W-W Virtual Academy Newsletter

Contact Information

• WWIA Address: 5400 Fourth Street, Wayne, MI 48184
• Email - swansonc@wwcsd.net,
• Text - 734-965-0561 or
• Call - 734-713-4355.

When corresponding please make sure to include:

• Your name
• Your student's name
• Your question or quandary

Please reach out with any questions you have.

December 10 @ 6:00pm - Mandatory Senior Meeting at WWIA in the gym.

January 3-10 - Target End Date for all Quarter 2 and Semester 1 classes - work steadily on your lessons to ensure completion. Students have 1 week after completing a course to finish the final and close out the class.

Winter Break - December 23 - January 3rd

Mid-Winter Break - February 17-21

Spring Break - March 24 - 28

Attention Seniors: Important Meeting Coming Up! In Person, Virtual, and Hybrid

Seniors, mark your calendars! There will be a mandatory Senior/Parent Meeting on December 10, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the school auditorium. This meeting is crucial as we’ll be going over transcript audits and the timeline for course completion leading up to graduation. It’s vital for you and your parents to attend so we can ensure you're on track for graduation and that all your credits are in place. Don't miss this important opportunity to prepare for your final year!

We’re incredibly proud of all your hard work and dedication. Let's keep pushing forward, focusing on excellence, and supporting one another in our journey toward success. Together, we can make this year truly remarkable.

If you are a potential 2024/2025 graduate, it is time to order your cap & gown for graduation. (If you are unsure of your status, please verify with your counselor that you are on track to graduate).

Here is the important information:

• Cost is $35 for the cap, gown & tassels - they’re yours to keep!
• You may pay by cash (exact change please), or money order made out to: “Wayne-Westland Community Schools.”
• You may purchase additional tassels for $10 each.
• Caps & gowns are navy blue with navy/teal tassels.
• To order yours, please come to the WWIA Office on or before December 16, 2024, or you can call or email Mrs. Brittany with your height, approximate weight & cap size (reg. or XL).
• Payment is due April 1, 2024. The caps & gowns will be in about a week before the graduation ceremony.
• Ring service & photographer are not available at this time, please make your own arrangements.

• Herff Jones does have an online catalog for school rings and other graduation items, if interested. The website is: www.herffjones.com/products

Contact information for Mrs. Brittany:

phone: (734) 419-2436

Email: gladdenb@wwcsd.net

Xello lessons, for all 7th-12th grade students MUST be completed by December 20th. If you have not yet completed your Xello please do so ASAP.

This is part of your yearly EDP (Education Development Plan.) The directions for Xello are found at the bottom of this section. Students can work on Xello at any time from any school Chromebook/computer when logged in under the student's school Google address.

It is imperative that students complete their Xello as this is part of the EDP (Educational Development Plan) and a requirement for completion of each year's schooling and graduation. If you are having any problems logging in please contact me immediately.

STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE (Yearly):

• Career Matchmaker Interest Inventory
• Learning Styles Questionnaire
• Lesson 1

XELLO Directions

1. After signing into your Chromebook, look in the upper left corner of your Google browser. There is a folder that is named “wwcsd.net bookmarks”.

2. Click on that folder and then click on Xello.

3. On the left side of the screen, look for “View All Lessons”, you might have to scroll down a little.

4. On the Lessons page, you need to complete all of the lessons that are not done yet, even if they are listed under a different grade. This might take a little time and does not have to be completed all at once.

5. You will know you are all done when the circle at the top of your Xello homepage says 100%.

Please click on the link below, look through the course catalog, and email your counselor with your requests.

A-H - Mr. Booker - BookerT@wwcsd.net

I-Z - Ms. Horgan - HorganE@wwcsd.net

Chromebook Tip: If your Chromebook is stating that the disk is full, it won't let you download or upload a document to Graduation Alliance, or you can't get into Graduation Alliance it may be because your Chrome OS needs to be updated.

Steps to Update:

• Click on the button on the bottom left of the screen - it looks like a donut.
• Click on the Settings button
• Click on Choose Chrome OS
• Click on Update Chrome
• Reboot your computer and log back in with your school account.

Once this update is complete students have found they can complete all functions needed to complete their Graduation Alliance lessons.

Did you know that students attending Wayne-Westland Community Schools can earn college credit, up to an associates degree, for free while still in high school?

WWCSD has partnered with Madonna University to combine the high-school and college experience - Wayne-Westland Early Middle College. Upon completing this program, students will graduate with their high school diploma and up to 60 college credit hours, potentially earning an associates degree.

Current 8th, 9th, and 10th grade WWCSD students are eligible to apply. The application will be open October 31, 2024 - February 14, 2025. Information sessions will be held to support families in exploring this opportunity and answer questions.

• Thursday, January 16 - 6:30pm in person at WWIA - 5400 Fourth Street, Wayne

• Wednesday, January 22 - 6:30pm - via Zoom

For more information, please visit www.wwcsd.net/earlycollege

For all 6th - 12th grade students please make sure to check your email on Wednesday for an email from either Mrs. Hess, Mrs. Nosakowski, or Mr. Mason. Remember to answer that google form on Wednesday and look for the response from your mentor teacher later in the week.

Weekly two-way communications with your mentor teacher are a requirement of the program and count for your student's attendance for the week. Failing to complete the 2-way communication is equivalent to 5 days absent.

After completing the orientation and when logging into your Graduation Alliance Account remember the following:

• Make sure you are logged into the computer with your school Google email and password.
• Website: app.gradally.com
• Click on Login with Google
• Choose your class to work on. You can work on one class at a time until completion or the set week's lessons in each class.
• Look at and watch the Target End Date. All lessons MUST be completed with a 60% or higher before that target end date.

For more tips and trick consult your orientation packet.

If you have not yet participated in the orientation reach out to me to set up a time.

TIPS:

• If you are new to Graduation Alliance, or if you have been stumped so far about a part of the dashboard watch the Student Dashboard Tour.
• If you have a question about a concept in a class you can text, email, or schedule a tutoring session with your Graduation Alliance Teacher. The information for instructors can be found under the "Need Help" tile on the dashboard.
• If you text make sure to include your name, the class, and the lessons you have a question about.
• If you are emailing include your name, the lesson, the class, and the question you have.
• If you are making a tutoring appointment check to make sure your email is spelled correctly and you add the meeting to your google calendar. The Meets Link, meeting date and time, will be sent to your email and your Google Calendar (your calendar can be found in your Google Waffle.)
• Reminder: You can retry any assignment as many times as you need to achieve the minimum 60% to pass the assignment. You can redo any assignment to earn the highest percentage you desire.
• Make sure to complete and redo all quizzes and activities for higher scores before submitting the last assignment. You MUST complete all assignments to get a grade and close the class.

EXPECTATIONS/INFORMATION:

• Only students can contact Graduation Alliance teachers. Teachers will not respond to parent emails per Graduation Alliance rules.
• Plagiarism/Academic Honesty: Graduation Alliance Program has a zero tolerance policy for academic dishonesty. Cheating (giving or receiving information), using AI to write an assignment, and plagiarism on class work may result in a 1% grade for the assignment. At the teacher’s discretion, students may have the opportunity to complete an additional assignment to make up lost points:
• First offense: teacher will allow student the opportunity to retry the assignment after successfully completing a plagiarism quiz.
• Second offense: student is only allowed to retry an assignment following the GA teacher intervention.
• WWIA counselors and administration are alerted to the incidents and will reach out to the student and families regarding the expectation for redoing assignments and regaining academic trust.
• Grade Codes: Certain grade codes are used as an indicator for students and program administrators. These grade codes are intended to be attention-grabbers for students to correct work.
• 0% = automatically assigned for missing work past the due date
• 1% = plagiarism, use of AI
• 3% = significantly incorrect work or blank attachment
• 4% = unreadable link/incorrect file type
• All other percentages are the grade earned.

We just received another delivery of non-perishable food for our pantry. If you or someone you know could benefit from some extra food or hygiene items please call the office or stop in to visit the pantry!

For those interested in playing sports or participating in clubs at their school of residence I will include links to the middle and high school newsletters as they become available. If you are not sure what would be your school would be you can look it up at LOCATE MY SCHOOL

Some schools may not yet have a newsletter out to families. I will add and update schools as they become available.

Please see the information below that can help you and your family have a smooth start to the new school year.

Family Resource Center

Wayne-Westland Community Schools has a Family Resource Center (FRC), offering free services to all students and families within our district. Among the services provided are basic needs assistance, access to over 700 local resources, and a Laundry Assistance Program. Additionally, the FRC offers essential items, such as emergency toiletries, socks, underwear, hats, gloves, and scarves, to those in need. School supplies and backpacks are also available year-round for any district student.

Please contact our Family Resource Center at 734-419-2709 or FRC@wwcsd.net. A Digital Request for Services Form is also available. If you have additional questions about their services, please contact the Family Resource Center directly.

• Back to School Hub

• Family Resource Center

• Parent Resources

Wayne-Westland Community Schools is proud to participate in OK2SAY, and to recognize their decade of serving as a resource for students, school employees and schools.

Since its launch in September 2014, OK2SAY has received over 56,000 tips identifying students in crisis and helping to prevent school violence. The top five cumulative tip categories have been suicide threats, bullying, drugs, other (anxiety, depression, harassment), and planned school attacks.

OK2SAY is available 24/7, and tips can be submitted in the following ways:

• Call: 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729)
• Text: 652729 (OK2SAY)
• Email: OK2SAY@mi.gov
• OK2SAY website: Michigan.gov/OK2SAY
• OK2SAY mobile app: Available for download in the app store for iPhone and Android.

Do you or an adult you know still need to finish high school? The Michigan 23+ Adult Diploma & Training Program is your opportunity to earn a diploma and a career certificate — for free!

• 100% online and flexible — Work on classes anytime and anywhere.
• Personal support team to help you stay on track.
• 24/7 virtual tutoring so you can get homework help anytime you need it.

Learn more and see if you qualify at Michigan23.com.

Both cities of Westland and Wayne offer programming to support youth and their families struggling with challenging and/or negative youth behaviors, truancy issues and more. Some of the services offered through their programs include, but are not limited to: youth support groups, parent support, case management, referrals and more. Exact services will vary by program. To learn more, please reach out to these programs directly or let your child’s school know you would like to be connected through a school referral.

Westland Youth Assistance: 734-467-7904

Wayne Youth and Family Services: 734-721-7004

Wayne-Westland Community School District has partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of our community. If you or a family member are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace can help you quickly find treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of the circumstance. This is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service provided by Wayne-Westland Community School District. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a mental health care provider:

• Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.

• Visit www.caresolace.com/wwcsd and either search on your own or click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

Did you know we have 2 comprehensive clinics in our District, through Corewell Health? These clinics are open and able to offer services to students such as: sports physicals, sick care-acute illness visits, asthma evaluations and care, school immunizations, mental health/wellness and more. We have a clinic located at John Glenn High School (for students ages 10-21) and Adams Middle School (for students ages 5-21). Please reach out to our clinics to learn more, or make an appointment today!