Wildcat Wisdom Newsletter
Wesley Chapel High School 12/22/23
WCHS Vision
Wesley Chapel High School provides a community in which students become life ready citizens with confidence, empathy, and perseverance.
To ensure our students are college, career, and life ready, we are:
Accountable
Resourceful
Compassionate
Principled
Inspirational
Message from Mr. McDermott
Wildcats,
Semester one has come to a close. I want to thank the entire Wildcat community for a successful first semester. I hope you all have a wonderful break and are able to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. Students return to school on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
Thank you,
Mr. McDermott
Fighting On Campus
Parents, in the last week, we have seen an increase in fighting incidents on our campus. Over the break, please talk to your students about the severity and dangers of this behavior. Students fighting on campus will be taken to an expulsion hearing. Our number one goal is student safety and these situations place staff and students in danger. Fighting on this campus will not be tolerated and we will seek the expulsion of students engaging in this behavior.
Checking your student out of school
As the student code of conduct requires absences be excused in writing, if you need to check your student out early, you must send them in with a note. The note must have the student name, student number, time and reason for check out, as well as a parent/guardian signature. Students should turn the note in to the front office to recieve a pass to leave. If you are unable to send your student in with a note, you will be required to check them out in the front office. Phone check outs will no longer be permitted.
Excusing an Absence
From the Student Code of Conduct:
Attendance Procedures: All elementary, middle and high school students who are absent will be marked “unexcused” (U) until the parent/guardian notifies the school in writing and justifies the absence with one of the acceptable reasons as defined below. Failure to do so within three (3) school days will cause the absence to be recorded as “unexcused”. In the case of excessive or extended absences, which are claimed to be due to illness, upon request of the principal or designee, a parent must provide documentation (doctor’s statement) of a student’s illness.
• Excessive or extended absences are considered five (5) in one calendar month or ten (10) in one semester, or a history of excessive absences per period as defined below under Student Consequences for Unexcused Absences. Absences that meet this threshold as defined above will require a doctor’s note. If doctor’s notes are not provided, absences will be marked as unexcused.
Reasons for acceptable absences include but are not limited to:
• Illness of student
• Major illness in the immediate family of the student (immediate family is determined as parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, legal guardians or persons “in loco parentis,” or a member of one’s own household)
• Death in the immediate family of the student
• Religious holiday of the student’s faith (including Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Epiphany, etc.)
• Religious instruction (including Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, etc.)
• Religious institutes, conferences, or workshops, provided that the principal or designee approves the absence in advance
• Absences for trips or other parental requests o Requests must be approved at least one (1) week in advance
• In-school or out-of-school suspension
• Subpoena or forced absence by any law enforcement agency, a copy of the subpoena or court summons must be submitted to the school
• For purposes of attendance, school related activities would not be counted as absences from school.
• Issues and occasions specific to military families
To Excuse an Absence
For your convenience, you may use the link below. Please send in a note or report using the link. Phone calls do not meet the requirement of the Student Code of Conduct.
Student Consequences for Unexcused Absences
At the secondary level, attendance is marked per period. If a student has at least five (5) unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, in any one course within a calendar month or ten (10) unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, in any one course within a semester, the student may lose privileges as described below:
Loss of Privileges Due to Unexcused Absences
• May be excluded from attendance reward incentives as defined at the school level.
• Lose the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities. These include but are not limited to dances, special events, club activities and athletics, until the end of the following grading quarter.
Absences accumulated in the fourth quarter will result in loss of privileges during said grading quarter only and will not carry over to the following year.
• Lose the privilege to drive to campus until the end of the following grading quarter. Absences accumulated in the fourth quarter will result in loss of privileges during said grading quarter only and will not carry over to the following year.
The principal or designee may review extenuating circumstances resulting in a loss of privilege(s). The principal’s decision is final. Principal review is only intended to reinstate privileges that have been lost as described above.
Attendance Appeals
If your student is deemed ineligible due to unexcused absences, many factors are considered including:
- GPA
- Current Grades
- Behavior
- Tardies
- Total number of periods missed
- Parent notes/Medical notes/Legal notes (we do not go back more than 3 days to excuse an absence, however, providing notes is considered in the appeal.)
Appeal forms are available in the main office.
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY APPLICATIONS
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have a 3.2 unweighted GPA have already been emailed an application invitation to apply to NHS. These applications are due back to Mrs. Salter (emailed or hand delivered) no later than 2pm on January 26th. (Students should click on the Outlook icon in their PascoConnect account to view their school email.)
Common Learning Test (CLT)
The CLT is a test now available for students to reach their concordant score and meet their graduation requirement. If your student has not passed their required ELA or Algebra test, please have them see their counselor regarding this opportunity. We will continue to offer as may opportunities for students to meet these requirements.
Students who have taken the Classic Learning Test (CLT), please see Mr. Walensky with your scores to ensure that you are properly on or off the upcoming testing rosters.
Extended School Day (ESD)/Test Prep/Tutoring
ESD is for students who need to recover a semester course failure to get back on track for graduation. Many course are offered in the ESD program, please know that not every course a student fails is offered in ESD. ESD occurs every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:15PM-4:15PM and transportation is not provided. Students will need to be picked up each day at 4:15PM. Students can also attend math tutoring in room 132 on these days. Bootcamps for students needing to pass the FAST assessment or earn a concordant to meet graduation requirements may also attend for test preparation. We also offer Math tutoring every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:15PM-3:15PM through Extended School Day, see you grade level administrator if you need help. If you are interested in your students attending ESD to recover a failed semester course, please reach out to your grade level administrator.
Boys and Girls Tennis Try-outs
Boys and Girls tennis will start conditioning after school on Wednesday, January 10 from 1:45pm to 315pm. You must have all athletic paperwork uploaded into athleticclearance.com in order to participate. Please see Coach Mumaw for assistance. Paperwork is available at https://wesleychapelathletics.com/athletic-paperwork/
See Coach Colding in PE if you have questions or email: bcolding@pasco.k12.fl.us
Wildcat Reading Challenge
Senior Cap and Gowns
Reminder Seniors! Please complete the MachForm about diplomas, caps, and gowns. Please use the link below to complete the MachForm.
Yearbook Sales
Yearbooks are $90 and can be purchased through the school's student quick pay option (https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/) or through our publisher's site (www.yearbookforever.com). If you want to order any special extras, such as a name and/or icons stamped onto the cover or extra autograph pages, you must make your entire purchase through our publisher's site. The deadline to order your yearbook is January 23, 2024. The only way to guarantee you get a yearbook is to order it by this date. We usually do not receive extra books.
We have THREE dates for PHSC applications in the Spring. Our PHSC advisor will come out and guide us through the PHSC application from start to submission. Students only need to sign up for one of the sessions below. They will need to bring a Social Security number and the Florida Residency form: https://admissions.phsc.edu/sites/default/files/documents/2023-residency-classification.pdf
All students are considered "dependent" and residency is established by one parent and that parent's documents. Please fill out, print, and bring to the application session.
FAFSA COMING SOON! FINANCIAL AID GRANTS AND LOANS!
The 2024-25 FAFSA is opening soon!
The FAFSA helps students pay for college through federally funded grants and loans. All families should complete this free application to see the types of aid for which they may qualify. The 2024-25 FAFSA offers potential funding for Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025. If a student will be starting college coursework in the summer, they should ALSO fill out the 2023-24 FAFSA to cover the Summer 2024 semester. The 23-24 FAFSA is open now, and the 24-25 FAFSA is slated to open by December 31.
Applications are available at FAFSA.gov. The student and one parent will first create their FSA IDs and then they will be directed to the FAFSA form. FAFSA offers a robust Help Center with frequently asked questions, online chat, and a toll-free number to speak with FAFSA representatives (1-800-433-3243). All of this is available at the FAFSA.gov website. In addition, the FAFSA YouTube channel includes many how-to videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/FederalStudentAid
Wesley Chapel High School will offer a Financial Aid Night on January 30th at 6 pm in the cafeteria for any students and parents who would like to attend. A PHSC Financial Aid Advisor will be hosting the presentation.
Please reach out to Mrs. Faysash with any questions.
BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION OPEN FOR SENIORS!
The Bright Futures Scholarship application is now open for the Class of 2024! Please complete this as soon as possible. You do not need to have met the requirements to complete the application. This application will allow me to track your progress and also let the State know you would like to be evaluated throughout the year for eligibility. This is a very short application and will take about 10 minutes to complete.
Several other scholarships are included in this Florida Financial Aid Application including First Generation Matching Grants, Hispanic Scholars, and the 100% Military Disability Scholarship for those with parents deemed 100% disabled from military service.
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPHome/SAPHome?url=home
Dual Enrollment Textbooks
Fall textbook drop off and Spring Dual Enrollment textbook pick-up dates have been set. Please visit the Pasco DE website and click here to view the textbook information . The pre-order machform will be available from November 27th through December 15th.
Wesley Chapel High School Clubs
Testing Central
WCHS COLLEGE AND CAREER S'MORE
Are you College and Career Ready? Check out Mrs. Faysash’s Smore for events, scholarships, and planning resources for all grade levels!
Free SAT prep available through Khan Academy
Stay in the know, never miss an activity
WCHS ABC Program
If your family needs supports or has any needs from the WCHS ABC program, please fill out the following form. If you would like more information about the ABC program, the flyer is attached and/or call the front office, 813-794-8702.
Advertising Opportunity for Local Businesses (Please make sure you are dealing with a WCHS staff member. We have had a few local businesses give money to an outside company not affiliated with Wesley Chapel High School.)
District School Board of Pasco County Intent to Advertise
Need more customers? Advertise with WCHS! Each year thousands of people come to events on our campus and see advertisements for local businesses. This is an opportunity to get affordable advertising and help out the students of WCHS. Banners are printed by the school using your artwork with several sponsorship options. The term of the advertisement is one full year.
Please make sure you are dealing with a WCHS staff member. We have had a few local businesses give money to an outside company not affiliated with Wesley Chapel High School.If you have any questions, please reach out to the Assistant Principal over Athletics, Mr. Emperator at aemperat@pasco.k12.fl.us or call the school at 813-794-8700.
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Wesley Chapel High School
School Information
Principal:
Mr. Matt McDermott
30651 Wells Road
Wesley Chapel, FL 33545
Phone: (813) 794-8700
(352) 794-8700
Fax: (813) 794-8791
Office Hours:
M-F 7:00AM – 3:30 PM
Website: https://wchs.pasco.k12.fl.us/
Location: 30651 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel, FL, USA
Phone: 813-794-8700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildcat.pride.63
Twitter: @WCHS_Wildcats