PARENT
CONNECTION
WEEKLY
Fall 2020
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September 18, 2020
Newsletters will be sent weekly on Fridays to parents/guardians & students. If you have questions or suggestions regarding the newsletters, email Deb Lange. We value your feedback.
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Dates to Remember
- September 23 - Senior Parent Night, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
- September 25 - Freshman Seminar, 10:00 a.m.
- September 25 - Sophomore Seminar, 1:00 p.m.
- September 29 - Coffee with Principal Scott Gengler & Superintendent Chace Anderson, 7:00-8:30 a.m.
- October 3 & 4 - Take-Home ACT Practice Exam
- October 7 & 12 - Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4:00-8:00 p.m.
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Virtual College Visits and College Fairs
Virtual College Visits @ WHS
Representatives from two-year and four-year colleges and universities from all over the United States are doing virtual visits for juniors and seniors at WHS. Each visit is 30 minutes and students can sign up for visits on their WHS Hub portal. A confirmation email is sent once a student signs up for a visit. A reminder email, which includes the Zoom link, is sent to students on the day of the visit. Please contact Deb Musser in the College and Career Center (CCC) with any questions.
HBCU World Wide College Fair - September 19, October 17 and November 14
Students and their parents can participate in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) World Wide College Fair. Over 50 schools will be featured in this Facebook Live event. Students and parents can get helpful information about various schools, the application process, areas of study and more. For more information and to register, click here.
Virtual Jesuit Excellence Tour (JET) Fair - September 23
Registration is now open for students and their families to register for a virtual fair featuring 25 Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The registration code is JetTour2020. Once students have registered for this free event, they can view the school profiles and videos provided by the participating schools.
2020 Minnesota Virtual College Exploration - September 28 - October 14
Students and parents are invited to participate in over 200 opportunities to hear from college admission professionals on topics such as paying for college, application essays, college athletic recruitment and more. Learn more about 150 different colleges from all over the country in live information sessions. Students can register here for this FREE event.
National College Fairs - October 12, October 18 and November 8
Here's another opportunity for students and parents to gain more college information. Over 600 schools will participate in a virtual National College Fair. Students can create their own schedule to learn more about specific colleges and can sign up to attend live and interactive Zoom sessions. The sessions include information on financial aid, student life, academics, diversity, study abroad and more. For more information and to register, visit the NACAC National College Fairs.
Canadian Education Virtual Fair - October 6
Students can virtually explore education opportunities in Canada by participating in this college fair. Canadian institutions provide affordable, world-class learning opportunities and are a great option for students looking to expand their horizons. For more information and to register for this free event, visit EduCanada.
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General Information & Updates
Does Your Student Still Need Textbooks or Course Materials?
If your student is still missing a textbook or other course materials, have them fill out this form to make a request for pickup.
Take-Home ACT Practice Exam
Wayzata Community Education is partnering with a local tutoring company to offer a take-home ACT Practice Exam on October 3-4 to all 9-12 grade students at WHS. Students can pick their practice exam at the WHS main entrance on Saturday, October 3 from 8:00 -11:00 a.m. Students can complete the practice exam at home and then drop it off at the WHS main entrance on Sunday, October 4 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. The fee to take the ACT Practice Exam is $40 and registration closes on Friday, October 2. If you have any questions, please refer to the ACT Practice Exam flyer and registration page or contact Max Dupslaf.
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Yearbooks - Keep Those Memories Forever!
This will be a year like no other and the yearbook staff is already planning out the 2020-2021 Wayako Yearbook. Be sure to purchase your student's book by September 25 to get it at the lowest price of the year. We are also running a promotion during this time as well. If you purchase personalization you can choose up to four free icons. Visit the the Josten's ecommerce site to purchase your student's yearbook today. If you have any questions, please email whsyearbook@isd284.com. Be sure to follow us @wayakoyearbook on Instagram.
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Support DECA
Need a fun t-shirt for this term? The DECA students designed these fun t-shirts for students, parents, staff and community supporters. Please visit EPay to purchase your t-shirt. The cost is $16 and orders need to be placed by September 25.
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Culinary Express Update
Breakfast is from 7:55-8:20 served out of the Urban Plate Line. Lunch will be served from 11:20-12:10 from either the Depot Diner Line (offers a hot lunch option) or the Urban Plate Line (offer a Sandwich, Wrap or Salad lunch option) Urban Plate will also offer a variety of ala carte items that will be available for an additional cost, similar to what we have offered in Expressway but on a smaller scale.
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WHS Math Department News
Congratulations to math teacher Bill Skerbitz for being one of the recipients of the Edyth May Sliffe Awards for Distinguished Mathematics Teaching in Middle School and High School! "The Edyth May Sliffe Awards for Distinguished Mathematics Teaching in Middle School and High School" are given annually to middle and high school mathematics teachers who have done outstanding work to motivate students in mathematics by participating in one of the MAA American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) competitions.
Award recipients receive recognition from the MAA AMC program, a $500 stipend, and free registration, housing, and travel expenses to MAA MathFest in Sacramento, CA, August 4 - 7, 2021. Mr. Skerbitz also received this honor in 2010.
New Course in Math Department
The math department now offers an extended (3 term) version of the AP Calculus AB course. This has increased the number of students accessing AP classes in the mathematics department. The rigor level and material covered for the two term and three term versions of AP Calculus AB will be the same. The extended version of AP Calculus AB is a great option for students who are not planning to take AP Calculus BC as the course will end closer to AP test. AP Calculus teachers are very excited about this new opportunity for students.
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Clubs & Activities
How Your Student Can Get Involved
Check out the Activities page to find out ways you can get involved in extra-curricular activities.
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Club Unified Students
Participants in Club Unified Students develop meaningful relationships between students with and without disabilities to help spread a message of inclusion and acceptance throughout the school. This year students will partake in activities over zoom, with a possibility of socially distanced outdoor activities later in the year. To register, fill out the google form and EPay Our informational meeting will be Sunday, September 20 on Zoom. The deadline to register for the club is September 30th. Contact Shelby McChesney if you have additional questions.
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HEART
Registration for HEART on Epay is now open and there is no fee to join! HEART is a club dedicated to reducing the stigma of mental health and promoting wellness throughout the school community. To learn more about the club come to one of the informational meetings on September 23 at 3:20 p.m. or September 24 at 7:45am. To access the ZOOM invites for these meetings you can email WHSHEART@gmail.com to be added to our club GroupMe or look at our Instagram; @teamheartmn.
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Speech Team
The Speech Team will be auditioning for new members this season for everything from Informative and Extemporaneous to Dramatic and Humorous! An informational meeting will be held on Zoom on September 24 at 3:30 p.m. If you are interested in trying out for the team and/or would like the link for the Zoom meeting, please contact Mr. Nelson.
Gifted & Talented Optional Activities
The Gifted & Talented program at WHS offers students a variety of optional co-curricular activities such as 3-2-1 or curricular Olympiads and other competitions in order to meet the advanced learning needs of students. Additional Information can be found on the Gifted & Talented website.
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Class of 2020/Senior Information
Transcript Requests
Please review the instructions on how your student can request transcripts for submission to a post-secondary institution, the military, scholarship application, etc. If you have questions, email Terri Marr or call 763-745-6631
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Senior Yearbook Portraits Due October 30
It's time to get those senior photos taken and submitted to the yearbook staff. Photos are due by Friday, October 30, 2020. Photos that are submitted late are not guaranteed to be printed in the yearbook. Photos need to be uploaded to the Josten's photo submission portal. The upload/user ID is 415463794. Photos must be a JPEG file and they need to be vertical, horizontal photos will not be accepted. Please visit whsyearbook.com for specific details about photo requirements and submission instructions. Be sure to follow us @wayakoyearbook on Instagram. If you have questions, please email wayako.portraits@gmail.com.
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PTO News
Welcome!
Your PTO is still here for you, supporting WHS families and staff during this challenging time. Know that we will be flexible and creative as we find the best way to offer that support. We are still planning to provide most of our past programs, including staff conference dinners, 'Coffee with the Principal' events, scholarships and more! We can only make this happen with your support. Please consider donating by clicking HERE. Any amount is appreciated, however, with a $100 donation, you will receive either a WHS cooler, or blanket, your choice! Stay connected through our PTO website.
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Around the District
How to Access Your Child's Culinary PIN
Stay Home When Ill and Be Prepared to Quarantine
It is important to be prepared as we begin the new school year in the midst of a pandemic. Our new reality will require students, families and staff to check daily for symptoms and stay home if you are ill.
If you or someone in your family is ill, please reference the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Decision Tree document to learn what your next steps should be. Report any student absences into Skyward Family Access, specifying if the absence is COVID-19 related. Our school nurses will follow up with any COVID-19 related cases. If you are tested for COVID-19, even if you feel well, it is important that you remain home and away from others until you receive the results.
Everyone must be prepared to stay home and quarantine for up to two weeks if you become ill with or are exposed to COVID-19. We know being quarantined for two weeks will be extremely challenging, but it is absolutely necessary to stop the spread of the virus. Learn how you can prepare for a possible quarantine.
Our nurses will be working closely with MDH to notify students and staff as soon as possible if you have been exposed to COVID-19 at school. Always answer your phone if MDH is calling.
If you have questions, please contact the licensed nurse at your school.
More detail and helpful information can also be found on our Wayzata Learns webpage.
We are busy preparing our buildings and staff for the start of the new school year, with a big focus on preventing the spread of COVID-19 within our staff and student body. All of our buildings have optimal ventilation and enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures are in place. Our school principals have established new guidelines for everything from entering the building to eating lunch. We need you to understand and follow them so that we can all stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus.
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Community Ed
Wayzata Public Schools Community Ed has created a strategic partnership with A+ Driving School, to provide Driver Education. Find all the information on Drivers Ed online classes on the A+ Driving website.
Join us in our online classrooms! We have many opportunities for our youth and adult learners. You can find all our class options on our registration site.
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Calendar
School Events
District Events
School Board Meetings
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4955 Peony Lane, Plymouth, MN 55446 | Phone 763-745-6600