Warrior Whistle

September 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,

On behalf of our teachers, staff, and administration, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everybody back for the 2023-2024 school year. We are very excited for the school year to begin. I am extremely proud to be a part of this proud community. During the last school year, Henderson High School students continued to excel in and out of the classroom. Some of our accomplishments included:

13 commended students for the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program
57 AP Scholars, 28 AP Scholars with Honors, and 55 AP Scholars with Distinction
113 students from the class of 2024 were inducted into the National Honor Society
The HHS Music Department had the following achievements:

· 22 students in PMEA Districts (10 District Choir, 8 District Band, 4 District Orchestra)
· 11 students in PMEA Regions (8 Region Choir, 2 Region Band, 1 Region Orchestra)
· 6 students in PMEA All-State (4 All-State Choir, 2 All-State Band)
· 1 student in All-Eastern Choir and 1 student in All-National Choir

Henderson High School received the Best Sportsmanship Award for the 2022-2023 Season

In addition, Henderson High School was named one of the top public high schools in the state of Pennsylvania by several media outlets including: U.S. News and World Reports (#65 in PA, #1831 in US), niche.com (#38 in PA, A rating), and Schooldigger.com (#39 in PA). I am extremely proud of our students and staff for all of these accomplishments. We expect to continue this tradition of excellence as we have such a wonderful and supportive community.

We have some very exciting changes for the upcoming school year. With the retirements of Dr. Dowdell and Mr. McCormick, we have two familiar faces who will be replacing them. Both are Henderson graduates and will do an outstanding job. Mr. Steve Fitch will serve as Henderson High School’s new Athletic Director and Mr. John Lunardi will be our newest Assistant Principal. The counseling department will remain the same as last year. Please find the assignments below:

Administration

Class of 2027 Dr. Jason Sherlock

Class of 2026 Mr. John Lunardi

Class of 2025 Mr. Andrew Grear

Class of 2024 Dr. Elisha Ozer

Athletics

Mr. Steve Fitch

Counseling

Ms. Ashley Sullivan Student Last Names A-Cri

Ms. Heather Bratton Student Last Names Cro-Gr

Ms. Morgan Gamble Student Last Names Gu-Lee

Ms. Colleen Allen Student Last Names Lef-Pa

Ms. Kathy Teague Student Last Names Pe-Sma

Ms. Becky Singer Student Last Names Smc-Z

I am pleased to announce important procedures and a few changes for the upcoming school year. Once again, all students who have a 1st or 8th period study hall on their schedule will have the opportunity to choose late arrival (1st period) or early dismissal (8th period). Parents must fill out the Late Arrival/Early Dismissal on-line form.

***Please allow a few days for the counseling office to process the schedule for late arrival/early dismissal.

***Note about closed campus – Students will no longer be permitted to leave campus. Campus will remain closed throughout the day. All students with early dismissal should leave through the main entrance and sign out.

BELL SCHEDULE

The WCASD will use the same bell schedules as last year. We will continue to have Warrior Block between 4th and 5th period. All students must remain on campus during Warrior Block.

Regular Bell Schedule

2 Hour Delay Bell Schedule

WARRIOR BLOCK

As communicated last spring, campus will no longer be “open” for students. Students with an opening in their schedule will be assigned a study hall and may not leave campus (this includes Warrior Block). We are excited to once again offer Warrior Block, which will take place between 4th and 5th period. All students will have the opportunity to receive extra help from their teachers every day.

During the first three weeks of school, students will report and remain in Warrior Block homerooms (listed on student schedules). Administration and teachers will communicate the procedures and expectations for students. Students who DO NOT have lunch on their schedule may go to the cafeteria AFTER reporting to their Warrior Block homerooms during the first three weeks.

On September 20, 2023, students will participate in the Warrior Block period following our daily WB procedures. All students should report to their Warrior Block Homerooms. After attendance is taken, students may go to one of the following locations: classroom (to get help from teacher), library, testing room, aux and main gym, gazebo, outside courtyard, or remain in the Warrior Block homeroom. Students will sign up for one of these locations and attendance will be taken in Flextime Manager. Students who do NOT have lunch on their schedule may report directly to the cafeteria (WB Homeroom teachers have a list of students who do not have a lunch on their schedule).

Only students who do NOT have a lunch on their schedule will be permitted to use the cafeteria during Warrior Block. We must do this based upon space restrictions in our cafeteria. Students are not permitted to change a scheduled lunch to a study hall so they can attend lunch during the Warrior Block period (due to space constraints). We are looking forward to a great school year. Please encourage your child to utilize the Warrior Block to maximize their potential in the classroom.

We are all looking forward to a great year! Go Warriors!!!

Sincerely,

Jason Sherlock

Principal

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Policy Change

Requests for a Short-term Withdrawal for your Child is No Longer Allowed

Policy 204AG1 was revised on June 26, 2023. Below are the updated guidelines for student absences:
1. Ten (10) consecutive days of absence. Unless the district has been provided with evidence that the absence may be legally excused or the district is pursuing compulsory attendance prosecution, a student will be dropped from the district's active attendance roll after ten (10) consecutive school days of absence. Where the district is notified in advance the family is utilizing ten (10) parent notes and five (5) preapproved non-school sponsored trip notes consecutively, the student will be dropped from the district’s active attendance roll after fifteen (15) school days of absences. Removal from the district’s active attendance roll does not remove the person in parental relations’ compulsory attendance obligations for a student of compulsory attendance age. The disenrollment procedure is not applicable to students with an IEP. The district will comply with state and federal law when disenrolling a student with an IEP.
2. Fifteen (15) or more days of absences, excused by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts: The school nurse will call the licensed practitioner of the healing arts to seek more information regarding the absences to ensure that the appropriate support can be put in place for the students.
3. Attendance Process:
- Parents/guardians will receive notification after the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd unlawful absence.
- Following the 4th unlawful absence, parents/guardians will be contacted with a request to attend a Student Attendance Improvement Conference (SAIC) where a Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) will be developed. A SAIC meeting will take place and can include the student, family, school team, and outside supports.
- Following the 6th unlawful absence the school team will make a determination regarding referrals and/or the filing of citations for the habitual truancy.
- School teams, including the principal, grade level administrator, counselor, caseworker, nurse, and other staff deemed necessary, may meet to review, discuss, and determine supports needed for the student.