The Warrior Way
Watkins Memorial High School
September 2, 2022
Hello Warrior Families!
We could not be more pleased with the choices kids are making in school. They're engaged in classes, and they're polite and respectful as they move through their days. This is EXACTLY what we want to see, and if we keep it up, we're going to have a fantastic year.
_______________________________
COVID Protocols
We've had some questions about current COVID protocols.
- Parents can report a positive COVID Case on our website. In the top right corner, it says I WANT TO, then “Report a Positive COVID Case”.
- Students and staff that test positive for COVID-19 will need to stay home from school for 5 days after the date their symptoms started. They can return to school, and other normal activities, after 5 days if they have not had a fever for 24 hours without medication and their symptoms are improving. If an individual tests positive for COVID-19 and is asymptomatic, they can return to school, and normal activities, 5 days after their positive test. The CDC recommends anyone that tests positive for COVID-19 wear a mask for 10 days after their symptoms started.
- COVID absences are marked as typical absences for illness UNLESS a doctor's note is provided, in which case the absence will be marked as medical.
_______________________________
Attendance Awareness
A student who misses as few as two days of school a month is considered chronically absent. Ohio’s chronic absenteeism rate for the 2018-2019 school year was 16.7%, or approximately 260,000 students. Data show that chronically absent students in Ohio are 89% less likely to graduate on time from high school and 65% less likely to meet the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
_______________________________
Enrichment and Intervention (E & I)
- daily announcements and highlights of upcoming school events
- grade checks
- employability skill building
- executive functioning (organization)
- technology skill building
- social emotional lessons
- graduation planning
- mindfulness
- community building
- getting help from teachers and peers
- making up assessments missed due to absence
_______________________________
Seniors Earn Academic Honors
Seniors Hailey Barnhill and Cindy Tong have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process. Students who may be eligible have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.
Word of the Week
avid adjective
having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something
- an avid reader of science fiction
_______________________________
PSAT
WMHS will be hosting the PSAT on Tuesday, October 25th and the cost is $18. The PSAT is a practice test geared towards students in grades 10-11. It also serves as a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program for high-scoring 11th graders.
Interested students may register for the PSAT by purchasing a ticket according to the schedule below. Tickets must be purchased by check only for $18, made payable to WMHS.
_______________________________
Athletics
Friday, September 2
- JV Boys Golf @ Split Rock – 4:00
- Varsity Football @ Teays Valley – 7:00 (tickets pre-sale online only: https://teaysvalleyathletics.com/event-tickets)
Saturday, September 3
- JV Boys Golf @ Hiawatha
- XC @ Licking Heights
- Volleyball (Varsity only) HOME vs. Westerville North - 10:00
- JV Football HOME vs. Granville - 10:00
- Boys Soccer @ Newark (JV/Varsity – 12:00/2p:00) - (tickets online only: https://www.newarkschools.us/OnlineTicketing1.aspx
Tuesday, September 6
- Varsity Boys Golf @ Lancaster Country Club – 1:00
- JV Boys Golf @ Tri Match @ Bent Tree – 4:30
- Girls Tennis vs. Lancaster (Varsity @ Lancaster / JV HOME)
- JV Girls Soccer @ Northridge – 7:00
Wednesday, September 7
- Girls Golf @ Denison – 12pm
- Girls Tennis HOME vs. Newark
Thursday, September 8
- JV Boys Golf @ Turnbery - 4:00
- Boys Soccer (JV/V) HOME vs. Licking Heights – (5:00/7:00)
- Girls Soccer (JV ½ + Varsity) @ Licking Heights – (5:30/6:30) – (tickets online only: https://lhathletics.com/event-tickets)
- Volleyball (Fr/JV/V) @ Granville – (4:45/5:45/7:00) - (tickets online only: https://granvilleathletics.com/tickets-online-box-office/)
- Freshman Football HOME vs. Westerville North – 6:00
Friday, September 9
- Varsity Football @ Northridge – 7:00 – cash tickets
Saturday, September 10
All away trips leaving from and returning to HS because of McGowan
- McGOWAN XC INVITATIONAL - all day
- JV Football @ Northridge – 10:00 – cash tickets
- Boys Soccer (JV/V) @ Columbus Academy (10:00/12:00) – no admission/tickets required
- Girls Soccer (Varsity only) @ Newark – 2pm – (tickets online only: https://www.newarkschools.us/OnlineTicketing1.aspx)
TWITTER: @WM_Warriors
#WatkinsWarriorWay
_______________________________
Homecoming is Approaching
Friday, 9/16 - Superhero vs. Villain Day
Tuesday, 9/20 - Pajama Day
Wednesday, 9/21 - Twin Day
Thursday, 9/22 - Beach Day
Friday, 9/23 - Class Colors
- Freshmen - White
- Sophomores - Yellow
- Juniors - Black
- Seniors - Neon
Homecoming Dance - September 24, 7:00 - 10:00 in the Commons
“Welcome to the Masquerade”
PRE-SALE Ticket cost September 8 - 22: $8.00 online
Ticket cost September 23 - time of the dance: $15.00
Dance Expectations:
- Dress is Semi-Formal (NO TORN JEANS OR HATS)
- Students may bring a date from another high school or area as long as you have a permission slip that can be picked up in the front office, signed by both your parents and administrators and turned in prior to the event. ID will be required!
There will be no refunds if you cannot attend.
Outside food, drinks, backpacks and large bags are not permitted to be brought into the event.
All bags are subject to search by administration.
Once a student leaves the dance, they are not permitted to come back in.
Concessions will be available.
There will be no coat check available, so bring only what you want to manage while you're here.
Lockers will not be accessible.
_______________________________
Student and Staff Highlights
Philharmonic Orchestra
Vocal Ensemble
Chorale
_______________________________
Family Feedback
Families, we want to hear from you. We do our best to support our students and families, however we know at times there are things we might miss, related to academic needs, friendships and relationships, mental health, and safety. Your voice is important to us as we reflect on what we can do better to support our students and families. We know that we can best support kids when we work in partnership with families and the community.
_______________________________
Mark Your Calendar
- Monday September 19 - No School
- Thursday, September 22, 4:00 - 7:00 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Thursday, September 29 - Make-Up School Pictures
Check out the WMHS Events Calendar on our website for even more upcoming dates.
_________________________________
Stay Connected with Watkins Memorial High School
- Text the Principal: 740.409.6278
- Facebook: Watkins Memorial High School Official
- Twitter: Watkins Memorial High School Official
- Website: https://wmhs.swl.k12.oh.us/
- Office: 740-927-3846
- Attendance: 740-964-3355
- Guidance: 740-927-4825
Melissa Ladowitz, Principal
Travis Smith, Assistant Principal
Mark Kurth, Dean of Students