Notes from Dr. Irvin
Your WGHS Weekly eNews for April 2
Hello Parents and Guardians,
I am hopeful this communication finds you and your family safe and well. We are all struggling in various ways to navigate our newly found circumstances that have us contending with novel issues in our educational settings. Much of our information has centered on initial engagement, attempting to keep students connected to the relationships and learning that had occurred prior to the impact of COVID-19.
Below are important adjustments we are making in an effort to remain student-centered:
Initial Distance Learning experience
In our initial work around distance learning and in gathering external information, we have heard consistent information around the following:
- Our top priority for students, faculty, staff, and their respective families during this COVID-19 pandemic should be their physical and emotional wellness.
- We are mindful of advice provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) regarding grading practices as students may have competing demands on their time and varied access to devices and supports. We know that this reflects some of our students circumstances at WGHS and has an unequal impact on their learning opportunities.
Grading
- Our staff is focusing on how students can be successful with engagement during this period and providing feedback around the intended learning. We do want to support students in continued acquisition of skills that will support future ready citizens: critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.
- Distance learning period will be a seperate grading category/assignment type in Tyler SIS where all grades will be placed while school is conducting distance learning. It will have different weight pending how long that term will need to be conducted and with awareness that it is impacted by many variables. Teachers and staff are working with students to maintain their previous level of achievement through a myriad of supports and assessment design. Administrators and teachers are in communication when students are not able to engage and will work to excuse or reduce work missed due to lack of access. Under our current circumstances, we are working to monitor and adjust as needed for students to be successful for the remainder of the distance learning period.
Our staff is working extremely hard to connect and care for your students. Please let me, your unit office, or your student's teachers know if you have any questions.
Best,
Matt Irvin
Teachers will post their content on Google Classroom each day by 8:30 a.m. Students can work at their own rhythm throughout the day, provided they meet each teacher's deadlines/due dates.
Office Hours by School Subject/Department
Visit our website for the most up-to-date E-Learning resources and information.
- General information on the importance of E-Learning, expectations, length of assignments and workload, and what to expect while school is closed
- Resources for support, including counselor contact information
- Tech hotline
- Office Hours by department
- Resources for time management and a custom WGHS Weekly Planner
Visit us HERE or click below for more information!
A Peek at the Week Ahead
- April 3: End of Progress Period (Progress period now reflects work through March 25.)
April Event Cancellations/Postponements
Canceled:
Spring Play (April 1-4)
Statesmen Service Awards (April 10)
WGHS School Service Day (April 14)
WGHS One-Acts (April 29)
Postponed:
Prom (April 18); new date TBA
Vaccination Clinic on April 25 - POSTPONED
The district Wellness Committee has postponed the Vaccination Clinic on April 25. We hope to offer the clinic in the future.
Virtual Events:
Top Hat Awards (April 17); format and date to be determined
Senior Awards NIght (April 30); format and date to be determined
Don't see an event listed above? Please check with individual sponsors for updates. We will send out information as we receive it.
Prom is Postponed: A Message to Our Seniors
Prom is not able to go on as scheduled this year. The Planetarium is closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic on our scheduled April 18th date, and St. Louis City and County have both issued Stay-at-home Orders during that time.
We are still hoping to have a prom this year, and we are considering different options to make this happen. We may be able to hold the event at the Planetarium at a later date, or it may be an option to have it at WGHS. The situation is evolving, but we are doing our best to hold prom in some fashion if we can.
We know that you have been looking forward to prom and are sorry to have to share this news. We will let you know the updated plans when we have more information.
Take care of yourselves!
School Celebrations/Announcements
Missouri Scholastic Press Association announced its 2020 winners on March 25. This usually occurs at the MIPA J-Day at Mizzou, but this year’s gathering was cancelled due to concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus.
Echo staffers and journalism students earning individual All Missouri ratings were sophomore Jackson Parks for his Radio/Podcast Newscast/News Feature about Thanksgiving traditions, senior Ethan Weihl for his Broadcast News Story “Students walkout to raise climate change awareness,” junior Jaden Fields and Weihl for their Online Feature Package “Students walkout to raise climate change awareness,” junior Addie Palmquist and senior Emily Stisser for their Online Op-Ed Package “Acceptance pressure transforms admissions process,” seniors Elise Keller and Lindsey Bennett for their Online Op-Ed Package “Curriculum change threatens ‘block’ class,” Palmquist for her Personality/Portrait “Coach Clifford Ice at first home game,” Fields for her Sports Action Photo “Junior Julian Tilford challenges a Glendale player,” junior Maeve Taylor for her Student Life/Organization Photo “Cover Cutline: Sophomore Emma Hendrick…,” and sophomore Zeke La Mantia for his Student Life/Organization Photo “Senior Zia Massena, assistant director…”
Echo staffers and journalism students earning individual superior ratings were sophomore Emily Goben for three of her Radio/Podcast Newscast/News Features about the Women’s March, students’ jobs and students’ wishes, freshman Lydia Urice for her Radio/Podcast Newscast/News Feature about senior football player Kam Yancey, Fields for her Radio/Podcast Newcast/News Feature about the late start schedule, sophomore Ava Musgraves for her Broadcast News Feature “Halloween Costumes, for dogs: Owners dress pets for Halloween,” Bennett for her Feature Story “New program facilitates student-created businesses,” Fields and junior Elise Wilke-Grimm for their Online Breaking News Package “Breaking News: Students walkout to raise climate change awareness,” Fields Online Sports Package “Football continues 4-game winning streak” and her News Photo “Senior Patrick Lee speaks at climate change protest,” and La Mantia’s Student Life/Organizational Photo “Jazz band plays ‘Chicago’ score...”
Echo staffers earning individual excellent ratings were La Mantia for his Feature Story “Custodial staff maintains school, makes connections,” and Stisser for her Feature Stories “Foreign exchange students leave permanent mark on community” and “Tens of veterans return, honored each year.”
Echo staffers earning honorable mentions were Fields for her News Story “Students walkout to raise climate change awareness,” Stisser for her Academic Photo “Business takes trip to NYC” and Wilke-Grimm for her Student Life/Organizational Photo “Camp Wyman Activities.”
A Message from Our Counselors
While conducting school virtually, WGHS school counselors and social workers will continue to support the academic, social and emotional, and post-secondary planning needs of our students. Our office hours are from 8:30-9:30am daily (for immediate attention) but we are available by phone or email throughout regular school hours. Please see our contact information below and reach out with any questions or needs you may have. Students can also request assistance by completing this form and their counselor will follow up with them.
Additionally, there are a number of outside agencies and organizations available to provide support to young people and their families during this difficult time. Below is a list of resources available to you and your family.
Virtual Counseling: Parents or guardians should call the numbers below to set up services.
CHADS Coalition: 314-952-8274
Preferred Family Health: 314-729-7050
St. Louis Counseling: 314-544-3800
Online Resources:
Unicef: How Teenagers Can Protect Their Mental Health During Coronavirus (COVID-19)
18percent Coronavirus Mental Health Resources
St. Louis County Resources (including help with food, utilities, rent, and mental health)
Special School District’s Family Resource Page
If you need support and cannot wait, please use one of the crisis numbers below:
Youth Connection Helpline: Call (314) 819-8802 or text BHEARD to 31658
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Child Abuse and Neglect: 800-392-3738
For emergencies, please call 911
As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you all soon!
Sincerely,
Alex King
Counselor (A-E)
314-666-0220 king.alexandra@wgmail.orgKen Winingham
Counselor (F-K)
314-252-8194 winingham.ken@wgmail.orgJoe Hepfinger
Counselor (L-R)
314-918-4133 hepfinger.joe@wgmail.orgSimone Cunningham
Counselor (S-Z)
314-918-4134 cunningham.simone@wgmail.orgKaren Verstraete
College & Career (A-K)
314-301-9921 verstraete.karen@wgmail.org
Jennedy Lombard
College and Career (L-Z)
314-384-9658 lombard.jennedy@wgmail.orgAnne Gibbs
Social Worker
314-527-4753 gibbs.anne@wgmail.orgSuzanne Goldstein
SSD Social Worker
314-918-4281 goldstein.suzanne@wgmail.orgAnn Marie Guntli
SSD Social Worker
314-384-9723 guntli.ann@wgmail.orgBarb Smith
Office Assistant
Transcripts and Summer School
314-918-4138 smith.barbara@wgmail.orgBrittany Hill
Office Assistant
Scholarships
314-527-0533 hill.brittany@wgmail.orgCounseling Department Updates
AP Testing Changes
- Traditional face-to-face exam administrations will not take place. Students will take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home.
- Some students may want to take the exam sooner rather than later, while the content is still fresh. Other students may want more time to practice. For each AP subject, there will be 2 different testing dates.
- The full exam schedule, specific free-response question types that will be on each AP Exam, and additional testing details will be available by April 3.
- We will share information as it becomes available to us. Questions? Contact our AP Coordinator, Jennedy Lombard, at lombard.jennedy@wgmail.org
SLU and UMSL Reopen Registration for Dual Credit
In light of changes with AP testing, UMSL and SLU have decided to reopen registration for dual credit. SLU has already opened their website for registration (Adv. Forensic Science and Oceanography) with a deadline of April 5, 2020. More information from UMSL will be shared as we receive it.
Summer School 2020
The summer school planning for summer 2020 has been placed on hold in light of our current educational situation. Students will not lose classes in which they have been assigned. Once we receive more direction from DESE we will be able to provide additional information regarding our summer school programming for summer 2020.
Thank you for your patience with programming!
Webster Groves High School
Email: erb.mickey@wgmail.org
Website: hs.webster.k12.mo.us
Location: 100 Selma Avenue, Webster Groves, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 963-6400
Facebook: facebook.com/WGAlumni
Twitter: @WebsterGrovesHS