National Gallup Student Poll

Students in grades 5 - 12 will be invited to participate in the Gallup Student Poll in late September. The Gallup Student Poll provides students with a forum to express the opportunities and challenges in their daily lives. The Gallup Student Poll is designed to aid educators in providing a more focused education -- one that builds engagement creates hope for the future, fosters talent and prepares students to participate meaningfully in our nation's economy by finding or creating a good job.

Gallup administers the poll and then aggregates and analyzes the results. The 24 core survey questions, demographic items, and additional index items will take the average student about 10 minutes to complete. The survey will be accessible through myPascoConnect. There will be a gray Gallup icon that will be pushed out to all students’ dashboards on Monday, September 28, 2020. This year, students will be taking the survey during schools hours from September 28 - October 26.

The 24 core items on the Gallup Student Poll measure and provide actionable data on four dimensions of student success:

• Engagement: The involvement in and enthusiasm for school. Engaged students are excited about what’s happening at their school and what they’re learning. Engaged students contribute to the learning environment, and they are psychologically committed to their school.
  
• Hope: The ideas and energy students have for the future. Hope has also been linked to student success in school. Hopeful students are positive about the future, are goal-oriented and can overcome obstacles in the learning process, enabling them to navigate a pathway to achieve their goals.
  
• NEW Belonging: Feeling accepted and included as part of the school. Students with a sense of belonging know there is an adult on their side and feel like valued members of their learning community.
• NEW Social and Emotional Learning: How people learn to understand and manage emotions and establish positive relationships with others.

Attention Class of 2021 families!

On Tuesday, October 6, 12th grade students will be taking the ACT. Pasco County School District is providing the test for all seniors free of charge. This is a great opportunity for all of you and I highly encourage you to participate!

The test will be offered at Wesley Chapel High School for both traditional students and students who are in MSOL. All students will be on campus to test. Students must be wearing a mask on campus and we will be following all ACT guidelines regarding testing rooms. Please know that you coming to campus does put you at risk for exposure to germs and illness. We will be doing our best to provide a healthy testing environment for all of our students and staff.

Students who are MSOL students and plan to drive themselves to the test will need to print this parking pass and leave it on your dashboard for the day of the test. Students who will be dropped off can do so in the front of the building. Please plan to be in your testing rooms by 7:26 am when the tardy bell rings.

Testing locations will be posted in the commons and will be communicated out the week prior to the test. Again, it is very important to be on time. Students who are late will miss the free opportunity to test. Once the test session begins students will not be allowed to enter. We hope to have standard time testing complete by 12:30. Students who are traditional students will be able to have lunch after they complete their test. Students who are MSOL will need to leave campus immediately after testing.

Please reach out to Mrs. Waselewski if you have any questions. jwaselew@pasco.k12.fl.us 12th grade Assistant Principal

Please support our efforts to keep our students and staff healthy. Screen your student daily using the Student Screener and contact a medical provider for further guidance if your student develops symptoms or you need medical guidance. COVID-19 testing is available in the community. Contact the school nurse (RN) or administrator immediately if your student receives a positive COVID-19 test result.

Prevention measures for COVID-19:

o The best way to prevent illness is by limiting exposure to the virus.

o Maintain proper social distancing (about 6 feet).

o Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

o If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

o Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

o Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when around others.

Pasco County Schools has established a partnership with Health Heroes to implement a flu vaccine program for all students this year. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical for our school communities to take advantage of this program designed to prevent influenza illness and reduce absenteeism.

We plan to offer no cost flu vaccine to all students on October 5 - 8.

This program is voluntary. Only children with consent forms signed and completed by the parent/guardian will be vaccinated. Consent forms will be mailed directly to each school and should be sent home 2 – 3 weeks before the scheduled date. Information will be provided to parents via district website, social media and messaging.

School nurses will be present during all vaccination clinics to assist you with logistics. If you have additional questions please contact Lisa Kern, Supervisor School Health Services at 42360.

Link to the Schedule

WCHS would like to announce that breakfast and lunches are now free to all students. Due to changes in the rules governing the federal school lunch program, Pasco Schools are allowing all students – and children 18 and under – to receive free meals.

Starting on Monday, September 14, students who attend class on campus will still be able to get meals in the school cafeteria, and now those meals will be free. Also starting on Monday, September 14, students who attend school remotely will still be able to receive school meals on a drive-through basis. Those meals also will be free. You can also get more information on Pasco’s school meal programs by visiting the Food and Nutrition Services web page at: https://connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/do/fns/

Here’s how the program will work for students who are learning remotely through mySchool Online or Pasco eSchool:

• Monday, September 14 through Thursday, September 17, the daily drive-through meal distribution will continue at the designated site time – and meals will now be free. Designated locations and times are listed here.
• On Friday, September 18, the school district will serve a week’s worth of meals (breakfast and lunch) curbside to mySchool Online students, quarantined students, and children in the community 18 years and under. That includes Pasco e-School students. We will keep the same times already established for curbside feeding. Curbside meal distribution will continue once a week on Fridays.
• We encourage families intending to participate curbside to complete the Meal Reservation Form so we can be best prepared for curbside participation. Parent/guardians no longer have to go to their child’s school; they can pick up meals from the site that is most convenient.

Parents, please take some time to look at these valuable resources to help keep our Wildcats safe. Please reach out if you need assistance.

Also, we are not allowed to have food delivery services for students on campus. This is a district policy and a safety issue to have strangers on campus.

Let's "meet" to discuss your plans! All grade levels!

Do you need help figuring out your next step? Do you have questions about the college application process? Are you wondering where you stand for your GPA and test scores for admission? Would you like to discuss trades, careers, or military service? Are you interested in seeing what you can do now to help yourself later? Email Mrs. Faysash at kfaysash@pasco.k12.fl.us so we can design a personalized plan for you!

Information on YEARBOOKS and SENIOR PORTRAITS:

• Last year's yearbook sold out quickly, so plan on pre-ordering your yearbook early. Yearbooks are currently being sold for $80 with a price increase on January 1, 2021. You can purchase through the student fee section or through Walsworth's website, www.yearbookforever.com.
• If you are purchasing anything extra, such as a protective cover or name engraving, you must make your purchase through Walsworth's site.
• Senior ads must be purchased though the Walsworth site. These are on sale now through January 31, 2021.
• Seniors, in order for your photo to appear in the senior section of the yearbook, you must have your photo session with Gigante no later than October 31, 2020. Contact Gigante at 813-907-1078 to schedule your appointment. There is a $15 sitting fee, but you are not obligated to purchase photos. Only Gigante photos can be featured in the senior section.
• Seniors, Gigante will no longer be offering sessions on campus. All Seniors will need to schedule time at their studio.
• Seniors, want a chance to win a free half page senior ad (valued at $200)? There are TWO ways to enter:

• Preorder your yearbook by Friday, September 11.
• Either get your senior portrait taken by Gigante OR contact them to schedule your session by Friday, September 11.

• If you have any questions regarding yearbooks or senior portraits, email Mrs. Ingram at pingram@pasco.k12.fl.us or call/text 813-485-6641.
• Students can preorder yearbooks using this link

When to Wear a Cloth Face Covering (Mask)

· The school district requires that all students, visitors, and employees wear a mask or other face covering while on school property and/or engaged in school activities, including outdoors when unable to maintain a distance.

· Transportation

· If you are a car rider, you should apply your face covering when you arrive at school before exiting your car in the parking lot.

· If you are a bus rider you should apply your face covering when you arrive at the bus stop. Face masks will be required on school buses.

When can I remove my Cloth Face Covering (Mask)

· You can remove your face covering when you are outdoors and able to maintain at least a safe distance from others, and at end of the day after you have exited the building.

· You can remove your face covering during meal and snack times. To the extent possible, maintain a 6 ft distance from others when you have your mask off.

· If occupying an office space by yourself, you can also safely remove your mask but should be ready to reapply as soon as others approach you.

Please remind your students to wear a face mask and keep their mouth and nose covered. This is for the protection of your student, other students, and staff members. Our number one goal is to keep everyone safe and healthy.

• Students must purchase parking passes ($40) through myStudent fees.
• All parking passes will be distributed during lunches during the first two weeks of school. Mr. Garza will distribute parking passes during lunch only.
• Students must have a copy of their driver's license, registration, and insurance in order to receive a parking pass.
• All new drivers must complete the Safe Behind the Wheel Canvas course located on our school website. Click here to access the course and complete it as soon as possible.
• All students, including students who drove last year, must purchase a new parking pass each year and update all vehicle information.
• Students parked without a permit may have their car booted.

The Parent Legal Notices and Emergency Card entry for families has in the myStudent system as of 8-4-20. Emergency cards must be complete before access to myStudent will be available. Please download the step-by-step instructions below for completing the emergency card. If you have questions or need assistance, please email myStudenthelp@pasco.k12.fl.us.