Since MPS buildings are still closed due to COVID 19, Washburn will be offering a Virtual Open House & a Virtual Tour Video this year for prospective 8th grade families. Here’s what families can expect from our tour season this year:

• Informational Department Videos (Available early Decemeber. Watch prior to live event.)
• Virtual Tour Video (Coming soon)
• Zoom Q&A Sessions with Current Students -- (dates TBD)
• Live Online Event on Wednesday, December 9th @ 6:00-8:00pm
        6:00-6:55: Welcome and Q&A Session for Core Content Areas and World Languages (presented to all participants)
        7:00-8:00: Four Rotations for Elective Q&A Sessions (participants choose based on interests) 

[Read more event details here]
[Review the placement timelines here]

Winter Break Academy (WBA) is at home distance learning that is being offered to students to make up 2 quarter credits in just five days Dec. 21-23 & Dec 28-29, 2020. There is no better or quicker way to recover needed credits for graduation. Contact your counselor ASAP if you are interested! REGISTRATION CLOSES ON DECEMBER 7TH. Prioritization will be given to Seniors first. Students must virtually attend all sessions (cameras on) of the course and complete the required assignments in order to receive credit. . More Info

For the 2020 VIRTUAL BOOK FAIR we are partnering with THE IRREVERENT BOOKWORM! Due to COVID-19, our book fair format will be different this year. Instead of an in-person event, we will be partnering with a LOCAL BOOKSELLER to support the Washburn Media Center. Our Book Fair will run online from 12/4-12/13. 
Visit Irreverent Bookworm Online
View More Book Fair Details Here

Hennepin County just announced that December 11 at 4:00 pm is the deadline to apply for COVID Emergency Rent/Mortgage Assistance. These funds go away if they are not used and there is money still available. We know many families are behind in housing payments and it is important to get the word out about these funds before any eviction moratorium is lifted. More information about eligibility and the application can be found here: Hennepin County COVID Emergency Housing Assistance 

All students in grades 9-11 are requested to submit a photo for the yearbook, and seniors are requested to send in a baby photo, a senior quote and their senior picture to wahian@mpsedu.org by Dec. 18, 2020 (deadline extended.) 
Order your 2021 yearbook • More yearbook info

This is just a friendly reminder that each year we ask families to complete this form (also known as Free/Reduced Lunch Form). You can get an immediate answer about eligibility by going to https://www.schoolcafe.com/. Qualifying for benefits means your student can receive discounted athletic fees, testing fee waivers, discounted public transportation fees, access to certain scholarships, and free lunch if we return to in-person learning. Click the title above for more info!

Following a new Executive Order from Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) will pause in-person athletics starting Saturday, November 21^st. This includes volleyball and football, as well as any winter sports that have already started or that were scheduled to start in the coming weeks, including:

Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Boys and Girls Basketball, Dance Team, Boys and Girls Hockey, Boys Swimming, Girls Gymnastics, Wrestling, Cheer

We know how important athletics are to our students’ social, emotional and physical health, and wish the circumstances were different. We hope to resume these activities as soon as the public health situation allows us to do so safely. As always, thank you for supporting your students and for your continued support of MPS Athletics. Students may still register for winter sports, as they will probably start up by January. Click above on the title for more info.

We're thrilled to announce that our community raised $17,500 for our goal of "Doing More with Distance Learning." Washburn is honored to be one of the recipients of this outpouring of generosity across the state. We had 146 donors who helped us get to 86% of our $20,000 goal which is great news. We are excited to start meeting needs through purchasing more online tools, distributing needed at-home supplies, and improving our delivery of mental health supports. Donations are still be accepted if you didn't have a chance to donate yesterday. Any amount makes a difference. https://www.givemn.org/organization/Washburn-Senior-High - http://strib.mn/3nFfvfW

Community Ed is rolling out three new classes for Washburn students: eSports, ELL Tutoring and a Gen Z job opportunity. More Info

WHS Parent Group is forming some small discussion groups around the popular podcast "Nice White Parents." This podcast is a five-part series that explores building a better school system. Please let us know if you'd like to included in one of these groups. 
SIGN UP HERE

Homecoming Court Photos
Homecoming Pepfest
Crowning of the King and Queen

We are so excited to welcome our Millers to the new school year! Since we can't be together in person, our staff are sending a welcome by video. You can click on individual teachers & staff, or watch them all. Go to this Flipgrid link and enter guest code MeetWHSStaff. Enjoy!

Welcome Video for New Families
Meet Our Staff
Review Distance Learning Schedule & Calendars here! 
New parents can set up parent portal accounts at https://sisportal.mpls.k12.mn.us

The Washburn Student Council has published a statement about racial justice. Please click to see the full statement.

"We not only demand that community leaders address social injustices through systemic changes in the areas of police reform, voting rights & access, and economic disparities in our city, but we call on our whole school community do the following:

• Commit to practicing anti-racism work at school and in our own personal lives;

• Acknowledge and address the systematic problems in our own school system that create divisions and separations between white students and students of color;

• Listen to and uplift the voices of students of color."

WHS Class of 2020 students Nathaniel Mersy and Ben Anderson created a YouTube Channel called WHS Tech Tricks with tech trick tutorials for students to help Millers navigate distance learning. This channel is an IB Diploma CAS Project, and just one example of the fabulous work our Millers do as part of the IB Diploma Program.

Also - there is a district Technology Support website for students & families that has software & platform training in four languages. Check them out!

We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Arslan Aziz to Washburn in the role of Assistant Principal! Mr. Aziz is replacing Ms. Tenner, who was chosen as the new principal at Justice Page Middle School next door. Mr. Aziz comes to us from Upper Mississippi Academy, where he was most recently in the role of co-director. Prior to his work at UMA, Mr. Aziz was an Instructional Coach and taught HS Science in Brooklyn Center. Welcome to Washburn, Mr. Aziz!

As you know, Minneapolis Public Schools has recently scaled back to Phase 2, which means there are currently no on-site supports for students. This includes testing.  We hope that by January we may begin to welcome some students back to the building and are tentatively planning the PSAT for Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

Please be advised that all in-person testing at any Minneapolis Public School is tentative at this time due to COVID precautions. Student and staff safety are first and foremost in every decision we make. 

Students in grade 11 can register for the PSAT/NMSQT exam online starting Tuesday, December 1 until Monday, December 14 using this link: Washburn Senior High School's PSAT/NMSQT Exam Registration. Total Registration will refund the cost of the registration in case of cancellation. The cost is $20.00. 

Students in 11th grade who qualify for Educational Benefits may qualify for a fee waiver for this exam.

This exam is capped at 130 11th-grade students. We will not be offering registration for the 10th graders due to limited capacity and MPS guidelines.  

For more information about what the PSAT/NMSQT exam is, go here.

Welcome to the new school year, WHS students! Teachers are emailing students their Google Classroom log-in information on Friday, 9/4. Google Meet info for interactive class times will be found in each Google Classroom.

Tech Support: Call the Help Desk at 612-668-0088. They will help you figure out what's wrong & try to fix it over the phone. More technical support for students & families can be found on Technical Support for Students & Families and on the Tech Tricks for WHS Students page.

MPS Email Support:  email John McCreary  or call 612-668-3487.

General Questions: If you have any questions, please call WHS at 612-668-3400 and we'll find the answers!

Fill out the book and materials request form if you need books, packets, calculators, or additional course materials. Library staff will reach out to you about next steps for pick up.

Fill out the technology request form if you need a Chromebook. Someone will reach out to you after you complete this form within two school days. 

Fill out the bus card request form if you need a bus card. You will receive an email when your bus card is ready.

Five Washburn students - Maggie Faust, Max Henschel, Austin Hunt, Etta Leugers and Kina Paguyo - have been named semifinalists for National Merit Scholarships, which are given annually to top high school students nationwide. Nine other Washburn students received National Merit Commendations: Olivia Bordon, Eli Feldman, Adele Fraser, Eleanor Friel, Sean McAneney, Anna Omdal, Andrew Peichel, Theo Prince, and Reid Wooldridge. Washburn had more National Merit semi-finalists this year than any school in the state besides Blake.

The Girl's Tennis team received the All State Team Academic Award with a team GPA of 3.89. And seven seniors on the team also earned the All State Individual Academic Award for having a GPA of 3.75 or higher. This was in addition to winning the city championship for the second year in a row and for making it to the second round of team tennis sectionals this year.