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:
Monday: REGULAR DAY (NOT late start due to min. attend. mins. for CA)
Tuesday: Regular Day:
Wednesday: Regular Day
Thursday: Regular Day
Friday: Regular Day
Hopefully Spring Break was a wonderful get away from our hectic weeks just before going on break and we are ready to meet the challenges of the last 6 weeks of the school year. Hard to believe we are already welcoming May, but take a look below at all we are working on, together!
To EVERYONE for "surviving" our Testing Schedule! We try to work within the millions of requirements for testing while balancing site priorities as established via our continuous self-improvement reflections to come up with a balanced testing schedule to meet everyone's needs. Some of the limitations are put on us via state testing windows, we have aspirations to share the responsibility across the campus for testing so it does not unfairly impact only a small group of faculty and staff, and to support the best opportunities for students to be comfortable and test their best. We APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU and your role in supporting our testing environments, protocols and scheduling. Testing overall went fairly well with about 91% of the required students being tested (our goal is 95% or better to meet state expectations). Make up testing continues for absent students this week as well. We know this may be a challenge as we strive to hit the 95% mark (I would LOVE to be able to apply to the state as a "Distinguished School"!) and we THANK YOU for your good will, patience, and support as we get through this week. A particular shout out to VPs John Hoadley and April Baker for all of their work with organizing and dealing with a myriad of details from the complicated nature of the various interfaces and the behind-the-scenes preparation and constant follow-up and problem-solving. We also want to thank Noelle Johnson as the amazing force in S-8 with test completion and with make-up testing. Now on to the REST of testing...Advanced Placement!
April 29, Monday: Regular Day due to internal auditor review of our CAASPP Testing schedule and minimum minutes required by state law for attendance.
May 6-10: GEA and CSEA Appreciation Week: look for PTSA and Admin "goodies" this week.
May 1-17, 2019: AP Testing weeks: Josh Reiderer has been communicating with AP teachers and is working this week on final details. Thank you to Josh, Tom Vanderhyde (GATE Coordinator) and Tom Burke (AP Testing Coordinator) for ALL of your efforts!
May 2, 6:00 p.m.: "Honoring Excellence" District Ceremony in our theater for retirees, Golden Apple "Teacher of the Year", Site "Teacher of the Year" and Parent "Golden Volunteer of the Year" awards program.
May 6: 7:45 a.m. Faculty Lounge: Val and Sal Selection Committee: All teachers are welcome; Teachers of AP Seniors are particularly needed.
May 13: 7:45 a.m. Faculty Lounge: Senior Silver "W" selection Committee meeting. All are welcome to help us select up to 10 extraordinary seniors who have served West Hills in all ways during their entire time at West Hills. Criteria and nomination form is here.
May 17, Period 5: Pride of the Pack in The Pit for Alpha Plus, Perfect Attendance and Honor Roll students from spring and fall 2018.
May 17, Period 5: Pride of the Pack in The Pit for Alpha Plus, Perfect Attendance and Honor Roll students from spring and fall 2018.
May 18: 7:00-11:00 p.m. Class of 2019 PROM: All Faculty and Staff are invited to join us for this magical night!
May 20, 6:00 pm: Science Dept. "Full Paw" Science awards; Bob Guess Theater for the Performing Arts.
May 22: Multi-Cultural Fair in Gym; Please talk with Jodi Kohler and Dan Sutton regarding having a club or group participate to make this year's Fair as inclusive and broad based as possible.
May 30: Senior Awards: 6:30 p.m. Theater
June 5: Senior Breakfast (7:30-9:30 Gym) & Senior Graduation Rehearsal (+/- 9:30 start time in Gym then moving to Football Field)
June 6: Graduation; Teachers report at 7:45; Ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. in Stadium
Thank you to Jennifer Romanowski, Marilyn Cabral, Don Rutledge, Lucas Hondros, Jodi Kohler, Suzanne Sannwald, Barbra Ruggles, Amy Reid, Cece Boehme, and Carrin Edwards for joining the Literacy Team on Thursday, 3/28 in working with Robin and Lin Kuzmich on our site literacy efforts and our focus on cross-content literacy. You can see the Agenda with Notes and all teachers are welcome to join us in this work on this committee. Even if you were not able to attend the last two or three meetings, we are planning one more full day May 16. (even if you can join us for part of the day, we welcome your participation!). Please let Robin know if you would like to participate in May. The focus of this day will be the Back to School days in August and our year long work for
2019-20.
An important resource for strategies that work is John Hattie's "Visible Learning" . Here is short article that is helpful in this area.
Congratulations to Jovan Bessette and wife Shauna on the expected arrival of their daughter Parker due at the end of June. Friday's Baby Shower was a lovely time to celebrate. Thank you all who made this event so lovely! 
