Spring has Finally Arrived

June begins on Monday. I checked the calendar again to make sure it was correct. Spring, and a taste of summer, have finally arrived giving us more options during these times. There are a number of items below people have emailed me about so I hope this helps with that communication.

Yearbooks

Our yearbook advisors, Mrs. Pooler and Mrs. Hennessey, have been in regular contact with our yearbook publisher about the arrival of our yearbooks. The publisher has not been able to provide us with a date due to delays that occurred as a result of the lock down in the early stages of the pandemic. When we have the information for arrival of the yearbooks, we will communicate the dates and method for distribution.

Locker Cleanout Reminder

Students who are in grades 9-11 may keep items in their lockers for next year. Seniors and others that may want to retrieve items may do so on the following dates: PE lockers will be cleaned out on June 2-4. Hallway locker clean-out will be the week of June 15-19. Please refer to the previously released schedule by clicking here.

Year End Grading

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well. The return of sunshine and decent weather has been a welcome sight in recent days. Back in April, I said that the method for the calculation for final averages would be shared at a later date. The grading process below was created after consulting teachers here at West Genesee and looking at proposed grading systems from our local region and across the state. We adopted the structure below for its recognition of the work through the third marking period, the straightforward nature for calculation, and how it brings a student’s studies to a close for the 2019-2020 year. The details are as follows:

• A student will earn a pass for the fourth marking period if 50% or more of the MP4 assignments are “Complete.” 
• If a student’s average for marking periods one through three for full-year courses (or the MP3 average for a semester course) is 65 or greater, s/he will receive course credit. 
• Students whose average of marking periods one through three are below a 65, and within the range of approximately 58-64, will be considered for course credit if the student has received a P for the Fourth marking period.   
• Students who need course credit recovery at the end of the 2019-2020 school year will be able to attend remote sessions of summer school for core area classes. These classes will be held from July 8- August 24. Please check with your child’s counselor for further details.

If you have any questions about the grading structure, please feel free to reach out to your child’s counselor, grade level principal, or me. 

Be well, stay safe, and be Stronger Together.
Wayne Ackles
Executive Principal

Updates for the Week of May 20-27

It is good to finally see the sun and have some of the warmth that accompanies it. As we head into this Memorial Day Weekend, please enjoy some time outdoors with your loved ones in what appears to be a beautiful day weather wise! Below are some updates for the coming week.

Locker Clean Out and School Material Return

Students will return textbooks, library books, and other items borrowed from the school the week of June 15-19. If your child is currently a freshman-junior they can keep their belongings in their locker for the following school year. If your child is a senior, or has items that they need to retrieve, please follow the instructions and the schedule below for the dates June 15-19.

• If a student only has books to drop off, there will be tables available along the bus loop to drop off books. If there is inclement weather, there will be tables in the hallways near the atrium.  
• No additional family members beyond the student(s) will be allowed in the building. 
• Anyone entering the building must wear a mask and must socially distance themselves from others (6 feet minimum). 
• There will be a one-way traffic flow that will be noted with signs. The atrium doors by the library will serve as an entrance only. You will enter through the atrium entrance and exit through the doors by the office in the music wing. Again there will be signs to guide you.
• If your child has medication in the nurse’s office, you will be contacted by our nurses for a separate pick up that will occur on June 2 or 3 depending on your child’s last name. 
• Seniors and others that would like to clean out their locker 
• Your music teacher will contact you about school instrument returns. Please return any school owned music or folders. 
• Please refer to the chart below for your pick-up time.
• Please click here to access the map for the locations referred to in this communication.

West Genesee High School Student Belonging Pick-Up Times (by last name)

Monday,  June 15th	Time	Tuesday, June 16th	Time	Wednesday,  June 17th	Time	Thursday,  June 18th	Time	Friday,  June 19th	Time
A-Al	8:00	Dan - Dow	8:00	Kla - Kop	8:00	Pao- Petersen	8:00	Turk -Vel	8:00
Am-Aw	8:30	Dra - Ed	8:30	Kor - Lam	8:30	Pet - Plu	8:30	Ven-Wash	8:30
B-Barl	9:00	El-Fel	9:00	Lan - Len	9:00	Poi -Put	9:00	Wasl-Why	9:00
Bat -Br	9:30	Fem - For	9:30	Leo - Lop	9:30	Qa -Rec	9:30	Wi-Zach	9:30
Bid - Bie	10:00	Fos - Gei	10:00	Lor - Mah	10:00	Ree - Rob	10:00	Zait-Zol	10:00
Bie - Bov	10:30	Gen - Gla	10:30	Mai -Mat	10:30	Rod - Ry	10:30	TBD	10:30
Bow - Bur	11:00	Go- Gro	11:00	Mau - McG	11:00	S - Schn	11:00	TBD	11:00
Bus - Cap	11:30	Gu - Han	11:30	Mci - Mei	11:30	Scho - Shee	11:30	TBD	11:30
Car-Chap	12	Har-Hes	12	Mek-Mit	12	Shev-Smil	12	TBD	12
Char-Clar	12:30	Hev-Hus	12:30	Mol-More	12:30	Smith-Sp	12:30
Cle-Con	1	Hut-Jam	1	Morg-My	1	Sq-Sul	1
Coo-Cov	1:30	Jan-Kel	1:30	N’siku-O’D	1:30	Sup-Thom	1:30
Cox- Dal	2	Kem-Kit	2	O’H-Pan	2	Thor-Tul	2

If you are unable to come to the school at the time posted in this chart, please plan on coming Monday June 22 from 8 until 12, thank you!

Please click here to access the map for the locations referred to in this communication.

Senior Ball and Junior Prom Cancelled 

We know that most of you have been anxious to hear about the fate of Junior Prom and Senior Ball. We originally rescheduled both events hoping that they would still occur. It is now clear that with the closing of school buildings for the school year, and the timing of the phased reopening, we will not be able to have either the Senior Ball or Junior Prom.

We have already scheduled next year's Senior Ball for Friday, May 7, 2021. We are also in the process of planning another celebratory event for our Seniors for the beginning of June. Most importantly, we are in the final stages of graduation planning, and we will have updates to share soon!

Update for the Week of May 11-15

With the Governor's news last week, we now at least have some certainty with how the coming weeks will look. Although our buildings are still closed, we are still connecting, teaching and learning. Below are some updates for the coming week. Stay Strong West Genesee!

PAUSE Week (May 11-15)

Next week will be another opportunity for students to complete and/or make-up any assignments still open from the first few weeks of the 4th marking period.

This is a chance for everyone to catch their breath and gear up for the final five weeks of the school year. This is also a great opportunity to take part in our Virtual Wellness Spirit Week!

We are encouraging students and teachers to have a “Technology Free Friday” on May 15. Please check out our Well-Being Choice Board which will include some fun, alternative activities that you might enjoy.

Five Week Reports

Five week reports for Marking Period 4 will be available to view through Schooltool on Friday, May 22.

Click here for how to view/print report cards on Schooltool.

Belongings in Student Lockers

We are finalizing plans on how to best have students pick up their belongings from their lockers. Please watch for further details in the coming weeks.

Have a good week while staying healthy and safe!

~Wayne

Information for the Week of May 4-May 8

The governor's latest announcement has closed school for the remainder of the year. Remote learning will continue, and we will also be examining options for some of our larger spring student events.

Spring Traditions

Understandably, students and parents alike have asked about the status of events such as the Junior Prom, Senior Ball, and Graduation. We share the concern and desire to keep our strong traditions alive. We continue to watch for guidance from state and local officials about the future of large gatherings. Our actions must be guided by these health and safety guidelines.

As we wait for further guidance, class advisors and administrators have optimistically explored a number of options. We have looked at ideas that have been generated from our community, local districts, and schools at the state and national levels. Once we have parameters and timelines, we will move forward with decisions based on that information.

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. I wanted to clarify that passing a Regents level class will be necessary to receive Regents Exam credit. This question has come up a number of times in the last few weeks and it is important that this is clear.

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. We all are looking forward to the day that we are together again.

Working Papers- A Clarification

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. Both of or our nurses can assist you with working papers. (Parents/guardians and minors complete the appropriate application form and email it to our School Nurses, Ms. Prior, at cprior@westgenesee.org and Ms. Hancock, at khancock@westgenesee.org.)

Have a good week while staying healthy and safe!

~Wayne