Notes from Dr. Irvin
Your Weekly WGHS eNews for April 18
Hello Parents and Guardians,
I wanted to share an item from last week that went to our faculty on Monday.
Friday afternoon saw many teams in competition and I had the good fortune to see a very competitive game between our varsity baseball team playing another top area club from Lindbergh. Late in the game with a 1-0 lead, senior John Porthouse boldly stole home on a very crafty pitcher and collegiate-bound catcher. This play is rare, as evidenced by MLB career leader in stealing bases, Rickey Henderson, who stole home just 4 times in his 23-year career, and overall MLB witnesses it less than 2% of all stolen bases being at home plate.
Stealing home is a play of equal parts audaciousness and good fortune. However, there is a bit more to behind the heroics of Friday’s game. John, by all accounts, has demonstrated himself to be a good student in his time at WG and likely knew the likelihood of completing the play against a left-handed pitcher (indirect view of base runner on third) with a slower delivery, two outs in a one run, late innings game, his own speed on the bases, and having a right-handed batter to obstruct vision and play of the catcher. As Louis Pasteur noted, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” Clearly, John’s understanding of the circumstances and his or his coach’s analysis fostered the boldness of the play ad potential to have a favorable outcome.
As a secondary school, we cannot know our students' destinations, yet we can “prepare” their mind. The prepared mind has the ability to observe, make sense, arrive at decisions and act across complex environments. Allowing them deeper learning opportunities that permit them to seek greater understanding, partnerships, and relevance will undoubtedly allow them the tools to navigate circumstances they will encounter. I was able to witness student work in Mrs. Rodney’s room late Friday afternoon in a multi-genre project that was an immersion in the student being an “intentional communicator.” The topic she worked on was of significance to her and was the pathway for her reflective work that permitted her to think about her identity, ideas of fairness, and the vulnerability needed for growth. Circumstances don’t often endure, but competencies we have created and the intentional preparation around them will in the evolving conditions that lie ahead.
Best,
Matt Irvin
EOC--Important Information
As spring sets in, students begin preparing for important exams at WGHS. The End-of-Course exams, which begin soon, test students in the areas of Biology, English II, and Algebra II. The testing window is April 19 – 26. Also coming up are the AP tests in early May. Please ensure that your student gets plenty of rest during this critical time.
For EOC testing, I’d like to remind all parents that The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not allow cell phones to be present in the testing room. Students should leave their cell phones at home or in their lockers during the testing window. Teachers will be collecting any phones that are brought into the testing room. Per DESE regulations, if a cell phone is visible or sounds during testing, the student in question will have their EOC scores voided/canceled.
The English II EOC has a listening component this year, and each Sophomore will need to have ear buds when they are testing.
Our automotive students got a closer look at a classic car.
Spring Semester Finals Information
A comprehensive examination will be given at the end of 2nd semester in all classes. The test will be ninety minutes in length. A comprehensive exam is understood to sample learning from the entire semester. This test will count between 10% and 20% of the final course grade with the exact percentage to be determined by each department. Exams are an important part of the student’s grade and educational experience. Every effort should be made to be sure student is at school for exams and vacations and other commitments are avoided at this time.
No exams will be given early. If a student must miss an exam, a parent must notify the appropriate assistant principal. The student will receive an Incomplete (I) and will need to make up the exam at the teacher’s convenience. For students who are athletes, a grade of Incomplete (I) may have a negative impact on their athletic eligibility.
Students will not take finals in Academic Lab, student assistant periods, Peer Tutoring, or Study Hall. A 90-minute final exam will occur in all other classes. On the first day of finals, everyone is expected to be in attendance, as it is a special schedule. On the exam half-days, students should not be in the building if they do not have an exam or are not studying in Academic Lab; otherwise, they will be assigned to a supervised study hall. Activity buses are for athletes only. Everyone else should promptly exit the building. Students are also prohibited from going to Hixson.
If your student elects to stay home during an Academic Lab exam, student assistant period, Peer Tutoring hour, or study hall, please contact your Assistant Principal’s office for attendance purposes.
Snow Day Make-up Information for WGHS Finals
As you know, we experienced an unusual number of school cancellations because of weather this year. The state of Missouri requires that students attend 174 days and 1,044 hours each year. This year, students will only have attended 173 days, therefore we will be extending the year as follows:
Students will now attend school on Friday, May 24 from 7:55 a.m. - 11:05 a.m. (6th and 7th period final exams will be given).
Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 21 will be a special schedule, meaning all 7 classes will meet. The first hour final exam will be given on Tuesday, with shortened 2nd - 7th periods.
Half-day final exams days are Wednesday-Friday. School will be dismissed at 11:05 each day.
The extended school year will NOT affect seniors and early check-out.
This revision will ensure that the district calendar is in accord with state requirements.
Final Exam Study Sessions
The library will be open for final exam study sessions May 16 and 20 from 2:45 - 5:30 p.m., and on May 17 from 2:45 - 4:30 p.m. Instructional staff and student tutors will be available during this time (staff will be available after 3:30 p.m.).
Below is the spring final exam schedule for the 2018-19 school year (the final exam schedule has been modified due to the snow day):
A Peek at the Week Ahead
- April 19: WGHS GSA Day of Silence
- April 19: Top Hat Awards, 7:15 a.m., Auditorium
- April 19: EOC 2-4-6-1
- April 22-26: EOC Testing
- April 27: Prom
Celebrations/Announcements
Congratulations to Patrick Lee and Ethan Weihl for being accepted to the 2019 Missouri Boys State!
Congratulations to Evelyn Trampe for being selected by her peers as the Class of 2019 Commencement Speaker! Also, Congratulations to Nicolaus Braun and Zoe Schultz for being selected as name readers at graduation, and Nakailah Shields-Robinson, Barrett Light, and Ray McIntyre for being selected as the emcees for Senior Awards Night.
The annual All Write festival is completely self-funded, so we humbly ask for your help to keep it going into the future. We are now accepting your generous donations for 2020 at our new Go Fund Me. Thank you so much.
Women's Basketball Summer Camps Offered
Webster Groves Women’s Basketball
Summer Camps
When: June 3-6
Who: Grades 3-12
Time: 1pm to 3pm Grades 9-12, 3pm to 5pm Grades 3-8
Cost: $55 includes a T-shirt
Where: Roberts Gymnasium
Register: www.statesmensportscamps.com
*Register by May 24 to guarantee your T-shirt
Email Coach Spuhl with any questions:
Check us out- @wggirlsbball
Parents' Club Class of 2019 Updates
Did you see the cool shirt that the seniors got at Senior Breakfast? You can have one too but you must order this week. Go to https://wghsparentsclub.org/collections/class-of-2019-items to order you t-shirt and sign. (If your student didn't get their t-shirt, tell them to see Kim Edwards in the activity office.
We need every student to RSVP for the party (or you can do it). Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/senior-graduation-party-tickets-55293623717?ref=esfb&fbclid=IwAR1CMy_8pn3pSKf9wwGQSn90Lb0Z5fGfDAapu3VPuV45oPAG7vz725Q3hDY to RSVP. In order for them to play the video or laser tag games, you need to complete the waiver form for anyone under 18. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTAIlaNLfWizNbJii3zmr63uVdu9koiLyTi8a_4zTbD5Ae8g/viewform
We could use some food donations for the evening of the party. Go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e4ca5a72ba0fe3-food and sign up to bring something.
Our group would love for as many students to win great prizes at the Sr. Party. Go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084aa5af23a0ff2-wghs to see what we still are needing.
We still need volunteers to make sure the party is a success. Key areas are Security from 2-6 (or earlier) and still need volunteers for the casino. If you want to join the line dance crew, be sure to sign up so you get the emails about the line dance practices. Go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e4ca5a72ba0fe3-volunteers
We could use a few more people to help with the May 3 Teacher Appreciation breakfast. Go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0945abaa2ca6fe3-wghs to sign up.
Our next (and LAST) meeting is May 1 - 6 pm in the HS library.
Other Important News
Procedures for Check-Out During the School Day
We often get questions about how to check out of school early for appointments. If students know in advance that they need to check out from school, they should bring a written, signed note from a parent stating the time at which they are to check out. Students should present their request to the assistant principal’s office before school. Parents may also call in to the Assistant Principal's office ahead of time and have students check out at the designated time. When leaving school during the day, students must check out through the assistant principal’s office. If students do not follow this procedure, their absence will be considered cutting class. In case of sickness, students check out through the school nurse. In case of emotional upset, students should see their counselors or an administrator to discuss whether or not to remain in school.
When students need to check out of school early:
- Call the Assistant Principal's office before the designated time and report the absence. You may also send a note with the student to be presented to the Assistant Principal's office before school.
- At the designated time, your student will receive a pass to check out if you called ahead. The student will check out in the Assistant Principal's office.
- You do not need to enter the building if you have called the absence in and communicated a pick-up location with your child. However, if you choose to pick up your child in the building, you must do so in the Assistant Principal's office. Upon entering the building, sign-in in the main office and proceed to the Assistant Principal's office.
All attendance procedures are outlined in detail in the Student Handbook. To report your child's absence, please call your child's assistant principal's office directly:
Dwight Kirksey--918.4139
Shiree Yeggins-Campbell--918.4132
Angela Thompson--918.4127
John E. Thomas--918.4131
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