Misinformation plagues our culture, which often leads to a general increase in anxiety and distress amongst the impacted community. We are not immune to this current contagion in our school setting, unfortunately.

There are, at times, social media traffic that is inaccurate and causes increased challenges. This most often blossoms when there is uninformed speculation and indirect or no conversation between parties. In the past, we have had concerns around school safety that were posted on social media but were never shared directly to the school or law enforcement. Absent directly sharing of information, we (WGHS and WGPD) were unable to take action on the legitimate concern.

In contrast, three times this week, I have had the opportunity to speak with parents that had disparate perspectives, broadly around school decisions. All three interactions gave us a greater understanding of the parents’ insights into the student and afforded us the chance to share more around where we aligned and differed. At Webster Groves High School, we hope that we work in the effort to promote clear, two-way communication that allows all parties to advance toward a shared understanding. Ultimately, our staff shows up every day to support students and those efforts are improved when we work in concert.

We are providing these guidelines to support consistency and efficiency in communication as we promote a healthy school environment. If you have a question or concern, please follow this communication protocol:

• September 1: Late ID pictures
• September 5: NO SCHOOL; Labor Day
• September 9: Fall Sports Assembly, 7th hour
• September 10: ACT Testing at WGHS

Monday, September 12 is our first late-start Monday.

A late-start schedule allows time for instructional staff to collaborate in Professional Learning Communities, or PLCs.

Extra time allotted for instructional staff is the only time teachers of the same course can meet in PLCs to provide a guaranteed viable curricular experience for students, which includes:

• Essential content and skills students need to know for a particular unit

• Common assessments to determine if students have mastered those essential skills

• Adjustment of instruction and design interventions to help students who need additional support, and they design enrichment opportunities for students who already have an understanding of certain concepts

In order to accommodate PLC time, we will have a late start on 16 days out of the school year. School will start at 9:40 a.m., and most periods will be 40 minutes on those scheduled dates. Instructional staff will meet with their PLCs from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., and the building will be open to students at 9:25 a.m.

Bus transportation will be modified to accommodate the new schedule. Parents who drop off their students before school should make arrangements to drop off at 9:25 a.m. or after. We currently will not schedule any before-school activities/meetings on the late-start days to allow staff time to meet.

Late-Start Supervision Program

Students who are enrolled in the Late-Start Supervision Program must enter through the Senior Entrance (main entrance on Selma) from 8:15 - 9:25 a.m. Students will be directed to and must stay in the following supervised areas: Library, Cafeteria, or PV Commons.

• The Echo Newspaper staff received a First Class Rating from the National Scholastic Press Association for its 2021-2022 Print Version. Along with the rating, the publication received Marks of Distinction in the areas of Coverage & Content, Text and Visuals. Just recently, Echo publications earned a First Place International Rating from Quill and Scroll for COMPREHENSIVE NEWS MULTIMEDIA.
• The 2021-22 Echo Yearbook, under the guidance of Amie Keane and Jocelyn Reiss, earned a Superior Rating from the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association (Formerly MIPA-MJEA).

• Thanks for all the support as we hope to implement our safety practices on campus. We will have more to come on our partnership on supporting a safe school culture and climate. I also have a request to further that end: a reminder that the east side of Selma is for bus and parent drop-off/pick-up only.
• When dropping off or picking up your student along Selma/Bradford Avenues, please be mindful of our students who are crossing the street. We have observed drivers’ not giving pedestrians the right of way, and we ask that you make Selma/Bradford Avenues a safe route for all. We also ask that you pull over to drop off or pick up your student. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

We recently sent communication to all 9th/10th grade families regarding our rollout of 1:1 technology. We are asking all freshmen/sophomore families to submit the WGHS 1:1 Technology Agreement at the links below:

9th Grade 1:1 Technology Agreement

10th Grade 1:1 Technology Agreement

CHROMEBOOKS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY MID-OCTOBER. THE SOONER YOU COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION FORMS, THE SOONER YOUR STUDENT CAN RECEIVE A CHROMEBOOK.

How to pay for your student's Chromebook insurance.

1. Go to https://webster.revtrak.net/wghs/#/list.
2. Click on “WGHS Chromebook Insurance” on the left side of the screen.
3. Fill out the information needed for your purchase. If you wish to donate an additional $22 for a student in need, be sure to add that donation to your cart as well.
4. Either log in or create an account through RevTrak to check out.
5. Once you place your order, you will receive an email receipt in the email you used to sign up.

PSAT Deadline is Approaching
The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT, is a practice version of the SAT college admissions exam. In addition to being a practice SAT, the PSAT serves as the qualifying test for juniors for the National Merit Scholarship program.

Test Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 8:30am-noon (students will be excused from class)
Fee: $20
Who is eligible?: Sophomores and Juniors
To register: visit www.TotalRegistration.net/PSAT/263573
Deadline to register: September 11, 2022

Dual Credit and Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Registration is Open!
Did you know that there are more than 30 classes at WGHS offering college credit for students? An email was sent to all students (and their parents) in qualifying classes earlier this week. If you missed it or just want to plan ahead, view this document for details. Pay special attention to the following deadlines:

· MO State Dual Credit: www.dualcredit.missouristate.edu (Deadline: 9/20/2022)

· UMSL Dual Credit: www.umsl.edu/acp (Deadline 9/13/2022)

· AP exams: https://TotalRegistration.net/AP/263573 AND https://myap.collegeboard.org/login (Deadline 11/11/2022)

College Admissions Representative Visits Start Soon
Juniors—are you ready to start learning about colleges? Seniors—do you have questions about the application process for schools on your list? College representatives will start visiting WGHS the week after Labor Day-November 1st. This is a great opportunity to hear from colleges all across the country in the comfort of your own school. A list of colleges visiting will be posted on our Counseling Department calendar, in Naviance, and shared in our daily announcements. Students should stop by the Counseling Center to sign up to meet with schools they are interested in and to receive a pass to be excused from class. Be sure to check the calendar regularly as visits are being updated daily.

US Military Academy Day on Saturday, September 17, 2022 9:30am-noon at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, MO

Representatives of the US Military Academy at West Point, the US Air Force Academy, the US Naval Academy, the US Merchant Marine Academy, and the US Coast Guard Academy will attend. RSVP with Donna Hickman at academyday22@mail.house.gov.

Save the Date!

Senior Parent Night and Financial Aid Presentation, Tuesday, September 13 in the Auditorium

(Students are welcome to join but will hear a similar presentation in their senior English class prior.)

• 6:00-6:45pm: The College Application Process (when, how, transcripts, letters of recommendations, etc.) with Jennedy Lombard and Karen Verstraete
• 6:45-7:30pm: Financial Aid presentation with Hannah Smith, Program Coordinator, Office of Financial Services at Saint Louis University

Junior Parent Night, Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00pm in the Auditorium

Junior parents! Please join Mrs. Lombard and Ms. Verstraete as we “kickoff” college planning for the Class of 2024. Topics will include: college admissions testing, a timeline for the college search and application process, tools for conducting your search and more! Students are always welcome to attend but will hear a similar presentation in their English class prior.

What is Camp Wyman?

Camp Wyman is an overnight team building and outdoor leadership experience designed for our 6th grade students at Hixson Middle School, and it is a WGSD tradition. WGHS students who serve as counselors at Camp Wyman gain leadership and mentoring experience while also making the 6th grade camp experience an unforgettable one.

Why Should Students Be Camp Wyman Counselors?

Gain Leadership Experience

WGHS Wyman Counselors spend a week at Camp Wyman instructing and counseling younger students through diverse situations while being supervised by Camp Wyman and WGSD staff. It is a chance to lead with empathy, to practice real world problem-solving and to learn about effective leadership strategies.

Earn Elective Credit through the Chelsea Center

Through the goal-setting and reflection processes embedded into this week-long service learning experience at Camp Wyman, WGHS Counselors will earn .5 experiential learning/elective credit. Email Dr. Kerry Arens at arens.kerry@wgmail.org with any questions regarding service learning credit for Camp Wyman.

Complete Mentoring Hours for the A+ Program

By serving in a mentoring capacity for over 60 hours during the full week at Camp Wyman, students will satisfy the mentoring component for the A+ Program. Completing all of the components of the A+ scholarship program allows students access to scholarships to two year community colleges, technical schools and some 4-year universities. Additionally, funding has become available to support dual credit and dual enrollment courses through the A+ Program as well.

What’s required to be a Camp Wyman counselor?

Camp Wyman Counselors should be upperclassmen who work well with impressionable elementary age children, have outstanding moral character, are receptive to coaching and feedback, follow instructions and are dependable in diverse situations. Camp Wyman is a tobacco-free, alcohol-free and drug-free environment (abuse of any of these will result in dismissal from camp). There will be limited cell-phone usage during your designated camp week. WGHS Camp Wyman Counselors will turn their phones in and get them periodically during breaks throughout the week.

When is Camp Wyman?

Counselors should pick one week and should consult with families, teachers, coaches, club sponsors, etc. prior to committing to attending for the full week of programming.

Sept. 26-30: Training Day + Team Integrity Camp

Oct. 3-7: Training Day + Team Unity Camp

Oct. 10-14: Training Day + Team Bravery Camp

How do WGHS students express interest in becoming Camp Wyman Counselors?

Students can scan the QR code in the upper right corner and use their WGHS Google Account to complete the interest form and to share which weeks would work best for them.

Students familiar with the GivePulse platform may also search for 2022 Camp Wyman within GivePulse to access the same online form.

If students are not familiar with GivePulse or are having difficulty accessing the interest form, please see Dr. Arens or Ms. Willenborg in the Chelsea Center (Room 200).

How will students be notified of their acceptance as Camp Wyman Counselors?

Students will receive notification from Mr. Johnson, Asst. Athletic Director for WGHS. Then, students and families will complete various release and health forms prior to their attending Camp Wyman.

The Spirit Store is open! Hours are 8-9:15 a.m. daily.

The online store is open 24 hours a day at https://wghsparentsclub.org/collections.

Every time you shop at the Spirit Store, you are supporting student scholarships and teacher grants!

Important Dates

• October 28: Last Day for $60 Early Bird Pricing

• January 27: Last Day for $65 Pricing

• January 27: Last Day for Guaranteed Pre-Order

Important Senior Dates & Links

• October 28: Senior Ads (Click here to purchase! School #: 8459) & Baby Photos Due (Click here to submit)

• October 28: Senior Quotes Due (Click here to submit)

Senior Baby Photo Submission Form

https://forms.gle/zayqdSKTsVugH1dF9

Senior Quote Form

https://forms.gle/1EfR68jq7M8ZHKhdA

Parents often deliver lunches, instruments, athletic gear, and even clean socks for students. Deliveries should be marked with your student's name, and they will be placed on a table in the main entrance for pick-up. Please text your student that their delivery is here, since we often do not have student assistants to deliver the items.

Have medication?

We cannot deliver medication to students. You must hand-deliver the medication or take it to the nurse.

Thinking of ordering out for lunch?

We do not allow restaurant deliveries for students, including third party deliveries like DoorDash. Only those food deliveries brought in by family members will be accepted.

Thank you for your assistance with this.

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