WAYLAND HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER WHSPO JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 Principal’s Corner As 2018 gets underway at WHS, the new year also marks the end of second quarter; and both occasions invite renewed energy and focus among our students and staff as we strive for strong beginnings and endings. We recognize that it is a busy time for our students as they manage the challenge of reviewing and preparing for upcoming midyear exams. The prospect of taking these longer, cumulative assessments can be uniquely stressful for some students -- particularly our 9th graders -- and so we try to emphasize both the purpose of midyear exams and the many kinds of support available. We view midyear exams as an important exercise where students come to better understand and expand themselves as learners, and as a vital opportunity for them to show what they know about a range of content areas. It is both process-oriented (the process of studying for and taking each exam is a learning experience in and of itself) and results-oriented. From the perspective of our teachers, they will know how well their students have mastered their skills and can adjust supports accordingly. Further, our students will know what they do and don’t understand at this juncture in the year. Last week in Advisory, students reflected on their own experiences taking midyear exams. During the discussion in my own 9th grade Advisory, we talked about the need for a detailed study plan and the importance of good health and a positive attitude. We also talked about the supports around them: the Academic Center, where they might obtain direct content support as well as calendar templates to help them organize their time; their own classroom teachers; and their guidance counselors and peer mentors. As talk of midyear exams no doubt infiltrates your own household, once again I share with you below some valuable advice our upperclass students have given our 9th graders over the years so you’ll have it on hand as well. More than anything, please encourage your students to embrace the opportunity for growth that exams offer, and to reach out for support should they need it. It’s time to show what they know! • Create a daily study plan during the week prior to exams and exam week regarding what subjects you’ll review each day. Stick to the plan! • Study efficiently alone and with classmates by freeing yourself from distractions and remaining on task; quality over quantity. • Ask teachers questions that you may have two to three days (minimum) prior to the exam day. • Don’t try to study every single thing if you are pressed for time. Focus on the last topic you struggled with. • Utilize quizlet, study guides, and teacher review sessions. Principal’s Corner .....Continued • It’s okay to trust that you know the topic, and focus more on material from the beginning of the year that maybe you have forgotten. • Make sure your materials and papers are organized. Focus on directed readings, re-read class notes, and review any tests and quizzes that have been returned to you. • Remember that exams get out at noon -- you have most of your day to get some studying in if you need it! • Keep calm the night before. Get a good night’s sleep. Your exam could backfire if you stay up cramming and don’t get sleep! • Bring water to the exam and dress in comfy layers. • Take time for yourself during exam week to maintain life balance: exercise, music, yoga, etc. • Don’t stress: it’s just a test, and you are much more than the score on a test. Alyson Mizoguchi Principal Midyear Exam Schedule: Day 1 - Tues. Day 2 - Wed. Day 3 - Thurs. Day 4 - Fri. 1/23 1/24 1/25 1/26 Session 1 Biology (9) Social Studies (9) English (9) Math (9) 7:45 a.m. - Math (12) Math (10/11) English (12) Physics (11/12/AP) 9:45 a.m. AP Comp Sci French 4 AP Bio (10/11) Statistics (AP/C/ Latin 3/4 AP Music Theory Intro) Mandarin 4 Spanish 4 Spanish Intro 2 Session 2 AP Comp Sci English (10/11) Environmental Sci Chemistry (10/AP) 10:00 a.m. (12) French 5/AP Anatomy AP Euro (12) -12:00p.m. Social Studies Spanish 5/AP Business Law AP Gov’t (12) (10/11) Latin AP French 2/3 Mandarin 5 Latin 2 Spanish 1/2/3 Mandarin 2/3 Spanish Intro 1 WHSPO News Happy New Year Everyone! BROUGHT TO YOU BY... I hope you all had a relaxing holiday break, stayed warm and healthy amid some extreme This newsletter is brought to you by weather brought by the polar vortex, and WHSPO, the Wayland High School enjoyed fun snow-playing time with your Parents Organization. WHSPO is a kids! The Wayland High School is back in full not-for-profit organization dedicated to the support of Wayland High swing, with students busy in classes as well as School students, teachers, parents, their prep work for the coming midyear and administrative staff and to the exams. WHSPO is also actively moving promotion of Wayland High School activities. forward as highlighted below: • The annual Mini Grants have been completed and awarded for the first time in the first half of school year, as compared to previous spring processes. This year not only did we receive lots of great proposals, but we also increased mini grants amount by 31% ($1100) to fund many interesting new projects and initiatives. Please look for the formal announcement (December 2017) in this newsletter. Many thanks to Sarah Orlov and the entire Mini Grants committee for their hard work and success! • A new high school Outdoor Greenspace project is being sponsored by WHSPO this school year. Leadership committee has been formed and held its kicked-off meeting on Jan 11, 2018. Parents, teachers, as well as students from the CONNECT program will work together in this exciting endeavor to make our campus even more beautiful and our environment even more enjoyable. The committee plans to survey grounds later this week and finalize their project idea, scope and execution in the coming months. Please stay tuned for progress report in future WHSPO newsletters. • Our Thursday Breakfast Club is calling for more volunteers! This is a long standing tradition truly loved and appreciated by faculty and staff. We need your help to keep the tradition going. Any breakfast snack items are welcome! No fancy food necessary, but some tasty treats simple and easy to be delivered/set up. If you would like to volunteer, please follow this link (http:// signup.com/go/isSGWOC) to sign up. Thank you to all those parents who have provided breakfast treats so far this school year. • With the start of 2018, it’s time to start thinking about Late Night after the Junior Prom! Several parents have stepped up and organized their leadership circle. We will keep you informed in the coming months for information on how to help with and volunteer for this important event! • As always, I want to extend a huge Thank You to the many families who have contributed to WHSPO’s Gift Your Child Funds this school year. Your generous financial support help make all WHSPO activities possible. If you haven’t already contributed, it’s not too late. Just go to www.waylandpto.org… or use the donation form in this newsletter to mail a check - it’s quick, easy, and much appreciated. • On March 1, 2018 at 7pm, please join us for the next Parent Information Exchange (PIE) meeting with Allyson Mizoguchi and Marybeth Sacramone – it is a great way to find out what is going on at the High School. Hope to see you then. Any questions? Suggestions? Concerns? Please feel free to contact me at any time! Ying Chen WHSPO President [email protected] or [email protected] WHSPO News...Continued WHSPO Board & Advisory Team 2017–2018 President Ying Chen Newsletter [email protected] or Tracy Scheidemantel [email protected] [email protected] Vice President & Faculty Appreciation Student Activities Cindi Jacobs & Pauline Stephanie Leong Ahearne [email protected] [email protected] ley.edu [email protected] Secretary Mini Grants Sarah Orlov Sarah Orlov [email protected] [email protected] Asst. Secretary Beautification Elisa Scola Missy Davis [email protected] [email protected] On-Line Directory Treasurer Administrator Deborah Stubeda Catherine Scholz [email protected] [email protected] Gift Your Child! In order to maintain the programs that make such a positive impact on our teachers and students, we ask that you contribute as you are able. Suggested contribution amount per student is $100. Name _________________________ Address: _________________________________ Amount*: ____ $100 _____ Other You may donate online (waylandpto.org) or make your checks payable to Wayland PTO. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Matching gifts by employers can double your donation. Please return checks and this form to: Deborah Stubeda, Treasurer – 17 White Road – Wayland Thank You!! Contributions of $25 or more include an All Schools Directory which will be delivered to your mail box. Please note: this year’s edition will be our LAST printed copy as the whole WPS district is upgrading to paperless online directories. Please sign your family up following the “MySchoolAnywhere Directory” link at http://waylandpto.org/ myschoolanywhere-online-districtwide-family-directory/. If you do not want/need a Directory, please check here _____ WHSPO News ...Continued ...Continued PIE TIME WHSPO BOARD COMM. MTG TIME W Thursday, March 1, 2018 7:00 PM Friday, March 2, 2018 9 AM H Principal’s PIE Friday, April 13, 2018 7:45 AM Immediately following PIE S (Parent P Friday, May 4, 2018 7:45 AM Immediately following PIE Information O Friday, June 8, 2018 7:45 AM Friday, June 1, 2018 Exchange) 9 AM M meeting T schedule G Thursday BREAKFAST CLUB Needs YOU! Please consider joining a cherished tradition @ WHS.