Updates for the Week of February 1

The forecast this weekend is frigid! Bundle up and head outside or stoke up the fire and stay inside, either way enjoy the weekend. Below are some updates for the week ahead. 

Ordering a Yearbook

There is still time to order a  yearbook this year! The yearbook will be a piece of history recording how we did school during a global pandemic! You won't want to miss out!

To order a yearbook  go online to - ybpay.lifetouch.com

Our school ID is 12506821 

Yearbooks will have over 200 pages and are $55.00. 

Please get your order in as close to February 1, 2021 as possible.

If you are going to have trouble paying for a yearbook please contact Joanne Pooler ASAP, and we will put you on a list to ensure you have a yearbook in June. 

Email Joanne at - jpooler@westgenesee.org.

Start of the New Semester

As we start the new semester it is a good opportunity to reset good habits for success. Many students have been demonstrating the habits below, while some may have started them, but in recent weeks have been less committed to them. Many of the suggestions may seem familiar, others are unique to our current situation. In the coming weeks there will be a couple of these reminders a week to help focus on being the best student you can. 

• Workspace-Choose a place where you can do work, especially on remote days, free of distractions. TVs, game consoles and cell phones are distractors that can keep a student from getting work done. 
• Rewards and Breaks-Use work completion as a reward to engage in something fun, relaxing or pleasurable. After completing an assignment or a timed stretch of work build in a set time to do a fun activity. 

Intro to ClassLink Change

Starting on February 8, 2021, students in grades five (5) through twelve (12) will start using ClassLink. ClassLink provides a Single Sign On (SSO) tool and “landing page” on Chromebooks which will be pre-populated (by grade) with relevant links for school resources. Students using personal devices will also have the ability to use ClassLink.

Logging into ClassLink also provides the ability to track attendance so we will no longer need to use Operoo for daily attendance after February 5, 2021.

Thank you for your patience and continued support as we transition to ClassLink.

Board of Education to Host a Listening Session

The West Genesee Central School District Board of Education (BOE) invites parents, staff, community members, and students to a Community Listening Session.

It will be held in the West Genesee High School Library on Wednesday, February 3, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. (prior to the BOE meeting that will start at 7:00 p.m.) The guiding question for this is: “What are your hopes and dreams for WGCSD?” Please consider joining this session and offering your thoughts.

For more information about registering to attend the event in person or about watching it on livestream, click here.

Have a great weekend! Be well and stay warm!

Wayne Ackles, Executive Principal

West Genesee High School

 

Updates for the Week of January 25-29

It appears that winter has made it's return and the forecast for next week reflects that reality. If you have new or less experienced drivers in your household, please take some time to remind them about safe driving tips in winter weather. Below are some updates related to the upcoming week as we close in on the start of the second semester. Have a great weekend and stay warm!

Purple Sheets and Other Good COVID Habits

As we start to see the number of new positive COVID cases come down in the county, it is important to remember the little things that help us remain open. Remembering to send the completed purple sheets demonstrates that your child is in good health when they arrived at school. If your child has any of the symptoms listed on the purple sheet, please keep them home. Continuing to wear masks and wash hands both in school and in public also help to keep the infection rate down. 

Parent Parking Lot Drop-Offs

Thank you for all of your help in transporting your children here this year. It is part of the reason we have been able to be open to the capacity we have been this year. We need your help again when it comes to arriving to either drop off or pick up your child. Please wait to arrive as close as you can to 7:25 a.m. in the morning for drop off and to 2:15 p.m. in the afternoon for pick-up. Our transportation staff also arrives around the same time and has had difficulty getting here to prepare their buses and make their transportation runs. 

Additional Remote Pick-Up Day: Wednesday January 27

We will be having an additional remote pick-up day on Wednesday, January 27. There will be two time frames. The first will be from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and the second will be from 12:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Items can be picked up on the atrium side of the school. Please use the Applebees entrance from West Genesee Street. This pick-up is meant for families that have switched to fully-remote learning. 

Be well and have a great weekend!

Wayne Ackles

Executive Principal 

West Genesee High School

                                           

Updates for the Week January 18 History and Balance

The first two full weeks into the new calendar year have been historic to say the least. As we look ahead to the inauguration and reflect on the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., my hope is that we find those things that unite us. During Friday's announcements I shared similar thoughts with our students and also the hope that during these historic times that we also take time to balance not only being aware of the history that's happening, but also to value the time with friends and family. 

I would also hope we continue to embrace the distractions like this weekend's playoffs in order, again, to maintain balance during these times. Enjoy the playoffs this weekend or whatever you are doing to help maintain balance!

Thank You for Those that Participated in Asymptomatic Testing

Thank you to the students and staff who directly participated in the asymptomatic testing or those parents/guardians who helped transport students to the testing. The testing days are a critical piece to helping us remain open in the coming weeks and months. Thank you again!

Make-a-Wish Showing the Power of Community

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 for the online fundraiser for the Central New York Make-a-Wish Foundation. The Class of 2021 raised $3,365 dollars. The Student Council is donating an additional $300 for a total donation of $3,635. Thank you West Genesee for your donations and showing the power of community for a good cause! Pictured below are the Class of 2021 Officers, Andrew Sheedy, Braden McNeill, Morgan Valerino, Clara Pinker, and Adrianna Mondello.

Best wishes and be well,

Wayne Ackles

Executive Principal 

West Genesee High School

New Year's Edition 2021

Happy New Year and here's to a brighter 2021! I hope the recent holiday season was festive even with the restraints of COVID-19. Below are some updates for the coming weeks.

Next and Future Remote Pick-Up Days

Our next remote material pick-up day will be January 13. There will be two time frames. The first will be from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and the second will be from 12:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Items can be picked up on the atrium side of the school. Please use the Applebees entrance from West Genesee Street. Future pick-up days will be as follows:

• January 13 
• February 10 
• March 17

Future pick-up days will be scheduled beyond March as needed.

Regular Class Days During Regents Week January 25-29

With the cancellation of January Regents Exams, the week of January 25-29 will follow the normal schedule for class days and times. Classes will run a typical Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday during their regularly scheduled times. 

Onondaga County Health Asymptomatic Testing

Our Asymptomatic Testing date is Thursday, January 14 from 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

• Juniors and Seniors who are attending on Thursday will go to the upper gym during their scheduled time. 
• Freshman and Sophomores who have been selected for the testing will enter through the doors that lead into the upper gymnasium. This entrance is on the Hinsdale side of the building, door number 16.

Here is a link that will take you to sign up for the testing: https://covid19.ongov.net/appointments/school-registration-form/.

Camillus Optimist Essay Contest

The Camillus Optimist Essay Contest is holding its annual essay contest. If you are interested in applying please use the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z4WroC2tJ-uix8vcgNCsil9cGrgO-1TH54cYx6TVNNY/edit?usp=sharing