THE FRIDAY FORECAST

Happy New Year! Wishing all of you a healthy and wonderful 2026. I hope your winter break was restful and that our students are returning for second semester refreshed, motivated, and ready to excel. We are excited to welcome everyone back to campus.

As we head into second semester, many important events will be coming up quickly, including student pre-registration, CAASPP, AP and IB testing, senior events, athletic competitions, and performing arts performances. I encourage you to make reading the Friday Forecast part of your routine so you don’t miss any important updates.

Finally, to the Class of 2026, we are excited to begin our senior celebrations. A section below has been included with information specifically for seniors, so please be sure to review it carefully. Information regarding graduation tickets and the senior panorama picture has already been posted.

Welcome back, Mustangs! We are looking forward to a fabulous second semester.

My best,
Mrs. Jamie G. Norell

Principal

Walnut High School

MONDAY - January 5

• *Periods 1-6 Regular Schedule - 8:30 am- 3:25pm
• Spirit Week - Monday - Where are my Pants (wear pajamas pants)

TUESDAY - January 6

• *Periods 3-4 & 5-6 Tutorial Schedule - 8:30 am - 3:25 pm
• Spirit Week - Tuesday - Time Travel - Decades Day

WEDNESDAY - January 7

• *Periods 1-4 Collaboration Schedule - 8:30 am-2:40 pm
• Spirit Week - Wednesday - Wild style (dress emo/wear black)

THURSDAY - January 8

• *Periods 1-2 & 5-6 Tutorial Schedule - 8:30 am- 3:25 pm
• Spirit Week - Thursday - Save the World (dress as a superhero)

FRIDAY - January 9

• *Periods 1-6 Pep Rally Schedule - 8:30 am- 3:25pm
• Winter Pep Rally
• Spirit Week - Friday -Everything is Awesome - Wear your Class Color
  
  

Please mark your calendars for these January events:

• January 5-9: Spirit Week
• January 9: Winter Sports Rally
• January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday
• January 24: Winter Formal Dance
• January 29: WHS Open House Showcase Night
• January 30: Minimum Day

Ongoing:

• Tutoring every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday after school in E11.
• College and Career Center during Tutorial on Tuesdays and Thursdays for College Application Help

Congratulations to our Dance Team in their first competition. They were the top three finishers in all seven divisions. They received a best technique award, and a 2nd place overall for grand Champions. We can’t wait to see the successes they accomplish the rest of the season.

Thank you to Mr. Panillio and the WHS Key Club for collecting over 7,000 cans. The Kiwanis organization distributed these cans on Saturday, December 20th to local families in need. We are grateful for a community who gives so generously.

Congratulations to our WHS Students who were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society in December.

Thank you to the Confucius Chinese School for your generous donation to WHS.

A special thank you to the Walnut High Community Club for serving hot chocolate to our students as they left for winter break. A sweet treat indeed.

Get ready to kick off the new year with Winter Rally Spirit Week! All week long, we’re repping our Mustang pride with fun themed dress-up days, loud school spirit, and hype leading into our Winter Rally on Friday. Mark your calendars, dress up, and show out!

It’s time to do something good, something easy, and honestly… something we ALL need to do anyway! Bring in your gently used shoes — sneakers, slides, dress shoes, anything in good condition — and help us fill the box!

📆 NTHS is collecting shoes from November 19th through January 19th, but don’t wait! The sooner you donate, the faster we can hit our goal, of 2,500 pairs of shoes! 🔥

✨ Empower communities around the world

🌍 Support sustainability — shoes take 30 to 40 YEARS to decompose

🧹 Declutter your closet (yes, those old shoes you never wear anymore… bring ‘em!)

💙 And most importantly… GIVE BACK and make a real impact

Look for the big donation box near B13 & the College and Career Center — you can’t miss it. Let’s show some LOVE and turn those old shoes into something amazing!

Please join us for an eventful Winter Formal at The Catwalk, LA on Saturday, January 24th.

Pre-sale tickets will be available beginning Monday, December 15th at the ASB office. This is your chance to purchase tickets at the lowest price, so don’t miss out! We hope to see you there for a memorable night!

Open House is the ideal time to see all that Walnut High School offers: Academics, Athletics, Activities, Arts, Clubs, Student Performances, and much more! Meet with current students and faculty and discover what makes Walnut High School such a special place!

Make sure you save the date for January 29 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm, and please share with prospective families.

More details to come!

Join us after school in Mr. Smits’ room (E11) on August 18th!

When:
📅 Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
🕒 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Who:
Our amazing student tutors will be available to:

• Help you study for tests

• Assist with homework problems

• Answer your academic questions

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity for extra support!

Senior Panorama photos will take place during Tutorial on Thursday, January 15th in the Main Gym. Please arrive on time and be ready to take your class photo!

You can purchase an additional 5 tickets now through January 30th!

Please remember that all students automatically receive 4 complimentary tickets, which will be distributed in May during graduation rehearsals.

Check out the latest events and schedule happening in the Career Center! From workshops to college visits and job opportunities, there’s something for everyone.

For the most up-to-date details, be sure to visit their website for the latest and greatest: LINK HERE

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Career Center or stop by!

Review the information below to learn what CaliforniaColleges.edu is all about and how it can help you plan your future. From exploring careers to tracking college applications, it’s a one-stop shop for your college and career journey!

If you need a transcript, you can see it on your Student Portal or go to our website at www.walnuths.net and click under the students tab. Make an account on Parchment and view it free or have one sent. If you need it in another format, please contact our front office for help!

This program awards up to four $1,000 scholarships for graduating seniors!

Check out this amazing opportunity.

Walnut Library is pleased to announce the 4th Annual Winter Reading Club. All students are welcomed to register online and read 400 minutes to win a prize.

We are fortunate to have the Walnut Community Club, who supports many of the educational and culture programs at WHS. If you didn't get a chance to contribute during registration, please consider contributing to this organization which does so much for our school and community.

Want to make your child’s special day even more memorable? Celebrate your student’s birthday with a Happy Birthday message on the WHS Marquee! We’ll proudly display your student’s First and Last Name, along with their birthday, on the marquee for all to see and celebrate!

📅 Important:

To ensure your message is displayed on time, please submit your request by the 25th of the month prior to your child's birthday month.
For example, the birthday is Jan 10th, the request is to be submitted no later than December 25th.

Let’s celebrate our Mustangs in style!

Dedicate a full, half or quarter page to your graduating senior or senior friend group in the yearbook.

Please note: Space is limited. Senior dedications are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and may sell out before the final deadline. Your dedication must be complete and print-ready when you make payment. You cannot reserve or hold a spot. You may work on the dedication and

save your work to complete later, but that does not guarantee your spot.

This year there is tiered pricing so please be sure to check prices and dates on the flyer.

Create a lasting memory for your special Class of 2026 graduate. Order at yearbookordercenter.com. School code: 2864

Don’t miss out—get yours today!

Please remember that attendance counts—every period, every day. Students must be present at the beginning of each period to be marked present.

📌 Single-period absences must be reconciled through the Attendance Office by the student.
If marked absent, a notification will be sent to both the student and parent/guardian with the date and period of the absence.
To correct individual period attendance, the student must contact the Attendance Office directly.

📌 Full-day absences require a parent/guardian to call the Attendance Office by the end of the school day.

⏰ Student Release Cutoff Time:
Students may not be released from school within 30 minutes of the end of the school day.

• 2:55 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

• 2:10 PM on Wednesdays

📞 Attendance Reporting Hotline:

• 11th & 12th Grades: (909) 444-3625

• 9th & 10th Grades: (909) 444-3642

Thank you for helping us ensure accurate attendance and student accountability.

Need to know when the bell rings? Here’s your go to schedule to keep your day running smoothly. Stay organized, stay on time, and let’s have a great day, Mustangs!

Do you park in the WHS Student Parking Lot? Starting next week, Security will be placing Warning Signs on any car that does NOT have a valid WHS Parking Permit displayed. Make sure your permit is clearly visible on your car.

How to avoid a warning:

• Complete all Info on Student Parking Form HERE (Upload California Driver's License, Upload evidence of vehicle insurance coverage with student listed as insured driver)
• Display your permit properly on your vehicle.
• Park only in designated student spaces.

Starting Monday, August 11, those without a 1st, 5th, or 6th period must see their GLC to receive an off-campus sticker. Students will not be allowed to leave campus without this sticker and valid student ID as proof of a free period. Please review the flyer for full details.

Due to numerous problems and safety concerns, we want to remind everyone that student lunches are not allowed to be delivered anywhere on campus. Food, drinks, or other items must not be passed to students through the fence. This is strictly prohibited.

Additionally, outside food delivery services such as Uber Eats and DoorDash are not permitted. Any food deliveries dropped off on campus will be confiscated.

We understand the importance of student nutrition and encourage students to either take advantage of the free lunch provided at school or bring their lunch from home.

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring a safe and secure environment for all students.

To assure student safety coming to and from school please take a moment to review these important reminders. Plan adequate time to ensure safe decisions and please be patient during drop off and pick up.

Website: walnuths.net
Location: 400 Pierre Road, Walnut, CA, USA
Phone: 909-594-1333
Facebook: facebook.com/WalnutHighSchool
Twitter: @walnut_mustangs