January Newsletter

1/6 School Resumes - Semester 2 A day

1/8 Early Out Wednesday 1:20pm dismissal

1/15 Early Out Wednesday 1:20pm dismissal

1/20 NO School Martin Luther King Jr. Day

1/21 8th Grade Enrollment Night

1/29 Early Out Wednesday 1:20pm dismissal

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, St. Charles West High School will host its annual 8th grade Parent Night at 6:00 pm in the SCW auditorium for the parents of current 8th grade students who will attend SCW in the Fall of 2025. The presentation will provide an overview of the high school process including a review of graduation requirements, course selection steps, sports eligibility information, and tips for navigating high school successfully.

Both parents of 8th graders at Hardin Middle School and parents of students at local Parochial Schools whose students plan to enroll at SCW are encouraged to attend. Note: Parochial parents will have the opportunity to complete pre-registration forms at this time.

• Encourage students to read over the winter break when they are more likely to have some down time. Reading for pleasure is important to fostering reading skills like fluency and efficiency, and it helps lengthen students’ attention spans.

• Students have access to library research databases through the Destiny home page and the SCW Library Google Classroom (join code: cosh32v) includes all username/passwords for at home access.

• Encourage students to seek out my help if they need academic resources, reading material, or technology troubleshooting.

• Students should return any books that they are finished with before leaving for break and/or check out new books for reading prior to leaving for break.

• Reach out to me at sgates@stcharlessd.org or 636-443-4254 with any questions.

You can bring your children to the School-Based Student Clinic now for sick child visits, sports physicals, vaccinations and more with our bilingual nurse practioner, Shawana Branch, through Compass Health Network. To access the clinic, make an appointment, or ask questions, please call the clinic at 636-206-2244. The clinic is also available for walk-in appointments.

The clinic is located behind Blackhurst Elementary school off of Elm Street. Please follow the signs that say Compass Health Network leading you to the parking lot of the clinic.

As a reminder, students should have their district issued Chromebook charged and ready for each school day. While the library does have a limited number of Chromebooks available in the event that a student has an issue with their Chromebook or forgot theirs at home, these Chromebooks are limited. Additionally, if a student checks out a Chromebook from the library, that Chromebook should be returned by the end of that school day. Chromebooks checked out from the library should not go home with students without prior approval from Ms. Gates

There is an annual Tech fee of $25 for each student for district Chromebook usage that can be paid for on MySchoolBucks.

Students and families are reminded that students staying after school should be under the direct supervision of a coach or activity sponsor. If the student is not staying for a specific activity, they should leave the building at 2:20 pm when school is dismissed and should not remain in the building due to the fact that supervision is not provided. Students needing to remain in the building after school on Wednesday Early Out Days while waiting for an after school activity may remain under supervision in our Commons and should remain in other areas of the building due to the fact that teachers will be in their afternoon collaborative meetings. We appreciate your cooperation regarding this.

Fees/Fines can be paid in the Finance Office or using MySchoolBucks app or online. You will need to create an account with your student information.

Library fines can be paid with cash or check (to SCW) or they can be added to school's Fee/Fines list, then they can be paid through using the MySchoolBucks app if you want to pay using a credit card. Questions about library fines can emailed to: sgates@stcharlessd.org

You can email the Finance Secretary at: kmeyer@stcharlessd.org

PowerSchool: This app will allow you to complete your annual registration, see class assignments, see class schedule, and to check grades and GPA.

MySchoolBucks app allow you to pay for school meals and pay student fees/fines using a credit or debit card. Go to myschoolbucks.com or download the app. Create an account & add your student; you need students name, building and birthdate.

You can also apply for Free or Reduced meals using the MySchoolBucks app.

ALL sports and activities during the 2024-25 school year for St. Charles West need to have a sports physical on file through on your rSchoolAccount. Please visit https://stcharles-ar.rschooltoday.com/ to create an account or to update your already existing account.

-All student athletes, esports, dance, cheer, choir, orchestra and/or marching band will need to fill out paperwork and submit through RschoolToday.
-RschoolToday requires the MSHSAA Medical Eligibility Form to be uploaded. Doctors determine length of eligibility up to 2 years
-If you have registered during a previous school year, login to your current family account and complete registration for the 2024-2025 school year.

MSHSAA requires the new MSHSAA Medical Eligibility form (page 5 of attachment) to be completed in lieu of uploading a physical form with private, medical information on it. If you currently have a valid physical uploaded, this will be sufficient until it expires. Moving forward, ONLY the MSHSAA Medical Form will be accepted.

If you have any questions about the registration process, please reach out to Mrs. Holtgrewe in the Activities Office at rholtgrewe@stcharlessd.org or 636-443-4281.

Parents/Guardians, the district is obligated to release the names, addresses, and telephone listings of high school students to representatives from institutions of higher educaton and military recruiters. Parents/Guardians and high school students who are at least 18 may submit a written request using this form in order to opt out of release the information without prior written consent of the parent/guardian or students.

Seniors will need to show proof that they received the meningitis vaccine. This vaccine must be specified as MCV4, MENACTRA, MENVEO, or MENQAUDFI or have a Missouri exemption on file. They usually reeive their first vaccine around 8th grade, but the second needs to be given after the age of 16. If this is their first dose and it was given after 16, then 1 dose will suffice.

Please note that if your child attends school on the 1st day without proof of vaccinatin or have an exemption on file, they will be sent home according to state law and district policy, and not allowed to return until documentation of vaccination is provided or an exemption completed. These absences will be unexcuted. Questions can be directed to our school nurse at: laanderson@stcharlessd.org or 636.443.4250.