High School Highlights
Weekly Updates from Big Walnut High School
Week of November 29, 2021
We hope you and your family were able to enjoy some rest and relaxation over the Thanksgiving weekend! Please remember, students will be off on Monday, November 29 for staff professional development. It will be a short three weeks for us as we get ready to wrap-up courses for the semester, prepare for exams and get ready to move to our new building. Please be sure to continue to check our weekly newsletters as well as Schoology for important information.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teachers, school counselor or the administration if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to contact the main office at 740-965-3766 between the hours of 7:00 and 3:15.
Parking Information for the New High School
One of the things we are most excited about at the new high school is hopefully less traffic congestion! There will be three separate entrances and our goal is to keep buses, parent drop-off and student drivers separate to alleviate some of the gridlock with arrival in the morning.
Click here for a link to the parking map and plan for the new high school. Please note, there is no longer a separate parking lot for sophomores, juniors and seniors, but a single student parking lot that is first-come, first-served. There is, however, a separate lot for students who have late arrival.
An important announcement for our Junior and Senior Families:
The 2021-22 Prom Committee is excited to announce a venue and date change for this year's prom. We are holding the 2022 Prom at the gorgeous Irongate Equestrian Center in Croton on Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 from 8-11pm. This location is closer, more affordable, able to honor our originally requested date, and is an AMAZING event venue! If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Eckelbarger or Ms. Vituccio.
Looking Ahead: First Semester Exam Schedule
- Students will not be permitted to take exams at a different time unless permission is granted by administration. This is to be used sparingly and in extreme cases when a conflict exists.
- Students may leave the high school after their last exam each day. It is not required for a student to stay for the “lunch” or “individual instruction/makeup” times, unless they desire to do so or need to due to transportation issues. Those students will report to the cafeteria for study hall where a light lunch will be served during the first 20 minutes. Buses will run on a regular schedule and a student who wishes to ride the bus home may NOT leave campus.
- Senior students who have earned an “A” both quarters of a SEMESTER course do not have to take their exam. This applies to SEMESTER courses ONLY. The lone exception is the American Government exam, that the State of Ohio is requiring all students to take.
- In the event a calamity/snow day occurs, the cancelled exams will be given on the very first day school is back in session. The remaining exams will be given, in order, on subsequent days.
Delaware Area Career Center (DACC) Application Now Open
The DACC online application for the 2022-2023 school year is NOW OPEN. If your student is interested in attending our career center next year, take a moment to visit our application page and read through the steps. Continue reading below for important dates and deadlines. Please reach out if we can be a resource for you as you continue to explore DACC.
Before applying, it is required that students thoroughly research the program(s) selected on their application to ensure they understand the program's curriculum and the expectations of the program. Please visit DACC's Future Family Resource Page to learn more about DACC's career and college-prep programs. Experience a virtual and interactive tour of DACC's campus, hear from students and instructors while watching program overview videos, read through each program's detailed fact sheet or schedule a time to connect for more information.
PRIORITY DEADLINE: JANUARY 14
We want to make sure every family who is interested in DACC takes their time in making this decision and weighs all of their options. However, keep in mind that our Priority Deadline is January 14. All applications submitted before the Priority Deadline are evaluated in the first round of the application review.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping: Important Info You Should Know
BWHS Academic Boosters
The Big Walnut High School Academic Boosters are a group of parents with a mission to improve the academic experience for all students while enrolled at Big Walnut High School. Throughout the year, our booster group sponsors events that promote high academic achievement as well as recognizing our teachers and staff.
Join us on 1/10, 2/15, 3/14, 4/11 and 5/9 @ 6:30pm
in the high school Innovation Center!
FFA Success
Last week, our Food Science & Technology CDE team qualified for the state contest! The state event will take place on December 4, 2021, at The Ohio State University. They did so by placing first at the district level against nine other finalist teams from all around central Ohio. To advance to this level, students complete another round of the applied practicums they completed last week and worked together to respond to a product development scenario. In this scenario, they developed a dry soup mix called "Make Together Soup."
Individually, our students represented our chapter well. Team members include: Haylie McComas (1st), Mallory Cline (2nd), Olivia Jenkins (3rd), Landon Sewell (5th), Garret Osborne (Alternate)
Please wish them luck as they prepare for the state event. At this level, they will have the opportunity to compete for scholarships and a chance to represent Ohio at the national level.
Updates from the School Counseling Office
Pre-ACT:
The PreACT will be given on December 7th. The google form for signing up will be available on Monday, November 22 through Friday, December 3rd. It will be $12 a student. This test is for 10th and 11th graders only and there is limited seating.
Second Semester Schedule Changes:
The google form for 2nd semester course request changes will be available November 22nd - December 3rd. The form will be shared out through schoology. You may only request changes to 2nd semester courses and/or study hall periods. Courses can only be added to those available spots if they are open and offered then. Not all request will be able to be met.
SENIORS: Important Reminders
Please remember, December 1 is another big college application deadline!
Seniors, for those of you preparing for post-secondary education:
- WORK ON YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS-- Many colleges have application fees. Students whose family meets certain low income federal income guidelines may be eligible for fee waivers.
- REMEMBER TO REQUEST TEACHER RECOMMENDATION LETTERS IN PERSON-- Teachers should be given at a minimum two weeks to write letters.
- COMPLETE THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (Link to the FAFSA)
- REGISTER FOR NCAA ELIGIBILITY--If you plan to play NCAA Division I or II sports in college.
Also, please be sure to check the BWHS Counseling Website for all kinds of helpful information including Graduation Requirements, ACT/ SAT and After High School Plan (Military Information, Naviance, etc. ). We've also recently added a Financial Aid Video Presentation, check it out using passcode W&Bp1Lk.
School Counselors:
Meghan Vituccio: A-F (grades 9 & 10); A-G (grades 11 & 12)
Jeanne Collett: G-M (grades 9 & 10); H-O (grades 11 & 12)
Tammi Jordan: N-Z (grades 9 & 10); P-Z (grades 11 & 12)
Cindi Strahler, Administrative Assistant
740-965-2243
Upcoming Events at BWHS...
November 29: NO SCHOOL-Teacher Professional Development
December 1-10: State End-of-Course Retakes
December 2: Final Day for Senior Portraits (10:15-12:30)
December 7: Pre-ACT
December 8: Music Department Holiday Concert
- (Choir and Orchestra @ 7:00pm; Band @ 8:00pm)
December 10: College Application Day (IC)
December 15-21: Semester Exams
December 16: New Building Dedication Ceremony
December 22-January 3: NO SCHOOL-Winter Break
January 4: First Day of Second Semester at the New Building!
Big Walnut High School
Email: firstnamelastname@bwls.net
Website: http://www.bwls.net/bigwalnuthighschool_home.aspx
Location: 555 South Old 3C Road, Sunbury, OH, United States
Phone: 740-965-3766
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigWalnutHS
Twitter: @AndyJados