Newsletter Date:

January 2023

Greetings, Warrior Families -

Welcome to 2023!

Mother Nature certainly has tested our midwestern stamina as we enter into 2023. These wicked weather events are a good reminder of the importance of preparation. Please encourage your student to take the extra time to warm up the car and have winter weather gear at the ready (hat, gloves, boots, etc.) Planning ahead will also allow for plenty of time to arrive at school for 1st period. Regular start time is 8:15 a.m. every day. Students with open lunch should plan to be back on time for 5th period, which starts at 12:30 p.m. each day. In the event that school schedules are altered, the district utilizes a variety of communication (phone calls, texts, emails, news outlets, and social media). Please be vigilant in watching for those notifications.

Academically, as we return to school, we are prepping for semester tests. We will have special schedules for January 11 and 12 due to semester tests.

Day 1 (Wed., January 11):

• Period 1: 8:15 – 9:55
  

• Period 5: 10:00 - 11:30
  

• Lunch (in 6th prd classroom): 11:35 - 12:05 Chicken Patty, Carrots, Fruit Cup, Milk
  (students may choose to bring a sack lunch from home if they do not want school lunch)

• Period 6: 12:05 - 1:35

• Students need to be picked up at 1:35

• *make up/recovery: 1:40-3:10

*make-up recovery opportunities will be determined by teachers

Day 2 (Thurs., January 12):

• Period 2: 8:15 - 9:55
  

• Period 3: 10:00 - 11:30
  

• Lunch (in 7th prd classroom): 11:35 - 12:05 Cheesy Bread, Dragon Juice, Sliced Apples, Milk (students may choose to bring a sack lunch from home if they do not want school lunch)

• Period 7: 12:05 - 1:35

• Students need to be picked up at 1:35

• *make up/recovery: 1:40-3:10

*make-up recovery opportunities will be determined by teachers

Please encourage your student to prepare for semester tests by reviewing prior materials (assignments, quizzes, tests, etc. as available), getting adequate sleep, and fueling their bodies and brains with nutritious meals. Please have conversations with them about time management and realistic study habits in the days leading up to the tests. You can also talk about how your student positively manages the stress that comes with final exams.

There will be no school for students on Friday, January 13th as it is a work day for teachers to finalize semester grades. There will also be no school for students or staff on Monday, January 16. The second semester will start on Tuesday, January 17th. Students will need to check Infinite Campus for their 2nd semester schedules as we will NOT be printing schedules for students in an effort to conserve paper. First period will start at the regular time of 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, January 17.

January is also the month where we begin the registration process for the 2023-24 school year. Counselors will be meeting with classes to go over course offerings, graduation requirements, credit status, etc. Registration is all done online. Please have conversations with your students about the course work he/she needs to be taking for the upcoming school year. Students need a minimum of 22 credits in order to earn a high school diploma. Students will receive information when they meet with counselors at the end of the month. Additional information regarding the registration process can be found on the WHS Counseling website.

As always, if you have questions or concerns related to the end of the semester or the start of next semester, please feel free to reach out to the school - whether it is your student’s counselor or an administrator. Our number is (605) 367-7970.

Stay warm and Go, Warriors!
WHS Administration: Kari Papke, Preston Kooima, Heidi Jorgenson, Nate Malchow

The Sioux Falls School District remains committed to helping you and your student(s) feel connected to your current and all future schools. As part of this commitment, the four high schools have recently started sending out a monthly Futures newsletter to families K-12. This informative e-newsletter will keep you up to date on your future home attendance high school's upcoming athletics and fine arts events, camps, K-8 student opportunities, and ways to get involved. Whether you are a future Cavalier, Patriot, Rough Rider, or Warrior, we want you to feel part of the family now!

Example of what the Futures newsletter looks like depending on your home attendance school:

January 11th & 12th: Semester Tests - Testing Schedule

January 12th: End of 1st semester

January 13th - 16th: NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day & Martin Luther King Jr Day Observance

February 6th: NO SCHOOL - Teacher In-service

February 20th & 21st: NO SCHOOL - Presidents Day Break

February 23rd: Jostens - Sophomore Class 10:00 am - 10:20 am

We will not be printing 2nd semester schedules. You will need to log in to Infinite Campus so make sure you know your login and are able to get in. Please email or see Angela Wendt in counseling if you need assistance.

Parents when using the parent portal to put in absences, it is required for your student to still check into Student Services when they are coming in late. If your student is leaving for the day, it is required for your student to pick up a yellow pass.

The Dakota Dreams Online Tutoring Program is now offering free online tutoring to K-12 students who need help with homework. The virtual one-on-one tutoring sessions are delivered through a secure online platform. Parents will need to register their student to use the platform. Once registered, sessions can either be pre-scheduled or on-demand, depending on tutor availability. This opportunity is provided by the SD Board of Regents with federal funds available to the SD Department of Education through the American Rescue Plan.

Junior and senior students with a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher (not rounded) at the end of the first semester should be receiving an invitation to apply for the WHS Chapter of National Honor Society at the end of January/beginning of February. Please contact Mrs. Britt Samson with any questions.

Applications are open for Juniors interested in joining the Avera Academy next year. Avera Academy is a dual credit program in partnership with Avear and Southeast Tech. Selected students will take half of their classes in the medical field at STC and have first hand experiences in the healthcare field. Applications are available in the counseling office, as well as on the WHS counseling website. Applications are due by Friday, January 6th.

Seniors, your NCRC test results have arrived. To receive a copy of your scores and certificate, please stop in the counseling office.

New Counselor Alpha Assignment for 2022-23 School Year

Nicole Thompson = A through COL

Jennifer Witt = COM through G

Shelli Wiese = H through LA

Tammy Nold = LE through OL

DeAndra McCarthy = OM through SO

Travis Sieber = SP through Z

Follow Us!

Facebook = facebook.com/washingtoncounseling

Instagram = whs_counseling

The Oral Interp team earned six state superiors, including one superior with distinction for a perfect score in the event. The following students earned these high honors:

Jack Hinrichs - superiors in both Non-Original Oratory and Reader's Theatre

Ariana Edwards - superiors in 3 events - Drama, Duo, and Reader's Theatre

Reagan McKay - superior in duo

Jenisha Gurung - superiors in poetry and Reader's Theatre

Noah Sorgdrager - superior in Reader's Theatre

Siyanne Redda - superior in Reader's Theatre

Meara McIntyre - superior in Reader's Theatre, superior with distinction in Storytelling

As a result of the number of superiors from the WHS team, we have earned our ninth consecutive Team Excellence Award!!

Happy New Year! Auditions for upper bands at WHS are underway. If your student is planning to participate in Freshman or Varsity Band next year, no audition is required. Just sign up! If him/her/they would like to audition for our Concert Band or Symphonic Band, please make sure they are practicing the music. Auditions can be done in person with Mrs. Coyne or recorded at home and/or by a lesson teacher and emailed to Mrs. Coyne. The best way is to upload the recording to a Google folder and then share it to Kiley.Coyne@k12.sd.us.

All auditions are due by February 24, 2023. When registering for 2023-2024 classes, please just have students register for the band they are in currently and we can update after auditions.

The girls had a great summer. They worked extremely hard and got a lot better. We are so excited to start the season!!! We’d love to see you at a game. Contact our coaches with any question you may have jamie.parish@k12.sd.us Follow us here:

Website: https://sites.google.com/k12.sd.us/whsgirlshoop/game-schedule

Twitter: @whsgirlshoop

Facebook: WHS Girls Hoops

Instagram: whsgirlshoops

Warrior Boys Basketball is excited to start their season. After a great summer and fall of getting in the gym, we are excited to step on the court for our first game December 9th against Lincoln. We would love to see you at a game this season to support our Warriors! Always feel free to reach out to our coaches: jeff.tobin@k12.sd.us

Go Follow us on…

Facebook - Washington Boys Basketball

Twitter - @WHSBoysBask

Instagram - whsboyshoops

Come join SALSA (Serve And Learn Student Association) as a great way to connect with opportunities to serve your community! SALSA connects high school students to engage them in volunteerism, giving them the opportunity to meet new friends, explore careers, gain leadership experience, earn volunteer hours for scholarship applications, and make a difference in their community. If you missed any meetings, you can come to the next meeting to help support Sanford and learn more about our next large group volunteer outing, serving at the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House otherwise known as a SALSA Wide Event, and other great individual opportunities!

Let’s start the new year off with an amazing deal! The Warrior Zone’s January “Deal of the Month” is the BOGO sale. Buy any one item at the regular low price and get any second item of equal or lesser value 50% off. This deal unfortunately excludes all food and drink items. You can view all of The Warrior Zone’s products at www.whswarriorzone.weebly.com

Join the WHS Booster Club!! Find out how by visiting their website:

whsboosterclub.com

Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/washington/home
Location: 501 N. Sycamore Sioux Falls SD, 57110
Phone: (605) 367-7970