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As we are all aware, we have limited parking available on campus and a growing student population.  Therefore we do not have a spot for every student who wishes to drive to school.  At this time we must limit student parking to Seniors only.

On August 3rd we will send out a link for seniors to use to sign up for a specific parking space.  Students must sign-up for a parking spot by August 18th.

We are including with this email a map of the student parking areas so that seniors can know the area of the spot they are selecting. (Quick note, right now, due to the parking lot repairs and repaving, not all of the spaces have numbers.  We expect spaces to be numbered again by the time students return to school).

We understand that many of our juniors were hoping to be able to drive to school and that this change is disappointing. Unfortunately the space limitations are ones that cannot be resolved at this time.  We will monitor parking availability and make adjustments as we are able.  In the meantime, if your student is a junior who has no other transportation to school and has not indicated that he or she will need bus transportation, please call the Western Albemarle front office (434-823-8700, ext. 4) by August 5 to arrange for bus transportation.  

Western Albemarle's school day will begin at 8:50 am and end at 3:50 pm.

The 2021-2022 Bell Schedule is now available.  There are 4 85 minute blocks.  Between first and second block there is a 25 minute Warrior Period where students can get help with their classes and meet with teachers.  There will be two lunches which will take place during 2nd Block.  There is also an additional 5 minutes added to the transition time between 3rd and 4th block.  The Bell Schedule details are available on our Bell Schedule page.   Link

Monday through Thursday are on a set schedule. There are A days and B days; each with a set of 4 classes. Mondays and Wednesdays students attend A classes.  Tuesdays and Thursdays students attend B classes.  Fridays approximately alternate between A and B days.  The schedule of Fridays is listed on a county wide calendar.  The calendar is available at this link.

The Executive Council, Leadership and the incoming Freshman class developed this video to help you understand what you need to do to keep yourself, your classmates and the entire school safe from COVID 19.

 

Because of the pandemic, we are unable to have the usual long lunch.  This year we will have two lunches that take place during the second block.   Warrior period is a time for students to meet with teachers for help with content as well as explore new things.  Principal Sublette has created a video to better explain how both lunch and warrior period will work this year.

 

Students and employees shall PROPERLY wear a mask at all times regardless of physical distancing, in an ACPS school building, in another ACPS facility, on a school property or campus, or in an ACPS vehicle or bus.

Students can remove their masks for eating and drinking while six feet apart and can be exempted by the school principal due to a documented medical condition or disability or because of special behavioral or individualized needs as determined by the superintendent or special-education director.

If a student forgets, loses, or damages their mask or face covering, ACPS will provide a disposable face covering for the student’s use that day.

Visitors to school will not be permitted entry without proper face coverings. 

For students who do not abide by these safety rules: 

• Step 1: Staff member makes a request for the student to properly wear a mask.
• Step 2: Educator contacts administration (call office). Ask the student to stand in the hallway and remain by the classroom door. Staff will come to the classroom and the administrator will meet with the student and contact the student’s family. At this time, the student may be assigned to STEP for the rest of the day and the student will meet with a school counselor. If student refuses to wear a mask, he/she must be picked up. 
• If a student continues to not wear a mask after the above interventions, the student will be assigned 2 additional days of virtual learning and a re-entry meeting with the student, the student’s family and a school administrator will occur. If the problem persists, the student will be assigned to virtual learning

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• Students report to their 2nd block class when the bell rings.  
• Students will eat with their 2^nd block teacher during their regularly scheduled lunch time.  Teachers may allow students to eat in the hall areas near their class.  Students need to stay close enough that you can supervise them and they do not interact with another class.  Some students should remain in your class, spread out, and some can be in the hall. 
• Cafeteria lines will be open. Students can come down to buy lunch and return upstairs. 
• We will open the cafeteria and library (if available) for seating for one grade level.  We will use the days of the week assigned to students for spirit week
  • Monday – Freshman
  • Tuesday – Sophomores
  • Wednesday – Juniors
  • Thursday – Seniors
  • Friday – We’ll pick a name out of a hat
• Bells will still ring to signify the beginning and ending of lunch.

The recording and slide deck for the August 17th Virtual Open House are available below:

Recording:

Presentation Slide Deck:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xLi7mSmzTS-GOetNhWUH-ZBSEedIJigxB2tvfgkosks/edit?usp=sharing

  Our goal is to provide opportunities for students to engage in their passions before, during, and after the school day.  In order to accomplish this safely we have put in place common sense guidelines to keep students and staff safe, reduce the probability of exposure to the COVID virus and variants, and provide all students with equitable access to their art and/or sport. 

The specific guidelines are provided in the 2021 Guidance for Fall Athletics & Performing Arts (Moderate or Substantial Ranges in VDH). 

If you have any questions regarding the implementation of these guidelines, please contact our Athletic Director, Steve Heon, at sheon@k12albemarle.org or our Fine and Performing Arts Department Chair, Laura Chatterson, at lchatterson@k12albemarle.org for more information.  

If you have questions about the genesis of these guidelines, please contact Jay Thomas - jthomas@k12albemarle.org (Athletics) or Mindy Moran - mmoran@k12albemarle.org (Arts).   

 

School Counselors

Our mission as school counselors is to provide a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program that will assist all students in acquiring the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to become effective students, responsible citizens, productive workers and lifelong learners. The school counseling program supports the school's academic mission by promoting and enhancing the learning process for all students through an integration of academic, career and personal/social development.

The program's ultimate goal is for all students to graduate with the competencies necessary to make self-directed, realistic and responsible decisions and to be successful contributors to society. Counselors work with students primarily in three domains: social emotional wellness, academic success and post-high school planning.  

Students are assigned to school counselors based on students’ last names:

 

	Erin Rittenhouse	Emily Henry	Olivia LeMay	Amy Wright	Caryn Brock	Shelby Poole
Grade 9	A-Cl	Co-Ha	He-L	M-Me	Mi-Se	Sh-Z
Grade 10	A-Cl	Co-Ha	He-L	M-Me	Mi-Se	Sh-Z
Grade 11	A-C	D-G	H-L	M	N-R; T	S; U-Z
Grade 12	A-C	D-G	H-L	M	N-R; T	S; U-Z

 

Career and College Planning: 

Counselors work with the career specialist to support students in identifying their interests and talents and formulating a plan for the students’ next steps. Some lessons will be delivered to the entire grade and some will be individual meetings. Students will utilize Naviance to assist with college research and career assessments, and Cued-In to identify work-based learning opportunities. For more information, please see your child’s counselor or Caroline Bertrand, career specialist, cbertrand@k12albemarle.org.

 

The Learning Center

The Learning Center (TLC) will be open for business starting on Tuesday, September 15. We are excited to offer virtual help sessions through Zoom for students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30 until 5:30. Sessions will be with an adult (teacher, college tutor, or community volunteer) or with a peer tutor (see above). Sessions will typically be 30-45 minutes long. To request help for yourself (if you are the student) or on behalf of a student, please complete this request form, and TLC staff will contact you within two days. Contact Beth White, TLC Coordinator, at bwhite@k12albemarle.org for more information. 

 

WAHS Library

The library website has resources for choice-based reading, homework and research guides, and we love to help! Our subscription databases offer searchable collections of articles for assignments. We also help the school community find ebooks for reading and learning remotely online.Wish we would buy a book? Use this form: bit.ly/wahslibraryrequest. Email us for anything you need: Paula Archey parchey@k12albemarle.org Melissa Techman mtechman@k12albemarle.org 

 

Talent Development Resource (formerly Gifted Resource)

The Talent Development Resource Teacher (TDRT, formally known as Gifted Resource Teacher) works with teachers and students to create a school culture where students’ individual strengths, talents, interests, and needs are cultivated and nurtured. The goal of the Talent Development Program is to recognize that all students have unique gifts and talents and that all students should have access to rigorous and relevant curriculum, services that support their learning, and be able to articulate their individual strengths. The TDRT provides services to all students in the school who are in need of differentiated curriculum based both on readiness or interest. At the high school level this may take the form of advanced classes, Independent Study, summer programming, compacting curriculum, taking classes at PVCC or UVA, as well as other options. The TDRT works in collaboration with classroom teachers, administrators, school counselors, students, and families to ensure that students are getting the best education possible. The TDRTs are dedicated to the idea that every student deserves to have access to a rigorous, relevant, creative, and challenging education.

 

If you have a computer problem, please visit our support page for helpful information and troubleshooting tips. You can also submit a help ticket through https://servicedesk.k12albemarle.org , call our school or the ACPS Service Desk at 434-975-9444. The Service Desk is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am-5pm. 

If the matter needs immediate attention, please email Mr. Kenton Showers (kshowers@k12albemarle.org). If you are in the building either he or a WAHS Squad (computer help) will come to the classroom to pick up the student computer and provide a loaner. When the computer is repaired, it will be delivered to the student, or if the student is participating virtually, they will be notified that it is available for pick-up in the main office.