WECHS PWM 9/18/2020
WECHS Principal's Weekly Message, Friday, September 18, 2020
Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a productive week and can look forward to a restful weekend and some refreshingly cooler temperatures.
You may have noticed in the news and on social media much conversation around a return-to-school plan. Next week I anticipate the WCPSS School Board will continue the conversation and will make a decision soon. The WCPSS School Board work sessions and meetings are accessible via live stream on the district’s youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/WakeCountySchools if you want to watch it live. Once we have a decision and plan from the WCPSS School Board, we will begin working with you on the next steps.
This coming Monday, September 21 is Senior/Super Senior Picture day on Perry Health Science campus in the student lounge. Students must sign-up for a time online with Lifetouch/Prestige Portraits. See attached document for full details. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d7bORGceRLhl832ypjVa7iZ9Ma33_ep45ZUWZgMSeEE/edit?usp=sharing
This photography session is for students who are planning to or may graduate in 2021. Plans for non-graduates school photos will be coming soon.
Students should arrive at their appointed time to check-in. Tables will be placed outside of the PHS lounge entrance to check temperatures and to answer health screening questions. Here are some reminders of guidelines:
Mask wearing and 6-foot distance required. Do not congregate on campus.
- Bring one guest with you to help you put on the formal outfit. Prestige photographers will not be able to assist you due to social distancing restrictions.
- Each Senior is only allowed one guest and that guest must wear a mask (not provided).
- If you feel sick, please do not come for your appointment. There will be a future opportunity to have your images taken. (Oct 16 is the make-up day.)
- Along with a casual outfit, guys should bring a plain white t-shirt to wear under the tuxedo and girls should bring a tank top to wear under the off-the-shoulder drape.
- You must register online for an appointment time. Walk-ins will not be allowed.
- You should arrive dressed in your casual outfit.
Fall Meet the Teacher Night (virtual)
We will host a virtual Meet the Teacher Night Tuesday, September 22 for both campuses. Principal Cummings will hold a live launch and then provide links to pre-recorded sessions with staff and teachers. There will be links to sign up for 1:1 conferences with staff. We are providing pre-recorded sessions so that you can watch at a time convenient for your family. The link will be available by Tuesday morning.
Save the Date for virtual North Campus Parent Pulse Check Meeting
September 24th at 5:30. See attached flyer: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-sFeMlIPdYjVXqAINlFamPU9g3hC5ckexiAMowQeGcE
Monday, September 28 is a Remote Learning day for high school courses and a regular school day for WTCC. Students are expected to complete work that day.
Monday and Tuesday, October 5-6 is Fall Break for WTCC.
Monday, October 5 is a teacher workday for high school courses. Tuesday, October 6 now a school day for high school courses (state-legislated additional day).
The 2020-2021 yearbook is going to be a book to treasure for years to come. Make sure to purchase early to get the LOWEST PRICE of the year. If you choose to personalize your book (students can choose from monograms, crests, name stamps) you will be able to choose 4 FREE Icons as well during this Back to School Promotion! Please note – this offer ends on October 23rd. You can purchase online at http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01106613
We are excited to welcome our new math teacher, Mr. Linehan, to WECHS on Monday. He will teach Precalculus and one of the Math 3 courses!
As plans evolve regarding high school athletics, WECHS students interested should monitor the Enloe athletics sites.
WECHS Clubs
Club information including meeting dates, times, and Google Classroom links has been provided via PULSE and HS Seminar. Please contact that teacher if you do not have the information.
WECHS PHS Daily Schedule
Please work with your student to make sure an appropriate amount of time is being spent on asynchronous work daily. The daily synchronous time is as critical as the asynchronous classwork AND homework. If students work better in the morning, then help to develop a routine that allows for this. Students have been inactive for months and need your help in getting back up to speed with daily schedules. We have many resources available if students need additional help.
WECHS Resources:
Ms. McAlexander is available for virtual learning skills support Monday-Friday at 10:00-11:00 and as needed. The Google Meet link is on the student activity calendar every day. Please email Ms. McAlexander (rmcalexander@wcpss.net) to let her know you'd like support during this time to make sure that she is active in the Google Meet. She can support students with time management, study skills, preparing an effective home learning environment, creating a work schedule, getting organized, communicating effectively with teachers, and self-advocacy.
Ms. Wilcox is available after school hours for virtual tutoring, review, and study hall. Please email her with requests, mcwilcox@wcpss.net.
Mr. Arnold’s College Homeroom will meet Monday, Thursday, and Friday during sophomore’s block for ACA/HEA110. This is mandatory and attendance will be taken. HEA110 will meet with the students on Tuesday and ACA will meet on Wednesday.
The Governor issued a new executive order recently regarding proof of immunizations. All 12th grade immunization requirements and health assessments are now due by September 30th, 2020. Families will be receiving an email next week only if students still need to provide proof of immunization. Students will be granted a 30-day grace period which expires on October 30th, 2020. This means students will be excluded from school (in-person or virtually) on October 31st, 2020.
WTCC Textbooks and Materials update:
At this time, all students should have the materials that they need for class. If a student is still missing materials that they need for class (textbooks, access codes, etc.) they should contact Mrs. Hennings (shennings@wcpss.net) or 919-532-5600 ASAP. Additionally, students should verify that the books that they received are the correct books for their courses (prior to opening the packaging). Occasionally students’ schedules change after textbooks are pulled and some errors do occur.
Laptops and Hotspots: If you need either a laptop or hotspot, please contact Mrs. Lachance at mlachance@wcpss.net. Wake Tech proctoring software requires a web camera and the WECHS laptops have this feature. If you need a WECHS laptop, please also contact Mrs. Lachance.
Wake Tech College Courses Fall 2020
Wake Tech Calendar
https://www.waketech.edu/calendar/month
WECHS students are enrolled in Wake Tech online only or synchronous (class is held online at specified time) classes. Students should email college instructors if they need to verify synchronous meeting times.
Contact Ms. Graham, amgraham1@waketech.edu with questions regarding the WTCC courses.
Contact Ms. Wooten, gmwooten@wcpss.net, with questions regarding North Campus.
Driver’s License Updates from WCPSS: Obtaining a Driving Eligibility Certificate (DEC) during COVID-19 school building closure: Students are only eligible to receive a Driving Eligibility Certificate during this time if they have a confirmed appointment with the NC DMV within 30 days of the date of the request. Email Mr. Abbott with your confirmation email at rabbott@wcpss.net. Mr. Abbott will schedule an appointment with you to pick up your DEC.
Testing:
WCPSS and WECHS will participate in the winter administration of the PSAT/NMSQT on January 26, 2021. We will share details as they become available. Testing Coordinator: Robin McAlexander (rmcalexander@wcpss.net)
WECHS Recruitment:
The Early College Application period will be October 15 through December 14 for rising 9th and 10th graders.
We have two upcoming virtual outreach events. As you may remember, prospective families often want to hear from current families to help them make decisions. We need volunteers. If you are willing to participate in a virtual event, please email Robin McAlexander at rmcalexander@wcpss.net.
Early College Fair Saturday, October 17 9:00-11:00 am
Magnet & Early College Fair Saturday, November 7 9:00 - Noon
Student Services:
Class of 2021 Updates:
Graduation for the Class of 2021 will take place on Wednesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. Mandatory Rehearsal will be on Tuesday, May 25 at 1:30 p.m.
Scholarships: Please visit our WECHS Student Services website for more information on scholarships and financial aid: https://wechs-student-services.weebly.com/scholarships-and-financial-aid1.html
Here is the link to the scholarship bulletin: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cfKGNl2-GyFIwgaxKdW5iCoumaZlnyjS_yD6UDuNuGI/edit?usp=sharing
There are several scholarships where WECHS can nominate students for consideration. The biggest of these scholarships include the UNC-Chapel Hill Morehead Cain Scholarship, NCSU Park Scholarship, NC A&T and NCCU Cheatham White Scholarships, and the UNC-Charlotte Levine Scholarship.
The NCSU Park Scholarship WECHS application to be considered for nomination is due September 21.
Dates for the Cheatham White and UNC-Charlotte Levine have not been posted yet.
See Scholarship Bulletin with information on how to apply to be considered for school nomination: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cfKGNl2-GyFIwgaxKdW5iCoumaZlnyjS_yD6UDuNuGI/edit?usp=sharing
For all students:
Over the past few weeks, Student Services virtually introduced Naviance during the PULSE Classes and HS Seminar. This new tool offers valuable information and resources and will assist career and college planning. Ms. Lachance, Mr. Muse, and Ms. Hill appreciated the students’ participation and great questions.
College virtual visits are starting now for our students. These will be best for juniors and seniors/superseniors, but all grade levels may participate in the visits (but may not miss synchronous sessions to do so!) College visits are posted in Naviance under the College Home tab. The college visits are also visible on the Student Activity Calendar.
Join or rejoin the class Student Services REMINDS (all for rising grade-level for 2020-2021):
For Super Seniors: TEXT @21WECHS to 81010
For Seniors: TEXT @WECHS12th to 81010
For 11th Graders: TEXT @WECHS11 to 81010
For 10th Graders: TEXT @WECHS1920 to 81010
For 9th Graders: TEXT @2020WECHS to 81010
Career Development Corner -
Please be sure to visit Ms. Hill’s website for the most up-to-date opportunities and information.
Parents, are you interested in joining the WECHS Business Alliance? The purpose of the WECHS Business Alliance is to help identify current industry trends, participate in opportunities for student growth, and network with other community organizations. The Business Alliance meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Please contact Ms. Hill at nhill@wcpss.net to participate.
Check out this amazing virtual college exploration opportunity!
There are both live and recorded sessions (if you're unable to attend). The conference will take place from September 14 - October 9. Over 200 colleges are represented from 26 states. This conference is open to parents and students. https://cacrao.org/programs/2020-high-school-student-registration
Next Thursday, students will have an opportunity to participate in a session focused on getting into medical school and the day to day experiences as a medical student. We will be hosting a 3rd year med student currently completing her pediatric rotation.
Virtual HBCU College Fair - Representatives from various HBCUs within the state of North Carolina will provide information regarding the current admissions process. You must register to participate. The event will take place on Monday, September 21, 2020 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM EDT
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-hbcu-college-fair-tickets-119831901443?aff=ebdssbeac
Are you interested in computer science? The STARS Computing Corps, part of the Computer Science department at NC State University (http://stars.ncsu.edu) is inviting students to apply to the FLAMES program: Future Leaders in Algorithms, Mathematics, and Engineering Sciences.
This FREE outreach program meets weekly on Saturdays at 1:00 pm Eastern Time (Sept. 19 - Nov. 21) and aims to introduce 9th through 12th-grade students to a rich variety of computer science activities (prior experience not required).
Remember to sign-up for Ms. Hill’s Reminds
9th grade students - @wec-cdc-09
10th grade students - @wec-cdc-10
11th grade students - @wec-cdc-11
12th grade students - @wec-cdc-12
Super Seniors - @wec-cdc-13
Ms. Hill and Ms. Graham met virtually with the Junior and Senior Health Science Seminar classes with the North Campus students and discussed Naviance’s Career Interest Profiler and how it’s beneficial when looking at their academic planning for next year. Ms Graham will be meeting with students next week to focus on course options and scheduling.
Are you currently enrolled in a college-level health professions education training program in North Carolina? If so, please visit the Wake AHEC scholars program website to learn how you may be eligible to apply for the NC AHEC Scholars program.
https://www.wakeahec.org/scholars.htm
Any students who are unable to log into Rapid Identity to access email or Google Classroom should email or call Mrs. Peppers, lpeppers2@wcpss.net / (984) 235-6011, or email Ms. McAlexander, rmcalexander@wcpss.net, for a password reset. Your counselor can also assist you.
WECHS calendar: https://www.wcpss.net/cms/lib/NC01911451/Centricity/Domain/19/2020-2021%20KHS%20NWCCA%20VMCCA%20WECHS%20SL.pdf (note no one is reporting to campus at this time)
Please take care of yourself and your family. Contact us with any questions.
Principal Cummings lcummings@wcpss.net 919-341-9844