Throughout the year, I make visits to the English classes of each one of our grade levels at WHS. These are timed and planned out based upon needs of each class. This Monday, I made the trip to our freshmen English classes. This class has been quite unusual in the fact that we felt like we could wait this long to visit with them about the year. I had three very simple messages to deliver. The first message was to congratulate them on a fine freshmen year so far. The best way I could describe this to them was to describe their teachers’ reactions to them as a whole. Almost every time I visit with a ninth grade teacher, they immediately smile when they begin to describe their day or latest interactions with these kids. That is the greatest compliment a class can receive. This is not the typical reaction with second semester 9th graders - this class is doing amazingly well in their first year. The second message is that they have had the opportunity to watch a senior class who has acted as a superb group of role models on our campus at WHS. The freshmen can identify this as a strong class and can even identify characteristics they admire in this class. This includes their highly inclusive nature, their response to large and small events in our community and in the larger landscape while also continuing to do the correct, simple, and respectful things on campus. The third part of the message was to enjoy this last summer! This last summer has been defined over the years as the last one before they start thinking about their busy junior year while not having the responsibility and freedoms that arrive with jobs and driving that the junior year brings. The notion of having one last summer without college and SAT/Act prep always on the mind seems like a nice, relaxed setting to continue to embrace the last summer of being just a teenager. It’s great mindset for our 9th graders during this summer - they have completed a year at WHS which gives them a new level of confidence and alleviates the teenage angst of entering high school. They are also optimistic about the realization that college is nearing but it is not so close to create the angst of leaving home. Spending time with this group was a great day. And our freshmen were pretty ecstatic to know that we have less than five weeks left until summer. It's always a great day to be a Chaparral! Astronomy Field Trip Mr. Murphy's astronomy class recently took a field trip to the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas.
Students took a tour of the 107 inch telescope that included maneuvering the telescope, building a spectroscope, and taking part in two star parties. Students stayed at the historic Prude Ranch, visited Davis Mountains State Park, and had time to grab some desserts in the desert at the Fort Davis Drug Store. Students said: "Best school field trip I've been on." "Informative and informational but still fun." "Great experience overall and awesome way to get interested in Astronomy." Please enjoy the photos below highlighting some of the adventures students enjoyed.
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Steve Ramsey: WHS Principal BlogPrincipal's Weekly Reflections Archives
May 2019
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