Notes from Dr. Irvin
Your WGHS Weekly eNews for October 24
Hello WGHS Families,
As we look ahead to our annual Friendship Dance, I pause to think of my own daughter's experience. As a parent of a high school student, I want most for her to have a memorable and safe night with her friends on a night when some might see the opportunity to engage in substance use. As a school community, we are making efforts to help educate our students in health classes, coordinating visits from external resources, and educating students in other settings about the concerns of underage drinking and related activities.
Several years ago I attended a presentation by Clayton Behavioral, a facility that offers many mental health services, including treating substance use disorders. Part of the presentation dealt with the impact of substance use on the developing brain of adolescents and how the mix of families, school, and communities can partner to prevent teen use of drugs and alcohol. They shared data from survey questions that were determined to be more predictive of teen substance use. The first question focused on parenting disposition and the child’s ability to approach the parent for needed support, and the second centered on supervision. If students responded with “most of the time” or “always,” there was considerable decrease in the likelihood of consistent use of substances.
Question: “I can talk to my parents about my problems”
a. Never
b. Rarely
c. Sometimes
d. Most of the time
e. Always
Question: “My parents know where I am after school”
a. Never
b. Rarely
c. Sometimes
d. Most of the time
e. Always
Some conversation topics to ask your child prior:
· Before - Know the plans. Ask the important questions: Who’s driving? Who’s going with you? What is their contact information?
· After – Support from the community. Local police departments will be alert and active in our respective communities enforcing social hosting ordinances, MIPs, DUIs, etc. to help keep our kids and the community safe.
Few of the above are without conundrums, such as responding to their growing independence while monitoring their safety as well as the knowledge of high stakes around substance use and allowing learning from their mistakes. While a teen's engagement in substance use is not the measurement of good parenting nor is it fully determinant of our children’s worth, we are hopeful to keep our children safe and being their best self at school and at home. If you are seeking resources in this work, please contact your child’s counselor.
Best,
Matt Irvin
Next Week's Schedule:
Late-Start A, A, B, C, A
Parents' Club Educational Grant Recipients
With help from the WGHS community, friends, family and neighbors, Parents' Club has generously awarded $10K in grants to our hardworking teachers and staff! Thank you to everyone for helping us make this happen, and thank you to the teachers and staff for all the hard work you put in each and every day on the behalf of our WGHS students! Check out all the things you have helped make possible! Top hats off to you, WG!
Halloween Dress Code
Students are welcome to dress up for Halloween on October 31, provided they follow the normal dress code. Students are not allowed to wear face coverings or anything over their heads. Face paint or fake weapons are NOT allowed.
Science Fair Information Night
Here is the zoom registration link:
https://wgsdstl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkde2vrDkpGdQIFg4Abb7g6rmdRuCqkm6I#/registration
Grade Updates at WGHS
Have you...
Senior Panoramic photo is November 7
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.
Parents' Club Updates
Best Seats in the House - 2024 Turkey Day Pep Rally
Win a SEAT AT THE PEP RALLY!
Support the mission of the WGHS Parents Club!
Click the link or scan the QR code to see what you get if you win!
PEP RALLY RAFFLE TICKETS - URL/QR CODE:
https://www.wghsparentsclub.org/BestSeatsintheHouse-2024PepRally
Win a SPOT AT THE 2024 TURKEY DAY GAME!
Support the mission of the WGHS Parents Club!
Click the link or scan the QR code to see what you get if you win!
TURKEY DAY GAME RAFFLE TICKETS - URL/QR CODE:
https://www.wghsparentsclub.org/BestSeatsInTheHouse-2024TurkeyDayGame
Next Week is Spirit Week
Chelsea Center Corner
The Chelsea Detrick Experiential Learning Center is available to ALL and works to match students with experiences aligning with careers they want to explore, passion areas of interest, and service learning opportunities. Students can come see us anytime upstairs at WGHS in room 200 to learn more. Follow along with our current opportunities via our newsletters posted at bit.ly/chelseacenternews.
This week’s featured experience is Missouri Girls and Boys State. Applications are open now to Juniors for summer 2025. Students will receive experiential education on democratic government structures and the American political process through a creative simulation of government. This is an overnight program on the campus of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO June 21 - 28, 2025. Students can access the application through their GivePulse login. Students who participate in the program could earn elective credit. Chelsea Center will also fund the experience.
Did You Know?
November 5 is a PD Day; there is no student attendance!
Here are the remaining days in which there is no student attendance due to professional development:
November 5, PD Day
January 3, PD Day
February 14, PD Day
For juniors/seniors only
WGHS Attendance Procedures
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:
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.
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.
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.
For attendance, please call 314.963.6400 and listen to the prompts.
ParentSquare
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.
Create a Canvas Account to Stay Connected
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:
- Canvas Informational Letter
- Creating an Observer Account, Logging into Canvas, and Setting Notifications
- 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.
Shop the Parents' Club Spirit Store!
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!
Webster Groves High School
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