The Warrior
Washington High School Newsletter
Mission: To Develop Lifelong Learners To Succeed In A Changing World
Newsletter Date:
December 2020
Principal Comments
Holiday Greetings! As we head into December there is much to be excited for including the holiday break. It also means we are nearing the end of 1st Semester. As a school we are trying to ensure students head into break in good standing in all of their classes. We will be adding a 45 minute intervention period to each Wednesday in the month of December. This period is aimed at providing time within the school day for students to make up missing tests, quizzes, and assignments and work one-on-one with any of their teachers. First semester ends on January 14th and semester exams (which account for 15% of a student’s final grade) will be administered on the 13th and 14th of January. Parents and students, please partner with us in ensuring you finish the semester strong. By staying on top of your academics now, you will ensure you graduate on time; you will be academically eligible to participate in activities; and you will have a memorable school year!
This year there has been a change to the Semester Test schedule. It is aimed at providing a more brain friendly testing environment for students. Two notable changes are that school will start at the normal time, 8:10 am and there will be a 30 minute lunch break between their second and third test. We will provide all students with a sack lunch. We are hoping this break will allow students to rest their brains and the food will help re-energize them.
We want all of our students to experience the four core values of the WHS Circle of Courage: Belonging, Independence, Mastery, and Generosity. This month we would like to highlight the generosity of the WHS community. Throughout this fall semester, students have continued to find ways to give back to their community. Members of the BSU volunteered at Anne Sullivan over their lunch hour to read with and play math games with our future Warriors. Our young Dems and Young Republicans clubs held a dash for cash which raised over $1300 and provided over 26 families with a $50 gift card to purchase a meal for Thanksgiving. WHS is committed to providing opportunities for our students to give back to the community and our students are outstanding volunteers! We are also thankful to the generous donations of our Warrior Alumni who continue to support our Warriors in a variety of ways from near and far. It is always a great day to be a Warrior!
Thank you to the Washington High School Community for continuing to work with us embrace the tradition and strengthen the legacy of Washington High School. Washington High School is a great place to gain an education!
Go Warriors.
Kari Papke, Principal
Superintendent Message
Challenges Spark Opportunities
By Dr. Jane Stavem, Superintendent
Every day we are faced with the possibility that every word spoken, and every action taken will be scrutinized through a political lens. While it is the right of every American to choose how they align their values, and with whom, it is also imperative that every citizen respects the rights of their neighbors to the same degree they value their own.
While our nation and the media continue to dissect the news of the day and the actions of those in power, your public schools are a place where we will continue to encourage diversity of thought and unity between people above divisiveness.
This year, we chose the theme of #together to characterize those values. As we face the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, we are stronger when we are #together, encouraging one another, serving each other, and caring for students. As we see the needs of our country and community, we are better when we seek to understand all viewpoints and choose to work #together for the common good.
Every day in our Sioux Falls classrooms, teachers are delivering meaningful lessons in the core content areas, in the arts, and in the subjects that teach students how to analyze and express their own ideas and viewpoints. As we teach the mathematical principles of Pythagorean Theory and the difference between a noun and a verb, we are also developing independent thinkers and the leaders of tomorrow. These lessons help students weigh information from many sources and use critical thinking skills to make important decisions throughout their lives.
As I meet with students across the district, I am continually encouraged and uplifted. They believe in the power of listening to others, understanding and building on the ideas of their peers to make things better, and respecting the value of diversity and the importance of inclusion. I believe if we invest well in these leaders of tomorrow, we have a brilliant future ahead for both Sioux Falls and our country.
These are challenging times, and from challenges come opportunities – in politics, in learning, and in life. Each day is a new opportunity in your public schools, and we are grateful for every moment we spend with your child, supporting them as they grow into a unique individual who will bring their gifts and talents to shape the future.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The South Dakota World Language Association is pleased to announce that Britt Samson is the 2020 recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award.
Congratulations to Britt Samson!
CLOTH MASKS GIVEN TO EACH STUDENT ON NOVEMBER 30TH
CONGRATULATIONS WHS DEBATE
Catherine Liu
Riley Nold
Katherine Escalante
DECEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
2021-2022 Online Open Enrollment Information
The District will begin accepting open enrollment applications for the 2021-22 school year on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 7:30am.
NEW THIS YEAR: There is no need to stand in line. The District has developed an online portal to take applications. More information can be found at the following webpage: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/parents/school-registration-enrollment-bussing/open-enrollment-procedures-application.
The link is not currently available. It will be active at 7:30am Tuesday, December 1, 2020.
Applications will also be accepted at the Instructional Planning Center, 201 E. 38th Street starting at 7:30am on December 1.
All applications, both online and in person, will be accepted in date and timestamp order.
NOW changes format for 2020-21 school year
Some of you may have missed seeing the daily WHS newspaper, The NOW. Changes took place this year when I was asked to assume the duties of both the school newspaper and the school yearbook. As you might imagine, both of these are big jobs, so something had to give. With teacher Jason Lueth’s blessing, I made the decision to move to a monthly publication so that both the students and I would be able to produce both publications.
Our plan is to publish papers in November and December, and then resume publication with the February issue. I hope that you enjoy the variety of stories and topics. The students have done a great job and have made the transition a smooth one.
Happy reading!
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:
SENIOR CLASS PHOTOS
SENIORS – Submit a senior class photo taken by a professional or personal photographer for the SENIOR SECTION OF THE YEARBOOK by Dec. 22, 2020 or your student ID photo will be used.
Specifications follow:
- Tasteful poses with school appropriate clothing and makeup will be published. No hats or other head coverings, sunglasses, low cut tops or muscle shirts accepted. You are responsible to check your email to see if we have asked for a new picture.
- In recent years we have accepted a variety of poses. If the picture is not a head and shoulder shot, we reserved the right to crop as needed to fit the specifications of our layout.
- Goofy ID pictures MUST be replaced, or the student will not be in the yearbook.
- Photo size: please send a jpg file that is 1-2 MB in size.
- Photos without enough resolution cannot be published. Be sure to check this before you submit the picture.
Nearly all photos downloaded from an internet site will not have enough resolution to be publish in print form. Please be sure to send the original digital file taken with the camera. We CANNOT use low resolution photos due to publisher specifications. Your ID pic will be used if you do not send in a file that does not comply with these requirements.
The Warrior staff reserves the right not to accept senior photos that do not meet the above specifications. Email a jpeg file to SFSDWHSYearbook@k12.sd.us or drop off a wallet-sized photo to Student Services or the Journalism Lab (A133-4) by Dec. 22, 2020. We will begin monitoring this email account in December.
SEMESTER TEST DAY SCHEDULE CHANGE
The Sioux Falls School Board approved a plan to eliminate the early start/early dismissal schedule on semester test days at the high schools. The change was brought forth by high school principals, with input from teachers, parents, and students. The District’s Calendar Committee, representing all employee groups, supported this decision, and it was unanimously passed by the School Board.
This means January 13 and 14, 2021 will follow the normal start of the day and end of the day times. The testing schedules for each day will be set by the principals and communicated to families. There will not be a 7:30am or 12:30pm dismissal on those days. The same is true for May 24 and 25, 2021, which will also follow normal start and end of the day times.
Yearbook Information
The 2020 yearbooks have arrived. Graduates can pick up their yearbook at Student Services. There are a limited number of 2020 yearbooks still available to purchase. If you are interested please contact Cindy Heckenlaible at: cindy.heckenlaible@k12.sd.us.
The 2021 yearbook can be purchased at: www.jostens.com.
All senior pictures are due by December 22nd.
CHECK OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LIBRARY
IT'S COLD OUTSIDE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL!
As the days get shorter and the weather turns colder, please remember that students are not allowed in the building before 7:50 AM. Breakfast is served AT 7:45 am on Monday and 7:30 AM Tuesday - Friday. If a student is required to be in the building before 7:50 AM (making up a test with a teacher), students need to sign in at the Welcome Window to be recorded for health tracking purposes. Please stay where it is a warm and safe atmosphere before the school opens at 7:50 AM. Thanks for your cooperation.
WINTER ACTIVITIES PLAN
Sioux Falls School District Families –
Last week, the Sioux Falls School Board acknowledged the recommendation for continued operating of activities in Tier 3 of the District’s Return to Play for Activities plan. These guidelines and protocols have provided the opportunity for safety at activities and ultimately support the primary goal of continuing a traditional school setting in the Sioux Falls School District. The Activities Department’s top priority is, and will be, the health and safety of our student participants, staff, and spectators as we continue to provide activities for the 2020-2021 school year.
Under the Tier 3 Return to Play plan:
• Events will be made available in digital format when possible. All Spectators will be highly encouraged to watch the live stream for these events when offered.
• High School Students are welcome to attend. If a Sioux Falls School District High School Student wishes to attend events they will be required to purchase an activity symbol to be printed on their student ID. The student ID with the printed activity symbol, admits one, the bearer, to all SFSD regular season athletic contests. This type of pass is secured at the respective high school’s activities office.
• Adult, 0 to Pre-Kindergarten aged Children, Elementary and Middle School will have restrictions on who may or may not attend.
If you have specific questions pertaining to this plan, visit our frequently ask question’s document (Specified Event Attendance FAQ Sheet), submit your question or comment on our athletics website or contact your respective school’s activities principal/athletic coordinator.
For more information, please see the links below:
SFSD Return to Play for Activities (Winter Activities) - Click Here
SFSD COVID-19 High School Spectator Plan (Winter Activities) - Click Here
SFSD COVID-19 Middle School Spectator Plan (Winter Activities) - Click Here
SFSD Athletic Webpage
We encourage you to visit the Sioux Falls School District Athletic website at https://sfsdathletics.k12.sd.us. The site is a one stop shop for forms, answers you are seeking and contact information you need. Find also: activity calendars, coaches information, live stream links, student/parent resources and much more.
THE WARRIOR ZONE'S DECEMBER "DEAL OF THE MONTH"
The Warrior Zone’s December “Deal of the Month” is 25% off all WHS headwear items. WHS headwear includes baseball hats, trucker hats, bucket hats, stocking caps and beanies. You can view the headwear items and all the rest of our products at www.whswarriorzone.weebly.com
WHS BOOSTER CLUB
Contact us
Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/washington/home
Location: 501 N. Sycamore Sioux Falls SD, 57110
Phone: (605) 367-7970