From the Principal...
Spring will be here soon! I hope that all of you are enjoying the few days of pleasant temperatures we have experienced in Northeast Ohio. What an exciting time for our students at West Geauga as it is a reminder that spring break and summer are just around the corner!
West Geauga High School is in the final stages of preparing students to take Ohio’s End-of-Course Exams. These exams are part of Ohio’s graduation requirements and additional information on the requirements can be found here. Exams will be given over eight days over a three week period. During the scheduled testing days, all students in 9th grade English, 10th grade English, Algebra I, Geometry, U.S. History, Biology, and Government will sit for their end-of-course exams. On testing days, students needing to take their exams will report to school promptly at 7:25 am. All students not taking an end-of-course exam will report to school at 9:35 A.M. Students in these courses must report to their tests on the following days:
Monday, April 15 - English 9, English 10 (Part 1)
Tuesday, April 16 - English 9, English 10 (Part 2)
Wednesday, April 17 - U.S. History, Government (Part 1)
Thursday, April 18 - U.S. History, Government -( Part 2)
Thursday, April 25 - Biology (Part 1)
Friday, April 26 -Biology (Part 2)
Monday, April 29 - Algebra I, Geometry (Part 1)
Tuesday, April 30 - Algebra I, Geometry (Part 2)
The bell schedule for the Ohio’s end-of-course exam days will be as follows:
1º - 9:35 - 10:04 (29 min)
2º - 10:08 - 10:41 (33 min)
3º - 10:45 - 11:14 (29 min)
4º - 11:18 - 11:47 (29 min)
5A - 11:51 - 12:21 (30 min)
5B - 12:24 - 12:54 (30 min)
6º - 12:58 - 1:27 (29 min)
7º - 1:31 - 2:00 (29 min)
8º - 2:04 - 2:33 (29 min)
I want to make you aware of the Ohio Department of Education’s web site: (http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing). Clicking on the Ohio’s State Test Portal will provide you with practice tests and test information for you and your child.
Also, students can go to www.westg.org and log on to our high school website. On the front page of our site, students can click on this link: Student End-of Course Review. This link will take them to a test review site.
To help your child give his/her best effort, please make sure he/she gets a good night’s sleep the night before the actual test and eats breakfast!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have or for any additional information. You can also contact your child’s guidance counselor.
Sincerely,
Jay C. Bishop
Principal
West Geauga High School
I would like to take this time opportunity to thank our parents and guardians for their support in assisting with attendance and disciplinary issues. Working together, parents, teachers, and the administration have a greater chance of success in keeping students on the right track. Graduation is right around the corner. Any senior suspended during the 4th quarter will be denied participation and attendance in the Commencement activities. All students are expected to maintain proper attendance and to comply with our Code of Conduct and Dress Code as outlined in the 2018-19 Parent-Student Handbook. Saturday School will be open on a bi-weekly basis until June 8th.
As we near the end of the school year and all the related activities and celebrations that accompany it, you will hear this message over and over again: Alcohol and drug-related accidents are the number one cause of death of young adults in this country. Monitor your child’s whereabouts and insist that all parties are drug and alcohol-free. It’s not only prudent; it’s the law. Parents often call me asking for advice on how to keep their children from using alcohol and drugs. My advice is to get involved in your child's life. Don’t just assume they are making the right decisions. Be a parent; you are not their best friend. Ask questions. If they are going out, verify where they are going. Call the other parents, check out the details. We all want to trust our kids, but we need to let them know the boundaries and let them know we are concerned by checking on their activities.
Sometimes students need the language to help themselves stay away from risky situations. Here are some lines they can use.
- “I like you, but I don’t like alcohol.”
- “I’d get kicked off the team if I was caught around alcohol.”
- “It makes me uncomfortable to be around alcohol.”
- “I’d be happy to help you (go to a teacher, parent or coach), but I can’t be around you when you use alcohol.”
- “My dad (or mom, grandmother, etc.) would kill me if they knew I was around alcohol.”
- “No, thanks. It’s not for me.”
- “Why would I want to mess up a good thing? I am cool the way I am.”
- “You’re kidding, right? Why would I do something so dumb?”
- “No way man, alcohol is stupid.”
- “I can’t use alcohol. I have a big game (or test) tomorrow.”
- “I tried drinking once and I threw up.”
- “That’s illegal. I don’t want to get in trouble (have my license taken away, get kicked out of school, ruin my chance for a scholarship, etc..)”
Role play different situations with your student:
Pretend you are at a party and someone offers you alcohol. What would you say?
Pretend you are at a party and someone who you know has been drinking offers you a ride home. What would you do? Who could you call?
Pretend you are at a party and friend of yours has passed out and you cannot wake them up. What would you do? Who could you call?
Adapted from: The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign's Behavior Change Expert Panel
Here are some end-of-the-year important procedures for students and parents:
Attendance: All students are expected to be in attendance each day through the end of the school year as indicated in the Final Exam Schedule included in the May newsletter.
Parking Permits: 2019-20 Parking Permits will be handled in a similar manner as this year. The application will be made available online. Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores will be permitted to apply for a parking permit. More information will follow in upcoming newsletters.
Fees/Fines: All school fees/fines must be paid in full before seniors can pick up their cap and gown.
Senior Final Exams: Senior final exams will be scheduled from May 28-May 31.
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On March 14 from 7 - 8 pm, West Geauga Schools will host a Dyslexia Information Night at the WG Board of Education Office for parents. Jackie Hersh, Middle School Special Education Department Chair and an expert in Assistive Technology; Meagan Bellan, School Psychologist at WGHS and Westwood Elementary School; and Amy Davis, Director of Pupil Personnel, will present and lead discussions.
The evening will include general information about dyslexia and a simulation of how dyslexia feels to the person affected. The meeting will also present an overview of updated resources and supports that the West Geauga School District is making available to students with dyslexia.
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February - Vince Pasquale
March - Brandon Preda
February - Julia Teeter
March - Lauren Brooks
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West Geauga School Counseling News March/April 2019
FOR ALL STUDENTS
The school counselors strongly encourage everyone to utilize their Naviance account. The students’ personal accounts have valuable information regarding college planning, careers, scholarships, and many other tools. You can visit the website at www.westg.org. Click on high school, Guidance, and Naviance Website.
Please follow us on Twitter @WGHSCounselors for updates and information!
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Counseling Office.
David Callahan Students with last names A-K 729-5963 david.callahan@westg.org
Sarah Widman Students with last names L-Z 729-5965 sarah.widman@westg.org
Michelle Sargent Assistant 729-5962 michelle.sargent@westg.org
SCHEDULING
All returning students will have their core and some elective coursework requested by their teachers. Afterward, students will have the opportunity to select their other elective courses. Each counselor will be meeting with students to make sure the requests are entered. You are encouraged to log in to your student’s Infinite Campus account to view the list of requested courses and discuss them with your son or daughter. Any requests made by the teacher can only be changed by the teacher or school counselor. The course override forms are available in the Counselors’ Office if a student wishes to take a course at a higher level than what is recommended by the teacher. Changes can be made through May 1, 2019. If you have any questions please contact your child’s counselor.
KICKSTART COLLEGE FAIR
Please remember to attend the Kickstart College Fair on Monday, April 8th. The Keynote speaker is Stefanie Niles, Vice President of Enrollment and Communication at Ohio Wesleyan University and President of National Association of Admission Counseling (NACAC). She will speak at 6:00 pm in the cafeteria and the Fair will be in the gymnasium from 6:30 pm-8 pm. This is a free event and there is no need to pre-register. Take advantage of college representatives coming to your own backyard!
CCP (College Credit Plus):
If you are interested in CCP, we hope you were able to attend the meeting held on January 23rd. The PowerPoint presentation from that night is on the Guidance website. Please contact your school counselor to learn about the advantages and drawbacks of this program.
IMPORTANT REMINDER-- The mandatory CCP Intent Form is due by April 1. If this deadline is not met, your son/daughter will NOT be eligible to participate. This includes current CCP students who wish to participate next year. See your counselor with questions.
Kindness
The Counseling staff encourages all students to be kind to one another. Please think about how you act, what you say, and what you post on social media. Kindness will help create a more positive school environment. You may also feel better about yourself if you act with kindness toward a classmate or friend. Maybe you can start with a simple smile and hello in the hallways!
SENIORS
You are in the final stretch of your high school career! Please know that every college requires us to send a copy of your final transcript. This means they are checking to be sure you finished strong. Keep working- You can do it!
Decision Day:
Decision Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 1st. This will be the day that we celebrate all senior students’ plans for their future. Be prepared to wear gear (sweatshirt, t-shirt) related to your decision. This could be college, military, or workforce. We will be taking pictures and asking each student to complete an important survey related to their plans. Included in the survey will be the request for final transcript submission. We look forward to celebrating with everyone!
Financial Aid:
Mrs. Tessa Dicker, our LEAF Financial Aid Advisor, works in our high school each Thursday from 8:00-2:15 throughout the school year. Students and parents may request an appointment with Mrs. Dicker by contacting her at 729-5922, extension 4164 or email her at tdicker@leaf-ohio.org. All of the LEAF services are no charge to our families.
JUNIORS
College Planning:
The junior year is a very important year in the college planning process. Currently, juniors should be working hard in their classes to boost/maintain their GPAs, registering for ACT and/or SAT, and visiting colleges. Spring Break is a great time to visit colleges. Check with individual college admissions offices to see what tours and meetings are available to you during that week. It is important for students to show interest!
We met with all the students on February 22nd and explained the steps that are needed to start the college process. We encourage your son and daughter to be a frequent flyer and come to our office with any questions as they journey through this process. If you have questions about college planning, we encourage all juniors and their parents to schedule an individual meeting with their school counselor this spring. The presentation is also posted on the Guidance website.
Summer To-Do List:
The counselors highly encourage students to begin preparing for the college process over the summer. This includes: updating resume and college lists on Naviance, writing college essays, and completing “brag sheets” for counselors in Naviance. The brag sheets are used to help the counselors write letters of recommendation.
ACT and SAT:
Each junior took the ACT on February 20th. The scores from this test can be used for the college application process. Juniors interested in attending a college need an ACT and/or SAT score. Any other attempts at the ACT and/or for a student wishing to take an SAT need to register online. It is recommended that Juniors take each of these tests at least once by June. Students who are planning to apply to selective colleges that require SAT subject tests should begin their ACT and/or SAT testing as soon as possible.
Students need to register for these tests online.
ACT Registration: www.actstudent.org
SAT Registration: www.sat.org/register
SOPHOMORES
Work hard 4th quarter to get your GPA as high as possible. It will make a huge difference in your future! Try to discover new ways to build your resume. Remember showing a depth of interest can be as important as the breadth of all your activities. Get involved in something you enjoy!
Don’t forget to attend the Kickstart College Fair on April 8th. It is not too early to start the college search process!
FRESHMEN
You are nearing the end of your first year in high school. Work hard to get your GPA as high as possible. It will make a huge difference in your future! If you are struggling in any of your classes, don’t give up! There are options here to help you including Advisory Tutoring and help before or after school. Remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness!
Talk with teachers and parents to think about challenging yourself as you start to explore classes for next year. As you choose your courses know that it is important to make sure you can handle the workload and expectations of the classes. Remember the hope is you find the right balance in life! See your counselor for assistance.
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Hillcrest Student-Athletes of the Month
January 2019
Senior, Kylie Czikray - Cheerleading
Alison Nicely, the assistant cheerleading coach said, "Kylie has been cheering for basketball since the eighth grade. She has worked hard to improve herself and the cheer squad. When you watch Kylie cheer, she always has a huge smile on her face. You can see that she truly loves cheering!”Kylie will earn her second Varsity letter this year to add to the two Varsity letters she already earned as a Varsity football cheerleader. Not only does she work hard as a cheerleader, but she is also a hardworking student. For basketball cheer, she will earn a CVC All Academic Team Award as she did as a football cheerleader.
Senior, Solomon Troychansky - Wrestling
Solomon is a Senior on the wrestling team and team captain. He has had an exceptional senior year where he placed second in the conference tournament narrowly losing a decision in the final. Solomon has been a consistent leader and performer on the wrestling team this year.
December 2018
Senior, Lindsey Kulp - Swimming
Lindsey, Co-Captain of the Swim Team, is not only heavily involved in her sport but inSenior, Lindsey Kulp - Swimming
student life as well. Carrying a 4.47 academic average, Kulp is a member of the National
Honor Society, President of the Senior Class and has earned three letters in swimming as
well as letters in gymnastics, track and as a Wolverette.
Sophomore, Josh Irwin - Basketball
Josh is a two year starter for the West G Boys Varsity Basketball Team. Coach Javorek said, “Last season he was selected as the CVC MVP as a freshman, which was the first time it’s ever been done in the Chagrin Valley Conference.” Josh plans to play college basketball and has received verbal offers from Bowling Green and Miami University (Ohio).
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Seniors and senior parents: in March, please look for a letter sent home in the mail. The letter will include important information about prom, after prom, graduation, and other information for the class of 2019. ALL SENIORS will have to return the signed graduation participation agreement by Friday, March 22nd. Please contact Mrs. Talty or Mr. Shiban if you have any questions. Additionally, if you have not yet ordered a cap and gown, please do so immediately by going to jostens.com. ALL STUDENTS will wear NAVY caps and gowns this year.
Seniors and senior parents: in March, please look for a letter sent home in the mail. The letter will include important information about prom, after prom, graduation, and other information for the class of 2019. ALL SENIORS will have to return the signed graduation participation agreement by Friday, March 22nd. Please contact Mrs. Talty or Mr. Shiban if you have any questions. Additionally, if you have not yet ordered a cap and gown, please do so immediately by going to jostens.com. ALL STUDENTS will wear NAVY caps and gowns this year.
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All submitted hard copy pictures will be returned to seniors the morning of graduation.
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IXL Interactive Learning Tool: All Schools
Google Expeditions Virtual Field Trips: Westwood & Lindsey
Aquaponics: High School
21st Century Classroom: Lindsey
