Willink Principal's Newsletter
Willink Titans CARE
Principal's Message
January 15, 2021
Hello Willink Families,
Please read below for some important information on course selection, exception weeks, and some thoughts on this weekend.
Course Selection
For our 8th graders and their families, CLICK HERE to view Titan Night information along with videos from our elective areas at the high school.
Course selection will open next Thursday, 1/21 and close on Friday, 1/29. Course selection will take place during homeroom but we hope that students and parents can discuss before making any selections. CLICK HERE to view course descriptions for Thomas HS.
Please also check your child's Portal "Backpack" this weekend to view course recommendations for their core area classes (English, Science, Social Studies, Math, and World Language). Backpacks should be updated by the end of the day tomorrow if not sooner.
Course selection for our 6th graders (Music and World Language) and our 7th graders (Music) will take place during homerooms the week of 1/25.
If you have any questions regarding course selection, please contact your child's counselor or call our counseling office at 670-1043.
Exception Wednesdays
For your planning purposes, please note the January schedule as it has some school day exceptions. Due to no school for students on 1/18 and 1/29, the final two Wednesdays in January will be in-person days for hybrid students and normal rotations for our remote learners. Please see the image below or CLICK HERE to view the full calendar.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY IS IN-PERSON FOR GROUP 2 STUDENTS!
MLK Weekend
As we head into this weekend, it goes without saying that there have been many moments during the past year when we have found ourselves at an intersection of curriculum and current events. I have been fortunate to have had conversations with many parents, students, and staff around how that will impact learning. During this time I've learned more about our beliefs, hopes, fears, and the general concern for the well being of our kids who have been thrust into both politics and pandemic.
These conversations have helped me continue to see how wonderfully diverse our community is and how much we can learn from each other's thoughts and experiences. They have also reaffirmed how important it is for our building to be a place where freedom of thought and expression are welcomed and everyone is valued.
Today I encouraged our students to think about Dr. King and why we celebrate his legacy this weekend. Regardless of politics or beliefs I hope we can all agree that "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
With that in mind, I hope you can feel the love from our Willink musicians whose folk, holiday and Irish music is included below. I hope you all have a happy and healthy holiday weekend in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior.
Take care,
-Brian.