WECHS Principal's Weekly Message 5/21/2021
Happy Friday! What a beautiful day today! It’s been fun to see students on PHS yesterday and today for finals. We wrap up exam week Monday. I’m sending a giant sized CONGRATULATIONS to North students...actually to ALL students...and staff, and families, for tackling this crazy year. We did it. Thank you to everyone for the patience, grace, flexibility, and commitment to our students.
High School Final Exams:
PHS final exams are scheduled for May 20-24.
Only state exams will be administered in person. When your student does not have an in-person exam scheduled, they are not expected to be at school.
Students may be picked up when their exam session has ended. Complete and return this form to the WECHS office in person or by email (rabbott@wcpss.net) on or before the day of the exam if you would like to pick your student up without coming inside. If your student uses bus transportation, they will leave at 2:05.
Remaining State Exams:
Monday, May 24, 7:25 - 11:45 Math 3
Teachers will provide information to students about the exams for the classes that do not involve state testing. Dates for synchronous virtual exams are also on the student calendar, which can be viewed from the WECHS website, https://www.wcpss.net/healthscienceec
There is still time to order a WECHS Yearbook and Graduation Pictures will be included!
Yearbook Order Link Yearbooks will be shipped in July and we will arrange a pick up after they have arrived.
North Campus Textbook collection for Spring 2021 textbooks:
Mrs. Hennings needs all textbooks (for all north campus students) returned before May 24th!
Staff will be available on north campus through May 24th from 8am-2pm daily. Please stop by C335 or C344 to drop off books. Alternatively, you can email Mrs. Hennings to make an appointment. shennings@wcpss.net
PHS Materials Return:
All hotspots must be returned to the school. WCPSS has asked for them.
Teachers will communicate with students which classroom items need to be returned.
Students who were issued a WCPSS Chromebook will want to return that item and have a WECHS IBM Thinkpad issued as the Chromebooks will not work with WTCC courses.
Students who were issued a WECHS IBM Thinkpad will ONLY need to return that device if leaving WECHS.
All WECHS Students will be issued a new IBM Thinkpad device late in the fall semester. (This is specific to WECHS, most other WCPSS students will receive a new Chromebook this fall.) Students are responsible for the WCPSS and WECHS devices currently in their possession.
PreACT reports have arrived at WECHS. We distributed them to the students who are on campus. We will hand out reports to Virtual Academy on the day of the English II EOC exam. Email Robin McAlexander at rmcalexander@wcpss.net with questions.
Student Services Class of 2021 Updates:
2021 Commencement and Graduation Events
PHS Graduation Parking:
As we can’t anticipate traffic and WTCC is in session, please try to park using the following guidelines: enter the parking deck via the unnamed road JUST PAST the deck (carpool entrance) and exit though the ‘normal’ route via the stop light. Keeping traffic flowing in one continual direction will help everyone get parked quickly. A map will be sent to graduates via Remind next week. Reminder: graduates will meet in PHS lounge, Building C, 30 minutes prior to your scheduled ceremony. Your guests can enter Building A 5 minutes prior to your ceremony. All guests must have a ticket for that specific time to be admitted. No exceptions.
Graduations for the Class of 2021: May 26th in the morning on PHS campus. WECHS will hold four Commencement Ceremonies to accommodate all graduates. No outside guests without a ticket will be able to attend due to capacity restrictions. Each graduate will receive 4 tickets. Tickets were distributed in the graduation bags given out at book drop/off, graduate parade. If you missed picking up your graduation regalia and tickets, contact Ms. Lachance at mlachance@wcpss.net to arrange pick-up.
Details can be found here: Commencement Information and Reminders 2021 (2).pdf
All fees, books, and supplies must be returned/paid for to participate in graduation. Ms. Hennings has emailed all students with missing books and supplies. Parents will also be contacted if there are still items missing.
The individual ceremonies will be recorded by Creative Visions and a link sent to the students and families of that ceremony when it is received that afternoon. Live streaming was not approved by WCPSS.
Graduate Picnic: Celebrate with fellow graduates. May 26, 1-3 pm. Per WTCC only WECHS 2021 Graduates and Staff are permitted at this event. A boxed lunch, water, outdoor games, and music will be provided. Graduates can sit on self-provided blankets/chairs or on the lawn/amphitheatre.
Graduation Fee $25: What it covers: costs associated with graduation ceremony, and honors and awards. Can be paid online at: https://osp.osmsinc.com/WakeNC/BVModules/CategoryTemplates/Detailed%20List%20with%20Properties/Category.aspx?categoryid=AG150
Scholarships: Please visit our WECHS Student Services website for more information on scholarships and financial aid. There are many links to scholarship search engines. https://wechs-student-services.weebly.com/scholarships-and-financial-aid1.html
Here is the link to the scholarship bulletin which pulls off a handful from these search engines: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cfKGNl2-GyFIwgaxKdW5iCoumaZlnyjS_yD6UDuNuGI/edit?usp=sharing
Graduate Spotlights
If you would like to have your graduate featured on WECHS social media for our Graduate Spotlights, please send a photo and a summary of their plans after graduation to rmcalexander@wcpss.net. You or they can also message us through Facebook or Instagram.
Other info from the Student Services Department:
New Student Summer Camp
WECHS students in grades 9 and 10 (especially students new to campus) this fall are asked to participate in a summer camp on Friday, August 6. See invitation for details.
SEL Focus in May was on Relationship Skills. See the newsletter here.
CFNC is launching Take Your Dreams Off Hold: College Is Within Reach! This campaign supports high school seniors and parents, to help them complete the three important steps for college enrollment for the fall semester: college application, FAFSA, and residency.
Please click here for more information on residency, FAFSA, and college application completion.
For additional information on upcoming events and opportunities, please see CFNC’s Take Your Dreams Off Hold newsletter.
Career Development Corner:
Please be sure to visit Ms. Hill’s website for the most up-to-date opportunities, including summer jobs, health science enrichment experiences and other valuable 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 complete this form.
A big thank you to the WTCC Health Science Programs for sharing their valuable program information. The presenters included academic programming, career opportunities and industry trends. The WECHS Works Wednesdays and Thoughtful Thursdays were a huge success and we look forward to continued collaboration and sessions next school year!
The New Phase of NCcareers.org has Launched! Visit this NC one-stop-shopping Job and Career information site to explore new features, and a voluntary user Login (connected with CFNC). This is an important milestone in advancing NCcareers.org and providing high quality career information to ALL North Carolinians. Check out these videos to learn more. NCCareers.org - New Features for 2021! and NCCareers.org for Middle and High School Students |
Save the Date: Campbell University will hold in-person STEM day camps during June and July. Additional details will be shared in the near future.
NCSU Summer Programs 2021
Several weeks throughout the summer
Different programs from agricultural science, veterinary science, biology, chemistry, engineering, and more! Costs, registration times and age groups vary.
Learn more here: https://emas.ncsu.edu/precollege/programs/high-school-students/
The North Carolina Zoo offers four, in person camps geared for those in rising 6th grader through 1st year college undergrad who are interested in science, animals, and research. The camp’s hand-on activities mimic field work conservation scientists undertake in the wild and offer a realistic overview of what it might be like to follow in the footsteps of conservation heroes, like Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey. Campers will have the unique and exciting experience of exploring the Zoo at night, where they will try out night-time research tools to observe and study Zoo animals and native wildlife. For even more information about the camp, visit their website at: https://www.nczoo.org/education/camps/wild-animal-science-camps
There is a fee associated with the camp and scholarships are available. Click here for a scholarship application. Please note, the scholarship deadline is approaching soon.
Wake Tech Fall 2021
WECHS students must accept Wake Tech COVID agreement before being registered for
Fall 2021 classes. See email from Mrs. Graham with instructions on accepting COVID agreement.
Students may book an advising appointment with Ms. Graham using link below:
WECHS Information for the 2021-2022 School Year:
Class of 2022: Senior Portraits
Planning to graduate from WECHS NEXT SPRING? The Prestige Portraits Morrisville Studio schedule is open in Appointments Plus for the 2022 Graduating class. Currently sessions are available Monday - Friday from June 14th - July 30th.
Monday - Basics & Standards
Tuesday & Thursday - Deluxe
Wednesday & Friday - Ultimate
The appointment website is: prestigeportraits.com/raleigh
Important: All Students Will Receive Free School Meals For the 2021-22 School Year
Breakfast and lunch will be available at no cost to students for the 2021-22 school year. While the district may be able to offer free meals to all students, it is very important for eligible parents to complete a meal benefits application because this data enables schools to obtain funding to provide other important educational resources to benefit students. Other benefits that are issued directly to families that have applied and are eligible for meal benefits may also be available (such as the P-EBT cash benefit). Parents can complete a meal benefits application online at myschoolapps.com. Paper applications also are available at all schools. More: www.wcpss.net/free-reduced-meals.
21-22 WECHS Calendar: https://www.wcpss.net/cms/lib/NC01911451/Centricity/Domain/19/21-22%20%20KHS%20NWCCA%20VMCCA%20WECHS.pdf
Principal Cummings’ Office Hours: Most Fridays at 10:45 am. Open to all. The meet link is posted on our Google Calendar https://www.wcpss.net/healthscienceec or use this link to book a time to meet: https://cummings-administration.youcanbook.me
Visit Principal Cummings YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXeCSiQn-kH5HklOSplwsRQ for an audio/video version of the PWM.
Please take care of yourself and your family. Contact us with any questions.
Principal Cummings lcummings@wcpss.net 919-341-9844