Notes from Dr. Irvin
Your Weekly eNews for October 8
Hello Parents and Guardians,
As you are aware we are seeing schools in our community and nearby have announced the reopening of in-person schooling. We are working with our district team and researching other schools to formulate options as we approach potential initiating face-to-face instruction later in the 2020-2021 school year.
I know as a parent and an educator, we are obligated to have safety for students and staff at the center of our planning but we will have no perfect plan or execution as we implement. I also recognize that not being in school is corrosive for many of our students: they miss the interaction and immersion with staff and peers they have had in previous years. No plan will be universally agreed upon or supported, as we all look to balance safety and the value of being back fully at WGHS. While we soberly weigh and consider the aforementioned conundrum in the interim, please know we are earnestly looking to return to school in some fashion as soon as we can reasonably do so safely.
Regards,
Matt Irvin
P.S. Our fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are virtual and will be held on October 13-15. Conferences will be scheduled via PTCFast.com and held via Zoom. Please see the schedule, details, and link to sign up below.
Schedule Your Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
Please join us! October 13, 14, and 15 via Zoom
Tuesday, October 13
5 - 8 p.m.
Wednesday, October 14
1:10 - 3:10 p.m.
Thursday, October 15
5 - 8 p.m.
(Departments will have a rotating 10-minute break on Tuesday/Thursday evening.)
We're looking forward to meeting with you virtually. This fall, all conferences will be held virtually via Zoom and scheduled using PTCFast.com.
The purpose of the conference is to give parents and teachers an opportunity to discuss student progress and to work together to ensure student achievement. Parents should know the names of the teachers they wish to visit within each department. We urge you to schedule as many of your child’s teachers as time permits. Up to SEVEN minutes will be allotted for each conference.
We will be using the PTCFast system for scheduling conferences. Please see instructions below on how to schedule conference times.
As you prepare for conferences, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Teachers will call all parents who they have the greatest need to meet.
- Please check your child's progress online in the Parent Portal. This will assist in determining whether you need to schedule a conference/meet with a teacher.
- You may choose not to see all or any of your child's teachers, depending on their progress.
- For specific questions, an email to the teacher may suit your needs.
We look forward to meeting with you via Zoom. If you desire more than the seven minutes allowed at these conferences, please set up an individual teacher conference.
How to Schedule Conferences with Your Child's Teachers
Conferences will be scheduled online using www.ptcfast.com. Please note that you must have a personal email account (ex. Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, etc.) in order to schedule a conference for your student. Conferences will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. You must register your student for each teacher with whom you wish to meet.
- Please click on or enter the following web address into your browser window to get started: https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Webster_Groves_High_School_1
- Next, select your child's teacher; you can select more than one if applicable to your family.
- You will then register your child's name, then your name and contact information. This creates a registration for each child and sends you a confirmation email with a link to choose a conference time for that teacher. It is a two-step process, as the first registration just gets you into the system. Going to the email that is generated from your registration and clicking on the active link will allow you to choose a conference time for the teacher.
- Once you have chosen a time for each teacher with whom you wish to visit, you will receive a confirmation email with the schedule.
Click here to view the privacy policy for www.ptcfast.com.
Teachers will send the Zoom link via email to all parents, and post the link on their Canvas page.
Friendship Dance is Canceled
While this probably isn’t coming as a surprise, it is still disappointing to share that due to ongoing concerns and restrictions regarding COVID-19, Webster Groves and Kirkwood High Schools have canceled the 2020 Friendship Dance scheduled for November 7 at Kirkwood High School. The dance will not be possible with the precautions and limitations that are necessary at this time. We know that you have been looking forward to this event, and we are truly sorry. We will share additional information about other events connected with Turkey Day as we get more information on COVID-19 numbers and local/district guidelines.
This Week's Student Announcements
Tutoring Opportunities Available
Students: We are in the process of providing opportunities for students to receive and provide tutoring opportunities. Below are specific links that will allow you to select your particular interest.
Below is the link for students who want to be a tutor:
Below is the link for students requesting a tutor:
If you are selected to provide tutoring services this time can count towards A+ Hours. Tutoring will begin Tuesday, October 6. If you have any questions regarding the options feel free to contact Dr. Yeggins at Yeggins.shiree@wgmail.org or Ms. Dana Miller at Miller.Dana@wgmail.org.
2020-21 Yearbook Sales Information
2021 Yearbooks are on sale! Early bird pricing of $60 will last until November 13 (extended deadline). Yearbooks can be ordered from yearbookordercenter.com (#8459)
Counseling Department Updates
Seniors: As a reminder, colleges will use information from your FAFSA to determine your federal, state, and their own institutional financial aid. Complete the FAFSA online at https://fafsa.ed.gov
As a reminder, WGHS school counselors and social workers are working to support the academic, social and emotional, and post-secondary planning needs of our students. If you or your child are having difficulties or need assistance, please reach out to their counselor or social worker.
School Counselors
A-E Alex King (king.alexandria@wgmail.org)
F-K Ken Winingham (winingham.ken@wgmail.org)
L-R Joe Hepfinger (hepfinger.joe@wgmail.org)
S-Z Simone Cunningham (cunningham.simon@wgmail.org)
College and Career Counselors
A-K Karen Verstraete (verstraete.karen@wgmail.org)
L-Z Jennedy Lombard (lombard.jennedy@wgmail.org)
School Social Workers
Anne Gibbs (gibbs.anne@wgmail.org)
Anne Marie Guntli (SSD) (guntli.ann@wgmail.org)
Did You Know?
You can view and pay your student's fines and fees in the Parent Portal!
We still have many students with outstanding fines. Please take a moment to check your student's fines in the Parent Portal (you'll see a box to the right called "Fees and Billing"). You can pay your fine directly in SIS!
Other Important News
Congratulations to Chloe O’Brien, Norah Rohlfing, Josie Buescher, Grace Miller, and Alexis Romano, members of the St. Louis Synergy Synchronized Skating Junior Team, who have been named by U.S. Figure Skating to the International Selection Pool (ISP) for the 2020-2021 season, one of only nine Junior teams in the country to have this honor!
Ivory Crockett Run For Webster
The annual Ivory Crockett Run For Webster has gone virtual this year! Run one (or several) of our 5k routes near each of our schools, try out our Ivory Crockett Challenge Course, or choose your own 5k anywhere you want!
We always have fun family activities at the run, and this year is no different! On Saturday, October 17th 1-4pm, we'll be holding scavenger hunts at all of the WG elementary schools. We hope you can join us for fun and maybe even see a few special guests!
Registration for runners closes on October 17, but you have until October 31st to complete your run.
Registration is open now!
For registration and information check us out at www.wgsdfoundation.org
or email us any questions at RunForWebster@gmail.com
Please help the Teacher and Staff Appreciation Committee show our staff some LOVE!
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0c4dafa72da4fb6-support
Donate at the Parents' Club website: www.wghsparentsclub.org
Meal Pick-Up Information
New Spirit Wear is Now Available Online!
Your 2020-2021 spirit wear is now available online!
Visit the online store to see what's new and get your orders in for the stuff you want to wear!
COVID-19 Information
St. Louis County COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Testing
Getting tested for COVID-19 has never been more important during this pandemic than it is now. More than 260,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in St. Louis County. This crucial to our efforts to contain the spread of the virus and is a major factor in understanding the patterns of its spread.
This includes testing for those who are asymptomatic and anyone who had close contact with the public to get a test – even if they haven’t had direct contact with someone who was positive. Testing is available to anyone who requests it. To make an appointment for a free test through St. Louis County Department of Public Health, click here or call 314-615-0574.
Drive-through testing is done at the following DPH clinics:
6121 North Hanley Road in Berkeley
4580 Lindbergh Blvd. in South County
Missouri residents who may be experiencing stress and anxiety related to COVID-19 may call the “Show Me Hope Line” at 800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 for assistance. The service is available 24 hours a day throughout the week. For additional information, please click here.
Click below for instructions on how to become an observer in Canvas.
Canvas Help/Tutorials
Here are some quick helpful tips when trying to log in to Clever to get to your Canvas courses, as well as attend your Zoom sessions.
- If Zoom is not working through Canvas, please go to https://zoom.us/ and click on Join Meeting. Do not go through Clever or from the URL that was previously provided. Teachers are being advised to post their meeting id number and password for the session on their Canvas pages and through their email.
- When logging into Clever, please make sure that you are first signed out of all gmail accounts except for the student's wgcloud email. Then, navigate to https://clever.com/in/wgsd and then click on Login with Google (NOT LOGIN WITH CLEVER).
After logging into Clever, you should then see the red Canvas icon. Please click on Canvas to then view your student's courses.
For all Zoom sessions, you should go to the teacher's course page and be able to click on the Zoom session link there. Each teacher was advised to put the link in a visible spot with the password there. If you do not see the link or password please reach out to your classroom teacher. At no point will a student need to login to Zoom.; they will click on the link provided and enter the password for the meeting.
Clever, Canvas, and Zoom Status Updates
Technology
For students or families having technology issues, please do the following:
- For specific Canvas issues, contact Ms. Liz Forderhase at forderhase.liz@wgmail.org or call her at 314.963.6400, ext. 11928.
- Below is a link to the technology support ticket system we are utilizing to help give our learners and families the most efficient system to help us keep track of technology support requests. Use this site to submit when you are having technology difficulties with your child's equipment/access/accounts/etc.
https://wgsd.on.spiceworks.com/portal
As always, you are welcome to contact us at 314.963.6400 for assistance.
Stay Connected
Weekly eNews: Every Thursday via email, parents with a valid email address in our student database will receive automatically. This is sent via Smore Newsletters.
Progress reports/Report cards: We will send an email with instructions on how to view at the end of each progress period via the Parent Portal. If you have any questions about this service, please call Mickey Erb at 918.4123.
School Messenger: Important news via email or phone blast. We use this service most often for communicating with families.
Customize How You Receive Communications from Us
Please see the link below to set up how you receive messages from WGHS. https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=19
Opt in to Receive Texts from Us
The Webster Groves School District uses the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages straight to your mobile phone with important information about school closings, safety alerts and more. If we have a mobile phone number for you on file, you can participate in this service just by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. You can opt out of these messages at any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop.”
If you don’t want to receive texts, please know that the district will continue to use phone notifications for important messages.
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