Parent Information

On Regular school days:
L1 7:05-8:50
L234 12:20-2:14

On Early Release days:
L1 7:05-8:30
L234 11:50-1:15

On PLC: Half days:
L1 7:05-8:50
L234 8:40-10:25

Each student is responsible for reporting to their bus on time. Failure to show for your bus may result in the stop being dropped from the route. For all transportation issues call (586) 825-2960.

Level 1 students will be transported directly to WCSPA in the morning and then shuttle to their home school during 3rd hour. Level 2-4 students should report to their home school in the morning and will be shuttled to WCSPA for 5th and 6th hour. Afternoon students will be provided transportation home after the school day.

You should first contact the attendance office at your child’s “home” school. WCSPA staff should also be contacted via e-mail (msharrow@wcskids.net), however, WCSPA staff is unable to mark students as excused or verified.

You should also encourage your child to check Schoology for missing work and to contact their individual WCSPA teachers for details on ways they can make up missed assignments.

Level One meets for the first two hours of the school day. Typically, Level One is divided into four smaller groups. Each of the groups sees two of the four WCSPA teachers in a day on a rotating schedule. When rehearsing for a show the class may be subdivided differently depending on the needs of the show. The student grade from WCSPA is a combination of all four teachers. This grade is worth twice as much as a regular class, since the class is twice as long.

Levels 2-4 meet for the last two hours of the school day. The students are grouped in various ways and those groups rotate among the various staff. Each Level has a unique curriculum. When working on a production, the classes will be divided differently depending on the size and needs of the show.
Further, grading in the upper levels varies by quarter.

*Occasionally, students in all levels will be taught by visiting guest artists in addition to faculty.

Although we do not require a lot of out-of-school time, there are some specific days that are required and are graded. This depends on your son/daughter’s level.

Level One students are required to attend Shakespeare Night as well as the Tech Week for their musical and the spring musical. Shakespeare Night is always in November and the Level One musical is in March. The Spring musical is in May. See the calendar for exact dates.

Each level asks students to work on additional shows. All students are expected to work on the final show in May. Level 2 and 3 students should work on two other shows. Level 4 students should work on 4 shows. Students may volunteer to crew any show, but that does not guarantee then a spot. If a student volunteers and is selected, then they would also have to attend the tech week for that show as well.

Tech Week refers to the week leading up to the opening of a show. During this time, we combine all of the technical elements of the show (the scenery, lights, costumes, sound, musicians, etc.), along with the performers in the theatre for the very first time.

Attendance at tech rehearsals is mandatory for all cast and crew, and can only be excused in the most extreme circumstances and with advance notice. These rehearsals are an integral part of the student’s training as well as an academic requirement for the course.

These rehearsals (usually Friday-Thursday) are by far the most important, complex and stressful days involved with any show. The tech rehearsals are compressed into the shortest amount of time possible to get the show ready for a public performance.

Tech week rehearsals after school go from 3-9 PM for plays and 3-10PM for musicals. Performances are usually on Friday and Saturday. Call time on the day of a show is generally 5PM. Night shows typically start at 7PM. Dinner will be provided by the parents group.

Transportation to rehearsals is provided by the school. Transportation after rehearsals is the responsibility of the parent/student as well and to/from the show dates. Students are always excused on-time at the end of the scheduled rehearsal.

All tech weeks are scheduled at the beginning of each year to help students and parents plan accordingly. See the Year Calendar in the Parent Documents tab if you haven’t yet viewed it.

Shop calls refer to the time after school when we build and paint the scenery, sew the costumes and work on other technical areas of the shows.

Shop calls are voluntary and usually run from 3-6 PM. Students sign-up in advance for the days they are willing to come. When we get closer to a ‘tech week’, the hours extend until 7pm or Saturday calls will be added.

Shop calls offer students hands-on training, social engagement with the upper level students, one-on-one instruction with the faculty, and most importantly, it gives students ownership in the productions they are actively building.

The Ad Campaign is the name given to the month and a half in which we solicit advertisements from businesses.

The “Ad Book” is a season program that is handed out at each of our performances; it contains photos, student biographies and advertisements. In order to pay for the printing of our programs and to raise additional funds, students and parents alike are asked to solicit advertising from local businesses.

All the money earned from the Ad Campaign in spent in that school year and is used to purchase additional supplies for productions. “Ad Slams” refer to days when students from WCSPA go out together in small groups to try and sell ads after school. Ad Slams are optional.

Forms can be downloaded from our website. The Ad Campaign is our one and only fundraiser of the year.

A studio show refers to any show we produce in a location other than the Big Theatre (PAC). Usually studio shows take place in our Jon Gillespie Studio Theatre at SHHS.

The only studio show that Level One will participate in is their Shakespeare Night. Performing in Shakespeare Night is required for all Level One students. Shakespeare Night is a ticketed event.

Questions regarding Schoology and parent access codes can be directed to Mr. Sharrow, msharrow@wcskids.net

Teachers are available for questions by email and phone call at the contacts listed on the staff page and are available for video conferences by appointment. See the STAFF weblink under “About” for specific emails and phone numbers.