The Owl Observer

Dear Students and Families,

Happy New Year! As we welcome 2025, we are filled with excitement and hope for all the opportunities and successes that lie ahead. The start of a new year is always a special time to reflect on our accomplishments, set new goals, and embrace the promise of growth and possibility.

Looking back, 2024 was a remarkable year filled with achievements, milestones, and moments of inspiration. Each of you contributed in your unique way to the success of our WYWLA community. I am incredibly proud of all that we have achieved together and grateful for your dedication and pride in our community.

As we move forward into this new chapter, I encourage each of our students to continue striving for excellence, exploring your passions, and embracing the leader within you. You are the future change-makers of our world, and your potential knows no bounds. Families, your partnership and encouragement are invaluable, and I thank you for being such an integral part of our school’s journey.

Together, let’s make 2025 a year of learning, growth, and discovery. I look forward to all the exciting events, opportunities, and achievements that await us in the months ahead. Please know how much I value each of you and the unique contributions you bring to our school.

Wishing you a joyful, prosperous, and fulfilling new year. Let’s make it our best year yet!

With Appreciation & Gratitude,

Mariah Walker, WYWLA Principal

Dear Families,

We want to remind our rising juniors and rising seniors about the upcoming informational sessions and tours at Shaw University in January. This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the transition to the early college program and the experiences awaiting our students. Parents and students should have received detailed information about these events in an email from Dr. Walker; however, the letters are also linked below. If you have any questions or need further details, please feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to seeing our students engage in this enriching experience!

Important Dates to Note

• Rising Senior Visit to Shaw (Current 11th Graders): Friday, January 17th
• WYWLA Session: Begins at 11:00 AM at Shaw University.
• Students will meet at the WYWLA main campus and ride together to Shaw University.

• Rising Junior Visit to Shaw (Current 10th Graders): Wednesday, January 22nd
• WYWLA Session: Begins at 11:00 AM at Shaw University.
• Students will meet at the WYWLA main campus and ride together to Shaw University.

Parents must RSVP to join in both events/dates. Additional details (including the Parent RSVP) are available in the letters linked below.

The application for the 2025 IMC Career Exploration Week is officially open!

Encourage your students to apply before the deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2025. There's no bonus for early submission, so take your time and thoughtfully complete the application. The program offers a great opportunity for students to explore potential career paths, and we want to give everyone plenty of time to prepare.

To apply, use the link below:

Apply Now

We’ve also attached the program details for reference if needed. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!

Students and families who are interested in applying to Magnet Schools should visit the WCPSS Magnet Page for more information! Click here ! The deadline to apply is January 23, 2025!

If you wish to go back to your base school, you can request that transfer in March 2025. If you need help, email your child's counselor or any member of our administrative team to help!

Please note that students wishing to continue their journey at WYWLA do not need to complete an application to do so. Please reach out to Ms. Street with any questions at mjstreet@wcpss.net for middle school support and reach out to Mrs. di Carlo with any questions for high school at kdicarlo@wcpss.net!

North Carolina requires all schools to provide a secure tip line for students to report safety concerns when they’re unable to reach a trusted adult. This tool is designed to support, not replace, open communication with safe adults and is part of a broader effort to ensure student well-being. Throughout November, students will receive training on how to use this tool, which includes a brief overview, a video, and a guide on its use. Parents are encouraged to visit the program’s website to learn more about this national platform and to have conversations with their students about the importance of sharing concerns with trusted adults.

Parents should review link below for general information and program notes. Please send any questions to Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Greene Flowers, Mrs. Little, or Mrs. Whitehead.

Rising 6th and 7th graders get ready for camp! Applications are now accepted through March 31 to attend basketball camp in June 2025. Apply now!

Lace up those sneakers, basketball fans! Each year, North Carolina’s local electric cooperatives award full scholarships to local middle school students to attend summer collegiate basketball camps. Participating cooperatives will each select one middle school boy for a full scholarship to attend the Carolina Basketball School in Chapel Hill, and one middle school girl for a scholarship to attend the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Camp in Raleigh. More than 50 scholarships will be awarded statewide.

The future success and leadership of our country lie in the hands of the students emerging with degrees in STEM. The Science House student programs motivate and prepare K-12 students to study and work in STEM fields. Whether you are a K-12 student interested in participating in one of The Science House’s many programs across the state or an NC State student wanting to make a difference, The Science House has a place for you.

**A new program will be added for Summer 2025 in Science Research & Paleontology!

Our program was founded in 1999 and grew as an extension of the Women in Engineering Program with the desire to attract more women to engineering by reaching out to younger students. We recognized that any efforts to attract women to engineering would also be beneficial for underrepresented populations and all students.

We also acknowledged the need to inform the public about the true nature of engineering, to promote and support educational improvements in the way that math and science are taught in K-12 schools and to place importance on 21st century skills for all students.

January

January 1: Holiday

January 2: Open/Unprotected Workday

January 3: Open/Unprotected Workday

January 7: Report Cards

January 8: First Day of WTCC Classes (2nd Semester)

January 10: 8th Grade Field Trip

January 13: PTSA Board Meeting

January 17: PTSA Coffee Chat

January 17: Rising Senior Tour at Shaw University

January 17: Spirit Day (Main Campus)

January 20: Martin Luther King Jr Holiday

January 22: Rising Junior Tour at Shaw University

January 24: Academic Celebration

January 29: Athena Session, 9th Grade Only, During WISE

January 30: Athena Session, 8th and 10th Grades Only, During WISE

Website: www.wcpss.net/wywla
Location: 303 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh, NC, USA
Phone: (919) 508-9088
Twitter: @WakeGirlsLead