Parent

News Type:  Daily Student Parent Staff Alumni Date:  Tuesday, April 7, 2020

We are now offering breakfast, lunch AND dinner to be picked up at the front of our gymnasium entrance. We will be distributing meals each weekday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Parents may stop by to pick up food for their child(ren).

This week's menu includes:

Mon. - Chicken Caesar Wrap and Pasta Salad
Tues. - Chicken Fajitas, Rice and Beans
Wed. - Beef & Noodles, Mashed Potatoes and Beef Gravy
Thurs. - Beef & Cheese Burritos
Fri. - Cheese Omelettes and Mac & Cheese

News Type:  Daily Headlines Student Parent Staff Alumni Date:  Thursday, April 2, 2020

The Michigan Associated Press has released its 2019-2020 D2 all-state girls basketball team, and West Catholic's own Abbey Kimball was one of 11 players who made the AP first team.

Only a sophomore, Abbey Kimball already has four Big Ten offers after averaging 20.6 points for West Catholic. Kimball shot 42 percent from the floor, 39 percent from the 3-point line and 93 percent from the free-throw line. West Catholic was 23-1, winning its first district title in 25 years.

Congratulations, Abbey!

News Type:  Daily Student Parent Staff Alumni Date:  Tuesday, March 31, 2020

News Type:  Daily Headlines Student Parent Staff Alumni Date:  Friday, March 27, 2020

We are incredibly proud to see West Catholic so well represented on MLive's 2019-20 GR Girls and Boys Basketball Dream Teams!

On our girls basketball team, congratulations to Abbey Kimball on her first-team selection as well as honorable mentions Crysta Daetwiler, Cadence Dykstra, Maya Mileski and Maddie Smith! Additionally, a huge congratulations goes out to Jill VanderEnde who was named Coach of the Year after leading your Falcons to their first district title in 25 years!

As for our boys basketball players, congratulations to honorable mentions Josh Arsulowicz and Kobe Kambestad.

News Type:  Daily Student Parent Staff Alumni Date:  Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Our final Fish Fry (March 27, 2020) has been canceled. Thanks to all those who attended our previous dinners in support of WC Athletic Boosters!

News Type:  Daily Student Parent Date:  Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Our teachers will continue to provide quality instruction for all students including those in AP courses. The College Board continues to provide updates on AP tests. It is still the expectation that, despite a changed format, students take their AP tests.

• For the 2019–20 exam administration only, students can take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home. Educator-led development committees are currently selecting the exam questions that will be administered.  
• Colleges support this solution and are committed to ensuring that AP students receive the credit they have worked this year to earn. For decades, colleges have accepted a shortened AP Exam for college credit when groups of students have experienced emergencies.
• Students will be able to take these streamlined exams on any device they have access to—computer, tablet, or smartphone. Taking a photo of handwritten work will also be an option.
• The exam questions are designed and administered in ways that prevent cheating; we use a range of digital security tools and techniques, including plagiarism detection software, to protect the integrity of the exams.
• Scoring at-home work for an AP Exam is not new to the AP Program. For years the AP Program has received and scored at-home student work as part of the exams for the AP Computer Science Principles and AP Capstone courses.
• Additional details for tests and test dates will be made available next week.

You are welcome to keep up to date with the exams by visiting The College Board or by continuing to check in with your teacher.

Beginning in early April, free online video lessons developed by AP teachers will be available for the AP topics and skills typically taught in the final weeks of each AP course. Watch the videos at youtube.com/user/advancedplacement.

News Type:  Daily Student Parent Date:  Sunday, March 22, 2020

Testing Information:

• SAT Update
• ACT Update
• Advanced Placement (AP) Update

College:

• As a service to students and families, NACAC is providing this online tool as a central resource for information about changes in college admission events, deposit dates, and more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Course Registration (2020-2021 School Year):

• Course request sheets and AP contracts that were signed by a parent/guardian can be scanned and emailed to Mrs. Ford at lauriford@grwestcatholic.org.

What to do if you struggle over break:

• Resources can be found on the Personal/Social Resources page on our website.
• School Counselors will continue to check email regularly. We are here for all of you!
• Coronavirus Resources:​
  • Coping with Coronavirus Anxiety (Harvard Medical School)
  • 7 Science-Based Strategies to Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety (The Conversation)
  • What You Need to Know About COVID-19 (CDC)
  • Complete Mental Health Guide During COVID-19 Pandemic (Peak Resilience)
  • Manage Anxiety and Stress (CDC)
  • Coronavirus: 8 Ways to Look After Your Mental Health (MHE)

News Type:  Daily Headlines Student Parent Staff Date:  Friday, March 20, 2020

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) issued a memorandum on March 20, 2020, regarding hours and days of instruction for public schools during this closure. Since the 31 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids are not public schools or public charter schools (also known as public school academies or PSAs), we follow the Michigan Association of Non-public Schools (MANS) guidelines and diocesan calendar standards rather than MDE requirements.

The instruction which Catholic school students are currently receiving through remote learning will be counted, and Catholic schools in the diocese will continue to deliver instruction. We believe it is in the best interest of our students to continue their Catholic education during this unprecedented time.

We are grateful to the teachers, school leaders, boards, and pastors throughout our alliance of Catholic schools whose tireless efforts enable this instruction and maintain a sense of school community. We are grateful also to families for their commitment to Catholic education.

As people of faith, let us pray for all affected by this virus, especially those who have died and for all health care workers who are working diligently to protect us during this time.

News Type:  Daily Student Parent Date:  Tuesday, March 17, 2020

A message from the College Board:

In response to the rapidly evolving situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19) and guidance from public health organizations, the College Board is canceling the May 2, 2020, SAT® administration. Makeup exams for the March 14 administration (scheduled March 28) are also canceled. We will provide refunds to all students who are registered for May, whose March test centers were closed, or who do not receive March scores due to an irregularity.
 
Our top priority is the health and safety of students and educators.
 
We will provide future additional SAT testing opportunities for students as soon as feasible in place of canceled administrations. We have not yet canceled the June 6, 2020, SAT administration and will continue to assess its status.

News Type:  Daily Headlines Student Parent Staff Alumni Date:  Monday, March 16, 2020

Same great event, new date! Our annual Celebrate West! Auction has been moved to June 10, 2020. We look forward to celebrating with you! Be ready for Billy K's Polish-style dinner, raffles, prizes, a live auction, and our traditional Champagne toast. You won't want to miss this fun event!  Visit grssc.ejoinme.org/CelebrateWest2020 to register.

If you have any questions, please contact a member of our development team - Jill VanderEnde, Taylor Tuttle or Megan Eversman.