Wolf Pack Monthly
Family Newsletter for March 2022
STATE TESTING INFORMATION 4/24-4/28
It’s that time of the school year! On Monday, 4/24, we will continue State Testing for 11th graders at West High School. This only happens in 11th and 12th grade during high school, therefore, the stakes are a little higher than when our students would take it every year in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. The results of this test are used for many things! Not only is it a measure of how our school is doing compared to schools across the state, the results are used for placement in college courses and various trade schools. This test is also one of the many ways our students can earn the coveted College / Career Ready Medal to wear proudly at graduation!
We will be on a modified schedule Monday and Tuesday, and Thursday and Friday. School will begin at 8:30, students will go to 1st period, then released to an activity or testing, and go to lunch. After lunch classes will resume normally, 2nd – 6th period, and school dismissal time will remain at 3:40.
Good luck to our 11th graders! We know that they are going to do great on this test!
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¡Queridas familias!
¡Es ese momento del año escolar! El lunes, 4/24, continuaremos con las pruebas estatales para los estudiantes de 11° grado en West High School. Esto solo sucede en los grados 11 y 12 durante la escuela secundaria, por lo tanto, lo que está en juego es un poco más alto que cuando nuestros estudiantes lo tomarían todos los años desde el jardín de infantes hasta el octavo grado. ¡Los resultados de esta prueba se utilizan para muchas cosas! No solo es una medida de cómo le está yendo a nuestra escuela en comparación con las escuelas de todo el estado, los resultados se utilizan para la colocación en cursos universitarios y varias escuelas de oficios. ¡Esta prueba también es una de las muchas maneras en que nuestros estudiantes pueden ganar la codiciada Medalla de Preparación Universitaria/Carrera para lucirla con orgullo en la graduación!
Estaremos en horario modificado lunes y martes, y jueves y viernes. La escuela comenzará a las 8:30, los estudiantes irán al 1er período, luego serán liberados para una actividad o prueba e irán a almorzar. Después del almuerzo, las clases se reanudarán normalmente, del segundo al sexto período, y la hora de salida de la escuela seguirá siendo a las 3:40.
¡Buena suerte a nuestros estudiantes de 11° grado! ¡Sabemos que lo van a hacer muy bien en esta prueba!
Credit Recovery Summer School
TUSD will provide 9 – 12th grade Credit Recovery Summer School in efforts to support student success. Summer School information for 9th – 12th grade can be found below.
Summer School is an opportunity for students to retake courses in which they received a D or an F for the semester. If you are unsure of which class(es) your student needs or if your student is eligible, please email your student’s counselor.
Applications are due by April 15, 2023. If you have any questions regarding summer school, please email tusdsummerschoolcreditrecovery@tusd.net. TUSD will contact you in May by email regarding your student’s placement within the summer school program. See school website for more info.
Principal's Message
04/01/2023
We are down to our last two months of school! It's a crazy, busy time - and the school is a flurry of non-stop activity. Our drama department opened up their play Hydronomous-a-Frog today, WolfPack Music will be participating in the District Music Festival on Tuesday here in our gym. We have our clubs participating in the Festival of Cultures at the Grand Theatre on Wednesday (see flyer below). It's a great night to celebrate our students and the diverse representation we have in our school and district.
April is "testing month". We are continuing to finish up our ELPAC testing. We will also be starting state testing. The schedule is as follows:
4/20 and 4/21 11th and 12th Graders will be Science testing in their Social Studies Classes.
4/24 - 4/28 11th graders will be testing in their Math, ELA, or Science Classes (to be assigned - look for an email in their student accounts to let them know where to go).
This time of the year is also a time where we celebrate our Seniors! We had prom last week, which kicked off the spring and end of the year activities! Our students looked beautiful and carried themselves with pride as we enjoyed the sights and sounds of Exploratorium and the San Francisco Bay Area. I love that our students can make memories and were able to dance and enjoy the night (and maybe learn a thing or two from the exhibits).
As we look forward to the next couple months, please continue to encourage our students (and yourselves to the students reading this)... to continue to focus. Let's finish this year out strong. Take advantage of the resources we have to help in your classes, if you need it. We have online tutoring (24/7) through paper.co, we have before and after school labs for our main subject areas, and remember, you can always start by asking your teacher questions. We all want every student to be successful and will support you however we can.
Families, we appreciate your support from home. Let's crush these last two months!
Sincerely,
Annabelle Lee
Principal
Merrill F. West High School
“…in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” – Maya Angelou
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
* denotes upcoming Senior events
APRIL
4/4 District Music Festival @ WHS
4/5 Festival of Cultures @ 6pm @ The Grand Theatre
4/7-4/14 Spring Break
4/15 Summer School Application DUE
4/20-4/28 CAASSP Testing (Juniors and Seniors) (4/24-4/28 Modified Schedule)
MAY
5/1-5/5 Staff Appreciation Week
*5/12-5/13 Senior Grad Nite $375
*5/16 Senior Awards Night @6pm in WHS Cafeteria
*5/22 Senior Breakfast, $15
*5/25 Senior Beach Day, $15
*5/26 Graduation Rehearsal
*5/27 Graduation Ceremony @ 9am
Senior Information
Dignified Graduation Pledge
You will need to fill out the Dignified Graduation Pledge before participating in the Graduation Ceremony. These will be available after we return from Spring Break.
Cap and Gown Order! Delivery will be 4/27!
If you haven’t already, please order your cap and gown from https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1013666/Merrill-West-High-School/
AB 469 Law
The new California State Law requires that all 12th graders complete and submit a FAFSA (Free application for federal student aid), CADAA (California Dream Act Application), or Opt Out form before graduation. The goal of this new bill is to increase student access to financial aid resources. ($$$) Please make sure to fill out the fafsa/cadaa (Go to fafsa.ed.gov) or fill out the opt out form (from counselor) as soon as possible. It is the state law that the FAFSA, CADAA, or Opt-Out form be done before the end of the school year.
Attendance and Saturday School Reminders
Please clear your student's absences by sending a note to the office or leaving a message on the attendance line. Green exit slips must be returned to the office the following day for students that leave early. Absences can also be reported to whsattendance@tusd.net. Please put your student's name, Student ID, and reason for absence. Absences must be excused within 48 hours of the absence, or students will receive Saturday School Hours.
Students will be receiving an email with their current Saturday School hours! Please encourage them to attend Saturday School. Saturday School Hours must be below 16 to participate in prom and senior events. If you are attending Saturday School, you MUST arrive ON TIME and have a school ID.
If you are planning for you student to leave on a Travel Study, please make sure you turn in paperwork 2 weeks before the start date. Teachers need to time to compile work and get everything ready for our students that our leaving.
Counseling Corner/AP Testing Info
Link to Counseling Website
SENIORS! Set up your Remind Account for updates on Senior Activities, College and Career Information, and Reminders!
SENIORS! Please make sure to fill out the fafsa/cadaa (Go to fafsa.ed.gov) or fill out the opt out form (from counselor) as soon as possible. The new California State Law requires that all 12th graders complete and submit a FAFSA (Free application for federal student aid), CADAA (California Dream Act Application), or Opt Out form before graduation. The goal of this new bill is to increase student access to financial aid resources. ($$$) You will not be cleared to graduate or participate in the May Senior activities without the FAFSA, CADAA, or Opt-Out form being done.
Site Safety Reminders
When coming on to campus, please enter through the south parking lot (by the flag pole) and check in with the security officer. They will direct you to where you need to go. This includes during lunchtime.
Please remind students that we do not allow food deliveries from non-parents/guardians (Door Dash, Uber, Postmates, etc). This is to ensure the safety and security of our campus.
If you are picking up your child early or clearing absences, please check in with security and go to the attendance windows. For all other needs, please come into the office.
Parent Education Links
Teens Are Struggling Right Now. What Can Parents Do?
Advice for Parents and their High School Kid (video)
Past Resources:
March is Women's History Month
How Parents Can Help Students Set—and Achieve—Academic Goals
6 Parent Tips on Setting Goals with Your Child
Parent Resources to celebrate Black History Month
11 Good Study Habits to Develop
Parenting Teens During the Busy High School Years
10 Vital Communication Skills for Teenagers
10 Ways to Improve Your High-Schooler’s Communication Skills
10 Top Study Tips for High School Students Preparing for College
The Top 6 Study Skills For High School Students
Tips for Studying for Finals in High School
For those of you on Facebook, follow Officer Gomez (an SRO from a different district/school)
He has a running blog of issues faced in a high school environment. A lot of the issues faced around the nation, are parallel to ones we see in our own school. He has some great parent information!
Weekly Club Meetings (Updated Regularly)
Art Club, sched TBA, P19, Advisor: Ms. Carroll
Asian Pacific Islander Club, Wednesdays @ Lunch, P20 or G12, Advisor: Ms. Kim
Black Student Union, Wednesdays @ Lunch, IMC-1, Advisor: Mrs. Harrison/Ms. Escalante
Chess Club, Tues/Thurs @Lunch, MS30, Advisor: Mr. Farrens
FCCLA, 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ Lunch , G5, Advisor: Ms. Bliss
FFA Meeting, once a month @ 330 in Cafeteria, check Ag Classrooms for Sched
Film Club, Thursdays @ 4-5pm, ST-1B, Advisor: Mr. Vang
GSA (PackPride), Tuesdays @ Lunch, P3 , Advisor: Dr. Pina
Journalism, Thurs (monthly) @ Lunch, MS3, Advisor, Ms. Escalante
JROTC Cadet Staff, Wednesdays @ 715am, Advisor: Maj. Roundtree
Project Smile, Tuesdays @ Lunch, IMC-1 / MS13; Advisor: Ms.. Scott
Robotics Club, Thurs/Fri @330-550, T7, Advisor: Mr. Moehnke
SHSS (Sikh Honors & Service Society), Thursdays @ Lunch, IMC1 , Advisor: Mrs. Sharma
Tri-M Club, Every other Tuesday, K2, Advisor: Mr. Raman
Music Club, Every other Tuesday, K2, Advisor: Mr. Raman
Merrill F. West High School
Website: https://westhigh.tracy.k12.ca.us/
Location: 1775 West Lowell Avenue, Tracy, CA, USA
Phone: (209)830-3370
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerrillFWestHighSchool
Twitter: @MWHSWolfpack
OUR students will engage in a safe, caring, and engaging learning environment everyday.