The Week Ahead 08/25/2024

Posted Date: 08/26/2024

August 25, 2024

Dear WHS Families,

This beautiful weather is giving us some hints of fall, an indication that summer is winding down and the new school year is upon us. Today, the seniors were here decorating their cars, a reminder of the excitement and enthusiasm that comes with each new senior class. Tomorrow we welcome our 9th graders for their orientation led by our 11th and 12th grade Link Leaders. They will be full of nerves and their own kind of excitement for the new chapter ahead of them! Each year brings its own set of joys and challenges, and we must remember that high school is supposed to be fun amidst all of the hard work our students put into their school work, athletics, clubs and activities.

As we turn the corner into a new school year let us remember that high school is a time of mistake making for many of our teenagers. We know from experience that there is a spectrum to this mistake making as well. We ask that you please partner with us as we help you navigate these thrilling teenage years. I’m right there with you, having my own experiences with my 9th and 11th graders at home. I can tell you I’ve had to let them fail, and I’ve had to allow them to take some healthy risks as well, all with the benefit of learning and growth while fostering independence.

I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts (maybe too many) this summer, in large part related to Jonathan Haidt's book, The Anxious Generation. While the book has helped to promote the concern over cell phones and social media, we must also recognize that a major aim of the book is to also give children more independence, play and responsibility in the real world, as uncomfortable as that may make us. This is so important as these four years of high school go by so quickly and the goal at the end is that our children can navigate this world independently as we watch from the wings. Please engage us throughout the year as we help all students at Weston High School grow toward independence and personal responsibility, with a team of adults supporting them close by. 

New Administrators

As my previous letter home shared, we have new administrators in the building this year. Mr. Matthew Hartigan is joining us as our Assistant Director for Pupil Personnel Services at the high school. Mr. Nicholas Torres joins the team as the Assistant Principal supporting students in the alphabet A-L and Dr. Parthena Proskinitopoulos is the new Assistant Principal for students in the alphabet M-Z. We are ready to go and for our students to be in the building!

9th Grade Orientation

Will be held Monday, August 26, 2024, from 9:00am-1:00pm. Please enter through the Athletics entrance to the right of the main entrance. Weston High School participates in the nationwide Link Crew program, a student-only transition program to welcome our 9th graders.  11th and 12th grade students will be serving as leaders to 9th graders as they engage in large and small group activities. The upperclassmen leaders will remain assigned to your advisory group (PACT) throughout your freshman year to provide ongoing mentoring and support. Please also see this letter from earlier in August for more information. Families must provide their own transportation to this event.

First Week Schedules

Class Dues & Fundraising

Every year our students and PTO engage in a number of activities to raise funds for student programming and events. I want to take a moment to distinguish between the two. Class dues are fees due for each student each year. The current fee is $40/year or $160 paid in one lump sum for the four years of high school. This is payable through MySchoolBucks. To create a MySchoolBucks account, follow the link HERE. The class dues are used to defray the cost of senior events such as prom, the senior trip and the senior banquet. This money remains in the class account to support these events and programs. School based fundraising by classes and student government also raise monies for various events and activities at the school. Class fundraising by students also goes into their school based class account. Same applies for Student Government as well. 

The PTO will also from time to time do fundraisers for their graduation class. These monies are raised to defray the cost of the Post Graduation Event also known as PGE when their class’s time comes. This event provides bus transportation to secret locations throughout the night of graduation. This allows our seniors to enjoy their graduation night together in a safe and supportive environment free of substances. It is an amazing tradition at Weston High School. 

Canvas

Weston High School uses Canvas as our Learning Management System. This is your go-to to find updates on your child’s courses, assignments, projects, and homework. To create an account and set yourself up as an observer of the course please follow the directions HERE. If you have any questions regarding a class that your child is enrolled in, your first stop will be to email the teacher. 

PowerSchool

Weston High School uses PowerSchool as our Student Information System. This is the portal you use to view your child’s schedule, attendance information and grades. Any concerns regarding assignments, grades or attendance in a course should first be addressed with the teacher, ideally by the student first. If you have not already created a parent account for the portal please follow the link HERE to do so.

College Admissions Rep Visits

Every year in the fall our College & Career Center, led by Ms. Randi Green, welcomes so many College Admissions Reps so that our students have an opportunity to get a preview of a school and practice their questioning skills, as well as getting to understand the questions to ask to help them make informed decisions. We encourage our 11th and 12th graders to take advantage of these visits. Information about the rep visits can be found on our SchooLinks page. Students must have a pass and must let their classroom teacher know prior to attending a visit. Students can login to SchooLinks through ClassLink. Parents/guardians can follow the link HERE to login in.

Communication Protocol

We believe that a strong system of communication is paramount to the success of Weston High School. To that end proper communication channels support the efficiency and effectiveness of the staff at WHS every day. Please consult this Communication Protocol should you have concerns. This tool will allow you to identify the appropriate staff members to assist you depending on your area of concern. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Previous Letters:

August 16th Letter to Families

Upcoming Events:

August 27: First Day of School

August 30: Trojan Kickoff (During School)

September 28: Homecoming Dance

September 30: School Picture Day

September 30-October 4: Spirit Week

October 4: Homecoming Game

As always should you have any questions or concerns please call the main office and we can provide you with support to find the information or person you need to speak with. This is going to be a great year!

Kindly,

Meghan