Westlake High School
Communicator
November 2013
Westlake High School PTSA
Fall is in full swing, and the WHS PTSA would like to thank you for your continued support. PTSA is an
important piece of the school, home, parent and student connection. Compared to this time last year, we
have fewer memberships, so please join if you have not done so already. A membership form was mailed to
every high school parent and can also be found later in this Communicator. It is through your membership in
PTSA and your participation in our fundraisers that we are able to enhance our children’s high school
experience.
Periodic E-Mail Blasts – One of the benefits of PTSA membership are periodic e-mail blasts with important
WHS related information. We are using Constant Contact as the avenue for our communication this year and
we hope that you are enjoying being “connected”.
Student Recognition Program – Now in its fourth year, these awards are given to students exhibiting good
citizenship at WHS and who contribute to making WHS an outstanding environment in which our students
learn and grow. Periodically teachers in specific departments are asked to identify deserving students. Those
students will be given a gift card from a local merchant and will be recognized in the Communicator.
Student Directory – The 2013-2014 Student Directory is in the final stages of production. To keep the costs
manageable, Student Directories will be made available online this year. PTSA members will receive
complementary hard copies at their home address. The directories are a service of PTSA and are a nice way to
connect your family with other Westlake families. Thanks to Student Directory Co-Chairs Lynne Wolf and
Michelle Stalter for heading up this important service.
Staff Grants – Becky Moldaver and Susan Stephanoff are continuing to spear-head this year’s PTSA Staff Grants
program at WHS. The fall application submission deadline was October 31. This is the first round of staff
grants. A committee of PTSA members reviews the applications and make approvals using a formal rubric.
Notification of grant recipients will be by November 21.
Election Day - November 5th – Please don’t forget to vote! Your students are off that day.
Upcoming PTSA Meetings – Our monthly PTSA meetings are another great way to stay connected to WHS and
find out what is going on is by attending. We try to keep them to one hour. Please join us for our next PTSA
meetings on Tuesday, November 19h and January 28 at 7:30p.m. in the WHS Library.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!
Therese Squeri
WHS PTSA President
t.squeri@wowway.com
Athletic Department
Follow Westlake Demon Athletics
In an effort to bring you athletic news more quickly, we have decided to discontinue the weekly
athletic report You can get updates on our twitter account @demonathletics or on our facebook
page Westlake Demon Athletics! We post rescheduled games, practice information, results, etc
. Thanks for your support of Demon Athletics!
-------------------------------------------------------------Fall Sports Banquet Dates
Tuesday, November 12 – Cross Country, Golf & Volleyball
Wednesday, November 13 – Girls Tennis & Soccer
Tuesday, November 19 – Football & Cheerleading
All banquets are scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM at Westlake High School.
-------------------------------------------------------------Winter Sports Photographs
Photographs for the winter sports teams will be taken after school on November 14 & 15 as noted
below:
 November 14 – Swimming, Wrestling and Cheerleading
 November 15 – Gymnastics, and Boys and Girls Basketball
-------------------------------------------------------------Westlake Demons Club Fundraiser
Show your Demon Pride and win a new ride!
Win this 2013 Chevy Spark
In cooperation with Pat O’Brien Chevrolet in Westlake.
Tickets are $20 each. The first prize winner can choose the new car or $10,000. Second and third
prizes are $1,000 and $500 respectively. The winning tickets will be drawn at a boys varsity basketball
game this upcoming season.
Visit www.westlakedemonsclub.com for further rules and information regarding this fundraiser.
Sports Physicals and Required Forms
OHSAA Guidelines prohibit a student from participating on any athletic team without the appropriate
paperwork being up-to-date and on file in the athletic office. All forms need to be current prior to
your child trying out for any athletic team. The forms that are needed are:
 OHSAA Pre-participation Physical Evaluation
 OHSAA Authorization Form
 OHSAA Eligibility and Authorization Statement
 Westlake City School District Athletic Medical Waiver (Please note: Westlake Board of Education
Policies state that insurance is required for all students who participate in secondary (interscholastic)
school athletic programs.)

Westlake City School District Emergency Medical Form
Please begin planning now for winter sports by making sure your child’s forms are current and on file.
Forms can be printed from the Athletic Department webpage.
(The grading period ends Friday, November 8 and all students will be checked
at that time for winter sports eligibility.)
Athletic Eligibility and GPA
Below are the guidelines from both the OHSAA and the Westlake Board of Education, students must
follow to maintain their eligibility. All requirements must be met. (Students enrolled in post secondary
options will need to check with the athletic office for their specific eligibility requirements).
1. Students must be enrolled in and must pass at least 5 one credit courses or the equivalent of 5
one credit courses which count toward graduation each quarter. For example; a one-credit
hour course would show a credit value of .5 on your student’s report card as the value is
calculated per semester. Please note PE 9 and PE 10 hold a value of .25 credit hours and
would not meet this criteria. Five other courses would be required in any semester your
student is taking PE 9 or PE 10 (PE 11 and 12 are .5 credit classes).
2. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 1.50 for the quarter. The quarterly marking period
grade is checked for that quarter at the end of the quarter. A student would remain either
eligible or ineligible until the grades are released for the next grading period. There is not an
interim check of the student’s GPA.
3. Remember-Summer School credit cannot be used to substitute for failing grades from the
preceding grading period of the regular school year.
The Powerschool Parent Portal can be a great tool for those students who are concerned with
meeting the 1.50 GPA requirement. As grades are posted in Powerschool, you can help your student
keep track of their quarterly GPA by using the following scale to calculate an approximate GPA.
Course
Grade
(General
Courses)
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
GPA
Point
Value
4.33
4.0
3.67
3.33
3.0
2.67
2.33
2.0
1.67
1.33
1.0
.67
0.0
Please remember that these are just a few quick highlights of the athletic eligibility standards. For full
eligibility criteria you would need to refer to the OHSAA Rules and Westlake City School District
policies.
-------------------------------------------------------Please
contact the athletic office at 440-835-6354 with questions on any of these items
Founder’s Day 2014
(November 2013 Newsletter Article)
Do You Know Someone Who Deserves to be
Recognized?
Do you know someone within your PTA unit/school who has given outstanding service to children
and youth, either at school or in the community at large who deserves to be recognized?
Do you know someone within the school district who has made a positive impact on the lives of
children, has participated in activities involving children and youth, is dedicated to the PTA
Mission and purposes of the PTA and deserves to be recognized for his/her accomplishments?
Do you know a certified educator within the school district who has been involved with the
educational process of students, has participated in activities involving children and youth, is
dedicated to the PTA Mission and purposes of the PTA and deserves to be recognized for
his/her accomplishments?
If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, then it's time to nominate that deserving
individual for a Founders Day Award. There are three different awards: the Ohio PTA
Achievement Award, the Helping Hands Award, and the Outstanding District Educator Award.
The Nomination Form can be found on the next page, and guidelines for completing the
Nomination Form can be found on the WHS PTSA website at
http://www.wlake.org/parents/whsptsa/Pages/default.aspx. If you have any questions about
the awards or the nomination process, please contact Rita Matzinger, WHS PTSA Founders Day
Chairperson, at grmatzinger@earthlink.net.
Picture retake day
is on Tuesday,
November 12
The Ohio BMV ID-R-Kids program allows parents to obtain
an ID card for their school-age child from grades K-10. It
provides a photo for law enforcement in the event that a
child is reported missing, allows police to get in touch with
parents or guardians in an emergency and permits parents
or guardians to be notified if the child is hospitalized due to
a serious health problem or injury.
A parent or guardian may apply for an Ohio ID card for their
child at any local deputy registrar location. The cost is $8.50.
You must provide proof of name, date of birth, proof of
residency and Social Security number. The Ohio ID cards are
used for identification purposes only.
Visit www.bmv.ohio.gov for more information or call
614.752.7600 for more information.
ATTENTION SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS AND SENIORS!
It is never too early to start thinking about your future! Consider shadowing someone in
a career that appeals to you. Whether you are hoping to go to college, trade school, the
military or the workforce, your shadowing experience may confirm your interest, or you may
end up saying “what was I thinking?” Better to find out now before you waste precious time
and money going down a path that is not right for you. Come to the Attendance Office to pick
up a job shadowing Application today.
ATTENTION PARENTS!
Westlake High Career Development has a great shadowing program and we can only
get better with your help! If you are in a career that you are willing to share with a student,
please email Kate Hoegner at hoegner@wlake.org. Please indicate your name, the company
you work for, your career area and a phone number where you can be reached.
INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN HEALTHCARE?
See what NEONI has to offer. Juniors and seniors can spend a day with healthcare
providers in areas such as nursing, radiology, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy,
occupational therapy and/or laboratory medicine. You must have a solid academic
performance, particularly in math and science. Spots fill up quickly for this popular program.
Come to the Attendance Office and ask for Career Shadowing to learn more about this
program.