Welcome to Wayzata High School

WELCOME TO

WAYZATA HIGH SCHOOL

We’re here for you.

Dear Students, On behalf of all of the teachers, students and staff at Wayzata High School, I welcome you to our community.

Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, we hope you will feel embraced, inspired and encouraged as you continue your academic journey with us. Together, we will achieve a common goal – to equip you with the skills and confidence you need to be happy, healthy and successful, both while you are here and after you graduate.

This booklet introduces you to our campus, building, people and programs. Remember, this is your high school and we’re here for you. So don’t be shy about asking questions, sharing ideas and becoming engaged in your new community. We’re eager to get to know you.

Sincerely, Scott Gengler, Principal scott.gengler@wayzata.k12.mn.us

We embrace and are inspired by the academic, racial, economic and developmental diversity of the individual members of our student body. Together, we are Wayzata.

PEOPLE AND SUPPORT We’re here for you. We’re here for each other.

Link Crew: At the beginning of the school year, each new student is welcomed into a small group of 12-15 students, who are all new to our school. Two Link Leaders – current students – guide and support each group through the orientation process.

Ninth graders continue to meet with Link Leaders once a month throughout the school year. These monthly meetings strengthen peer-to-peer relationships and give you a chance to participate in character and leadership-building activities.

Teachers: Teachers are here to understand and support your individual goals and aspirations. They take seriously our promise to prepare you for post-secondary success and work hard to provide relevant and engaging academic experiences.

Do not hesitate to approach them with questions and ideas.

Student Support Teams: Your Student Support Team – an associate principal, a dean, three counselors and a social worker – will surround and support you from the day you begin school here until you graduate. This is your “go to” team for academic, health and wellness guidance and counseling. This includes chemical and mental health resources and assistance.

Student Support Team offices are located immediately above and below the Main Floor Office, which is actually on the second floor.

If your last name begins with: A – Hal go to the 1st Floor Office Ham – Or go to the 3rd Floor Office Os – Z go to the 4th Floor Office Open 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday

CURRICULUM AND LEARNING Choose courses that feed your curiosity and support your goals.

We know that one size does not fit all when it comes to learning. That’s why we offer a diverse mix of classes that address varying interests, learning styles, skills and goals.

All students have many opportunities to explore careers and earn college credit.

We offer 27 Advanced Placement (AP) classes, a professional career studies program (COMPASS) that features classes developed and taught in collaboration with working professionals, college concurrent enrollment and Post-Secondary Education Options (PSEOs) with area colleges and universities.

Take charge of your learning by reviewing

the many options available to you. Work with your counselor to create a personal plan that allows you to make the most of your academic experience. myTime: Every Wednesday you get 35 minutes of myTime. This is your time to relearn a concept, retake a test or quiz, make up a lab, work on a group project, catch up on homework or study for a test.

We hope this slice of time midway through the school week will reduce your stress, boost your performance and make it easier to connect with your teachers. Learn more at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/whs/myTime

Good to know!

• We operate on a modified block schedule.

• There are 4 blocks (class periods) in a school day. Each block is 85 minutes.

• Passing time between blocks is 10 minutes.

• On Wednesdays, you get 35 minutes of myTime.

• Classes are offered on a term, semester and year-long, every-other-day basis.

• There are two terms in a semester and two semesters in a year.

ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICS Feed your passions and build friendships.

We are a community of students with diverse interests, talents, abilities and perspectives and a common desire to be involved. We welcome and encourage each of you to participate in activities that feed your passions and connect you with other students and adults who share your interests. This is a wonderful opportunity to develop friendships, enhance talents, practice

sportsmanship and teamwork, build character and acquire important leadership and communication skills that will help you throughout your life.

For more information go to: www.wayzata.12.mn.us/activitiesandathletics If we don’t have what you want, let us know. We support students who want to start new clubs and programs.

Good to know!

• We compete in the Lake Conference and are a member of the Minnesota State High School League.

• 80% of our students participate in co-curricular activities.

• We have more than 150 athletic, artistic and academic clubs, sports, leagues and groups.

SPACES AND PLACES Getting around is easy, once you know the landmarks and the lingo.

Main Entrance

Trojan Head

Main Office. People often “meet at the Trojan Head.”

Entrances and Exits • Main Entrance: Leads into the main office and is a parent drop-off/pick-up site.

Horseshoes: Each floor has two horseshoe-shaped corridors of classrooms.

The two horseshoes face each other. They are located in Wings A and C.

• Main Auditorium Entrance: Leads into our performance space and is a parent drop-off/pick-up site.

• Athletic Entrance: Leads to gyms and athletic ticket kiosk.

Lower and Upper Commons: Our two-story Commons area is a great place to gather and socialize. The Lower Commons is home to our impressive Culinary Express – a lunch room with multiple serving lines and meal choices.

The Trojan Head: The rotunda area directly inside the Main Entrance and next to the

P.E./ATHLETICS

WING “E”

LOWER COMMONS (CULINARY/LUNCH ROOM)

WING “D” WING “C” ARTS/ ENGINEERING/ TECHNOLOGY

MAIN AUDITORIUM ENTRANCE

WING “B”

MAIN ENTRANCE

WING “A”

PARTICIPATION AND ACHIEVEMENT We promise to equip students to achieve post-secondary success.

Measures of Success While our teachers and support staff are focused on delivering on our promise one student at a time, it is important as a public school district that we find ways to measure the success of our student body as a whole. Here are two of the ways we measure success, and a snapshot of the data.

2016 Participation • 850 students enrolled in 27 AP classes and took 1,668 AP exams.

• More than 1,200 students enrolled in AP classes, college concurrent courses and Post Secondary Education Options (PSEO).

We invite all students to participate in these programs.

Test Scores and Recognition Natonal Merit Scholars Scholars Commended

2013 22 27

2014 16 25

2015 19 32

2016 26 26

AP Testing Scholars With Honors With Distinction National Scholars

2013 129 68 125 32

2014 110 75 152 44

2015 130 86 153 52

2016 119 71 160 45

ACT Testing Average score WHS student Average score in state Average score in nation

2013 25.9 23.0 20.9

2014 26.1 22.9 21.0

2015 26.3 22.7 21.0

2016 25.8 21.1 TBD

SCHOOL HOURS 8:20 a.m.-3:10 p.m.

Don’t be late!

Administrative Office Hours 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday Excused Absences • Must be reported by 9:00 a.m.

• Parents should login to Skyward Family Portal and click on Attendance to give us the details, or call 763-745-6655.

Phone Numbers Main Office: 763-745-6600 Attendance Office: 763-745-6655 Main Counseling Office: 763-745-6630/6631 Activities Hotline: 763-745-6626 Important Websites www.wayzata.k12.mn.us www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/whs

STAY CONNECTED Follow us on • Facebook @wayzatahs • Twitter @WPS_WHS Watch Newsbreak, the student-run television news show that airs during first block. You can also see it on Facebook.

Read Trojan Tribune, the student-run newspaper that is delivered to your classroom, posted online and pushed out on social media.

Open and Read WHS e-newsletters, sent to parents and filled with important dates and information about programs and activities that involve your student.

Bookmark www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/whs for WHS headlines and program details.

www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/activitiesand athletics www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/whs/trojantribune

We’re here for you.

Wayzata High School • 4955 Peony Lane North • Plymouth, MN 55446