Weekly Reflections April 27, 2018

World FIRST® Robotics Competition Championship

2468 Team Appreciate competed with more than 91,000 students on 3,660 teams from 27 countries. 405 teams were represented at the South Championships from half of the geographic world: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, India, Israel, Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey and all of Western USA.

Congratulations to Joseph Asfouri who received a Dean's List Award This award celebrates outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRSTideals is exemplary. He was one of only 10 individuals who will be bestowed this honor out of 3800 plus teams students.

FRC 2468 Team Appreciate was chosen as one of three finalists for the Chairman's Award. The Chairman's Award, the highest honor given at the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship, recognizing the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

FRC 2468 received the Pit Safety Award.

FTC - Philobots competed in the Jemison division and was a finalists for the Design award.

FLL 14398 Club Oreo competed in FIRST Lego League action at Champs.
The team placed 2nd place in Strategy and Innovation award.

The ever changing target - Joy.....

A few Thursdays ago, we had a guest speaker, Dr. Bob Duke, come to Westlake High School. Dr. Duke, who teaches at the University of Texas at Austin, is an expert in the area of brain research and development. Dr. Duke spoke to us about the developing brain and its impact on how we experience and perceive happiness.

Read more here.....

Pictured above: Coach Nokes, Reid Davenport, Matthew Denton, Thomas Bockholt, Jackson Davenport, J Holland Humphries &

Coach Grigg

Boys' Golf Regional IV Champions!

The Westlake Boys' Golf Team won the Region IV Championship in convincing fashion as they posted a two round total of 546 which marks our lowest 36 hole total in school history. The second round score of 270 broke the course record we set on day one with the 276. The Chaps were led by Matthew Denton and Jackson Davenport who tied for low medalist honors with a 134 two day total. Reid Davenport finished 4th with a 137 and J. Holland Humphries was 7th with a 141 total. Thomas Bockholt finished 15th in the field with a 145 total. Outstanding play by all of the Chaps in claiming the 11th regional championship in the last 12 years.

Please join us as the Chaps head to State on May 14th and 15th at 8:00 am at Legacy Hills Golf Club in Georgetown. It's a great day to be a Chaparral!

Region IV 6 A B Fiinal Results

WHS Track Teams' Area Results

Congratulations to the following athletes who took awards at the Area Meet!

They have qualified to compete at the Regional Track meet in San Antonio on 4/27 & 4/28.

Girls' Track
4 x 400 m Relay - 1st Place and School Record 3:55.55

Elina Mettaelae, Annie Huang, Lily Howe, Shay Holle
800 m - 1st Place - Elise Smoot
800 m - 2nd Place - Elina Mettaelae
800 m - 3rd Place - Lily Howe
4 x 200 m Relay - 2nd Place - Ashlee Pantaze, Camille Griffin, Priscilla Jones,

Marianna Diaz
100 Hurdles - 2nd Place - Priscilla Jones
1600 m - 3rd Place - Maddie Dawson
3200 m - 4th Place - Maddie Dawson

Pole Vault - 3rd Place - Avery Onan

Boys' Track

1600 m - 1st Place - Matthew Kearney

3200 m - 2st Place - Matthew Kearney

300 Hurdles - 1st Place - Mason Mangum

110 Hurdles - 3rd Place - Mason Mangum

On the boys side we are so proud of Calvin Moy who pole vaulted 11'0 his Personal Best and our 4x200m Relay team of Joseph Kolda, Peyton McDonnell, Keaton Jones, and Grant Andrus who also had their best time of the season (1:30.89) at the Area Meet.

Christopher Vescovo also had one of his better times of 2.00.17 placing 6th.

Students Receive JEA/NSPA Awards

Twenty-four members of The Featherduster and El Paisano staffs attended the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association national convention April 11-15 in San Francisco. The Featherduster took sixth place Best of Show in the special edition category for their "The Game of Life" winter issue. The Final Draft took ninth Best of Show in the literary magazine category. Deanne Brown advises The Featherduster, Alison Strelitz advises the El Paisano and Moira Longino advises The Final Draft.

Congratulations to these Westlake students who also won awards in individual contests:

Adam Jasper: Superior in sports writing
Jake LaBarbiera: HM in news writing
Shelby Sperling: HM in review writing
Hadley Waldren: HM in commentary writing
Kendall Carroll: HM in news magazine layout
Veronica Mieres: HM in portrait photography
McKenna Applewhite: HM in photo story
Andrew Auth: HM in themed photo
Daisy Painter: HM in yearbook copy/captions academics

UIL State Competition

Today at UIL State Theatrical Design, senior Amelia Jochem took 3rd place in Division II Set Design!

This process began back in the summer when the UIL Theatrical Design prompt was released: students were given a design challenge based on producing the Tony Award & Pulitzer Prize winning play Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris in repertory with Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.

Kudos to Amelia and Michael Essad, design advisor, on this award!

Asian American Community Partnership Competition Award

Congratulations to:

Alton Shen who took 2nd Runner Up in the Piano Division B

and to Timothy Pao who was awarded an Honorable Mention certificate for Strings!

These students will perform at the Winner's Performance at the Asian American Community Center.

The Westlake Mountain Bike Team competed in their final race of the season and state championship at Dinosaur Valley State Park on April 22, earning a 6th place finish among the 24 Texas high school teams.

Pictured are (front row): Paul Neiderer (6th grader at WRMS), Leah Kemppainen (11th place 9th grade girls); (back row): William Wupperman (3rd place 9th grade boys), Andrew Roush (14th place 9th grade boys), Evan Kemppainen, senior/co-captain, (3rd place JV boys),

Tara Hauwert, senior/co-captain (2nd place Varsity girls),

Sebastian Najera, (28th place 10th grade boys and 2018/19 team captain).

PITCH NIGHT 2018

On Friday, May 18th

at 7:00 pm

the top 4 Teams from the Incubator Class will be pitching their Business Concepts to Investors.

Investors judge the teams that merit funding and teams are invited to enroll in next Fall's Incubator Accelerator course to start their business.

From 6:30-7:00 pm,

all Wild Card Teams get one more shot to become a finalist and formally present to investors at Pitch Night. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear these team's informal pitches and then vote for their favorite.

Be sure to check out this week's blog post on how to support students struggling with grief and loss.

We have officially wrapped up this year's Speaker Series! If you missed any of the presentations you can still access video and handouts! We are formally taking requests for next year's Speaker Series line up - email us!

Be sure to scroll through the Speaker Series section for more wonderful, free learning opportunities in the community! Upcoming opportunities range THREE different book studies; learning how to set healthy habits; workshops for girls and the adults in their lives; and yoga therapy groups!

Stay healthy, Chaps!

Sophomores and Sophomore Parents,

Please remember there is absolutely NO PARKING FOR SOPHOMORES on the Westlake Campus or surrounding District Facilities. Juniors and Seniors are not allowed to grant permission for sophomores to park in their assigned spot on campus. The first offense will result in a ticket, the 2nd offense will result in a ticket and a boot, and the 3rd offense will result in the towing of the vehicle. Repeat offenders may lose their parking privileges in the future.

Neither Westlake HS nor Eanes ISD have any control of the surrounding businesses. They will usually tow on the first offense.

WHS Tech Talk-

Online Webinars for WHS Parents

Thank you to all of you that joined us for the 7th installment of WHS Tech Talks. This one focused on "Test Prep".

If you missed the webinar, here is a direct link to the archived version.

Also the rest of the webinars and support resources can be found linked off of our site HERE.

Stay tuned for our last Senior Digital Transition (5/3).

Physicals for the school year 2018-19 will be held Wednesday, May 9th at 6:00 pm in the Westlake high school competition gym/fieldhouse. These are done on a first come first serve basis, no appointment is necessary. They will cost $25.00 per athlete, payable in check or cash. Please make checks out to EANES ISD.

Along with your physical you MUST COMPLETE our online forms prior to any practices.

Go to the website (eanesisd.rankonesport.com) Do not print these forms.

Please email any questions to WHS head athletic trainer Cody Watkins at:

cwatkins@eanesisd.net

General Membership Meeting

General Membership Meeting is on May 18th (last one for the year)

11:30 - Noon, Q&A with Steve Ramsey
Noon - 1:00 pm General Meeting -

Approval of 2018 Budget and Executive Board Slate

Location is the Board Room, EISD Administrative Building

Graduating Seniors and their families are invited to

WHS Baccalaureate 2018

Music provided by WHS students

Sunday, May 20, 2018

5:00-6:15 p.m.

Riverbend Centre

4214 N. Capital of Texas Hwy(360), Austin, 78746

Graduates should wear your cap, gown and cords.

There will be an opportunity to take pictures with your family and friends after the ceremony. There is plenty of room at Riverbend Centre to accommodate guests with mobility needs.

Please make donation checks out to

WHS Baccalaureate

and mail to:

Eileen Henke – 5923 Cape Coral Dr. Austin, TX 78746

For more info contact Arden Harkins at ardenharkins@gmail.com

Sponsored by the WHS Baccalaureate Committee, a multi-faith community

Check out our Facebook page - 2018 WHS Baccalaureate