Principal’s Message

Northwest Community, I’m writing this in my office in a lonely school building that doesn’t feel right. Schools aren’t made to sit empty, devoid of teachers teaching and students learning. On behalf of the Northwest staff I can say with certainty that we miss you students and families. You are why we do what we do. We all went into education to teach students, and when you’re not here, it’s just not the same. In an effort to maintain some sense of normalcy, I plan on continuing our monthly Northwest news-letters. I hope you’ll make it a habit to read through each one. Continuous Learning Plan: There have been multiple questions about details surrounding the Continuous Learning plan that I’m going to attempt to answer here. Please read through all of the following information and then if you still have questions don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 973-6005 or ehofer-holdeman@usd259.net.

Phase I. (March 30th – April 3rd) District Academic Packets.

Packets are 100% optional for students. You can access them at: https://www.usd259.org/wpslearn#packets They are strictly to help students “stay sharp” in Math and English Language

Arts. If a teacher specifically communicates with students and explicitly states that

these packets can be used to raise a grade, then that teacher will award credit. New High School packets will be available every Monday at High Schools. At Northwest we have ours set out in the Main Entry foyer off of the Tyler en-

trance. The exterior doors will be unlocked on Mondays and Wednesdays only, while the interior doors will remain locked.

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 8

April 1, 2020 N O R T H W E S T H I G H S C H O O L

Principal’s Newsletter

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Teachers Contacting Students.

Teachers are beginning to reach out to make contact with students. This is not a requirement, so if you have not been contacted, please be patient and

know that communication is coming. Phase II. (April 6th – End of the School Year)

Phase II will be an opportunity for students to raise their grades. Remember, the 3rd quarter grade issued is the lowest a final grade can end up. Teachers will communicate with students, if they haven’t already, explaining what

it will take in order to raise grades in those specific classes. Students will be expected to work a total of no more than 3 hours in any given day. The schedule below is what we will follow for specific work times in the given

areas:

Teachers have been asked to work with students specifically in these times slots, but should also be available weekdays between 8am-1pm for students who may have questions or need help.

SEL stands for Social/Emotional Learning. It is an optional time slot for teachers to reach out with activities/lessons for the social well-being of students.

Many of you have been calling the school to ask questions about items that we just don’t have answers

to at this point. We do, however, have some answers. Following are some miscellaneous items that

have been asked about for which we do have answers.

Miscellaneous Information. Teachers have or will be reaching out to make contact with students. That doesn’t mean

students and parents can’t reach out to teachers as well. The best way to reach teachers is to email using their school email address. You can find

them on ParentVUE or StudentVUE any time. Again, the lowest grade a student can receive for a given class is the grade that was issued

at the end of the 3rd quarter. Food update:

Breakfasts will be added Monday, April 6th Menus available at www.usd259.org/menu Beginning this next week, April 6th, the district will only be serving Mondays (4

meals) and Wednesdays (6 meals) to limit contact. April 10th and April 13th will be “no school”, as the original district calendar stated.

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Student Technology Needs Almost 9000 technology-need surveys from across the district have been completed

but that leaves many who have not completed the survey. You can still access the technology-need survey here: Technology Survey If you, or another student you know, need a Chromebook, please come to

Northwest during your scheduled essential clean out time (schedule on our Northwest website).

We are completely shutting down access to Northwest after next week Wednesday, April 8th.

These are extraordinary times that we are in. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these uncharted waters.

Although we are apart physically, know that we are together in spirit, and know that we will always demonstrate Pride, Respect and Excellence in all that we do!

Stay safe and healthy, Grizzlies!

-Eric

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Extended Learning Opportunity In light of the current situation regarding Covid-19, please understand that the following information is only current if school were to function as normal during the summer. This is to be determined by the district and further communication will come via the May newsletter as well as through email. If you have questions as we get closer to the summer, then please do not hesitate to contact Steve Parks at sparks@usd259.net.

This is an optional opportunity for students who earned a 50 – 69% for first/second semester core courses. The Extended Learning Opportunity is open to primarily sophomores and freshmen (with potentially upperclassmen – based on demand). All classes will be held at Northwest and will run from June 1st to June 18th (Monday – Thursdays). The hours for the extended learning opportunity are 7:30 am – 11:30 am. For students who are enrolled, they will need to show concept mastery sufficient to requirements set by their respective core subject teacher. If a student achieves this goal prior to June 18th, then they are done with the Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) and can resume normal summer activities. For students enrolled in ELO, two or more absences (tardies as well) will result in removal from this opportunity. Any behavior that would result in disciplinary action will also be grounds for removal from ELO. If this opportunity sounds like it might work for your student, then please pick up and complete an enrollment packet from the Guidance Office. This will need to be completed and turned in to your student’s grade specific counselor for eligibility verification. Prior to the Extended Learning Opportunity, it is imperative that you attend a parent meeting on either May 26th or May 28th from 6:00 to 7:00 pm in the Northwest auditorium. This is a great opportunity for your son/daughter to raise their grade from an “F” to a “D” or a “D” to a “C”. If you have further questions, then please contact Steve Parks (10th grade administrator) at 973-6010 or sparks@usd259.net.

National Honor Society Any community service hours required for this semester are no longer required to be turned in by April 1st. Obviously, social distancing cancelled lots of people’s plans for doing community service over spring break. Community service hours that you have already completed prior to social distancing, and/or that you are able to complete over the next few months as the situation evolves will be counted in your FALL 2020 required hours. Again, in fall 2020 and spring 2021 you will need to turn in 15 hours each semester (obviously, this is pending the social distancing situation).

If you have turned in hours already prior to spring break, they will count toward your 15 hours required for Fall 2020. If you have your own documentation, keep it and turn it in by the deadline that will be set upon return to school. Again, this means that you will do 15 hours by the end of the fall semester of 2020. In the spring, you will do another 15 hours.

Students who want to apply to join should hang on to their applications. We will post a new application deadline once we return to school in the fall.

Mural painted by AVID students during their lock-in before Spring Break. Great job Grizzlies!

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Students in Mrs. Martens Spanish 1 classes wrapped up their food unit by preparing and enjoying “ceviche” during their last class before spring break. Many students took a picture of the recipe to make at home for their families!

Mrs. Fields Advocacy class won the winter homecoming door dec-orating contest with the theme Candy Land.

Mrs. Fields’ proctor, junior Brianna Walker, with the giant periodic table she constructed on the wall outside her classroom. Way to go, Brianna!

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Counseling News SENIOR INFORMATION

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

There are already scholarship opportunities available for the class of 2020. Check out: http://www.usd259.org/Page/10764 for a link to the College Career Center Scholarship Page. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Teketa Paschal, College Career Coordinator at tpaschal1@usd259.net.

NORTHWEST TRANSCRIPT REQUEST PROCEDURE

Northwest High School utilizes the Parchment Transcript Electronic System to deliver transcripts electronically to community colleges, colleges and universities.

To utilize Parchment, the student must create an account at www.parchment.com. From there, the student will be able to request that his/her transcript be sent to the school of his/her choice. Please allow 24 hours for the request to be processed.

You must use your student’s LEGAL NAME in order to process transcripts.

Paper transcripts will only be printed for scholarship applications.

ACT TEST DATES: 2019-2020

Test Dates Registration Deadlines Late Registration Fee Deadline

June 13th May 8th May 22nd

July 18th June 19th June 26th

Register online at www.actstudent.org; our school code is 173214. Contact Mrs. Tibbetts or Ms. Paschal if you are on free or reduced lunch and need a fee waiver.

ACT PRACTICE

Need some help practicing for the ACT? Check out the new ACT Academy at www.act.org/academy.

This FREE resource provides your student with videos, practice tests and personalized pacing guides to help them get the best score possible!

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE WITH XELLO

Helping students plan for their futures is the goal of Individual Plan of Study. To facilitate this, all students at Northwest have a career and life planning app called Xello.

Xello can be located by going to portal.usd259.net and using their district login. Xello has an interest inventory, entitled “Matchmaker” as well as a personality style inventory. Careers are suggested and students can investigate careers as well as post-secondary education that is needed for their goals.

This school year, each grade level has three different lessons that help students start to plan and investigate their future. Students are working on Xello in their Advocacy class, but can access this account anywhere they have internet access. Ask your student to see their Xello account.

STUDENT AND PARENT RESOURCES

PARENTS HELPING PARENTS

Are you dealing with a child of any age abusing alcohol or drugs? You are not alone. “Parents Helping Parents” can help by offering hope through resources, education, and shared experience.

Parent Meetings on 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month @7 pm Reflection Ridge Golf Course Clubhouse 7700 W. Reflection Road, Wichita, KS 67205 779-444-3380, wichita@parentshelpingparents.info

STUDENT AND PARENT RESOURCES CONT’D.

CRISIS TEXT LINE

Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support and information via a medium people already use and trust: text messaging. How it Works:

Text Hello to 741741 (from anywhere in the United States 24/7.) You can text about whatever is a crisis to you – addiction, anxiety, assault, bullying, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide etc.

The Crisis Counselor listens without judgement, invites you to share more, and helps you move from a hot moment to a cool calm. You’ll text back and forth, sharing only what you feel comfortable.

After 2 automated responses, you’ll connect with a live trained volunteer Crisis Counselor who receives the text on their computer.

The goal of the conversation is to help you find calm. That may mean sharing resources for you to check out for more help; sometimes it means listening.

Good Apple Awards The Good Apple Awards Program allows schools to recognize employees, volunteers and partners who provide exemplary service to the district and its students. Award recipients are nominated and selected at the building where their efforts are most profoundly felt.

The Partner Good Apples below were selected based on their support of the entire district and its students.

Administrator Good Apples are being recognized for the first time through a collaboration with Wichita Education Administrators Association (WEAA). Administrators were nominated for their leadership and service to students, staff, families and community. Their passion and commitment to student and staff success is evident in the way they build relationships and facilitate growth in all as they encourage and support along the way.

Northwest Sophomore & Early College Academy Assistant Principal Steve Parks received this honor.

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Counseling News cont’d.

FRIENDS UNIVERSITY Dr. Amy Bragg Carey President, Friends University Deb Stockman Vice President of Enrollment Management Preston Todd Associate Academic Dean Joan Griffing Chair of Fine Arts

Friends University has provided new ways for our stu-dents to access college affordably through the Early College Academy with Northwest High and the STEM Promise - free tuition for eligible graduating seniors. And they have sponsored and supported fine arts in our schools for many years.

FOR THE CULTURE Goldie Davis Social Worker Precious Mathenia English Instructor Teketa Paschal College & Career Center Coordinator

These ladies started a group named For the Culture to give African-American students at Northwest High a place to be heard and where they feel they belong. Serving over 100 students, its membership continues to grow as students celebrate diversity and gain connec-tions for success beyond NWHS.

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Thank you to several restaurants, including The Kitchen, who supported Kansas ProStart students

by allowing them to dine at their business for free! We loved the food, support and another chance to

grow with our team!

The team did a great job during their culinary competition! We overcame challenges and saw

lots of team leadership! Thank you to all of the adults in the room who are chefs, restaurant

managers, restaurant owners, and college pro-fessors! You love seeing what the student’s

skills can raise to and the students love seeing your support and networking with you!

2020 ProStart Culinary Competition team! Thank you to all of the many event spon-

sors! Thank you to the many family mem-bers and NWHS staff who came out to

watch the students!

Pro Start Invitational by Mrs. Draut

Business Professionals of America qualified three students to attend the National Leader-ship Conference In Washington DC. Con-gratulations to Andrew Fisher, Cole Jackson, and Victoria Purcell.

Business Professionals of America