WECHS Principal's Weekly Message 10/7/2022
Happy Friday!
Monday is Express Routes for bus riders (it is a traditional calendar workday).
PHS Honor Roll Breakfast, Friday 7:30-8:30 am
Volunteers are needed to set up, serve, clean up and donate food. Please use this link to volunteer and sign up to donate!
It is recruitment season, and word of mouth is our best advertisement. If you know someone who would be interested in attending WECHS next year, see the link and information below under “outreach.”
The District 4 WCPSS School Board Advisory Council was held on Tuesday evening, during which the WCPSS Office of Student Assignment presented the 23-24 WCPSS Draft Enrollment Plan Article. Please use this Thought Exchange link to provide feedback and be specific if listing a bus route or school.
The voter registration deadline is October 14, 2022, for the general elections on November 8, 2022. (After October 14, 2022, only same-day registration during one-stop early voting is available.) The civilian voter registration deadline in North Carolina is 25 days before Election Day. All nine WCPSS School Board District seats and four of the seven Wake County Commission districts will be on the November ballot. This site is a non-partisan resource for election information.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is beginning a process to overhaul school performance grades and is seeking public input. The state’s A-F performance grades were developed so communities could better understand the quality of North Carolina’s public schools. NCDPI Survey regarding how school performance grades are calculated.
Picture Retakes (these are also the yearbook images)
October 14th: North Campus Tux and Drape retakes (Seniors and Super Seniors); students received a signup genius link to sign up for an appointment time through their WTCC email.
October 20th: PHS retakes.
October 21st: North Campus retakes (Juniors); students received a signup genius link for an appointment time through their WTCC email.
AfterSchool Tutoring
Peer tutoring is available in person (some days) and virtually every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 4 pm-5 pm. Have your student complete the attached form so we can best assist them. https://forms.gle/EXqBvTfkmgsdMKrV8 Reach out to Mrs. Wilcox with any questions at Mcwilcox@wcpss.net.
Updated: WECHS WTCC Calendar combo
Bus Riders: Remember to use your resources, Live Bus Updates on the website, and download the Here Comes the Bus app to track the bus location (WCPSS code is 67500). If you have not already joined the Transportation Remind, the code is @abkb7ch79d. Call the WECHS PHS office with questions: 919-212-5800 “0” and we will try to help. Refer to the HELP section on the Here Comes the Bus page for problems with the app. We cannot resolve app issues at the school level.
Express Bus Route Locations and Times
Students will receive an email from WTCC regarding an OPTIONAL Sexual Violence Prevention Training course. Please note that this course is recommended but not required. Contact Ms. Graham at amgraham1@waketech.edu if you have questions.
It's time to order your 2022-23 WECHS Yearbook!
Top reasons to order now:
Get a book with this school year's memories featured!
Your future self will thank you! Contact Ms. Wernersbach with questions at kwernersbach@wcpss.net.
Are you feeling ill? Stay home!
Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette are essential. WCPSS guidance
If students leave school with Covid symptoms, parents can pick up a rapid test (to be administered off campus) from the office. We can not distribute rapid tests directly to the students.
North Campus students can order WCPSS lunch to be delivered to campus daily at 11:15 am. Students must either sign up for lunch in the front office (C335) on the north campus or this google form by 8:30 am each morning. North Campus students can also bring lunch but will not have access to refrigeration and microwaves in the WECHS hall. This link shares information regarding other WTCC options on North.
Apply for Free and Reduced Lunch for 2022-2023.
Families must submit a meal benefits application to receive free or reduced-price meals. All families must complete an application for the 2022-2023 school year starting July 1 to receive benefits. Please allow ten business days for processing.
Benefits of families applying online at www.MySchoolApps.com: It’s the fastest way to get a status. They will get an anticipated determination immediately. They will have a confirmation number that they can use to inquire about their status. And best of all, it avoids delays and mistakes.
The PTSA Carpool link might need updating if you entered information previously.
PTSA at WECHS! WECHS Spirit Wear Purchase Online
The PTSA is filling spirit wear orders as they come in! If you have placed an order and have not received yours, it will come shortly. Some sizes sold out quickly, and another order was placed.
When yours arrives, it will be sent to your campus. On PHS, you will receive an email to come to the office. Ms. Hennings will distribute on the north campus.
Wake Tech Spring 2023 Advising and Course Selection Dates:
WECHS spring 2023 group advising was held from September 26 – September 30 during HS Seminar. Group advising is mandatory for all students that plan to take Spring 2023 WTCC classes.
WECHS spring 2023 individual advising with a Wake Tech advisor will be held from October 5 - 14. Students will sign up for an appointment during group advising.
Wake Tech December Graduation
WECHS December Graduates, see an important email from Ms. Graham regarding applying for your degree and ordering Wake Tech cap and gown. Email Ms. Graham with questions amgraham1@waketech.edu. The last day to order a cap and gown is October 3rd. The WTCC Graduation ceremony will be held on December 10th at Scott Northern Wake Campus.
Student Services: Our website has been updated with links to helpful resources:
Class of 2023
Mark your calendars: WECHS Class of 2023 Commencement ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 24th, at 7 pm. Graduation practice (mandatory) is Tuesday, May 23rd, at 1:30 pm.
Preparation for Graduation: Students can wear either the WECHS or WTCC cap and gown to WECHS graduation. To purchase the WECHS cap/gown and other graduation items, please use this link. https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1827483/Wake-Early-Col-of-Health-and-Sci/
Class of 2023: We can help review applications, essays, etc., for any students. Reach out to your school counselor for help.
Financial Aid for College: Reminders: FAFSA opens on October 1 for the 2023-2024 school year. The earlier you submit your FAFSA, the higher your potential is for more financial aid. Some colleges, including UNC-Chapel Hill, require the submission of the CSS profile. Check to see what forms your colleges require.
“How do I know what is needed to submit for college financial aid and scholarships?” Check the scholarship and financial aid pages on college websites to see the deadlines and forms needed to apply for university scholarships. If you need any help, please contact your school counselor. We can help you find what you need to know. No question is too small. Plus, we have a financial aid counselor who comes each Monday and can answer your questions, too!
Scholarships: It is not too early to apply for scholarships. Please check out our scholarship page, many search engines, and our scholarship bulletin.
Class of 2023 Quicklink access sheet
Please complete this Family Needs Survey and contact the counselors with any additional needs/questions.
To join the Student Services Remind for your class, text 81010 with the corresponding message below:
9th: @2022wechs
10th: @2021wechs
11th: @2020wechs
12th: @19wechs
13th: @2018wechs
Counselor Contact Information: (updated from last year)
Ms. Lachance (Last name A-L), mlachance@wcpss.net, 919-212-5800 ext. 26054 https://calendly.com/wechs-lachance
Mr. Muse (Last name M-Z), jmuse@wcpss.net,
919-212-5800 ext. 26058
https://calendly.com/wechs-muse
Career Development Corner:
Please join Ms. Hill’s Career Development Corner (CDC) Remind. Messages are sent regarding volunteer opportunities and various career/college events. You can also find valuable information on the CDC website.
Join code information: To join the CDC Remind for your class, text 81010 with the corresponding message below:
9th Grade - @wec-cdc-26
10th Grade - @wec-cdc-25
11th Grade - @wec-cdc-24
12th Grade - @wec-cdc-23
13th Grade - @wec-cdc-23
Congratulations to our partners and business alliance members! This week during the WCPSS Superintendent’s School to Career Volunteer Celebration, Jennifer J and Kendall R from WakeMed and Carnessa O and Julian L from Siemens Healtineers were recognized for their commitment and support of our school and students. Each individual has been instrumental in providing unique and enriching opportunities to our students. In addition, WECHS graduate, Ananya J, Class of 2022, served as a student presenter.She did an outstanding job and we couldn’t be more proud of her accomplishments!
NCBCE’s Ready, Set, App! challenge is a mobile app development competition for high school students sponsored by Lenovo™. Student groups are asked to develop a mobile app to solve a problem in their school or community.Registration is open now until December 16th, 2022. To learn more and register, visit www.ncbce.org/ready-set-app.
Internship opportunity! Ready, Set, App! is also looking for high school interns!
Each year Ready, Set, App! employs 5 high school interns to act as peer mentors to the teams in this competition. This is a paid internship and a great opportunity for students to get real work experience. Students with an interest in computer science and helping others are best suited for this role. Eligible to apply are all 9th – 12th grade students enrolled in an NC high school. Applications are due October 14th, 2022, at 11:59 PM. To sign up your team or apply to be an intern, visit www.ncbce.org/ready-set-app.
Wake Electric seeks applicants for a one-week, all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the 2023 Electric Youth Tour. Winners also receive a $1,000 scholarship. Winners MUST go on the Washington Trip to be eligible for the $1,000 scholarship. The trip will be from June 17 – 23, 2023. The deadline to apply is December 15, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. Applicants must currently be high school juniors. Applicants DO NOT have to live in households served by Wake Electric in order to win. For exciting details on the Youth Tour and what you can expect, visit www.youthtour.coop. To download an application, visit www.wemc.com.
The Department of Defense (DoD) SMART scholarship program accepts applications through December. This program is for students who have earned a year’s worth of college credit and covers full tuition, stipend, books, etc., for students pursuing STEM degrees and can be awarded for multiple years, all the way through a graduate degree program. Upon graduation, recipients work for the Department of Defense every year that they received a scholarship. Here is where you can learn more: https://www.smartscholarship.org/smart
2022 Youth Energy Career Academy In recognition of Black Energy Awareness Month (BEAM), the North Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) is hosting its sixth annual Youth Energy Academy (YEA) in Durham from 10 AM to 3PM. The BEAM event will allow students to participate in discussions and activities designed to increase their knowledge about the energy industry and career development workshops. Students will hear from energy professionals and learn about careers, jobs, and occupational training requirements for different segments of the energy industry. The BEAM events are open to all high school students. Registration closes on October 27th for the Durham - Youth Energy Academy in-person event on Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 10 AM to 3 PM for high school students. Click here to learn more!
Wake County EMS is also offering an EMS Club. This group meets on the 2nd Monday of each month from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Click here for more information and the application. This opportunity is precious and rewarding. If your student is considering applying for the Wake County WCPSS High School EMT program during their senior or super senior year, this club would be a great asset for them.
Have you heard of ChickTech? ChickTech believes girls and non-binary youth belong in STEM. Learn about their free, year-long program filled with virtual & in-person workshops, mentoring, and internship connections.The high school program kicks off on 10/29! To learn more and access the registration form, click here.
Is your student interested in becoming a veterinarian? NC State’s VetPAC provides several opportunities, including Spend a Day at State. Visit the website for more information. https://cals.ncsu.edu/vetpac/
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 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.
Update: WECHS student-athletes participate in Athletics through Enloe High School, and the new and improved website is now live!
Outreach to Potential New Students and Families
We have begun our work to reach out to Wake County 8th-grade students and their families to ensure they are aware of the opportunities available at WECHS. In-person and virtual information sessions and tours have been scheduled, and sign-ups are linked to this WECHS website. The application period is October 14 - December 14. Please help us spread the word.
Potential families enjoy talking to current WECHS families as they decide about applying. If you are willing to attend any of these events to discuss your WECHS experience, please email Robin McAlexander rmcalexander@wcpss.net.
Early College Fair-Saturday, 10/15, 9:00-11:00 a.m.-Vernon Malone College & Career Academy.
WECHS Open House-Thursday, 10/27, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Magnet & Early College Fair Saturday, 10/29, 9:00 a.m-noon - Enloe Magnet High School.
Testing
PreACT
All 10th graders will take the PreACT on Friday, October 28, at 7:25 a.m., on the PHS Campus. There is no cost for the students. (This is a date change to accommodate a group of students traveling for an educational experience.)
The PreACT is administered annually to 10th graders in North Carolina and is a state-required test per North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) §115C-174.22. The PreACT simulates the ACT testing experience within a shorter test on all four ACT subjects: English, reading, mathematics, and science.
Final Exams
WECHS high school final exams will be administered on December 15, 16, 19, and 20. WTCC final exams are scheduled for December 8-14. Please do not plan to travel during this time.
Testing questions should be directed to Robin McAlexander rmcalexander@wcpss.net.
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.
Principal Cummings’ Office Hours/Coffee Chats at 8:30 on Friday mornings. Open to all. The meet link is posted on our Google Calendar call, email, or let me know when you’d like to meet in person. Email: lcummings@wcpss.net Desk: 919-212-5803 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
