IHS Family Newsletter

• Principal's Message
• Opening Letter
• Attendance Matters!
• Counselor Updates
• Freshmen Orientation
• Homecoming T Shirts- PRESALE ONLY Store Closes
• Senior Portrait Due Date
• Physicals/Immunizations
• Arrival/Dismissal
• Lockers
• School Supply Lists
• IHS Parent Portal Directions for Infinite Campus
• Safe School Helpline
• Code of Conduct
• Athletics
• Events

I hope this message finds you well and rejuvenated from summer events, trips and gatherings. As we eagerly approach the upcoming school year, we extend a warm welcome and are excited to share the opportunities for achievement, extra-curricular activities and memorable experiences. We encourage open communication and active engagement as we work together to support your child's success. Please feel free to reach out to our administrators and school counselors with questions prior to the start of the school year. We are here to support you and your student(s)!

The attached welcome back letter below indicates that most of our communication will be sent via email. We also mailed home a copy of the letter. If you received this communication, you do not need to do anything more than look for monthly communication from my office. We are excited to work with you this year!

Daily attendance and attendance to every class is important for students to remain connected and to learn. High school students are gaining more independence but they still need guidance from their guardians. Please talk about the importance of showing up to school and attending classes every day and the connection that timely attendance has when they have a job or career. We understand that students may be sick and will need to stay home to rest. With any absence, please be sure to contact our Attendance Office to indicate the reason for the absence. This helps us partner with you to support your child when they return. Below is a link that shares what you can do to help your child prioritize attendance to school.

Our school counselors have been diligently preparing schedules and supports for students. In preparation for this school year, counselors met with students individually during the course selection process to select classes. All counselors are back the week of August 24, 2026. Students were asked about courses and electives that interested them the most; those courses will be reflected in the schedules. As a reminder, when requesting changes to a schedule, we cannot always accommodate a request due to class sizes and Master Schedule constraints. We cannot honor requests for specific teachers, lunch periods, or to be with specific peers.

COURSE CHANGES/ADD-DROP PROCEDURES: School counselors have an individual course registration meeting with students every year. These thoughtful conversations, involving multiple stakeholder’s input, lead to schedules being created. As a result, schedule changes after the school year begins may be limited.

To Add A Course: An add, of any course, must occur within the first two weeks of the course (a signature from the teacher of the class being added may be required).

To Drop A Course: No course drops will be allowed until a student has attended the class for four school days. After this, schedule changes may be allowed. Signatures of approval are required by the teacher, parent and counselor. If dropping a class, students must still maintain the required minimum course load (5.5 credits). No course drops will be allowed after the first quarter grade of a class has been posted to a report card. Level changes in the same course (for example, Advanced to Regents level) follow the same guidance as dropping a course. Please note, course changes will not be made for reason of teacher selection.

• Schedules are subject to change leading up to the school year, so please continue to review your schedule in Infinite Campus prior to the start of the year.

Please read the summer counseling newsletter for important information.

We are looking forward to meeting our rising Freshmen at Orientation on August 26th. All students should report to IHS by 7:45 am and enter through the front doors. Students will celebrate together in the gym as well as time to walk their schedule and try their locker combination.

Parents are welcome for a half hour presentation from the IHS Counselors and Freshman Assistant Principal between 9:30am-10:00am. If you are unable to attend, we will also post a recorded slide deck on the IHS webpage under the parent tab.

IHS Homecoming Week (Sept. 14-19) includes many time honored traditions such as the Super Quiz, Hallway Decorating, Pep Rally with parade floats and a culmination of athletic events. Students are encouraged to celebrate their class by wearing class T shirts, participating in daily theme focused spirit gear and cheering on their classmates.

T-shirts for each class can be ordered through the links in the attachment below. Please consider purchasing before stores close on August 16th!

If you have questions, please reach out to the class advisor who can assist you:

• Class of 2027 (Ms. Parent)
• Class of 2028 (Ms. McGwin and Ms. Beardsley )
• Class of 2029 (Ms. Grady/ Ms. Cook)
• Class of 2030 (Mr. Olix)

We are bringing back a HOCO on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Ticket sales are dependent on the previous year's quarter 4 grades; a student must be passing all or all but 1 class and have zero suspensions. Attendance during the first 2 weeks of school will also be used for ticket eligibility. Sales are limited and will be conducted during all 3 lunch periods beginning on Wednesday, September 16th.

Please review the due dates to ensure that your preferred senior pictures are included in our Yearbook!

All 9th & 11th graders are required to have a NYS physical form on file at school. Students must have a current physical for the year to attend our schools.

SENIORS must have received a dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine at 16 years or older. For students who received their first does younger than 16 years old, a second dose is needed to begin 12th grade. It is imperative that you check with your child's pediatrician regarding this vaccine. Please be sure to forward your child's completed immunization to the school health office.

The fax number to the IHS Nurse's Office is 585-336-8294.

When you drop your child off, please only do so near the front loop between IHS and Dake; there will be signs clearly indicating the zone. We want to make arrival and dismissal easier for you and to ensure that your child is greeted with a warm welcome.

All students will be assigned a locker to store their internet enabled devices throughout the day. Please encourage them to look at IC for their locker number and combination. We will have staff available to support students who need help the first few weeks.

“Internet-enabled devices” means any personal smartphone, smartwatch, tablet or other bluetooth device capable of connecting to the Internet. Under the new policy, all students must store personal internet-enabled devices in their lockers during the school day (7:55am-2:55pm). Ideally, the device would be in airplane mode or off.

Remain informed and access information through the use of our Parent Tab on our IHS Homepage (click on this link to access). You will find information regarding newsletters, calendars, time schedule, health information, IHS Clubs, Yearbook information and more.

You can view your student's attendance, in progress grades, assignments and more using the Parent Portal through Infinite Campus. Click here.

If you see something, say something!

Please encourage students to report any concerns to an adult at school in addition to sharing with you. If your child wishes to remain anonymous but should report a concern, encourage them to complete the Safe School Helpline form using the link below or through the app. Reporting with as many factual details as possible will help our administrators follow up with individuals in a timely manner. Thank you for continuing to support a positive school climate.

Our bell schedule is the same for Dake and IHS students.

August 26- Freshmen Orientation at IHS

• Student arrive at 7:45am
• Parent meeting from 9:30-10:00

Gold Key Letters will arrive to your home soon. If your child earned a Gold Key, they should plan to paint their parking space on one of these dates:

• August 27- Senior Parking Spot Painting 11am-3pm
• August 28- Senior Parking Spot Painting 9am-1pm

September 16- 17- School Pictures

September 14-18th HOMECOMING WEEK

Be well,

Alecia

Address: 260 Cooper Road

Website: https://ihs.westirondequoit.org/

Principal: Alecia Zipp-McLaughlin | alecia_mclaughlin@westiron.monroe.edu

• Assistant Principal: Mark Foster | mark_foster@westiron.monroe.edu
• Assistant Principal: Sonja Griffin | sonja_griffin@westiron.monroe.edu
• Assistant Principal: Casey Nelan | casey_nelan@westiron.monroe.edu

PHONES

• Mr. Foster: 585- 336- 2913
• Ms. Nelan: 585- 336- 2917
• Ms. Griffin: 585- 336-0759
• Main office: 585- 266-7351

Secretary: 585-336-2911 | Kim Schrank | kim_schrank@westiron.monroe.edu

Health Office: 585-336-2938

• Nurse: Kathryn Zehnder
• LPN: Jane Mousso

Counseling Center: 336-2921

Attendance Office: 336-2919

Technology Support: https://wicsd.tech/

Transportation: 585-336-2992

District Office: 585-342-5500 | District website: westirondequoit.org

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE IHS EVENTS CALENDAR