CB West High School
West Times Newsletter March 8, 2024
HARLEQUIN CLUB'S SPRING PERFORMANCE
Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild new high school she would experience after moving to Illinois. Follow Cady through her journey as she struggles to rise to the top of the popularity pecking order by taking on the charming but ruthless Plastics in this hilarious musical.
Tickets for Mean Girls High School Version of the musical are on sale now and can be purchased through the Central Bucks Harlequin Club showtixforu website.
Performance Dates and Times:
- March 14th at 7:00 pm
- March 15th at 7:00 pm
- March 16th at 7:00 pm
- March 17th at 2:00 pm
Grab your tickets before they're gone. This show is going to be so fetch!
SAGE PROM DRESS SALE
SAGE Club will be having a prom dress collection and sale. Please drop off your good-condition prom dresses at the old school store before school from March 4th to 8th. The dresses will be sold for $10 after school from March 11th to 15th, and from 9 am to 12 pm on Sunday March 17th.
WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY FUNDRAISER
This year is the 2nd annual TOPSS fundraiser to support World Down Syndrome Day on March 21 and help offset some of our community-based instruction costs. The fundraiser will run through April 5.
You can find a link to our PALS page here: Central Bucks TOPSS | RallyUp
Please consider purchasing a pair or two of socks and then don’t forget to rock your socks on March 21 in support of World Down Syndrome Day!!
Thank you for your support and please feel free to share the link with anyone who may be interested!!
STUDENT SERVICES
PreACT (10th Grade)
The PreACT will be offered to CB West 10th grade students on March 16th, 2024. College bound 10th grade students are encouraged to take the PreACT to gain exposure to the ACT, an exam many colleges use when making admissions decisions.
The normal registration window has closed, and exams have been ordered for all registered students.
A limited number of extra exams have been ordered for late registration, which will be open on the MPP website from Friday, March 1st to Sunday, March 10th (unless sold out). Visit the Student Services Testing Page for registration information: https://www.cbsd.org/Page/1002.
COLLEGE PLANNING PRESENTATION (11TH Grade)
The Student Services Department held an evening presentation for 11th grade students and parents on February 29th. If you were unable to attend, the PowerPoint presentation was posted to the Student Services website, where you can also view the Fall 11th grade college planning PowerPoint.
Program Planning for the 2024-2025 School Year:
Please visit the Program Planning Website for up-to-date information, resources, and links for students and parents regarding course registration for the 24-25 school year.
Tuesday, February 6- Fri, March 15: Counselors are currently meeting with all students to review requests, prerequisites, graduation credits, and will address all questions and concerns with students.
Friday, March 15 Verification of course requests will be available on the student portal. Students and parents should review courses for accuracy and must notify their counselor immediately regarding any final changes to their course requests.
Wednesday, March 20 All changes to requests must be submitted to a counselor by this date. No changes will be allowed for the 2024-25 school year unless it is due to a level change supported by the recommending teacher or a failure to meet a prerequisite.
College Applications and Scholarships
If you are interested in applying for scholarships, please look in Naviance under “Scholarship Search” to find a current list of local scholarship opportunities.
Career Training at Bucks County Community College
Have a Senior who is exploring non-college pathways after high school? Bucks County Community College offers FREE training programs in several different fields. Visit the BCCC Workforce Development page for more information: https://www.bucks.edu/workforcedevelopment/.
FINANCIAL AID
The FAFSA (link) is the primary way to access need based financial aid for colleges. Students seeking need-based scholarships and student loans to help pay for college should plan to complete the FAFSA, which is now open.
Some colleges and universities will require the CSS Profile and the FAFSA for need-based aid consideration. This requirement should be listed on the college’s website, but you should also check the list of schools requiring the CSS Profile on the College Board website (link).
Upcoming Financial Aid Sessions
On Wednesday, March 20th 6-7pm PHEAA Access Partners Amy Sawdey and Wendy Dunlap will present Understanding and Comparing Financial Aid Offers which provides information on the steps students should take after completing the FAFSA. They will discuss the financial aid process, strategies to review and understand financial aid offers from colleges, and how to compare several types of aid. PHEAA Presentation link
PHEAA hosts many virtual events that can be found at the link below to help support you with your financial aid needs. https://www.pheaa.org/virtual/
AP Exams:
Students will join their AP Classroom account with their teachers for the Spring semester.
On Monday, February 5, the My Payments Plus System will open for all Spring semester AP exams. Students must go to My Payments Plus (set up an account if you don’t already have one) to register and pay for any Spring AP exam that they wish to take in May of 2024.
The MPP system will remain open for registration and payment of Spring exams until March 4, 2024.
College Admissions Exams - See the CB West Student Services “testing page” for suggested college admissions exam plans: https://www.cbsd.org/Page/1002.
Current Juniors should plan to take the SAT/ACT after completing Algebra 2.
Bucks County Community College has a lower cost SAT prep course ($289): https://www.bucks.edu/career-professional-development/testprep/.
WEST STAFF SNACK BAR
CLASS OF 2024 CAP & GOWN INFORMATION
If you haven’t already done so, please visit the Balfour website below, to order your student's cap and gown by February 25, 2024, to avoid late fees.
https://www.buildagrad.com/cbw
Upon entering your order information, please be sure to select “Spring 2024 Commencement” and that you choose a specific package. Students have the option to choose black or gold. Make sure you have your student ID and credit card information ready when placing your order. A late fee will be charged on all orders placed after February 25, 2024. No orders will be accepted after April 25, 2024.
All orders will be sent to CB West. A date and time for student pickup will be determined and communicated later this spring.
WEST YEARBOOK INFORMATION
Don’t forget to reserve your child an Antler yearbook for this school year - books can be reserved until April 30th. After that, they will only be sold on a first come, first serve basis. For the past five years, we have had an increase in the demand for yearbooks, so be sure to order your yearbook online at www.jostens.com .
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION LETTER
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH INFORMATION
Link to English video: https://vimeo.com/748146211
Link to Spanish video: https://vimeo.com/748143109
Click HERE for frequently asked questions
Laptop Breakage Information
Laptop Breakage
We have seen a rise in the amount of screen breaks for student laptops. Our policy covers for 2 broken screens per device. If your child’s laptop screen breaks 3 times, we will be required to send you an invoice for the repair and labor. The current cost for this is $200. Please remind your child to care for their laptops. Some simple steps to assist are:
- Use two hands when holding or moving the device.
- Use clean hands while using the laptop or iPad.
- Use only the provided digital pen or finger on the screen.
- Use only the power adapter that came with the device.
- Use a microfiber cloth to clean the screen.
- Keep device stored in the provided case. This includes traveling through the hallways, on buses, or anytime the device is not being utilized.
- Make sure nothing is on the keyboard, close the lid, and remove all cables if any are plugged into the laptop. Place laptop in your bag carefully.
- Be careful when placing your case on the floor. Keep the device off the floor so screens do not get stepped on by others.
Parents of Student Drivers
Our goal each day is make sure that all students, faculty, buses, and drivers exit our school campus safely. To ensure that safety, we are requesting that you please reinforce safe driving habits with your student driver. There have been several vehicle accidents that may have been prevented through safer driving practices.
- Drivers should maintain a speed of 15 MPH or less while driving on MacFarlane and in the school zone area.
- Drivers are to stop for pedestrians entering the crossing areas.
- Drivers are not to change lanes on MacFarlane
- Drivers should not be using electronic devices while driving.
- Drivers/Students should not be yelling from one vehicle to the next or getting out of one vehicle to get in another.
- Please try to limit the number of passengers in the car with your student. This will assist in being more attentive while driving.
Thank you for your assistance !
From the Attendance Office
* ANYTIME you come or go from CB West during the school day you MUST check in with attendance.
- ANYTIME you leave school for early dismissal we MUST hear from a PARENT or GUARDIAN via phone or the portal.
- PARENTS or GUARDIANS can put early dismissals, late arrivals, absences, and vacation time in the portal.
- Absences and tardies can be excused for valid reasons with a note, a phone call, or through the portal by PARENTS or GUARDIANS ONLY.
- PARENTS or GUARDIANS have three days to excuse absences or tardies. (Exceptions may be made)
- Students are NOT PERMITTED to leave for lunch during Lunch & Learn.
Children’s Health Insurance Program
CHIP is Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program for uninsured children and teens up to age 19.
Click on the link for more information about CHIP.