Thursday, April 23, 2020

Information for the Week of April 20-April 24

With the Governor's extension of school closings until May 15, we will continue to provide remote learning opportunities for our students. Here is some information for the week of April 20-24.


Grades for Marking Period Three Available on Schooltool April 24

Grades for Marking Period Three will be available online for on Schooltool April 24. Below is a link that will help you access your child's report card via Schooltool.


A Tip for Quickly Finding Assignments in Google Classroom







The “Stream” in Google Classroom can be overwhelming, especially when trying to find, and prioritize assignments. Use the “To Do” function to quickly navigate to find assignments that are due. If you are on a laptop, and you click on classwork, you will notice three lines in the upper left hand corner. When you click on those, that will take you to the “To Do” list. The “To Do” function is not available on the phone versions of Google Classroom.


It Is Still Important to Work Hard in Marking Period Four

Hello to all of our high school students. Just another reminder to do your best on the assignments this final marking period. It might be tempting to not take the course work as seriously because it is pass fail. We will have to look at whether credit will be granted for both courses and Regents Exams based upon the entire body of work for the school year. Marking Period Four is a part of that work. 

If you are struggling with keeping up, or just the particulars of an assignment, reach out to your teachers so that they can aid you. We all recognize that these are not ideal circumstances, but we are all trying to make the most of them. Hang in there, and hopefully we will be together soon!

Working Papers

If you are looking for the working papers application, it is available from the West Genesee High School homepage on the Student Information page, or directly by clicking here. (Parents/guardians and minors complete the appropriate application form and email it to our School Nurse, Ms. Hancock, at khancock@westgenesee.org.)

Be well, keep our loved ones close, and remember that better days will be coming. 
~Wayne Ackles, Executive Principal 

Friday, April 10, 2020

Communication about Regents 2020 Exemptions

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

Many of you have heard that the New York State Board of Regents cancelled the Regents Exams for June of 2020. In an effort to clarify what this cancellation means, we have attached the chart below to help explain what this change means for our students. 

Generally speaking, if a student taking a Regents class successfully completes the course for course credit, which includes the successful completion of all online work assigned in the fourth marking period, that student will be exempt from the Regents Exam associated with the course. If you have more specific questions about your particular child, please ask their counselor and they will gladly assist you. 

Sincerely, 
Wayne Ackles


Student Profile
Exemption Status
(Regents, Pathways, Checkpoint B, CDOS, Technical Assessments)
Grades 7-12 students currently enrolled in a course that will culminate in a Regents who will earn course credit by the end of 2019-2020 school year
Exempt from Regents Exam
Grades 7-12 students currently enrolled in a course that will culminate in a Regents who will not earn course credit by the end of 2019-2020
If student attends summer school in 2020 and earns course credit, they are still exempt from the culminating Regents Exam if it is administered in August 2020
Grades 8-12 students who are not currently enrolled in a course that will culminate in a Regents, but were in the past and have already earned course credit and planned on taking the Exam in June 2020
Exempt from Regents Exam
Any student preparing to take a +1 Pathways Assessment in June 2020 who:
  1. Currently or previously enrolled in the course that leads to the pathway assessment and will or has already earned course credit or,
  2. ELL whose home language is Chinese, French, Italia, Korean, or Spanish, intending to take LOTE+1 or,
  3. Student intending to use ASL+1 Pathway
Exempt from Pathway Assessment (including Technical Assessments for purposes of graduation)

Exemption from Technical Assessments for the purposes of CTE Technical Endorsement is not automatic. This determination is student-specific and a local decision regarding individualized student proficiency.
Any student who has earned 3 course credits by the end of school year 2019-2020 in LOTE, who was intending on taking the LOTE Checkpoint B Exam in June 2020 for Advanced Designation Diploma
Exempt from Checkpoint B Exam
Any student exiting high school in June 2020 who is unable to meet the requirements of the CDOS Commencement Credential or the CDOS+1 Pathway because of COVID-19 situation, who has demonstrated proficiency of the CDOS learning standards may be granted various waivers.
1.     Granted a waiver from the completion of the 216 hours of CTE Instruction and/or
2.     Granted a waiver of the 54 hours of work-based learning requirement and/or
3.     Granted a waiver from any other NYSED approved exam that may have been being used to achieve the CDOS+1 Pathway
*Student eligible to earn either the Regents or Local diploma as applicable






Friday, April 3, 2020

Grading and Other Information for the Week of April 3-10

Here are some West Genesee High School updates that are pertinent for the coming week. 

Grading Information as We Finish Quarter 3 and Proceed to Quarter 4

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well. We all continue to adjust to the new routines and restraints of our lives. I hope to answer some of the questions that have emerged about the remainder of the year in terms of assignments, grades and report cards. Our goal is for students to be successful during their time at home. 


The plan below is in place if the governor extends school closures for the state beyond April 15. If we are back shortly after April 15, we will adjust the plan as needed to fit those circumstances. 


The week of April 6-10, formerly the spring break week, will be used as an opportunity to make up incomplete work and to provide opportunities for students to show their understanding of previously instructed concepts. Our goal is to give our students time to be as successful as possible with their marking period three grade. Report cards will be published, as previously planned, on April 24.


Marking Period 4: Moving Forward with Instruction and Grading 


We will continue to follow these guidelines for the amount of work that we assign to students:


Core Subject Area Classes and Concurrently-Enrolled Courses  (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Languages)

  • 2 Assignments per week approximately 40 minutes each
Electives/Special Area Classes
  • 1 Assignment per week approximately 40 minutes each
Grading will look different going into the fourth quarter. Students will be graded using the following criteria: 
  • Complete = Student has executed the task to the course or grade level standard
  • Incomplete = Student has executed the task but it is not yet to the course or grade level standard
  • Missing = Student has not yet submitted the assignment 
At the end of Marking Period 4, students will be given a quarter grade of Pass or Fail for the quarter based on their ability to show that they have attained the standards worked on during the quarter. 

At this point, how the final averages will be determined will be decided at a later date. 


Students enrolled in college courses (SUNY, SU, Cazenovia and OCC) will continue with a modified version of each course. Numeric grades will be calculated for the college courses that require them, but a pass or fail will be recorded for our transcripts. 


To say that we are in are unusual times may be the understatement of a lifetime. Our approach during this time will be to recognize that we cannot do business as usual. Please reach out and contact me, the grade level principal, or your child’s counselor if you have any questions or concerns. 


Be well, keep our loved ones close, and remember that better days will be coming. 


Sincerely,


Wayne Ackles


Executive Principal 



Food Distribution


For the latest information and updates concerning food distribution for students during the District lock down period use this link:

https://www.westgenesee.org/food-distribution-info-and-updates/



District Online Learning Portal


If you are looking to connect to the online information regarding classes please use this link: 

https://sites.google.com/westgenesee.org/wg-online-learning-portal/home




Technology Requests 


If you find that you have to request technology for your child due to your circumstances, or are having a technology related issue with your school device, please email wgtechhelp@westgenesee.org.

Have a good week while staying healthy and safe!
~Wayne