Principal

Greetings once again! I'm thrilled to share that the school year is off to an incredible start! Our students are working hard, and we're fully engaged in the hustle and bustle of fall activities and athletics. So far, it's shaping up to be an exciting and dynamic year!

I'd like to draw your attention to an important upcoming event: Student-Led Conferences. These will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, October 14 and 15. The specific conference times are as follows:

• Wednesday, October 14, 4:00 – 8:00 PM
• Thursday, October 15, 7:30 – 11:00 AM
• Thursday, October 15, 12:00 - 3:00 PM
• Thursday, October 15, 4:00 – 8:00 PM

As parents, one of the most impactful things you can do to support your child's success is to establish regular, open communication with their teachers. It's equally important to stay informed about the courses and programs your student enjoys, as well as how their high school experiences connect to future goals. Student-Led Conferences provide a fantastic opportunity for these conversations, with the support of your student's Advisory Teacher.

At these conferences, Freshmen will share insights from a personal strengths survey and set goals for their high school journey. Sophomores will reflect on various surveys they've taken, such as the Strengths Explorer and Career Cluster Finder, and align these with their future aspirations. These assessments in Naviance offer valuable information on students' personalities, interests, and potential career paths. Juniors will discuss future plans and the goals they've set, while Seniors will reflect on their Career Interest Profiler and how it relates to their post-secondary plans, charting out the next steps toward achieving their goals.

We'll be utilizing the myconferencetime.com platform for scheduling both student-led and regular class conferences. Students will sign up for their Student-Led Conference during Advisory, after which you'll have the opportunity to schedule meetings with your student's other teachers. These 15-minute appointments can be either virtual or in-person, based on your preference. Our Counseling and Administrative teams will also be available through the platform, and we encourage you to schedule time with us if needed.

As we near the end of the first 9-week period, we recognize that some students may be facing challenges. Our Tuesday/Thursday After School Tutoring Labs have started, offering a great chance for students to spend extra time on campus to catch up. If your child is referred, we appreciate your support in encouraging their participation to ensure their success. Our goal remains to help every student reach their fullest potential. We're eager to hear how your student is progressing and look forward to seeing you during conferences.

Finally, we are looking forward to celebrating Homecoming at Washburn Rural High School! Our Student Council has been hard at work planning activities to make this a fun and memorable time for our students and staff. Homecoming festivities will culminate on Friday, October 2, with our traditional parade, tailgate activities, football game, and the crowning of our Homecoming King and Queen. We look forward to welcoming families and community members as we celebrate together and showcase the many clubs, organizations, activities, and traditions that make Washburn Rural such a special place. The celebration will continue with our Homecoming dance on Saturday, October 3. We hope our students enjoy a safe, spirited, and memorable Homecoming weekend!