WHS Guidance News

August 23, 2024

Hello WHS students!

Please take a moment to read this newsletter as it contains important information about your schedule, schedule changes, and reaching your school counselor.

Your schedules are now available in PowerSchool! To view your schedule - this is different than previous years - you will need to log in to PowerSchool and use your WPS Google account information.

1. Go to the PowerSchool portal on your Chromebook

2. Click the blue "Student Sign In" button at the bottom of the page

3. Input your WPS Google account credentials when prompted

If you have forgotten your login information, please contact Mrs. Tracy (linda.tracy@watertown.k12.ma.us) for assistance.

Schedule adjustments may still be made over the next several days as we ensure that classes are balanced, students are fully scheduled, and graduation requirements are being met. Please follow the schedule you see in PowerSchool on the first day of school.

Remember that your schedule was built based on the courses that you requested in the Spring and we have worked to schedule you for those classes. If there was an unavoidable schedule conflict or a class was at capacity, your school counselor may have added a different class to your schedule to ensure you are fully scheduled and working towards completing graduation requirements. You may ask your counselor whether a change is possible before the first day of school or during the Add/Drop Period (September 12- 20), but changes are not always possible and must adhere to the Add/Drop change guidelines listed below. Remember that schedules changes must be made before the first day of school (by Friday, August 30) or during the Add/Drop period (September 12-20)

Your school counselor will be available August 27, 28, and 29 to respond to your questions. Please email your counselor if you have a question or believe there is an error in your schedule.

Add/Drop Guidelines

Students are expected to choose preferred courses and alternates carefully. Alternatives will be chosen for students if they do not do so themselves during the course selection process. Should a student desire to change a course, the student must request this change prior to the first day of school or during the appropriate Add/Drop period (see below). During the Add/Drop Period, changes to student schedules will be made under the following conditions:

1. Student receives written permission from the teacher, the curriculum coordinator, and the parent/guardian. Students should obtain the appropriate form in Guidance.

2. The courses being exchanged occur during the same scheduled block during the day.

3. The courses being exchanged will not be over/under-enrolled due to the student's departure or arrival in the course.

Add/Drop Period for Semester 1 and Full-Year Courses:

Prior to the first day of school OR between the 8th and 14th day of school (September 12-September 20, 2024)

Add/Drop Period for Semester 2 Courses:

Prior to the first day of 2nd semester OR between the 1st and 5th day of Semester 2

Changes to any course will not be allowed after the Add/Drop Period unless:

- a recommendation for a level change is made by the school

- an error has been made in inputting a student’s course choice

- a change is necessary for a Grade 12 student in order to meet graduation requirements

- an authenticated health or education plan issue necessitates the change

- an approval has been granted at the discretion of the principal

Following the Add/Drop period, students who withdraw from a class within two weeks of the end of the quarter will receive a grade for that course. Students who withdraw more than two weeks before the end of the quarter will receive a W as a grade for that marking period.

A Note from Your School Counselor

Students and families received a welcome back note from their school counselor earlier this week. If you did not receive it, please make sure your email is up to date with the school. Below are links to all of the counselor's back to school notes.

Ms. Eaton (Ms. Lee's previous caseload)