West Side Story 2.0
January 2, 2019
Assuring learning excellence and readiness for a changing world.
Happy New Year!
Welcome back! I hope all of our Scarlet families had an awesome winter break and enjoyed some time with family and friends. While it is always nice to have a break, it is great to have everyone back at West!
As we turn the calendar to 2019, it seems as those the time goes by much faster. Soon we will be taking finals, beginning the second semester, and registering for classes for the 2019-20 school year!
First Semester Finals
Finals Week Schedule
The end of the first semester is upon us. Here is some important information regarding upcoming schedules, textbook returns, and open lunch expectations.
Finals Schedule:
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Students will complete finals for periods 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Period 1: 8:15-9:35
Period 2: 9:45-11:05
Open Lunch: 11:05-12:15
Period 3: 12:15-1:35
Period 4: 1:45-3:05
Friday, January 18, 2019
Students will complete finals for periods 5, 6 and 7.
Period 5: 8:15-9:35
Period 6: 9:40-11:00
Period 7: 11:05-12:25
Open Lunch: 12:25-1:25
Make-up Tests: 1:25-3:05
Open Lunch Expectations:
On both Thursday and Friday of finals week, students in grades 9-12 will have open campus lunch (see schedule above). If your student plans to leave campus for lunch, please visit with them in advance about your expectations and remind them to demonstrate their BEST (Be respectful, Engage in learning, Show integrity, Take responsibility) behaviors by making good choices, following pedestrian safety procedures, and positively representing Mankato West High School out in our community. Students will need to keep track of time during this open lunch to make sure that they are back in the classroom to take their finals on time. The West cafeteria will also be serving lunch both days, for students who choose to stay on campus.
Other Information:
Students must remain in the classroom until the end of the test period. Students are not allowed to leave early.
Study hall attendance is expected during semester finals. If your student does not need the additional study time that their study hall period provides during semester final days, a guardian must call West High School at 507-387-2490 to excuse them from that period. Students in the building must report to a classroom or study hall.
If your student needs to reschedule a final exam, they must speak with an Assistant Principal in advance to receive permission. This will only be permitted in emergency cases.
Once finished with finals on Friday, January 18, students without tests or work to make up can make transportation arrangements to leave after period 7 (12:25pm) or stay at West in a study hall until the end of the day. The time after lunch on Friday is dedicated to make-up testing and finishing missing course work. Students must arrange make up testing in advance with their teacher.
Buses will run on their normal schedule both days.
FRESHMAN EVENT: Link Crew Cookies & Cram: Tuesday, January 15th @ 3:15-4:45pm
The annual Cookies & Cram session for freshman students who would like to prepare for finals in a supportive, group environment will be hosted by the Mankato West Link Crew on Tuesday, January 15th. This event is a great way for freshman to study with friends and student leaders from their school in preparation for finals.
Textbook Return
Students should return textbooks to the Media Center for classes they are finished with for the year and check out books needed for 2nd semester classes that are new to them before the start of 2nd semester on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.
2nd Semester Schedules
2nd semester will begin on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Students should be checking their 2nd semester schedules now, and meeting with their counselor if there is a mistake with their 2nd semester courses.
All students should check their schedules on Friday, January 18. While students will have the courses they have registered for, there may be some change in the order of their schedule. This does not happen often, but there are times when counselors may need to move students to different sections.
Registration for the 2019-20 School Year
Soon it will be time to register for courses for the 2019-20 school year. Counselors will be going into classrooms the week of January 28th to start the registration process.
Monday, February 4th, from 3:30-7:30 pm is our conference night. We hope that you will join us to visit with your child's second semester teachers and attend our grade level registration meetings. These will be highly informative meetings to ensure your student is making informed decisions when registering.
Grade Level Registration Presentations in Auditorium
5:00pm - Current 9th grade students/parents - Bomstad/Ottmar/Villagomez
5:45pm - Current 10th grade students/parents - Ottmar
6:30pm - Current 11th grade students/parents - Bomstad
Below you will find a link for our registration guide. Check it out to find all of the options your child has for classes, both required and electives.
https://online.flowpaper.com/7524071e/MAPSRegGuideFINAL012918/#page=1
For those families with incoming freshmen for the 2019-20 school year, we will have a meeting in the auditorium on February 11th from 6:30-7:30 to discuss registration.
Upcoming Events
Orchesis - Thursday, January 10; Friday, January 11; Saturday, January 12 at 7:00 pm in the auditorium; also Saturday, January 12 at 3:00 pm
Semester Finals - Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18
No School - Monday, January 21st - teacher work day
Find Basketball, Gymnastics, Hockey, Swimming, and Wresting events here
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/1/
Go Scarlets!
Yearbook Info
Order Your Yearbook Today!
Yearbooks are now on sale! Don’t wait to purchase your copy of the 2018-2019 Mankato West High School yearbook. To order online, please go to www.mankatowestyearbook.com. If you have already purchased your yearbook, thank you!
Approaching Deadlines: Senior Portraits and Grad Ads for the Yearbook
Senior Photos need to be submitted by Friday, January 18th, 2019. We would love to have a picture for each student. If you do not have a senior photo, please let me know and we will work to try and find a way to take a picture for the yearbook. Options for graduation photo submissions:
[Preferred] Photos can be emailed to Ms. Mayra: mmayra1@isd77.org
Photos can be submitted electronically through the yearbook website: Pictavo Community.
Photos can be mailed to Ms. Mayra through the Main Office at Mankato West or hand-delivered to room 210. Please include a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) to ensure photos are returned to you.
Grad Ads are optional “ads” for your graduating senior. They are 1/8 of a page and will be placed in the 2019 yearbook. The cost is $25 and you can include a photo(s) and message to your graduating senior. The deadline for submitting these ads is Friday, March 1st, 2019. You can design and create your own ad by going to our pictavo community web page OR you can submit your photos/message and money directly to Meredith Mayra for a yearbook staff member to design on your behalf.
Further guidelines for senior portraits and directions for submitting both senior portraits and grad ads can be found by visiting our Mankato West Yearbook Website.
Weather Info
In the Counseling Center
- Army - Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 10:00 am