WOLFPACK HOWLER
VOLUME 21 ISSUE 5 - NOV 19, 2022
THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDANCE
Greetings Wolfpack Families,
Welcome back to a new school year, we are delighted to have the energy of our students back in building for what always ends up feeling like a fast rush to the end of the year. You blink and we're at Airband it always seems - then one exhale and graduation is upon us!
As we start this semester, I want to reiterate a message I started the year with and that is how incredibly important regular attendance is for all of your students' classes. We recognize that during the pandemic with hybrid and online instruction, in-person attendance for classes was not as critical. However, now all of our classes are fully in-person and your students' attendance is critical to not only their learning, but we also know that regular attendance is is key component to graduation success.
Research shows that students who are chronically absent (missing 15 or more days in one school year) are at an increased risk for falling behind in school (US Dept of Education). Within our district, poor attendance has been one of the largest factors associated with dropout risk.
As a school, we have noticed a lower attendance rate and will be continuing to look for ways to intervene with students who have chronic absenteeism. We will also make another shift to our tardy policy to see if we can also make a greater impact of ensuring students maximize their class time.
For our Wolfpack families, one of our mission statement goals is to develop a strong work ethic and being present and on time to class is a key component of that. Perhaps once weekly review your students attendance with them. Were they tardy or absent from class at all? Have you as a family had to excuse any tardies or absences for them this week? Are there any subtle shifts in routines that could be made in order to make morning or afternoon schedules smoother? Can we support you in any way with other available learning options or schedule shifts?
Thank you for all you do to support our students and our Wolfpack!
Take care,
Sarah
SY23-24 REGISTRATION INFORMATION
While we've only just begun the second semester of this year, we're already planning for next school year - wow!
If your current student is a freshman, sophomore, or junior they will receive a registration information packet on Tuesday, January 17. Our Counseling Office will host a Zoom Informational Meeting for students during Extension on that day as well to review the process for selecting courses for the next year. The following week, students will complete online registration during one of their classes on January 24-26.
We encourage you to speak with your student about the courses they select for next year - what electives are they considering? Is there a course fee for those classes? What the next most appropriate level of core courses for them? The packet will have this information and our Counseling Corner Website will soon be updated with this year's information as well.
Our schedule for next year is based on the selections your students make right now. We build enough sections of courses in the schedule based on how many students select the courses and when students attempt to change courses after the fact, this is why there may not be space in the other courses.
OPTIONAL GSA PRESENTATIONS IN EXTENSION
Greetings Wolfpack Families,
On January 12, 18, and 19 our West Valley GSA students will be doing optional presentations to freshmen extension classes on the topic of gender identity and name/pronoun etiquette.
Attending the presentation is entirely optional and students not attending will stay in their class. Parents, please talk with your student if you do not want them to attend the presentation.
Students will have the option to attend on the following dates for their assigned extension class.
Mr. Clooten, Ms. Damario, and Mr. Weaver on January 12
Ms. Huang, Ms. Moore, and Ms. Royer on January 18
Mr. Delgado, Ms. Oates, Dr. Whittle, and Mr. Wong on January 19
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Take care,
Sarah Gillam
LOTTERY OPEN FOR NORTH STAR COLLEGE
All current high school sophomores and juniors, including those not currently enrolled with the Fairbanks school district, are eligible to apply for the North Star College enrollment lottery. Students enrolled will earn a FNSBSD high school diploma from North Star College and college credits towards a certificate or a degree. Lottery closes Friday, February 17, 2023.
Upcoming Events:
Link to School District Calendar | Link to West Valley Calendar | Link to Special Rotation Weeks
JAN 16 | Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday | No School
JAN 27 | 3rd Quarter Mid-Quarter
FEB 11 | Senior Ball
FEB 20 | Professional Development Day | No School
FEB 21 & 22 | Parent Teacher Conferences | No School
MARCH 13 | End of Quarter 3
MARCH 13-17 | SPRING BREAK
APRIL 3-7 | AK Star State Testing | Schedule TBA
APRIL 4 | Incoming Freshmen Family Night @ 6-7:30pm
APRIL 8 | Junior Prom
APRIL 14 | 4th Quarter Mid-Quarter
APRIL 27 | Celebration of Excellence
MAY 1-12 | AP Testing
MAY 9-11 | Senior Finals
MAY 16 | West Valley Graduation @ Carlson Center
MAY 17-19 | Final Exams
Board of Education Meetings:
OTHER DISTRICT NEWSLETTERS:
JOIN THE WOLFPACK PTSA!
Sign up ONLINE for the Wolfpack PTSA - Click Here -> Memberhub
- $10 for Parents
- $7 for Students and Staff
- If paid online through Memberhub, a small fee will be charged in addition to the membership fee
THE WOLFPACK IS HIRING!
Special Education Intensive Resource (IR) Aide - Multiple Positions
JobID: 10011 ($2,000 Signing Bonus!)
Interim National Honor Society Advisor
JobID: 9977
YEARBOOK INFORMATION
Yearbook Prices and Important Dates (current school year)
Online Pre-orders until May (go to www.yearbookforever.com )
Prices go up throughout the year, ORDER NOW and save money!
$65 until 12/31
$70 until 3/31
$75 until 4/31
$80 thereafterBook Completed by Yearbook Staff: April 1st
Spring Delivery (pickup in May)
Additional Spring Supplement to arrive in the Fall of the following school year
(including prom, spring sports/activities, & graduation)
DISCOUNTS & SPECIALS:
(Not available online, cash/check sales in room 112 only.)
2020 yearbooks are available for $40.
This offer is ONLY available because of the unforeseen delay of the publication in the spring of 2020 due to the pandemic. While supplies last…Senior Package!
Pre-order your senior yearbook AND pick up your freshmen, sophomore, and junior yearbooks for only $200 total. That’s a savings of up to $120! While supplies last…
Send Yearbook Your Amazing Photos of This Year
Use the Yearbook Snap app
OR online at this link https://snap.yearbookforever.com/snap/index.html#/upload/1-23J-17797
Access Code: wolfpack
Choose the appropriate category
PLEASE provide names of people in the photo when possible.
COVID Information
The Wellness Check for Students & Staff has been updated. Please help keep our schools healthy and symptom free by following the guidance on the Wellness Check.
In the event of a positive COVID test, students and staff should follow State of Alaska guidelines.
West Valley High School
Email: contact-wvh@k12northstar.org
Website: https://www.k12northstar.org/westvalley
Location: 3800 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK, USA
Phone: (907)479-4221
Facebook: facebook.com/wvhWolfpack/
Twitter: @wvhWolfpack