Timberwolf Times
Volume 3, Issue 6 - August 23, 2020
A Message from Dr. Lowry
Good Afternoon WoodCreek Family!
It was great week engaging with our students and seeing their smiling faces. This past week was the beginning of our year long journey together with the first ever online start school in history! While this year will be filled with challenges, it is exciting to think we are making history in education. The things we have and will learn through this process will make us better educators. Consider this past week not as our first week back; but this was our first successful week moving forward. Although we don’t know what our year has in store for us, there are three constants that make a school a success: parents, students, and staff. Our students are blessed to have an incredibly dedicated staff and parents supporting them through this journey together!
I know everyone is doing their best! Continue being awesome!
Dr. Lowry
Principal
WoodCreek Junior High
This Week in Timberwolf Nation
-Timberwolf Spirit Day - Wear your red and black!
Tuesday, August 25
-Last Day to Request a Schedule Change - 4:00 PM Deadline
Friday, August 28
-College Spirit Day - Wear your favorite college gear!
WCJH Coffee With the Principal
Dr. Lowry is very excited to meet with you! So brew a mug of coffee or tea, pull up your phone or computer, and we'll see you on Friday!
First Day Videos
In case you missed them, here are links to all of the first day videos that were shared with our students!
Respect the Pack!
As a campus, we are encouraging students and staff to be kinder to one another. Our core commitment is called Respect the PACK.
The 5 characteristics that Timberwolves live by are:
- R: Respect
- P: Prepared
- A: Accountable
- C: Courageous
- K: Kind
We are also purchasing shirts for all our students for this initiative. Click HERE to submit your student's t-shirt size.
Katy Virtual Academy - Second Grading Period Opt-In and Opt-Out Dates
The next opportunity to opt-in to in-person instruction or Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) instruction for the second grading period will be from August 31-September 11 (secondary) and September 21-October 2 (elementary). The opt-in commitment link will be available on your student’s campus home page. All opt-in changes are in effect at the beginning of the second six week (secondary) and nine week (elementary) grading period. We appreciate your support, as campuses are working extremely hard to schedule and balance in–person and virtual learning classes for each grading period. If you have any questions regarding the next opportunity to change your child’s learning option for the second grading period, please email KVA@katyisd.org.
2020-2021 WCJH Bell Schedule
Virtual Learning Roles & Responsibilities
In order for all students to be successful when engaged in online instruction—whether through KVA or as part of intermittent online instruction due to COVID-19—students, families, and staff must work together to support student achievement.
The first thing we must keep in mind, is that online instruction will look much different than it did in the spring. Our teachers are preparing more rigorous instruction that is more regular in nature. Students must engage regularly and attend online learning in real-time. We do understand that all students might not have regular access to a device to attend in real time; however, our teachers will be flexible with each family situation. Understand, there will be obstacles along the way but remember, we will move forward, and we are in this together.



Self-Service Password Tool
The self‐service password process for staff, secondary students (grades 6th-12th) and parents/guardians has launched. There are no changes to your existing Katy ISD password, nor is any action required on your part at this time. However, should you need to update your password in the future, you will be able to do so by accessing the Self-Service icon, located on the District’s website homepage, where your password can be recovered by text, email or security questions.
Any user who may forget their password, or is creating a password for the very first time, will need do so via the new Password Self-Service.
Students in grades K-5 will continue to receive and retrieve their passwords through their classroom teachers.
The Password Self‐Service icon can be accessed on any device by going to www.KatyISD.org and clicking on the red Password Self-Service icon located at the top right of the page.
Parents and students in need of assistance can contact the Help Desk for support through the online form available on the Parent Tech Help web page.
Technology Help Desk Contacts for Parents/Students Support Inquiries
Online: Katy ISD Tech Help
Or, click “Help” in Canvas
Or, call: 281.396.7400 Monday through Friday (6:30AM.-5:00PM)
Or, e-mail: parenttechsupport@katyisd.org
Temporary Student IDs and How to Access Them
Elementary and secondary students can access a temporary ID badge via the Student ID App available on the MyKaty Cloud. Families received an email on Friday, August 14 with instructions on how to access and use the Student ID App. You can find a copy of those instructions here.
Withdrawals
If you have moved and are no longer zoned to WoodCreek Junior High School please let our registrar know.
WCJH Registrar - Leah Caffey (LeahCCaffey@KATYISD.ORG)
Curbside “Grab and Go” Meals
Curbside "Grab and Go" meals will be available to all Katy ISD students from August 19 through September 4, at 23 distribution sites, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Meals can be pick up at the site that is most convenient for them. Students will be offered breakfast and lunch daily. They can opt for both meals or only one, but will not be allowed to duplicate meal requests at different distribution sites. Meals will be charged depending on the student's eligibility (free, reduced or full price).
· Breakfast: $1.25 ($.30 reduced price)
· Elementary Lunch: $2.25 ($.40 reduced price)
· Secondary Lunch: $2.75 ($.40 reduced price)
The Free and Reduced Lunch application is available at SchoolCafe. Payment for meals is encouraged to be cashless through the Katy ISD Pay N' Go app. Cash and checks for meal payment will be accepted curbside, and change will be deposited into the student's account. Students, or parents picking up meals, must have a student ID or proof of enrollment (with a student ID number on it) to receive a meal. Additional information, including cafeteria menus, can be found on the Katy ISD Grab and Go Meal Program webpage.
Remember this must completed every year.
Schedule Information from our Counseling Team
Dear WCJH Students and Parents,
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year. We have missed you and are excited to have you back!
Student schedules will be available to view on the Home Access Center on August 17th. The scheduling process has changed due to the addition of Katy Virtual Academy. As a result, counselors are working on a compressed timeline. Our first priority is to ensure that students have a complete schedule for the first day of school. Counselors may not be able to balance all classes prior to the first day of school. Please understand that schedules may change beginning now through the first two weeks of the school year.
Schedule Change Process:
If a student is requiring a schedule change, please complete the SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUEST FORM.
· Schedule change requests via email or phone call will not be accepted.
· Requests must be submitted by Tuesday, August 25 at 4:00 p.m.
· Please read the directions carefully.
KVA Specific Schedule Information:
· Some courses are scheduled outside the normal school day to accommodate for the addition of KVA classes. As a result, some students may have holes or an added study hall in their schedule in periods 1-7.
Please refer to the attached bell schedule so that you will understand your child’s schedule as you view it in HAC.
We understand you may have questions for your counselor. Please understand that there may be a delay in our response to your emails and phone calls. We will address them as soon as possible, as your concerns are important to us.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility.
WCJH Counseling Team
WCJH Band Virtual Performance
Over the summer, 7th & 8th grade students continued to sharpen their skills by practicing a variety of popular music. Check out our virtual performance of "Eye of the Tiger"!
Medication and Clinic Forms
Please call the clinic at 281-234-0825 or email the nurse at TraceyANelson@katyisd.org with any questions or to schedule an appointment.
Accessing TELPAS Scores in HAC
COVID-19 Self-Reporting APP - Notifications & Information
The District has a COVID-19 Reporting System in place to allow staff, students and parents to self-report if they have received a COVID-19 positive test result. The self-reporting system enables the District’s Emergency Management team to conduct contact tracing, as well as call and notify individuals in Katy ISD buildings who may have been directly exposed to the infected person. A general email notification is also sent to campus staff and families whenever the district is informed of a potential “indirect” COVID-19 exposure in their building. Receipt of the general notification alone indicates that the recipient was not in close contact to the COVID-19 positive case reported for their building.
Many school personnel and other staff are teaching and working on Katy ISD campuses and facilities. Should there be a potential COVID-19 exposure on any campus or facility, a general notification is sent to staff at the work site impacted, by 5:00 p.m. on the day in which the self-report was submitted. Staff who may have been directly exposed because of failed COVID-19 safety protocol will be notified directly by a member of the Risk Management Department.
Parents will only begin to receive applicable campus-based general notifications when students return to schools for the in-person instructional option. Parents of students who may be involved in fine arts or athletic activities on campuses right now, may receive a general notification through Rank One (athletics) or Charms (fine arts), ahead of the September 8 reopening, if the District is informed of a potential exposure at their campus.
Students and staff may report positive COVID-19 results using the COVID-19 Self Reporting app on MyKaty Cloud.
Covid-19 Impact on Students
Please complete the following surveys to help us know about your needs and better understand how we can offer support to your student. We understand that these are unusual times and we care very much about our students and families during this pandemic. Please know that completion is voluntary and any information shared will remain confidential among those who need to know in order to support your child. Our campus support staff may contact you, to discuss additional needs and available supports.
English
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc09Jy67aJKsiJv2QMlSUKQ0PghhgN1n_2wbrheI5XA_gdAUA/viewform
Espanol
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUeJP2tMl7hiwCsXNQITWvMYq9x102I-AiUvICAG9urxn1Nw/viewform
Back to School Videos
http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Pages/School-Safety-Demonstration-Videos.aspx
Katy ISD Digital Resource Information Meetings
Contact Email and Questions
Be sure to visit the Katy ISD Smart Restart page often, as the district updates it frequently with the latest information about KVA, In-Person school, Athletics, Fine Arts, Safety Protocols, links to newsletters and more.
General Questions
Katy Virtual Academy Questions
Special Education Questions
Join PTA
Click here to join the WoodCreek Junior High PTA!
Contact Information
Mission Statement: WoodCreek Junior High, in partnership with the community, parents, and students, will provide a safe, positive, engaging learning environment that is devoted to empowering each student to become a productive, responsible, respectful citizen while achieving academic excellence.
WCJH Administrative Team
Dr. Andrew Lowry Principal
Tim Chesser Assistant Principal - Student Support
Lauren Merriman Assistant Principal - 6th grade and 8th grade M-Z
Stephanie McDonald Assistant Principal - 7th grade and 8th grade A-L
Jodi Slaughter Counselor - 8th Grade
Brittany Waddell Counselor - 7th Grade
Jessie Clay Counselor - 6th Grade
School Information
Instructional Calendar 2020-2021 Click Here
Lunch Menus Click Here
Bus Transportation Click Here
Bus Schedules Click Here
Student Code of Conduct Click Here
Registration Information Click Here