WECHS Principal's Weekly Message 10/21/2022
Happy Friday!
Wishing everyone a restful and relaxing weekend!
WCPSS School Start Time Survey:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) identifies adolescents’ insufficient sleep as an essential public health issue that significantly impacts middle and high school students' health, safety, and academic performance. Research suggests high school students do not get enough sleep, and there are harmful effects of starting school early for high school students – including more tardiness, absenteeism, and less overall engagement. The AAP recommends high schools begin after 8:30 am.
The Wake County Public School System wants to gather information about how a shift in school bell schedules would impact you as a school employee. Below is an example of the kind of change we are considering: elementary schools start and end their day earlier, and high schools start and end their day later. Keep these schedules in mind (or write them down); you will need to refer to them to answer questions on the following pages.
Current Schedule Possible Schedule
High 7:25 AM - 2:20 PM Elementary 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Middle 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Middle 8:15 AM - 3:00 PM
Elementary 9:15 AM - 3:45 PM High 9:15 AM - 4:10 PM
Please complete this WCPSS parent/guardian start time survey by October 28
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 this link and information below under “outreach.”
Join the Department of Chemistry and the College of Textiles Graduate Students at NC State University in celebrating the 2022 National Chemistry Week this Saturday, October 22nd, with a substantial 120-volunteer science outreach event in Downtown Raleigh – Moore Square.
The event entitled “NC State’s Chemistry of Fabrics!” will be an excellent opportunity for graduate students volunteers to teach kids about the chemistry of fabrics with 20 activities such as tie-dye bandanas, wicking races, M&M “chromatography,” and four eye-catching demonstrations throughout the event! https://chemistry.sciences.ncsu.edu/2022/10/07/nc-states-chemistry-of-fabrics/
November 8: PHS Workday/ WTCC North IN! (No Buses)
November 10: WECHS & WTCC Workday
November 11: WECHS & WTCC Holiday (Veterans’ Day)
PHS Parent Reminder: Please refrain from food deliveries at lunch.
Accreditation Year at WECHS
Every five years, all schools undergo a renewal process for accreditation, and this is our year. We are accredited through Cognia, which certifies schools across the country.
A critical component of this process includes surveys. We need all our parents to complete a critical survey. This survey provides vital information in areas of success and improvement to ensure the academic success of all our students. There are two surveys to complete. Each survey was intentionally designed to capture various feedback from each stakeholder group and provide valuable information that aligns with the Cognia Performance Standards.
The surveys should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.
WECHS Climate & Culture Parent Survey
WECHS Family Engagement Survey
The NC State Fair is in town until October 23!
Election Day is November 8. All nine WCPSS School Board District seats, a multi-million dollar school bond 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.
Learn more about the 2022 Capital Improvement Program.
The upcoming Wake County election ballot will include a proposal for a $530.7 million school bond to address our schools' critical safety and maintenance needs.
The bond will help fund:
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The rebuilding of seven existing schools
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Significant repairs to schools, such as roofs, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing
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Replacements for equipment that has aged out, such as classroom furniture, student and staff devices, and security upgrades
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The construction of five new schools on new sites
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 WECHS 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
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.
The PTSA Carpool link might need updating if you entered information previously.
PTSA at WECHS! WECHS Spirit Wear Purchase Online
Wake Tech Spring 2023 Advising:
Contact Ms. Graham to set up an appointment to discuss spring 2023 courses for spring 2023.
amgraham1@waketech.edu
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.
Student Services Updates:
Our website has links to helpful resources
9th Grade Signs of Suicide Presentation - On October 28th, Student Services will present a required lesson to all 9th-grade students focused on depression and suicide awareness and prevention. If you do not want your student to participate in this lesson, please read and sign the parent sheet below and return it to Mr. Muse by October 26th
9th Grade SOS Parent Letter - Spanish
October is Countdown to College Month through CFNC - Find out more information using this link - Countdown to College. There is information for all grade levels to assist with college planning. The week of Oct. 17-21 is also College Application Week. Here is the list of Colleges and Universities waiving their Application fees this week through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 21.
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. Please use this link to purchase the WECHS cap/gown and other graduation items.
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 opened 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 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
Next week, WTCC’s Human Service program will be joining us for a WECHS Works Wednesday! We look forward to learning more about the program and careers in this field.
Today, Ms.Tyndall’s Biomedical Technology students visited the McKimmon Center to participate in the WCPSS CTE Great Xploration conference. The students gained valuable career readiness skills. Sessions include Networking 101, The Leader in You, and Guess My Gig.
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.
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 become 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 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 annually to receive 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 3 PM. 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 energy industry segments. 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 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 at rmcalexander@wcpss.net.
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 at 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’s Tip of the Week:
Teaching Students about Handling Conflict: Restorative Practices include excellent tools to help students manage conflict. We are just beginning to explore this work at WECHS. This link will provide a little bit of information from the WCPSS site.
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
