Right now we are living in really tough times. Students (and families!) - please reach out for help when you need it!  Emall any of the following people: 

MPS has established Monday, Jan 11, 2021 as the date for return of in-person practices for high school and youth sports. MPS is using a 5 Stage Athletic Approach which can be viewed below as part of the Winter Preparedness Plan. We are currently in Stage 4 which allows in-person coaching with practices and competitions. The guidelines are for the following activities: Alpine & Nordic Skiing, Basketball, Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Hockey, Boys Swim/Dive, and Wrestling. If your child plans to participate in any of these activities, visit the Washburn Athletics page to complete their registration as soon as possible. More information

MPS COVID-19 Athletic Winter Preparedness Plan

LIVE STREAM LINKS
1-22-21 at 4 PM | Washburn B Squad Boys Basketball LIVE Stream https://youtu.be/jrn309vJ4ts
1-22-21 at 5:30 PM | Washburn JV Boys Basketball vs Southwest LIVE Stream https://youtu.be/iYslEIn_Jfo
1-22-21 at 7 PM | Washburn Boys Basketball vs Southwest https://youtu.be/_WIiNHFtkH8
1-23-21 at 1 PM | Washburn Girls Basketball vs Bloomington Kennedy https://youtu.be/jva-uRz5LpQ

Washburn offered a Virtual Open House on December 9, 2020 for prospective 8th grade families. Watch these videos to learn more about Washburn:

• Welcome to Washburn Video Overview
• Informational Department Videos
• Virtual Tour Video
• Open House Event Dec. 9, 2020
• Zoom Q&A Sessions with Current Students (12/16, 1/13, 1/28, 2/2)

Click here for more info, including course offerings & options in multiple languages
Click here for Placement Information & Timelines

The Miller Mart is selling WHS masks $6 each or 2 for $10 - get yours now!

Please email Tina Ham Peterson at tinahampeterson@gmail.com or text her at 612-859-7679 to purchase.  Cash or checks. Contactless pickup available. 

The ACT-for-All juniors is currently planned for Tuesday, March 30, 2021. This testing event is tentative and is subject to postponement or cancellation. However, all 11th graders will be automatically registered for this exam. Students do not have to pay for or register for this event. Additional information about the ACT-for-All was emailed to all juniors on Jan. 21, 2021. Ms. Mennitt is offering 1-hour basic ACT prep courses. If you are interested in attending on these sessions, please fill out this survey.

The Winter Edition 2020-2021 of the Odyssey is now out! There’s a refreshing lack of COVID-related media, so if you’re looking for a break, this is the perfect literary magazine for you! Short stories, poetry, art, photography, and a college essay by Ms. Mennitt abound. Check it out. Please. Email us your submissions at whsodyssey@gmail.com. Email Mr. Rice at benjamin.rice@mpls.k12.mn.us for the Google Meet link if you’re interested in joining. We meet every Tuesday at 3:15 for around an hour. More info

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!

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.

Tutoring Request

Anyone wondering how they can support families during unprecedented times may be interested in this project. Social Workers are reporting that many families are reaching out because they are experiencing financial hardships. We are collecting gift cards that can be given to families who are struggling. We collect gift cards each year during November and December. We give about half out for holiday help and we save the other half of donated cards for the rest of the school year. There are 3 options for giving:

• Donate online: https://bit.ly/WHSgives (case sensitive)
• Mail a gift card/check to Washburn High School: 201 W 49th Street, MPLS 55419 [attn: Erica Lebens; make check to WHS Parent Council]
• Drop off a gift card/check to: 5217 Portland, MPLS 55417 [attn: Tina Ham Peterson; make check out to WHS Parent Council]
• Donate through the Parent Group Venmo account: @TinaHP1
• $25 cards preferred: Target, Cub, Walmart, Aldi, Walgreens & Holiday Gas

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

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 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!

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 city 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.