Notes from Dr. Irvin
Your Weekly eNews for January 14
Hello Parents and Guardians,
I was so impressed by the shared experience and expressions shared tonight by our Webster Groves High School students in the Virtual Variety show. Many thanks to all our staff who directly work in visual and performing arts: Todd Schaefer, Alley Pettey, Jill Young, Jocelyn Reiss, Andrew Pulliam, Kevin Cole, Kevin Lowe, Tim Havis, Eric Dunn and Chay Turner. Their work shares the beauty, angst, and complexity of their lived experiences and artistic choices.
Orianna Foster captured the event and art in general: “Putting a piece of you into it, and its telling a story about you, and I think that is a really valuable thing to have and be able to share with other people.”
Our talented students have so much to say and share--I encourage you to watch the show.
In gratitude,
Matt Irvin
Virtual Talent Show Screenshots
Term 3 Schedule (begins Wednesday, January 20)
Celebrations
2021-2022 Course Requests are Due Tomorrow
As a reminder, the deadline for students to input their course requests for the 2021-2022 school year is Friday, January 15, 2021.
Helpful links to guide you:
Course Selection Forms by Grade Level
Course Offerings and Descriptions by Department
Directions for inputting requests in SIS student portal
Video tutorial for inputting course requests in SIS student portal
Please reach out to your child’s counselor if you have any questions.
Bus Service Update
Bus service will be provided again next semester, and if your student is already signed up, you are all set. If you would like to sign up for bus service, please email Leigh McKittrick at mckittrick.leigh@wgmail.org.
Cost for 2nd semester is as follows: $160 for a student that needs both to- and from-school transportation, and $80 for a student that just needs one-way transportation. Bus service is only provided in the PM session.
Payments can be made by check written to WGSD and mailed or brought to Mrs. McKittrick in Office 308.
If you have any other questions, please reach out to Leigh McKittrick: 918-4139.
Inclement Weather and School Closing Information
Communication
Should bad weather or other adverse conditions prompt us to consider closing schools, the District will make a decision as early as possible. Information will be available through the following outlets:
- Phone calls to all families through SchoolMessenger
- Local media: KMOV TV (Channel 4), KSDK TV (Channel 5), KTVI (Channel 2) and KMOX radio (AM 1120)
- District website www.webster.k12.mo.us
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WebsterGrovesSD
- Twitter @WebsterGrovesSD
Early Dismissal
The Webster Groves School District will consider closing schools early due to emerging weather and/or road conditions that will make it unsafe for children to be dismissed at the regular time. If school is dismissed early, all after school programs and activities, including Adventure Club, will be canceled. Non-district related events will also be canceled (ex: YMCA’s Hoopsters).
Transportation provided by First Student, the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation, and ZipCare will transport children home at dismissal.
Unless special circumstances exist, the high school will be dismissed at 12 p.m.
Delayed School Start Time
The Webster Groves School District will consider opening schools with a “late start” on inclement days when roads are expected to be cleared within a few hours. This option would keep children, families and staff off the roads during the busy morning rush hour. A late start would mean that all schools would open one hour and thirty minutes later than their usual start times. A quick breakfast would be available for students. Transportation provided by First Student, the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation, and ZipCare will be scheduled to pick up students one hour and thirty minutes later than their regular pick up times.
All schools and Adventure Club would close at their regular times.
WGHS Delayed Start Time:
Student Arrival Time: 9:10 a.m.
School Start Time: 9:25 a.m.
WGHS Term 3 Blended 4x4 Daily Schedule Delayed Start due to Inclement Weather
This schedule is only applicable in the event of an announcement by the district of an inclement weather delayed start.
Building opens at 9:10 a.m. for Morning Session
Building opens at 12:30 for Afternoon Session
Learning at WGHS
A Note from the Nurse
- Please keep your student home if notified they were exposed to COVID-19
- Please keep your student home if a COVID-19 test is pending in student or household member
- Please keep your student home if your student OR another member of your household, including siblings, is exhibiting symptoms that need to be verified as non-COVID-19 versus COVID-19.
Free Breakfast and Lunch Available for All WGSD Students
During in person learning and distance learning, Webster Groves Students will continue to have access to FREE breakfast and FREE lunch Monday-Friday.
Meals are available for pick-up at Webster Groves High School and home delivery. Students who have opted for in person learning, will be able choose their meal choice daily in the classroom.
For home delivery or meal pick up , please sign up using the below link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfH08CJCOJnb0mqz6Cg45vKq9mllDBcKBWFJWwbBoiM96s-9A/viewform?usp=pp_url .
Please contact us at pelant.nancy@wgmail.org with any questions.
Check out our menus at https://webster.nutrislice.com/ or download the Nutrislice app!
Did You Know?
Asynchronous learning time management is essential to your student's success. Please click on the document below for some great time management/study tips organized by the school’s Social Work Practicum Student, Michaela Mense. Also listed below are links to resources for at-home learning.
Counseling Department Updates
Second Semester Schedules
Second semester schedules are available for viewing in the student and parent portals. Students with errors in their schedule received an email to schedule a meeting with their counselor to make corrections. Please encourage your child to double check their schedule for accuracy and to reach out to their counselor with any questions prior to the start of second semester on January 20th.
2021-2022 Course Requests
As a reminder, the deadline for students to input their course requests for the 2021-2022 school year is next Friday, January 15, 2021.
Helpful links to guide you:
Course Selection Forms by Grade Level
Course Offerings and Descriptions by Department
Directions for inputting requests in SIS student portal
Video tutorial for inputting course requests in SIS student portal
Please reach out to your child’s counselor if you have any questions.
Upcoming College Admissions Testing
The ACT—Saturday, February 6, 2021
Register at www.act.org by next Friday, January 15th.
The SAT—Saturday, March 13, 2021
Register at www.sat.org by February 12, 2021.
As a reminder, all juniors will take the ACT at school on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Test fees are paid for by WGSD and no registration on your part is required.
Junior Post-High School Planning Conferences
Each January, juniors and their parents are invited to schedule one-on-one conferences with our College and Career Counselors to discuss their plans for after high school graduation. Thank you for your patience as we await confirmation about our second semester daily schedule prior to sending out invitations. We expect to send them out soon!
“The College Search” A Presentation for Juniors and Junior Parents-- Wednesday, February 10, 2021
During this program, WGHS College and Career Counselors and a panel of college admissions representatives will give juniors and their parents tips and advice on conducting their college search. Due to viewing limitations with a live Zoom, this will be a prerecorded presentation. A link will be shared on or before February 10th.
Scholarship Information for Seniors
Applications for the 2021 Webster Groves local scholarships are now available. Please visit our Counseling Webpage here for more information and instructions to apply. The deadline to apply for all local scholarships is February 16, 2021.
St. Louis Area Scholarship Search St. Louis Graduates Scholarship Central (Note: Many of these applications have not opened up yet so keep checking back.) This is also where you can apply for Interest Free Student Loans from Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis.
Where can you find other scholarships? There are a number of scholarship databases out there. While it can seem a little overwhelming, it can be very rewarding if you put some time into it.
National Scholarship Searches
Fastweb
College Board’s Big Future
Peterson’s
Unigo
Cappex
As a reminder, WGHS school counselors and social workers are working to support the academic, social and emotional, and post-secondary planning needs of our students. If you or your child are having difficulties or need assistance, please reach out to their counselor or social worker.
School Counselors
A-E Alex King (king.alexandra@wgmail.org)
F-K Ken Winingham (winingham.ken@wgmail.org)
L-R Joe Hepfinger (hepfinger.joe@wgmail.org)
S-Z Simone Cunningham (cunningham.simon@wgmail.org)
College and Career Counselors
A-K Karen Verstraete (verstraete.karen@wgmail.org)
L-Z Jennedy Lombard (lombard.jennedy@wgmail.org)
School Social Workers
Anne Gibbs (gibbs.anne@wgmail.org)
Anne Marie Guntli (SSD) (guntli.ann@wgmail.org)
Technology
For students or families having technology issues, please do the following:
- For specific Canvas issues, contact Ms. Liz Forderhase at forderhase.liz@wgmail.org or call her at 314.963.6400, ext. 11928.
- Below is a link to the technology support ticket system we are utilizing to help give our learners and families the most efficient system to help us keep track of technology support requests. Use this site to submit when you are having technology difficulties with your child's equipment/access/accounts/etc.
https://wgsd.on.spiceworks.com/portal
As always, you are welcome to contact us at 314.963.6400 for assistance.
Webster Groves High School
Email: erb.mickey@wgmail.org
Website: hs.webster.k12.mo.us
Location: 100 Selma Avenue, Webster Groves, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 963-6400
Facebook: facebook.com/WGAlumni
Twitter: @WebsterGrovesHS