Warrior Newsletter
2023-24 Volume 4
A Note from Principal Marvel
The Holiday season is one of my favorite times of year. Despite the cold weather, Christmas lights and warm fires bring back wonderful memories shared with family and friends. So, cheers to making memories. From our Warrior family to yours, we hope the holiday season is filled with much happiness and love.
Following is a friendly reminder regarding Finals Week:
- All classes will administer a final which will count for at least 10% of your child's semester grade. Finals are used to measure how well each student has learned the instruction over the course of the semester. A student has a chance to pass a class with a good grade from a final even if the overall grade is low.
- No early finals will be given. If students leave early for vacation, are sick or are unable to take finals on the day given, makeups will occur after Winter Break. These finals MUST be completed by Friday, January 12th. Students can make arrangements with their teachers to take their finals during 4C. Additionally, make-up finals can be taken after school Monday-Friday of that week through appointment ONLY with each specific teacher.
- Students will not be allowed to leave class during finals. Whole classroom breaks will be managed by the teacher. It is important that a quiet, stress-free testing environment is available for all students.
- Best practice for students prior to testing: 1) a good night's rest 2) a healthy breakfast 3) a positive mindset.
- Schedule for Finals:
- Monday: Regular Monday schedule.
- Tuesday: Regular Tuesday schedule with Finals in periods 1 & 6.
- Wednesday: Regular Wednesday schedule with Finals in periods 3 & 5.
- Thursday: Regular Thursday schedule with Finals in periods 2 & 4.
- Friday: Teacher workday. No school for students.
Email: Jason.Marvel@matsuk12.us
Office Phone: 907-352-8214
Cell Phone: 907-232-7849
Jason Marvel
Principal
Wasilla High School
Special Santa Program
Dear Parents of WHS,
The holiday season is upon us and the National Honor Society is hosting the Santa Tree Program benefitting Mat-Su Special Santa. Mat-Su Special Santa partners with the Toys for Tots program to help give Christmas gifts to children in need from all over the Mat-Su Valley. We will be hosting a Santa Tree in our school where there will be tags that specify a wish list item for a child.
To participate:
-Go to the Santa Tree in the school commons during lunches and take a Santa tag. It will list the age, gender, and gift ideas for a Mat-Su youth -Return an unwrapped present with the Santa tag attached to the Santa Tree before Dec. 15th -The program will be active from Nov. 28th to Dec. 14th.
This is a completely volunteer activity, and you can participate to whatever extent your family would like.
To know more about the wonderful Special Santa Program in the Mat-Su Valley (est. 1997), please visit their website - www.specialsanta.net
The Counseling Corner
Schedule change requests for Semester 2 are currently happening. All students will have the opportunity to make schedule change requests via our website under site shortcuts through Thursday, December 21st. After December 21st, the schedule change request window will have closed and students will be unable to change their schedules.
Exceptions will be made for students who are academically misplaced or with administrative approval.
We kindly ask that students make those requests now and parents speak with their student(s) about second semester classes.
Staff of the Month
- Congratulations to our November Staff Member of the Month, Karli Rauchenstein. Admin will be buying her a lunch of her choice. Here's what staff are saying:
- "I appreciate her enthusiasm and dedication to keeping school spirit ALIVE! She is an amazing leader and team player all at the same time."
- "The planning and organization that Karlie does for our school to have awesome spirit weeks and assemblies is appreciated! She is a key member of our staff."
- "Karli truly exemplifies what it means to be a leader in a community. It is evident through the ways she supports colleagues, organizes team building, guides her students, and pours her love into Wasilla High. It is a privilege to work alongside her."
From The Nurse
Have a Safe & Healthy Holiday Season!
As we go into winter and the holiday seasons, we see increases in many illnesses including influenza and COVID-19. Anyone can get sick, but some people are higher risk of developing complications. This includes people 65 years and older and people with chronic medical conditions. According to the CDC, ways you can keep yourself and your family healthy:
- Stay away from people who are sick.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Frequent handwashing.
- Stay home with you are sick, except to get medical care.
- Preventative vaccines. Updated COVID-19 vaccines and the annual flu vaccine are available to help prevent and decrease the seriousness of disease. Visit vaccines.gov to find who is offering vaccines near you.
Winter is also a time when people experience increased stress and feelings of fear, anger, sadness worry, or frustration. According to CDC here are some Health Ways to Cope with Stress
- Consider limiting social media or take breaks from news
- Eat healthy – fruits, vegetables, whole grains. See Healthy Eating Tips from CDC.
- Get enough sleep. Adults need 7 or more hours per night. Kids need more depending on their age.
- Move more and sit less.
- Decrease alcohol, drug use, smoking and vaping.
- Make time to unwind.
- Connect with others.
- If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Wasilla High School Drama will be putting on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Peter and Hans Bloedel adapted from the tale by Washington Irving. We would like to invite all students, staff, parents, and community members to our performances at the Wasilla High School Theater on Friday, December 1st or Saturday, December 2nd at 7PM. The Drama department has been working hard to put on a show full of mystery, whimsy, and a little comedy. We hope to see you there!