Notes from Dr. Irvin

Hello Parents and Guardians,

I wanted to share this article with you all--an incredibly generous donation of $2 million has been committed for the rebuilding of the Little Theater by an alum. There has been quite a bit of work into this project already--with more ahead--as we work to create a multi-use performance space. I am grateful for our Fine Arts staff and many others in our greater community for their involvement in the project thus far. A big part of the energy behind the gift and efforts have been the experiences and fond memories of WGHS alumni from their time as a student. The donor attended Webster Groves Schools during periods of international and national tumult as our current students do today. I think about the staff that created such fondness under those circumstances and how impactful they were decades ago. Thanks to our current staff in all capacities working to make a space for that devotion to grow.

We're looking forward to Zooming with you next week during Fall Parent Conferences. Please see detailed information a little further below on how to sign up. We still have plenty of spots open on Thursday evening.

Regards,

Matt

Fall Parent Conferences Next Week

Please join us! October 12, 13, and 14 via Zoom

Tuesday, October 12

4 - 8 p.m.

Wednesday, October 13

1:10 - 3:10 p.m.

Thursday, October 14

4 - 8 p.m.

(Departments will have a rotating 10-minute break on Tuesday/Thursday evening.)

We're looking forward to meeting with you virtually. This fall, all conferences will be held virtually via Zoom and scheduled using PTCFast.com.

The purpose of the conference is to give parents and teachers an opportunity to discuss student progress and to work together to ensure student achievement. Parents should know the names of the teachers they wish to visit within each department. We urge you to schedule as many of your child’s teachers as time permits. Up to SEVEN minutes will be allotted for each conference.

We will be using the PTCFast system for scheduling conferences. Please see instructions below on how to schedule conference times.

As you prepare for conferences, here are some things to keep in mind:

Teachers will call all parents who they have the greatest need to meet.
Please check your child's progress online in the Parent Portal. This will assist in determining whether you need to schedule a conference/meet with a teacher.
You may choose not to see all or any of your child's teachers, depending on their progress.
For specific questions, an email to the teacher may suit your needs.

We look forward to meeting with you via Zoom. If you desire more than the seven minutes allowed at these conferences, please set up an individual teacher conference.

How to Schedule Conferences with Your Child's Teachers

Conferences will be scheduled online using www.ptcfast.com. Please note that you must have a personal email account (ex. Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, etc.) in order to schedule a conference for your student. Conferences will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. You must register your student for each teacher with whom you wish to meet.

Please click on or enter the following web address into your browser window to get started: https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Webster_Groves_High_School_1
Next, select your child's teacher; you can select more than one if applicable to your family.
You will then register your child's name, then your name and contact information. This creates a registration for each child and sends you a confirmation email with a link to choose a conference time for that teacher. It is a two-step process, as the first registration just gets you into the system. Going to the email that is generated from your registration and clicking on the active link will allow you to choose a conference time for the teacher.
Once you have chosen a time for each teacher with whom you wish to visit, you will receive a confirmation email with the schedule.

Click here to view the privacy policy for www.ptcfast.com.

Teachers will send the Zoom link via email to all parents, and post the link on their Canvas page.

Schedule your conferences now!

Did You Know?

If your child feels ill during the school day, encourage them to see the school nurse.

If your student contacts you directly to report an illness please ask them to go to the nurse. She is able to excuse students with guardian/parental consent, and this will allow for better disease surveillance that will ultimately enhance control efforts.

Also, please note that any medications for your child must be administered by you or the school nurse. You cannot drop off any medications.

Counseling News

Washington University in St. Louis’ College Prep Program is accepting nominations for the next cohort of its innovative college readiness initiative.

Nominees must be ninth-grade students from the St. Louis region who are invested in learning, will be a first-generation college student and have limited financial resources. The nomination deadline is Oct. 15. Learn more on the College Prep website.

McCarthy Construction Hosting Workshop for Girls Interested in Careers in Construction

McCarthy Construction 101 is an interactive opportunity for young women to learn new skills and about the wealth of careers in the construction industry. Working alongside experienced industry leaders and trade contractors, participants will spend the day collaborating on a variety of hands on construction activities while gaining firsthand insight into various construction career paths, developing a safety-first mindset and building self-confidence they can apply in all aspects of life.

For more information and to register visit http://view.ceros.com/mccarthy/construction101/p/1

Common Application Workshops During Academic Networking

Many seniors will use the Common Application to apply to college. While it is not particularly difficult, it can be a little confusing and hard to navigate sometimes. Students--please join us for a Common Application Workshop during Academic Networking time in September and October to learn how to complete your applications via the Common App. Sign up using the links below:

Last Names A-K

Last Names L-Z

College Admissions Representative Visits are Back!

After a year of virtual visits, we are welcoming college admissions representatives back in the building to meet with interested juniors and seniors. A list of colleges visiting will be posted on our Counseling Department calendar, in Naviance, and shared in our daily announcements. Students should stop by the Counseling Center to sign up and to receive a pass to be excused from class. Be sure to check the calendar regularly as visits are being updated daily.

Individual Senior Planning Conferences

Seniors and senior parents! Would you like to meet to ask questions specific to your needs? We will begin hosting individual meetings with students (in-person) and their parents (either in-person or via Zoom) following Senior Parent Night and our visits with senior English classes. Schedule using the links below:

Last Names A-K (Verstraete)

Last Names L-Z (Lombard)

Sophomore Parents!

South Tech is now accepting applications for the 2022-23 school year! Students are STRONGLY encouraged to apply during first semester to increase their chances of acceptance.

All of South Tech’s courses are listed here and available to you as electives. Tech provides the REAL WORLD experience and hands-on skills you need to make solid choices about your future while you earn high school and college credit. Tech also offers certifications and licenses that open doors for internships, employment, and advanced placement. We offer everything from Automotive to Veterinary, Health Sciences to Welding, and Firefighting to Web & Computer Programming. With 26 different programs, Tech likely has a class for you!

Transportation is provided and classes are TUITION FREE! To get started on your application today, click here.