WHS: Sept. 2022 News You Can Use

Hello Patriot Family!

The 2022-23 school year is off and running, and I’m excited for what lies ahead of us this year. It was great to see so many of you at our Back-to-School event on August 24th. This year’s format was new, and while we realize that there was a little clunkiness to it (which we’ll work on for next year), the feedback was that it was an overwhelming success.

Our team has implemented a number of adjustments to our daily routines and procedures to help support student learning this year, and based on early returns, we are optimistic that these small changes will have a positive impact. We have moved our advisory period to the beginning of the school day (and have changed the name to “Homeroom”). This allows advisors to check in with their students at the beginning of each day. Students struggled a bit with our alternating block schedule, so this check-in gives them a consistent location to report to, get their bearings, and prepare for a successful school day. Homeroom is also where students participate in advisor lessons which assist them in meeting one of their graduation requirements, so Homeroom attendance is important. Please let us know if there is any way we can support your student with their on-time attendance to this important class period.

Speaking of on-time attendance, now that we are somewhat back to normal operating procedures, we are happy to be returning to our traditional “Start on Time” protocols. Staff are working diligently to encourage students to get to class on time. Those that are late are not initially allowed in class but are directed to the main office to get a tardy slip and return to class in a timely manner. This allows us to hold students accountable while providing positive encouragement and supports along the way. We have already seen a significant increase in students hustling to class and contributing to starting on time.

I’m looking forward to a great year and hope to see you all at an upcoming school event. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if I can support your student in any way this year.

Sincerely,

Brent Whitemarsh

Principal

General:

• WHS Spirit Week - September 19-23
  9/19 - Favorite Movie/TV Show
  9/20 - Class Competition
  9/21 - Animaniacs (Animation/Anime/Manga)
  9/22 - Adam Sandler Day
  9/23 - Peppy Pats Friday
• Homecoming Dance - September 24, 7-10pm, Aux Gym (see flyer below!)
  
• Serve Sunday WHS Campus Clean Up - September 25 (see details below)
• Financial Aid Advising Day for Seniors - September 30 during Homeroom in Theater
• No School (Staff Professional Development Day) - October 3
  
• Student Early Release at 10:25am for conference week - October 4-7
  Bell schedule will be sent next week
• Fall Student Led Conferences - October 5 & 6
  *Financial Aid Application support/help for Class of 2023 will be available
• Picture Retakes - October 20
• Spooky Spectacular - Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser & Fall Concert for Band/Choir/Drumline, $5 entry fee, October 20, 6-8pm Cafeteria

• Winter Concert - December 12, WHS Theater, 6:30pm/Choir, 7:30pm/Bands

Upcoming School Assemblies:

• 9/23 Homecoming
• 10/28 Helmet Bowl
• 11/10 Veteran’s Day
• 12/2 Winter Pep
• 12/9 Assembly for the Arts (Formal Seating)

Fall Sports Calendar:

• Football - Varsity, JV
• Cross Country
• Boys Golf
• Girls Golf
• Boys Tennis
• Girls Soccer
• Volleyball - Varsity, JV

Let’s work together to make the most of the school year by helping students to show up and participate every day possible. Getting back into the habit of daily attendance matters more than ever as we recover from the pandemic.

Showing up matters for R.E.A.L. because it is an opportunity to:

• Build Routines

• Increase Engagement

• Provide Access to resources

• Support Learning
  
  

Routines: A daily attendance routine can help you reduce stress and develop habits that help you keep a job.

Engagement: Being in school gives you a chance to see your friends and build relationships with school staff.

Access to Resources: When you show up to school, you can get access to meals, health services, mental health supports and enrichment activities (sports, clubs, music, afterschool and summer programs, etc.).

Learning: You are more likely to pass classes and graduate from high school when you miss less than a week of school each semester

Please reach out if there is anything we can do to support you and your child - contact Annie Jaquez, Attendance Coordinator (ljaquez@fpschools.org) or your student's school counselor.

Due to District Policy, we are now requiring parents to show ID when picking students up early from school. Phoned in early dismissals will no longer be allowed. Parents will be required to come into the school and show ID to have their students released.

This year, WHS is using Remind to help keep you informed about school activities, info from teachers, and other news and information. Remind is a free service that sends quick messages via text, push notifications, or email to everyone signed up. We’ll be able to stay in touch without revealing personal contact information. Signing up for messages on Remind is easy! If you have contact information on file, you should have received a notification to join class(es) for your student.

Here’s some information that might be helpful:

• Your personal contact information is not visible to teachers
• Teachers will be able to send announcements to the entire class or direct messages in individual and group conversations
• All messages are recorded and easily accessible in case they need to be referenced in the future.
• Messages through Remind will be sent directly to your phone or email account.
  

So far, over 200 have signed up for their account - thank you! We hope many more of you choose to sign up and take advantage of this messaging platform!

Covid Guidlines:

Students that are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, should stay home and seek testing. WHS Health Room can provide testing supplies as needed. If families have questions about COVID, testing, isolation, etc., please call the FPSD Covid Hotline at 253-298-3099.

Medication(s) at school:

Students with medications must have a new doctor order every school year, even those that self-carry their medications. Please give documentation to Ms. Colon in the Health Room.

Navigation

Fall Student Led Conferences are coming up October 5th and 6th, daytime and evening appointments are available. Students will sign up for their time slot in Homeroom during this week (most students will sign up Tuesday, 9/20).

Are you looking for volunteer hours? Rainier View Christian Church is looking for volunteers on September 25th for Serve Sunday. Members of Rainier View along with community volunteers will be on the WHS campus for a clean-up and beautification project. If you are interested in earning volunteer hours while helping to beautify the WHS campus sign up at rainierview.org/servesunday or see Mrs. Moore in the Counseling Center for more information.

Community Service Requirements for graduation:

• Class of 2023/Seniors - 20 hours
• Class of 2024/Juniors - 25 hours
• Class of 2025/Sophomores - 30 hours
• Class of 2026/Freshmen - 30 hours
  **There are limits to service completed in-school/at WHS; most hours should be completed out in the community. Need help finding opportunities? See Mrs. Moore in the Counseling Center.

School Wide Expectations & Norms

Students spent the first few weeks of school going over school wide expectations. Ask your student about: 10-10 Rule, Hall Pass colors, Dress Code expectations, and Start On Time! See PDF below of what was shared with the students.

Learning Lab

Students will have the opportunity to receive additional help from their content teachers during Homeroom on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Students should talk to their teachers about getting a Learning Lab pass to see them instead of going to Homeroom on those days to get extra help or catch up on missing work. Learning Lab will launch on 9/27.

Building Community

Homerooms are kicking off the school year with a fun door decorating contest to celebrate community and provide a fun way to get acquainted. Doors and/or surrounding area will be decorated to represent the Homeroom community. Decor could be representative of interests, goals, hobbies, grad year, cultures, etc.

Honor your Senior with their own tribute “brag page” in the Yearbook! Use online design tools or your own assembly of photos and words to remember.

• $120 full page
• $60 half page
• $30 quarter page

Go to yearbookforever.com and find Washington High School, Tacoma. Click “Get Started” under “Create a Senior Ad.” Limited space, reserve yours now!

If you, or someone you know, is interested in attending homecoming and would like to book an appointment, click here to GET A DRESS.

--> There are still a few appointments available on Saturday, 9/24 in the morning!

WHO QUALIFIES FOR A FREE DRESS?

• Teens must be currently enrolled in high school and present a valid school ID card or other proof of current enrollment.

• Must be eligible for the free or reduced lunch program, or be referred to us by a school or community service leader (ie: social worker, school counselor, teacher, youth group leader) and bring a letter or referral slip from one of the listed community members above, or proof of your eligibility for the lunch program.

• Each teen may select one dress, as well as shoes and related accessories, if available.

• Teens must book an appointment online (providing name and contact info) and arrive on time.

• Arriving more than 15 minutes after scheduled time, may result in forfeiture of appointment.

• Due to limited space, teens may be accompanied by ONE friend or relative during their appointment. Additional guests will be asked to wait outside. All children must be accompanied by an adult when outside/on the property.

• No food or drink is allowed in the boutique. Please leave your beverages and snacks in the car.

Office Hours: 7:00am-2:30pm

Closes at 1pm on Early Release Wednesdays

• Phone: 253.298.4700
• General Email: washington@fpschools.org
• Office Manager: Nancy Barber, nbarber@fpschools.org
• Assistant Principals' Secretary: Madison Phipps, mphipps@fpschools.org
• Attendance Coordinator: Annie Jaquez, ljaquez@fpschools.org
  *Report an absence - 253.298.4714
• Financial Coordinator/Cashier: Lana Pedrique, lpedrique@fpschools.org
• Fax: (253) 298-4715
  

Greetings from the Counseling Team!

Wow, hard to believe we're already almost 4 weeks into the school year! Counselors have been busy with new enrollments, balancing classes, and making sure that transcripts and credit checks are up to date!

Please take some time to (re)familiarize yourself with TeacherEase for the most updated information about progress in classes. We would appreciate if you can remind your student(s) that grades do count! Students must earn 24 credits in specific areas to earn their diploma.

If TeacherEase lists INC as a grade, then your student is NOT passing that class at this point. We want to make sure that we work together to get students to standard/passing, so if you haven't already heard from teachers, reach out to make an action plan to get your student back on track. You can find a list of contact information for teachers here.

Financial Aid Advising Day

The Class of 2023 will have a Senior Class meeting on September 30th during Homeroom for Financial Aid Advising Day. The counselors will go over basics of Financial Aid, including FAFSA & WASFA, a refresher about College Bound, the 4 types of student financial aid, and why it's important to apply even if students are not planning to attend the Fall following graduation.

College Applications: GPA, Class Rank, Current Courses - oh my!

Common information you will need to provide/have access to:
-Student Info (name, date of birth, address, contact info)
-Demographics (gender, citizenship, race/ethnicity)
-Family info (parents/guardians and contact info)
-A list of your activities (includes jobs, volunteer work, sports, clubs, hobbies
-Your academic honors, if you have received any (Palmers scholar, student of the month)

Info from your school counselor:
-A copy of your unofficial transcript (can get from Mrs. Wiklund, Mrs. Moore or your counselor) + your current 12th grade schedule for the year
-RUNNING START ONLY: Dual Enrollment info (name of college, location)
-Name of HS, address, CEEB code, counselor info -- SEE PHOTO TO THE RIGHT
-Class rank will be provided starting September 26th - to get this information, see your counselor or Mrs. Wiklund or Mrs. Moore

For more in depth information, refresh your memory about College Applications: How To Complete - https://www.smore.com/98cfm-class-of-2023-get-it-started

• Jamie Zapanta, School Counselor, students last names A-G, jzapanta@fpschools.org
  
• Eduardo Ortiz, School Counselor, department lead & students last names H-O, eortiz@fpschools.org
  
• Matt Summers-Smith, School Counselor, students last names P-Z, msummerssmith@fpschools.org
  
• Annie Plutko, Grad Coach & Running Start students, aplutko@fpschools.org
• Taneesha Jenkins, Social Worker, tjenkins@fpschools.org
• Brian Rice, School Psychologist, brice@fpschools.org
• Alyssa Vangundy, MTSS Lead & Instructional Coach, avangundy@fpschools.org
• Savali Tuivaiave, Intervention Case Manager/Family Resource Support, stuivaiave@fpschools.org

• Kimberli Pacheco, Records & Enrollment Specialist, 253.298.4744
  
• Bonnie Wiklund, Registrar & Data Manager, 253.298.4713
  
• Sheryl Moore, College & Career Specialist, 253.298.4871

Did you know that you can already register for 2022-23 Winter Sports?

Register here:

https://franklinpierce-wa.finalforms.com/

Athletic Clearance Process for Student and Parent/Guardian

1. Complete the online registration process. All information and policies must be reviewed.
2. Purchase ASB card. ASB cards can either be purchased during the online registration process or from your school's bookkeeper.
3. Obtain a current Doctor-signed Physical (physical examinations expire two years after the signed date).

If you are a transfer student, please contact the WHS Athletic office for eligibility. You may not practice without paying your fines or returning uniforms etc. This policy will be strictly enforced.

Winter Sports

• Girls Bowling - October 31
• Boys Basketball - November 14
• Girls Basketball - November 14
• Boys & Girls Wrestling - November 14
• Boys Swimming - practices at the Puyallup HS Pool (105 7th St SW, Puyallup, WA 98371 -- self-transport required)

The South Puget Sound League (SPSL) has partnered with VNN to provide a streamlined experience for students, parents, and community members to get information about Patriot Athletics!

For up-to-date information on games, scores, rosters and more, go to https://whspatriotsathletics.com/