As finals approach and stress levels may be on the rise, it’s always heartwarming to remember why we do what we do at LAU. For one thing, we get to help students form amazing connections with each other. For example, I had the pleasure of reading this student essay that moved me to tears today:

“When I first came to Williamsburg, there was one thing that made it stand out from every other school: Everyone belonged. There was no need to fake it; no need to lie about my experiences. I had never felt this way before. I’ve gone to multiple events and camps with friends from other schools, but it never felt right. I always had to pretend like I belonged there. At Williamsburg, no matter where you come from or who you are, we are all the same. Remarkable people from all over the nation and the world come together as not just friends, but as family. A sense of culture where you can be vulnerable without being judged.”

I hope this kind of energy helps your student push through their final exams and projects and end this semester on a high note!

Warmly, 

Pete Jensen

Executive Director, LAU

Action Items

Review your student’s courses for next semester (plus a clarification): We sent an email about “confirming your student’s courses” on Tuesday, which may have created some confusion. This is simply a suggestion to review your student’s winter 2021 courses and make any changes if desired. There is no action required to formally “confirm” your student’s courses if you do not want to make any changes. If you do want to change or add courses, you can do so by signing into SIS. We apologize for any confusion on this topic!

Complete the Parent Communications Survey: We sent this short survey out on Monday inviting you to share your feedback on the communications you receive from LAU. Please complete this survey if you haven’t already—we highly value your feedback and will use it to plan future improvements.

Announcements

Updated course withdrawal policy: Beginning next semester, students who withdraw from a course after the 28-day drop deadline will receive an “F” letter-grade for that course (no grade will be assigned if your student withdraws within the first 10 days, and a “W” will be assigned for classes dropped between 11-28 days). You can find this full policy in the “Grading Policies: Withdrawal” section of the Parent-Student Handbook. 

Check your Senior’s Grad Plan: Please have your student log in to SIS and review their Grad Plan to make sure they are set to graduate in the spring. If you or your student have any questions, please email Kate Chaney.

Is your student taking concurrent enrollment classes at Dixie State University? If so, please be sure they have applied to DSU and received their ID number. Also, remember to email their staff directly to enroll in the class in addition to registering in SIS. If you have any questions, please refer to this page or email Kate Chaney.

New design classes available through concurrent enrollment! DSU has two new design classes available: Intro to Digital Design (DES 1100) and Design I (DES 1300). Both classes will be taught in-person on the DSU campus and also broadcast live via Zoom to any CE students outside of Washington County. DES 1100 will be on Monday/Wednesday from 1:30-2:45 PM and DES 1300 on Tuesday/Thursday at the same time. Students must have access to the proper computer equipment. If you are interested, contact Kate Chaney to sign up.

Did your student miss Inspiration Hour last week? Visit Homeroom to watch the recording of last week’s session on Mindfulness, Meditation, and Creative Visualization.

Last chance to purchase Williamsburg Learning swag for the holidays! From now through December 17, everything is up to 30% off. Check out our school swag store to see all the deals!

Upcoming Events

Today: High school Inspiration Hour at 1:00 PM MT – Christmas Extravaganza with games, lip-sync battles, and more!

Canceled – December 11: Burger Meet in St. George, UT (this event was canceled due to new COVID-19 restrictions in Utah)

December 15: All assignments are due by 9:00 PM MT

December 17-18: Final Exams

December 18: Fall Semester Ends

December 21-Jan 1: Winter Holiday

January 4: Winter Semester Begins (First Day of Class)