Public schools are an engine of possibility for children and progress for communities. I am proud to be working with the students and communities in the Webster Groves School District and to have a role in demonstrating our progress.

• Arts: God of Carnage (mature audiences) starts this weekend with MMEA all-state in band, choir, and orchestra at the MMEA state conference.
• Athletics: Swim conference meet begins soon, wrestling ramps up for districts in the coming weeks, and both varsity basketball teams beat Kirkwood earlier this season. Spring sports begin later next month.
• Academics: We continue to have among the highest ACT average in the region of schools that test all students, and the overall number of students failing courses has continued to fall.
• Activities: Over 400 students attended the Winter Dance. They had a fun and safe evening with their friends and classmates. Our Robotics team just qualified for the next stage of their season and have the opportunity to go to State at their next competition. DECA Districts is this Saturday, February 1, at Kirkwood High School. Scholar Bowl is having an incredible season thus far, as they just finished in first place at the SLU tournament. The WGHS Climbing Team recently was named 2024 Fall HS Bouldering Champions!

While standardized assessments and snapshots will never completely accurately reflect the depth and breadth of learning of children, it is an additional evidence of our success and impact. By almost any measure, the quality of learning and engaging in supported settings at Webster Groves High School remains high.

Best,

Matt Irvin

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards were announced, and we have a number of winners in a variety of categories. The Gold Key recipients will have their work reviewed for NATIONAL recognition, and will know that status in March.

Gold Key

Anna Bass - Painting

Gracie Giles - Drawing and Illustration

Hugh Lumley - Fashion

Honorable Mention

Gracie Giles - Portfolio

Audrey Poppin - Drawing and Illustration (2)

Sophia Wagnon - Portfolio

Colette Giezentanner - Painting

Congratulations!

The snow days provided a chance for students to enjoy the season, but we know they may have also caused disruptions for your family. Thank you for your patience and adaptability.

With four traditional snow days now used, any future snow days will transition to our Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) plan, allowing students to continue learning from home without extending the school year.

What to Expect on AMI Days

• Assignments will be posted on Canvas, focusing on review activities (no new content) and designed to take no more than 30 minutes per course.
• Teachers will be available from 8:25 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. via email, ParentSquare, and Zoom.

Attendance

Attendance is based on completed assignments. Students who do not submit work will be marked absent for the AMI day.

This plan ensures learning remains flexible and accessible, even when we can’t be together in person.

Thank you for your partnership and trust as we work to support our students in every way possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Before the end of January, we are planning to meet with all students to discuss and finalize course requests for the 25-26 school year. Please contact your student’s academic counselor with any questions or concerns.

All Students:

College and Career Night @ WGHS, Tuesday, February 4, 2025 6:00-8:00pm

You’ll have the opportunity to choose from a variety of session topics and hear from a panel of college admissions professionals. Session topics may include: Pathway to College, The College Search: Developing Your List, Earning College Credit While in High School, Financial Aid 101, College Admissions Testing: The ACT and SAT, and Careers in Trade Unions. More details will be emailed closer to the event. This event is available for all students 9-11th grades!

St. Louis County Apprenticeship and Career Pathways Showcase (three dates and locations to choose from)

Interested in learning about careers that don’t require a traditional four-year college degree? Consider attending a St. Louis County Apprenticeship and Career Pathways Showcase in February or March. Visit this website for more information.

Seniors:

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is now available to fill out at www.studentaid.gov. Some colleges & universities have priority deadlines as early as February 1st.

Applications for Webster Groves local scholarships are now available and are due in early February.

Juniors:

Individual College/Career Planning Conferences are now available for Juniors and their families!

Please join us for an individual planning conference this semester! This meeting will be centered on your student as you begin to make plans for life after Webster Groves High School.

Our conference will be catered to the needs of each individual student and family including topics such as:

· post-secondary education planning/developing a list of schools or programs that fit you

· college admission testing information

· strengths/interest areas/major/career planning

· developing your "to-do" list

Please schedule using the links provided for your College & Career Counselor

Last Names (A-K) Click HERE to schedule your meeting with Mrs.Jennedy Lombard

Last Names (L-Z) Click HERE to schedule your meeting with Mrs. Cassie Aschinger

WGHS Counseling Team

Jennedy Lombard - Counseling Department Chair, College & Career Counselor (A-K)

Cassie Aschinger - College & Career Counselor (L-Z)

Ellen Dorsey - Academic & Personal Counselor (A-D)

Ken Winingham - Academic & Personal Counselor (E-K)

Dr. Jennifer Gross - Academic & Personal Counselor (L-Ri)

Bianca Haghighi - Academic & Personal Counselor (Ro-Z)

Rick Cusumano - Webster Academy Counselor & 504 Coordinator

Do you have a WGSD learning device at home? For students or families having technology issues, please do the following:

• For specific Canvas issues, contact Mr. Young at young.mark@wgmail.org.
• Encourage your student to visit the Library circulation desk for help with their device.

As always, you are welcome to contact us at 314.963.6400 for assistance.

Seniors now have until March 7 to submit the Parents' Club Scholarship. Recipients will be notified at Senior Awards Night. Click here to apply.

Donations needed to the Class of 2025 Senior Party!

Our Amazon Gift List is Live. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner.

This is the perfect opportunity to snag Senior Gifts at unbeatable prices!

Every Senior who attends the party on 5/17/25 goes home with a gift.

That's a lot of gifts needed!

Select Andrea Osdieck as the delivery address.

Thanks so much for your help!

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/22S6H1GCE7G9O

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.

Is your child seeking ways to extend their learning opportunities or differentiate themselves on applications and resumes?

The Chelsea Center maintains a database of summer opportunities to help students stretch their wings, follow their passions, and build their skills to highlight within competitive application processes. All regional opportunities we amplify are listed in the GivePulse database accessible to students at wgsd.givepulse.com via their WGSD Google Login credentials.

Because that database is reserved for student use, parents will need to look through those opportunities alongside students. To make access to the information as simple as possible, we've listed the various opportunities for you in a readily accessible format via our Chelsea Center Newsletter accessed at bit.ly/chelseacenternews.

For some of these summer experiences, the Chelsea Center can help students both earn elective credit AND receive funding to cover the cost of the experience. (Funding is limited, so see us ASAP for guidance.) Students should express interest for individual opportunities by registering via the green button on GivePulse and then Chelsea Center staff will reach out to them individually! Please email Dr. Kerry Arens at arens.kerry@wgmail.com with further questions.

The WGHS Parent Equity Committee invites you to join via zoom for our quarterly meeting: Wednesday, February 5 from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Zoom link will be emailed to existing committee members. New parents are ALWAYS welcome to join in, and you can receive a zoom link by reaching out to the contacts listed below. See you soon!

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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.

Parents & Guardians Getting Started Guide

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:

1. Canvas Informational Letter
2. Creating an Observer Account, Logging into Canvas, and Setting Notifications
3. 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.

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!

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