WHS Weekly Update

Dear Parents, Guardians, & Students,

On behalf of the faculty and staff of Whitehall High School, we are happy to welcome your child back to school for the 2026-2027 school year. The first day of school is Monday, August 24, 2026, and will begin at 8:00 am. Parent drop-off is at the back of the building on Zephyr Boulevard, not in the front parking lot. Please review the arrival directions on the WHS Website.

Bus information has been posted to the My Ride K-12 app. The Whitehall-Coplay School District Transportation Department is excited to continue our Bus routing App, My Ride K-12. This system will allow you to access your student’s transportation information via a mobile application. Through this application, we will be able to contact you with any last-minute changes to your student’s busing schedule. Click My Ride APP to view the directions for downloading the My Ride K-12 mobile app. Please note: The unique information referenced in the directions is your child’s student ID number. You can access this information through your parent portal. In order to access your student’s transportation information, you will need to download and register in the My Ride K-12 application. We will not be mailing letters home. If you have any questions regarding your student’s transportation information, please do not hesitate to contact the Transportation Office at 610-437-4780.

Whitehall High School students: On the first day of school, all WHS students will report to their homeroom, receive their updated schedule, and prepare for the start of classes. Students should make sure they know their homeroom prior to the start of school.

AM, PM, and Full-Day LCTI students: All LCTI students will report to homeroom on the first day of school. AM LCTI & Full-Day LCTI students will be transported to LCTI after homeroom on the first day of school at 8:45 am. AM, PM, and Full-day LCTI students should review the attached schedule for date information for the 2026-2027 school year.

Prior to the start of the new school year, please update your parent contact information in PowerSchool. This information is critical for communication between you and your child’s teachers. Please use the link to PowerSchool or download the PowerSchool Mobile (My Power Hub) app on your smartphone to access all parts of the PowerSchool suite.

Student schedules will be accessible in PowerSchool on Monday, August 10, 2026. Please have your child contact their school counselor via email to review any scheduling concerns. Class change requests are limited, require a signed form, and will be considered by counseling and administration through the 8th day of school on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. No course changes for year-long and 1st semester courses will be accepted after this date. Juniors and seniors who have study hall 1st/2nd or 7th/8th periods may request permission for early excusal. Students may access the WHS website at this link to download the permission form to submit for review.

There is no specific school supply list for Whitehall High School. Each teacher will review the necessary course information in the first days of school, including the class syllabus, course materials, and grading expectations. All students are expected to bring their charged WCSD Chromebook & charger to school every day. Students may not use personal laptops, iPads, etc. Please review our WCSD rules regarding Student Chromebook Care & Responsibility, including replacement fees for damaged equipment.

Cell phone & headphone usage will be strictly enforced during class periods. Students should be prepared to store and mute cell phones during class periods. Phones may be used in lunch, common areas, and between classes in hallways. Headphones are not permitted to be used unless at the teacher's direction. Photography and video recording are not permitted as per WCSD policy.

Breakfast and lunch will remain free to all students! Snacks and a la carte items will continue to be provided at cost. Students should keep money in their lunch account if they plan to purchase these items.

All students should join their grade-level Google Classroom through their WCSD Google account. Only students may join these Google Classrooms. Parents/guardians should review the weekly email for information on Sundays at 12 pm, which will begin on Sunday, August 16, 2026. Information is posted regularly through the grade-level Google Classroom to reduce emails to students.

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Student attendance each day is critical for student success in high school. Students are expected to be present every day unless they are sick. Students are only permitted 10 excused absences per school year. Any further absence requires a doctor’s note. In addition, any parent excuse notes must be submitted through PowerSchool Safe Arrival. Parent notes will not be accepted by email. Parents should access the PowerSchool Safe Arrival FAQ at this link on the process to submit absences.

With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods:

1. Log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal either on a desktop or via the mobile app. On your desktop, click SchoolMessenger on the left menu bar. In the new screen, select Report Absence to enter the absence. Using your mobile device, open your PowerSchool Mobile (My Power Hub) app. On the bottom right of the main screen, click the Menu button. Select Report Absence to add the absence.

2. Use the SafeArrival website, go.schoolmessenger.com. The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance, then Report an Absence.

3. Call the toll-free number 1-866-953-6193 to report an absence using the automated phone system.

Students and parents should review our updated WCSD Student Handbook on the Whitehall High School website. Students should access the WHS website at this link to review the WCSD Student Handbook. Possession of cigarettes, tobacco/marijuana/THC products, including e-cigarettes or “vape pens,” is not allowed anywhere on WCSD campus. Any student who is suspected of tobacco or drug product use and/or possession is subject to a search by school administration. Possession and/or use will result in a referral to the School Resource Officer and progressive consequences.

Students are encouraged to participate in community service throughout the school day during study halls & excusal periods. All students must complete 12 hours of community service prior to graduation. The Community Service Permission Form is required before starting community service during the school day on campus. Students will review this information during their grade-level assemblies during the first two weeks of the school year. Students should access the WHS website at this link to review community service information.

Students who drive to school may now request a free new parking permit for the Whitehall High School parking lot. Old parking permits from previous years are no longer valid. Students with vehicles parked on campus without parking permits will be subject to disciplinary action. Students should access the WHS website at this link to request a new parking permit through their WCSD Google account.

Sporting events at Whitehall High School have new procedures to support the safety of all spectators. Please review the Sporting Events Bag Policy for Zephyr Stadium and Whitehall High School Gymnasium, posted to our WCSD website

Students may request working papers for employment during the year. Students must be passing their classes. Students may access the WHS website at this link to download the form to submit for review. Students should complete the form and submit it with the necessary documents to the Main Office for review before receiving approval to process the application.

Important 1st Quarter Dates (Check our Sunday Update for Links, which begins Sunday, August 10, 2026 @ 12 pm)

Monday, August 24, 2026 7:45 am Doors Open for Arrival, 8:00 am Homeroom Begins, First Day of School

Friday, September 4, 2026 No School

Monday, September 7, 2026 No School, Labor Day

Thursday, September 10, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, Whitehall High School Meet the Teacher Night

Go Zephyrs!

Dr. Peter J. Mayes, Principal (mayesp@whitehallcoplay.org)