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:
Tuesday: Regular Day:
Wednesday: Regular Day
Thursday: Regular Day:
Friday: Regular Day: Staff Appreciation Night: Football--we hope you and
your families attend!
your families attend!
KUDOS for another lovely "Back to School Night" for all of our parents and students! We had 523 parents in attendance (450 last year so a good turn out!) and we want to THANK those who took on a bit "extra" to make the night work so well: Our entire Custodial Crew led by Elena Long for our added lights, tables and chairs in the black circle and extra attention to our facilities; Jamie Gwyn for our HOWL Leaders; Ardy Riego for our ASB Students; Kelly Herman for having Finance open for sales of all kinds; Maria Lenhoff for working Reception to get parents their "lost" schedules; Javon Bessette with tech support; and all of the teacher and Admin coordinators who held their parent meetings: Ashley Worth and Carrin Edwards with AVID; Barb Ruggles with EL parents; John Hoadley with Title I, and Robin Ballarin with AP / NMSI Grant information. Our parents are grateful and appreciate this evening very much! Thank you Wolf Pack for making this night happen!
Added: a second Assembly Day, Oct. 2 for Homecoming Carnival from Period 5B-Lunch.
All students got to class 5A and teachers teach 5A. Then everyone is released to Black Circle / Pit for extended lunch and Homecoming Carnival. (optional for teachers and staff).
September 9, Monday: Collaboration Day: All Faculty and Staff meeting, S-8, 7:45-8:45.
Everyone attends.
September 12-14: CAMP LEAD: Please see below for more information.
September 17 (last names A-K) and September 18 (last names L-Z):
Unity Days for 10th grade in Gym
Teachers of 10th graders please join us one or both days / Request Sub / Any
teacher willing and able to join us--please do! We need you!
September 20: Minimum Day: 6 Weeks Progress grades
September 23-27: "Start with Hello" week: ASB sponsors various activities all; Part of our Sandy Hook Promise work; Please join us in working to open up positive school culture
"You can Choose..."
The theme of the talk was "You hear a lot about what you can not to, let's talk about what you CAN do...
You can...join a club. Be friend. Help the lunch lines go faster by standing in line kindly and selecting quickly. Be prepared in classes--bring your Chromebook, charged everyday. Join a sport. Choose healthy living options, etc.
Thank you to ENS teachers for making time for this important information to all grade 9 students!
CAMP LEAD: We are looking for six faculty / staff members for our September 12-13-14 Camp Lead. If you can attend, please talk with or email Jamie Gwyn or complete the google form via email. This is an AWESOME experience working with students in a beautiful Pine Valley Executive Camp location. The cabins are lovely and the food terrific! Please help us help others if your schedule allows for it. We pay for your sub and we can't take kids without you.
This date does not work for you but you are interested in attending? Check out these other dates and let Jamie know!
Oct 17-19, 2019
Jan 30-Feb 1, 2020
March 19-21, 2020
San Diego CUE (Innovation in Education) is pleased to return to East County for its annual Learning Fair. The event has recently been rebranded to focus on PowerED Learning of all kinds, not just technology-based learning.
The Fair will be hosted at West Hills High School on Saturday, November 2. The registration fee will be covered by SDCUE and ETS. If you are interested in attending, please complete this form.
More info about the event can be found at SDCUE.org.
Additionally, the call for presenters at the event is still open. If you are interested in presenting or facilitating a session, please complete this form.
If you have questions regarding the event, please email Tiffani Brown.
Tiffani Brown
Director of Instructional Technology, Grossmont Union High School District
Vice President, San Diego CUE
Director of Instructional Technology, Grossmont Union High School District
Vice President, San Diego CUE
For more EdTech news, please check your email by searching "Tiffani Brown"
Welcome to the new school year! Just a few helpful reminders:
- Payday is the last working day of the month
- Insurance Buy-Out is paid September through June
- Insurance deductions are September through June
- Leave balances for the entire year have been advanced to you.
Personal Necessity comes out of your Sick Leave. No Sick Leave = No PN = No Pay. (Does not apply to GEA)
- 6/5th’s are paid September through June
- Department Chairs are paid November through June
- Having trouble logging in or resetting your password for pay stubs, contact the Help Desk at (619) 956-4357
- Questions about your pay, contact Payroll at (619) 644-8065
- Questions about your benefits, contact Benefits at (619)644-8056
Have a great year,
The Payroll Department
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With the Jewish High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) falling in September / October, many Jewish parents or guardians will be requesting excused time off or other accommodations for children to observe these holy days with their loved ones.
This year:
- Rosh Hashanah begins on Sunday, September 9th at sundown and ends at sundown on Monday, September 30th.
- Yom Kippur begins on Tuesday, September 18th at sundown and ends at sundown on Wednesday, October 9th.
Please note, some students, faculty and / or staff may miss school due to their faith. All work may be made up with no deduction in credit or attendance penalty.
ADL has the tools and expertise to assist your school in handling religious accommodation requests for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur:
- For background information about the High Holidays read 5 Things to Know About the High Holidays
- For answers to common legal questions about requests related to religious accommodations read School and Workplace Accommodations for the High Holidays: Know Your Rights and Obligations
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Lawnmower Parents....and how to teach their children
Take a read through this blog post on "We Are Teachers" about "Lawnmower Parents". Then take a read through this college professor's article about the same topic at university and how to teach these students.
Here are some strategies to help with all students today:
HELPING STUDENTS LEARN DESPITE THEIR ANXIETY
According to SDSU Professor of Psychology and researcher Jean Twenge, student anxiety is approaching 60%, which roughly translates into about 1 out of every 2 students who walk into our classrooms express having generalized anxiety regarding school. While the effects of anxiety on the brain are becoming better researched and documented, one thing is clear: anxiety at any level reduces the brain's ability to learn. So, how can we help students to learn, in spite of their anxiety levels?
- Pace Setting - Writing on Board is better than PowerPoint...students can follow the pace.
- Wait time / Wait Phrases
- Reflection Activities / Exercises
- Visible Expectations posted in classrooms / on whiteboard and referenced
- Give Feedback Early & Often - See Article Below on "Seven Keys to Effective Feedback"
- Give the "Why" Behind Your Expectations or Policies
- Emphasize Learning Over Grades - See Article Below on "Too Smart to Fail"
- Use a Positive Tone in Your Syllabus and in Your Rapport with Students
- Be Consistent
- Writing about Text Anxiety: Allowing students to express their anxieties diminishes them
ARTICLE: TOO SMART TO FAIL
by Joseph Holtgreive, Inside Higher Education (2016)
Quote: "[Students] are simply focusing their attention on the wrong outcome. It’s understandable why so much emphasis is placed on the measurement of their performance, GPA. Without an exceptional record in high school, their chances of getting accepted into an elite university are slim. With so much at stake, they can’t afford to not focus on reaching the main goal. Yet while these students think they’re keeping their eyes on the ball, they are actually just staring at the scoreboard."
ARTICLE: SEVEN KEYS TO EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK
By Grant Wiggins, ACSD: Educational Leadership (2012)
Quote: "Whether feedback is just there to be grasped or is provided by another person, helpful feedback is goal-referenced; tangible and transparent; actionable; user-friendly (specific and personalized); timely; ongoing; and consistent."
