Notes from Dr. Irvin
Your WGHS Weekly eNews for March 12
Hello Parents and Guardians,
Thanks to all who had the chance to attend parent conferences this week. They were somewhat compromised with the recent health concerns, so please feel free to reach out to your child's' teacher if you feel so inclined.
I hope you all have a wonderful spring break with time to relax and reconnect.
Best,
Matt Irvin
Coronavirus Preparedness at WGHS
We are certainly aware and monitoring the rapidly changing circumstances related to COVID-19 in our area and beyond.The high school administrative team and staff are taking proactive measures to help ensure the health of students and staff here.
The district is in regular contact with the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, and we are following state and federal recommendations for school districts. At this point, their recommendations continue to be that schools focus on identifying and sending sick students and staff home, educating children and families about good hygiene and increasing cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces, including desks, doorknobs, computers, tables and other equipment used daily by students and staff. Special disinfectants also have been used to clean the air and surfaces in the evenings at schools when they are unoccupied. In addition, school nurses are receiving updates and information about COVID-19 and how to identify potentially ill students.
Last week, the district participated in a meeting with other area school districts and professionals from the county Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and others to determine next steps should there be a significant outbreak. While there is no recommendation at this time from health officials to close schools, I’d like to assure you that we are prepared to do so, if that becomes necessary. We are making plans on how to continue educating our students in that event.
Although we anticipate school being in session after spring break, we feel confident that we have taken appropriate measures so all students are prepared.
A Peek at the Week Ahead
- March 13: NO SCHOOL
- March 16 - 20: Spring Break
- March 23: School Resumes; Late Start, day 5/6; School starts at 8:57 a.m.
2019-20 Late-Start Days
An Important Note from Dr. Simpson, Superintendent
Throughout the year, you have received correspondence regarding the additional minutes to be added to each K-12 district school starting with the 2020-21 school year. These changes will allow us to have precious additional minutes with our students, school times in greater alignment with many other area school districts, and our entire school calendar to be in compliance with changes in state law.
In making this important decision, we have thoughtfully considered many factors including research (below) and the related thoughts and feelings provided by students (7-12th grade), staff, and current and future parents/guardians via a survey. The unedited feedback from 2118 respondents can be viewed by clicking the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-G6QG9CZT7/.
Based on the feedback we received from students, parents, and staff, research about sleep and its benefits on the overall well-being of students and additional factors noted below, here are the new K-12th grade start and end times for the 2020-21 school year:
*7:50 - 2:50 p.m.: Avery, Bristol, Clark, Edgar Road, Givens, Hudson and Steger
**8:15 a.m. start.: Walter Ambrose Family Center
8:25 - 3:25 p.m.: Hixson and WGHS
*Elementary schools will have supervised drop-off at 7:30 a.m. and Steger Sixth Grade will have supervised drop-off at 7:20 a.m.
**The Walter Ambrose Family Center Preschool will send families specific information regarding each of its half- and full-day programs.
When prioritizing the overall well-being of all students, while being mindful of district resources and the impact of school start times on families, we feel the proposed start times are the best option for what matters most - our children. As with any big decision or change, we know that some children and adults may have to make several adjustments. We will empathize with and do our best to support our families and staff through this transition.
Sincerely,
John Simpson
Celebrations/Announcements
That’s a wrap on our 6th annual All Write festival! We had a number of professional writers visit WGHS last week to speak to our students about their writing craft and/or perform their works. We were wowed by sports journalist Ben Hochman and food writer Heather Hughes, musical acts like The Burney Sisters, Jimmy Griffin, and Rubi, novelists Abbigail Rosewood and Sonali Dev, and poets Zaid Hameed and Ashley August. (And many, many more!)
Thanks to our 200+ students who made the 2020 All Write festival so amazing. Our writers, filmmakers, artists, buskers, dancers, singers, actors, techies, interns, pages, caterers, decorators, and designers are a huge part of what makes our celebration of words, ideas, and shared experiences so meaningful.
2020 Jonathan Franzen Award for Excellence in Student Writing
Overall: Kwan Willhoft for “fine wine”
1st Runner Up: Lillian Maynor
2nd Runner Up: Mallory Stewart
2020 Art Write Award
Overall: Aja Trachtova
1st Runner Up: Katka Trachtova
2nd Runner Up: Katie Gilker
2020 Screen Write Award
Best Film: Hugh Wade for “The Ball”
The video below highlights our Webster Challenge College Bus Tour!
Cardinal Orthodontics Offering Free Braces to Students
Cardinal Orthodontics is offering free braces to up to 16 students in the St. Louis area under the age of 17 whose families cannot afford them. The deadline to apply for the first quarter is 3/31. For more information and to apply visit: https://cardinalorthodontics.com/start-a-smile-foundation/
Senior Parents: Get Your Dancing Shoes On!
Senior Parents: It’s a WGHS tradition for the senior parents to put on a line dance at the graduation lock-in. This is a great chance to spend that last bit of time with the other 2020 parents — and maybe embarrass your graduate a little in the process. No dance background or rhythm needed. It’s all for fun! The lock-in is overnight May 12/13, and the dance is expected to happen at about 12:45 a.m. We will offer several rehearsals after spring break so that hopefully anyone interested in participating can make it to at least a couple. If you want to join in this fun tradition, let us know via email (kmoehlman@hotmail.com) so we can add you to our list.
Shop at Our Spirit Store and Support Funding for Scholarships!
The Webster Groves Spirit Wear Store is open to all Students, Staff, Parents and Community Members. Shop the Spirit Store for all your Webster Groves Apparel and Accessories.
Spirit Store Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am – 10:00 am
Late Start Monday: 8:30 am – 10:00 am
All Spirit Wear Apparel and Accessories are also available online at the Parents Club website.
Orders placed online will be available for pick up at the WGHS Front Office.
(for a fee all items can be shipped to your home)
WGHS Front Office Hours: 7:30 am – 3:00 pm
You can also find Spirit Wear at our “Pop-Up” Shops at many school sponsored events.
Thanks for your support!
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