WHS Weekly Newsletter
Home of the Lions - September 10, 2021
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Hello Walkersville Community,
I hope this message finds everyone well. I can't believe we are already a few weeks in and headed towards midterm with our students. Now is a great time to check in with your students and see how grades look in Schoology. If anyone needs support, please reach out to teachers, counselors, or administrators. We are here to help! Next week we will begin some state testing. All 9th graders will complete two half days of testing to make up for last spring.
As we continue on with the year I ask for everyone to help us work together. Please do not drop your children off at the elementary school or utilize their parking lot during the day. Additionally, we are working hard to support our community and keep everyone healthy during this ever-changing time. We are now utilizing One Call Now for any information regarding COVID where your child may have been present, but not a close contact to a situation. Those texts are meant to keep you informed, but do not require anything on your end. If your child is a close contact, you will receive a personal call from us. Some of the calls we need to make regarding COVID protocols are difficult, and we understand that, but we are following protocols to keep everyone safe. We appreciate your patience with us.
Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!
Dr. Stephanie Ware
Principal
Walkersville High School
240-236-7204
WHS FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION & FAFSA FINISH NIGHT
Walkersville High School will be hosting a Financial Aid Information Night for seniors and their parents on October 14th at 6 PM. During this event, parents will learn helpful information and receive resources from a local financial aid advisor.
Following the information session at 6 PM, families have the option to stay and participate in a FAFSA Finish Event. This event allows parents to complete the FAFSA with the assistance of on-site financial aid experts. It is a hands-on FREE event. This event will run from 7-9 PM following the information session at 6 PM. Participants in the FAFSA portion of the evening must register ahead of time. More information on registration will be shared when it becomes available.
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION
If your child will be absent, late or is leaving early, please email WHS.Attendance@fcps.org with student's name, grade, date and reason for absence. If your student is a student driver, please indicate this on the note. Student drivers will receive a pass to allow them to sign out on their own.
For early dismissals:
- Parent/Guardian will come to the office to sign student out **If not a student driver
- Please bring your ID & wear a mask
- Allow adequate time to locate student for an early dismissal
- If you allow someone else to sign your student out, please note the name you authorize in your note to the school. They will be required to show ID to pick up student.
Don’t forget, when going to the Doctor, Dentist or Orthodontics, remember to get an attendance slip. We will code accordingly. This is especially important if you have a student that has after school activities.
For more attendance information, https://education.fcps.org/whs/attendance
ONE CALL NOW ATTENDANCE NOTIFICATIONS
One Call Now Attendance Notifications
One Call Now attendance messages will be used for our school. This is FCPS wide. The intent of the messages are to communicate with families if their child has been marked absent for 1 or more periods of the school day. This includes late arrivals to school.
This text is automated and it is possible that if a child enters school later in the day the text could occur in error. As always, please feel free to call or email our attendance office at either WHS.Attendance@fcps.org or 240-236-7213 if you feel you have received a text in error.
This text will be sent to the person who is noted as the guardians for your child. If you wish to opt out of this text or any of the One Call Now calls you receive, feel free to listen to the message to the end for directions to opt out over the phone. To opt-out from receiving text messages, on your cell phone: Open a blank text message. In the recipient field, type 22300. In the message field, type Stop and then, click Send.
Please know opting out will stop further communications from our school when we are using One Call Now.
*** Seniors - STAY TUNED ***
SENIOR PARENT MEETING VIDEO
If you missed last week's Senior Parent Meeting, click on the link below to watch the video: https://youtu.be/Qy8ogdA8_V0
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Save the Date: Academic Excellence Awards - Monday, September 20th at 6:00pm in the stadium, hosted by the PTSA - details to follow!
BUS INFORMATION
* You will need your Student's ID # & Birthdate.
COUNSELING NEWS
This year's counselor caseloads will be as follows:
- Ryan Defibaugh, 9th grade, A-Z
- Lauren Bishard, 10th-12th grade, A-F
- Susan Nash, 10th-12th grade, G-M
- Shannon Marble, 10th-12th grade, N-Z
- Brittany Kuhn, Pyramid & Learning for Life Programs
- Amy Pearre, English Language Learners
- Elise Pennington, Behavior Support Specialist
Walkersville High School continues to be committed to helping our students and their families during Covid-19. We understand these changes have brought on challenges. Please reach out to Kari Shipe directly in our Counseling center for more information about programs and resources that may be available for your family.
Kari Shipe, Counseling Center Secretary
240-236-7209
Students can request to see their counselor by seeing our secretary, Kari Shipe, in the Counseling Office to set up an appointment.
Please click on the link below for more IMPORTANT information from the Counseling Center.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uA7PAs0IsMeOD4AStZJQg7wpC7j9HgoM/view?usp=sharing
PSAT/NMSQT REGISTRATION OPENS SEPTEMBER 1
(Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)
Exam Date: Wednesday, October 13
7:30 AM to approximately 11:00 AM
Who Can Take the PSAT
The PSAT/NMSQT is an optional test that is available to students in grades 9-11. Please note that the test includes math content from courses through Algebra 2, which 9th and 10th graders may not have yet taken.
Why Take the PSAT
The PSAT acts as a precursor to the SAT as the two tests largely mirror each other in content and structure. The PSAT has fewer questions than the SAT. We recommend the PSAT for current 10th and 11th graders who plan to take the SAT in the future. NOTE: For 11th graders only, PSAT scores determine students' eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Registration
To register and pay for the PSAT, use School Cash Online at: https://frederickcounty.schoolcashonline.com. The fee for the PSAT is $18.00. Registration will open Wednesday, September 1 and closes on Wednesday, September 15, at 11:59 PM. This is a fixed deadline - there is no opportunity for late registrations/payments.
Completing the payment in School Cash Online means the student is registered for the test (there is no additional required paperwork).
Students who have free/reduced lunch status will not be required to pay. If this applies, please contact Lauren Bishard at lauren.bishard@fcps.org (do not make online School Cash payment).
Home-School Students
Students who are not enrolled in Frederick County Public Schools and participate in an independent home-schooling program may register to take the PSAT at WHS if they live in the WHS school zone. Please e-mail Lauren Bishard at lauren.bishard@fcps.org
Refunds
If the PSAT is cancelled due to changing conditions in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, payments will be refunded. If a student does not take the test on test day due to circumstances beyond his/her control, a refund needs to be requested by October 15. Late arrivals will not be admitted into testing rooms on test day – refunds will not be issued in this circumstance.
Test Preparation
PSAT practice items can be found online at: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/practice. PSAT Student Guides will be available for students to pick up on all lunch shifts as soon as they arrive at WHS.
What to Bring On Test Day:
- Two No. 2 pencils with erasers
- A calculator
What Not to Bring:
- Any devices, including smartwatches, that can be used to record, transmit, receive or play back audio, photographic, text, or video content
- Protractors, compasses, rulers
- Highlighters, colored pens, colored pencils, mechanical pencils
- Pamphlets or papers of any kind
- Food and drinks-including bottled water
CTE INFORMATION
Joke of the Week - brought to you by CTE
Question: Why did the scarecrow get promoted?
CTE Courses Highlight - Office Systems Management
Office Systems Management- Don't let the name scare you. In this course students will learn the basics of Office Management. This knowledge is not just limited to Office the software, but Office the overall business. Topics discussed include Financial Literacy, Understanding Networks, Internet Research, Word Processing, and Spreadsheets. Essentially, if you believe computers and technology will be used in your future, this is the class for YOU!
Answer: Because he was out standing in his field!!!!
SPORTS NEWS
Tonight, WHS Football Team competes against Oakdale High School in our home stadium.
Wear CAMO to show your Lion P.R.I.D.E.
*** Tickets will be sold at the gate ***
For more information on our upcoming sports events, click here for our athletic calendar.
WHS PTSA - A PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION
Please Join the PTSA
The WHS Parent Teacher Student Association exists to help support all of our kids and the professional staff that works so hard on their behalf. We want to continue that level of support and we are looking for volunteers. Please be on the lookout for the WHS Volunteer Form.
In an effort to avoid numerous fundraisers throughout the year, we’re asking our WHS families to financially support the work of the PTSA in two ways: your $10.00 membership and a donation of at least $25 in the name of each child you have in our school. If $25 is too much at this time, anything you can give is welcome and appreciated. You can also go to our website at WalkersvilleHighSchool.my-ptsa.org to pay for membership and make a donation with your credit card.
Your much needed donation to the WHS PTSA is 100% tax deductible! With just $25 per child, our PTSA can continue enrich and support the following:
- Academic Excellence program that recognizes hundreds of students each year for their scholastic achievements
- Arts in Education/National PTA Reflections program
- Cinderella’s Closet
- “Make It Happen!” Grant program for staff and students
- “You’ve Made Your Mark” PTSA Scholarships for graduating seniors
- Safe and Sound
- Support Lion’s PRIDE events
- Student Enrichment programs
Membership Chairperson – Tina Sims
WHSLionsPTSAmembership@gmail.com
Safe and Sound 2022
The Walkersville High School Safe and Sound Committee, sponsored by the WHS PTSA, is busy planning their annual After Graduation Party for the Graduating Class of 2022! It is our goal to provide a fun night for the graduating seniors in a safe environment that is alcohol and drug free. The party is planned for May 25, 2022 at Adventure Park USA. Transportation provided. All Seniors must be pre-registered for the event, and you can do that by completing the registration form and submitting payment to the WHS Safe and Sound Committee. More information is on the registration form. You can follow Safe and Sound activities on Facebook through the Facebook group WHS Safe and Sound. You can also contact the Safe and Sound Committee to volunteer or ask questions at safeandsoundwhs@gmail.com.
Volunteers Needed for Safe and Sound Committee
If anyone is interested in being on the Safe and Sound Committee, please contact Giuseppa Ball www.whslionsptsapresident@gmail.com. We Need a committee of 12 or more. If one or two people can fill a task it will make the event super successful for our seniors:
- Registrations – record all registrations in a google docs with same fields as 2021 registrations; complete and get deposit forms signed; deposit payments.
- PO Box – one person needs to be responsible for checking the PO Box weekly or more. I currently have the key.
- Crab Raffles – fall and spring.
- Safe and Sound gmail account – responsible for monitoring incoming emails; responding where needed; relaying to PTSA when needed
- Dine Arounds – contact and schedule monthly dine around fundraiser nights with local places; complete a fundraiser request form; create a flyer and advertise
- Communications/social media – advertise, announce and acknowledge donors; post updates and links for seniors and parents on Facebook and twitter
- Prize coordinators – plan how many prizes are needed and set an amount based on raised money. Create a list of prizes on google docs to be printed out on large poster for event. Shop for prizes. Prizes need to be listed and numbered.
- 2 labels need to be created for each attending senior. Upon their entry to safe and sound, their name will be checked off of roster and one label will be put in a prize raffle bucket and the other will be put in a grand prize drawing bucket.
- Liaison with adventure park; Event chaperones, bus chaperones, parking lot helpers, Security Guards need to be secured
- Meeting coordinator – conduct brief monthly meetings to discuss financials, brainstorm fundraising ideas, and upcoming deadlines
- Fundraising – divide list of past donors from google docs and make contact via email, calls, or hard copy letters.
WALKERSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SAFE AND SOUND EVENT 2022
The WHS Committee for a Safe and Sound Graduation is already at work planning the after-graduation celebration for the Class of 2022. It is our goal to provide a fun night for the graduating seniors in a safe environment that is alcohol and drug free. The event is planned for May 25, 2022 at Adventure Park beginning at 11:00 pm. (Doors will be locked and graduates will stay safe inside until 4:30 am on May 26th). Transportation provided.
As in past years, we are planning an evening filled with activities, food, and entertainment. All attending graduates will have the opportunity to win gift cards, prizes, and cash! This is an event that your senior will not want to miss! Our committee has a lot of work to do between now and May 25th and would greatly appreciate any help you can offer. Please contact us at safeandsoundwhs@gmail.com if you are able to help. All seniors must be pre-registered for the event. Please register using one of the methods below including a payment of $50.00 as soon as possible. By doing so, you will help raise a portion of the funds necessary to secure vendors and entertainment. Please note the registration fee will increase to $75.00 on January 1, 2022.
No registrations will be accepted after May 20, 2022. If, for ANY reason, this event is cancelled, you will be fully reimbursed for the amount you paid.
REGISTER NOW and avoid the price increase!!! Three ways to Register…
1. Register ONLINE at http://WalkersvilleHighSchool.my-ptsa.org
2. Mail in Registration form and Fee to: WHS Safe and Sound, PO Box 183, Walkersville, MD 21793
3. Drop your Registration form and Fee to the WHS front office in an envelope marked Safe and Sound.
Website: http://WalkersvilleHighSchool.my-ptsa.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WHS-PTSA-416541538545335
Email: WHSLionsPTSA@gmail.com
SCHOOL BREAKFAST & LUNCH PROGRAM
Applications for free and reduced-price school meal benefits for the 2021-2022 school year are online at www.fcps.org/meals.
If you have questions, contact FCPS Food and Nutrition Services at 301-644-5061.
MVA LEARNER'S PERMIT
If under 16, you must provide a completed verification of identity and/or school attendance, form (#DL-300) to an MVA official during the learner's permit application process. The attendance form must be presented to the MVA in a sealed, unopened envelope provided by the applicant's school or county home school coordinator, if home schooled. Please make sure to drop request a School Verification Form from the Attendandce Secretary and allow 24 hours for the form to be ready.
WORK PERMIT
Are you or your student getting a summer job? All students under the age of 18 require a work permit. You can apply directly at: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wages/empm.shtml
Only the student, parent and employer are required to sign.
HOW POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES ARE COMMUNICATED
Important Definitions: Confirmed Case of COVID-19 - Cases of COVID-19 that are lab confirmed positive results of a PCR test. Probable Case of COVID-19 - COVID-19-like symptomatic individual who has had close contact with another individual with a laboratory confirmed positive result within the past 14 days. Close Contact - Close and prolonged contact within 3 feet of a cumulative 15 minutes in a 24 hour period. Confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in the school prompt a case investigation to determine if anyone has been in close contact with the confirmed or probable case of COVID-19. A joint effort between FCPS administrators and the Frederick County Health Department identifies all close contacts. All close contacts are contacted individually and advised to quarantine at home, monitor their health, and to contact their healthcare provider for any health concerns.
The health and safety of our community is our highest priority. Walkersville High School follows all COVID-19 related health and safety guidelines, including requiring face coverings for staff and students, encouraging frequent hand washing, maintaining social distance, and following all cleaning and disinfection protocols. The FCPS Health Metrics Dashboard reports the number of positive COVID-19 cases for staff and students that are in-person attendance at all FCPS schools. The cases are reported two different ways: (1) total number for all of FCPS; and (2) by each school. The dashboard is updated every Monday morning to report the number of cases from the previous week.
NEED SUPPORT - HAVE A QUESTION OR CONCERN?
We are here to support you! Do you have a question, but not sure who to ask? What do you need assistance with? Just complete the form linked here and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. https://forms.gle/bndJpvxzbCEuwrgC7
QUICK REMINDERS
September 6th: Labor Day - Schools Closed
September 7th: No School - Rosh Hashanah
September 16th: No School - Yom Kippur
September 23rd: 2 hr Early Dismissal - Mid Term
September 24th: 3.5 hr Early Dismissal - Fair Day
COMMUNITY NEWS
Walkersville High School
Office Hours: 7:00am - 3:30pm
Email: maryanne.allen@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/whs/
Location: 81 West Frederick Street, Walkersville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-7200
Twitter: @DrWare_FCPS