The Owl Observer

Dear Students and Families,

Happy Week #6 WYWLA Families! Important notes are below!

Quick Notes

• Students who are sick must stay home. If your child is too sick to engage in class, they should stay home. Please review WCPSS health protocols HERE.
• Does your child take medication at school? Don't wait reach out to our nurse to ensure your paperwork is updated for the year. Any student who needs medication on campus must bring in an completed 1702 Medical Form from a doctor. Visit the WCPSS Health Page for more! WYWLA School Nurse: Mrs. Maureceia Brewington (mbrewington@ wcpss.net)
  
• Our school health nurse will be transitioning from her role after Friday, September 13th, as she focuses on advancing her nursing degree and balancing her family and school commitments. We are deeply grateful for her dedication to our students' well-being and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.
  

• Do you need to update your contact information? Email our Data Manager - jbalraj@wcpss.net!

Sincerely,

Mariah Walker,

Principal

NC Legislators passed a law last year that requires all secondary schools across the state to inform students in grades 6-12 each year about important resources related to child abuse and neglect. It also requires schools to have this information posted in each middle and high school.

The attached document is for your information that contains important information and resources available in our community. WCPSS is committed to the safety and well being of children in our community. If you have any questions about this information, please reach out to your school social worker, SAP, or school counselor.

In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of all our students, WCPSS will be administering a universal screener of social, emotional & behavioral health. Our district is using the Behavior Intervention Monitoring Assessment System-2 (BIMAS-2) research-based screening tool. All students are included in this assessment. Teachers complete a set of questions related to each students' behaviors. If you do not want your child's teacher to answer questions about their behavior, you must OPT OUT. Please read more below!

• We are looking for a Senior Parent to help coordinate and communicate senior events with other senior parents! Are you a senior parent willing to help out with school and PTSA events? If so, let Mrs. Walker know!

Is your student interested in serving on the 24-25 Superintendent's Student Leadership Council? The SSLC represents the WCPSS student body to the Superintendent by offering insight into student perspectives. The first meeting is in person on October 5, but other meetings will be held virtually. If your student is interested, they must email Mrs. Walker by Thursday, September 12.

Head over to our PTSA Spirit Wear Store to get your beginning of the year orders in! Day of the Girl Shirts are ALREADY available. You will need these by October 11, so be sure to include those in your order. There are so many awesome shirts and designs to pick from. Get those orders in!

The International Day of the Girl is an annual tradition here at WYWLA. During this event girls can wear their Day of the Girl T-Shirt! Order yours now! Click the link to order below.

• Visitor check-in system | To continue to provide safe learning environments, all schools have upgraded their visitor check-in system to a district-wide Visitor Management System. The new system will verify all school visitors and check the Sex Offender Registry for potential matches. Any visitors to campus will be asked to present a valid photo ID when entering the building. View details of what to expect when visiting your child’s school.
  

• Say Something Anonymous Reporting System | To enhance student safety, our schools will begin using the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) starting in the 2024-25 school year. Students, teachers, and administrators will be trained to recognize the signs of at-risk behaviors, especially within social media. The system offers a 24/7 tip line for students, parents, and staff to report anyone who shows signs of harming themselves or others. The program will be rolled out in three phases, starting with middle and high schools with a July start date. Our school will provide additional information and updates once our phase begins. Don't Ever Wait To Report A Safety Concern: We value our partnership with families and the community in keeping schools safe. You can share safety concerns using the WCPSS Tip Line at (919) 856-1911.
  

• New bus delay notification system | Starting this school year, parents of students who ride the bus now can receive up-to-the-minute notifications via text and/or email when their child’s bus is delayed. To receive these messages, you will need to make sure you have given permission to receive text and/or email notifications via SchoolMessenger. You can also check for bus delays by clicking on the Live Bus Updates link on your school’s transportation page, or by visiting wcpss.net/busupdates. You also can still track your child’s bus using the Here Comes the Bus app. Learn more.
  

• Student/Parent Handbook | This guide helps students and families understand the rules and expectations for behavior in school, on the way to and from school, and during school-sponsored activities. https://www.wcpss.net/handbook
  

• Renew your volunteer application for 2024-25 | Families and individuals who were approved to volunteer during the 2023-24 school year received an email on July 1 outlining the quick and easy volunteer renewal process for the 2024-25 school year. The renewal window will be July 1-Oct. 1. Visit Volunteering in WCPSS to learn more about volunteer renewal or apply to be a first-time volunteer.
  

• Find student behavioral health support | Students’ social-emotional well-being is supported by all staff. If you have concerns about your child, or want to learn more about how your school supports student well-being, contact your child’s school counselor. School counselors, psychologists and social workers are available in every school, and we have hired many more of these personnel to serve students since 2020. In addition, Counseling and Student Services offers resources that may help students and families improve their health and wellness.

• Review technology resources for families | Find technology policies, forms and resources on how we keep our students safe online at wcpss.net/technology. Student Device Program updates: Students in grades 6 and 9 will receive a new assigned Chromebook at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 continue to use their assigned Chromebooks for the 2024-25 school year, even if they are transferring to another WCPSS school. Students in grades K, 1, and 2 will have access to a classroom Chromebook that will stay at school. Students with assigned devices must follow the care and use guidelines for student devices. Any issue with a student's device should be reported to your student's school.

We love cheering our OWLs on! Last year we were home to over 40 student athletes!

WYWLA students who are eligible may try out and participate in interscholastic athletic programs at Broughton High School and Oberlin Middle School. Interested students should visit each school’s website for more information.

Students interested in Oberlin Athletics should visit this link: https://www.wcpss.net/domain/15566

Students must complete a physical prior to the start of tryouts and must meet all WCPSS athletic eligibility standards. Physicals must be uploaded by designated team deadlines to the WCPSS DragonFly Online Portal.

To learn more visit https://www.wcpss.net/oberlinms or http://broughton.wcpss.net

It's time to start thinking about PTSA Reflections. We are home to regional and state recognition in Reflections, so let's keep the celebration going this year!

Please take a moment to share this with a WYWLA Alum! The information for our OWL ALUMNI PAGE will be launching later this summer. Please use the link below to above to information!

September

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