CB West High School
West Times Newsletter 3-8-2021
Antler Yearbook Information
This is the LAST chance to have your student included in the Antler Yearbook! Due to Covid, we’ve reserved a spot at the end of each portrait section for late sittings. If your student did not get a photo taken by C&C this year, please contact them at candcphotostudios@verizon.net or call 215-345-1851 before March 10. Any photo not taken by March 10 will not be included in the yearbook- no exceptions.
Don't forget to reserve your child an Antler yearbook for this school year. Due to COVID, we will only be accepting online orders, at www.jostens.com . Don't delay - last year we completely sold out of yearbooks - be sure to reserve your child's high school memories today! Yearbook page on West website
NEWS FROM THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
Social and Emotional Wellness Resources
As we continue to face challenges and navigate difficult times, we are including Social and Emotional Wellness Resources that may be helpful to our students, staff and families. Students and adults may display a range of thoughts and emotions when presented with various circumstances. We recommend to continue engaging in conversations with your child. As always, please reach out to your child’s counselor if you have questions or concerns.
SOPHOMORES:
Pre-ACT for 10th Grade Students:
The Pre-ACT is being offered to 10th grade students on Saturday, March 20th, 2021. Registration is through My Payments Plus, and closes on March 12, 2021, or until sold out. Please visit the West Guidance Testing Webpage for specific information about the test and registration links.
This exam will be taken in-person at CB West, but with reduced testers in each room to meet social distancing guidelines. There are no alternative exam dates and registration is only open to CB West students. Students should be in their exam room before 7:45am, and plan for pickup around 11:45am on testing day. Room assignments will be posted outside of the Guidance office and emailed to parents after registration closes.
College-bound 10th grade students are encouraged to take the Pre-ACT to gain exposure to the ACT, an exam many colleges use when making admissions decisions. If students take both the Pre-ACT and PSAT during 10th grade, they can focus exclusively on their preference during 11th grade (SAT or ACT). For details about the Pre-ACT, please visit the ACT website.
PSAT 10
The PSAT 10 will be offered to 10th grade students on Saturday, April 24th, 2021. Registration for this test is not yet open. Sophomores and parents will be notified when registration opens for the PSAT10.
SENIORS:
- Scholarship Info -- Please check Naviance regularly for information about national, regional, and local scholarships. (Once logged into Naviance, click Colleges > Scholarships and Money > Scholarship List.) The list can be sorted by deadline, or you can search for specific criteria which matches your intended major. This list will be updated frequently, with new scholarships added regularly. Please also go to the Scholarship page of the Guidance Website for information about how to use scholarship search services to find more opportunities.
PROGRAM PLANNING:
- Verification Sheets will be available to view in student portals on March 26th. Students and parents should review the list of course requests, and contact counselors with any changes. All changes need to be made by April 2nd, so there is time for students and families to consult with counselors and teachers about the most appropriate courses for next year.
- **Students who wish to meet with their counselor to discuss program planning should either email them or use their links or QR codes to set up an appointment. **
- Please refer to the Program Planning webpage for information, links, and resources, including the Program of Studies, Course Registration Instructions, the Course Selection Sheet, and a Block Scheduling Worksheet/Grid to plan out your courses.
The Central Bucks West Tutoring Academy will continue to provide Peer Tutoring on a virtual platform. There are several tutors available for academic help in many core classes. If your student would benefit from a peer tutor, please have them contact their school counselor or Mrs. Bagnick at lbagnick@cbsd.org. We will assign tutors based on availability at the time.
Parent Help Needed!
West parent organizers are looking for food donations for a monthly Snack Bar for faculty and staff. The first one will be held on March 12th. Please see the Sign Up Genius below for details.
From the Nurse
Each year, Pennsylvania requires schools to complete health screenings for students. We have begun this process and hope to complete as many students as possible during the remainder of the year.
If your student is virtual, you may contact the Nurse.
Once completed, height and weight measurements can be found on the Parent Portal. Parents/Guardians will be contacted following the screenings if there is a concern.
If you prefer that your child be exempted from the health screenings, please contact Mrs. Klein cklein@cbsd.org
Class of 2023 - Exclusion from Post Secondary Schools and Military Recruiters
Virtual Broadway Cares 2021
Virtual Broadway Cares 2021
Tuesday, March 9th
7:30pm
The annual Broadway Cares Fundraising Concert put on by all the Central Bucks Secondary Theater programs is being held virtually this year and is being hosted/produced by CB West. At this concert each school presents a short preview of their upcoming spring show and all proceeds from ticket sales are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. This year's show features introductions and messages from current Broadway performers. To watch the show go to this link https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=Yzc0MW and enter the password CBBC2021 and the show will go live at 7:30pm. To make a donation, go to the fundraising page https://donate.broadwaycares.org/cbtheater.
Congratulations Mrs. McDonald for being a Lifechanger of the Year nominee
We are so proud of Mrs. McDonald, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, for all she does for our community. Please see the story and support Mrs. McDonald - Lifechanger of the Year nominee.
Attendance
We will be continuing to follow the same attendance policies and procedures as we typically do, outlined in the Pennsylvania Act 138 attendance policies and as described in our Student handbook. Importantly, attendance is compulsory and students are expected to be on time daily. Teachers will be taking attendance each block through Infinite Campus, our student management system. In the event that a student is late or absent, please email or call the CB West Attendance Office. If we do not receive notification and/or if an absence or lateness is not excused, attendance meetings and letters may be warranted.
5-Day In-Person Students
- If a student should be physically present in the building but is staying home, we require a communication from the parents or guardians following the guidelines for an excused absence (see guidelines below). Please email our attendance office at westattendance@cbsd.org. At the school level, this is the same as if students were in the building in a traditional sense because anytime a student is supposed to be here physically but is not, a note is required to excuse the absence. There are many reasons for this, which primarily fall under liability and safety, but it is also important for our state attendance records and for teacher lesson planning.
- If a student is not in school (but attending online) the initial absence code will be “absent” until we have a communication from the parent/guardian with a valid excuse per the School Board Policy guidelines below. The attendance code will be changed to “VP = Virtual Present” once we have the communication from the parent/guardian. When possible, we ask for the communication in advance of the absence so we can make sure the teachers are aware, and it also ensures us that parents/guardians have granted permission for their child to remain at home.
Virtual Students
- If a student does not attend class, the student will be marked absent until we receive the communication from parents with a valid excuse.
- Note – If a student logs in initially, but leaves the call or does not engage, the teachers will mark the student absent with a comment so parents can see this information and reach out to us as needed.
All Students - Excused Absences
Per CBSD School Board Policy 204, the following situations would be deemed as an excused absence from school:
- Illness or Quarantine
- Family emergency
- Death in the family
- Observance of religious holiday or events
- College/Postsecondary visits or Nonschool-sponsored educational trips (Requires prior approval via Request for Approved Absence for Family Travel Form)
- Other - please review CBSD Board Policy 204 for other potential circumstances
Grab and Go Meals
- Grab and Go breakfast will be available daily between 7:00 AM-7:25 AM at three locations: Lobby near the Court Street Café, in the cafeteria, and at the end of the “B” hallway.
- If you have Late Arrival, Grab and Go breakfast will be available outside of the lobby near the Court Street Café.
- Grab and Go lunch will be available daily between 1:15 PM – 1:30 PM at four locations: Lobby near the Court Street Café, in the athletics hallway, in the D hallway near the Security office, and at the end of the “B” hallway.
- If you have PM MBIT, Grab and Go bags are in cafeteria before leaving school.
- If you have Early Release, Grab and Go bags are in the lobby near the Court Street Café.
- Parents may also pick-up meals for students on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:30am - 12:00pm at the Faculty Parking Lot 'Bubble' entrance at CB West.
Seniors! Cap & Gown Information
Balfour has been selected, once again, as the official supplier for caps and gowns for 2021. Please visit the link below to order these items by April 15th. Orders will be sent to CB West, and a date and time for pickup will be determined later this spring.
https://www.buildagrad.com/cbw - Click on the link to order!
Seniors! - PHEAA PAForward
PHEAA PAForward March webinar series will be on the following topics:
Borrowing for Education: which loan should I pick (what’s right for me)
As families receive their financial offer letters from schools and determine that education loans may be needed, they’ll find that there are many options to consider – including loans from the Dept of Education and private loan programs. Doing the research and knowing what to compare and consider will be important to overall education debt, keeping it affordable and finding the right fit. Join Daniel Wray and Linda Pacewicz of PHEAA PAForward in a 1 hour webinar to review the different options and details of education loans to assist in sorting out this information.
Register here (click ‘more’) for March 9th – Noon; March 18th – 6:30 pm and/or March 23rd –Noon
Refinancing Education Debt – Is it right for you?
Join us for this informative one hour webinar on refinancing education debt. Current or previous students of any age with student loans may be overwhelmed with their current repayment options or are moving closer to the repayment phase and wonder if refinance may be a better solution. Join Linda Pacewicz and Daniel Wray of PHEAA PAForward to cover the pros and cons, availability of programs and help those interested in understanding more about this topic.
Register here (click ‘more’) for March 11 – 6:30 pm; March 16 – Noon and/or March 25 – 6:30 pm
Contact Information:
Linda Pacewicz
PAForward Account Executive, East Region
PHEAA /Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
570-592-1209 (phone/text) linda.pacewicz@pheaa.org
Senior Spotlights
Starting on March 1, the 2021 Senior Class Council will be highlighting seniors and their post-high school plans on the Instagram account @cbw21decisions. To be included in these Senior Spotlights, please Click Here to submit your information to class council.
Senior Mosaic
The Class of 2021 is excited to announce that they will be selling a fantastic keepsake this year for all seniors to purchase. The “Senior Mosaic” is a large picture that is made up of senior portrait thumbnails. More details will be coming soon. You will not want to miss the opportunity to purchase these!
Boomerang for March
MARCH #30 RESPONSIBILITY: Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.
Book/Item Distribution and Return
Details of Regular Procedures: We will continue to have a pick-up/drop off for 100% virtual students only on the dates listed below from 2:00pm-4:00pm in the CB West Cafeteria. Students who are participating 100% online will retrieve needed materials as communicated by teachers. Students can also return books or other curricular items by placing it in a labeled bin. Please park in the Junior lot off of MacFarlane Lane and enter the cafeteria. Please wear a mask and keep 6 feet social distancing at all times. Only 1 person per family may come into the building. Please bring a bag or bookbag to carry your items.
Process: Please find your placard, take the items under the placard, and leave the placard on the table at your spot.
Important: Please leave all name labels on any and all items given to you. This will be essential when you return items.
Larger Items: Teachers will communicate with you if you have larger items to pick up. Large items will be labeled with your name and will be in the back of the cafeteria in the large-item section.
Forthcoming Dates: The following are the Thursday dates for pick up and drop off of items mapped out through the remainder of the year (just in case and subject to change).
- 3/18/21
- 4/8/21
- 4/29/21
- 5/13/21
- 5/27/21
- 6/10/21
CB West Parent Council
We look forward to continuing our partnership with parents through the 2020-2021 Central Bucks West Parent Council. Membership to the council is open to all interested CB West parents.
Meetings will be held virtually for the time being. Meetings begin at 9:00 AM and conclude at 10:30 AM.
Please note: If you are accessing the Teams link on an iPhone or Mac, you will need to download the Teams app first. The web version will not work for Safari. Learn more about Teams
Click here to join the meeting
March 24, 2021
April 21, 2021
ACTIVITIES FAIR!
Check out all that West has to offer by watching our Virtual Activities Fair.
CBSD Farmers Market at Barclay
Sophomores
The State of Pa. requires that all Juniors have a physical on file in the Health Office. As your student goes to the doctor for driver’s permits, working papers, etc., remember to turn in a copy of the physical. Physicals dated the first day of Sophomore year or later will be excepted as a Junior physical. If your child plays sports, this physical will count as well.
Juniors
Children’s Health Insurance Program
CHIP is Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program for uninsured children and teens up to age 19.
Click on the link for more information about CHIP.
GOOD NEWS ABOUT CB WEST STUDENTS
Congratulations!
Fill the Bus Food Donation Event
Kindness, Compassion, and Community! CB West student groups, Feeding the Community Club and Brown Student Union, partnered with the Central Bucks Regional Police Department and hosted a "Fill the Bus" at Giant Food Store. The goal of this event is to address food insecurity with families in our district. The event on Saturday, March 6th was an overwhelming success and we did indeed "Fill the Bus!" Our community showed kindness and compassion and led by example for our students to witness. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Carl DiGiorgio
We would like to congratulate Carl DiGiorgio for being at top 8 place winner at the 2021 State Wrestling Tournament held at the Hershey Giant Center on March 13th. It is our 1st wrestling state medal in 10 years. A great accomplishment for all the hard work Carl puts into this sport.
Once again, congratulations to Carl DiGiorgio for being a 2021 PIAA Wrestling State Place winner.
About Us
Website: http://www.cbsd.org/Domain/30
Location: 375 West Court Street, Doylestown, PA, United States
Phone: 267.893.2500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbschools
Twitter: @CBWestHS