Principal's Newsletter
#TWPPRIDE
November 2, 2020
An Update from Mr. Strout
Dear WTHS Community,
In many ways, it feels good to start a new month in the hopes that we can get back to our hybrid model soon. October presented many challenges and many pivots on very short notice. We do appreciate everyone's flexibility in doing the best we all can to adjust to the ongoing changes that are impossible to plan ahead for.
As a district and as a school, we are continuing to explore many ways that we can improve upon the delivery of instruction for all students. We are continuing to investigate opportunities to safely connect all of our students to school with activities and events that may be able to be offered for our students. Despite some hurdles we've had to overcome at the start of the year, our sports teams are off to a great start.
Please do not hesitate to contact me or any of our dedicated staff with questions or concerns that may arise during the course of the year. We are here to serve.
A link to all newsletters will be archived on my website: www.wtps.org/wthsprincipal.
Critical Information
How to View Health and Driver's Ed Grades
Virtual Financial Aid Night
WTHS Counseling Department held a Virtual Financial Aid Night on 10/15. Many parents and seniors logged in to join us for a presentation by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). You can view that presentation here – HESSA Power Point Presentation. You can find current FAFSA Information here. The WTHS Counseling Department webpage is an excellent resource for Career and College Planning.
Contact tracing helps protect you, your family, and your community by:
- Letting people know they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
- Helping people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 get tested.
- Asking people to self-isolate if they have COVID-19 or self-quarantine if they are a close contact.
Our school nurses and our high school athletic trainers have been working diligently to assist our community with contact tracing specific to our high school students and staff. Recently, all members of our administrative team have completed certification through Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to assist with contact tracing.
Any staff, parents or students that are contacted by any school official to discuss concerns related to the potential spread of COVID-19 are urged to return calls or emails as quickly as possible.
Student Celebrations
Mrs. Smith's Animation 2 class has been creating hand-made cut out puppets and backgrounds for their Silhouette Stop Motion Animations. In the photos, students in Cohort B are starting to capture their scenes with iPads and light boxes in our new stop motion studio in C hall. Pictured here are Jessica Valenti (gr. 10), Connor Teeple (gr. 12), and Tom Provenzano (gr.12).
The WTHS Dance Company is back in motion after 7 months! A group of seniors from our Dancer's Studio class have started rehearsing for the Annual Spirit Parade. Although, things look a bit different, we are all very excited to be dancing again!
The Best Band in the Land!
On Saturday, October 24th, the Washington Township High School Marching Band successfully hosted a Non-Competitive Marching Band Festival called, "The 2020 Covid Classic." The Marching Band was able to host 7 other South Jersey Area High School Bands to perform their Live Marching Bands Productions, some of them for the first time this fall.
This was a great night for the Performing Arts as our WTHS Students as well as the students from the other high school Marching Bands that were able to showcase their talents. This was the first time since early March that any of the Washington Townships Bands have been able to perform in any kind of festival with live music. Many of the Band Directors, students and parents were extremely appreciative to have the opportunity to perform in a live event.
The 2020 production of the Washington Township High School Marching Band is entitled MDH. The production features songs by Metallica, Aerosmith and Outcast.
"Due to Covid-19 the Marching Band had to take a much different approach to what we normally do. We lost a lot of rehearsal time, this summer when everything was shut down. The Marching Band missed out on having a Band Camp where we learn a lot of our Music and Drill. My goal was to make sure that we gave our students and seniors a season. I decided that it would be fun to provide our students with a college band type of production that was more of a rock/pop style of music. Our students have connected with the music and really got into entertaining the crowd with our musical selections. Our kids were great on Saturday and I could not have been prouder of their performance!" said Mr. Spencer, Marching Band Director
Staff Celebrations
Welcome Ms. DeSantis
Welcome Mr. Whalen
Ken Whalen joined our high school faculty at the beginning of October. He graduated from Rowan University and has taught cabinetry, drafting, engineering, and computer aided design for more than 25 years. In 2010 Ken was recognized as Educator of the Year at Triton Regional High School. Ken has been a residential contractor and real estate investor for over 30 years. He has worked with many of his former students, mentoring them in “house flipping” and residential remodeling. Ken has a passion for authentic, hands-on learning which is evident in his teaching style.
Congratulations to 2 former WTHS students, Natalie Young and Craig Hobbins, who were recently married on October 10, 2020! Natalie is the daughter of Scott and Dorothy Young. Dorothy is currently an assistant working at WTHS. Craig is the son of George and Mari Hobbins. George is a retired school counselor at WTHS.
Technology Support
Upcoming Events
Click on the picture above to learn more about our upcoming Fall Play.
Click here for a link to join our PTO and pay via paypal or to print membership forms that can be delivered to any main office with a check.
Our PTO is also accepting membership dues via Venmo: @WashingtonTwp-PTO
Follow the PTO on twitter @PtoWths
WTHS ADMINISTRATION
John Saverase, 11/12 Executive Assistant Principal
Steve Cordner, 11th Grade Assistant Principal
Angela Costello, 9th Grade Assistant Principal
Kevin Murphy, Assistant Principal/Director of Athletics
George Passante, 10th Grade Assistant Principal
Dan Saia, 12th Grade Assistant Principal
Email: jstrout@wtps.org
Website: www.wtps.org/wthsprincipal
Location: 519 Hurffville Crosskeys Road, NJ, United States
Phone: 589-8500
Twitter: @twppride