Senior Advocacy
Course Description
The high school advocate is the first contact for parents about student communications coming from and going to school. During advocacy time at school, we begin each morning with a circle to greet each other and start our school day. In distance learning, seniors are welcome to join advocacy each morning and highly encouraged to join the Senior seminar live on Fridays.
Advocates help students with social and emotional support and college and career readiness.
Posts
Graduation Rehearsal - Mandatory for Graduation
Commencement Ceremony
- Graduation will be held at Westgate Community School on Thursday, May 27th at 6:00pm. We are just days/weeks away from completing our Phase II development of our open space. This space includes our brand-new amphitheater and we are so excited to host Graduation in this space. We have had some questions about what this space looks like, so I attached some photos so you can all view a sneak peek. We took Seniors to walk the space last Friday at Senior Seminar (our online students joined us on Zoom!) and I am happy to tour any other students who are interested in seeing the space.
- Please complete the form (sent to parents via email) as soon as possible. This form will serve as an RSVP for Graduation so that we can appropriately prepare and reserve spaces according to health guidance. If you and your students are NOT attending Graduation, please let me or Amanda Novak know as soon as possible.
- Seniors must attend two mandatory rehearsals to walk on Graduation Day. The first Rehearsal is at 12:00pm on May 21st at Westgate following Senior Brunch, and the second Rehearsal is at 4:00pm on May 27th (prior to Graduation).
- We are still inviting Seniors to speak or perform at Graduation – if your student is interested in giving a speech or performing at Graduation, please have them reach out to me directly as soon as possible.
Decision Day Guidelines
Decision Day occurs annually on May 1st. For Westgate, it is a time to celebrate all the various decisions that our Seniors make post high school. Please update Autumn Washington with your post-secondary plans as you have them so that we can include you in our Decision Day announcement. We want to celebrate all our seniors and their decisions, including university bound, exploration year, trade school, entering the workforce, joining the military and more. More information about Decision Day will be coming soon, but there are some things that you can begin to prep for now if you want to join us in some of our Decision Day highlights!
Please refer to the following list for the SLIDE DECK:
- A picture of choice that represents you best (think a Senior pic or a cool headshot/selfie...keep it appropriate!)
- University/College/Trade School/Work/Military Organization Name; i.e. University of Colorado Denver or A&A HVAC
- OR mention if you are taking an "Exploration Year", "Transition Year", or "Growth Year".
- Declared Major or field of interest in trade school or the workforce
“Please refer to the following list for the VIDEO:
- 4 total photos
- 1 of your awesome face (like Senior photo, headshot or awesome selfie...keep it appropriate!)
- 3 other photos that may represent your HS career, your exploration of what you wanted to do after high school, fun moments with classmates (like service trips), or an image of other options you were considering.
- Logo of choice representing your decision
- Answer these questions:
- What was an alternative option you considered doing after high school that you did not choose? (ie. I was considering going into the Air Force, going into the workforce first, volunteering at a hospital for a year before going to college, etc)
- What did you officially choose as your decision?
- Please try to keep answers brief as lengthier answers will get condensed to fit into the video.
- OR you can create your own video incorporating these elements. Please keep in mind it should NOT have audio and can only be 10 seconds long.
Senior Events Update
Who: 9th-12th grade students are invited to purchase tickets. A limited number of tickets are available. Current students may bring guests, but they must complete and turn in a guest form at least one week prior to the event.
When: Friday, April 23rd, 2021 from 7:00pm-11:00pm
Where: Stonebrook Manor
Cost: Tickets will be on sale beginning 4th quarter and the ticket price is still being determined
COVID considerations: Masks will be still be required. Social distancing may not be maintained at all times as dancing is welcome at this event. Stonebrook Manor has large ballrooms with various spaces, including a large outdoor space, a parlor, and an upstairs area in addition to the main ballroom. Chaperones will encourage social distancing. There is food (dessert) and soda service included, so students may take off their masks to enjoy the food and beverages.
Decision Day occurs annually on May 1st. For Westgate, it is a time to celebrate all the various decisions that our Seniors make post high school. Please update Autumn Washington with your post-secondary plans as you have them so that we can include you in our Decision Day announcement. We want to celebrate all our seniors and their decisions, including university bound, exploration year, trade school, entering the workforce, joining the military and more. More information about Decision Day will be coming soon, but there are some things that you can begin to prep for now if you want to join us in some of our Decision Day highlights!
Yearbook Order Link
Friday 1/15
Senior Seminar
Fridays 8:45-9:30
Zoom ID and password: Check your outlook calendar and/or Teams Files
Agenda |
· Graduation questions and what we know so far! |
Important Dates · Senior Photos are past due! Please email me if you need more time! · Parents were sent a survey link for adopt a senior, please take the survey so your senior can participate in our fun adopt-a-senior program. |
Senior Photos
The Upstanders Viewing
October 16 Update
Schedule
Classes this quarter will be 45 minutes each (15 minutes longer than previously). Our goal is that by having more time in class, we can cover material more thoroughly and have more time to answer questions.
Seminar will now start at 9:00 am and end at 9:45 am on Fridays.
No October HS In-Person Week
In an abundance of caution, high school will not be hosting our in-person week this month. We know many of our students have jobs and are more active in the community than the younger students. As their social circles are larger, we are making every effort to limit any situation that may lead to students putting others at risk, whether it is each other or the people they may encounter outside of the school building. We are still planning on our November HS in-person week the week of November 16th, and we will send updates as they develop.
However, we would still like to see our students, , we are offering a walk to the park for high school students on Friday, October 23rd. This will take place from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We will be walking with students to EB Raines park for lunch, and we will be outside the entire time to ensure a safer environment. Please see the email from your advocate for the permission form and more details.
October Advocacy Topic: Bullying Prevention
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. It started in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. From their website:
PACER developed the initial campaign, National Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week, to raise awareness about bullying. Historically, bullying had been viewed as “a childhood rite of passage” that “made kids tougher,” but the reality has always been that bullying can leave devastating and often long-term effects such as a loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression for those involved.
This initiative has helped shift thinking away from bullying as “rite of passage” and toward the knowledge that bullying can be prevented and stopped through education and awareness.
This month, we have the honor of doing a virtual screening of the documentary The Upstanders. Being an upstander is being someone who takes action when you see someone being bullied. You are bound to see some familiar faces as the documentary was filmed at Westgate.
On Wednesday, October 28th at 6pm there will be a virtual screening of the documentary as well as a panelists discussion of the film. These panelists include our very own Ms. Washington, Mrs. Novak, and Mrs. Collins as well as the director, Scilla Andreen. The link will be available through the newsletter in coming weeks. Email [email protected] with any questions. We hope to see you there!
Update: September 25th, 2020
Dates of Conferences:
Thursday, October 1st from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Friday, October 2nd from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
*Please email your student’s advocate if you would like a conference and have not signed up. Our availability is quickly becoming limited.
Dates of Fall Break:
Westgate’s Fall Break is Monday, October 5th through Tuesday, October 13th.
You will still have your FRCC classes over Fall Break.
First Day of Quarter 2/PSAT Information:
All grades: Assignments will be posted on Wednesday, October 14th. Due to the PSAT being held at Westgate on October 14th, virtual classes will resume on Thursday, October 15th.
Juniors only: Please report to Westgate on October 14th for the PSAT. Please coordinate with your FRCC professors beforehand if you need to miss any college classes that day. We will be sending you more information for your PSAT day in the near future.
Quarter 2 Class Schedule:
During Quarter 2, High School will be continuing with distance learning. Class times have been extended by 15 minutes and begin slightly earlier. Please use the following schedule beginning on Thursday, October 15th:
Q2 High School Distance Schedule (New Times!)
Seniors: Note that your seminar time is extending by 15 minutes and will start at 9:00 am.
|
Monday Schedule |
Tuesday Schedule |
Wednesday Schedule |
Thursday Schedule |
Friday Schedule |
8:10-8:40am |
Advocacy |
Advocacy |
Advocacy |
Advocacy |
|
8:45-9:30am |
Algebra 1 US History English 11 |
Spanish 1 Geometry |
Algebra 1 US History English 11 |
Spanish 1 Geometry |
9:00-9:45am: Senior Seminar
|
9:45-10:30am |
Economics English 10 Biology 11 |
Earth Science Spanish 2 |
Economics English 10 Biology 11 |
Earth Science Spanish 2 |
|
10:45-11:30am |
English 9 Biology 10 Algebra 2 |
Pre-Calc World Lit Health 9 |
English 9 Biology 10 Algebra 2 |
Pre-Calc World Lit Health 9 |
|
11:30-1:00 |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
|
1:00-1:45 |
Sociology |
Spanish 3 Human Geo |
Sociology |
Spanish 3 Human Geo |
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