Here is the link to the updated district events calendar. These shouldn't change much but if there are any changes to the district calendar those changes will be reflected on this calendar.
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=westernlocalstudents.com_gj501imhjp6vdibi8ajk5fhp24@group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New_York
Attention Seniors!
Reminder: Any student who plans to participate in College Credit Plus through Shawnee State University for the 2021-22 school year, must apply by the May 1st deadline. This is for students who are currently participating at Shawnee and will be participating for the first time . Shawnee State University requires that all students apply every year.
Reminder: May 21 is our academic awards day for all students grades 8 through 12 and eighth grade graduation at 9:30 AM.
You’re invited!
Please join us in congratulating our new National Junior High Honor Society inductees!
JH Baseball updated 4/20
Fall sports sign-ups have started as of today for jr.high volleyball, high school volleyball, jr. high cross country, high school cross country, jr. high football, high school football, jr. high golf, high school golf, jr. high soccer & high school soccer. Sign-ups are in the high school office.
Any student who plans to participate in college credit plus through Shawnee state university next school year needs to apply online by May 1, 2021.
Reminder: All 3rd-6th grade blended learners are required to report tomorrow, Friday April 16th for English state testing.
Please arrive by 8:15 to the elementary office.
Graduation 2021
In regards to graduation I feel like I need to explain a few things. We have spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how to get the maximum amount of people in our gym while following the governor’s guidelines for graduation. Here are the rules that we are mandated to follow.
• Limit attendance or seating capacity to allow for social distancing, or hold multiple, smaller events in larger spaces. The maximum number of people permitted in an indoor venue with fixed seating is 25% of capacity.
• If seating is limited, ensure family members of student participants are given priority. Hold the event outdoors if possible.
• If held indoors, maximize ventilation by opening doors and windows and through other means. (Indoor facilities are expected to employ filtration of MERV 13 or higher as soon as practicably possible.)
• Choose a location that limits seating and allows for social distancing to keep groups of students and staff at least 3 feet apart and groups of guests at least 6 feet apart.
• Use touchless ticketing/access methods. If not possible, install physical barriers between attendees and door staff.
• Develop a pathway that allows for physical distancing when attendees move from parking, to the door, and to their seats, or from place to place during the event.
• Require attendees to wash or sanitize hands when entering the venue and provide hand-washing and/or sanitizing stations throughout venue. Ensure sanitizer products meet guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Our total seating capacity is 2360. 25% of that is 590. After subtracting the actual graduates and required staff members from that number there are a maximum of 500 total seats left. This equates to 8.3 seats per graduate which obviously must be reduced to 8. The reason that we stated that each graduate gets 6 guests is because we wanted to get a base number. We asked each graduate to list the 6 people who they feel “must” see them graduate. You may ask why we didn’t just start out with 8? Here’s the simple answer – if we said 8 then everyone would’ve brought 8 people even if some of those wouldn’t make the “must see me graduate” list. We want every graduate to get their most “important” people at the graduation but we don’t really want everyone just filling seats because they are available. We are basically taking the same approach we used for athletic events. We gave each athlete a certain number of tickets. We then divided any extra space among the kids so hopefully everyone who really wanted to be there could be. That ensured that it was both fair and practical.
I can assure you that we will not have empty seats at the graduation. After everyone chooses their six we will check to see how many total seats we have left. Some students may not even have six. That will allow us to give more tickets to those graduates who need them. Our expectation is that everyone will get 8 seats but, again, we didn’t want kids just trying to fill seats. Of course, what each graduate does with the original 6 tickets is up to them. We don’t care. Hopefully, after the original 6 tickets are allotted we will have at least two more tickets per graduate. It’s possible that there could even be 3 extra tickets for those who need them. The gym will be filled to maximum capacity allowable by the governor’s mandate. I’ve spoken with the health director and he has approved our plan.
Moving graduation outside isn’t an option because we don’t have a stadium. Schools who do have stadiums are still limiting the number to inside capacity to allow for weather issues. We are using every inch of space that we have. When we are required to follow these guidelines it severely limits capacity. Believe me, I understand the desire to have all of your family there for graduation. I think by now most of you know that we will always do whatever we can to accommodate our graduates. This is the plan that allows the maximum number of attendees to watch graduation yet still follow the guideline of the ODH and ODE. Not following those isn’t an option for us. I have talked with the three other county schools. We are giving at least as many as one other school and more than two of our county schools. Our graduates will receive as many or more tickets than any other graduates in Pike County and probably more than any school in our area. This is the best solution in a very imperfect situation.
Having it outside isn’t an option for us for multiple reasons. The first reason is that we don’t have outside seating. If we use cars like last year the number of attendees will certainly be less than we are offering now. If we have bad weather then we have put ourselves in an avoidable situation. Planning an outside graduation is a nightmare when the weather is a factor. Last year we did it out of necessity. Again, having it outside doesn’t increase the number of graduates. O
Attention seniors and parents of seniors! This information was mailed out to you regarding graduation. Please return the form included in the letter by May 3. This is a very important form that we need back in order to plan graduation. Thank you!
Order your flowers for Mother’s Day today! Call the high school office to order!
Buses may be running a few minutes late on Lapperell this morning due to an accident. Your kids will be picked up just maybe a few minutes late.
Western Local Board of Education meeting in room 101 at 6 PM on 4/12
Due to the rain the high school baseball and softball games for tonight have been postponed and will be played on Thursday evening at home
Reminder: Prom tickets must be bought by May 7. There will be no tickets available after this date. $33 for a couple, $18 for a single.
SOCCER PICTURES ARE TOMORROW, APRIL 10th.
We apologize for the change again, however the weather is showing no rain in the am and there would be a conflict with baseball/softball pictures if we had on the 17th.
Schedule is as follows:
8:30 Hannah Trucking
8:45 Longs Retreat
9:00 Life Change Church
9:15 Mopshop
9:30 Guilkey Trucking.
9:45 Sunfish Valley Whitetails.
10:00 Latham Auto Parts
10:15 Williams Hardware
Packets will be available at the time of pictures. Please arrive 10 minutes before scheduled time.
Just a reminder that Western is currently seeking candidates for sub bus driving, sub custodians, and sub cooks.
Click the link below for information or call me at (740) 493-3113.
https://www.westernlocalschools.com/page/employment-opportunities
Updated 4/8 JH baseball schedule 2021
