The Westlake Update
The Westlake Update, Vol 3, February 20 - 27, 2021
Westlake High School
#OperationA
#OneWestake
Email: adamsji@fultonschools.org
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/westlakehs
Location: 2400 Union Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, USA
Phone: 470.254.6400
Week at a Glance
Superintendent Mike Looney reported the number of cases in Fulton County recently has been on the decline. Research continues to build that COVID-19, as it relates to schools, can be successfully managed through mitigation strategies such as promoting behaviors that reduce COVID-19’s spread, maintaining healthy environments, maintaining healthy operations, and preparing for when someone gets sick. These strategies, as well as others already in place in Fulton County Schools, are in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control’s new guidelines released February 12; however, FCS will continue to review the CDC’s recommendations closely and determine what adjustments, if any, will be necessary to our protocols.
As we approach the midterm of the second semester, FCS is requesting parents make a commitment for how they wish their child to learn – face-to-face instruction vs remote learning – for the remainder of the school year. The last 9-week period begins in March and runs until the end of the semester. No action is needed if parents are satisfied with their child’s current learning environment, and only those who wish to change should contact student services between March 1-12. The student’s learning group will remain the same as it stood on March 1, unless we are notified by the parent/guardian.
Friday, February 26 at 3:00 pm, there will be a junior student class meeting with the principal via Microsoft Teams. Monday, March 1 there will be a junior parent meeting with the principal via Microsoft Teams. Microsoft meeting links are forthcoming.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me at adamsji@fultonschools.org.
Kind Regards,
Jarvis I Adams, Principal
Posse Scholar Finalist
Senior Spotlight
JROTC Cadet of the Week
Cadet Hen’Vontaye Williams is a Westlake High School Senior and has been a part of the JROTC program for four years. Cadet Williams escorted an emerging Freshman and her mother around the school. His knowledge of the building, it’s various physical and educational areas was informative and nuanced.
Cadet Williams mentored underclassmen in all areas of this week’s area of focus. He has also led through personal example in principle and action. Cadet Williams has received acceptance letters from the following institutions: Albany State, Alabama State, and Northern Vermont among others. To date, he has earned more than $14,500.
PBIS Student of the Week
Assistant Athletic Director - Dr. Ashley Clark (clarkam@fultonschools.org)
This week in Sports
All Westlake home athletic events are limited to 2 guests per athlete.
Please stay connected with Westlake Athletics by visiting our website https://westlakelionsathletics.com/ and following us on twitter @WestlakeSports1.
Congratulations Coach Hankerson and Coach Rogers!!
Please join me in congratulating the 2020 – 2021 Region 4-6A Coaches of the Year: Coach Hilda Hankerson and Coach Darron Rogers. Both coaches are committed to excellence and set standards above the impact of any adversities. CONGRATULATIONS, Coach Rogers and Coach Hankerson!!!!
Congratulations Westlake Football - Lifter of the Week
College Virtual Visits (Update below)
For additional information about college visits, contact:
Breaking Into the Business with WearBrims - Part 2
At the end of the semester, one lucky student will get the opportunity to become a summer intern with WearBrims and also win a book scholarship for college.
If you are interested in participating in these workshops, please email Mr. Sean Moore at moores2@fultonschools.org for the meeting link.
Financial Aid Night with GA Futures
Westlake High School will be hosting a virtual Financial Aid Night for our Seniors and Juniors on February 24th at 6:00 PM. This meeting will take place on Microsoft Teams. Our friends at GA Futures will be on the meeting call to answer all Financial Aid questions that you may have regarding financial aid and college. Our personal GA Futures representative Adrienne Langford will be there to assist you. For more information about GA Futures please visit their website at https://www.gafutures.org/.
Ga Futures Financial Aid Night
- 02/24/21
- 6PM
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021, 06:00 PM
undefined
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Athlete of the Week
Counseling Corner
Counselors
Dr. Owens, last names A-Da
Mrs. Crawford, last names Db-I
Ms. Harrison, last names J-O
Mrs. Jackson, (Department Chair) last names O-Se
Mrs. Perry, last names Sf-Z
Mrs. McAdoo, Magnet/IB
10th and 11th Grade Presentations
10th Grade – Getting Ready for Junior Year
When: February 24th @ 12:00
Topics to be discussed:
· Dual Enrollment
· Naviance
· SAT/ACT Test
· Junior Year Timeline
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
11th Grade – Preparing for Senior Year
When: February 24th @ 11:00
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Topics to be discussed:
· Graduation Requirement
· Junior Year Timeline
· Naviance
· Ordering a Transcript
· What are colleges looking for in a successful applicant?
· Dual Enrollment
College Board Virtual College Fair
College Board is hosting virtual events for high school students to connect directly with college admissions representatives and take action on the most important steps for college. Find a list of participating colleges for each fair below.
BigFuture Days Southeast, Tuesday, 2/23, 5:00-9:00 PM ET/2:00-6:00 PM PT
BigFuture Days Northeast, Sunday, 3/7, 4:00-8:00 PM ET/1:00-5:00 PM PT
BigFuture Days Midwest, Thursday, 3/11, 5:00-9:00 PM ET/2:00-6:00 PM PT
Tips for Success with Virtual Learning
Students can focus on the following strategies to improve their online learning:
1. Communicate with your teacher. When students build a relationship with their teacher, they have the opportunity to ask for help and provide meaningful feedback to the instructor. Asking for help and support is a common desire among online students. According to an Online Learning Journal article, “online learners want instructors who support, listen to, and communicate with them.” Don’t be afraid to raise a virtual hand!
2. Engage with classmates. Staring into a camera screen instead of sitting next to classmates does not feel the same. Researchers have found that a sociable learning environment results in increased learning satisfaction. When students ask a question or share content on a discussion board, try to engage and create a dialogue. Working alone can lead to social isolation.
3. Stay focused during class. During this time of unwelcomed change, people may feel more distracted and less focused on learning. If the mind wanders, students miss essential content. Research indicates that “students do believe that mind-wandering can undermine their learning. Students might also consider extension browsers to block distracting content or leaving their phones in another room.
4. Reward yourself! Rewards can help students maintain motivation and morale. When students are extrinsically motivated, they might engage in an activity to attain a reward, avoid a punishment, or achieve a valued outcome.
NAVIANCE
We want to remind you that all students in Fulton County Schools now have access to Naviance, which can be accessed through ClassLink. Starting this year, Westlake will be using Naviance to process and submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other college application documents.
This year as you begin your senior year, we strongly encourage you to visit Naviance to research colleges, careers, and scholarships! After doing your research and once you compile a list of colleges you are applying to you will find that different colleges will require you to apply using different platforms. Below you will find a list of the most common platforms colleges use to have their students apply:
- Common App: https://www.commonapp.org/
- Coalition https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/
- GaFutures https://www.gafutures.org/college-planning/
- Common Black College Application https://commonblackcollegeapp.com/
- Individual College Application
Important Changes to Common Application and requesting letters of recommendation: For Common Application, once you create your account, we ask that you NOT invite any teachers or counselors to write letters of recommendation through Common App until after you match your Common App account with your Naviance account. Requesting letters of recommendation in Common App before matching your Naviance account will create errors. Therefore, please hold off on requesting recommendations until after you match your accounts. To learn more about this process, you can watch the Common App Matching video: https://www.screencast.com/t/gxEQkElyo1. Once you match Common App to Naviance, you will then be able to request transcripts and teacher recommendations in Naviance Student.
These videos will help you understand this process better: ·
- Common App Matching: https://www.screencast.com/t/gxEQkElyo1
- Students Requesting Transcripts: https://www.screencast.com/t/Bk6kjS5ySK
- Requesting Letters of Recommendation: https://www.screencast.com/t/VD4X5XiMU
- Naviance Overview Video https://www.screencast.com/t/I4G09d3MlI
We hope that you will find these resources helpful. If you have any questions about Naviance Student and the college application process, please contact your assigned counselor.
Black History Spirit Week In Review
SEL Home Connections
Students have many different relationships in their lives including family members, friends, classmates, and teammates. Developing social skills includes building and maintaining relationships between different groups of people.
Talk to your teen about healthy relationships. This can include familial relationships, as well as peer relationships. Ask your teen if he or she has ever felt excluded or lonely. Listen to your teen’s experience and then work together to see how 1) knowing yourself, 2) including others, 3) speaking out, and 4) standing up for yourself can help your student form authentic connections with a healthy social group. Share your own experiences with social groups as a teen and any experiences where your social groups made you feel lonely or like you had to ‘fit in.’ Model healthy peer relationships for your teen and emphasize that everyone has the right to feel safe and comfortable.
Knowing the different relationships your teen has and the characteristics of each relationship will help your teen advocate for his or herself and invest time and energy into healthy and supportive peer groups.
Parent Tip of the Week
Demonstrate and maintain a positive attitude about education to your child(ren). What we say and do in our daily lives can help them to develop positive attitudes toward school and learning and helps them to build confidence in themselves as learners. Modeling that you value education ultimately contributes greatly to their success in school.
By showing interest in your child(ren)'s education, you can help them see that learning can be fun, rewarding, and worth the hard work!