WHS Newsletter
Fall 3 2021
A Message from Principal Callaghan
Dear WHS Community,
Last week, we completed our first full week of classes and things are in full swing at the high school. As a district, we are committed to student learning and believe that effective communication is an essential part of the process. We believe that this system involves three invested parties--teacher, student, and parent/guardian--with the student at the center. Therefore teachers utilize an online grade book with a desire to share details of academic progress and increase student responsibility. Students and parents/guardians may interface with this information via Powerschool. We hope access to information helps both students and parents/guardians track and understand student progress in individual classes.
Sincerely,
Mr. Brian M. Callaghan
WHS Principal
Parent/Guardian's Guide for Viewing Grades in Powerschool Online
At WHS we also recognize that grades are but one of several tools that can be used to monitor student achievement. Our high school believes that although reporting grades is necessary, it is more important to emphasize the learning, growth, and development of all students.
When viewing your student’s academic progress online, please be mindful of the following:
Use the online grade information as a means for a productive and positive conversation about the learning process with your student. For example, you can discuss the experience of completing the work and what was learned.
Encourage your student to monitor his/her own progress online. High school students should take ownership of, and have responsibility for, the grades they have earned. Students should address questions or concerns about their progress directly with the teacher.
Talk to your student. Often, students have additional information about assignments, classwork, and grades. Bear in mind, ongoing assessments may raise or lower a grade prior to the conclusion of the marking period.
Different courses and instructors have varying systems for evaluating work, calculating and reporting grades. This information will be communicated to students by their teachers.
Online updates will vary from class to class. However, all online grades will be up to date at mid-quarter and at the end of each marking period. Please refer to the following dates: (range: mid- quarter date plus 7 days; end of quarter reporting date is 1 week after the end of the quarter)
Please note: All Quarter Grades will be released a week after the end of the term.
Quarter 1: Sept. 30- Oct. 5 (Progress Report); November 5 (End of Term)
Quarter 2: December 3-9 (Progress Report); January 19 (End of Term)
Quarter 3*: February 28 - March 3 (Progress Report); April 4 (End of Term)
Quarter 4*: May 11 -17 (Progress Report); last day of school (End of Term)
*3rd & 4th quarter dates are subject to change
Procedure for addressing issues/conflict:
Parents should encourage students to address issues with their teachers directly.
If the student is not satisfied, the student should seek out the respective department head
If further clarification is needed, a parent/guardian should contact the teacher
If the parent is still not satisfied with the outcome, the parent should contact the appropriate Assistant Principal.
Westborough High School Homecoming Information
We are excited about the upcoming WHS Homecoming events to celebrate our Rangers! Here is some important information:
* Home Coming Spirit Week - Monday, October 18th - Friday, October 22nd
* Home Coming Dance - Friday, October 22nd from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The dance will be held outside on the tennis courts & surrounding area. If the weather is bad, the dance will be moved indoors with masks. Tickets will be sold at lunches in the weeks leading up to the dance. A reminder that tickets are ONLY ever sold at school and never at the door.
* Homecoming Festival - Saturday, October 23rd
Join us at a family-friendly Homecoming Festival at the lower parking lot 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. leading into the WHS football game. There will be Student Council and club booths, music, food trucks, and a silent auction.
Health Office Check In
The nurses are so happy to see students again! After a 1.5 year hiatus from mandated screenings, we are preparing to start them up again. The schedule for this school year is:
10th grade: week of October 4th is hearing, vision, heights, weights. Students wearing eyeglasses should be prepared and have them with them this week.
9th grade: 2 screenings:
Scoliosis/postural (examination for abnormal back curvatures) - done in phys ed classes. Semester 1 will be October 22nd. Semester 2 will be February 4th.
SBIRT (verbal screening for substance use disorders) - also done in phys ed classes. Semester 1 will be the week of November 15th. Semester 2 will be the week of March 28th.
If you do not wish to have your child participate in any of these screenings, please contact the school nurses by email or phone.
Julie Kelland, RN - kellandj@westborough k12.org
Sharon Connors, RN - connorss@westboroughk12.org
508-836-7720 X3193
Lifetouch School Photos - October 15th
Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors:
WHS Picture Day Date: Friday, October 15
WHS Picture Day ID: EVTG9292S
Click here to order your photos. You will be receiving reminder emails from Lifetouch.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Information
Please note AP Exam registration has begun and needs to be completed no later than Friday, October 29, 2021. The AP Exams this year will return to all in-person exams and are scheduled to take place Monday, May 2, 2022, through Friday, May 13, 2022. Please contact Patrice Didier, AP Coordinator at didierp@westboroughk12.org with any questions.
School Counselor's Corner
Massachusetts Student Financial Aid Administrators presents FAFSA Day. This is a non-profit, volunteer-driven program providing free assistance to students and families seeking to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
We are kicking off October with two fun and informational workshops for families.
Please click here to register online for either, or both events.
If you cannot attend these sessions, there will be monthly events through February 2022.
Get FREE Help Applying for College Financial Aid!
MEFA (The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) is running a series of live free webinars to help you understand various aspects of the financial aid process for college. Webinar topics include:
College Financing
The College Process for Undocumented Students
Saving for College
What to Know About the CSS Profile
Some of the webinars are also broadcast in Spanish, Chinese, and other languages. Visit https://www.mefa.org/events to see the schedule of webinars and to register.
WHS Clubs & Activities - How do I sign up?
- WHS uses Family ID as a registration tool for Clubs, Fine Arts, and Sports.
- You can click here to go to Family ID to sign up for Clubs and Activities. (FYI-It is also accessible from the WHS Website under the drop-down menu "For Families" and "Clubs & Activities".)
- A parent or guardian will need to either create an account or log in to an existing account.
- Once you are logged in, you can select the student name, and select the clubs and activities in which they want to participate.
- Any questions about clubs, please contact Mary McDermott at mcdermottm@westboroughk12.org.
- WHS also has a Clubs and Activities Website called Clubpedia that gives detailed information about clubs including the advisors' name and times and dates of meetings. Please note that most clubs are in Clubpedia and that clubs are being added to this site on a regular basis. Family ID contains the most accurate list of clubs offered at WHS this year.
Water Bottle Refill Stations at WHS
We encourage all of our students to stay hydrated and to bring a filled reusable water bottle with them to school each day. The water fountains are not open at this time, however there are water bottle refill stations throughout the WHS campus available to them to use to refill located in the following locations:
Outside of the Main Office
C Wing near room C119
Hallway outside of Laduke Gym (larger gym)
Next to Fitness Center and Locker Rooms
Calendar Highlights
11/04/21: Diwali (Schools Closed)
11/05/21: Quarter 1 Ends
11/11/21: Veteran's Day (Schools Closed)
11/24/21: Early Release
11/25 - 11/26: Thanksgiving Break (Schools Closed)
12/10/21: Early Release
12/24/21: Schools/Offices Closed for Christmas Eve
12/27/21: Schools/Offices Closed for Christmas Day
12/28/21 - 12/30: Schools Closed for Winter Break
12/31/21: Schools/Offices Closed for New Years Eve
Click here to see the 2021/2022 WHS School Events Calendar
Click here to see the 2021/2022 WHS District Calendar
Ask the Office
Westborough High School
Principal: Brian Callaghan
Assistant Principal: Jessica Barrett
Assistant Principal: Matt Lefebvre
Email: mcdermottm@westboroughk12.org
Website: http://whs.westboroughk12.org/
Location: 90 West Main Street, Westborough, MA, USA
Phone: 508-836-7720
Twitter: @WboroPrincipal