West Weekly Update
Volume 12, Issue 24, 2/20/22
From the desk of Mr. Jolliffe
Staff – After a convincing vote of 42-24 (18 no preference) we will be moving to an early release CLC starting after spring break. All high schools will be moving to the early release schedule starting next year. This new schedule will allow students to start every day at 8:00AM and have consistent five day access to 2nd chance breakfast. Wednesday will in essence become an activity schedule. Students will be released at 2:23PM and exit the building unless staying for activities or bussing. Staff will supervise hallways and then head to their CLC’s by 2:40PM. CLC’s will remain 40 minutes in length and end at 3:20PM. Further details and schedules will come out when available. We are currently working with the schools that have already implemented this schedule to identify best practices. The biggest task is supervising the students that are staying past 2:30PM. More to come.
Good news - our county COVID rate as of Friday, February 18th was 7.4%. The BOE has a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the mask mandate. The next scheduled BOE meeting after this one is March 7th. I will keep you posted on any changes. Our sub rate is still around 50% and Monday and Friday are usually worse. We only have 13 days left until spring break. Two four-day weeks and one full week. We are certainly having more students attending and your ability to engage them is crucial to them staying around. This is not just about this semester but also for many, the rest of high school. Good portions of the kids returning have missed a ton of school and need a reason to stay. In most cases, YOU are the reason kids stay. Thank you for what you do on a daily basis to connect with your students.
I hope that you had some great conversations with parents about the success of their children during parent-teacher conferences. If you have not turned in your documentation to Mrs. Cooley please do so on Tuesday.
Last Tuesday, I sent out a link for you regarding roughly 90 seniors with credits needed between 1.5 and 6.0. The expectation was to pick ONE senior (If you don’t know one, pick one anyway). If you have not done so already, please reach out this week to your senior. The goal is to touch base with your one student once every two weeks. That makes for 5-6 contacts until graduation. Many are on track and just need encouragement but some need additional support and guidance. We will provide what classes they need to graduate along with their attendance data this week. It takes a village!!!
Next Tuesday, March 1, juniors will be taking the ACT in the “NEW” gym. This will take place in the morning and they will be released at 11:36 for lunch. The juniors will be isolated in the gym area with the LINK garage door closed. Seniors will have a senior project work-day and further details of this will come out this week. There is a senior assembly Tuesday during AT. Freshmen and sophomore students will attend their regular classes on March 1st.
The budget year will begin to wind down and credit card users will need to have purchases made by April 1st. I understand there will be elective courses that will need purchases after this point. Please follow the same protocols as in past years. We will be in touch as the budget year closes.
Administration has conducted close to 300 walkthroughs through last week. We are also conducting informal observations to provide feedback and meet our statutory guidelines. If you have questions about our feedback, we would love to talk to you about your instruction. Remember, we are looking for clear objectives, best-practice strategies, active engagement and teachers up and providing quality feedback.
Change – The spirit week scheduled for after spring break is being moved to the week prior to spring break. March 10th will be an activity day. The previous scheduled week will return to standard days.
Mask up, wash your hands and social distance.
Pioneers Lead the Way – Mr. Jolliffe
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Academy Time Activities
Academy Time 2021-22 - OneDrive (sharepoint.com)
- Are you on track to graduate?
- What classes do you need to graduate?
- What academy strand did you complete?
- What is your GPA?
- YOU will be college and career ready!
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PD Information from Mrs. Traylor
I will be out of the office:
Tuesday all day
Thursday half day
Friday all day
CLC:
February 23rd -District
If that changes, we will default to Group 1( Department)
PD:*Repeat*
Assessments- This PD is for those who missed last week. You will need to bring a printed copy of your scale and assessment.
Wednesday – All hours
Thursday- 1st and 5th hour only
VILS:
Get paid to complete a micro-credential. Get paid for 5 hours and a PD point once you submit.
If you are looking for an easy one to complete I suggest “Understanding Learner Variability” Pathway.
If you are struggling with how to log in (Password help)please email Auge. She can reset your password.
Modern Classroom:
Teachers:
Wichita Public Schools is funding interested teachers’ participation in the Modern Classrooms Project's Virtual Mentorship Program! We are asking everyone to learn more about the opportunity by completing the form below by March 1 www.modernclassrooms.org/wichita.
Through the program, Wichita Public Schools teachers will learn an innovative blended, self-paced, mastery-based approach to teaching and learning, designed to support students with a high diversity of learning levels and social-emotional needs. The best way to see a Modern Classroom in action is to watch these short Edutopia videos:
To date, over 50 Wichita educators and instructional coaches have learned this model, and we are excited to see that number grow!
Teachers who choose to enroll will:
- Participate in the Modern Classrooms Project’s 2022 Virtual Summer Institute, where you will receive one-on-one coaching and personalized feedback on classroom-ready submissions, from instructional videos to mastery checks.
- Be paid up to a 20-hour stipend for the time it takes to complete the program.
We are asking that ALL teachers complete the following interest form by March 1 www.modernclassrooms.org/wichita.
The form gives additional details and information that will address many question you may have, but the dates available this summer teachers will be eligible to enroll MCP's Virtual Summer Institute Sessions are:
- Session 1: May 16 - June 19, 2022
- Session 2: June 13 - July 17, 2022
- Session 3: July 11 - August 14, 2022
The form will allow you to:
- opt-in to the optional opportunity THIS summer (please tell your instructional coach if you opt in!)
- defer the opportunity to a future cohort
- opt-out of the opportunity
This will allow us to understand who is interested so we can budget accordingly: www.modernclassrooms.org/wichita Please share with your instructional coach your plans to participate this summer!
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Senior Calendar Change (*as of February 16)
- Monday, May 9 (Odd)
- Tuesday, may 10 (Even)
For more senior information see Mrs. Norris' email from 2/15/22
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West High Wellness Initiative
Check out all the information in the Teams Channel
If you are interested in offering your talents, please email Sross2@usd259.net
Let’s work together!
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Events at West
Auditorium Closed for Winter Play
Tuesday, Feb 22, 2022, 08:00 AM
Auditorium
Sisterhood
Tuesday, Feb 22, 2022, 09:30 AM
E-9
After School Tutoring
Wednesdays - Cafeteria 3:20-6pm
Tuesday, Feb 22, 2022, 03:30 PM
F-4
Esports Practice
Tuesday, Feb 22, 2022, 03:30 PM
L-14
Basketball vs Northwest
4:15 - C Boys
5:30 - JV Boys
Main Gym
6:00 - V Girls
7:30 - V Boys
Tuesday, Feb 22, 2022, 04:15 PM
Main & Auxillary Gyms
New Teacher Meeting
Wednesday, Feb 23, 2022, 03:30 PM
Library
Girls Wrestling State
Wednesday, Feb 23, 2022, 08:00 AM
Hartman Arena, North Hartman Arena Drive, Park City, KS, USA
Brotherhood
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022, 09:30 AM
Cafeteria
ACT Prep
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022, 03:15 PM
E-11
Basketball @ Heights
4:15 - C Boys
5:30 - JV Boys
Main Gym
6:00 - V Girls
7:30 - V Boys
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022, 04:15 PM
Wichita Heights High School, North Hillside Street, Wichita, KS, USA
Boys Wrestling State
Friday, Feb 25, 2022, 08:00 AM
Hartman Arena, North Hartman Arena Drive, Park City, KS, USA
Textron Internship Meeting
Friday, Feb 25, 2022, 09:30 AM
E-11
Tri-County Basketball v South
Friday, Feb 25, 2022, 12:45 PM
Main Gym
Winter Play
Friday, Feb 25, 2022, 07:00 PM
Auditorium
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Around West
Wrestling State Qualifiers
Wrestling State Qualifiers
Wrestling State Qualifiers
Rashad West - 8th
Brycen James - 4th
Jamal Garrett - 6th
Jesse Villanueva - 8th
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West High Pioneer Booster Club
Shadow West High t-shirt
Wordy Pioneer Guy
Pioneer Pride t-shirt & Hoodie
$25 hoodie
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Wichita High School West
VISION
Wichita High School West will be the school of choice in our district, where all students and staff are empowered to dream, believe and achieve.
MISSION
The Academies at West will ensure graduates are career, college and life ready.
SHARED BELIEFS
Everyone feels safe, valued and connected.
Email: cramsey@usd259.net
Website: www.usd259.org/west
Location: 820 South Osage Street, Wichita, KS, USA
Phone: (316) 973-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/wichitawesthigh
Twitter: @wichitawesthigh