Notes from Dr. Irvin

Your WGHS Weekly eNews for September 22

Hello WGHS Families,

A recent broadcast from the Harvard Graduate School of Education noted the need to take a holistic approach to student wellness by schools. Dean Bridget Long said, “Healthy kids translates into the opportunity for high-quality learning. And the opposite is most certainly true. . .simply put, it’s hard to concentrate and to learn when your health is suffering.” That residue of stress and duress from the most recent conditions have driven some difficulties we have experienced previously.

We hope that our advisory system can support traditional classroom settings with student relationships and support. Below are some key concepts from the broadcast to allow us to support student vibrancy:

Re-establish and repair trust. Institutions, such as schools, have suffered from varied levels of distrust internally and externally. “To combat mistrust at all levels, listen to concerns first.” We hope over the next few years, Advisory (and when students don’t travel during Academic Networking) allows opportunities to connect and listen to our students.
Create psychologically safe spaces for students. Rates of anxiety and depression increased substantially in the last 20 months. Advisory can be a “building it” (preventative) model to support student wellness rather than a “fix-it” program. Teachers can support students with “creating space for check-ins, talking about and normalizing discussions of students sentiments, and following up with students who are struggling.” Teachers are not counselors for students but can aptly serve to connect to needed resources, model problem-solving skills and create space to students to feel care and support.

We look forward to continuing to grow our program on behalf of students.

Regards,

Matt Irvin

Next Week's Schedule: Late-Start A,A,B,C,A

A Peek at the Week Ahead

9/26: Late-Start A Day. School starts at 9:40; doors open at 9:25.
9/27: Junior Parent Night; 7pm; Auditorium
9/28: Fall One-Acts, 7pm, Black Box Theatre
9/29: Picture Re-takes
9/30: End of Progress Period

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WGHS Students Chosen for Prestigious Jazz Orchestra

Zachary Andrews and Miles Cole have been selected as trombonists in one of the highest honors in the arts afforded to high school students in the United States: membership in the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, presented by the Monterey Jazz Festival, sponsoring a comprehensive Education program for talented young musicians worldwide. Zachary and Miles have been invited to perform at the festival on September 23-25 in Monterey, California.

https://montereyjazzfestival.org/education/ensembles/next-generation-jazz-orchestra/

Zachary and Miles--you make us proud!

National Merit Commended Students

Congratulations to Jacob Assouad, Colin Bischoff, Dominic Lee, Ian McCann, Spencer O'Brien, and Tom Winterton for being named Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program! Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the competition by taking the 2021 PSAT. We're proud of you, Commended Students!

2022-23 Late-Start Days

Late-Start Supervision

Doors open to students on Late-Start Mondays at 9:25 a.m. WGSD provides free supervision to students who need to enter sooner. Supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. for grades 6-12. If your family is in need of care, please contact your school.

Students who are enrolled in the Late-Start Supervision Program must enter through the Senior Entrance (main entrance on Selma) from 8:15 - 9:25 a.m. Students will be directed to and must stay in the following supervised areas: Library, Cafeteria, or PV Commons.

Reminder: Picture Re-takes are on Thursday, September 29.

Are you dissatisfied with your child's school pictures? September 29 is scheduled for picture re-takes. We will call students out alphabetically over the PA to have their pictures re-taken by Inter-State Studios. They need to bring their picture packet if they are unhappy with it (we are passing them out this week). This will be the last opportunity to have their picture taken to be included in the yearbook.

WGSD Climate and Culture Surveys

WGSD values the academic and personal well-being of each student. In continuation of our efforts, district surveys will be administered to students in grades 3-12, families, and staff.

To learn more about the district culture and climate surveys click here. Families wishing to opt-out their children from participating in the survey can do so here. Opt-outs will need to be completed by 11:59 p.m. on September 23.

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Run for Webster

The Webster Groves School District Foundation is hosting the Ivory Crockett Run for Webster, Saturday, October 15 at 8:30 a.m. in both 5k and 1-mile fun run options. The 5k route is here. Please register by September 28 to be guaranteed a t-shirt.

In addition, there is also a series of virtual 5k runs, with one starting from every WGSD school and a special Ivory Crockett Challenge 5k, starting from Ivory Crockett Park in historic North Webster. Registration for all activities begins on September 1.

You can learn more and register here.

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Did You Know?

Students should check our Lost and Found for any lost items. We have two locations:

Lost and Found on south entrance to Cafeteria: Water bottles, school supplies, clothing, and other "non-valuable" items
Office of Officer Thompson, SRO (students should visit her in the main office): Phones, personal devices, earbuds, watches/jewelry, and other valuable items

Counseling News

College Application Workshops

Seniors! Do you need help completing your college applications? Sign up for our College Application Workshops held during Academic Networking. Sign up for one or both Academic Networking sessions. Workshops will be held in computer lab 320 and are limited to 20 students per session. Click here to register.

Junior Parent Night, Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00pm in the Auditorium

Junior parents! Please join Mrs. Lombard and Ms. Verstraete as we “kickoff” college planning for the Class of 2024. Topics will include: college admissions testing, a timeline for the college search and application process, tools for conducting your search and more! Students are always welcome to attend but will hear a similar presentation in their social studies class prior.

College Admissions Representative Visits
Juniors—are you ready to start learning about colleges? Seniors—do you have questions about the application process for schools on your list? College representatives will visit WGHS through November 1. This is a great opportunity to hear from colleges all across the country in the comfort of your own school. A list of colleges visiting will be posted on our Counseling Department calendar, in Naviance, and shared in our daily announcements. Students should stop by the Counseling Center to sign up to meet with schools they are interested in and to receive a pass to be excused from class. Be sure to check the calendar regularly as visits are being updated daily.

The St. Louis Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Alumni Association’s 5th Annual Scholarship Summit is November 5

You are invited to the St. Louis Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Alumni Association’s 5th Annual Scholarship Summit on Saturday, November 05, 2022 at the Harris Stowe State University Community Impact Education Center. Morning sessions will include student and parent workshops on essay writing, ACT/SAT prep and finding scholarships. Afternoon sessions include an HBCU panel and an HBCU fair with local HBCU Alumni representatives. The Scholarship Summit is fun, educational, free and open to the public. For more information and to register visit http://www.stlhbcualumni.org/ by October 31, 2022.

US Military Academy Day on Saturday, September 17, 2022 9:30am-noon at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, MO

Representatives of the US Military Academy at West Point, the US Air Force Academy, the US Naval Academy, the US Merchant Marine Academy, and the US Coast Guard Academy will attend. RSVP with Donna Hickman at academyday22@mail.house.gov.