Worthington Kilbourne Weekly News
Week of October 4, 2021
What a week! Our students displayed their school spirit and it culminated in a school pep assembly out in the stadium. And, in turn, we hosted a wonderful Homecoming Dance on Saturday night. The WKHS Student Council worked very hard to accommodate our need to have these events outside in the stadium. Although it was different, the students truly enjoyed both and we are proud of all of them for their excitement and participation.
During the last several months it has been incredibly difficult to build a sense of belonging in the school and bridge social circles. However, when you have events like this it certainly helps students feel a part of our school community. It is important that our PACK is strong and supportive. I am pleased with how well our students adapted and the smiling faces said it all.
Thank you for your continued support, even with uneasy changes our families have been terrific.
Sincerely,
Aric Thomas, Principal / athomas@wscloud.org / 614-450-6400
Upcoming Events for your Calendar
- Monday, Oct. 4 -- Picture RETAKES during the lunch periods
- Tuesday, Oct. 5 -- Parent/Teacher Conferences, 3:30-7:15 pm
- Thursday, Oct. 7 -- Financial Aid Night, held virtually at 7 pm
- Thursday, Oct. 7 and Saturday Oct. 9 -- Theatre production: Little Women, Auditorium 7:30 pm
Tuesday, Oct. 12 -- Fall Band Concert: Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony 2, 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, Oct. 13 -- PACK Period Homeroom, 9:29 - 9:53 am
- Thursday, Oct. 14 -- End of First Grading Period
- Friday, Oct. 15 -- NO SCHOOL, Professional Day
- Tuesday, Oct. 19 -- Fall Choir Concert, 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, Oct. 27 -- PACK Period Homeroom (including SENIOR MEETING), 9:29 - 9:53 am
- Wednesday, Oct. 27 -- Orchestra Concert: Symphonic and Philharmonic Orchestra, 7:30 pm
- Tuesday, Nov. 2 -- NO SCHOOL, Professional Day
Seniors: Early-bird discount on cap & gown orders is October 15
Note: if your graduate was hoping to wear a sibling's gown from 2020 or earlier, our company will exchange the older cap and gown for the new style when you purchase the 2022 tassel or cap and tassel. On the Buckeye Scholastic website, scroll down to Questions & Answers for details about trading in an older gown.
Picture RETAKES Day is Monday, October 4
Please note: photo orders should have arrived in your mail last week. Students who aren't happy with their first pictures OR who have not yet had their picture taken should be sure to do so on the 4th, in order to have a student ID made. Be sure to bring the photo packet they are returning when they have the retake done. Visit hrimaging.com to order or return picture packages.
Parent/Teacher Conferences - sign up online
WKHS Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held Tuesday, October 5 from 3:30-7:15 pm. You may still schedule a conference online: please click here to view available conference times.
Before you schedule, you are encouraged to log on to Infinite Campus to review your child’s grades and class schedule. Please click here for guidelines on how to access Infinite Campus.
Guidelines from the Health Office: When to keep a student home from school
As we return to a normal schedule with all students attending school daily it is extremely important NOT to send your student to school if they are sick and not feeling well. A daily health check is required for parents and students to complete each morning prior to school.
Daily Home COVID-19 "Before School" Screening
Guidance for Daily Home Screening
If your child develops or reports any of the symptoms listed below during the school day they will be isolated and a parent or guardian will be called for immediate pick up. Follow-up with a health care provider will be required for your student to return to school. The COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced to ensure a healthy environment for our students and staff.
Your child needs to be kept home if any of the following symptoms are present.
Temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth
New or worsened cough
New-onset severe headache
Loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Vomiting or diarrhea
If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Julie Garner.
Julie A. Garner MSE BSN RN LSN
WKHS School Nurse
jgarner@wscloud.org / 614-450-6415
PreACT will be offered at WKHS to sophomores and juniors
The PreACT will be offered at Worthington Kilbourne High School to sophomores and juniors, beginning at 7:45 a.m. on Monday, November 8th, in the Main Gym. Check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m.
Students can register for the PreACT from October 1st through October 22nd by signing in to your MyPaymentsPlus account; go to ACTIVITIES to pay the $16 fee and complete the form! Testing will be limited to 200 students.
PreACT simulates the ACT testing experience by providing students early exposure to ACT test-quality questions and predictive score ranges on the familiar 1-36 scale. This helps students get comfortable with the testing experience and understand how they’re doing in core subjects.
PreACT helps identify:
- How a student is doing with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in college and beyond
- Areas where extra help or additional courses are needed
- Career possibilities that match the student’s interests
2021 Financial Aid Night: Virtual Edition
The 2021 Financial Aid Night: Virtual Edition will be presented via Zoom by Faith Phillips, Director of Financial Aid at OSU Newark and COTC, on October 7th at 7:00 p.m. She will present information on the Financial Aid Process and completing the FAFSA. Please find the Zoom link beginning October 6th on the WKHS Counselors' Website: www.wkhscounselors.com.
Buy YOUR 2021-22 WKHS Yearbook
Live Theatre is BACK!
Join us by purchasing your tickets at wkhs.booktix.com. Mobile tickets ONLY. Masks will be required.
Florence Nightingale Day / October 23, a virtual event
Most people know Florence Nightingale as a pioneer in Nursing, but she was also highly talented in data collection and data display -- click here to learn more. The data she collected showed that poor sanitary practices were largely responsible for the high mortality rate in hospitals. The graphical displays she created using her data convinced others of the need for sanitary practices in hospitals.
Ohio State University, along with the American Statistical Association (ASA) and the Caucus for Women in Statistics (CWS), presents Florence Nightingale Day (FNday) for high-school students and their teachers to develop an interest in statistics and data science, perform activities with data, and establish connections. We will host our 4th annual FNday as a virtual event on October 23 from 11 am to 3 pm. All students in grades 8-12 are invited to attend this free event celebrating women in statistics as part of an international promotion of data science and data analytics. Throughout the day, students will meet successful professionals at various stages of their careers in statistics and data science, take on data challenges, and have fun.
Activities will be conducted by OSU professors, industry professionals, community supporters, and college students, and prizes will be awarded to winners of the Kahoot Game and Data Challenge. Please encourage your student to participate in this event.
Registration is now open, please click here.
STEM Day / October 20 from 4-6 pm (virtual)
Presented by WINUP (Women's International Network of Utility Professionals), STEM Day will feature a diverse and experienced group of panelists, who will share their passions and career journeys during the panel discussion. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from, and ask questions to, experienced Line Workers, personnel leading efforts in Energy, Sustainability and Infrastructure, personnel in Workforce Diversity, and more. Attendees can also look forward to fruitful sessions on polishing their interview techniques and securing internships and co-ops.
STEM Day is set for October 20th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM EST. The event will be held on a virtual platform and is free to all students.
Please click here to learn much more about this event, including online registration.
A message from Principal Thomas
We have grave concerns about the behavior some students are displaying at school. We are concerned about the possible factors driving this behavior. There have been acts of vandalism in restrooms and thefts in the school, both related to challenges put on social media. This is disturbing knowing that outside forces are working to condition students to behave inappropriately. Additionally, some students are frequenting the restrooms 10-20 times during the school day--in some cases they are using the restroom facility two times during the same 5-minute passing period. We believe many of them are using the restrooms as a shield to use banned substances, such as vaping devices.
The question becomes how do we deter these two things in school? It is especially difficult because the restrooms are somewhat of a sanctuary and it becomes wildly difficult to monitor students in a place where privacy is the standard. We ask that you have difficult conversations with your students at home. We will continue to monitor the restrooms and hope that our presence gives them pause.
Feel free to check out these resources, for more information on these topics:
American Association for Respiratory Care: Facts about Tobacco and other resources
Protect Kids: Fight Flavored E-Cigarettes
Tobacco-Free Kids: Youth Initiatives
Substitute teachers needed in Worthington schools
Travel Night is Wednesday, October 13 / 7:00-8:30 pm
WKHS Women's Volleyball hosting Volley for the Cure / Wednesday, October 6th
“Volley for the Cure™ is an amazing opportunity to educate our young ladies about healthy lifestyles, warning signs, breast cancer and treatment options. The partnership with Susan G. Komen provides the educational awareness and leadership opportunities for community service. The Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association is proud to partner with Susan G. Komen in this program. Our teams have raised millions of dollars in this campaign.” -- Carol Russo, Executive Director of Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association
On Wednesday, October 6th, the WKHS women’s volleyball program will compete in a regular home match against Buckeye Valley. Our event will combine fundraising, team spirit and education for the young women in our community. Please support this worthy cause and our lady wolves by attending this special match!
- Bring cash with you on the night of the match to buy concessions, baked goods, raffle tickets, and more!
- Consider donating online to honor or remember those you love that have been impacted by breast cancer: please click here to donate online.
All proceeds raised during our event will be donated to VFTC. Let’s join together to educate and raise awareness for this worthy cause!