Vol 8. November 28, 2023 Versión en español

Our NEW Welcome Center will officially open on December 4th. This will be the main entrance to West High School and is located off of Ash St.

All exterior doors will continue to be open before and after school. However, if your student arrives during the school day or if you are coming to West for a scheduled appointment please enter the building only through our Welcome Center.

ACCESS Test of English Proficiency!

For our students with multiple languages at West High School, the window for their state-mandated test of English proficiency opens on December 6 and runs through January 26th. Check your email for the appointed test date, time, and location. Do your best to show off language growth and multilingualism! English teachers will post information in Google Classroom about how to practice ACCESS test items. Kick-off event for all testers will be on December 1st. Contact Ryan Watson rwatson@madison.k12.wi.us  or Katie Medema kmedema@madison.k12.wi.us  for questions on the ACCESS test, or Faith Hoenecke fahoenecke@madison.k12.wi.us on the State Seal of Biliteracy.

Auditions for this year's school musical "Little Shop of Horrors" are happening soon! If you would like to be on stage with us, prepare 45 seconds of a song to sing and register for a 30-minute slot after school on December 4 or 5. Scan the QR code on the posters around the school for more information or follow the LINK HERE. See Mr. Cao in the choir room (3331) for any questions.

As part of our commitment to building and sustaining relationships at West High School, we are spending time together as a school community on the afternoon of December 19th celebrating the hard work our students have been doing this semester. Students will be given the opportunity to select from several different activities that will be overseen by West staff and spend time together before we head into the winter break. Some of the activities will include opportunities to play games, make crafts, create holiday cards for local senior centers, or engage in physical activities. To create this opportunity for our students, we will be running an alternative bell schedule and students will be given the opportunity to leave at lunch or stay for the fun activities scheduled. Lunch will be provided for students and regular transportation will be running as scheduled.

If you would like to support this opportunity for our students, we would gladly accept financial donations or donation of materials and/or snacks for the celebration. Donations can be dropped off at the Welcome Center during regular school hours from Dec 15th-19th. If you plan to donate, please complete this form to help us in planning what we will need to purchase for this event.

Hello Senior Families!

Just a quick note to let you know the class of 2024 met with Midwest Scholastic yesterday regarding graduation (cap and gown, graduation announcements, party invitations and senior apparel, etc). Information packets were distributed during this meeting and have complete ordering instructions. Here is a short 2 minute overview.

Extra packets are available in neighborhood offices.

Midwest Scholastic will be back at school to take orders during lunch on Wednesday, November 29th. A $50 deposit or payment in full (if your order is less than $50) is required on order day. You can also place your order online at www.mwscholastic.com Payment in full is required if you order online. If you order apparel marked with an asterisk, including online orders, your apparel will be available for pick up at our table on order day.

If you have any questions regarding this, or anything else with the ordering process, please email Midwest Scholastic at questions@mwscholastic.com

For questions regarding Graduation, reach out to Ms. Medema kmedema@madison.k12.wi.us or an SLC Principal. 

We are excited to release information for the 2023-2024 application to the Early College STEM Academy. This continued partnership with Madison College expands access to college courses in science, technology, engineering and math in order to increase opportunities for students to earn college credit as high school students at no cost to them or their families. We hope to increase students underrepresented in STEM related careers, including students of color, females, first-generation students, and/or students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Students are selected to participate in the STEM Academy as a 2-year cohort, attending 11th and 12th grade at Madison College. Students will have access to expertise and state-of-the-art STEM labs and equipment for hands-on learning with Madison College and Madison school district instructors.

Students will earn high school and college dual credits at no cost to them and their families. With those credits, students can be more competitive when applying to four-year colleges. We know from research that students who participate in dual credit courses have greater success going to and staying in college, as well as achieving higher GPAs and college graduation rates.

Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum 2.25 grade point average
• 90% attendance rate
• Submit application by January 26, 2024 at 3:00 PM 

We encourage you to attend an information session with Madison College to learn more about this opportunity. You may also contact your student’s counselor with questions.

• November 14, 2023 6-7pm via Google Meet
• December 6, 2023  6-7pm, via Google Meet
• Jan 17, 2024 6-7pm, via Google Meet

You may also view the website for more information, including a link to the application.

We have a new attendance strategy that started on Monday, November 27. 

Why does attendance matter? 

West is committed to being an intentionally anti-racist school community, so that all of our students feel seen, heard, and valued, and develop skills to be successful, so that they graduate on time. To do this, students need to attend all of their classes on time. Attendance matters because we want all of our students to succeed. 

We know that daily attendance on time contributes to the following positive outcomes

• Passing grades and credit attainment
• Increased sense of belonging
• Increased preparedness for post-secondary goals
• Greater opportunities to develop knowledge and skills
• On-time graduation

What will we do to support attendance? 

Starting on Monday, November 27, in order to support our students to attend classes on time, adults at West will be in the hallways to escort students to class. Students who are in the halls during class time will be escorted to the Alternative Learning Center. We will contact parents, and help the student plan for a successful return to class. Students who are in the hallways multiple times may also be assigned a suspension.

Families, as we move into the Winter athletic season, it is important to reiterate that students who are on the Restricted Regent list are not allowed to attend extracurricular activities, including Athletics Events. Students who are Restricted are those who did not serve a lunch detention for their tardies the week before. If a student who is on the Restricted Regents list attempts to enter an Athletic event, they will be turned away. 

Students receive a detention by being tardy four or more times within the week. Families are notified on Monday of whether their student(s) are Restricted/need to serve a lunch detention.

Regent Tutors is hosting a fundraiser at the Noodles and Company on University Ave Thursday, December 7th from 4-8pm. Mention Regent Tutors at the counter or use code GIVING25 online to support tutoring at West!

West Students, submit a design for our T-Shirt Contest! Winners of the competition will be awarded with Apple AirPods or Beats earbuds. Designs should be submitted here by Monday December 18th.