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Wolf Pack Monthly
Family Newsletter for February 2022
All prom paperwork and payments are due Friday, 2/24!! $175 per person
FInancial Aid Workshop
2/15 @ 5pm-7pm, West High, IMC1
SENIORS!! Financial Aid Workshop
Please see attachment on what to bring.
The new California State Law requires that all 12th graders complete and submit a FAFSA (Free application for federal student aid), CADAA (California Dream Act Application), or Opt Out form before graduation. The goal of this new bill is to increase student access to financial aid resources. ($$$)
We have our last Financial Aid night this Wednesday Feb 15th 5-7 PM at IMC 1. There will be financial aid representatives from Delta college there to support you. Please complete all applications by March 2nd.
You will not be cleared to graduate or participate in the May Senior activities without the FAFSA, CADAA, or Opt-Out form being done.
ASB Spirit Week Reminders
Hey Wolfpack! Next week, West High is turning upside-down with a Stranger Things themed Slam Jam. The week will consist of a Spirit Week, an in-school red light Rally, a Dance, AND the Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Senior Night games!
2/6 MON: “No red, No deal!” (Have any red flags? Put it on a shirt!)
Lunchtime: Stranger Things Game Show (Trivia)
2/7 TUES: D&D Game Night (Come dressed as your favorite game character)
- Lunchtime: Conflict Management Event
2/8 WED: Flip Your Personality Upside-Down (Come dressed as your Alter-ego)
- Lunchtime: Special Club Performances
2/9 THURS: Blast from the Past (Come dressed in retro/ 80’s attire)
⁃ Lunchtime: Special Jazz Performance
2/10 FRI: “This is our year!” (Come dressed in a Jersey and support our boys & girls)
- Lunchtime: 3-point contest
RALLY (During School, Double Assembly Schedule)
Varsity Games (Senior Night)
- Girls Basketball- 5:30pm
- Boys Basketball- 7pm
DANCE 9pm-11:45pm $10 in advance, $20 at the door
Principal's Message
02/01/2022
It's February and it's that time of the year! We have events happening non stop until the end of the year! The learning has been happening everywhere. The past few weeks I have visited classrooms - and have seen students designing posters and memes; creating fidgets on 3D printers, and having active discussions about current events! Walking through classes truly reminds me of why I love this job. Our students are learning and finding success every day!
Next week we have our annual Slam Jam. The week starts off with a Stranger Things Spirit Week (see flyer below). We have a double assembly schedule for a rally on Friday, Senior Night and Varsity Basketball games vs. our crosstown rival - Tracy High! The night ends with dance in the Upside Down! It's going to be another week of making those memories for our students!
For our Seniors, we have the end of the year activities coming up. Make sure to check the calendar and remind your student to listen to announcements everyday. Prom bids are for sale now! If students sign-up before Feb 10, they will have priority seating choices for the buses to prom. Buy early, and make sure that you will get to sit with friends on the way to the SF exploratorium. Also, please check in with the office because all Saturday School hours must be less than 16 to participate and cleared to walk on graduation. All students received an email with the number of hours they have and the upcoming Saturday School dates.
Families, please make sure to fill out the District LCAP survey. (Click here) Your responses determine the priorities for funding for the district and our site money. Last year, responses pertained to the need for mental health services, so that was where we allotted money from our budget. We also found there was a need to secure our campus and bring back the security personnel at the front of our school, so we were able to fund that position because of the LCAP results. The survey is open from now until Feb 17th. Please take the time to voice what you think we need to continue to support our students' success.
The progress report grading period for 3rd quarter ends on 2/10. Please make sure you are regularly logging into AERIES to check on your student's grades and assignments. Progress reports will be available after 2/20. I recommend checking in with your student's teachers if there are any questions. Checking the AERIES portal is one step at home that could help our students be successful... and it's important to maintain communication between teachers and families. Please also double check your contact information in AERIES, we want to make sure we are able to contact families, in case of any emergency.
We have a new online tutoring program that will be available to our students within the next few weeks. Students will be able to access this program at anytime to get help on any homework. This program can help with all subject areas and bilingual help is also available. We are hoping that this service will provide additional support for students that cannot stay after school for labs. I will be sending an email once this program goes live, so be sure to look out for the directions on how to access this great resource for your student. This program has tutors available that can help with essays, math problems, science concepts, and just about anything! We are excited to offer this resource to our students!
As we start the downhill slope towards the end of the year, please continue to encourage your student to get to class on time! Every minute of instruction counts!
Thank you, as always, for your support from home!
Sincerely,
Annabelle Lee
Principal
Merrill F. West High School
“…in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” – Maya Angelou
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
* denotes upcoming Senior events
FEBRUARY
2/1 ELPAC Testing Begins
2/2 JROTC Blood Drive
2/4 Super Science Saturday @ LLNL
2/6-2/10 Stranger Things Slam Jam Spirit Week
2/9 School Site Council
2/10 PROM Priority Check-in DUE Sign up and pay by 2/10 to get your choice of priority seating!
2/13 No School
2/15 @5-7pm Financial Aid Night
2/20 No School
2/24 All PROM Paperwork and Payments are due! $175
MARCH
3/3 No School, District Holiday
3/17 WHS Alumni Day
3/25 Junior/Senior Prom $175 (incl. transportation and dinner), due 2/24
*3/27 Grad Nite Contract due (Must meet grad requirements, 100 students max)
APRIL
4/5 Festival of Cultures @ 6pm @ The Grand Theatre
4/7-4/14 Spring Break
4/20-4/28 CAASSP Testing (Juniors and Seniors)
MAY
*5/12-5/13 Senior Grad Nite $375 (See flyer below for payment plan options)
*5/22 Senior Breakfast, $15
*5/25 Senior Beach Day, $15
*5/26 Graduation Rehearsal
*5/27 Graduation
Attendance Reminders
Please clear your student's absences by sending a note to the office or leaving a message on the attendance line. Green exit slips must be returned to the office the following day for students that leave early. Absences must be excused within 48 hours of the absence, or students will receive Saturday School Hours.
Saturday School Hours must be below 16 to participate in prom and senior events.
If you are planning for you student to leave on a Travel Study, please make sure you turn in paperwork 2 weeks before the start date. Teachers need to time to compile work and get everything ready for our students that our leaving.
Off-Campus Pass Reminders
Reminder to our 11th or 12th graders with Off-Campus Privileges - If you are late coming back from lunch, your off-campus privilege will be revoked for a week. You will need to meet with Ms. Arroyo to get your off-campus pass back. Attendance matters! Let's get to class on time!
Site Safety Reminders
When coming on to campus, please enter through the south parking lot (by the flag pole) and check in with the security officer. They will direct you to where you need to go. This includes during lunchtime.
Please remind students that we do not allow food deliveries from non-parents/guardians (Door Dash, Uber, Postmates, etc). This is to ensure the safety and security of our campus.
If you are picking up your child early or clearing absences, please check in with security and go to the attendance windows. For all other needs, please come into the office.
Counseling Corner/AP Testing Info
Link to Counseling Website
SENIORS! Set up your Remind Account for updates on Senior Activities, College and Career Information, and Reminders!
SENIORS! Please make sure to fill out the fafsa/cadaa (Go to fafsa.ed.gov) or fill out the opt out form (from counselor) as soon as possible. The new California State Law requires that all 12th graders complete and submit a FAFSA (Free application for federal student aid), CADAA (California Dream Act Application), or Opt Out form before graduation. The goal of this new bill is to increase student access to financial aid resources. ($$$) You will not be cleared to graduate or participate in the May Senior activities without the FAFSA, CADAA, or Opt-Out form being done.
Parent Education Links
Parent Resources to celebrate Black History Month
CAASSP Practice Test - Know what your 11th/12th grader needs to know for the state test!
Past Resources:
11 Good Study Habits to Develop
Parenting Teens During the Busy High School Years
10 Vital Communication Skills for Teenagers
10 Ways to Improve Your High-Schooler’s Communication Skills
10 Top Study Tips for High School Students Preparing for College
The Top 6 Study Skills For High School Students
Tips for Studying for Finals in High School
For those of you on Facebook, follow Officer Gomez (an SRO from a different district/school)
He has a running blog of issues faced in a high school environment. A lot of the issues faced around the nation, are parallel to ones we see in our own school. He has some great parent information!
Weekly Club Meetings (Updated Regularly)
Art Club, sched TBA, P19, Advisor: Ms. Carroll
Asian Pacific Islander Club, Wednesdays @ Lunch, P20 or G12, Advisor: Ms. Kim
Black Student Union, Wednesdays @ Lunch, IMC-1, Advisor: Mrs. Harrison/Ms. Escalante
Chess Club, Tues/Thurs @Lunch, MS30, Advisor: Mr. Farrens
FCCLA, 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ Lunch , G5, Advisor: Ms. Bliss
FFA Meeting, once a month @ 330 in Cafeteria, check Ag Classrooms for Sched
Film Club, Thursdays @ 4-5pm, ST-1B, Advisor: Mr. Vang
GSA (PackPride), Tuesdays @ Lunch, P3 , Advisor: Dr. Pina
Journalism, Thurs (monthly) @ Lunch, MS3, Advisor, Ms. Escalante
JROTC Cadet Staff, Wednesdays @ 715am, Advisor: Maj. Roundtree
Project Smile, Tuesdays @ Lunch, IMC-1 / MS13; Advisor: Ms.. Scott
Robotics Club, Thurs/Fri @330-550, T7, Advisor: Mr. Moehnke
SHSS (Sikh Honors & Service Society), Thursdays @ Lunch, IMC1 , Advisor: Mrs. Sharma
Tri-M Club, Every other Tuesday, K2, Advisor: Mr. Raman
Music Club, Every other Tuesday, K2, Advisor: Mr. Raman
Schedule for Friday, 2/10
Merrill F. West High School
Website: https://westhigh.tracy.k12.ca.us/
Location: 1775 West Lowell Avenue, Tracy, CA, USA
Phone: (209)830-3370
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerrillFWestHighSchool
Twitter: @MWHSWolfpack
OUR students will engage in a safe, caring, and engaging learning environment everyday.