WHS Family Newsletter
September 7, 2021
Back from Break Ready to Rock and Roll!
I hope that all of our students and families had a chance to spend some quality family time and catch their breaths this past weekend. I know I enjoyed the weather and spending some extra time with my kids.
It is hard to believe but midterm week is approaching next week. This is a great time to check in with your students and make sure they are staying up with their assignments and growing in their learning in their courses. A reminder that you can see what is coming up each week and what main skills your students will be learning in each course by checking their Canvas home page. Please reach out to teachers, counselors and administrators with any concerns you have. It is our mission to ensure high learning and growth for each student in this building.
I would also encourage you to ask your student what club or activities they chose to be a part of this year. We have had a lot of club callouts during our Friday CORE times this year, and these are great opportunities to meet friends, connect to caring adults and to pursue individual passion areas. There are lots of events coming up and fun ways to serve! Wishing everyone a wonderful four-day week!
New Information This Week
2021 Shamrock Save A Life Walk
Students who sign-up to attend will walk in unison around the Riverview Health Stadium Track (or the MPIF depending on weather) in the name of mental health and suicide awareness and prevention.
The Wellbeing Coalition of Westfield is our partner for this event, along with a few of our own clubs--including WHS student ambassadors for Robbie's Hope. We are grateful for financial support from the family of WHS Graduate Chandlar Williams. #SaveALife #WeStandUnited
WHS Performing Arts Season Passes Available
We are so excited to have in-person concerts back for the 2021-2022 school year. Starting this school year all of our band and choir concerts will be ticketed events. Please click here for detailed information about ordering individual tickets as well as season passes for all band and choir concerts.
You can also check out our online store to order your season passes today! Season passes are on sale until September 13th!
Updated Quarantine Policy
Based on new quarantine guidelines, we will no longer need to quarantine any students in masked settings. This includes the classrooms and the buses. We will still need to quarantine unvaccinated individuals in unmasked settings such as the lunch rooms or indoor athletic or performing arts settings where students are unable to distance six feet apart from one another.
As always, we ask that our students and families be diligent about monitoring symptoms regardless of vaccination status.
Rocks Spotlight
Meet the Leadership Team at WHS!
I wanted to give everyone a face with the name and introduce you to the 2021-2022 WHS Leadership Team!
Alicia Denniston, Principal: This is my second year as principal but I have been blessed to be part of the WHS family since 2007-when I came in as a Spanish and ESL teacher. I became an assistant principal in 2012. I have loved being part of the growth and excitement at WHS over the last 13 years! My greatest passion areas are professional development and capacity building. I oversee our school growth plans and trainings, and I coach all of our new teachers as part of their evaluation process each year.
Bill Naas, Associate Principal: Bill is no stranger to WHS either! He has been an assistant principal since 2009. When he joined the team, he came from North Central HS where he served as a school counselor. Bill has been the leader of our AP and AP Pipeline program and is passionate about curriculum and instruction and truly believes in our cornerstone Rigor for All. He works closely with our academic leaf team at WHS, works strategically with our ever-growing CORE Time, oversees our math and AP departments and loves building strong connections with students and staff.
Kevin Scanlon, Assistant Principal: Kevin is our most veteran team member with 26 years here and truly bleeds green! He oversees our state testing, our transportation and other building operations, and he is our primary assistant principal overseeing student discipline. He is passionate about student leadership, restorative practices and working as a part of a collaborative team on behalf of the students. He firmly believes that we "check our egos at the door and we fight the good fight" each and every day. He oversees our Wellness and Visual Arts departments, as well as our office administrative assistant team. Kevin also serves as our varsity boy's soccer coach.
Kurt Frederick, Assistant Principal: Kurt and I joined the WHS family the same year-in 2007, where he served as a Special Education teacher until 2016. Kurt then pursued an administrative path and served as Transition Coordinator at Ben Davis School District for three years. But his heart called him home, and he has served as AP here since 2019. He has been able to share so many of the rich outside experiences and wisdom he gained at Ben Davis with our WHS Leadership Team. He oversees our Special Education services, helps with our PR efforts, oversees our English department, leads our efforts with cultural competency and connection, and he is in charge of Student Activities here at the high school. Kurt is passionate about his work with our wellness leaf and wants more than anything for all students to feel welcome, valued and connected at WHS.
Denver Wade, Assistant Principal: We were so excited to bring Denver Wade on officially this past May to join our team. He did a tremendous job in his interim position this past year, and he has truly made us better! Denver oversees our attendance, our student learning supports and is a leader of our academic leaf efforts. He works with our Social Studies, World Language and Performing Arts departments. He is passionate about high levels of learning for all and keeping expectations high while providing individual supports to all students. Denver also champions connection and community and serves as an assistant coach on our Varsity Football team. His positivity and growth mindset are contagious for our students and our staff.
Matt Putman, Assistant Principal: Our newest official assistant principal, yet no stranger to our leadership team, Matt serves as the head of our career leaf efforts, and works closely with facilities and safety at WHS. He oversees our Science and CTE departments. He has been an asset to our school as we have navigated through our construction projects and the change in our custodial and food services. Matt is extremely conscientious, organized and passionate about making WHS the best it can be whether it be the opportunities we offer students or the state of our building facilities. Over the years, Matt has built a career and technology program to be envied state wide. We continue to increase dual credit opportunities and internship and externship experiences each year. Matt helps us on our journey to truly make each student Life Ready no matter what they choose to do on the day after graduation.
Reminders
A Message From Our WHS Nurses
WHS Students should NOT come to school if they are sick - regardless of vaccination status. There are a number of illnesses going around (not just Covid). It is very important for ill staff and students to stay home.
Please review the list of Covid symptoms on the district website. If you have any of those symptoms- again - regardless of vaccination status and even if you do not have fever, STAY HOME and contact a healthcare provider.
People who are fully vaccinated still test positive for COVID. The COVID vaccine does not necessarily prevent you from getting COVID, but lessens chances of severe illness.
Thank you for your help in limiting the spread of COVID by STAYING HOME when you are ill. That is vital for keeping in-person learning going strong this school year.
Reminder Regarding Absences
When students are absent, they should login to each of their class Canvas pages and follow the agenda for the day. If students miss a test or quiz, they should communicate with their teacher about making it up in the Testing Center or with the teacher during CORE.
The Testing Center is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays during CORE and after school from 3:45 - 5 PM. Students must sign up at TheSchoolCORE.com for the testing center. Please note that transportation is not provided for those staying after school to complete an assessment. You can find more Testing Center information here.
September 15 - No In Person Learning For WHS Students
Westfield Washington Schools has included three (3) Extended Learning Days in the school calendar for the 2021-22 school year (one per trimester). The first of these three dates is Wednesday, September 15, 2021.
For students, it is time outside of the traditional school day for students to work on projects, take educational trips or visit a university, job shadow someone in a career they are interested in, etc.
These days are not eLearning days. Teachers will not be providing specific assignments and school work for the day.
For teachers, it is a time to work on our Continuous Quality Improvement process through professional development and the PLC process to improve our horizontal & vertical alignment in curriculum and instruction.
Please be sure you have this date on your family's calendar.
About Us
Email: webmaster@wws.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.wws.k12.in.us/whs
Location: 18250 North Union Street, Westfield, IN, USA
Phone: (317)867-6800
Facebook: facebook.com/westfieldhighschool
Twitter: @WWSWHS