April 23, 2018
From Mr. Wilson

G ood morning WHS families,
 
There has been lots going on the past few weeks at WHS.  I wanted to provide families with some of the highlights:
  • We had 42 Juniors (of 295) score a 30 or more on the March Administration of the ACT.
  • The WHS Academic Challenge Team is in the Final round of the Academic Challenge tournament on News Channel 5. We will take on Copley and Wadsworth on May 24.   
  • The WHS Academic Challenge Team recently finished # 1 in the nation in the 3-2-1 tournament vs. 150+ teams.
  • During our Class Olympics last week our students raised $1600 to donate to Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital.
  • Our Pollinator Garden is in full swing and as far as we can tell, we are the only high school in Ohio with one.
  • Senior Liv Adkins, earned a National Gold Medal in the 2018 Scholastic Writing Awards.  She scored in the Top 1% of over 350,000 works that were submitted.  She will pick up her award at Carnegie Hall this summer.
  • Senior Kyle Yu, has qualified with a perfect score to compete in the US Geography Olympics in Germany this summer.  He is 1 of 4 representatives in the U.S.   
  • WHS had 3 teachers selected as "Teacher Fellows."  They received grants to pursue curriculum-based opportunities this summer. 
  • Our Band and Choirs competed this weekend at the OMEA State Competition in Columbus after qualifying earlier in the year.  
Additionally, I wanted to provide some information as we head into May:
 
End of Course Exams  - This past week we took the ELA 9 and 10 tests.  The next round of tests is May 2 - May 4. These will also have a delayed start schedule.  It will be published next week.
 
AP Testing  - AP testing is slated to start in May.  Based off of feedback from students and staff we have elected to move the AP tests to the field house.  In years past, the AP test have been in the school during the day and have caused disruptions for both the students taking the test and those that have a regular school day.  In an effort to give students a quiet testing environment, we have elected to move students into the field house to take their tests.
 
Service Hours  - After a quick audit of service hours, many students have yet to turn them in to their counselor.  Please remember, per our graduation requirement,  that "students must obtain 15 service learning hours each academic year, reaching a total of 60 hours by the conclusion of their Senior year."  Please do not wait until the last minute to complete this service hour requirement.  If you have any questions or concerns these last few weeks, please let us know sooner rather than later.
 
Here are some dates as we head into May:
            May 2-4           End of Course Exams
            May 7-18         AP Tests
            May 12            Music-A-La-Mode
            May 19            Prom at Botanical Gardens
            May 24            Senior Scholarship Night
            May 25            Seniors Last Day of Class (Exams the following week)
            May 28            Memorial Day- No School
            June 2              Commencement Wolstein Center - Cleveland State University
            June 6             Last Day for students
 
There is a lot of information in the blast!  If you have questions, please let me know.
 
As always, I encourage you to review the WHS announcements  - they are a great source of information that are updated daily.  I also encourage all families to review the Westlake City Schools Profile  - it is filled with lots of information related to our school district.  And lastly, important dates relating to our students are listed below
 
Have a wonderful week!
 
Paul Wilson
Principal -Westlake High School
Westlake City Schools
PHONE:     440-250-1003
TWITTER:  @WHS_Westlake
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS - CLASS OF 2019
Dear Junior Student/Parent/Guardian,

Did you know the Ohio Immunization Law requires an additional vaccine BEFORE the start of 12th grade?
  • Meningococcal (MCV4 or Menactra) - 2 doses are required BEFORE starting the Senior year with at least one (1) dose given after age 16 years.

What should you do? 

  • Check vaccine records and obtain any needed vaccines now
  • Send an updated vaccine record to the school nurse right away

Where can you get needed vaccines? 

  • Your family physician or health care provider
  • Visit any Minute Clinic (CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens) - no appointment needed; accepts most insurance.
  • Cuyahoga County Department of Health 216-201-2041 (Children's Vaccine Program/low cost option).

If you have any questions, or there are circumstances preventing your child from getting vaccinations, please call (440) 250-1120 or email Kaiser@wlake.org.
 

Check HERE for more complete details.
 

Thank you,
Betsy Kaiser, BSN, RN, LSN

Counselor's Corner

Sophomore Classroom Guidance -Over the next two weeks counselors are traveling to the sophomore English classrooms for a StrengthsExplorer assessment to help students uncover talents and reveal potential strengths, and discover what those strengths can look like in the form of an occupation and how they can help affect the world around them. We will also show them where to access the resume builder and helpful college search tools. We encourage you to ask your student what they learned about themselves! 
 
College Admission Information Nights - If your child is considering a highly-selective school we want to make you aware of a couple opportunities to learn what distinguishes one university from another, what competitive colleges look for in the selection process, and their recommendations what students can do to enhance their college application.
  • Admission representatives from Dartmouth College, Northwestern University, Princeton University, University of California Berkeley, and Vanderbilt University are hosting an evening information program on Sunday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cleveland Airport Marriott. More Info l To Register
  • Admission representatives from Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University will host an evening information program on Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cleveland Airport Marriott. More Info l To Register
Senior Slideshow - If your child didn't have their picture taken for yearbook, please email an appropriate photo to Mrs. Bail at baild@wlake.org for the graduation slideshow. We appreciate your quick assistance with this!
 
Senior Survey - Please help us by encouraging your senior to log in to Naviance to complete this important graduation task. Especially important to us is an update of the status students' college applications (accepted, denied, waitlisted, etc.).   This information is confidential and used for the scattergrams and graphs that make Naviance so helpful in the college search process. The college/career/military branch information will be used for the graduation slideshow, the acceptances board in the gym hallway, and the senior edition of the Green and White newspaper. This survey is mandatory!  Naviance
Internet Safety Survey

In conjunction with the Westlake Police Department, we are considering expanding internet safety training for parents. We have heard informally that parents would benefit from understanding options they have to restrict internet usage for their children. To gather information about what types of training you may find useful, please respond to this anonymous survey.
Westlake Council of PTAs is excited to welcome Dr. Lisa Damour to our community!  

Dr. Damour, New York Times bestselling author of  "Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls through the Seven Transitions Into Adulthood",  provides realistic balanced expertise and advice on children, both  girls and boys and the journey in raising them.
 
Lisa Damour, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, teacher, speaker, and consultant who directs Laurel School's Center for Research on Girls, writes the monthly Adolescence column for the Well Family section of the New York Times, is a regular contributor at CBS News, and serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Damour draws on years of clinical experience and the latest research to provide sound, practical guidance to parents, teachers, and advocates. 
 
Link to Dr. Damour's articles: www.drlisadamour.com/articles/ 
 
We are proud to provide this valuable program free of charge, thanks to your support of the fundraising efforts of Westlake Council of PTAs this year.  
 
Mark your calendars to join us for this phenomenal presentation Monday, April 23 at the Westlake  High School Performing Arts Center .  Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  Presentation begins at 7:00 p.m.
 
PRE- REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - click here.    Questions?  Contact Dawn Evans
Project S.T.O.P. Pinwheels for Prevention 
  
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month. Seven Westlake high
school students who are student advisory members for the nonprofit ReInventing The Cycle have spear headed a media campaign called Project S.T.O.P. Pinwheels for Prevention to raise awareness and help protect our children by creating safe, strong, and healthy communities. They believe that all children have the fundamental human right to live their lives free from abuse. 

They are asking all to join in observing this month by participating in their Pinwheels for Prevention activity. Simply click here to download the pinwheel template, construct it, write the first name of a child you want to protect, support, and/or honor on the pinwheel, take a picture of the pinwheel in a special location, and share with social media while inviting others to join #RITCpinwheels.  

This simple activity will have a huge impact on sending the paramount message that we care about our children and will do our part to STOP child abuse! Please join all of us at the Westlake Rec Center hill by the playground on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. for a culminating activity to "plant" your pin wheel and show our community support in the fight against child sexual abuse.
Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters

Demon Derby Night At the Races - April 27, 2018
There are still opportunities to participate in the largest WDAB-sponsored event of the year!  A  limited amount of tickets are still available! Buy your tickets today to ensure you don't miss on the great evening that celebrates all Westlake High School and Lee Burneson athletes! Cost is $50 per person! See flyer below for details!

Concession Sign Up:  Parents of student-athletes are required to work (2) shifts volunteering at the WDAB concession stand.  It is a fun, social task that can be done at a time that you will not miss your player in action.    Please sign up today!   We cannot do it without our awesome volunteers!

Westlake Music Boosters
63rd Annual Music A la Mode - May 12th
 
For many years, we have offered a raffle that raises significant funds to support ALL music programs in the Westlake City Schools from grades K-12.  

We are looking for some items for our raffle.
  • Themed gift baskets are always welcomed! 
  • Can you contribute by donating a gift card to an area business or an individual item that kids or an adult would enjoy such as a game, toy, craft, or jewelry?
  • Sport items or tickets are always a big hit as well. 
  • Maybe you have unopened Christmas gifts in your closets that would make great donations for the raffle!   
If you have a basket, gift card or item to donate, please contact Amy Mogyordy at  216-402-7318 or amy@madisoneyecare.com.   Items will be collected through the end of April.  
   
Be sure to check out the MALM schedule to plan your day
 
And don't forget to join us at our next meeting: Wednesday, May 2nd at 7pm in the WHS Library.   It is never too late to  join online and pay via credit card or download  pdf form  (check)

We are also looking for volunteers
We need volunteers throughout the day to help make this day a success. Please use this link to sign up for a shift or two. Use the schedule link above so you can coordinate your volunteer schedule with your child/rens performance times.

Music Boosters Summer Student Grants

The purpose of summer student grants is to strengthen the music program in Westlake City Schools through support of enhanced education opportunities.  Summer grants are available to Westlake City Schools students currently enrolled in grades five through eleven who are participating in the district music program(s), and are registered to participate in the music program(s) next school year.

Westlake Council of PTAs Spring Fundraisers

Saturday, June 9 - Westlake Day at the Crushers!

Come and join us for an exciting night at the Crushers!  Everyone purchasing tickets by May 25th will be entered into a drawing for a chance to be the "Play Ball" kid, guest announcer, guest manager, and other exciting opportunities.
 
Funds go towards the Westlake Council of PTAs for event programming such as Dr. Lisa Damour, Dr. Casen DeMaria, and Screenagers.   For questions, contact Jessica Kim at 216.548.0948 or  jessicastraka@aol.com
 
To purchase tickets, click here and and use password:   WestlakeSchools
Election day is Tuesday, May 8.  
Make sure you are an informed voter!

Candidate Information - The League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland has fantastic nonpartisan information found here.
 
Judge Information
Judge4Yourself - The Judicial Candidates Rating Coalition works with the four bar associations to give ratings on all judges.  Judge4Yourself is found here.
 
Judicial Votes Count  -  Learn about Ohio's judicial system, what judges do, why your vote is important. and what the qualifications are of candidates running for judgeships in your community. Judicial Votes Count can be found here.
 
Not sure where your polling place is?  Find it here.
 
Make sure you are an informed voter!
Liz Pirnat, Westlake Council of PTAs Advocacy Chair.
Free Sports  Physicals - Friday, June 8th  
  

Please see this flier for complete details and to schedule your physical!
Apply Soon for Career Shadowing!

Students interested in a Career Shadow for the remainder of this school year should stop by the Career Shadowing office as soon as possible to pick up or drop off their application.  Career Shadowing offers students in 10th, 11th and 12th grade the chance to gain first-hand knowledge of a job or career field.  We can explore spring or summer opportunities or gear up for next fall.  Click here to print a copy from home! Contact Bernadette Kronz, Career Development Specialist for more information. 440-250-1028 or kronzb@wlake.org.
Flyer Connection

Don't miss the chance to send a message to your graduate in the Green & White student newspaper Senior issue. Deadline is May 4.


Visit the  Westlake Historical Society website  for a list of upcoming events, including a  Tour of Homes Yard Sale , and their next general meeting meeting on  May 1, 7:00 PM at Westlake when a uthor  William Krejci will talk about his book on the Franklin Castle. 

ACT test prep at WHS.

John Carroll University Summer Reading Skills  programs for kindergarten to high school juniors begins in June.

The Westlake Soccer Association presents its  Challenge Summer Camp , June 25-29. Deadline to register is June 15.

Hilliard Elementary PTA will host a Craft & Vendor Show on May 5 at the school. Free admission, 50+ vendors.

NASA, Hyland and Great Lakes Science Center present Girls in ICT Day, April 28, at Hyland Software in Westlake. Recommended for girls in grades 7-12.

Milestones National Autism Conferenceis June 14-15 at the I-X Center. Register now.

The City of Westlake Police Department is looking for Crossing Guards

College Now Greater Cleveland offers help to adults looking to start or restart their postsecondary education.

UH St. John Medical Center and The City of Westlake host the annual  Community Safety and Wellness Fair  on May 19 at the Westlake Recreation Center.

dates
Important Dates:
April
27
Demon Derby @ St. Demetrios
May
12
Music a la Mode
19
Prom @ Botanical Gardens
24
Scholarship Night
29-31
Senior Final Exams
31
Spring Awards Banquet
June
1
Commencement Rehearsal
2
Graduation @ Wolstein Center
4-6
Underclassmen Final Exams
6
Last Day of School

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

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