With a hint of disbelief, we find ourselves in a rite of spring: a hurried sprint to the finish line for the 2024-25 school year. This Friday we will acknowledge students for service in the community during the Statesmen Service Awards ceremony. Last week we recognized over 100 students in the Top Hat Awards.

Looking ahead, our graduation ceremony to honor the Class of 2025 is planned for May 17 at Chaifetz Arena--a 4-year year journey for our seniors at WGHS. It's gratifying to see some opportunities that allow us to come together, once again, and celebrate our students. As we look ahead, below are some of upcoming events:

April 12

Prom

April 14-25

EOC Weeks

Late April/Early May

Variety of Band events

May 1

Senior Decision Day

Senior Awards Night

May 3

Jim Schoemehl Run

May 5-9

Seniors' last week

May 8

Statesmen Sports Awards

May 9

Senior Check-out

May 17

Class of 2025 Graduation, 6:30pm, Chaifetz Arena

Best,

Matt Irvin

Please note: EOC Week begins!

Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association announced some new ratings from its spring contests. These included junior Arianna Peper who earned a Superior rating in Sports Reporting for "Men’s swim goes nearly undefeated in regular season" and an Honorable Mention in Sports Reporting for "Football team wins 1st game on Moss Field after renovations."

Senior Party Registration is Live!

All seniors who wish to attend the 2025 graduation party must complete this registration and waiver. All students must sign the Parents Club liability waiver; those students who are under 18 must have a parent/legal guardian sign 2 waivers on their behalf.

Senior Party Sign-Up Link: 2025 WGHS Graduation Party Registration

Parents, we need your help to make this year's Senior Party a successful and safe celebration! We need as many parent/adult volunteers to assist with all aspects of the party. Please sign up by using the SignUpGenius link below. Thank you for your continued support!

Volunteer Sign-Up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4FA5AE2FA2FA7-54158250-graduation

This weekend: MOACAC Spring College Fair at Maryville University Open to all grade levels!

Thanks so much for your help!

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/22S6H1GCE7G9O

Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony

May 17, 2025 6:30pm

Chaifetz Arena

• Doors will open for guests at 5:30 p.m.

• Guests: We are not limiting the number of guests per graduate.

• Tickets: There will be no tickets for entry to Chaifetz Arena.

• Parking: Parking is paid by guests in the Olive/Compton garage. Fees will be announced in the spring. Street parking is available but limited.

• Duration: The ceremony lasts approximately 1.5 hours, depending on the size of the class.

A+ Reminders

As the end of the school year grows closer, students may be asking if they are eligible for the A+ program. We've discovered through informal conversation that many students mistakenly assume they won't qualify because they think they need a GPA that is in the A+/4.0 range! A full list of criteria is available on the school's website, but a very brief qualification summary is a GPA of at least 2.5 and 50 volunteer/unpaid service hours involving mentoring others. As a reminder, the A+ program will provide up to two years of free courses at community colleges and trade schools in Missouri if students meet the criteria. The program is administered through Dr. Klenke-Galbreath's office.

The Chelsea Center keeps the GivePulse database of opportunities that can help students find agency partners offering volunteer opportunities that qualify for A+ hours, but students are also free to search for their own opportunities. Some recent examples of A+ hour impacts we've approved include volunteering for on-site childcare during the services of a faith community, mentoring fellow Scouts during an Eagle Scout project or other Scout activity, assisting with sports camps for younger students, volunteering at a community childcare center, volunteering as a counselor at a summer camp last summer, and tutoring both peers and younger students.

Please help us to encourage ALL students to become familiar with, and take advantage of, the A+ program. Even if students don't anticipate enrolling in a community college or tech school, the program can cover the costs of individual courses taken as prerequisites, or summer courses taken to supplement the 4 year college curriculum. Additionally, some 4 year colleges award scholarship money if the student has that A+ designation on their transcript.

Program administration questions such as enrollment and qualification should be directed to Dr. Jenna Klenke-Galbreath at klenkegalbreath.jenna@wgmail.org. Questions about finding opportunities or entering hours served should be directed to Patrick Bommarito in the Chelsea Center at bommarito.patrick@wgmail.org.

Call your child's AP office to report an absence, late arrival, or early departure. Checking out early? When leaving school during the day, students must check out through the assistant principal’s office.

Student Early Release:

1. We require at least one hour notice when calling your student out early. Call the Assistant Principal's office before the designated time and report the absence. You may also send a note with the student to be presented to the Assistant Principal's office before school.

2. At the designated time, your student will receive a pass to check out if you called ahead. The student will check out in the Assistant Principal's office.

3. You will NOT enter the building if you have called the absence in and communicated a pick-up location with your child. However, if you choose to pick up your child in the building, you must do so at the main entrance on Selma Avenue. Upon entering the building, check in with the receptionist. Please bring your driver's license if you are checking in. The receptionist will contact the Assistant Principal’s office to send for your student. Please be aware that not calling ahead to schedule an early release can take up to 30 minutes to send for a student.

Webster Groves School District uses ParentSquare for school communication, primarily with email, text and app notifications. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent, using their preferred email address and phone number. We encourage parents to access their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified.

Parents & Guardians Getting Started Guide

To stay connected with the learning in our classrooms, please create a Canvas Observer Account which is our district's learning management system. You will find three helpful documents below:

1. Canvas Informational Letter
2. Creating an Observer Account, Logging into Canvas, and Setting Notifications
3. Student Accessing Canvas

If you have any questions please contact Tim Brown, Director of Student Assessment, Data and Learning Technologies at brown.tim@wgmail.org.

The Spirit Store is open! Hours are 8-9:15 a.m., Tuesday - Friday.

The online store is open 24 hours a day at https://www.wghsparentsclub.org/spiritwear.

Every time you shop at the Spirit Store, you are supporting student scholarships and teacher grants!

Email: erb.mickey@wgmail.org
Website: www.webster.k12.mo.us/wghs
Location: 100 Selma Avenue, Webster Groves, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 963-6400
Facebook: facebook.com/WGAlumni
Twitter: @WebsterGrovesHS