10th Grade Advocacy
Assignment Calendar
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HS Weekly Schedule
This is the schedule high school will be using for lessons, advocacies, and office hours.
Math lessons will be emailed early Monday. Answers need to be emailed to Mr. Cuevas by midnight on Friday weekly. The normal late-work policies apply.
Office Hours Info
Office hours for high school teachers are listed below. Students are encouraged to reach out during these times if they have questions regarding academic material. Parents: if you have questions, please reach out to the appropriate teacher through email. We are happy to set up zoom meetings for parent questions by request as well.
OFFICE HOURS
KERN: Tuesday & Wednesdays 2:00-3:00PM
Zoom Link:https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2870016972?pwd=QVFLZ3dneWtJV0NvbCtYYVNmano3UT09
CUEVAS: Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 – 10:30
Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9876797217?pwd=Uk9yaE01QXBqaWZOWk1oNklNNDV6dz09
MATTHEWS: Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 - 10:30
Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7186478925?pwd=eS9yak1IRnRSQXBRV3pqTmRiSmp2UT09
SCHNEIDER: Tuesday 1:00 - 2:00; Wednesday 9:00-10:00; Thursday 1:00-3:00
Tuesday Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/207062615?pwd=N3lZN1VHazA0MWdJcUlMUjllOG9jZz09
Wednesday Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/475890524?pwd=ekhyaDR5ajdkSU0veEdOckNyT1B6QT09
Thursday Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/873937436?pwd=RzdZTDdibDk0bFc2YzU1dG0yRmdHdz09
BRINKLEY: Monday 1:30 - 2:30 and Friday 10:00 - 11:00
Monday Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/269528729
Friday Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/269528729
Weekly Update: February 3, 2020
Happy Monday! Welcome back to another snow week at Westgate!
Now that we’ve had a few weeks to settle back into a normal routine, it’s time to set our sights on the future. Here are a few dates to add to your calendars:
Prom: Thursday, 7-10 P.M., April 2nd (second Thursday of Spring Break)
Prom is less than two months away! This year’s theme is Casino Night, and every ticket purchase will include the (monopoly-style) cash you need to win big. Tickets will soon be on sale at the front desk. We are currently only accepting staff chaperones.
Kindness Day: Friday, February 14th
Kindness Day is only two Fridays away! In the high school, we spend time making kindness cards to be passed out to the community. On the morning of February 14th, advocacy groups will be heading to the Thorncreek Crossing area (the shopping area with Target) to hand out our cards. We will be out from 11:30 to 12:30. We will be distributed as follows:
Freshmen: Kern: Barnes and Noble to Michael’s
Sophomores: Cuevas: Target to Dollar Tree
Juniors (half): Matthews: Chick-fil-a and surrounding area
Juniors (half): Schneider: Chipotle and surrounding area
Seniors: Brinkley: Krispy Kreme and surrounding area
Kindness Week: February 10th – 14th
Monday 2/10 - Be KIND to the ENVIRONMENT
Everyone Wear Green
Kindness Tree in lobby – More information to come!
Tuesday 2/11- Be KIND to YOURSELVES
Everyone Wear Your Favorite Color!
Self-Compassion Activities and Treat
Wednesday 2/12 - Be KIND to YOUR CLASSMATES
Everyone Wear Blue
We will have blue nail polish at recess for the Blue Pinky Challenge – Kindness and Anti-Bullying Campaign
Thursday 2/13 - Be KIND to YOUR TEACHERS
Everyone Wear Red for Ed
Spread kindness to your teachers through notes of gratitude, words of affirmation, and more!
Friday 2/14 - Be KIND to EVERYONE!
Wear Westgate Shirts
Community Kindness Day!
General Concerns
Last week, Westgate High School had some trouble with students finding or devising systems of “rating” other students, then ranking one another based on attributes like intelligence, physical attractiveness, or overall worth. These sorts of systems are demeaning to all involved. They are untrue and can cause lasting harm to our confidence and feelings of self-worth. Furthermore, they are a form of bullying and will not be tolerated at Westgate. If your child comes home with stories of being “ranked,” please take the time to talk with them and encourage them. Everyone in this building is worth much, much more than the opinions that others might place on them. As always, we at Westgate are doing all we can to ensure we maintain the safe, inclusive environment we value so highly. Please feel free to reach out to your advocate if you have any continued concerns.
Weekly Update: January 27, 2020
Welcome back to another wonderful week at Westgate!
We have our first full and normal week ahead of us! With no big new items on the schedule, here are some regular reminders:
Games: We have been having trouble with games (such as Magic) appearing during class. These are not allowed without teacher permission and will follow the same rule as cell phones (one warning, then the game becomes the teacher's until the end of the period).
Music: Students should not use headphones or earphones during lessons. When independent work begins, students may ask the teacher for permission.
Food: Food is not allowed in the mornings, so please eat before you get here. A snack may be eaten during the longer afternoon lessons with teacher permission.
Best, and see you all tomorrow!
-Cuevas
Weekly Update: January 21, 2020
Welcome back to another wonderful week at Westgate!
Students will return to their college classes at FRCC this week. The bus leaves at 11:30, so students will need to be sure to catch it after their morning classes end at 11:24.
Also, a note on grades: as we are one week in, students will have a grade or two in most of their classes. With only a few grades in the gradebook, each one carries a large amount of weight. If you have turned everything in and don't like your grade, give it time; as more assignments are added, each one will carry less weight.
A few other updates on policies:
Games: We have been having trouble with games (such as Magic) appearing during class. These are not allowed without teacher permission and will follow the same rule as cell phones (one warning, then the game becomes the teacher's until the end of the period).
Music: Students should not use headphones or earphones during lessons. When independent work begins, students may ask the teacher for permission.
Food: Food is not allowed in the mornings, so please eat before you get here. A snack may be eaten during the longer afternoon lessons with teacher permission.
Best, and see you all tomorrow!
-Cuevas
Weekly Update: January 13, 2020
Welcome back for second semester!
I hope you have all had a refreshing break (I know I did), and I can't wait to begin the semester with all of you! First and foremost: This semester, students will attend FRCC classes in the afternoon. This means the schedule will look something like this for the semester:
Monday - Thursday
8:00 - 8:15: Advocacy
8:18 - 9:18: Class 1 (same as last semester)
9:21 - 10:21: Class 2 (previously the class right after lunch)
10:24 - 11:24: Class 3 (previously the last class of the day)
Afternoons: Students with FRCC may leave at this time. For students remaining on campus, the schedule is as follows:
11:24 - 12:24: Lunch
12:24 - 1:54: Block 1 (previously the second class of the day)
1:57 - 3:27: Block 2 (previously the class before lunch)
Fridays: With no college, Fridays will look very similar to last semester with only minor switches. Be sure to check your schedules!
This week: As FRCC does not begin until Monday, January 20th, the schedule will look a little different this week. Mornings will run exactly the same as listed above. Monday afternoon, students will have seminar followed by lessons on developing strong study skills. Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be running Adulting 101 courses. Here, students will learn skills not regularly taught in school (doing taxes, for instance) that will help them through their adult life. Thursday, students will learn about different facets of personalities as well as get a chance to ask advice from other students about school, college, and working.
Enjoy the last day of break, and I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!
Best,
-Cuevas
Weekly Update 12/09
Welcome back for another week at Westgate!
Here are a few quick announcements for the remaining two weeks:
Late work will be accepted no later than Wednesday, December 11th. This gives teachers time to grade assignments and get grades up to date before finals.
Finals will take place on Monday, December 16th and Tuesday, December 17th. Students are required to report to the appropriate class for finals. There will be a break room for students who need to stay on campus during finals, but don’t have a final during that block of time. Students can only take a final during its scheduled time and may not start another final early at any point. On Wednesday, December 18th, we will spend the morning having our Christmas party, and the afternoon will be set aside for make-up finals.
Monday, December 9th and Tuesday, December 10th are finals days for most college classes. If students do not have finals or are done early, they should not return to Westgate until their normal high school classes take place. All students will report to Westgate for full days Wednesday and Thursday of that week.
Students should be mindful of their language during class. In many ways, school teaches us how to act as we enter careers, and this means we need to keep our speech appropriate. This includes avoiding profanity and crass jokes.
Computers and games should be kept away unless given permission by a teacher. There has been a recent upswing in computer games and card/board games appearing in the classroom. Please keep these away.
Best, and here's to another great week!
-Cuevas
Weekly Update 11/20
Welcome back for another week at Westgate!
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, many area already making plans of how to best spend the holidays. We’re just one week out before celebrations begin – let’s make it a good one! Here are a few updates and reminders:
First and foremost: Thanksgiving Break will be from Saturday, November 23rd to Sunday, December 1st. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday, December 2nd.
Finals will take place on Monday, December 16th and Tuesday, December 17th. Students are required to report to the appropriate class for finals. There will be a break room for students who need to stay on campus during finals, but don’t have a final during that block of time. Students can only take a final during its scheduled time and may not start another final early at any point. On Wednesday, December 18th, we will spend the morning having our Christmas party, and the afternoon will be set aside for make-up finals.
Monday, December 9th and Tuesday, December 10th are finals days for most college classes. If students do not have finals or are done early, they should not return to Westgate until their normal high school classes take place. All students will report to Westgate for full days Wednesday and Thursday of that week.
Family Game Night will be Thursday, November 21st from 7 – 9 in Westgate High School. All ages are welcome! Admission is $5 per person. For families of over five people, entry will be capped at $25 (so, a family of seven would still only pay $25, and all would be welcome!)
The HS Improvisation Team will hold a show/fundraiser on Friday, December 6th from 5 – 7. Be prepared for a roaring good time as you join our team for two hours of amazing skits, laughs, and showmanship. Audience contribution is welcome; the team will regularly take ideas from the crowd to determine each scene.
Consent Talks will be happening in December with Mrs. Schneider and our school psychologist, Mr. Chermak. High school is a trying time, and we want students to be prepared. These talks will revolve around laws regarding consent (with all topics, not just sex), as well as what it takes for a person to legally be able to give consent. These talks will take place on the following dates:
Freshman – Friday, December 6th
Sophomores – Wednesday, December 4th
Juniors – Wednesday, December 4th
Seniors – Friday, December 6th during seminar
Please reach out to Amy Schneider if you have any questions.
Students should be mindful of their language during class. In many ways, school teaches us how to act as we enter careers, and this means we need to keep our speech appropriate. This includes avoiding profanity and crass jokes.
College work should not be done during high school classes. Your high school credits count just as much as your college credits. If you are doing college work in class, we will ask you to put it away.
Computers and games should be kept away unless given permission by a teacher. There has been a recent upswing in computer games and card/board games appearing in the classroom. Please keep these away.
Best, and here's to another great week!
-Cuevas
Weekly Update 11/04 - 11/08
Welcome back for another great week!
With snow out of the way and Hogwarts successfully behind us (and preparations under way for next year!), we are ready to move into a relaxingly-normal school week. Here are a few general reminders:
No cellphones in class. We are operating under a "One Warning" rule, after which a teacher will claim a phone until the end of the period. If this happens multiple times (either with one teacher or multiple), a plan will be made with student and guardians in order to help the student.
No bikes/skateboards/longboards/wheeled devices may be ridden on campus. If you have a bike, skateboard, etc., please carry it onto campus and off of campus before boarding/riding.
College work should not be done during high school classes. Your high school credits count just as much as your college credits. If you are doing college work in class, we will ask you to put it away.
Computers and games should be kept away unless given permission by a teacher. There has been a recent upswing in computer games and card/board games appearing in the classroom. Please keep these away.
Best, and here's to another great week!
-Cuevas
Weekly Update 10/21
Welcome back to the second week of Quarter 2!
First and foremost, we are excited to announce our first annual High School Hogwarts Day on Friday, November 1st. Students can look forward to a day full of Harry Potter-themed activities and classes, and should feel free to dress up in their best Hogwarts swag. Gryffindors will be led by Mr. Cuevas, Hufflepuffs by Ms. Matthews, Slytherins by Mr. Kern, and Ravenclaws by Mrs. Schneider. Everyone who does not know their house or chooses not to be sorted will be led by Mr Brinkley (representing Hagrid).
Trunk-or-Treat will be at the end of this week on Friday, October 25th. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Halloween is Thursday, October 31st. Westgate High School will be running classes as normal. Please feel free to wear a costume as long as it meets normal Westgate dress code (nothing that fully covers the face, nothing revealing, no fake blood or gore, no references to drugs, alcohol, or other inappropriate topics).
See you all soon for another great week!
-Cuevas
Weekly Update 09/16
Hello one and all!
Welcome back for our last full week before Fall Break! Our big announcement this week:
Homecoming is here! Students can attend on Friday, September 20th from 7 – 10 pm. This dance will be styled after the Roaring Twenties, so they should be sure to stop by for food, music, and a roaring good time.
A few notes with the dance:
Tickets can be purchased at the front office this week for $10, or they can be purchased at the dance itself for $12. Food will be included in this cost. Also, there will be a game room and a quiet room for those wishing to seek a little peace between songs. If a student has a game they would like to bring, they are more than welcome to do so! (School-appropriate, of course)
The Friday of Homecoming, we will also be hosting our annual Flick Football Tournament in the High School Pod. Students will have a chance to team up and compete in the greatest of all Westgate sports for a chance at fame and glory. We will hold the tournament instead of our normal afternoon classes on Friday.
Second, conference signups are live. Please look for an email or visit your student’s advocate’s page in order to sign up for a slot on either September 26th or 27th. The signup link will be taken down at the end of the day this Friday (the 20th).
Just a few other reminders: students should not be in the pod during classes, and should use their passing periods quickly in order to get to class on time. Food is not allowed in class after the first five minutes, and cellphones are not allowed at all (they will follow our general structure for disruptive behavior).
It is also still summer, so we know the weather is hot, but be sure to follow dress code – no short shorts or belly shirts!
Finally, be sure to wait until you are off campus to get on bike or skateboard, and please dismount as soon as you arrive on campus in the morning. Things can get crowded out there, so we would like to avoid collisions and injuries.
As always, if students or parents have a concern, go to the teacher first, then the advocate, then Mrs. Novak, our High School Assistant Principal. Here’s to another great week!
Best,
-Tim Cuevas
Mathematics Teacher and Sophomore Advocate
Week 08/19 - 08/23
Hello and welcome back from Tim Cuevas!
Last week we had a great time seeing you all again, meeting some of you for the first time, and getting back into the swing of things in the High School.
Along with our new furniture, touch TVs, paint, and carpeting, we welcome some fresh faces to our team: Dale Kern in Social Studies, Amanda Matthews in English, and Amy Schneider in Science!
We started our first week with a mix of regular classes and some adulting 101, with everything from sewing a button to examining interest rates to changing a tire. Sophomores and Juniors took a day to visit CU Boulder. Go Buffs! (Though it pains the CSU Ram in me to say that...)
During week two we held mock interviews to prepare us for real-world job applications. A special thank you to all the outside volunteers for making it possible. We also visited MSU Denver and the University of Colorado at Denver.
This week, we will be on our regular schedule. Good luck at FRCC!
As always, if students or parents have a concern, go to the teacher first, then the advocate, then Mrs. Novak, our High School Assistant Principal. I look forward to all we will accomplish together this year!
Best,
-Tim Cuevas
Mathematics Teacher and Sophomore Advocate
Week 08/12 - 08/16
Good morning, wonderful Westgate families!
With one week under our belts, we are off to a fantastic start! Last week, students engaged in a variety of get-to-know-you activities and learned vital skills for life after college through our Adulting 101 courses. We also reviewed policies for behavior, cell phones, the new furniture, and the new schedule around lunch and service learning.
This week, most classes will begin running normally as students prepare to begin college courses next Monday. Thursday, however, students can look forward to touring CU Denver and Metropolitan State University, both in downtown Denver.
Thank you for all you do, and here's to an amazing week!
-Mr. Cuevas