








Class Fundraiser
Academics – GPA ,Class Rank,
and Standardized Tests
Preparing for College and
Career
STAAR Testing
Off Campus Reminders
Attendance and Final
Exemptions
Credit Appeal
Grad Lab
Senior Year Activities
Prizes for highest sales!
Free Prom Tickets!
Money for your Senior
Prom!


October 14th-28th
Order forms and money
will be collected on
Thursday October 29th and
Friday October 30th during
“A” Lunch
Senior Portraits
Deadline extended
October 24th
Senior Quotes
Sheets distributed
Wed., Oct. 20th
Senior
Commemoratives
Clubs
Fine Arts
Sports
Contact: Mr. Malinsky or Ms. Roberts
->Website ->Quick Links ->Yearbook

October 15, 2015
University of Texas Priority Deadline (some scholarships and
Honors)


October 20, 2015
Texas A&M Engineering Priority Deadline


October 28, 2015

Texas College Night (Hosted by University of Houston)
Bus leaves at 3:00 pm and returns at 7:45 pm
Student need to have 2.75 GPA or higher (exceptions see College
Center)
 Sign up on Naviance and pick up a permission slip from College
Center



Snacks & Apps


November 1, 2015


Selected Thursday mornings 8:00-9:20; Sessions have 15
student limit;
Sign up on Naviance.
Early Decision (binding), Restricted Early Action, and Early
Action Deadlines for many schools.
December 1, 2015
Many highly selective and selective school’s deadline.
 Most college scholarship application deadlines (regardless of
the general application deadline)


December 3, 2015

Westside Financial Aid Info Night – 6:30 pm
SAT
www.collegeboard.org
ACT
www.actstudent.org
November 7, 2015
December 12, 2015
December 5, 2015
February 6, 2015
 These tests must be taken before any college deadlines.
 Scores must be sent directly from Collegeboard or ACT
Student website to colleges.
 If you are on Free or Reduced Lunch come by the College
Center to pick up a waiver to register for these exams.
Your transcripts will be sent upon payment (in the college center)
Once Transcripts
have been requested,
you must come to
A205 to pay
$2/transcript. They
will not be sent
without payment.





Westside’s GPA scale is on a 4.0 weighted scale.
Westside’s Rank is weighted and exact (not shared)
Seniors can still pick up their official preliminary
GPA and rank in the college center A205. ID needed
Your GPA and class rank are considerations in
college admission. They matter. You can keep an eye
on yours by logging in to
See your dean or visit the College Center (A205) for
assistance and guidance.
 To request a letter of recommendation start by asking teacher/dean in person
at least 2 weeks prior to the date that you will need the letter.
 Next, send the teacher/dean a request on Naviance.
Start by clicking
on “Colleges” tab
Click on
“Colleges I’m
Applying To”
Click on
“Add/Cancel
Requests”
APPLICATION (including fee or waiver)
1.



2.
3.
4.
www.applytexas.org (for Texas public schools)
www.commonapp.org (Largest common app)
Institutional Specific (college specific app)
ESSAYS (depends on the school)
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT (Naviance/ $2)
TEST SCORES (directly from collegeboard and/or
actstudent)
5.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (not needed
for applytexas)
6.
INTERVIEWS (highly selective schools)



Extra-curricular activities are considered by college
admissions offices.
Students involved in extra-curricular activities are
usually more academically successful.
The college application’s resume section contains:
10 Extra-curricular, clubs and organizations
 8 volunteer work/community service experience
 10 honors, awards and
achievements
 Students who are involved enjoy
their high school experience more
and make more friends!

Is considered in college admissions and potential
employers.
 Indicates that you are an asset to your school and
community.
 It tells people who you
are and that you care about
your community.
 Visit
www.volunteermatch.com






Keep up your grades and maintain good
attendance.
Get involved in your school and your
community.
Consider taking PreAP and AP courses.
Build a positive relationship with your dean
and your teachers.
Research college and career options.
When to Apply:
How:
During summer class orientation in mid-August
Meet eligibility requirements
Download the form from the Westside website (“students” tab) after August 1st
Eligibility:
1.
Fines and Fees (art, athletics, PSAT etc.) have been cleared BEFORE June 30, 2015
2.
No Excessive Absences during 10th grade year/Credit Appeal Students
3.
(eligible after 6 weeks if attendance is excellent and credit appeal hours are complete)
4.
Classified in Chancery as a junior or senior
5.
Passed all classes during Sophomore year
6.
Pay laptop fee 15-16 school year
7.
Pass all portions of STAAR/TAKS (or authorized by Ms. Neal)
AP STUDENTS ONLY





85 semester average
No discipline issues
No more than 3 absences (Excused OR Unexcused)
Must take the AP Exam with FIDELITY
AP performance drives campus rankings and
reputation for academic excellence
Student Impact
 Making up work doesn’t replace being there
 Adverse effect on learning and grades
 Monitor errors on your attendance record!
Westside Impact
 Campus Accountability/Rankings US News & World Report
 Overall student performance academically
 Attendance is directly tied to graduation rates
Financial Impact



95.3% (in 14-15 missed Q1 by .2%)
95.5% (additional $280K in funding=5+ Teachers!)
95.0% (as of today=loss of $420K in funding
14-15
95.3%
missed
Q1 by .2%
15-16
GOAL=95.5%
$280K =5+ Teachers
TODAY
95.0%
$420K loss of funding
Your attendance is CRUCIAL to your success!
Reminders:
 3 Days to bring a note for an Excused Absence
 5 Unexcused Absences in a class will result in Credit
Appeal






See your Dean for more details on starting this process
5 Unexcused Absences = Truancy Warning Notice
10 Unexcused Absences = Truancy Court
IF your home address changes, notify the Attendance
Office
GPA EFFECT! “NG”=No Grade
CREDIT APPEAL PROCESS
FIRST:
Obtain the Credit Appeals Contract and Student
Documentation form from the House Secretary.
SECOND:
Complete authorized service hours and
maintain your own documentation.
LAST:
Attach a copy of the report card and compute
the hours needed to regain credit for the
classes.
Fall:
16 max
Hours Due
DEC 18th
Hours Due
MAY 4TH
(Cycle 3 is due by Cycle 4)
Cycle 6 DUE May 20th
Spring:
20 max
 NO GRADUATION CEREMONY & NO SENIOR WEEK ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT
FULFILLED CREDIT APPEAL HOURS IN ADVANCE
 THEY CAN CROSS IN AUGUST IF THEY COMPLETE HOURS BEFORE THAT TIME. 19TAC, Ch 74
 Students with 15+ for either semester will be required to complete the Study Skills Grad Lab course
to recover credit as part of their credit appeal hours.
 Off Campus Lunch privileges will be discontinued once a student loses credit due to absences.
 Partial/Incomplete submissions will not be accepted!
Mrs. Moser
Room S120
Email: tmoser@houstonisd.org
Grad Lab for Credit Recovery
 An opportunity for juniors and seniors who have
failed a class to recover the lost credit and graduate
on time.
 All work is done through APEX and is mostly online.
 Students may work from home on classes; however,
there is a greater opportunity for successful
completion when scheduled to work in the lab.
 Courses are designed to take 6-9 weeks to complete,
meaning that students are expected to complete at
least two (or more courses) in a semester.
Grad Lab for Acceleration:
Example…




You have recovered the lost credit from a class, and it is too late
in the semester to return to a face-to-face class. You can take
another class that you need to graduate in the Grad Lab.
Caution, however: you must complete it in the required time
frame, and you must pass the class.
Extracurricular commitments allow a student to make more
room in their schedule.
Futures Academy students are currently taking Economics
classes that will not easily fit in into their schedules next year.
There is currently a student who had one class to recover in the
Grad Lab, but has been able to complete both Economics and
Government as well because she completed her required course
before the deadline. She worked on her classes diligently from
home and is now ahead rather than behind.
1.
The Grad Lab is not the easy fix.



self-motivation
self-discipline
Immune to distractions
(i.e. social media/fantasy football/Beyonce’s outfits)
2. Grad Lab is a last resort; accountability is high
 Not for everyone, see above
 Consistent progress, or you will be removed
 Once you’ve been removed, you cannot return
 NCAA Clearinghouse Policy
4. Demonstrate Work Ethic Everyday




Quite possibly more challenging!
Expected to work all of the time
Meet your deadlines.
Independent reading is plentiful
5. Academic Work Tasks
 Digital quizzes/activities



Hard copy essays and exams.
Paper assignments are submitted & graded by a
certified Westside teacher.
Grades reflect accuracy and effort, not simply that you
turned in piece of paper.

Senior Class Coordinator: Ms. Kaitlin Kindred



Email: kkindred@houstonisd.org
Phone: (281) 920-6131
Room N213
THE WHS Senior Class
Countdown calendar is on the
HUB!


MANDATORY for all Seniors
What do dues cover?
Cap & Gown
 Graduation Ceremony
 Diploma
 Diploma Cover
 Panoramic Picture
 Senior Picnic
 Senior T-Shirt


Deadline #1



Deadline #2




Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Amount: $150 ($100 if student receives free or reduced
lunch)
Friday, December 18, 2015
Amount: $175 ($150 if student receives free or reduced
lunch)
As of Tuesday, January 5, 2016, dues will be $200
Must be CASH or MONEY ORDER ONLY

Submit payments to:




Westside Library
Ms. Lockard or Ms. Pinzon
Payment plans available upon request
Seniors who DO NOT pay dues will lose
privileges.

Senior Skate Night
Wednesday November 18,
2015
 Dairy Ashford Roller Rink
 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 Westside Seniors ONLY
 Tickets and T-Shirts will go
on sale Monday November
9th

 During A Lunch
 Commons
 Tickets AND T-Shirts
$10/each

Senior Class Spring Assembly




Wednesday January 13, 2016
Westside Auditorium
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM (During 7th Period)
Activities
 Review Senior Countdown
 Submit graduation cap & gown measurements
 Herff Jones presentation

Graduation Package
Orders




Wednesday January
20th and Friday
January 22nd
During A Lunch
Commons
Questions?


Email:
office@hjgradcenter.com
Phone: (713) 864-6464

Senior Prom
Saturday April 23, 2016
 Houston Museum of Natural
Science
 8:00 PM – 12:30 AM
 Tickets: $65

 On sale Monday April 4, 2016
Prom Contracts will be available
after Spring Break
 Rules

 Contract must be completed and
signed by student and parent
 Senior Dues must be paid IN
FULL

After Prom




Sunday April 24, 2016
Dave & Buster’s (Richmond)
1:00 AM – 5:30 AM
Admission included with price of Prom ticket

Senior Honors Night




Monday May 16, 2016
Westside Auditorium
6:30 – 9:00 P.M.
Honorees will receive invitations

Senior Week Activities (TENTATIVE)

Friday May 20, 2016
 Senior Check-Out

Monday May 23, 2016
 Panoramic Picture

Tuesday May 24, 2016
 Graduation Rehearsal
 Senior Picnic

Graduation (TENTATIVE)
Sunday May 29, 2016
 NRG Stadium




Log on to the HUB
Go to the “Westside Class of
2016” Course Page
Vote on the following items:



Westside Class of 2016 T-Shirt
Prom Theme
Senior Superlatives