinking outside the box, in order to bring enrichment and support to each OWL and our teachers. We are open to hearing your suggestions, and welcome them, so please stay connected with us.
Our WYWLA PTSA Membership Drive is under way as of August 2, 2022! I encourage you all to renew or start a new membership for only $10 per person. Your membership gives you a voice at PTSA meetings, discounts at various businesses and - most importantly - you are supporting the oldest and largest child advocacy organization in the US!
Becoming a PTSA member does not mean you are expected Volunteer – however, for our community to be strong, everyone’s voice and participation is essential. Many parents feel they cannot participate in the PTSA because of language barriers or they cannot be available during the day because of work - please don’t let that discourage you. Whether you have 30 minutes or a few hours, your time, your ideas, your talents, and your voice are truly needed and appreciated. There are endless possibilities for family members to contribute, and we can match any time constraints and abilities to needed tasks.
You can also help support our WYWLA PTSA and community by linking us with Amazon Smile and Harris Teeter VIC. Our school number is 2642!
If you'd like to join online, the link to join the WYWLA PTSA can be found here: https://wywlaptsa.memberhub.com/store.
We are currently looking for parents to help us with our Block Party clean up and break down. If you can help us this Friday, sign up here: August Block Party Sign-Up
NEXT PTSA MEETING
PTSA meetings will be online to support greater access and flexibility for families. After the block party meet and greet, our next meeting will be Tuesday, August 23, at 5:00PM through Google Meet.
August & September Events
August 8: First Day of School
August 8: Yellow Rose Ceremony, 7:45 AM
August 9: Senior Breakfast, 8:30 AM (SAU Campus)
August 9: Senior Portraits Retakes (SAU Campus)
August 10: College Classes begin at SAU
August 12: Spirit Wear Day
August 12: Back to School Block Party (6:00 - 8:00 PM)
August 17: Fall Picture Day (7:35 – 12:30, auditorium)
August 19: Teacher Workday
August 23: PTSA Meeting, 5:00 PM
August 27: SAT
August 29 - September 2: Club Sign-up Week
August 29 - September 2: SGA Campaign Week
August 29: SGA Applications Due
September 2: WYWLA Spirit Day
September 2: Early Release Day, 11:40 AM
September 5: Holiday
September 6 – 23: Day of the Girl Promo & T-Shirt Sale
September 7: SGA Elections
September 10: ACT
September 15: SAU Fall Convocation, 11:00 AM
September 20: PTSA Meeting, 5:00 PM
September 22: Financial Aid Night, 6:00 PM (Virtual)
September 26 - 29: SAU Midterm Exams
September 30 - October 3: Fall Break
September 30: Teacher WorkdayStay Connected ALL YEAR
We are committed to providing information that will help every student succeed. We will post important information on our website and send regular updates.
Our email groups and text groups are based on the contact information in PowerSchool. Please make sure all information is accurate.
Review your address, email address, and phone numbers to make sure we can keep you informed. If you need to correct your information, email Mrs. Sumner at bsumner@wcpss.net.
All our updates will be sent via email and text beginning in August.
Please email Principal Mariah Walker at mwalker4@wcpss.net if you are not receiving the school updates. Updates will also be posted on the main website under News.
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy
Website: www.wcpss.net/wywla
Location: 303 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh, NC, USA
Phone: (919) 508-9088
Twitter: @WakeGirlsLead