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Incoming 9th Graders

Welcome, Class of 2029!

Did you know a student’s success in 9th grade is one of the top predictors of overall high school success? We do! That’s why when we welcome the Class of 2029 to the W.F. West High School halls this fall, we will offer a robust support system to help you and your student start the four-year journey of high school on the right foot.  

  • Our Freshman Link day from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 19 is a special time for our 9th graders to truly connect with the Bearcat community. This event is mandatory for all incoming freshmen and they will receive their schedules, take a tour and meet some upper classmen who will teach them about The Bearcat Way.
  • All incoming Freshmen are required to take one semester of Freshman Seminar. This class will help prepare you for a good start in high school
  • Besides their academic counselor (assigned by last name of student), freshmen also have assistance from Freshman Transition Specialist Adrian Jimenez who can help answer their questions

Get to Know 9th Grade

School: W.F. West High School

Hours: 7:40 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. or 7:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday PAWS days

Mascot: Bearcat

Colors: Crimson & Gray

Administrators: Principal Regina Carr, Assistant Principal/CTE Director Donnie Bunker, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Tommy Elder and Assistant Principal Christine Voelker

Meals: Unless your family has applied for and been accepted for free or reduced lunch prices, all W.F. West students pay full price for meals. Students will not be denied a meal due to lack of funds, but their student account will be charged.

  • If you believe your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch, CLICK HERE to learn more about how to apply.
  • Food services cannot send bills or invoices to families. It is your responsibility to keep track of your student’s meal account in order to avoid a large debt on your student’s account. You can sign up through Skyward to receive notification when your student’s account drops below $5, CLICK HERE for more information.

Fees: A complete list of recommended school supplies as well as academic fees for W.F. West High School can be found at this link.

Mark Your Calendar:

  • UW Summer STEM Camp – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 4-7. This hands-on STEM camp is open to incoming 9-12th graders and costs just $25 including daily lunch and a T-shirt. Needs based scholarships are available. Register at www.stemchehalis.org.
  • Freshman Link Day - 8 a.m. to Noon. Aug. 19. This is a chance for you to meet some upper classemen, view your schedule and classrooms, learn about The Bearcat Way and get any questions you have answered
  • Fall Sports Deadlines – athletic registration opens on Rank One Online July 1 and the W.F. West High School Athletic office opens Aug. 1. Football’s first practice will be Aug. 20 and all other fall sports have their first practice Aug. 25. For more information about registering for W.F. West Bearcat sports, follow THIS LINK.

Good to Know

Freshman Stay On Campus: W.F. West is a closed campus for Freshman and Sophomores, meaning you cannot leave campus during the day without a parent signing you out

Attendance: If your student is going to be absent, you can notify the school by sending an emal to wfwattendance@chehalisschools.org or through the “Attendance” tab on Skyward Family Access

Stay Informed with Skyward: Skyward Family Access is the tool our district uses to store family and student data. When your student reaches high school, Skyward becomes a tool that allows you to help your student navigate their transition to 9th grade, the road toward graduation and beyond. For example, you can view your student’s:

  • Grades and missing assignments
  • Attendance (including current day)
  • Schedule
  • Fines and fees owed
  • Completion of graduation requirements and progress toward graduation

In addition, through Skyward Family Access you can also set yourself up to receive emailed updates on your student:

  1. Daily attendance notifications
  2. Weekly grading updates – or grading updates if their grade in a class falls below a level that you set
  3. Daily, weekly or monthly progress reports for your student
  4. Notice if your student’s school lunch account falls below $5 

If your student will ride the bus:

If you plan to drive your student:

  • Enter the parking lot from the driveway on 16th Street and drop off and pick up your student from the front of the building near the commons area.
  • Do not stop or park anywhere on the 16th Street side of the school, which is the bus zone
  • Do not attempt to bypass the line of parents by driving into on the 18th street side of the parking lot.
  • Our parking lots can be very congested right before and right after school, especially on the first day of school and our high school parking lot can have a lot of inexperienced drivers. Please plan your schedule to be able to obey the school zone speed limit of 20 mph, parking lot speed limit of 5 mph and to yield to pedestrains and other vehicles while in our parking lots.