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What's Up Westside

September 8, 2023

What's Up Westside September 8, 2023

At A Glance

  • September 14 - Fall Theater Information Session (Theatre, 3:40pm)
  • September 19 - School Picture Day
  • September 19 - PTSA Presents: Meet Your Administrators (School Library, 6-8pm)
  • September 22 - Yearbook Presale Deadline
  • September 26 - SPS Well-Resourced Schools Online Community Meeting (5:30pm)

From Principal Vance's Desk

Off and Running. Great energy at our welcome-back assembly today. As we ramp up, here are a couple of items of note.


Spectators at Football Games: We want everyone to have a safe and positive experience. We will be implementing additional security measures at our home football games.


  1. Students will not be allowed to bring in bags or backpacks.
  2. We will be searching/examining all other bags. Reminder that this is a school event and any drugs, alcohol or weapons of any kind are prohibited.
  3. Wanding to check for any items not permitted in the stadium, will also be taking place prior to entry into the stadium. Again, no weapons, drugs or alcohol.

Thank you ahead of time for supporting our student-athletes.


Parking Updates: Thanks to all of you who worked with your students to come up with transportation plans to support the fact we have less parking available. From what I can tell so far, so good. Some additional parking will open up next week with the fencing around Hiawatha coming down today (go check out the new field and resurfaced track this weekend).


Schedule Stuff: Counselors have been focusing on making sure all students actually have full schedules. They will continue to look through the other requests to clean up other schedule issues next week. Please note that we are overloaded and understaffed. Change requests are likely not going to be able to be honored unless there is a misplacement or class needed for graduation.


We cannot do any of this alone. Go Wildcats!

Principal Vance

Upcoming Events

SCHOOL PICTURE DAY

September 19 is school picture day. We need a few volunteers to make it go smoothly; please contact Amy Huber at: aahuber1@seattleschools.org


PTSA PRESENTS: MEET YOUR ADMINISTRATORS

Join us on September 19 at 6pm in the library for the first PTSA event of the year. The administrative team and support staff will introduce themselves and answer your questions as we gear up for a successful academic year. If you would like to submit a question in advance, please send to president@wshsptsa.org. All are welcome! You do not have to be a PTSA member to attend.


YEARBOOK PRESALE

The 2023-2024 Yearbook Presale is open through September 22. There will be other windows of opportunity to buy a yearbook throughout the year, but now is a great time because they sometimes sell out.


SPS WELL-RESOURCED SCHOOLS ONLINE COMMUNITY MEETING

We hope you will join us for this online meeting on September 26 at 5:30pm. (Event details and a link will be sent out next week). SPS is trying to reimagine a system of well-resourced schools that is safe and equitable. Come be a part of the community conversation!

Back to School Information

STUDENT DATA VERIFICATION FORM

The student data verification form includes the important student health information, emergency and family contact information, and more. Please update your student's information by logging in to your Source account and selecting Student Data Verification form from the navigation menu. Visit the SPS Back to School page for additional important forms.


FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

All families are encouraged to complete the Family Income Survey and/or the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch form, if applicable. In addition to meals, students may also be eligible to receive reduced fees for events, field trips, pre-college exams (PSAT/SAT), Advanced Placement tests, ASB fees, yearbook fees, Running Start books, and more.


UPDATE YOUR COMMUNICATION PREFERENCES

Want phone calls for some messages, but only email or text messages for others? You can manage your communication preferences online at go.schoolmessenger.com. Log in with the email on file at your child’s school.


ATTENDANCE

Attendance is a key indicator of academic success! Parents and guardians, please contact Erin Dolan, our Attendance Specialist, if your student will be absent/late. You can email westseattlehs.attendance@seattleschools.org, or call 206-252-8804, or send in a note. Please include: student name and/or ID number, date/s of absence, time frame, reason, and any relevant details. The attendance office is in Room 122F.


VOLUNTEER PAPERWORK

If you are interested in volunteering in the school building, you must go through the SPS Volunteer Application process.


STAYING CONNECTED

There's a lot going on at WSHS and we want you to be a part of it!

PTSA Presents

JOIN THE PTSA

The WSHS PTSA advocates for our students, supports school staff, and builds community. It takes members like you to do this well! Become a member of the PTSA at https://wshsptsa.org/membership. The WSHS PTSA offers membership scholarships to those who are unable to afford our membership fees; please email membership@wshsptsa.org. Be a part of making WSHS the school community you want!


FALL COMMUNITY BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES

We are looking forward to opportunities to come together this fall. Please plan to join us for:

  • September 19 - PTSA Presents: Meet Your Administrators (WSHS Library, 6-8pm)
  • October 3 - First Tuesdays at Larry’s Tavern (3405 California Ave SW, 6-8pm)
  • October 24 - PTSA Presents: Planning for Life After High School (WSHS Library, 6-8 pm)
  • November 4 - The Tailgate Auction (Dakota Place Park, 5-10pm)
You do not have to be a PTSA member to participate in these events. We can’t wait to see you!

DONATE TO THE TAILGATE AUCTION

We are now accepting donations for our Tailgate Auction on November 4! Can you offer gift certificates, sports tickets, theater tickets, vacation home stays, or other unique experiences? Visit our auction website to easily donate an item. Funds raised by the auction will benefit every student, every day, at WSHS.


STAYING CONNECTED

The WSHS PTSA aims to be your most reliable source of up-to-date information. Please bookmark our website and like and follow us on social media.

Counseling Center

The start of a new year is always stressful as we sort out schedules. Please be patient and remember there are four counselors for over 1400 students.


COUNSELOR CASELOADS

Last Names A-Fer, Erica Nguyen etnguyen@seattleschools.org

Last Names Fin-Mari, Kinsey Hedeen krhedeen@seattleschools.org

Last Names Mari-Pie Mallory Neuman mlneuman@seattleschools.org

Last Names Pig-Z, Christine Nutters canutters@seattleschools.org


SCHEDULE CHANGES

We understand the importance of having a correct schedule and we are working with a high volume of needs. We thank you for your patience and understanding of this individualized process.


Schedule correction requests must be submitted via this online form. We will not honor requests through emails or Teams messages. Schedules will only be changed for the following reasons:

  1. Course is at the wrong level (ex: student needs Algebra 1 instead of Geometry)
  2. Duplicate courses (ex: ceramics scheduled twice)
  3. Course already taken (in previous years or in summer school)
  4. Student is missing a course

The deadline for requesting schedule changes is the end of the school day on Tuesday September 12. Schedule change requests cannot be guaranteed.

Music and Drama Notes

BAND CAMP

Our annual band camp will be held at West Seattle High School the weekend of September 8-10 The hours will be September 8: 4-7pm, September 9: 9am-4pm, and September 10: 9am-2pm. The cost for camp is $35 per student and financial aid is available.


JAZZ AUDITIONS

Jazz auditions will be held September 13-15. Check in the Music Room (#271) for audition requirements, schedule, and sign-up sheets.


FALL THEATRE INFORMATION MEETING

Our fall show is The Laramie Project, a play about the reaction to the murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. If you are interested in participating on stage or behind the scenes, please come to an information meeting on September 14 after school in the Theatre.


Follow WSHS Theatre on Instagram for updates.

Athletic Announcements

This week’s varsity sports schedule:

  • September 8 - Girls Swim & Dive vs. Nathan Hale (Southwest Community Pool, 4pm)
  • September 8 - Football vs. Franklin (Southwest Athletic Complex, 4:30pm)
  • September 9 - Cross Country Sehome Invitational (Civic Field, Bellingham, 10am)
  • September 11 - Girls Volleyball vs. Lincoln (Lincoln HS, 7pm)
  • September 12 - Girls Soccer vs. Seattle Prep (Walt Hundley Playfield, 4pm)
  • September 13 - Golf vs. Chief Sealth (West Seattle Golf Course, 3:30pm)
  • September 13 - Cross Country Meet (Lincoln Park, Girls 3:40pm/Boys 4:10pm)
  • September 13 - Girls Volleyball vs. Lakeside (Lakeside HS, 7pm)
  • September 14 - Golf vs. Garfield (West Seattle Golf Course, 3:30pm)
  • September 14 - Girls Soccer vs. Lincoln (Walt Hundley Playfield, 4pm)
  • September 15 - Girls Swim & Dive vs. Seattle Prep (Southwest Community Pool, 4pm)
  • September 15 - Football vs. Cleveland (Southwest Athletic Complex, 7:30pm)


View complete WSHS sports schedules.


ATHLETIC REGISTRATION

For all the details visit: https://westseattlehs.seattleschools.org/student-life/athletics/fall-sports/. All forms need to be completed and current physicals updated on FinalForms.


DIGITAL ATHLETIC TICKETS

SPS high school athletic ticketed events will be available on Metro League’s HomeTown Ticketing digital box office. This includes all regular season games for football and basketball. It also includes post-season games for volleyball, basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, baseball, soccer, softball (slowpitch and fastpitch), and track/field.


WEST SEATTLE BOOSTER MERCH

The West Seattle Booster club is taking pre-orders for duffel bags until September 17. Visit the merch store at: https://www.wsbooster.com/wsshop/

Community Notices

WESTSIDE HEALTHY EMPOWERED YOUTH (HEY) COALITION

Please fill out the “2023 Community Survey” and help the Westside HEY Coalition address youth substance use in our community.


DRAGONFLY YOGA PILATES DANCE

WSHS parent Amy Starner recently opened a yoga, Pilates, and dance studio near school. She is offering discounts for WSHS students using code WSHS23. More information here.

Something we should know?

If you would like to share news or publicize an event or opportunity relevant to the West Seattle High School community, please contact communications@wshsptsa.org.

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West Seattle High School

Website: https://westseattlehs.seattleschools.org/
Location: 3000 California Ave. SW, Seattle
Phone: (206) 252-8800

Brian Vance
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