Each year, schools fret the public “ranking” that appears in media outlets that lays out a perception of a school hierarchy in our state and region. This often acts to facilitate a more robust conversation on the quality of schooling but acts to limit and further impoverish the dialogue. Most quantification of high schools is based around standardized tests that are administered in one day as well as other easily measured but arguably less important metrics. These customary measurements of students and schools often travel with parents’ educational and income levels and distort the work being done in schools. The lament of one’s zip code being destiny is too often played out in our educational system with glaring disparities in resources and opportunity, further compounded by limited information.

The current measurements miss the point that the value of a school is multi-dimensional: school safety and climate, creating a more just and civic culture, raising student engagement, student wellness, or requirements of critical thinking around important questions. An ideal high school requires an articulated school culture that is safe and connected, where students and adults are known and work collaboratively around declared shared values. Deep, meaningful relationships that make academics, the arts, and athletics richer and in service to life-long impact, to protect well-being for the school experience. The Athenian Oath taken at age 18 called for citizens to make their city-state more beautiful, more safe, and more free for their children. I sense that is a good mission for the Webster Groves community and more specifically, our high school.

Best,

Matt Irvin

Members of Renaissance and L.I.F.T. participated in the annual Carl Hudson and Romona Miller College Bus Trip from February 13-17 in partnership with Kirkwood and UCity High. Students visited Lincoln U, Arkansas State, Memphis U, Arkansas Pine Bluff, and Philander Smith University.

Spring Parent Conferences are scheduled for March 10-11 and will be a combination of in-person and via Zoom. Conference times are below:

March 10: 4:30 - 8:30, in person

March 11: 4:30 - 8:30, virtual

Invitation to sign up coming soon!

College Visits at WGHS

Our spring college visits have begun! Juniors and Seniors may sign up to see a college by visiting the counseling office for a pass ahead of time. See the calendar of visits here.

Individual College/Career Planning Conferences available for Juniors and their families!

Please schedule using the links provided for your College & Career Counselor by student last name.

Jennedy Lombard (A-K) Click HERE to schedule your meeting with Mrs. Lombard

Cassie Aschinger (L-Z) Click HERE to schedule your meeting with Mrs. Aschinger

Special School District is proud to co-host the 4th annual St. Louis County Apprenticeship and Career Pathways Showcase

Families and students in grades 6 through 12, as well as recent graduates, are invited to these FREE events to experience a variety of careers through interactive exhibits and discussions with industry professionals.

Saturday Feb. 22nd at 1pm at North Technical High School

Saturday, March 1st at 1pm at South Technical High School

Free STEM College and Career Fair at WashU on March 9th!

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) invites students, parents, and counselors to explore the college search process at the NACAC STEM College and Career Fair held on Sunday, March 9, 2025, from 1-4 p.m. at Washington University in St. Louis.

• Meet with admission representatives from various colleges, universities, and the armed forces.
• For more information and to register: Click Here
  

Save the Date!

All Juniors will take the ACT on April 8th during the regular school day. No registration needed. This will be a paper/pencil traditional format exam.

Looking for ways to prepare for the ACT/ SAT? Check out free prep and practice tests through the Varsity Tutors app - accessible to all students through their Clever account.

Looking to register for other exams? Please visit www.act.org or www.sat.org to view test dates and deadlines.

The next upcoming test option is the March 8th SAT, with registration due on 2/21.

Students are not allowed to order lunch from an outside delivery service or restaurant. If we receive a local food delivery for a student, we will turn away the order and report the infraction to the Assistant Principal's office.

If you drop off a lunch for your student, you will be instructed to place the lunch on the delivery table and send a text to inform your child. We do not deliver lunches that are dropped off. Thank you for your help on this matter.

Seniors now have until March 7 to submit the Parents' Club Scholarship. Recipients will be notified at Senior Awards Night. Click here to apply.

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.

Career Exploration Opportunity: Art, Architecture and Design at PGAV Destinations

Students are invited to join a career exploration trip to PGAV Destinations. PGAV defines its workforce as "thrill seekers at the drawing board," and is the architecture and design firm behind exhibits at the Missouri History Museum, the Grand Canyon, the Pyramids of Giza, the Biltmore Estate, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, Niagara Falls, Kennedy Space Center, and PortAventura.

On our visit to PGAV's world headquarters, students will get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into the everyday operations of careers in architecture and design, as well as meet with related professionals employed by this firm in this industry, including sculptors, illustrators, animators, urban planners, and creative writers. Check out the firm's website to be truly inspired. We encourage students to come out to explore interesting career possibilities and make connections in the field!

Transportation and lunch will be provided; there is no cost for this trip. This trip will count for three A+ job shadow hours, and the excused absence will be arranged with the unit offices. Students should log in to GivePulse and register their interest for this event. We will then reach out to provide a permission slip and additional details to the student.

Information about this and other opportunities can always be found on our website at bit.ly/chelseacenternews.

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