News Archive, 2005-2006

Former Western teacher Nancy Colgan passed away in May. Ms. Colgan touched many lives at Western over more than 30 years of service.
Western's Track and Field team won the Class 3A state championships on May 28.
The Combined Bands of Western High School and Polytechnic Institute participated in the Williamsburg, Virginia, Heritage Musical Festival on April 22, winning 4 awards.
The April 20th Sun featured Western's Javaneh Jabbari, Shatera Kimbrough, Sophia Mavronis, and Julia Embry, who, along with many other Westernites, attended "Little Women" at the Hippodrome and will participate in a panel discussion with local leaders.
Senior Shalaiyah Sommerville was named "Girls Athlete of the Week" on April 19 by the Baltimore Sun.
Thursday, March 30 was Interview Day at Western. Community professionals interviewed our students, who learned how to prepare for and succeed in job interviews.
Recent media reports (The Sun, March 23 and March 24) have raised concern among our students, parents, staff, and alumnae that Western has lowered its standards for next year's incoming 9th graders.

Western did not lower its standards. However, in March Western received a list of students admitted for next year by BCPSS; over 100 students on the list do not meet our entrance standards, which have been published and disseminated by Western and the school system for many years. Thus far, all students admitted to next year's ninth grade at Western were chosen by the central offices of the Baltimore City Public School System. Western had no input into any admission decision and was not notified that BCPSS had changed admissions standards for Western.
Athletes Zhondria Benn, Akeema Richards, Theresa Lewis, and Shalaiyah Sommerville named to Sun All Metro teams!
The Western High School community mourns the loss of Francine Lamoureux, instructor of Spanish and French since 1998.
Baltimore City school officials have cancelled the three remaining "early-release" professional development days that require students to attend school for a half-day only. Therefore, students will REMAIN IN SCHOOL ALL DAY and receive a full day of instruction on the following dates: Friday, February 17, 2006, Friday, April 28, 2006 and Friday, May 26, 2006.
Report cards will be issued to students on Monday, January 30. Parents are encouraged to speak with their daughters' teachers at Parent Conference night on Tuesday, January 31, 5-7 p.m.
BCPSS invites you to a community meeting to RANK your PREFERENCES for HIGH SCHOOLS throughout the City on Saturday, January 7, 2006.
Report cards will be issued to students on Monday, January 30. Parents are encouraged to speak with their daughters' teachers at Parent Conference night on Tuesday, January 31, 5-7 p.m.
Both of BCPSS' proposed options for high school facilities call for Western remaining at its current site, for renovating its building, and for allowing an increase in enrollment to 1,000.
BCPSS invites final public input into Facilities Planning (school closings, etc.) at meeting on December 7.
Western among top schools in state on the English 2 portion of the Maryland School Assessment!
Class of 2007 celebrated at Junior Day assembly.
3 Western seniors sign national letters of intent, earn full college athletic scholarships.
Varsity Soccer team wins District IX (City) Championship!
Western Doves win city volleyball championship! Doves also capture J.V. Volleyball City Championship.
Western holds Open House for prospective students and their parents/guardians on October 16 (3-5 p.m.) and November 13 (6-8 p.m.).
BCPSS is planning to rebuild and update its entire facility inventory (school buildings), which could have major implications for Western. Please attend the community dialogues.
Western's SAT scores rise in 2005.
The Maryland Report Card provides detailed information on Western's performance last year. The scores of most Maryland schools, as well as the state average, declined somewhat from the previous year. Some of Western's scores dipped also, but Western showed dramatic improvement in Geometry.
Western welcomes new staff members Susanna Gray-Rice (Guidance), Lee Griffin (Guidance), Sam Mathews (Mathematics), Janice Nelson (Health), John Shock (English), and Jim Sweigert (Russian).
Fond farewells to departing Western staff Sergei Brazhnikov (Russian), Nancy Flanagan (English), Barbara Golaski (Guidance), Margaret Harmon (Latin), Karen Hodges (Social Studies), Joanne Parker (English), and Celestine Scott (Mathematics), each of whom accepted a position elsewhere within BCPSS.
Welcome to the Class of 2009! Orientation for 9th-grade students begins at 9:00 a.m. on August 26.
School opens for all students on August 29th.
Sign up for our 2nd annual Eva Scott Scholarship Golf Tournament on Saturday, September, 17, 2005!