September 25, 2020

The Meaning of Now

Reflecting over the course of the last six months it has been an incredible roller coaster of events and feelings. Here we are now in a moment that seemed unlikely three months ago. We are in school, even with its restrictions, and starting to gain routines again. We have seen hiccups around us from local schools and colleges. Right now we are here. Every passing day that we get together, even though it is not how school usually looks, it is a step closer to that elusive goal of "normal." We will make the most of now. Below are some updates for the week of September 28-October 30. 

SATs

SAT testing will happen on Saturday, October 3. Below are some of the instructions and what to expect when students arrive for the test. These have also been sent to those registered for the exam.  Pre-registration is required for the test. SAT guidelines are listed below.

• Face coverings are required; no face covering, no entry.
• Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.
• You must have a registration ticket with your picture on it AND another form of picture identification: license, permit, passport, school i.d.  If you do not have proper identification, even if we know you, we cannot allow you to take the exam.
• The ticket will say to enter by the library, however due to social distancing, students are to enter the building through the doors to the right of the library doors. There will be cones set up so that you cannot mistake which door to enter.
• There will be tape markings every 6 feet from the doors, by the learning center, then library, and finally the hallway up to the A wing where there will be 2 registration desks. Students taking the SAT with an essay will form a line to the right, while those taking the exam without an essay will be to the left.
• You will be required to complete a short survey to comply with local and College Board health safety regulations. A copy of this will be handed to you in line to complete.
• Phones will be collected and they will be placed in a bag and set on a table in the back of the room you are testing in. You will not have access to the phone until the exam is over. If you prefer not to have your phone with you, an office phone will be available to call for a ride if one is needed.
• There are 15 students per room, only one male and one female will be allowed to use the restroom at a time; if needed. The College Board has allowed a little extra time on breaks to compensate for this, and students will remain in rooms during breaks unless they need to use the restroom.

Spirit Week

Spirit Week is September 28-October 2. At right is a screenshot listing the events for the week. A chance to show some spirit!

Please watch for announcements from Student Council for other ways to participate!

National Merit Commended Scholars

Congratulations to Eleanor Moran, Daneisha Patterson, and Abigail Ray for being recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars! Here they are after receiving their certificates. 

Congratulations again, well done! 

Click here read an article about this recognition from the website. 

Open House

Thursday, October 1, will be a Virtual Open House for West Genesee High School. More information will be available in the coming days with the links to the open house. Once the link is live, you can access the information at any time. 

Senior T-Shirt Orders

Senior t-shirts are being ordered. TO ORDER, follow this link to the Kicks Custom WG Class of 2021 merchandise! ORDER DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 at NOON!!

Have a great weekend enjoy the summer like weather that is forecasted! 

Be well,

Wayne Ackles

Executive Principal

Updates for the Week of September 18

 It is hard to believe that we have completed our first full week now. Although our days are not what they used to be, there is becoming a rhythm to the routine. It is also good to see things like the NFL on during its regular season even if it without fans. I hope you have a chance to join the crisp weather this weekend that will definitely have a fall feel to it. Here are some of our updates this week. 

Virtual Open House October 1

We are preparing a virtual open house on October 1. There will be a link on the West Genesee High School Website as well as sent out in an email that will allow you to access the open house. Teachers and teams of teachers will introduce themselves and their curriculum. 

Picture Days-Next Week September 21-25

Picture Day(s) Reminder for Hybrid Students

The schedule for in person hybrid students for pictures is as follows:    

• 9th grade - Monday, September 21, 2020
• 10th grade - Tuesday, September 22, 2020  
• 11th grade- Thursday, September 24, 2020 
• 12th grade - Friday,  September 25, 2020

Students will have their pictures taken during their English classes. 

Forms for pictures were sent in the back to school packet. 

Picture Day(s) Reminder for Remote Students

Families of remote students who would like to have a picture in the yearbook or pictures taken will have some days to choose from after school hours on the picture days. Pictures will be taken in the lower gym which is on the east side of the building. There is a map to help illustrate this location.

The times are as follows:

• September 21/22- Grades 9 &10   2:45-3:25 p.m.
• September 24/25 Grades 11 &12  2:45-3:25 p.m.

Daily Attendance 5-12 and Operoo

Starting on September 18, all students in grades 5-12 will be creating/activating their Operoo “Care Monkey” account. This account will initially be used for attendance taking purposes for our remote students; as well the hybrid students on the days they are not in the building. Here are the parameters:

100% Remote:

• They will receive a survey Monday-Friday.
• The survey will be emailed to them at 7 a.m.
• The survey will close at 10 a.m. If students have not checked in, they will be marked absent.
• Official daily attendance will start on Monday, September 21, 2020. 

Hybrid Monday-Tuesday:

• They will receive a survey Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
• The survey will be emailed to them at 7 a.m.
• The survey will close at 10 a.m. If students have not checked in, they will be marked absent.
• On Monday and Tuesday, classroom teachers will submit attendance using Schooltool.
• Official daily attendance will start on September 23, 2020.

Hybrid Thursday-Friday:

• They will receive a survey Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
• The survey will be emailed to them at 7 a.m.
• The survey will close at 10 a.m.  If students have not checked in, they will be marked absent.
• On Thursday or Friday, classroom teachers will submit attendance using Schooltool. 
• Official daily attendance will start on Monday, September 21, 2020. 

Please check with your child (in grades 5-12 ) to verify that they received an email to their school gmail account  from Operoo "Care Monkey" on September 18. They should be aware that this email is not SPAM/JUNK, and they will need to create an account. After they create their account, they will get a survey that asks them the following:

1. I am working on school work from home today. Yes or No
2. I attend school in-person on (Check all that apply) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday , None (100% Remote)

If you or your child have any questions about this program or the process, please contact the Central Registrar Office at centralregistrar@westgenesee.org.

A Gate to Replace the Payloader at Arrival and Dismissal

The payloader that has been helping us maintain a one-way traffic pattern at arrival and dismissal is being replaced with a gate. The gate will not be as visually striking as the payloader, so we wanted to give everyone notice that it was coming. The gate should be in place within the next week or so. 

Lunch Reminders

• Lunches must be pre-ordered on the Nutrislice system. A description of the app and how to use it, are included in the packet that was mailed to your home or by clicking here. 
• If lunches are not pre-ordered they can be ordered in a student homeroom.

Vaccination Reminder

The emphasis on COVID-19 may have overshadowed some other vaccination requirements for students. Our nurses have sent out letters to remind families that Seniors are required to have their two doses of Meningococcal vaccine OR one dose if the dose was received at 16 or older.

Students who still have not had those vaccinations will not be allowed to return to school. Please reach out to our nurses if you need guidance on this topic. cprior@westgenesee.org or khancock@westgenesee.org.

Students still needing vaccinations on Friday, September 25 will be asked to remain home until they have received the vaccination.

Meet the Principals

On September 16, we hosted a Virtual Meet the Principals webinar for our parents to introduce ourselves and answer questions from parents about the upcoming school year. If you were unable to join us, you can view the sessions from the links listed below. 

• Click here to view the Grades 9-10 Webinar 
• Click here to view the Grades 11-12 Webinar 

Again enjoy the beautiful fall weather!

Be well, stay safe, and be Stronger Together.

Wayne Ackles

Executive Principal

Friday, September 11, 2020

It's hard to believe that the first couple of school days are already behind us. Our teachers, counselors, support staff, and students all did a fantastic job during our opening days this week. Below are some images from the preparations and the opening. 

An English Class on 9/11/2020

Preparations Last Week

Cleaning Between Classes 

Additional Chromebook & Remote Materials Pick Up

If you were not able to make the last two Chromebook and remote materials retrieval days, there will be an additional day on Wednesday, September 16 from 9-11 AM and then 1-3 PM. The pick up will be on the atrium side of the school. Please enter from West Genesee Street by Applebees. This pick up is for those students who are fully remote.

Office Hours for Remote Wednesdays

Below is the schedule for students to reach out and check-in on Remote Wednesdays. The office hours are meant for a block of time for students to touch base and get additional assistance.  

 

8:30 -9:15 AM	Math
9:15 - 10:00 AM	LOTE
10:00 - 10:45 AM	English
10:45 - 11:15 AM	Business & Tech
11:15 - 12:00 PM	Science
12:00 - 12:45 PM	PE
12:45 - 1:30 PM	Social Studies
1:30 - 2:15 PM	Fine Arts

Lunch Reminders

• Lunches must be pre-ordered on the Nutrislice system. A description of the app and how to use it, are included in the packet that was mailed to your home or by clicking here. 
• If lunches are not pre-ordered they can be ordered in a student homeroom.

Vaccination Reminder

The emphasis on COVID-19 may have overshadowed some other vaccination requirements for students. Our nurses have sent out letters to remind families that Seniors are required to have their two doses of Meningococcal vaccine OR one dose if the dose was received at 16 or older.

Students who still have not had those vaccinations will not be allowed to return to school. Please reach out to our nurses if you need guidance on this topic. cprior@westgenesee.org or khancock@westgenesee.org.

Students still needing vaccinations on Friday, September 25 will be asked to remain home until they have received the vaccination.

Meet the Principals Night

Save the Date: Wednesday, September 16 will be a Virtual Meet the Principals Night. The purpose of the night will be to provide information about the year for the high school. Please watch for an additional communication to sign-up for the event.  

PSATs Saturday, October 17 

West Genesee High School will be offering the PSAT on October 17, 2020. The day will be limited to 150 students to safely accommodate the test takers. Please look for future updates for times or contact the Counseling Office for more specific information.

Welcome back! Wayne Ackles Executive Principal

September 2, 2020 Opening Update

Good morning everyone. Below are some updates that are pertinent to the return to school. The first item is a copy of a portion of the letter that is in the back to school packet that is being mailed. 

Start of School Procedures

We have a number of procedural updates below. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to any of the principals: Mrs. Klefbeck, Mr. Vaughan, Mrs. White, or myself. This information will also be sent via regular mail. 

Parental Student Drop Off and Pick Up

• Students will not be let into the building before 7:25 a.m., please do not drop off students earlier than 7:25 a.m. 
• For the 20-21 school year parent drop off for students will be on the west side (Applebees) side of our building.
• The traffic will be routed in a one-way flow around the staff parking lot. There will be a gate to keep traffic from entering from the east or departing toward the east during arrival and dismissal. All traffic will enter and exit onto West Genesee Street via the entrance by Applebees.  
• Students will be directed to either the Atrium, music, or C wing door. The map below will show those doors.

Bus Drop Off

• Bus drop off for students will occur at the Hinsdale entrance in the circle. 
• Students will enter through the main entrance and the auditorium entrance. The map below will show those doors as well.

Student Drivers & Parking

• Seniors will continue to park in their traditional parking lot at the east end of property near the Hinsdale entrance. Those students will enter through the main entrance as well as the auditorium entrance.
• Juniors who drive should park in the Lowes annex and will enter from the C wing doors. 

Health Symptoms Form

• Students attending classes on campus must present their completed health symptom form daily. There are salmon colored forms included in the packet with the letter. Additional pads will be given to students in their homerooms. Without this form students will be delayed entering on arrival and need to have their temperature checked. Students who perpetually do not have their forms may be asked to join remote learning. 

Masks

• An integral part of containing the spread of Coronavirus is wearing a mask. Students are expected to wear a mask. This includes passing to classes, or other destinations including the bathroom. Masks will be worn during the class period even while seated at a desk. There will be mask breaks at designated times of all periods and during lunch. Students who perpetually do not wear a mask may be asked to join remote learning and/or face disciplinary consequences up to and including a suspension. 

Lunch

• Lunches will take place in a classroom. Lunches must be pre-ordered on the Nutri-Slice system. A description of the app and how to use it, are included in the packet mailed to your home or by clicking here.

Entrance to the Building & Dropping Off Student Items

• During arrival, only students and staff will be able to enter the building. Parent meetings will be held whenever possible through a teleconference means such as Zoom or Google Meet. 
• If a student needs an item like a lunch dropped off, those items can be dropped off via a drop box outside of the main office after arrival at approximately 7:50 a.m. in the morning. The item should be clearly labeled with the student's name. The item will be placed inside of a separate plastic bag to be given to the student.

Dismissal

• It will be critical for parents to be available to pick up students at the beginning of dismissal at 2:15 p.m.
• Students will be dismissed in a staggered fashion- students will be dismissed by grade level to busses, and/or rides and walking. 
• Once students have exited the building they will not be permitted back into the building. 
• There will be no IT at the end of day.

Map for Reference

Remote Chromebook and Materials Pick-Up

Students who are taking classes only through the remote setting can pick up a Chromebook and other pertinent materials on Wednesday, September 9 from 10:00 a.m.-200 p.m. The pick up will be near the atrium on the west, (Applebees) side of the building. 

SATs

West Genesee will be offering the SAT on October 3. The session will be at half capacity or approximately 150 students. We are doing this out of an abundance of caution and to ensure that we can properly staff the testing rooms. 

COVID Testing for High School Age Students at NBT Stadium

Onondaga County is offering COVID testing for high school age students at NBT Stadium on Friday, September 11. Registration for this event can be accessed through this link:  https://covid19.ongov.net/appointments/schools/  

Vaccination Reminder

The emphasis on COVID-19 may have overshadowed some other vaccination requirements for students. Our nurses have sent out letters to remind families that Seniors are required to have their two doses of Meningococcal vaccine OR one dose if the dose was received at 16 or older. Students who still have not had those vaccinations will not be allowed to return to school. Please reach out to our nurses if you need guidance on this topic. cprior@westgenesee.org or khancock@westgenesee.org.

Be well, stay safe, and be Stronger Together.

Wayne Ackles

Executive Principal