Willowridge High School News

For school calendars, sports schedules, and information that is important to the Willowridge community, please click on the NEWS and CALENDAR buttons. In NEWS don’t miss the EAGLE EXPRESS, updated weekly during the school year with special notices and information. Also check out the student newspaper, the EAGLE EYE. This is also where you can find information about the WILLOWRIDGE ACADEMY OF GAMING DESIGN AND DEVELPOMENT.

The SAT test is used as an important part of a student’s evaluation when applying to many colleges. Clicking on Related Document will give you information on two places you can go for help on this important test. First is the WHS and the Princeton Review offering of a free practice test on March 27. Second is an essay contest and SAT Training Camp sponsored by the Houston Rockets. These are two separate events and you may enroll in one or both of them. Please check the sign-up dates so you don’t miss these opportunities.
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Click on Related Document for upcoming school events.
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There has been a lot of talk about Fort Bend ISD’s financial situation. Get the facts by Clicking Here . You will be connected to the “Budget Challenges” pages where you can find information including the answers to rumors, our budget report card, and messages from the superintendent and school board president.

Each high school in Fort Bend is developing an academy where highly motivated students can receive expert help in advancing toward their goals in college and beyond. The Willowridge Academy of Gaming Design and Development will begin next year. The Academy’s objective is to prepare graduates to pursue career opportunities in the design and development of digital games and multimedia applications. To learn about the Fort Bend academies in general and the Willowridge academy in particular click on more::.
 
For the Willowridge Academy of Gaming Design and Development, Click here.
 
For a description of all the FBISD academies, Click here.

Students who wish to pre-register online to take advanced placement exams may do so from March 1 to March 23. Click on Related Document for a descriptive flyer with the Internet link.
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Willowridge High School is sharing this information about the district and your child’s campus with you as part of Fort Bend Independent School District’s obligations under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). For more information, in English or Spanish, and a copy of the Willowridge report click on Related Document.
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Free tutoring in many subjects is available to students at Willowridge High School. Click here for a complete description of the program, information about tutorial providers, and an enrollment form. For other information about Supplemental Education Services (SES) or other Title I programs, contact Mrs. Nicole Haskins, Title I Specialist / SES Coordinator. Her office number is 281-634-2436; her email is nicole.haskins@fortbendisd.com. (Update: Please take a survey about your view of Willowridge tutorial services. Click here for the survey.)

If you need sign language at work or with family members, or if you would just like to learn how to sign, click on Related Document. The classes run from February to April and can include participants as young as five years old. English and Spanish language speakers are both invited. The classes are free, but childcare is not provided.
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The PSAT scores have been dispersed through the students’ English classes. Students who took the 2009 PSAT/NMSQT will receive free access to My College QuickStart, a personalized online college and career planning kit based on their test results. Students can take the next steps toward college with an online score report; a customized SAT study plan; personalized lists of college, majors and careers; and all of the college and career exploration tools available through MyRoad. Learn more at www.collegeboard.com/quickstart.

If they meet the proper criteria, some students may be exempt from taking some of their spring exams. Since the rules for this year have not been changed, we are posting last years rules again. The rules are strictly adhered to, so read them carefully. If any changes are made, the revised rules will be posted to this site. Click on Related Item for the file.
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The Eagle Eye, an official publication of the Willowridge High School Journalism Department, is published several times a year by journalism students. It will be featured in the news section of our web site from now on. Click on Related Document for the current issue. You may also Click Here for back issues.
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Click on Related Document for the WHS Spring Schedule for students participating in the Credit Recovery program. This includes the schedule for Cycle I, January – March, and Cycle II, March – April.
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Click on Related Document for the FBISD High School TAKS Testing Schedule.
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Junior and Senior students may make college visits and receive an excused absence. Below is the FBISD policy regarding such visits.
 
A student shall be excused for up to two (2) days during the student’s junior year and up to two (2) days during the student’s senior year to visit an accredited institution of higher education. A student shall be required to submit verification of such visit(s) by providing a letter from the university/college verifying the date(s) and purpose of the visit in order to be counted present for attendance accounting purposes. If a university/college verification letter is not submitted within two (2) school days after the visit, the absence(s) will be considered unexcused. Students whose absences(s) is(are) excused for the purpose of a university/college visit shall not be penalized for such absence(s) and shall be counted as if he attended school for the purpose of calculating the average daily attendance.

Each year the Texas Education Agency (TEA) sends out a report card on each school. The report card shows our accountability rating and compares certain achievement levels with other state and district schools. Click on “Related Document” to see the Willowridge High School Report Card for 2008 – 2009. Click on “more::” for further information.
 
The School Report Cards can be found on the internet at:
 
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/src/2009/campus.srch.html
 
A more complete report about Willowridge High School, the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) report, can be accessed online at:
 
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/aeis/2009/index.html
 
If you have any questions concerning this report card you may contact Denise Ware, Dean of Instruction, at (281) 634 – 2459. Thank you for your continued support of Willowridge High School.

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Many colleges and universities require students to take the SAT or the ACT test to qualify for admission. NOTICE: THE DECEMBER 5TH TEST THAT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO DECEMBER 19. Click on Related Document for testing dates and other information.
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The Related Document below is the secondary school schedule for final exams and early release. Please note that on the early release dates of December 17 and 18, 2009 and on June 2 and 3, 2010 no meals will be served at the high school cafeterias.
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The percentage of 9th grade students scoring proficient and higher will increase from 33% to 75% by Spring TAKS administration as measured by the TAKS administered on April 28-May 1, 2010.
 
The percentage of 10th grade students scoring proficient and higher will increase from 46% to 75% by Spring TAKS administration as measured by the TAKS administered on April 28-May 1, 2010.
 
The percentage of 11th grade students scoring proficient and higher will increase from 70% to 85% by Spring TAKS administration as measured by the TAKS administered on April 28-May 1, 2010.
 
The percentage of 12th grade students graduating will increase from 70% to 75% by June 5, 2010 as measured by the state graduation requirements for credits and assessments.

The FBISD Parent Portal will be available to FBISD middle school and high school parents beginning Thursday, October 1st. The Portal will open just in time for the second progress report for the 2009-2010 school year. Click Here to Login to the Portal. Click on Related Document for a form that will allow you access to your scholar's grades, attendance, monitor cafeteria account balance and more.
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Felicia Benard, AVID IV senior at Willowridge High School is a 2009 winner of the $15,000 Linda Lorelle Scholarship. She applied as a junior, as did many of our FBISD AVID III students. And, as many of our students were, she was a semi-finalist. The winners were announced on September 26th at the 18th Annual Reach for the Stars Awards Dinner held at the Hyatt Regency (Downtown Houston).
For Felicia it was a magical evening. In addition to the $15,000 she will receive an Apple laptop computer and participate in leadership events during the upcoming school year. A special thank you goes out to all of the AVID III teachers who assisted their juniors last year in successfully completing the scholarship application process. Our school district was very well represented in the applicant pool and in the semi-finalist group.
This was a scholarship that Stephanie Blondeau (AVID Site Coordinator at Willowridge and AVID III teacher) had her juniors target and Stephanie stayed on top of the students to make sure they dotted i’s and crossed t’s. The 2009-2010 Linda Lorelle Scholarship “window” is now open and information about it has been forwarded to our awesome Site Coordinators and AVID III Elective Teachers.

The Fort Bend County Health Dept. Mobile Immunization Unit will be at Willowridge and other area locations. This information will be updated regularly. Click on Related Document for locations, times, and other information.
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The State of Texas, Fort Bend ISD, and Willowridge High School all believe that parent involvement is an important part of a student's education. To view the Parent Involvement programs and materials click here and choose Resources.

House Bill 3 has mandated new requirements for graduation. These requirements will affect students entering ninth grade in the 2010-2011 school year or later. This year's ninth grade class, 2009-2010, will not be affected by these changes. To see the new requirements and compare them to the current requirements click on Related Document.
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The City of Sugar Land and Missouri City are posting warning signs in all city school zones notifying drivers of a new law prohibiting the use of cellular phones in school crossing zones. These changes impact all school zones in Fort Bend ISD. Parents and students need to be aware of this new law and make sure they are in compliance.
 
House Bill 55 — a new Texas law that takes effect on Sept. 1 — amends the state’s Transportation Code, Section 545.425 to prohibit the use of a wireless communication device (WCD) while operating a vehicle within a school crossing zone unless the vehicle is stopped or the WCD is used with a hands-free device.
 
An exception allows the use of WCDs to make emergency calls to specific organizations listed in the law, including police, fire and emergency medical services.
 
The new law also prohibits bus operators from using a wireless communication device while operating a passenger bus with a minor passenger unless the bus is stopped. Violators are subject to a fine up to $200.

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) 2008-2009 preliminary results were released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on August 6 and Fort Bend ISD met the federal standards. The district is especially pleased that Missouri City Middle School and Willowridge High School both met the AYP standards this year. “Our entire staff and the students at Willowridge High School worked extremely hard to accomplish this goal. We are very excited and expect even more academic success during the new school year,” said Dr. Joe Coleman, principal of Willowridge High School. Click on Related Document to see the entire press release and a listing of school ratings.
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Parents in Fort Bend ISD have the right to much information about their children's education. The Related Document describes in both English and Spanish your right to know about the qualifications of the teachers and paraprofessionals who work with your children.
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The Related Document below details the steps WHS will make to reach Acceptable Yearly Progress (AYP) according to the No Child Left Behind Act and TEA regulations. Areas discussed include the campus, district, and parent involvement that we hope will positively address our problems. Student transfer procedures are also discussed. The document has all information in both English and Spanish.
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Your student will not be permitted to attend school without current immunizations per Texas State Law. If your student's immunizations are not current or if you received a letter from the WHS clinic regarding a need to update your student's immunizations, you must provide proof of this update. Click on Related Document for details including locations of clinics that can provide the required immunizations.
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Tardies disrupt classes and decrease learning due to lack of classroom instruction time. Click on Related Document to see the new WHS tardy policy and procedures.
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FBISD’s Safe and Drug Free Schools Department is pleased to announce a new collaboration developed with Crisis Intervention of Houston (CIH) called TalkLine.
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The State of Texas and Fort Bend ISD want students to attend school, even if they have no permanent address or they are not living with their parents. Please click on Related Document for enrollment information in English and Spanish.
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