Dr. Irvin's Weekly eNews

Hello WGHS Families, The below quote is from a book centered on pre-school age children but it still rings true for adolescents: “The children we know who are confident and feel socially and intellectually competent are the children whose parents support them by: loving them unconditionally…setting limits and expectations for behavior…teaching respect for others, the difference between right and wrong and the importance of taking responsibility for actions…being a good role model…and having fun, maintaining a sense of humor, and knowing that there’s no such thing as the perfect parent.” --Nancy Schulman and Ellen Birnbaum, Practical Wisdom for Parents I am sharing this quote as a directional point for myself and the collective community as we all navigate the challenges of parenting adolescents. I know I am challenged to be high on both the nurturing and challenging axis, looking to balance those aspects that are at times in tension with each other. I take refuge in the ability to find humor in my fallibility, as does the rest of my family. As educators, we also are challenged to balance student support and accountability; what aspects of the learning process should teachers carry and what parts should students fully answer for. I am hopeful that our staff and families enter into the fray with earnest interest in serving the long-term goal of independence and how to best support that outcome. I hope we all seek and find the best answer for your child here at Webster Groves High School as we look to push, challenge, and grow young people in a caring, educational

Hello WGHS Families, We are so grateful for our Parents' Club initiative to "Show the Love" fundraiser. We have teaching candidates that have taught mini-lessons in classes who noted our students' kindness and generosity. While the larger setting presents many challenges, our community's support has been a salve to our staff. I encourage you to share your positive observations and comments formally in our Parents' Club fundraiser or less formally as you find most accessible. We are very grateful for all the support.

Hello WGHS Families, Public schools are an engine of possibility for children and progress for communities. I am proud to be working with the students and communities in the Webster Groves School District and to have a role in demonstrating our progress. I am sharing some from last week and beyond.

Hello WGHS Families, I had the good fortune to attend our girls swimming senior recognition night earlier this week as I attempt to do with all teams. As always, saying a preliminary goodbye to our seniors solicits emotions from parents, teammates, and coaches (and one former coach!). These initial programs remind us that the time that we have is finite with each other.

Hello WGHS Families, Disruption has always been a part of the human experience, and we have seen much in the last few years. In schools alone, COVID, ChatGPT, and the churn of personnel across the economy has loomed large for us. Unexpected weather days are in their own category! While much is out of our direct control, we can engage in those circumstances to find a most workable solution forward.

Hello WGHS Families, As we embark on the start of the second semester, we are in tension recognizing the limited time with our current seniors and course requests around next year’s freshmen, the class of 2028. A blend of experiences and aspirations for what has and will occur.

Hello WGHS Families, We have passed a milestone in the year--second semester has begun. Whether you have a freshman with greater confidence as they enter a more familiar space or a senior that is running on fumes (or all points in between), we hope they enter each day with hope and belief: Hope and belief that they are gaining clarity in who they are and are becoming, hope and belief that they will be people of impact in the world around them, and hope and belief that Webster Groves High school is a place that moves them forward. My time around our students certainly instills more hope and belief in me that their work as scholars, artisans, and citizens will be for the betterment of our collective future. We are excited for what lies ahead in the second semester.

Hello WGHS Families, In another busy week, we had students and staff preparing for finals...

Hello WGHS Families, We have plenty of information below on finals, but I wanted to share another aspect. As parents of children taking finals, we can provide some counsel to coach them along in the process that they should own. I am sharing some items as both a parent and an educator that gives effort in both, not always to the result I sought:

Hello WGHS Families, After wrapping up fall activities, we jumped into the first week of some of our winter sports this week. Next week is host to several musical concerts--we hope you have an opportunity to enjoy the musical talents of our students and the culmination of their hard work and preparation. We are also hosting our first Curriculum and Preview Night on December 5, a culmination of curriculum/course selection information for incoming and current students, preview information for our incoming and prospective students, and a grand showcase of student activities. We hope to see you there.

Hello WGHS Families, We are ramping up instead of ramping down for our upcoming holiday. This week, we'll undoubtedly see an outstanding production of Rumors by Neil Simon put on by our students and staff. Our students will be enjoying the traditional Turkey Day activities next week. This is an unequaled tradition that we are fortunate to have at Webster Groves High School. We are getting even closer with ticket sales, door decorations, and game prep underway. I am excited to see the renewed process and pageantry for one of the truly unique defining experiences for our school and community. While the pep rally, ChiliFest, and game are eagerly anticipated, I may be the best prepared for Tacky Day (plenty of red and white attire to be found). We invite all to join us on Wednesday night for ChiliFest, followed by our community pep rally at Roberts Gym at 7pm, and then again for the game at KHS at noon on Thanksgiving. Have a great holiday.

Hello WGHS Families, I have recently connected with a book called Deeper Learning, written by researchers Jal Mehta and Sarah Fine, in which they conducted observations and interviews of students and staff over six years from purportedly successful innovative high schools that were suggested as “leaders” in preparing students for the demands of twenty-first century life. Sadly, they noted most students experienced lack of engagement, and “bored, disengaged compliance” during their day. However, in these recommended model schools, pockets of vibrant learning settings and a “hidden curriculum” in extra-curricular and electives that allowed students to do deep learning and rise above the norm with intellectually dynamic experiences. Mehta and Fine observed “…we stumbled into spaces that initially lay outside of our study—art classes, debate club meetings, newspaper, Model UN, athletic practices—these same students looked and sounded totally different. In these spaces, they were actively engaged and eagerly assuming roles as leaders.” Yesterday we celebrated multiple student-athletes who signed their letter of intent and will open Neil Simon’s Rumors on stage later this month. We know we are only sharing a chapter in their growth and development as scholars and performers in their realm. My belief is that these students have had exposure to an alchemy that will serve them well--we are as optimistic as we are proud.

Hello WGHS Families, This weekend marks another round of Daylight Savings, and November is a busy time at WGHS. Recently, members of our administrative team clandestinely conspired to dress as “versions of Matt” for Halloween. While I am not entirely sure it was intended as a compliment, I have labelled it in that manner. One person had contacted my wife and wore my high school letter jacket as ‘High School Matt.” That image made me consider our students that are now seniors and the version of themselves that they currently occupy.

Hello WGHS Families, As we look ahead to our annual Friendship Dance, I pause to think of my own daughter's experience. As a parent of a high school student, I want most for her to have a memorable and safe night with her friends on a night when some might see the opportunity to engage in substance use. As a school community, we are making efforts to help educate our students in health classes, coordinating visits from Preferred Family Healthcare, and educating students in other settings about the concerns of underage drinking and related activities.

Hello WGHS Families, I have had the recent honor of participating in some senior recognition moments in our athletic and activities programs--always a bittersweet event. While it is endearing to hear what the particular program has meant to students and families, it is a reminder of the finite time we have with all of our seniors and our hopes for them. Our family experienced that rite of passage several years ago: deep sincere care for our son by his coaches, an acknowledgement of the experience's impact, and a bond between teammates and staff that can be long lasting. I feel the urgency of our work with the limited window we share with your student in the classroom, on the field, or the stage. We hope they are experiencing impactful learning and mentoring this year that will put them on a trajectory to have lives of service and purpose. At times those lessons come in the form of correction or accolade, but ultimately, we work toward the shared goal of a more complete person as we part at graduation.

Hello WGHS Families, Anthony Kennedy served as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court after Reagan nominated him from 1988 until stepping down in 2018. After retiring, he spoke of a “crisis of civility” facing our nation--a lack of devotion to responsibility and rationality. The intervening years since Justice Kennedy's comment have not seen improvement. Historically when the nation has been in a real or perceived predicament, education has served to salvage our republic. Part of the effort relates to the role formal schooling has on developing character in individuals and the collective. However, character cannot be downloaded; it resists swift attainment in spite of the desire by parents and schools. Character is "engraved" and "deeply etched” according to Kierkegaard and the product of years of imprinting.

Hello WGHS Families, I am so grateful to be an educator with the access to the work our staff does with children. As will undoubtedly be the topic of conversation next week at conferences, students don’t always find qualified success in the first attempt. Learning, especially something complex, requires repeated exposure and corrective feedback. The best settings have balance of purpose and care that move our work closer to understanding a concept, a skill, or perhaps another person.

Hello WGHS Families, We are excited by the collaborative work from our staff on behalf of students that is materializing this fall. Much of the work is generated in our Late-Start mornings--thanks to all for accommodating that time for our staff to think deeply about the learning experiences and supports for classes.

Hello WGHS Families, A recent broadcast from the Harvard Graduate School of Education noted the need to take a holistic approach to student wellness by schools. Dean Bridget Long said, “Healthy kids translates into the opportunity for high-quality learning. And the opposite is most certainly true. . .simply put, it’s hard to concentrate and to learn when your health is suffering.” That residue of stress and duress from the most recent conditions have driven some difficulties we have experienced previously.

Hello WGHS Families, This note is a repeat for our parents of grade 10-12 students, but the message is important for the time of year. We are several weeks into the new school year, and this is a time when challenges begin to present themselves to our children. Initial competitions and tests have taken place, and with it an internal sorting begins as we weigh experiences with outcomes. The relentlessness nature of parenting today immerses us in the trappings of high school credential acquisition and the college search process in a manner that can feel overwhelming. It can feel vast when we as parents feel the need to support our teen to fully access all the resources that are available. In these pursuits, we too often chase short-term wins that unfortunately undercut our child’s emotional development and ability to navigate the world around them.

Hello WGHS Families, Thanks to all of our Webster Groves families for their support for an outstanding first week of school. We have seen so many strong indicators for the upcoming year--many students involved in after-school activities, earnest classroom settings, and students prepared to learn.

Hello WGHS Families, Many years of research has estimated that after the “summer slide,” the average student loses a little more than one month’s worth of skill or knowledge in math and reading by the time school resumes in the fall. And there has been evidence of further decline after the virtual periods/instructional disruption we have endured. Below are some low-tech options that I will be nagging my children about the coming months: Read a book. My mother is a retired reading teacher so this is a familiar directive, but we are now competing with ubiquitous devices for attention and time. This is a struggle in my home that I fear I am losing but no white flag yet from me. Play games. This is my new tack with a college-aged "child" in the house. I grew up playing spades in our extended family and we will still get a tournament going when we are all together so I will advocate for family time with the four us over a card game. Summer can be the perfect time for high school-aged children to engage in passions they are developing in music, art, or other activities that allow them to explore. Athletic camps or teams seem to gearing up for a more traditional summer of workouts, practices, or games. If interested in joining a Webster Groves High School team, please contact Jerry Collins at collins.jerry@wgmail.org. Summer is also a good time to sit down and discuss financial aid and other expenses. The Office of Federal Student Aid has prepared checklists geared toward students of all ages. Many high school students might also want to take the time to start develop

Hello WGHS Families, As we set to close out our school year with graduation Saturday night and finals in the next week, I am called to reflect on the year. We had our last baseball game and last vocal concert just last evening, with more finality ahead. For our seniors, a more sweeping gaze is necessary and connects to the poem, "September, the First Day of School," by Howard Nemerov. The piece begins with a parent dropping off a child at elementary school and takes the reader through the parent’s experiences as a student and their hopes for their own child--very powerful and not fully known. The last stanza speaks to the adults in the school who care for the child:

Hello WGHS Families, There considerable information available to advocate for wellness and the impact physical activity can have on it. Long-term benefits of mitigating lifestyle conditions such as obesity, heart disease and dementia have been well chronicled. I would like to address the more temporal concerns of mental health, cognitive function, and positive impact on learning issues such as ADD. The connection between mind and body is crucial to personal growth and development as consistent exercise can help you be better and allow you to do your best work.

Hello WGHS Families, Anthony Kennedy served as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court after Reagan nominated him from 1988 until stepping down in 2018. After retiring, he spoke of a “crisis of civility” facing our nation, a lack of devotion to responsibility and rationality. Historically when the nation has been in a real or perceived predicament, education has served to salvage our republic. Part of the effort relates to the developing character in individuals and the collective community we share. However, character cannot be downloaded; it resists swift attainment in spite of the desire by caring adults and schools. Character is "engraved," "deeply etched,” according to Kierkegaard and the product of years of imprinting through experiences, both good and bad.

Hello WGHS Families, Last night I spoke at the NHS induction ceremony for many of our junior students that applied and met the qualifications. In my comments, I noted the manner in which the class of 2024 started at WGHS, virtual and methodically more in-person as the year concluded. The unknown and unsettling nature of their first year was mitigated by their ability to embrace the illumination that education affords along with the art, athletics, and activities that enrich the academic experiences. They found refuge in the connections and community with classmates and our staff that provided the needed balance of challenge and support.

Hello WGHS Families, A candidate for a teaching position asked our committee to identify a unique attribute of Webster Groves High School. My response is that our size allows many academic, athletic, or club options for students to pursue, yet small enough for a student to find a role in one or more of those settings. A student may be a musician and part of an athletic team or be in a dramatic production coupled with membership in STUCO. I am resharing one of my favorite examples of this below, embodied by a graduate that was a scholar, an athlete, and an active member of several school organizations:

Hello WGHS Families, With a hint of disbelief, we find ourselves in a rite of spring: a hurried sprint to the finish line for the 2022-23 school year. Last Friday we acknowledged 185 students for service in the community during the Statesmen Service Awards ceremony. This week we enjoyed celebrating our senior athletes signing with their prospective colleges, and tomorrow we'll recognize over 110 students in the Top Hat Awards. Looking ahead, our graduation ceremony to honor the Class of 2023 is planned for May 20 at Chaifetz Arena--a 4-year year journey for our seniors at WGHS. It's gratifying to see some opportunities that allow us to come together, once again, and celebrate our students. As we look ahead, below are some of upcoming events:

Hello WGHS Families, FUTUREPROOF: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation by Kevin Roose is a book that has a fairly optimistic view of the clash between rising technology and humanity--think "Terminator 2." It offers some pointed suggestions to combat the wave of technology, much of it rooted in skills schools can greatly impact. In addition to the suggestions around discrete skills, he suggests habits of mind and dispositions, buoyed by the call of “maintaining humane values (empathy) in an age of new machines.” Below is a list from Kathryn Hume's blog on Education in the Age of AI that mirrors some of the Roose’s suggestions and details some skills that will be in demand for future workforce:

Hello WGHS Families, I hope all of our students, staff, and WG families had a restful break last week. The break saw many accomplishments by our students in athletics, activities, and the arts. Our WGHS community continues alongside students as trusted guides and mentors during the challenging journey of adolescence. Helping students do their best in school requires a team effort. Parents, families, students, staff, and schools all play important roles in this process. To help all of us learn how to make your child’s school experience as positive and beneficial as possible, please give us your honest, thoughtful responses to the questions below. Your responses will be completely anonymous. If a question does not apply to you or you do not want to respond, then you may skip to the next question. If you have multiple children in our school, please complete one survey for each child.

Hello WGHS Families, This week we observed our induction for the National Technical Honor Society, acknowledged our many All-State nominees from our music program, and our water polo team had their first match in many years. We'll also conduct our spring activities pep rally later this afternoon. The Annual Performance Report (APR) for Missouri schools was released this week and Webster Groves School District earned 92.3%. The scoring places WGSD among the top four districts in the area and the top 5% out of 553 school districts in the state. The APR measures areas of academic achievement growth for students in math and English language arts, as well as graduation rates, and culture and climate. We wrap up another seemingly surreal three quarters of the school year today. It is hard to conceive that our seniors are in their last quarter of schooling in Webster Groves. All classes seem to have a character and this group largely is community-focused, connected to each other, and having a great final year overall. Across the building, I am grateful for our students' engagement and growth thus far into our 2022-2023 school year. Please have a safe and happy spring break.

Hello WGHS Families, Thanks to all who had the chance to attend parent conferences this week. Our goal is to proactively make connections with our parent community, learn more about your student, and connect on how we might support each learner. I had many conversations with teachers and parents about our format, and I hope to continue improving the process as we navigate these intentional conversations. Thanks to the Parents' Club for providing a delicious lunch for our staff on Wednesday. We are so grateful for all the support our parents have given to our school and staff this year.

Hello WGHS Families, We are enjoying our two days of All Write here at the high school. It is akin to being in Florence during the Renaissance: musicians, visual art, writers, and spoken word are all around our building. The school bell noting the end of an hour reluctantly moves us from a place we want to linger in an idea, a production, or an artist sharing their journey. So many of our artists shared additional time and influence with our students. Professionals in all artistic formats share the stage with our many talented students to make us ponder the world around us more deeply and perhaps in a new way. We are grateful for our Chelsea Center team, faculty (particularly Todd Schafer), and students that bring us this celebration--it is truly a team effort. Please see the information below on our upcoming parent conferences. I hope you have a chance to connect with your child's teachers if warranted.

Hello WGHS Families, Each year, schools fret the public “ranking” that appears in media outlets that lays out a perception of a school hierarchy in our state and region. This often acts to facilitate a more robust conversation on the quality of schooling but acts to limit and further impoverish the dialogue. Most quantification of high schools is based around standardized tests that are administered in one day as well as other easily measured but arguably less important metrics. These customary measurements of students and schools often travel with parents’ educational and income levels and distort the work being done in schools. The lament of one’s zip code being destiny is too often played out in our educational system with glaring disparities in resources and opportunity, further compounded by limited information.

Hello WGHS Families, The below quote is from a book centered on pre-school age children but it still rings true for adolescents: “The children we know who are confident and feel socially and intellectually competent are the children whose parents support them by: loving them unconditionally…setting limits and expectations for behavior…teaching respect for others, the difference between right and wrong and the importance of taking responsibility for actions…being a good role model…and having fun, maintaining a sense of humor, and knowing that there’s no such thing as the perfect parent.” --Nancy Schulman and Ellen Birnbaum, Practical Wisdom for Parents

Hello WGHS Families, We are so grateful for our Parents' Club initiative to "Show the Love" fundraiser. I am sharing a few photos of the heart messages--our staff love to see them. We have teaching candidates that have taught mini-lessons in classes who noted our students' kindness and generosity. While the larger setting presents many challenges, our community's support has been a salve to our staff. I encourage you to share your positive observations and comments formally in our Parents' Club fundraiser or less formally as you find most accessible. We are very grateful for all the support.

Hello WGHS Families, Public schools are an engine of possibility for children and progress for communities. I am proud to be working with the students and communities in the Webster Groves School District and to have a role in demonstrating our progress. I am sharing some from last week and beyond.

Hello WGHS Families, I like to provide some insight into decisions around WGHS and communication to our students and families. We have adopted the default stance of "how might maximize opportunities for teaching and learning with the given conditions?” In the last several years we either move forward on plans, adjust aspects, or cancel the event. Those decisions are impacted by timing of external events, trajectory of public health concerns, and flexibility of the programing. Most, if not all, are done in consultation with district leadership, other educators in the region, staff, and students.

Hello WGHS Families, Disruption has always been a part of the human experience, and we have seen much in the last few years. In schools alone, COVID, ChatGPT, and the churn of personnel across the economy has loomed large for us. While much is out of our direct control, we can engage in those circumstances to find a most workable solution forward. We are entering into an important phase in our year when we are charged to replace teachers that are retiring, moving, or otherwise not joining us for the next year. Adding Zoom to our process lets us remove some barriers to the initial phase of our process. We have the candidates teach mini-lessons in a class with our students in the content they are studying, as has been the practice for many years here at Webster. After the lesson, I debrief the students on what resonated and what they might need further clarity on to better understand the topic that was shared. The students have proven very insightful in their observations and questions as they have seen many formats of instruction in their time at WGHS. They are consistently great ambassadors and increase the desire for our candidates to work at Webster Groves High School. I am excited for where we are and where we are headed.

Hello WGHS Families, I am writing this as we are wrapping up our Class of 2027 parent program to preview the next four years, and I have a mixture of excitement and weight. In one realm, I am elated to share our current work and aspirations for students and families at Webster Groves High School that will join us as early as this summer. I am equally concerned about what our current Class of 2023 families would have envisioned for themselves. Four years ago, many may have harbored a specific vision of what the high school experience was going to be and for a very particular set of outcomes. And I would suggest, today, most of you would admit that the time here was very different from what you imagined as your student enters into their final semester. I hope that it has been a journey of triumph and constructive learning, possibly with the modest sting of disappointment in the latter. Reorienting after disappointment can lead to profound introspection and provide clarity around what is most important. I also anticipate that our teachers, coaches, and sponsors played a role in support of the successes and the trials along the way that will be elemental lesson for what lies ahead. I am grateful for this school and the people who come here every day to learn, teach, and share.

Hello WGHS Families, We have passed a milestone in the year--second semester has begun. Whether you have a freshman with greater confidence as they enter a more familiar space or a senior that is running on fumes (or all points in between), we hope they enter each day with hope and belief: Hope and belief that they are gaining clarity in who they are and are becoming, hope and belief that they will be people of impact in the world around them, and hope and belief that Webster Groves High school is a place that moves them forward. My time around our students certainly instills more hope and belief in me that their work as scholars, artisans, and citizens will be for the betterment of our collective future. We are excited for what lies ahead in the second semester.

Hello WGHS Families, We had another great week last week, seeing students and staff preparing for finals in the classroom, as well as winter concerts and sports. I had the pleasure to attend the winter choir concert (an experience unlike other choir shows--find a way to get to one) and the A Capella show last Friday. One artist that had a song that really showcased her voice was sophomore Valletta Thurmon, singing an a capella version of Ellie King's "Ex's and Oh's."

Hello WGHS Families, We have plenty of information below on finals, but I wanted to share another aspect. As parents of children taking finals, we can provide some counsel to coach them along in the process that they should own. I am sharing some items as both a parent and an educator that gives effort in both, not always to the result I sought:

Hello WGHS Families, We've had a big week with End Of Course testing and adjusted schedules to accommodate the blocks of time needed to administer the End-of-Course exams in the approved windows as required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. We want our students to do their best on assessments, but we recognize results provide some information but not a complete picture on students' learning and progress. I know I appreciate the instruction around critical content, skills, and dispositions not reflected in those assessments.

Hello WGHS Families, We are ramping up instead of ramping down for our upcoming holiday. Last week we saw a outstanding musical put on by our students and staff. In addition, our boys' soccer is playing Friday and again Saturday after making the final four. Our students will be enjoying the traditional Turkey Day activities next week. We are getting even closer with ticket sales, door decorations, and game prep underway. I am excited to see the renewed process and pageantry for one of the truly unique defining experiences for our school and community. While the pep rally, ChiliFest, and game are eagerly anticipated, I may be the best prepared for Tacky Day (plenty of red and white attire to be found). We invite all to join us on Wednesday night for ChiliFest, followed by our community pep rally at Roberts Gym at 7pm, and then again for the game at Moss Field at noon. Have a great Thanksgiving.

Hello WGHS Families, At our Community Open House this weekend, we'll share information on how students can be more involved and connected at Webster Groves High School. Students who are involved beyond the school day on average have better school experiences and outcomes, such as higher attendance and academic performance. I have recently connected with a book called Deeper Learning, written by researchers Jal Mehta and Sarah Fine, in which they conducted observations and interviews of students and staff over six years from purportedly successful innovative high schools that were suggested as “leaders” in preparing students for the demands of twenty-first century life.

Hello WGHS Families, This weekend marks another round of Daylight Savings, and November is a busy time at WGHS. We are excited to open our doors on Sunday, November 13 to the WG community at our Community Open House from 1-3 p.m. Our Community Open House features the chance for our community to learn about our outstanding educational programs at WGHS. Visitors will be able to get a glimpse of the WGHS student experience, learn about our innovative program offerings, and even take guided walking tours of the building.

Hello WGHS Families, As we look ahead to our annual Friendship Dance, I pause to think of my own daughter's experience. As a parent of a high school student, I want most for her to have a memorable and safe night with her friends on a night when some might see the opportunity to engage in substance use. As a school community, we are making efforts to help educate our students in health classes, coordinating visits from Preferred Family Healthcare, and educating students in other settings about the concerns of underage drinking and related activities.

Hello WGHS Families, I have had the recent honor of participating in some senior recognitions moments in our athletic and activities programs--always a bittersweet event. While it is endearing to hear what the particular program has meant to students and families, it is a reminder of the finite time we have with all of our seniors and our hopes for them. Our family experienced that rite of passage two years ago: deep sincere care for our son by his coaches and an acknowledgement of an impact that can be long lasting.

Hello WGHS Families, I am so grateful to be an educator with the access to the work our staff does with children. As will undoubtedly be the topic of conversation next week at conferences, students don’t always find qualified success in the first attempt. Learning, especially something complex, requires repeated exposure and corrective feedback. I saw a great example of this yesterday.

We are excited by the collaborative work from our staff on behalf of students that is materializing this fall. Much of the work is generated in our Late-Start mornings--thanks to all for accommodating that time for our staff to think deeply about the learning experiences and supports for classes.

A recent broadcast from the Harvard Graduate School of Education noted the need to take a holistic approach to student wellness by schools. Dean Bridget Long said, “Healthy kids translates into the opportunity for high-quality learning. And the opposite is most certainly true. . .simply put, it’s hard to concentrate and to learn when your health is suffering.” That residue of stress and duress from the most recent conditions have driven some difficulties we have experienced previously.

Hello WGHS Families, zoom_out_map We are several weeks into the new school year, and this is a time when challenges begin to present themselves to our children. Initial competitions and tests have taken place, and with it an internal sorting begins as we weigh experiences with outcomes. The relentlessness nature of parenting today immerses us in the trappings of high school credential acquisition and the college search process in a manner that can feel overwhelming. It can feel vast when we as parents feel the need to support our teen to fully access all the resources that are available. In these pursuits, we too often chase short-term wins that unfortunately undercut our child’s emotional development and ability to navigate the world around them.

As we enter into September, calendars are getting more crowded with national testing dates, a litany of high school activities, and numerable community options. Please take time for yourself and your child to slow down, to linger, to connect with each other. Parents of high school students often scurry from one event to another and have not prioritized the time we have remaining to see and listen to each other. My wife and I have aging parents that warrant, not yet demand, our limited time. Our oldest is in college with our youngest in high school--the time has gotten away from us in our home, it feels. When looking back, our remorse centers around times we oriented our lives around something that in retrospect seems trivial now. I hope you take the time to count the cost of each item you and your child say yes to in your day. Engage in those you select, and do not look back on those you declined.

Misinformation plagues our culture, which often leads to a general increase in anxiety and distress amongst the impacted community. We are not immune to this current contagion in our school setting, unfortunately.

Thanks to all of our Webster Groves families for their support for an outstanding first week of school. We have seen so many strong indicators for the upcoming year--many students involved in after-school activities, earnest classroom settings, and students prepared to learn. Tonight we have the Activities Fair and Selma Street Dance, where our students and faculty will celebrate our first week with energy and excitement.

Hello WGHS Families, Many years of research has estimated that after the “summer slide,” the average student loses a little more than one month’s worth of skill or knowledge in math and reading by the time school resumes in the fall. And there has been evidence of further decline after the virtual periods/instructional disruption we have endured. Below are some low-tech options that I will be nagging my children about the coming months:

In making final cuts of my graduation speech, I cut this excerpt from the school year book from 1920: "Another vacation and we are back at school, but not for long. Twice our school work has been interrupted by the influenza epidemic but nevertheless, we study hard and pass our tests. 'A cork cannot be kept under long.'"

There considerable information available to advocate for wellness and the impact physical activity can have on it. Long-term benefits of mitigating lifestyle conditions such as obesity, heart disease and dementia have been well chronicled. I would like to address the more temporal concerns of mental health, cognitive function, and positive impact on learning issues such as ADD. The connection between mind and body is crucial to personal growth and development as consistent exercise can help you be better and allow you to do your best work.

Anthony Kennedy served as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court after Reagan nominated him from 1988 until stepping down in 2018. After retiring, he spoke of a “crisis of civility” facing our nation, a lack of devotion to responsibility and rationality. Historically when the nation has been in a real or perceived predicament, education has served to salvage our republic. Part of the effort relates to the developing character in individuals and the collective community we share. However, character cannot be downloaded; it resists swift attainment in spite of the desire by caring adults and schools. Character is "engraved," "deeply etched,” according to Kierkegaard and the product of years of imprinting through experiences, both good and bad.

Above is a piece from last week's AP art display, one of many that students produced that caused me to pause and ask questions of the artist. In this case, she had created a series that marked the progression through a grieving process that concluded with this piece.

In baseball, stealing home is a play of equal parts audaciousness and good fortune. However, there is a bit more to behind the heroics of that particular game.

With a hint of disbelief, we find ourselves in a rite of spring: a hurried sprint to the finish line for the 2021-2022 school year. It's been a big week as we hosted the Special Olympics with big help from our junior class, SSD staff, and Ms. Spencer with her Best Buddies team. We had multiple adult representatives share their complimentary observations of our students for supporting events and fellow students.

FUTUREPROOF: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation by Kevin Roose is a book that has a fairly optimistic view of the clash between rising technology and humanity--think "Terminator 2." It offers some pointed suggestions to combat the wave of technology, much of it rooted in skills schools can greatly impact.

Hello WGHS Families, I hope all of our students, staff, and WG families ...

Hello WGHS Families, At the end of last week we observed our induction for the National Technical Honor Society, a THRIVE pitch competition......

Hello WGHS Families, In the midst of all the whirling information on changes in weather and school schedules.....

Hello WGHS Families, We enjoyed our two days of All Write here at the high school. It is akin to being in Florence.....

Hello WGHS Families, I hope everyone had a relaxing day yesterday, and if you had a commute, it was safe and.....

Hello WGHS Families, The below quote is from a book centered on pre-school age children but.....

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