Sunday, January 26, 2020

Welcome 2020 and our Second Semester!

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Welcome to our second semester. We are very excited to CONGRATULATE all of our HONOR ROLL  (3.5 GPA and higher) students, our ALPHA PLUS students and our PERFECT ATTENDANCE (not missing any school for any reason) students! Your hard work and dedication results in these kudos--Thank you, too, to all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and community members who support every student on our campus. As second semester is underway, we look forward to all the exciting events left in the school year and encourage each and every student to continue to work hard to achieve your goals! 


News from around Campus....


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On Thursday, January 23, the city of Santee celebrated hosting the United States Olympic Race Walking Trials with a "Celebrate America" event starting from West Hills! Our senior and Cross Country Team Captain Dylan Shubert, ran the first 1/3 mile of the course winding through Santee. It was a terrific launch to this great event leading to the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan this summer! Thank you to World Language teacher and Cross Country / Track and Field Head Coach Juan Naranjo for partnering in this event.

Dylan Schubert, principal Ballarin, City Manager Marlene Best,
and Karl Eagleman with USA Track and Field 




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Congratulations 
to Mrs. Tiffany Jokerst (Math and Engineering) for being our 
students selection for our campus Golden Apple ¨Teacher of the Year¨! 

Mrs. Jokerst (second from right) with ASB Exec Council after
announcing her selection by students for Golden Apple at our
Winter Assembly.
(also showing her awesome school spirit as always the red, pink and glitter day!) 

Congratulations to our very own Shayla Tropiano for being selected as the GUHSD Special Education Golden Apple "Teacher of the Year"! Shayla works within our Individual Instruction Department with students with moderate to severe disabilities. She is active in a variety of ways within the District Special Education team and was selected for her active engagement and application of the teaching standards with her students and her profound positive relationships with students, parents, and staff alike. We are very proud and fortunate to claim her as part of the Wolf Pack! 




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The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) test will be administered to all English Language Learners (grades 9-12) beginning Monday, Feb. 3 through Feb. 11th. Students will be tested in 4 different domains (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking). If a student receives a CALL SLIP for the ELPAC, please have them report immediately to the testing room with their belongings. The test session can not begin until all students have arrived. 

The state requires 95% student participation rate this year or we are at risk of losing Title 1 funds. We appreciate your help in facilitating this important test for these students.  If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. 
Thank you, 
Barbra Ruggles

EL Coordinator 

Freshman Showcase 2020
Welcome Class of 2024 and any students interested 
in joining the Wolf Pack!

Wednesday, February 19 starting at 5:30 p.m.


 Please share with family and friends--all are welcome to come learn more about West Hills!



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Please check out our ATTENDANCE policies linked in our STUDENT HANDBOOK online at wolfpack.guhsd.net under "Students". Please remember to CALL in 956-0434 all day absences, and send a note for partial day absences. We are sorry, but we are not able to deliver to classrooms forgotten items--if a student knows to come to attendance to come pick up their items, they are welcome to do so without MISSING class. 

Please remember to UPDATE your home address or phone number with the West Hills office staff if you move or you have changes.This is critical if your student has an emergency and we need to reach you. Simply call 956-0400 and tell us you need to update your information. The PRIMARY parent or guardian listed in our parent portal can also do this online via their login





Counselor's Corner Newsletter with news for all grades!



BOYS’ GOLF


Remind: text @whboys2020 to 81010

















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To Varsity Cheer! 
On Saturday, December 7 they won CIF! We are grateful to Coach and Special Education 
Aide, Krystal Kammeyer and Adviser Alumnus Jessica Gardner for their dedication
and leadership with ALL of the Cheer team at each level! In addition to winning CIF, they have qualified to compete in the World Championships in Florida 
in February. We are so proud of you!



Here is a short video excerpt if you want to see them in action! 

In addition, JV Cheer will be going to the JAMZ Nationals in Las Vegas in 
February! 

We are proud of our entire cheer program! 


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West Hills Key Club give hundreds of hours of service to the Santee Community...see photos and read more about these fine students and their love our our community!



Connect with the library @WestHillsLIB: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

January 2020 Calendar: New Year, New Decade! (bit.ly/jan2020cal) - Happy New Year! Print a copy to follow along with this new calendar for the new year.

Inkwell Literary-Art Magazine Accepting Student Submissions (bit.ly/submitinkwell2020) - If you are a student who creates original artwork or creative writing, submit your work for publication in our school’s annually published literary-art magazine. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 6, 2020. Need inspiration? Check out the digital 2018-19 Inkwell.

Best Books of the Decade (bit.ly/rst-decade) - For the end of the year (and decade!), GUHSD Teacher Librarians reflected on memorable books from the 2010s. See what they shared and access other 'best books of the decade' lists. 

2020 Reading Resolutions (bit.ly/rst-2020) - The new year often inspires people to create resolutions. What about setting some “reading resolutions” for 2020? Hard copies of the handout are also available at the library help desk.



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West Hills students participated in the 1st annual district Honors Theatre Leadership conference!  On Saturday January 11th seven of our Honors Theatre students attended the conference hosted by Valhalla High School where they networked with local theatre professionals from San Diego Rep, Cygnet Theatre, and Grossmont College’s Theatre Department.  They participated in workshops in improvisation, Viewpoints, Stage Combat, scenic painting, lighting, and props building.  It was a wonderful experience for all!







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The deadline for senior memory ads is rapidly approaching.  Please go to yearbookforever.com to create yours while space is available.  Prices start at $30.  
Also, reserve a copy of the yearbook for $80 at the ASB webstore or by visiting our Finance Office.  Last year we sold out the first day of early distribution, so buy now to avoid disappointment!  Early distribution (for those not on the Loss of Privilege list and who have no pending invoices in Destiny) is Friday, May 22-Wednesday, May 27, at lunch, 6, 7, and after school until 3:30.  Students who need more time to clear invoices or who are planning to attend the May 30 Saturday School to get off the Loss of Privilege list can get their books at Distribution Lunch, Monday, June 1, 2020.
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History Students Apply their Learning....


Students in World History recently participated in a WWI simulation to better understand how alliances between countries work. They had so much fun and demonstrated their understanding by acting as Ambassadors and visiting each other's nations to negotiate treaties and alliances.
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Mrs. Reid's history class students have had opportunities to incorporate art into their work.  In US History, students recently completed a "Then and Now" project comparing the Industrial Age and Progressive Era in the United States to an issue important to them today.  Each student wrote an essay on the topic and then created a visual to represent their work.  World History students were able to reflect on their thoughts on imperialism and then recreate a political cartoon.  Here are just a few examples of the great talent in our classrooms: 

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Seniors: If you are a member of PTSA, keep an eye on the Counseling Scholarship page. PTSA sponsors scholarships each year for deserving Seniors but you have to be a PTSA member to apply AND you have to complete the application and turn it in. PTSA membership forms are in the main Admin building in reception.

Did you know that if you shop at smile.amazon.com and choose "whhs PTSA", Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase (at no cost to yourself) to WHHS? smile.amazon.com is the same exact pricing and website as the traditional Amazon url but it allows you to select a non-profit organization for Amazon to support. 




Go Wolf Pack! 

The "Wolf Call" is a monthly news blog for students, parents and community partners.