WECHS Principal's Weekly Message 4/29/2022
Happy Friday!
Hooray! May is on the way!
Monday is Express Bus Routes.
Students are reminded to bring in a note following an absence.
Election season is upon us and all seats on the WCPSS school board will be on the ballot this fall. Stay informed and vote if eligible!
Today, our new School Board Representative for District 4, Ms. Waters, spent time visiting the PHS campus. We appreciate her visit and service to WCPSS!
Last week we celebrated our Data Manager, Mr. Abbott, this week our Office Team, Ms. Poole and Ms. Hennings, and next week our teachers! Make sure you thank your current and past teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week!
On May 17th and 18th, the PHS campus will have exam review during the 1st two blocks and WECHS H.E.A.L.S. presentations after lunch. If you are interested in hearing about the great research these teams have been working on, please join us. On the 18th, following the interactive presentations, PHS will have our end-of-year awards presentations from the 9th and 10th-grade teachers.
Wake County Public Schools is administering a District-Wide Family Survey through Friday, May 6. Please take a few moments to complete.
surveys.panoramaed.com/wakecounty/family
WTCC finals begin Wednesday & PHS finals begin on 5/19
Stay focused, we are almost there, you got this!
We may have early release days next year as well. These are tentatively scheduled for our calendar on 9/2, 11/22, 12/21, 1/13, 3/24, and 4/6. Students in WTCC classes on those days will need to arrange transportation home.
The great opportunities just keep happening for our students! The following students were selected to participate in a few truly remarkable summer experiences:
2022 Biogen-MIT: Biotech in Action Virtual Summer Lab - Kiersten H
Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) - Summer Apprenticeship - Ameer H
Thanks to our WECHS families and friends for their recent participation in the 1st Annual WECHS - American Red Cross (ARC) Blood Drive. The following students were honored by the ARC for recruiting the most blood donors: Chloe-Ann, Melissa, and Manasa. A special thanks to Diya for spearheading this initiative. Per the American Red Cross, with the donations received we’ve potentially saved 50 lives!
This week our students participated in WakeMed’s Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Celebration. The event was a HUGE success. Thanks to Mr. Williams and his World Cultures Club members: Ameer, Yusra, Diya, Javed, Sohaila, Ahmed, and Ysabel. We were very proud of our students!
The breakfast and lunch options for May are linked here.
All WCPSS school volunteers who wish to continue to volunteer in 2021-22 should go to any WCPSS school or work site and register through wcpss.net by selecting the Community tab, and then selecting Volunteer.
Student Services: Our website has been updated with links to helpful resources: https://www.wcpss.net/Page/50577
Graduate Spotlights
If you would like for your graduate to be featured on WECHS social media, email a photo and brief bio about future plans (specific college not necessary) to Robin McAlexander at rmcalexander@wcpss.net.
10th Grade: North Campus Preview Night was on April 19. If you missed it, please check your email/phone for the presentation links.
Summer Opportunities: There are many opportunities for summer study and experiences. Check out this link on the CFNC website: https://www2.cfnc.org/studentEnrichment
Rising Seniors and Super seniors: Student and parent programs are being offered by Williams, Swarthmore, Pomona, Carlton, and Amherst Colleges to help rising seniors/super seniors with the college application/search process. There are special highlights for those students who are international, first-generation college and those with fewer financial resources. Register here: https://www.sixcolleges.org/?utm_campaign=admissions&utm_term=F23&utm_content=counselor&utm_source=sixcolleges&utm_medium=email
Scholarships: We receive notices of scholarships regularly and post them on this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cfKGNl2-GyFIwgaxKdW5iCoumaZlnyjS_yD6UDuNuGI/edit?usp=sharing Additional scholarship links and websites can be found at: https://www.wcpss.net/Page/49470
Wake Tech Fall 22 - See WEBADVISOR or SELF-SERVICE to review FALL 22 schedules. Email Ms. Graham if you have questions. amgraham1@waketech.edu
Class of 2022
Graduate Awards Night will be in person this year on Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. on the PHS campus in the tiered classrooms in building A. Graduates will need to report to PHS main school lounge by 6:30 p.m. Graduates will wear the graduation gown (no caps). Masks are encouraged but not required
A Virtual Graduation Meeting for parents/guardians was held on February 22 at 6 p.m. If you missed the meeting, the presentation can be seen here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17DphfjjLjfGA_igVpXqwUS-6GPPXp2jj/view?usp=sharin
Mark your calendars now! WECHS Class of 2022 Commencement will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 8 p.m. Mandatory commencement practice will be on Monday, May 23 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Tickets are required to attend Commencement. Masks are recommended but not required. Each graduate will receive approximately 6 tickets. Need to request extra tickets? Please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/BuWo8Y33rLW3JPQS7
Click on this link for helpful information for seniors and super seniors. https://tinyurl.com/wechs2022
WECHS cap, gown, diploma cover and stole order packages are available on the Jostens website: https://www.jostens.com/apps/catalog/gradPackage.mvc?customerId=1827483&customerName=Wake-Early-Col-of-Health-and-Sci&catalogOsr=GRAD_PROD_HS_SENIOR_CUSTOMER_CATALOG&catalogName=Graduation-Packages&categoryOsr=PACKAGES&requestedView=LIST
Counselor Contact Information:
Ms. Lachance (Last names A-K), mlachance@wcpss.net, 919-212-5800 ext. 26054 https://calendly.com/wechs-lachance
Mr. Muse (Last names L-Z), jmuse@wcpss.net,
919-212-5800 ext. 26058
https://calendly.com/wechs-muse
Wake Tech’s Spring 2022 Commencement will be held at 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 7, 2022, at the Scott Northern Wake Campus. Each ceremony will be available to view via Livestream on the Wake Tech website. Visit graduation.waketech.edu to watch the ceremonies.
Career Development Corner:
Please be sure to visit Ms. Hill’s website for the most up-to-date opportunities, health science enrichment experiences, and other valuable information.
We are so excited to have many of our students interviewing for WakeMed Junior Volunteer positions for this summer. In addition, several participated in practice interviews with Ms. Hill this week. We are certain they will represent WECHS with maturity and professionalism.
Just a reminder, the Wake County EMS - High School EMT application closes May 1st at 11:59 pm. Good luck to our candidates.
A special thanks to SIemens Healthineers for another great STEM Career Conversation on Thursday, April 28th. The student participants learned about internships and best practices for applying to these programs.
Congratulations to the 7 of our Super Seniors who’ve recently completed the STOP the Bleed training and earned certification! Mariam, Skarlet, Shahzaib, Abby, Yanci, Adam, and Kristopher
Is your student interested in serving the community? The Wake County Note in the Pocket has openings on its Teen Board. Here’s the link for the application. The application deadline is 4/30/22.
Check out this PAID summer internship opportunity with Builders Bridge for students 17 years or older!
Campbell University’s School of Engineering and College of Pharmacy and Health Science are hosting STEM camps. Click here for additional information.
Wake County EMS - EMT Summer Camp registration is now open! Spots fill quickly. It’s a free week-long camp. Youth ages 14–19 can participate in this weeklong day camp in June that provides extensive hands-on instruction on EMS equipment and procedures. Camp includes team building and field trips to related sites. Registration is required.
NCBCE has partnered with the NC Department of Public Instruction and industry leaders to curate a list of online curricula for credentials and certifications developed by tech companies. Through this partnership, students in NC K-12 high schools can receive scholarships to take the certification tests. Please reach out to NCBCEAdmin@nc.gov for more information. Want more information? Click here. Contact Ms. Hill with questions.
The Perry Virtual Experience is a free, 2.5-hour, interactive online experience for high school and college-aged students who gender-identify as female or nonbinary and are interested in pursuing careers in orthopedics and/or engineering. Participants will hear from women leaders in these fields and dive into online mock orthopedic surgery simulations and biomechanics experiments. Click here for current opportunities.
TESTING
PHS Final Exams
Exam Information and Checkout Form
PHS high school final exams will be administered on May 19, 20, 23, and 24. Please do not plan to travel during these dates. Early testing requires submitting a request with supporting documentation to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for approval because North Carolina law requires that all final exams be administered in the last five days of the semester. Requests based on vacation travel are not granted by NCDPI.
Students are expected to be present on campus only on the days when they are scheduled to take an exam. Students who remain on campus after the exam to wait for bus transportation will participate in a supervised study hall. Buses will run on a regular schedule. Students will not have access to their phones during exams. If you need to reach them, call the main WECHS line: 919-212-5800.
Parents/guardians may choose to pick up students after the exam has ended if the student does not have another exam after. (Students cannot leave an exam session until it ends.) Unless this form linked above has been completed and turned in to Mr. Abbott by the morning of the exam day, students must be checked out using the standard checkout process inside the school building.
Wake Tech Final Exams
Wake Tech final exams are scheduled for May 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10. Please do not plan to travel during these dates. Additionally, students will return textbooks during exam week. North Campus students should return all issued textbooks, calculators, etc. prior to summer break. North staff need to be able to inventory textbooks and prepare for the fall semester. Students graduating will need to return all materials prior to graduation. Please see Mrs. Hennings if you have any questions regarding textbooks.
PTSA at WECHS! WECHS Spirit Wear Purchase Online
We just received a large supply of spirit wear, especially hoodies and sweatpants.
Order yours today!
Daily Announcements are shared between campuses and read aloud on the PHS campus daily.
WECHS students participate in Athletics through Enloe High School. Information on tryouts and other sports news can be found on the Enloe Athletics website.
Driver’s Education Registration Jordan Driving
Visit www.jordandriving.com to sign up. Payment is not due until the class is confirmed by the Driver’s Education teacher at Enloe, Carolyn Hunter, enloedrivered@gmail.com
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.
New Student Device Update:
WECHS students in 9th and 10th in fall 2022 will receive new Thinkpads with some available for 11th -13th graders.
STAY HOME IF YOU FEEL ANY SYMPTOM OF ILLNESS….please!
You may not enter a WCPSS facility if you have been: Instructed to quarantine or you are experiencing any of these Covid symptoms of illness: Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or Runny Nose, Nausea or Vomiting, and/or Diarrhea.
Quarantine and Isolation guidance has been updated at this link
Covid Testing at School:
WECHS students and staff on both campuses are eligible for weekly Covid testing at school. Mako conducts the testing and results are provided in about 24 hours. This site provides the details. Only those registered will be able to participate. If you register your student for testing, please be sure to let them know that you have done so. Testing will occur on Wednesdays. North at 7:30 and PHS at 10:15.
To Receive Bus Updates:
Join Remind for Bus Changes. Use Code: @abkb7ch79
Principal Cummings’ Office Hours/Coffee Chats 8:30 Friday mornings. Open to all. The meet link is posted on our Google Calendar call, email, or let me know a time you’d like to meet in person. Email: lcummings@wcpss.net Mobile (call/text): 919-341-9844 or use my online scheduler
Please take care of yourself, your friends, and your family, and contact me with any questions.
Principal, Lisa Cummings
Campus Contact and Locations:
WECHS PHS Campus
919-212-5800
WTCC Perry Health Science Campus
2901 Holston Lane, Raleigh
(9th-10th)
WECHS Northern Campus
919-532-5660
WTCC Scott Northern Campus
6600 Louisburg Road, Raleigh
(11th-13th)
