The mission of West Hills High School is to graduate critical thinkers and problem-solvers who contribute positively to society as productive, responsible citizens.
Activities for the week:
Special Testing Schedule is in effect for this week. 11th graders testing in English; 12th graders testing in Science in Social Science; We need ALL 11th and 12th graders to test.
Monday: Collaboration Day;
Tuesday: Odd Day;
Wednesday: Even Day;
Thursday: Odd Day;
Friday: Even Day; Band Pops Concert; 7 p.m. Theater
SATURDAY: Senior Prom at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine; 7-10:30 p.m. All Faculty and Staff with a "+1" are very welcome! Dress up and join us--the Seniors would love to see you! Bring in your parking ticket and it will be free!
SATURDAY: Senior Prom at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine; 7-10:30 p.m. All Faculty and Staff with a "+1" are very welcome! Dress up and join us--the Seniors would love to see you! Bring in your parking ticket and it will be free!
News from Faculty and Staff:
Here's to the newest addition to the Wolf Pack family--
Welcome to Sofia Noelle, born May 1 to Barbra Ruggles and family. All are doing well and we will see Barb back in August!
Congratulations to MARY DUKAS for announcing her retirement after 33 years teaching!
(shown with former student Mari Schoen)
We will miss her in our German program! Committed to continuing this vibrant language program, we will rely on Mary's expertise in finding a qualified candidate to take on her thriving program and continue the success. All the best Mary and thank you for your 33 years of teaching!
Congratulations to Finance Tech Taylor Hallahan...Taylor and her boyfriend are expecting a baby BOY! Sadly, Taylor will be leaving us to join him in Chicago and we have a posting for a new Finance Tech. Working with us through Graduation, Taylor has been an outstanding staff member (and Alumnus) this year and we will miss her dearly!
Happy Mother's Day weekend to all! My historian's heart couldn't pass up this primary source to share...I hope you all have a lovely weekend! --Robin
Congratulations Sarah Latoski Jimenez for completing your M.A. at SDSU and for your OUTSTANDING recognition! Check out Sarah towards the end of this wonderful newsletter! We are so lucky to have you at WHHS!President Woodrow Wilson's Mother's Day Proclamation of May 9, 1914
President Woodrow Wilson's Mother's Day Proclamation of May 9, 1914
President Woodrow Wilson's Mother's Day Proclamation of May 9, 1914 (Presidential Proclamation 1268)., 05/09/1914 ; General Records of the United States Government, 1778 - 1992; Record Group 11; National Archives.
On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day "as a public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of our country."
More Presidential Proclamations...
More Presidential Proclamations...
Senior Chromebook Purchase: Senior can buy their Chromebook for $20. Check out the Information for Staff 
The Class of 2017 invites you and a friend to join them as they dance the night away! Students LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see you outside of class and we look forward to a wonderful evening. THANK YOU Ms. Aguilar, Class of 2017 Adviser--you have been a wonderful support and leader with this group of students!!
Wednesday, May 24, Multi-Cultural Fair in the Gym: Social Science will take classes to the event during the normal bell schedule day. Lists of students excused for the day as participants will be forthcoming. This is a very exciting and fun day for all--please come visit us on your Prep period and we THANK Jodi Kohler and Dan Sutton for supporting and leading this effort with our student groups SO MUCH!! We also THANK the ENTIRE SOCIAL SCIENCE Department for your continuous support and facilitation each year.
Tuesday, June 6, 12:30: End of Year Luncheon in the Foyer--please join us as we celebrate the year and send off our new retirees and welcome back our alumni faculty and staff who are not out traveling the world.
Wednesday, June 7, 7:30-12:00: Senior Breakfast and Graduation Rehearsal in the Gym; All teachers of Seniors during these periods (according to finals schedule) please join us in the Gym to supervise and support our work with the Seniors to get them ready for the ceremony the next day.
Thursday, June 1 Senior Awards Night in Theater: More information TBD
Thursday, June 8, GRADUATION: More specifics to come--ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m on our field however, faculty and staff participating have earlier call times. This is a contractual work day.
Monday, June 12-Friday, June 30: Summer School at HOC next door; 7:15-12:30. Very limited offerings--credit recovery for 11th and 12th graders primarily with a few exceptions;
Monday, June 12-August 1: Admin and staff working out of Guidance and Library spaces; Only parking for staff and visitors is West lot by Performing Arts. One walking / ADA access path to Library and Guidance building is down by Gym on interior of campus. No photocopying available of any kind. No access to campus or classrooms.
July 24-28, 2017: Entire campus closed except for construction. District "Dark Week".
Support the Class of 2020! Check out this flyer and join us at
Monday, June 12-Friday, June 30: Summer School at HOC next door; 7:15-12:30. Very limited offerings--credit recovery for 11th and 12th graders primarily with a few exceptions;
Monday, June 12-August 1: Admin and staff working out of Guidance and Library spaces; Only parking for staff and visitors is West lot by Performing Arts. One walking / ADA access path to Library and Guidance building is down by Gym on interior of campus. No photocopying available of any kind. No access to campus or classrooms.
July 24-28, 2017: Entire campus closed except for construction. District "Dark Week".
Support the Class of 2020! Check out this flyer and join us at
Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support West Hills High School Class of 2020. Come in to the Chipotle at 9828 Mission Gorge Road Suite C in Santee on Thursday, May 25th between 3:00pm and 7:00pm. Bring in this flyer, show it on your smartphone or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds will be donated to West Hills High School Club 2020.
How will West Hills be measured by the state? Here is a Short Video of California's New Accountability System--the easiest and best way to understand this. We will spend a bit more time on this in our August back to school days as well.Our District LCAP is updated as well. Take a look if you are so inclined..thank you.
West Hills Yearbook is pleased to announce distribution is coming up. Juniors and seniors who have cleared all fines can pick up their books near the black circle early on Friday, 26 May. Underclassmen can pick up near the black circle beginning Tuesday, 30 May 2017 during lunch for students who have cleared fines. Students must have a photo ID and will need to sign for their books. (School- or State-issued IDs are both accepted.) Some books are still available for purchase at yearbookforever.com.
Focus on Literacy....
Our Senior English students take either AP English Literature or "ERWC" English. This is a prescribed course of study focusing on rhetoric and clearly communicating ideas via strong literacy skills with a deep and broad understanding of how to identify a perspective, analyse information and craft responses using evidence to support your assertions. To this end, there are workshops coming up that almost any content area teacher can use within their classroom as they teach literacy side-by-side with their content. As a Title I school, we have a requirement to train all teachers in the area of Literacy. Funding is available to pay teachers the Professional Activities Rate in summer or on weekends to attend workshops or to support attendance during the school year with workshop / conference fees and sub costs. Workshops coming up include:
Workshops:
Evaluating Evidence: Digging Deeper
Sufficiency, relevance and credibility should be household words! Learn how to improve the ability to evaluate and use different kinds of evidence to make communication all the more persuasive.
Register: Aug. 17, 2017 (PLC Sept.9, 2017) OR Oct. 17, 2017 (PLC Oct. 25, 2017)
Using Mentor Texts Well
Well-chosen mentor texts are effective writing instruction tools. Make your students stronger thinkers and writers by learning how to choose mentor texts and how to use them to design well-crafted reading and writing lessons.
Register: Aug. 18, 2017 (PLC Oct. 11, 2017) OR Oct. 18, 2017 (PLC Nov. 8, 2017)
Fostering Rigorous Student Engagement by Design
Getting students to actually do the hard work of listening, participating, and learning can be challenge. Learn how to design interconnected lessons, activities, and projects that make students stakeholders in successfully completed work.
Register: Feb. 6, 2018 (PLC March 6, 2018)
Short Answer Constructed Response to Teach and Assess Writing and Thinking
The short answer constructed response is not only a rich source of evidence of student thinking and comprehension, it is also an efficient tool for writing instruction. learn how to develop effective short answer prompts, provide feedback, and teach students how to respond to that feedback.
A complete explanation and more information regarding ERWC for our ELA teachers is at the SDCOE Professional Development site.
If you or your PLC team (in any content area) is interested in attending, please let your Department Chair know as well as Ginny Bell. We can assist you with your registration and the paperwork (Travel Request) to smooth your way.
All are welcome to celebrate our Science students and this new award hosted by Science:
Please join us for our Spring Performing Arts programs...all are welcome and all events begin at 7:00 in our Bob Guess Theater for the Performing Arts:
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Please join us!
All faculty and staff are free to attend! Just come into Foyer and sign in...we'd love to see you! |
Signora Heeb's Advanced Fourth Year Spanish Class performed "Over the Hedge" en Espagnol for all Spanish classes on Friday (German students were at the Huntington Library and missed a GREAT performance!) It was wonderful listening and watching these students excell in a second language!
Bien hecho estudiantes y maestra! Muchas Gracias!
The 2017 Summer Institute schedule is now available! Join us for a series of learning opportunities that cover CTE, EL, NGSS, assessment, and technology.
- Session 1: July 10 - 14
- Session 2: July 31 - August 4
Most workshops are available during both sessions. Attend either week or both! There are numerous workshop options that cover EL, CTE, technology, NGSS, and assessment topics.
Location:
IDEA Center High School
1600 Cuyamaca St, El Cajon, CA 92020
IDEA Center High School
1600 Cuyamaca St, El Cajon, CA 92020
*Registration forms are available for each day.
*You must complete a registration form for each session.
*Certificated staff will be paid hourly at the Professional Activities rate.
Questions about registration? Contact rhoffman@guhsd.net.
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New study links Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to student score gains
The College Board and Khan Academy have released data linking Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to substantial score gains from the PSAT/NMSQT® to the SAT®. The extensive analysis included nearly 250,000 students from the graduating class of 2017 who took the new PSAT/NMSQT and the new SAT in the past year. Students who practiced 20 hours on Official SAT Practice achieved an average 115-point score gain on the SAT—nearly double the average gain among students who didn’t use Khan Academy. Shorter periods of practice also correlate with meaningful score gains. For example, 6-8 hours of practice on Official SAT Practice is associated with an average 90-point increase. And even more encouraging, score improvement gains were consistent across gender, family income levels, race and ethnicity, and parental education.
Along with a growing number of states and districts offering the SAT Suite of Assessments to all their students, Official SAT Practice is helping to level the playing field. More than 3.7 million unique users have signed up since the tool’s launch in 2015. As with score improvement, adoption has been consistent across demographics. Educators have played a critical role in bringing the free, personalized practice tools to students. Approximately 28% of usage on free Official SAT Practice happens during school hours. Thanks to the commitment of educators across the state, more California students are taking advantage of the other opportunities that the SAT Suite of Assessments offers, including college application fee waivers, scholarships, and connection to Advanced Placement® (AP®) coursework.
Coming soon....WHHS will have Five MAJOR construction projects!
Project #1: Football and Track Field and Stadium was Closed: April 3-29, 2017: Our entire football field was replaced under warranty.
UPDATE STATUS: COMPLETE: Check out the new field....
Project #2: UPDATE: IN PROGRESS....
Beginning during Spring Break, our HOME ECONOMICS building will be CLOSED and remodeling begins to build an ADA compliant student restroom and additional specific facilities for students with moderate to severe disabilities. The entire facility is fenced and the DG lot at the back of the school will be the construction staging areas (fair warning if you park back there).
Mr. Knopp has moved to SS-8 and Ms. Boehme has moved to B-3-- no access to any part of that building is available until it re-opens FALL 2017. The building will also be re-named "PACK DEN" and new signage will be installed.
Project #3: Solar power installation / covered parking in the faculty and East Senior Parking Lot beginning at 1:00 June 8 (yes...the day of graduation): Both entrances and exits to these lots will be closed and no access will be available throughout the summer. This is expected to be ready for the start of school August 15.
Project #4: Summer School will be centralized on the Health Occupations campus next door and Admin offices will move to the Library / Guidance so every building can get heating and air conditioning units replaced under Prop U and Measure BB. ALL parking and access to these offices over summer will be in the West Lot and the access road will be CLOSED with no faculty or staff parking on the interior of campus due to construction. Athletic Fields and the Pool are accessible, but no one will be able to drive and park near the fields due to construction.
Project #5: The GYM will be CLOSED July 3-28, 2017 so the entire gym floor can be sanded down to bare wood and resurfaced. This is done once every 10 years to maintain the playing surface. Chris Quarders, Don Rutledge and Josh Reiderer are communicating specifics to the ENS Department and coaches. If you have any questions, please see one of these gentlemen.
As always, our website has a wealth of information and links wolfpack.guhsd.net
