Falcon Focus
May 21, 2021
From Mr. Biscan
Dear Falcon Families,
I hope everyone is safe and well as we enter a time of honoring and celebrating the Class of 2021. Several events are planned for our seniors with the kickoff beginning this evening with our National Honor Society Induction. While our seniors have had a different senior year from past classes, this is an experience that is unique to them and they will always have this connection as they venture forward.
Our staff is working with all of our students to make sure that the conclusion of their academic year is successful and helps them build toward future learning. I appreciate the collaborative efforts of everyone to make this a positive school year.
The flurry of co-curricular activities occurring is great to see. Many of our students flourish and develop important skills in the various teams, clubs, and activities in which they participate. It's also important to recognize the students who have jobs during the school year and work to manage the various responsibilities associated with work and school.
I'm proud of our Wheaton North community as we work to finish strong.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Mr. Biscan, Principal
We are Falcons. We are Proud. We are North
From the Desk of Mr. Venckus, Assistant Principal of Student Services
Seniors with Perfect Attendance
If you think your senior has perfect attendance (has not missed a full day of school in four years at Wheaton North), please have him/her contact Mr. Venckus in the Deans’ Office. If this is the case, we want to make sure that we recognize him/her at our Senior Honors Assembly on May 28.
Student Parking for Next Year’s Seniors
As we have done in previous years before COVID-19, we will fill our campus student parking spots with seniors first. If spots remain thereafter, we will conduct a lottery for juniors who are interested sometime in September.
For this year’s juniors interested in parking on campus next year, please visit our website to see next year’s student parking information. The application process requires completing the application, submitting the $150 annual parking fee (cash or check made payable to WNHS), and showing your current student ID and valid driver's license to the Deans’ Office. Please contact Mrs. Andersen (sherri.andersen@cusd200.org, 630-784-7335) with any questions.
TCD (Technology Center of DuPage) Students
TCD’s last day of school is today, Friday, May 21. Starting Monday, May 24, TCD students will only need to attend their Wheaton North classes. They will not have to be in the building before their first class. Students who ride buses will be assigned to a quiet study hall in the library until their first class each day.
Face Masks
We continue to remind our students and staff of their responsibility in keeping us safe during this time. One non-negotiable mitigation strategy is by wearing face masks properly by covering mouths and noses at all times. The only exception to this is when eating lunch. This is an Illinois Department of Public Health requirement and District 200 Board Policy. Thank you for reminding your students of this.
Surveillance Testing
A-cohort students will continue to submit their samples on Thursdays, and B and C-cohort students on Tuesdays. All samples must be collected at home and brought to school and deposited no later than 11:00 a.m. in the bins located inside the main entrance (Door 1), the bus doors (Door 34), or the back of the building/student parking lot doors (Door 16).
The last round of tests were distributed to students during their lunches last week. Students who don’t have them can pick them up from the Deans’ Office Monday through Friday, anytime between 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Please contact Mrs. Andersen (sherri.andersen@cusd200.org, 630-784-7335) if you would like your student to no longer participate.
From the Desk of Mrs. Ellett, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction
This summer, Wheaton North will be offering a few support classes for our incoming freshmen to help ease their transition to high school. Please access this Summer Support Classes
document for more information and to register!
From the Desk of Dr. Pavlini, Assistant Principal of Support and Enrichment
Pass/Fail Option - 2nd Semester
This semester students may request to have their course grade recorded as a “Pass/Fail” rather than a letter grade. If a student earns a Passing grade (60%), it will appear as a “P” on the transcript and will not be factored into GPA, but credit will be issued. Students who are considering this option and have questions, can connect with their counselor to see if this is the appropriate choice for them. Of course, parents/guardians are also welcome to reach out to counselors with any questions as well. Students can request the pass option via the Counseling Department Homepage or their individual counselor’s Google Classroom. Please see below for the Pass / Fail request window timeline, making note of the differing close dates as they relate to grade-level.
PASS Option Open to Students
SENIORS: Closed
GRADES 9-11: May 10 - May 28
From the World Languages Department – Congratulations!
In April, we administered an online language proficiency test giving students the opportunity to earn the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy. By receiving a passing score, students demonstrate advanced proficiency in English and another language. This year, we had 37 WN students, representing three different languages, earn the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy! The Seal will be added to their diploma and noted on their transcript. These students are also eligible to receive college credit (between 4 and 8 credits) from any public university in Illinois.
The 2021 Wheaton North Student Art Show
You are invited to this year’s Student Art Show, which is posted virtually in 2 formats. It is a long standing tradition at WN to showcase our students and the beautiful artwork that they have created in a variety of different media.
This year, we are pleased to present a Senior Students Show, featuring the work that many of our graduating seniors have done in multiple fine arts courses, and our Student Art Show featuring students of the classes of 2022-2024.
Please visit the Wheaton North Art Shows with the clickable links below. Recognition for outstanding senior art students will be announced on Friday, May 28 at the Senior Honors Assembly.
Congratulations to all our students who have participated in this gallery of creative work.
Food Services Account Refund/Transfer
If your student will be graduating or leaving CUSD 200 at the end of the 2020-2021 school year and has a credit balance in his/her meal account, you may request a refund or a transfer to a sibling’s account, provided that your student has no outstanding student fees. The deadline for such requests is December 31, 2021. Please use this link to request a refund or transfer.
If your student has any outstanding student fees, you may request to apply your student’s meal account balance toward those fees using this link. Any remaining meal account balance can be refunded or transferred after student fees have been settled.
From the LLC
SENIOR RETURNS
Congratulations, Seniors! Senior book and technology returns will take place at the Senior Picnic on May 26 but early returns are always welcome. Seniors should gather all textbooks, library books, English class novels, musical keyboards, calculators, Macbooks, Chromebooks, charging cords, and styluses for return. A list of the materials seniors have checked out has been emailed to them by Mrs. Pigoni. Any lost or damaged books or technology will incur a fee. Students who need materials for AP exams taken after May 26 may do so. Please contact Mrs. Pigoni in the LLC with any questions.
GRADES 9 - 11
Students in grades 9 - 11 who are returning to North in the fall will keep their Chromebooks over the summer. All books, musical keyboards, and Macbooks must be returned by the last day of school. Material return dates for Virtual Students will be posted in June. Please contact Mrs. Pigoni in the LLC with any questions.
SUMMER READING
The Wheaton North LLC encourages all students to take a break from the screen and read anything and everything they are interested in this summer! Students may check out books from the Wheaton North LLC as well as through our online platform, SORA all summer long. More information on how to find great books can be found on the LLC site.
Our Virtual Resource Center is Available to All Students -- ONLINE and Open Now!
Dear Falcon Families,
Is your student in need of extra help? If so, we have help available from both staff and students through our Virtual Resource Center!
For staff help during all lunch periods, please have your student access the Google Meet links here: Virtual Resource Center
For help from a peer tutor, please have your students access this student-created website (scan the QR code to access the website):
From the Health Office
Students entering 12th grade must show proof of having received a dose of Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4) on or after their 16th birthday. Proof of having received this vaccination is due in the Health Office by the first day of school.
Physical Exam and Immunization records may be dropped off in the Main Office at WNHS or emailed to: Wheatonnorthhealthoffice@cusd200.org
Please call the Health Office with any questions: 630-784-7327.
COVID Vaccination for Teens
They can sign up here: https://dupagecountyhealth.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aWvLTI8cITCzttA.
The Health Department is opening up appointments in much larger numbers now.
Attention: Students Registered for TCD for the 2021-2022 School Year
Any questions, contact Mrs. Biggs at wendy.biggs@cusd200.org or Jim Venckus at James.venckus@cusd200.org
Driver Education for the 2021-2022 School Year
Driver Education course placements for the 2021-2022 school year are being finalized this month. Driver Education will not be available to any families requesting a Virtual Academy placement for next school year, as in person Behind-the-Wheel and Simulation is required during the full semester. Please let Mrs. Wittersheim in the Counseling Office know if you will be providing medical documentation for your child to be approved for a Virtual Academy placement, and therefore need to have him/her withdrawn from a Driver Education course placement.
Student grades are also currently being checked to assist with final placement. All students enrolled in a Driver Education program must have passed 8 total classes in their last 2 consecutive semesters leading up to their Driver Education class enrollment. Students currently old enough to be placed in a 1st semester Driver Education class who requested it during Course Selection will be notified within the next 2 weeks of any current grade concerns that may jeopardize their class enrollment in the fall. We encourage students and parents to be checking emails dailly for any Driver Education communication.
Please contact Mrs. Wittersheim with your medical documentation or if you have any questions at Kimberly.Wittersheim@cusd200.org.
From the Counseling Department
General Announcements
Please follow the counseling department on Twitter @wncounseling for up-to-date information on a variety of topics from scheduling to scholarship information.
Students can request virtual meetings with their counselor via email or by calling their direct line.
CUSD200 High School Summer School
District 200 Summer Registration is now closed.
Questions? Please contact Jason Spencer, Innovation & Learning Coordinator at jason.spencer@cusd200.org (through Jun. 10) or Ian Smith, Director of HS Instruction at ian.smith@cusd200.org or (Jun. 10 - Aug 1.)
Class of 2021 - Graduation Requirement Reminder
If the below criteria is not met, students cannot be issued a diploma from Wheaton North High School.
Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, in addition to all other graduation requirements,
a student must meet one of the following requirements to receive a public school diploma. (Public Act 101-0180).
File a FAFSA Application; or
File an Application for State Financial Aid; or
File a waiver/opt out with the school district. (This should only be filled out if you do not intend to complete the FAFSA. Once completed, please download and email it to the counseling office secretary at: carolyn.switalski@cusd200.org
Nothing additional is needed to meet the graduation requirement. Once you file your FAFSA, the state reports back to WN that it is complete.
Class of 2021 - Final Transcript Information
The Senior Exit Survey is now open. This survey is used to send final transcripts to all colleges/universities, military branches and future employers. Please make sure your senior fills this out prior to the last day of school. If it is not filled out, a final transcript will not be sent. Detailed instructions can be found here.
Boys and Girls Tennis Summer Camp
Do you play tennis? Are you interested in learning how to play? Would you like to learn a sport that you can play for your whole life? The Wheaton North summer tennis camp runs for three weeks, from July 5 to July 23 and offers a total of three co-ed classes that range from 5th – 12th grade and cover all ability levels. The camp schedule is available at http://www.wnhs.org. Click on Athletics and then click on Summer Camps to see all of the summer camp options as well as information about the online registration via Family ID. https://www.cusd200.org/domain/3193
Any questions – email Coach Laird at eric.laird@cusd200.org
Class of 2022 - Senior Portraits
Information will be mailed to you by the middle of May with your appointment date and time.
Complete details can be found here.
School Yearbook Information
ALL STUDENTS
Interested in purchasing a 2020-2021 yearbook?
Interested in purchasing a 2019-2020 yearbook?
A very limited number of yearbooks are available for purchase starting October 1.
Yearbooks are $50.
These are first come, first serve and can be purchased through the WNHS Main Office in person.
Falcon WiNGS
Wheaton North Post-Promish is tomorrow night!- Saturday May 22
Please check the list one last time to see if we still need help! You can volunteer here, donate gift cards or send food or drinks! Thank you to everyone who has already donated or volunteered their time for this event.
Falcon Wear Sale In-Person Sale!
We will be having an outdoor end of the year sale on June 2 at Wheaton North between the field house and the football field starting at 4:00 pm. Stop on by to grab some new gear for the 2021-2022 school year! As always, you can purchase online any time. Simply go to http://www.wnfalconwings.org/falcon-wear.html to place your order. Delivery or pick up available! Every order for spiritwear helps our Falcons Fly!
Congratulations to our 2021 Scholarship Recipients
Ralph Heatherington Falcon Spirit Award
Sam Walhout
Morgan Fleming
Falcon WiNGS Scholarship
William Cankar
Elena Dansdill
Anna Huggins
Genna Carter
Graham Stephenson
Ellie Hubbard
Eleanor Quinn
Tyler Whelton
Emily Burnham
Amanda Hagen
Falcon WiNGS Scholarship sponsored by the WWPTA
Deven Rea
TJ Chabot
Madelyn Strasma
Julia Lonks
Grace Quinn
Elliana Hamsho
Eva Grein
Julia Nordstrom
Good luck to all Seniors in their future endeavors!
Thank you!
We would like to thank all the parents that have supported our Falcons this year either by volunteering your time to serve on the Falcon WiNGS, providing monetary donations, participating in fundraisers or purchasing Falcon Wear. Together, we work to help our Falcon’s Fly and we cannot wait to see everyone next year.