Timberwolf Times
Volume 3, Issue 7 - August 30, 2020
A Message from Dr. Lowry
Good Afternoon WoodCreek Family!
Over 98% of students have logged in and engaged in classes this past week. As your principal, this makes me proud and I greatly appreciate all the parent support at home.
As we enter this week of instruction, please make sure students are staying engaged and completing all work. By the time progress reports are processed this Friday, students should have earned a minimum of 6 grades for each class, including a major grade as well as several minor and other grades. Progress reports will be available in HAC beginning Wednesday, September 9th.
I want everyone to have a great start of the year and continue doing such outstanding work. If you have any questions about student grades for a course, please do not hesitate to contact your student's teachers or grade level counselor.
Go Timberwolves!
Dr. Lowry
Principal
WoodCreek Junior High
This Week in Timberwolf Nation
This week's Character Strong Dare for students is called Mix Tape. Create a playlist of songs for a family member and send it to them with a note explaining why you chose those songs. Even if you just find one song online or copy and paste some lyrics that stand out to yo, music can be a beautiful way to connect. And, each time they hear that song, they will think of you.
Monday, August 31
- Timberwolf Spirit Day - Wear your red and black!
- Opt-in to in-person instruction or Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) instruction for the second grading period opens. Window closes Friday, September 18th.
Tuesday, September 1
- Welcome to September!
Friday, September 4
- College Spirit Day - Wear your favorite college gear!
Monday, September 7
- Labor Day Holiday - No School for Students and Staff
Tuesday, September 8
- Students who elected in-person instruction return to WCJH!
Katy Virtual Academy - Second Grading Period Opt-In and Opt-Out Dates
The next opportunity to opt-in to in-person instruction or Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) instruction for the second grading period will be from August 31-September 18 (secondary) and September 21-October 2 (elementary). The opt-in commitment link will be available on your student’s campus home page. All opt-in changes are in effect at the beginning of the second six week (secondary) and nine week (elementary) grading period.
We appreciate your support, as campuses are working extremely hard to schedule and balance in–person and virtual learning classes for each grading period.
If you decide to change you child's learning environment from KVA to face-to-face, or from face-to-face to KVA, your child's schedule may be impacted in the following ways:
- A change in the order of your child's classes
- A change in your child's teachers
If you have any questions regarding the next opportunity to change your child’s learning option for the second grading period, please email KVA@katyisd.org.
Transportation Bus Service & Route Information
Transportation WebQuery is now Available! Are you eligible for Bus Service? Katy ISD Transportation WebQuery can tell you. Find your Bus Number, Bus Stop and Pickup Time by using the WebQuery. Enter Your House Number and Street, select your child's grade or school and find out about your eligibility for service, or when and where your child can catch the bus.
Transportation/School Buses & Masks
As part of our enhanced safety practices on school buses, no more than two children will be assigned to a bus seat, drivers and students of all ages will be required to wear masks, hand sanitizer will be stationed at the entry of every vehicle, buses will be sanitized between routes, airflow will be increased throughout the bus by keeping windows rolled down and air conditioning on, and students’ time on the vehicle will be minimized whenever possible.
Medication and Clinic Forms
Please call the clinic at 281-234-0825 or email the nurse at TraceyANelson@katyisd.org with any questions or to schedule an appointment.
From the WCJH Counseling Team
Would you like to learn more about the WoodCreek Junior High counseling team? Are you interested in hearing more about the services our counseling department has to offer? Would you like to discover some helpful parenting resources? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should visit the WCJH Counselor Website by clicking this link or on the picture below: https://woodcreekcounselor.weebly.com/
2020-2021 WCJH Bell Schedule
KVA Curbside “Grab and Go” Meals - beginning Monday, September 7
Students enrolled in Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) will be able to pick up breakfast and lunch meals, curbside from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, September 7. Pick up is available at these four sites: Morton Ranch HS, Mayde Creek HS, Cinco Ranch HS, or Seven Lakes HS. Meals are packaged to be heated and eaten at home. Meals are to be picked up a day prior to the intended use. A breakfast and lunch picked up on Tuesday evening, for example, would be consumed Wednesday morning/ afternoon. Meals are charged based on the student’s eligibility (free, reduced, or full pay).
- Breakfast: $1.25 ($.30 reduced) Elementary Lunch: $2.25 ($.40) Secondary Lunch: $2.75 ($.40 reduced)
- Parents/students may pick up meals at any of the four sites. Student ID or current proof of enrollment is needed for meal service.
- Meals may also be pre-ordered through SchoolCafe.com. Parents/students who pre-order will need to pick up their meals at the site assigned to them on SchoolCafe.com during the online pre-ordering process.
- Menus and nutritional information are available on SchoolCafe.com.
- Cashless payment is encouraged using Pay N’ Go.
Virtual Learning Roles & Responsibilities
In order for all students to be successful when engaged in online instruction—whether through KVA or as part of intermittent online instruction due to COVID-19—students, families, and staff must work together to support student achievement.
The first thing we must keep in mind, is that online instruction will look much different than it did in the spring. Our teachers are preparing more rigorous instruction that is more regular in nature. Students must engage regularly and attend online learning in real-time. We do understand that all students might not have regular access to a device to attend in real time; however, our teachers will be flexible with each family situation. Understand, there will be obstacles along the way but remember, we will move forward, and we are in this together.
Self-Service Password Tool
The self‐service password process for staff, secondary students (grades 6th-12th) and parents/guardians has launched. There are no changes to your existing Katy ISD password, nor is any action required on your part at this time. However, should you need to update your password in the future, you will be able to do so by accessing the Self-Service icon, located on the District’s website homepage, where your password can be recovered by text, email or security questions.
Any user who may forget their password, or is creating a password for the very first time, will need do so via the new Password Self-Service.
Students in grades K-5 will continue to receive and retrieve their passwords through their classroom teachers.
The Password Self‐Service icon can be accessed on any device by going to www.KatyISD.org and clicking on the red Password Self-Service icon located at the top right of the page.
Parents and students in need of assistance can contact the Help Desk for support through the online form available on the Parent Tech Help web page.
Technology Help Desk Contacts for Parents/Students Support Inquiries
Online: Katy ISD Tech Help
Or, click “Help” in Canvas
Or, call: 281.396.7400 Monday through Friday (6:30AM.-5:00PM)
Or, e-mail: parenttechsupport@katyisd.org
Temporary Student IDs and How to Access Them
Elementary and secondary students can access a temporary ID badge via the Student ID App available on the MyKaty Cloud. Families received an email on Friday, August 14 with instructions on how to access and use the Student ID App. You can find a copy of those instructions here.
Withdrawals
If you have moved and are no longer zoned to WoodCreek Junior High School please let our registrar know.
WCJH Registrar - Leah Caffey (LeahCCaffey@KATYISD.ORG)
WCJH Athletics
Click here or on the picture above for information about WCJH 2020 Volleyball Tryouts
WCJH Band News
Band Bulletin
If you haven’t received earlier emails from us containing the link to the WoodCreek Band Bulletin, it likely means your information is not in our Charms emailer system.
Instructions on logging into Charms and updating your information can be found on pages 10-11 in the WCJH Band Handbook which is contained the Bulletin link below. It is imperative that your information be updated if necessary. I also HIGHLY recommend that you and your student join our Remind classes, the codes to join can be found in the WoodCreek Band Bulletin linked below.
Band Parent Meeting
Our Band Parent Meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 31, at 5:30pm. Due to our current virtual-only format, we will be creating a video which will cover the information normally included in the parent meeting. In addition, both directors will host an open Zoom meeting (info below) on Monday, August 31, 5:30pm-7:00pm, where parents are free to join at any time and ask questions. Contact Mr. Guess or Mr. Cremer for the Zoom link information if you would like to attend. If you are unable to join the meeting but still have questions, please email us.
Band Information and Spirit Wear Form
The 20/21 WCJH Band Information & Spirit Wear Form is ready to be completed! Completion of every page of this form is required by all band families, although purchase of spirit wear items is totally optional. The Required Course Fee and Information/Spirit wear Form are due Friday, September 4. We will review payment and completion of both of the items in our parent meeting video.
Accessing TELPAS Scores in HAC
COVID-19 Self-Reporting APP - Notifications & Information
The District has a COVID-19 Reporting System in place to allow staff, students and parents to self-report if they have received a COVID-19 positive test result. The self-reporting system enables the District’s Emergency Management team to conduct contact tracing, as well as call and notify individuals in Katy ISD buildings who may have been directly exposed to the infected person. A general email notification is also sent to campus staff and families whenever the district is informed of a potential “indirect” COVID-19 exposure in their building. Receipt of the general notification alone indicates that the recipient was not in close contact to the COVID-19 positive case reported for their building.
Many school personnel and other staff are teaching and working on Katy ISD campuses and facilities. Should there be a potential COVID-19 exposure on any campus or facility, a general notification is sent to staff at the work site impacted, by 5:00 p.m. on the day in which the self-report was submitted. Staff who may have been directly exposed because of failed COVID-19 safety protocol will be notified directly by a member of the Risk Management Department.
Parents will only begin to receive applicable campus-based general notifications when students return to schools for the in-person instructional option. Parents of students who may be involved in fine arts or athletic activities on campuses right now, may receive a general notification through Rank One (athletics) or Charms (fine arts), ahead of the September 8 reopening, if the District is informed of a potential exposure at their campus.
Students and staff may report positive COVID-19 results using the COVID-19 Self Reporting app on MyKaty Cloud.
Covid-19 Impact on Students
Please complete the following surveys to help us know about your needs and better understand how we can offer support to your student. We understand that these are unusual times and we care very much about our students and families during this pandemic. Please know that completion is voluntary and any information shared will remain confidential among those who need to know in order to support your child. Our campus support staff may contact you, to discuss additional needs and available supports.
English
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc09Jy67aJKsiJv2QMlSUKQ0PghhgN1n_2wbrheI5XA_gdAUA/viewform
Espanol
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUeJP2tMl7hiwCsXNQITWvMYq9x102I-AiUvICAG9urxn1Nw/viewform
Katy ISD Love and Logic Parent Sessions
Please click here for more information at the district website and to register.
Back to School Videos
http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Pages/School-Safety-Demonstration-Videos.aspx
Katy ISD Digital Resource Information Meetings
Contact Email and Questions
Be sure to visit the Katy ISD Smart Restart page often, as the district updates it frequently with the latest information about KVA, In-Person school, Athletics, Fine Arts, Safety Protocols, links to newsletters and more.
General Questions
Katy Virtual Academy Questions
Special Education Questions
Sign up for Important Updates - Join Remind
Join PTA
Click here to join the WoodCreek Junior High PTA!
Contact Information
Mission Statement: WoodCreek Junior High, in partnership with the community, parents, and students, will provide a safe, positive, engaging learning environment that is devoted to empowering each student to become a productive, responsible, respectful citizen while achieving academic excellence.
Website: http://www.katyisd.org/campus/WCJH/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 1801 Woodcreek Bend Lane, Katy, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 234-0800
Facebook: facebook.com/woodcreekjrhigh/
Twitter: @WoodCreekJrHigh
WCJH Administrative Team
Dr. Andrew Lowry Principal
Tim Chesser Assistant Principal - Student Support
Lauren Merriman Assistant Principal - 6th grade and 8th grade M-Z
Stephanie McDonald Assistant Principal - 7th grade and 8th grade A-L
Jodi Slaughter Counselor - 8th Grade
Brittany Waddell Counselor - 7th Grade
Jessie Clay Counselor - 6th Grade
School Information
Instructional Calendar 2020-2021 Click Here
Lunch Menus Click Here
Bus Transportation Click Here
Bus Schedules Click Here
Student Code of Conduct Click Here
Registration Information Click Here