WECHS Principal's Weekly Message 11/11/2022
Happy Friday!
Today is Veterans’ Day, a federal holiday.
Thank you to all those who have, are, and will serve our country in the United States Armed Forces. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-veterans-day
Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
WECHS and WTCC are out Wednesday-Friday, November 23-25, the week after next, for Thanksgiving Holiday Break.
It is recruitment season, and word of mouth is our best advertisement. If you know someone interested in attending WECHS next year, see this link. 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.
Sibling Applications
If your student is applying to WECHS for the 2023-24 school year and your current student will also be enrolled next year, please email Robin McAlexander (rmcalexander@wcpss.net). We want to be sure that we prioritize all sibling applications.
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 at most 15 minutes to complete.
WECHS Climate & Culture Parent Survey
WECHS Family Engagement Survey
AfterSchool Tutoring
Peer tutoring is available in person (some days) and virtually every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 4 pm-5 pm. Please 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.
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/Course Questions:
Contact Ms. Graham to set up an appointment to discuss spring 2023 courses for spring 2023.
amgraham1@waketech.edu
Student Services Updates:
Do you need assistance this winter season? Please complete this Family Needs Survey and contact the counselors with any additional needs/questions. We will see how we can help.
Our website has 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. 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 get in touch with 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
To join the Student Services Remind for your class, text 81010 with the corresponding message: 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: 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
This week’s WECHS Works Wednesday (WWW) was rescheduled for Wednesday, November 30th. The WTCC Health and Fitness Science Department Head, Chris Kaycon, will join us to discuss the educational pathways, internship opportunities, and careers awaiting students pursuing careers in health and fitness sciences.
Do you have a mid-year graduate that is looking for employment? If so, check out these upcoming employment Information events with Penske and Pepsi! Registration is required.
Next month, Ms. McAlexander and Ms. Hill will work with WECHS mid-year graduates, seniors, and super seniors identified as CTE Concentrators to complete the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) assessment. Earning this credential indicates a student’s readiness in various skills to work across a multitude of occupations and industries. Click here for more information.
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.
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.
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.
WECHS student-athletes participate in Athletics at Enloe High School, and the new and improved website is now live!
Testing
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.
Updated: WECHS WTCC Calendar combo
Principal’s Tip of the Week:
WECHS students wrap up the semester in a few weeks for high school and college classes, making this an already anxious time for many. With the addition of holidays to this timeframe, I pause to add advice for teens, source: Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center.
For many people, the winter months mean fun parties, festive food, and lots of extra time with family. However, the joys of the holiday season can also bring a lot of stress. If you are starting to feel anxious about the holidays, you are not alone. So how do you manage it? Here are 5 tips to survive and thrive during the holidays.
1. Breathe.
When we are anxious, we tend to take shallow or rapid breaths. This tells our sympathetic nervous system to be on alert, and activates our body so it’s ready to take action. This can make stress feel worse. However, we can use deep breathing to reverse this response and tap into our ability to relax.
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Try a simple 4-8 breath: Inhale for a count of 4 and exhale for a count of 8. When you lengthen the exhalation, you allow your body to release tension. Just be sure to breathe through your belly (think of inflating it like a balloon) rather than your chest. Deep, slow belly breathing has a calming effect. It’s a quick and easy way to ease holiday stress.
2. Choose.
Instead of saying yes to every single holiday activity, prioritize the ones that are most important to you – and schedule down time for yourself. Although you may be expected to go to some family activities, you can talk to your parents or caregivers about giving you some freedom too. This will enable you to truly enjoy the things that are important to you while giving you space to take time for yourself.
3. Move your body.
Exercise is a well-known mood booster, and can help when you’re feeling anxious or stressed out. Try to build a little exercise into every day. This can mean taking a walk with a friend, shooting a few hoops, or putting on your favorite song for a family dance party. Need a quick exercise fix? Do 20 jumping jacks and then run in place super-fast – this has the added benefit of feeling silly, so you may just laugh out loud!
4. Connect.
For many people, the holidays are packed with family time. You may find yourself feeling disconnected from your friends. Plan ahead to see your friends over the winter break. If you can’t connect in person, schedule a video call instead. Taking breaks from family time to see your friends will keep you feeling connected and help you avoid feelings of family overload.
5. Practice gratitude.
Research suggests that people who practice gratitude tend to feel happier and more fulfilled. Each morning, pick 3 things that you are grateful for, and spend some time reflecting on how these things (or people) improve your life. Focusing on the things you are truly grateful for can be centering and uplifting.
The holidays can be the most wonderful and the most stressful time of year. And yes, it’s ok to feel both! Use these tips to stay grounded so that you can get the most out of your holiday time, your vacation time, and your family time.
Charissa Chamorro, MSW, is a clinical psychology intern at the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center.
Principal Cummings’ Office Hours/Coffee Chats at 8:30 on most 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 Arment Cummings
