Hello Western Reserve Families, I would like to welcome everyone back for the 2024 - 2025 school year! I hope that everyone had a wonderful summer break and that everyone is ready for a great school year ahead! I am excited and looking forward to seeing the halls come back to life with all of our staff and students! For the 24-25 school year we will continue with our goal to establish and maintain a clear line of communication internally and externally as communication is key to the success of our school. I also look forward to continuing to build on our positive relationships and environment with our staff, students, and community with a common goal of success for the future. Parental involvement is vital to your students' success, and we ask that you continue to play an active role in your child’s education. As we start this school year, our teachers are eager to get back into the classroom with our WR kiddos. With that being said the staff recognizes the role in which they play in helping our students reach their fullest potential, and this is a responsibility they do not take lightly! As a whole we are eagerly looking forward to a successful 2024 - 2025 school year! GO BLUE DEVILS!! Sincerely, Michael Gorby Western Reserve Local Schools Principal 6-12 330-547-0805 mgorby@wrls.k12.oh.us PROGRESSBOOK • Please continue to use Progress Book Parent Access at https://parentaccess.access- k12.org/district to view your son’s/daughter’s grades online. This is a great resource so that parents can stay current on student attendance and grades. LUNCH ACCOUNT • Lunch account numbers will be the same as last year. Any money left in your account from last year will be carried over to this year. If you wish to prepay for lunches, go to www.westernreserve.k12.oh.us. Payments may also be made by check. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS • Please visit the following ODE link for important information regarding graduation requirements: 2023 & Beyond Graduation Requirements • Mrs. Matos can explain how these new requirements will affect each student and give a clear explanation of how points are calculated and tracked to ensure graduation. SPRING TEST WINDOWS 2024 • School districts select 15 consecutive school days, including makeups, within each test window. o English language arts - March 24, 2025 - April 25, 2025 o Mathematics, science and social studies - March 31, 2025 - May 9, 2025 DRESS CODE • The Middle School and High School dress codes will stay the same as last year with a few revisions that are highlighted below. o Shorts (athletic, khaki, jean etc.) and skirts/dresses are permitted but must be at a minimum of finger tip length, when arms are relaxed at the students side (no cut off, biker style, and or tight spandex type shorts). o Jeans with holes in them will be permitted. Holes must fall below the finger tips when arms are relaxed at the students side. Holes may not be in excessive size (which will be at the discretion of administration.) o Headphones are not to be worn during the school day (halls, cafeteria, or classrooms) unless a teacher gives permission during class period. o Sweatpants, joggers ect. Are permitted but must fit properly, Not to be form fitting or revealing. ATTENDANCE. • One item to remember is beginning with the fourth unexcused tardy, the progressive discipline will begin. • When a student is absent, the family must call the school, 330-547-4100 (Option #3), between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to report the student's absence. • If you are unable to call during these hours, please call any time during the day that you can and leave a message for the 6-12 building stating who you are, the child’s name, and the reason for the absence. • In order to participate in or attend an athletic event, practice and/or an extracurricular activity, a student must be in school on the day of the event all day. If absent, a full or partial day student must have a doctor’s note to participate. • Types of absences: o Excused o Unexcused o 7:35-8:00 a.m. Tardy. o Arrival/Departure after 8:00 a.m. counts as a partial absence. CELL PHONES • Middle School: Cell phones are to be powered off at all times. If a student has them out and on, they will be taken for the day and returned back at the end of the day or a parent will be notified to pick up the phone following the Student Handbook procedures. • High School: Cell Phones should be kept out of sight unless the classroom teacher instructs students to use them for class activities. MORNING STUDENT DROP-OFF • Car riders can now enter the school building at 7:20 in the front entrance and they must report to the cafeteria until 7:28 when the rest of the students are allowed entry. This has been done in order to minimize the traffic buildup in the drop off zone in front of the school in the morning. AFTER SCHOOL PICK UP • If you are picking up a student after school in the front of the school please pull as far forward as you are able to. There are some days when traffic backs up and we would like to keep that build up to a minimum.