Notes from Dr. Irvin
Your WGHS Weekly eNews for May 5
Hello WGHS Families,
Anthony Kennedy served as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court after Reagan nominated him from 1988 until stepping down in 2018. After retiring, he spoke of a “crisis of civility” facing our nation, a lack of devotion to responsibility and rationality. Historically when the nation has been in a real or perceived predicament, education has served to salvage our republic. Part of the effort relates to the developing character in individuals and the collective community we share. However, character cannot be downloaded; it resists swift attainment in spite of the desire by caring adults and schools. Character is "engraved," "deeply etched,” according to Kierkegaard and the product of years of imprinting through experiences, both good and bad.
That imprinting happens in small moments, guiding conversations, and in response to difficult events in life and in schools. Those moments happen at WGHS, fostered in the classroom, outside during athletics and activities, and at times, completely independent of us. This work and responsibility is so much larger in scope then preparing for an intervening period of four years to attend a university, enter a career, or calling to service. We work with our students with ambition of launching a life of purpose.
I had the honor of attending the program last weekend to witness seniors Ivy Clark and Emma Rohrs as they were recognized at the Missouri Scholars 100. This program celebrates “exceptional scholarship, citizenship, and reliability." Like many of our students, they have spent years devoted to service, arts, athletics, and schooling. They possess both the capacity and will to not only continue to be virtuously marked but to leave their mark on Webster and the wider community. In this week alone, we had students working to plan service events for later this month and serving our community through our Chelsea Center experiences. As we wrap up with our seniors, I am heartened by the journey our students are on at Webster Groves.
Best,
Matt Irvin
Next Week's Schedule: Late-Start A, A, B, C, A
A Peek at the Week Ahead
- May 5: Statesmen Sports Awards, 7pm, Roberts Gym
- May 6: Senior Check-out, 10:20 a.m. - 3:25 p.m., Multi-purpose Room
- May 7: Jim Schoemehl Run, 7:30am, WGHS
- May 9: Late-Start A Day; school begins at 9:15, doors open at 8:30
- May 10: Choir Concert, 7pm, Webster Groves Presbyterian Church
- May 11: One-Acts, 7pm, Black Box Theatre
2021-22 Late-Start Days
District-wide Late-Starts in 2022-23
Beginning in the 22-23 school year, the Webster Groves School District has added late start days to the school calendar.
Late start days will allow for additional time for our teachers to use data and collaboratively plan to continue to address the needs of all of our students. Families who need help with student supervision on late start days can participate in a program available at each building (K-12). The times for the late start supervision program are included below:
Elementary Schools (K-5): Avery, Bristol, Clark, Edgar Road, Givens, and Hudson
Late Start Supervision Program: 7:40am-8:50am
School Day Arrival Begins @ 8:50am
School begins @ 9:05am
Hixson Middle School and Webster Groves High School
Late Start Supervision Program: 8:15am - 9:25am
School Day Arrival Begins @ 9:25am
School begins @ 9:40am
WGSD staff will manage the Late Start Supervision Program, including instructional aides and substitute teachers. Families who participate in the morning Adventure Club Program will automatically be enrolled in the Late Start Supervision Program for your building.
Registration in the Late Start Supervision Program will be for the entire school year (all late start days), so that we can appropriately plan for staffing for the 22-23 year. To register for the Late Start Supervision Program, families can log into the parent portal and follow the registration prompts. Registration will open on Wednesday, May 4 and continue through June 30. Families who enroll after June 30 will work with their schools to make a determination about Late Start Supervision for their family.
Please click here to go to the Parent Portal for registration https://sis.webster.k12.mo.us/wg360x3/parent
WGHS Welcomes New 2022-23 Staff Members
Freestyle Pool Passes
Dear Families,
The Freestyle Pool Pass is BACK for 2022, after a very successful inaugural year last summer. The Freestyle Pass removes barriers to the community swimming pool by providing free daily swim passes for individuals and families that require financial assistance. Thanks to the generosity of this amazing community, 604 pool passes were used last summer!
It is our pleasure to report that together we raised enough money last year to run the program again for summer 2022. Webster Groves is a great place to live, work, and play--and our community is striving to be consciously inclusive. We want everyone to feel welcome, included, and vital in all spaces! The Freestlye Pool Pass is a partnership of the Alliance for Interracial Dignity, the Webster Groves School District, and Webster Rock Hill Ministries. We are also grateful to the City of Webster Groves for their administrative efforts to accept and track the pool passes.
To those families who may currently be in need of financial support to access the pool, our goal (pending funding) is to provide:
- WGSD PreK – 5th grade students: 4 Freestyle Pool Passes per student upon request
- WGSD 6th – 12th grade students: 2 Freestyle Pool Passes per student upon request
- If you have more than one child attending the same WGSD school, then you will receive a family pack of Freestyle Pool Passes.
If you currently are in need of financial assistance and are interested in receiving Freestyle Pool Passes (each is good for one daily admission), then please complete this WGSD Freestyle Pool Pass Request Form by May 13, 2022, or contact your child’s counselor. The passes will be given to your child May 19 - 20, 2022. During pool season, Freestyle Pool Passes will also be available at Webster Rock Hill Ministries and inside the Rec Center front desk.
As the Freestyle Pool Pass program continues to find its footing in future years, we hope to expand the program to include snack bar vouchers and possibly swim instruction. We are not actively fundraising for summer 2022, but If you would like to support the program's future, the fund is being held by Webster Rock Hill Ministries (WRHM). Checks can be made payable to WRHM and mailed or brought to 111 East Waymire, Webster Groves, 63119. Checks must include “Freestyle Pass Fund” in the memo line. You may also donate online at http://bit.ly/wgfreestyle.
We look forward to seeing you at the pool this summer, which opens on May 27th!
Sincerely,
Dr. Shane Williamson
WGSD
Farrell Carfield
AID
Elyssa Sullivan
AID
Emerson Smith
WRHM
Celebrations
Win a Spot on the Lot Raffle
Support the mission of the WGHS Parents Club by purchasing a raffle ticket for your chance to win 1 of 2 Reserved Parking Spots in the Lot for your driving student for the 2022-2023 School Year. One entry for each $25 spent. Or you can buy 10 chances for $200.
Ticket purchase ends midnight on Thursday, May 26th. Drawing for two (2) winners will be held on May 27th with winners announced later that day.
$25 per ticket
$125 for five tickets
$200 for ten tickets
https://wghsparentsclub.org/products/spot-in-the-lot-raffle-tickets
Senior Car Parade Information for Seniors
The Senior Community Car Parade will be Saturday May 21st at 10am. Start gathering your friends and planning decorations for your vehicle to be part of the community celebration of you! The parade will start on Lockwood Ave West of Rockhill Stand run East on Lockwood Ave to Gore Ave. A link to sign up for the parade is attached. EVERY student that wants to participate must complete the sign up. The deadline to sign up is May 14. 2022 by 11:59 pm. Once you have signed up, you will receive a confirmation email with further instructions. Please feel free to contact Jennifer Pires at jenniferpires@sbcglobal.net with any questions.
To Report an Absence, Please Call:
Important 2022-23 Immunization Information
https://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/immunizations/pdf/2023schoolrequirements.pdf
2022-23 Bus Transportation
The Webster Groves School District is currently determining transportation needs for the fee-based service for the 2022-2023 school year. If your student will be attending Webster Groves High School or Hixson Middle School and you would like bus transportation for your student for the 2022-2023 school year, you must complete the application at the link below. Even if your student rode the bus last year, you must fill out a new application for the 2022-2023 school year. Please read the information in the link and fill out the form if you want your student to ride the bus for the 2022-2023 school year.
Application deadline is May 15, 2022.
Thank you,
WGSD Transportation
314-963-6413
News from the Chelsea Center
WGHS’ in-house experiential learning center
Student Opportunity Spotlight
Check out these opportunities available through GivePulse via the Chelsea Center Canvas course or stop by the Chelsea Center for more info.
Personal Employment
Does your child have a part-time or full-time job this summer? Encourage them to sign up for the Personal Employment summer school course. In this Chelsea Center course, students will learn how to articulate their learning from work in polished anecdotes, perfect for future interviews for jobs, scholarships and college applications! Through this course, students can earn elective credit as they earn their paychecks.
Service Learning
Is your child looking to serve the community while also strengthening their resume for their post-high school plans? Encourage them to sign up for the Chelsea Center Service Learning course where they can earn elective credit by volunteering. Team Chelsea will happily help them find volunteer opportunities within community organizations connected to their areas of interest.
Did You Know?
The last day of school is just a month away! Our last day of school is May 27, and students are released at 11:40 a.m. Please check our school calendar for the final exam schedule.
Counseling Office Updates
Digital Strike Will Award Online Google Career Certificates
Local digital marketing firm, Digital Strike, has announced they will be awarding 20 area high school students an opportunity to complete an online Google Career Certificate.
Upon completion, this certificate will propel students on the fast track to in-demand jobs within fields that are and will continue to be crucial to our country’s economy, including technology, science, business, finance, energy, and more.
For more information and to apply visit https://www.digitalstrike.com/google-growth-with-digital-strike/
College Admissions Testing
We have fielded a lot of questions regarding the ACT and SAT lately. Here's an article with answers to some of the top questions we hear.
2022-2023 Course Selections
Counselors are meeting individually with all students (during their Science class) to review student transcripts and finalize course requests for the 2022-2023 school year. Parents can view their child’s course requests in the parent portal by selecting the 2022-2023 school year (dropdown menu in upper right hand corner) and selecting “Course Requests” (menu on left). Please reach out to your child’s counselor if you have any questions.
In Person College Visits are Back
Beginning this week, admissions representatives will visit to meet with prospective juniors and seniors to share information about their institutions. Students who would like to meet with admissions representatives should sign up in the counseling office ahead of time and will receive a pass from class. To visit the full calendar, click here. Check back frequently as visits are being added daily.
Upcoming ACT and SAT National Test Dates (Saturdays)
Junior parents: Is your child planning to attend a four year college or university? While many colleges have been “test optional” for the past two years as a result of covid, plans for next year are not yet clear and many colleges will still require ACT or SAT scores for admission and/or scholarships. Here are the ACT and SAT test dates for the rest of the school year.
Shop the Parents' Club Spirit Store!
The Spirit Store is open! Hours are 8-9:15 a.m. daily.
The online store is open 24 hours a day at https://wghsparentsclub.org/collections.
Every time you shop at the Spirit Store, you are supporting student scholarships and teacher grants!
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