The mission of West Hills High School is to graduate critical thinkers and problem-solvers who contribute positively to society as productive, responsible citizens.
Mrs. Robin Ballarin
It is truly hard to believe we are fast approaching the end of this school year! The tremendous learning and growth in each of our students is rewarding and gratifying. As we look at our next 7 weeks of school, we want to encourage every student to stay engaged with their learning. Progress Grades were submitted on Friday April 5 and parents may look within the parent portal to see current grades. While we are in our special testing schedule, we have final exams to prepare for and culminating projects and performances to give. We look forward to a strong finish for each and every student!
If you have any questions or concerns about your student, please continue to talk with their teacher(s) first--this is the best line of communication. Please remember student grades and attendance is available online in the parent and student portal in Infinite Campus. If you have any problem with the portal, you may call West Hills at 956-0400 during normal business hours, 7:00-3:30 p.m. or our District Technology Help line 619-956-4357.
We look forward to a safe and happy Spring Break from April 15-26 with offices closed.
Class of 2019...Prom Tickets are on sale NOW in the Finance office for $60 per person.
If you want to bring a non-West Hills student to prom, all guest passes must be completed by your guest, signed off by their high school administration, and returned to our VP office by May 3.
This is a high school closed event meant for high school seniors and their approved guests.
News from around campus....
Congratulations to all students who ran for student class offices. The following students will be serving in these offices next school year.
2019-2020 Class Office
Class of 2020
- President: Heather Cantin
- Vice President: Maya Williams
- Treasurer: Andrea Johnson
- Secretary: Nicholas Battikha
- Activities/ Fundraiser Chair: Kylee Reiderer
- Publicity: Jamie Sanders
Class of 2021
- President: Grace Stewart
- Vice President: VACANT
- Treasurer: Brigette Ghajarien
- Secretary: Alyssa Touw
- Activities/ Fundraiser Chair: Sydnee Sparks
- Publicity: VACANT
Class of 2022
- President: Gavin Williams
- Vice President: VACANT
- Treasurer: Hannah Reiderer
- Secretary: Shannon Kim
- Activities/ Fundraiser Chair: Shaye Klingerman
- Publicity: VACANT
News from our Guidance Office.....
12th Grade
- Grossmont/Cuyamaca College Applications available now! All high school graduates are eligible for their first year FREE . Take a look at the MyCollegePromise website for more information.
- For those students who submitted applications to 4 year universities, make sure to check your email (the one you entered on your application) and/or access the school’s portal regularly to make sure you stay on top of deadlines (sending SAT/ACT scores, official transcripts, etc.)
- Check out the Counseling Scholarship page. There are always scholarships posted by month of due date and ones that are on-going. This is where you will find the Staff Scholarship, PTSA Scholarship, and WHHS Foundation Scholarship posted as well as many others.
- Please look at both the Counseling web page for Seniors and the general page for Seniors for important Graduation information like cap and gown ordering (including free loaner gowns) and other information Seniors and their parents / guardians will find of use. The PTSA also has a special "Grad Bash" information page for the WHHS Senior night at Universal Studios sponsored and organized by PTSA in conjunction with the WH Senior Class.
- Senior Awards night is Thursday, May 3o at 6:30 p.m. in the Bob Guess Theater for the Performing Arts. Seniors and their parents will be sent a google form link via the Parent Portal and Student Portal to let us know of their scholarships and awards. West Hills will be notifying Seniors of awards we give out and they are selected for, but we rely on Seniors to tell us of other scholarships, awards, commitments to military service, etc. so we may celebrate and honor YOU on this night! Please look for that survey coming soon!
11th Grade
- 11th grade students planning to attend a 4 year university should take the SAT (click here) and/or ACT (click here) this school year. This is something students and parents do on their own through reading the links and signing up online. Attending the testing session and completing the test is up to the student and parent.
- If you have not submitted your SIGNED Wish List for next year's classes please get that to your counselor ASAP! Parents / Guardians need to have seen these course wish lists for next year and sign they approve of their student's selection.
10th Grade
- If you have not submitted your SIGNED Wish List for next year's classes please get that to your counselor ASAP! Parents / Guardians need to have seen these course wish lists for next year and sign they approve of their student's selection.
9th Grade
- If you have not submitted your SIGNED Wish List for next year's classes please get that to your counselor ASAP! Parents / Guardians need to have seen these course wish lists for next year and sign they approve of their student's selection.
Sports Medicine Pathway Students achieve at Regional Competition
BACK ROW (Left to Right): Melanie Pulido, Isaiah Lopez, Colleen Kennedy, Madison Kelly, Young Truong, Miah Canales, Makayla Campbell, Sara Miller.
FRONT ROW (Left to Right): Torrye Rasch, Chloe Mikhail, Annabelle Ocampo, Emma Palmer, Marcella Demangos, Jessica Madrid, Mark Tapia, Teacher, Mr. Ardy Riego
On Saturday, March 23rd, 2019, West Hills High School competed in the 18th Annual California Regional High School Sports Medicine Competition, presented by the American Academic Competition Institute (AACI) held at California State University, Northridge. The competition consisted of a written exam and a practical exam focused on items such as First Aid & CPR, Emergency Procedures, Medical Terminologies, Legal Issues, Physiology, Range of Motion, Special Tests, and Anatomy/Evaluation Techniques for the Shoulder Complex. West Hills was represented by 13 second year capstone students and 2 first year students. With 42 schools in attendance and nearly 603 competitors, West Hills High School ranked 6th place in the Large School Division -- making us a contender for a spot in the National Competition. West Hills will also be competing in the Helix Edge Sports Medicine Competition on Saturday, April 13th. We are very proud of all the students and Mr. Riego for competing in this event.
We are very proud to announce that Mr. Riego (above) is also the Grossmont Union High School Career Technical Education (CTE) "Teacher of the Year"! Mr. Riego teaches in and coordinates our Sports Medicine Pathway. He is unwavering in his dedication to his students, his support and work with other Sports Medicine Pathway teachers in the District and his CTE focus.
Make a International Student's Dream Come True!!
Looking for host families at West Hills High School.
Learn about another country without leaving your home.
For more information call Karen Toledo @844-723-7403.
From the world of Science....
Dr. Peter Salk visited Mrs. McDowell's physiology classes the week of March 14. They learned a bit about his father, Dr. Jonas Salk, and his work on the development of the polio vaccine. They learned about polio, the development of the vaccine, different types of vaccines and the possible future of vaccines such as the use of tiny patches containing microscopic needles, and so much more. Students are currently learning about the lymphatic & immune systems, so it was perfect timing! Notice how he personalized his powerpoint cover slide! (lower right of slide).
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| Dr. Peter Salk "personalizes" his presentation to West Hills Students. |
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Dr.Peter Salk discussing the polio vaccine, his father Dr.Jonas Salk, and the current research in vaccines.
Mrs. Addy's and Mrs. Lines chemistry students are in the middle of an exciting unit on the Equilibrium of the Ocean. Students are pictured making models and doing experiments to represent ocean acidification caused by carbon dioxide emissions, and it's affects on marine life.
 
Students spent the past two weeks planting peas. They were planted from seeds last week and we already have some sprouting and wrapping around the string supports. Garden Club meets weekly and students interested in growing their own food, learning about plants and horticulture come on their own time to talk, plant, and discuss all topics related to gardening. All students are welcome to attend. See Mrs. Addy in S-7 for more information.
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Honors Theater and Advanced Theater students, along with their teacher, Mrs. Carrin Edwards, were selected by The La Jolla Playhouse to see their student matinee of Diana: A musical about Princess Diana's life. We are proud to offer these enrichment opportunities to our students and grateful to the La Jolla Playhouse for supporting our students!
To our Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers. student Ambassadors and student "Champions". They were celebrated on Thursday, April 3 at the 50th Anniversary of the GUHSD CTE programs.
We are very proud to announce Mr. Ardy Riego, GUHSD CTE "Teacher of the Year"!
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| CTE "Teacher of the Year" Ardy Riego Health Sciences (Sports Medicine) |
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| Kathy Worley with Champion Student Nick Hammond (Adv. Manufacturing) Champion Student Jessica Madrid with Ardy Riego (Health Sciences: Sports Medicine) (Not present CTE Ambassador student Janidu Goonatilaka due to WH Golf event) |
Check out Sophomore Brandy Atuatasi and her phenomenal athletic achievements in both shot put and rugby (playing with Mira Mesa since no female rugby teams are in the GUHSD). Not only athletically excellent, she is academically minded as well with a GPA of 4.667. She exemplifies the "West Hills Way" with "Academics First". We are proud of Brandy and can't wait to see what the future holds for her!
GPA. MileSplit, Elmer Runge Classic all time leading marks (Brandy holds the record for both Shot Put and Discus from her performances Saturday, March 16, 2019):
Connect with the library: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
April Calendar: Keep your eye on the calendar! (bit.ly/apr2019cal) - April is a short month for us at school with spring break quickly approaching. It is also filled with different bell schedules. Make sure to note the schedules before and after spring break. This calendar also includes a sprinkling of haiku to enjoy since it is National Poetry Month!
Studying for AP Tests over Spring Break? - As students enter the final stretch of studying for AP exams, here is a link that summarizes online test preparation resources available free for West Hills students: bit.ly/whhstestprep (see also: 1-page guide). These links also have study resources for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT.
Free Audiobooks for Teens April 25th Through August 1st - The SYNC free summer audiobook program begins this month. Sponsored by AudioFile Magazine, teens may download 2 free audiobooks each week. Learn more and don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity: http://bit.ly/syncbooks
Sponsored entirely by the PTSA, the Class of 2019 GRAD BASH at Universal Studios is happening! Please check out the information at the PTSA website for a GREAT night of fun for our Class of 2019 after graduation day!
Rain postponed it from original date in April....come on out and find great bargains!
This summer will see A LOT on construction on campus again like last summer. Thank you Prop U and Measure BB!
(1) Every building is getting additional work done on the roofs with installation of more equipment for the HVAC systems to work better.
(2) Both the boys and girls locker rooms and the team rooms in the Gym are getting replaced, repaired, and repainted in a variety of ways.
(3) A variety of electrical for lighting repairs is on-going and will be completed this summer.
(4) Faculty and Staff parking lots in the front of school will be repaired, repaved, repainted and the RESERVED signs will be refreshed by the pavement company (may happen at Spring Break rather than summer..TBD)
What does this mean for parents and students?
Summer School, June 10-28 will be on campus but centralized in two buildings--math and science. The Guidance, Library, and Performing Arts buildings will be entirely closed and any staff working from those departments will be in temporary space near the Administration building. (All phone numbers remain the same).
The yearbook will be done this month, and we are looking forward to selling out again. There are only a few hundred books left. Reserve yours at yearbookforever.com, the ASB webstore, or Finance Office for $80. Due to returns, we also have a few books from 2018, 2017, and 2016 available for $25. These can be purchased via the ASB webstore or Finance Office. Please contact us at westhillsyearbook@guhsd.net to check availability
Newly added ability to get Infinite Campus on your SmartPhone...make sure you have the right app by following the directions below:
Infinite Campus Portal App "Campus Parent" and "Campus Student"
- You must set up your Campus Portal account BEFORE you can use the App on your Smartphone.
- Search the App Store for the Campus Parent app and download
- District Name = Grossmont
- Enter your username and password that you have already set up
Parent Portal assistance is available from our staff by calling us at 619-956-0400. There is also a Campus Portal App for SmartPhones. We can assist you with this as well IF you already have your parent account set up with your login and password. If you need technical assistance you can also call our District ETS office Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 4:00PM at (619) 956-4357.
