Welcome back for Spring Semester! I hope you had a rejuvenating, healthy winter break and are ready to jump back in. Though we anxiously await a day when we can gather in the classroom again, we will be beginning the semester in distance learning with a push for a hybrid distance/in-person schedule once COVID numbers improve. I am constantly awed by everything you and your students have done to make the most of distance learning during these strange times. Thank you for all you do!
Here is some information you will need for the coming weeks and semester. The blurbs are short, so please take the time to read each of them.
Schedule
The distance schedule for spring semester has been uploaded to Edlio! Please take a look in case there are any changes from last semester. Students have received emails or calendar invites with specific links and times for their classes and need to click “Accept” for the links to be added to their calendars. There are still no classes on Fridays during distance learning. Remember: due to the complexities of creating distance learning rosters on Infinite Campus, your IC schedule may not match your actual schedule. Please see the email sent on January 5th for full schedules.
Supply Pickup
Westgate will be holding a supply pickup this Friday (January 8th) from 1:00 – 4:00 PM. There are no high school supplies to pick up unless you hear specifically from a teacher. This brings us to the next point...
Tech Problems
If your student has been experiencing tech problems with a school-issued computer or hotspot, let your advocate know immediately. This will allow us to act accordingly and give out new technology on Friday if needed.
Absences
If you know your student will be absent during distance learning, please call the front office to let the school know. Letting teachers know is useful for the sake of making up assignments, but the front office puts it into Westgate’s attendance system.
New Office Hours
Office hours have changed! Please see the document on Edlio with new hours and links. Students have also received invites to office hours through Outlook or Teams to put the times on their calendars.
Team-Taught Classes
We are excited to offer our first ever team-taught classes! This semester, Mr. Brinkley and Mrs. Schneider will be teaching LIFE Seminar, where they will give students the skills needed to enter the adult world. Ms. Matthews and Mr. Kern will be teaching Literature and History of Social Movements. Only students not taking FRCC courses will be enrolled in these classes.
New HS Team Page
We will be creating a new page on Microsoft Teams where high school students can ask one another questions across grade levels, access advocacy information, or find important high school-wide announcements. This will not replace Edlio announcements or emails.
Skills Sessions Next Week
Since students do not have college courses next week, we will be taking time in the afternoons learning and refreshing skills for distance learning and navigating high school (many of these skills will be transferable to college and beyond as well). We will send times for these classes when they are ready, and they will likely take place the afternoons of Tuesday the 12th and Thursday the 14th.
Best, and I look forward to a great semester!
-Tim Cuevas