Wolfpack Howler
Volume 20 Issue 1 - July 27, 2021
PLANETHS (ARBITER) ATHLETE INFORMATION
- Your account is easy to set up. If you wish to do this on your own you may go to PlanetHs.com and set up your account and begin the necessary forms or you may use your smartphone.
For 2021-2022 School Year:
- All students and parents who used Planet Hs/Arbiter last year (2020-2021) need to log in to their account (BOTH student and parent accounts) and confirm or renew any necessary documents.
Smartphone Instructions:
- To sign up for the Planet Hs website and follow West Valley High School via smart phone, text S42316 to 69274. Text HELP to 69274 for more information. Text STOP to 69274 to opt out.
Enrollment in this system is required for all students participating in school activities.
NEW Start Times and Bell Schedule
Welcome Back Wolfpack!
Greetings Wolfpack Families and Students,
Welcome back to the new school year - we are so excited to get this school year started after what has been a rollercoaster for the past year and a half. Not all staff are back in the building yet, and I'll send out more information as the start of the year gets closer, but here are a few notes to start things off!
A few dates to note as we gear up for the new school year:
- JULY 28 | Cross-Country Running, Football, Flag Football, Football Cheer, and Tennis Start
- AUG 3 | Counseling Office Staff Return - New Student Registration appts can be made
- AUG 4 | Swimming & Diving and Volleyball Start
- AUG 6 | Counselors Return
- AUG 9-11 | New Student Registration
- AUG 16 | West Valley Open House
- AUG 18 | First day for 9th & 10th Graders ONLY
- AUG 19 | First day for ALL Students
Class Schedule in PowerSchool: Please see the entire message in the Counseling Update below, but please note that student schedules in PowerSchool are NOT finalized yet. We are continuing to work on our master schedule and hiring staff. We anticipate schedules will not be finalized until the first week of school, so please do not fret if you see those changes happening.
School Supplies: On the first full day of classes, teachers will let students know what specific class supplies are needed (binder, folder, paper, notebook, etc.). For the first day back, students can bring basic materials (pens, pencils, paper) and then complete their supply shopping for the specific classes they are enrolled in.
Transportation: The school district is now contracted with Durham School Services for our bussing. Additional information including, finding your bus stop, registering for the bus, and more can be found on the school district's Transportation Website.
Our front office is open Monday to Friday from 7am-3pm - you can call us at 479-4221 with any questions!
Take care,
Sarah Gillam
Principal, West Valley HS
Counseling Office Update
The Counseling Office staff will return on August 3 and Counselors will be return on August 6.
**Please note that though you may see a schedule in PowerSchool, it is NOT finalized. We are still working on hiring and making changes to the schedule regularly.**
Message from Administration and Counseling Regarding Schedules
Schedules are not finalized - Classes still need to be balanced/leveled which may result in schedule changes. Keep in mind when requesting schedule changes, they're not guaranteed. Otherwise, your schedule will reflect the classes you requested last spring and we're happy to put your name on the waiting list. Please see below the list of priorities we follow when dealing with schedule change requests:
- Student has an incomplete schedule.
- New student enrollments.
- Change is needed for senior missing graduation requirements and/or college and career entrance.
- Student has been scheduled into a course out of sequence (i.e., Spanish 3 before Spanish 1).
- Student did not pass a class that was a prerequisite for another.
- Student has been scheduled into a course previously passed.
- Class sizes must be balanced.
- Elective was not requested on registration form. (*Note: If alternates were not requested on registration form, requests for change may not be granted).
Please understand that all of these priorities come BEFORE requested changes based on preferred teachers, periods, or classmates. No changes will be allowed unless they are deemed necessary by the school administration.
--West Valley High School Administration
WVHS Counseling Office: 479-4221 ext. 46520
Willie Blackburn | A-F (10th-12th) ext 46525
TBA | G-N (10th-12th) ext 46524
Anna Sprague | O-Z (10th-12th) ext 46527
Teesha Lane | all Freshmen ext 46523
Upcoming Events:
2021: Link to School District Calendar
AUG 16 | Wolfpack OPEN HOUSE: 6-7:30pm
AUG 18 | FIRST DAY for 9th and 10th graders
AUG 19 | First Day for ALL Students
eLearning for the 2021-2022 School Year
For more information about eLearning classes, please visit the district website at https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/10750. To sign-up for eLearning or to discuss options, please contact your Counselor. Enrollment is requested by May 18th.
Here is the structure that will be used at West Valley:
- Students taking 1-2 eLearning classes will be considered full-time “in-person” students and will have a scheduled eLearning Lab period for each class they take.
- Students taking 3-6 eLearning classes will be considered full-time eLearning students with the following guidelines:
- Have the option of scheduling ONE class period in-person in the eLearning Lab with the West Valley eLearning facilitator. This allows time to access support in-person as well as a designated time to have tests proctored.
- Their 3 in-person classes will need to be blocked together, i.e. morning classes or afternoon classes.
- If a full-time eLearning student does not have a scheduled class in-person at West Valley (or their eLearning Lab period), they will be expected to exit the school building.
eLearning Information from the School District:
High school eLearning will be an option for high school students for the 2021-2022 school year. We will be continuing to offer both full and part-time eLearning, for students in grades 9-12. This means that students can take anywhere from one eLearning class to a full load of six eLearning courses. If you are interested in eLearning please reach out to your student’s school counselor at their home school to schedule classes for your student. You can view the fall course options for high school eLearning students here. Just like this year, students will still stay attached to their home school of record and will be able to participate in the activities through their school as well as receive services through their school.
To learn more about eLearning in 2021-2022, visit the eLearning website here. Please reach out with follow-up questions or concerns.
West Valley High School
Email: contact-wvh@k12northstar.org
Website: https://www.k12northstar.org/westvalley
Location: 3800 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK, USA
Phone: (907)479-4221
Facebook: facebook.com/wvhWolfpack/
Twitter: @wvhWolfpack