WARRIOR
UPDATE
September 8, 2025
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
September 8, 2025
From the desk of
Erin Campbell
Quick Links:
Greetings, Warriors & Warrior Families,
I enjoyed seeing so many Warrior families at our Open House event this past week. Our faculty appreciated the opportunity to share information and build connections. In case you missed it, here is the presentation from the Principal’s Meeting.
This week is the 5th week of school. The first progress report is coming up and will be issued on September 25 (all grades through Friday, Sept. 19). In alignment with U.I.L. requirements, students who are not passing at the 6-week mark lose eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.
For students: If you haven’t been reading our StuCo’s weekly newsletter, I encourage you to check it out this week! This student-facing resource provides club meeting information and other announcements about student events. Students receive this newsletter in a separate email directly from the Westwood StuCo. Here is this week's edition. For future reference, all StuCo newsletters can be found following the link in the Warrior Update Helpful Links and Resource section.
Wishing you a wonderful week!
Follow us!
THIS WEEK AT WESTWOOD
Day of Week | DATE | EVENT, LOCATION & TIME |
Monday | 9/8/2025 | |
Tuesday | 9/9/2025 | Volleyball vs McNeil @ Westwood: JVO/JVW 5:30, VAR/FR 6:30 - FACULTY NIGHT Water Polo vs Waco Midway @ RR Aquatics Center, Girls 4:30, Boys 5:30 JV Orange Tennis @ Round Rock, 4:30pm |
Wednesday | 9/10/2025 | Spicewood Pep Rally 8am Varsity & JV Black Tennis vs Round Rock @ WW, 4:30pm |
Thursday | 9/11/2025 | JV Football vs McNeil @ Westwood, 5pm/6:30pm FR Football@ McNeil, 5pm/6:30pm Cross Country @ Salado Tenroc HS Invitational, time TBD |
Friday | 9/12/2025 | Varsity Football @ McNeil @ KRAC, 7pm; Visiting Team Volleyball vs Round Rock @ Westwood: JVO/JVW 5:30, VAR/FR 6:30 - HERO NIGHT Water Polo vs McNeil @ RR Aquatics Center, Girls 5:30, Boys 6:30 Varsity Tennis vs Ft Bend Clements @ WW, 4:30pm |
Saturday | 9/13/2025 | SAT Sub Varsity Volleyball @ Georgetown Tournament Band - March-A-Thon Performance, KRAC, 7:00pm |
Sunday | 9/14/2025 | |
Email westwood_studentcouncil@roundrockisd.org
with an image of you showing school spirit to earn spirit points!
HOMECOMING EVENTS
Early Release/Absence Procedures
Early Release:
Absence:
🔔Your student’s Apha Office Administrative Assistant will contact you if there are questions or concerns about the absence/check out form responses received.
A-Ch | Courage Office | Melinda De Roeck | 512-464-4013 |
Ci-Hal | Hope Office | Ana Arroyo | 512-464-4017 |
Ham-Le | Spirit Office | Tanya Butorak | 512-464-4064 |
Li-So | Strength Office | Pamela Parks | 512-464-4019 |
Sp-Z | Warrior Office | Nichole Warren | 512-464-4015 |
HELPFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES
Academic (Orange/White) Calendar
Administrator/Counselor Contact Information
Important Dates: Campus Events
Meet the Westwood Operational Staff
Staff/Student Recognition Form
Student Council Weekly Newsletter
Student Technology Support Schedule
WESTWOOD TESTING
The Westwood Testing Website is a resource to help support parents and students navigate the numerous high school standardized assessments. Here you will find a visual breakdown of tests by year and the purpose of each exam. Please bookmark this website to help answer questions that may come up.
AP Testing
Fall & Year Long Courses
Registration Window: August 12 - September 28
$44 Partial Payment Required by September 28
$10 Late Fee After September 28
$50 Late Fee After November 2, No Refunds After November 2
Spring Semester Only Courses
Registration Window: January 6 - January 18
$44 Partial Payment Required by January 18
$10 Late Fee After January 18
$50 Late Fee After February 1, No Refunds After February 1
How to Register:
Register in Total Registration
All exams fees must be paid in full in Total Registration by March 1.
COUNSELING UPDATE
Alpha Counselors: Tamara Wahrer (A-Cheq), 512-464-4022 |
Mary Hobbs (Cher-Gd), 512-464-4009 |
Chris Garcia (Ge-Kar), 512-464-4008 |
Keri Douglas (Kas-Mc), 512-464-4075 |
Julie Martinez (Me-Q), 512-464-4025 |
Jeanine Edson (R-St), 512-464-4021 |
Jessica Hooper (Su-Z), 512-464-4023 |
Lead Counselor: Holly Browning, 512-464-4026 |
IB Counselor (11th-12th): Ann Castro, 512-428-3973 |
Support Counselor: Susan Foster, 512-464-4024 |
CELEBRATIONS
WARRIOR UPDATE
Faculty Member of the Week
Help us celebrate the work of our amazing staff and students using our nomination form.
“Mr. Fritch always helps me to strive to be my best. Whenever I write a DBQ, he gives me strong feedback and helps me to understand US History better.”
“Mr.Fritch treats all students in a welcoming and kind manner. He helps us extensively with remembering deadlines and reviewing for the test. He has also been very helpful in getting the students to follow the warrior code of honor. ”
Dale Fritch: Social Studies Department
Core Value: Respect All in a Welcoming and Accepting Environment.
Wrestling
Our Wrestling team took 22 wrestlers to the Smithson Valley Tournament and brought home an incredible 13 total medals! We had 8 Champions, and 1 runner up. Congratulations, Wrestling on an impressive performance!
Volleyball
The JVO team went 3-1 at the Tiger Ambush Subvarsity tournament this Saturday! The team had notable wins against Pflugerville, Mcneil, and Eastview, beating all teams 2-0.
The Warriors have two district HOME games this week:
Tuesday 9/9 vs McNeil- FACULTY NIGHT
Friday 9/12 vs Round Rock- HERO NIGHT (first responders recognized)
JVO and JVW games are at 5:30 with Varsity and Freshman to follow at 6:30.
Drive, Motivation, Passion, Reward!
Westwood senior, Uma Sthanu, has earned the inaugural $10,000 Mary Sue Coleman Award for Life Science Innovation & Impact for her groundbreaking research, “Neural Regeneration Using PGE2 as a Therapeutic,” which explored how a compound called PGE2 can help repair damaged neurons.
Her experiments showed that PGE2 promoted axonal regeneration and improved cell survival following injury. She also studied how the compound interacts with other receptors and its potential role in protecting neurons in inflammatory conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
For Uma, her research is personal. “I started researching nerve injuries and diseases over a decade ago,” she said. “Growing up with a father diagnosed with multiple sclerosis showed me firsthand the devastating impact of neurodegeneration, with no current solution to the problem. With age, I was able to advance my research questions and aim higher.”
Her journey has taken her from elementary science fairs to prestigious labs across the country. As a sophomore, she earned an ISEF Grand Award for modeling the progression of MS, then conducted research at Yale and Stanford. By her junior year, she was testing axon regeneration strategies at UT Austin, and this past summer she joined the Research Science Institute at MIT, conducting neuroscience research at Harvard.
“Nerve regeneration was one area where my personal motivation intersected with my passion for scientific innovation,” she said.
Uma hopes her success inspires other young scientists to pursue their own ideas.
“My advice is to find problems you genuinely care about and stay consistent,” she said. “I began competing in science fairs in 3rd grade, and each year built on what I learned. Passion is what sustains you through long hours of experiments and setbacks. Choose a problem you want to solve, and go for it.”
WARRIORS FOOTBALL
The Warriors dominated in their first home game of the season with a 39 - 9 victory over the Austin High Maroons!
Thank you, Warrior Nation, for coming out and supporting us!
Congratulations to the
Homecoming Court Nominees
Homecoming Royalty will be crowned at halftime at the Homecoming football game, Friday, September 19th
Amberly Hernandez
Audrey Savoie
Avery Chen
Grace Xiang
Imy Gao
Jackson Bowen
Jack Cox
Joaquin Garcia
Mina Stephens
Nadia Giannetti
Noah Revelett
Ryan Gu
2025-2026 Excellence Fund Donors
August
Members ($25):
Patrons ($50):
Benefactors ($100):
Warriors of Excellence ($250+):
Thank you for your support!
2025-2026 Excellence Fund Donors
September
Members ($25):
Patrons ($50):
Benefactors ($100):
Warriors of Excellence ($250+):
Thank you for your support!
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
WARRIOR UPDATE
WARRIOR ATHLETICS
WEEK AT A GLANCE
MON 9/8 | TUES 9/9 | WED 9/10 | THURS 9/11 | FRI 9/12 | SAT 9/13 |
| Var and JV Black Tennis vs Round Rock 4:30pm | JV and FR Volleyball @ Georgetown Tournament | |||
| JV Orange Tennis @ Round Rock 4:30pm | JV Boys Golf @ Westlake Tourney Lions Municipal Golf Course | | ||
| | Varsity Tennis vs Fort Bend Clemens 4:30pm | | ||
|
| | Cross Country @ Salado Tenroc HS Invitational | |
|
Time and Location subject to change | | |
| | |
This Friday, September 12, YOUR Westwood Varsity Football team will play McNeil High at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7PM. We encourage you to arrive early to avoid long lines at the entrance. The gates will open at 6PM.
Westwood will be the VISITING Team. To ensure all Warrior fans are in the right place at the right time to display our support in solidarity and to continue to support our desire for all to have a great, safe experience, we are asking all Warrior fans to enter the stadium through the VISITING Ticket Gate (turn LEFT upon entering the stadium grounds from W. Parmer Lane); once inside the stadium, spectators will not be allowed to traverse to and from the Home and Visitor sides of the stadium. To be clear, Warrior fans should enter the stadium through the VISITING Ticket Gate and should remain on the VISITING side of the stadium.
Click HERE for an aerial view of Kelly Reeves fan parking, and the location of the Home and Visitor Gates.
As a reminder, RRISD and Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex have a “Clear Bag Policy.” Click HERE for the RRISD Clear Bag Policy.
Athletic tickets for all RRISD high school and middle school athletic events hosted at Round Rock ISD campuses and facilities are sold online. Home and visiting sports fans can purchase their digital tickets online before they arrive or scan the QR code posted at the gate to secure their entry. Purchase tickets below or by downloading the Hometown Ticketing App or CLICK Athletics PURCHASE TICKETS. Buy your tickets early to save time!
‘SKOWOOD!
Varsity Football: Game This Week
WESTWOOD IS THE VISITING TEAM THIS WEEK - park on this side!
Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex - 10211 West Parmer Lane - Austin, TX 78717
VISITORS
HOME
HOME SIDE PARKING LOT and FAN ENTRANCE ONLY
VISITOR GATE ONLY
HOME GATE ONLY
FANS are NOT permitted to cross to the other side of the stadium without written permission. Please enter on your correct side.
HOME FANS
VISITORS
ALL FANS USE PARMER LANE ENTRANCE
scoreboard
This Week’s Home Volleyball Game Theme Nights!
Join us for our Homecoming Parade!
Wednesday, Sept. 17
6:00 PM
The parade begins on Lake Creek Pkwy headed toward Grisham and then turns down Millwright Pkwy. before heading back to Westwood via Woodland Village Drive and Hymeadow Pkwy.
Join us for the pep rally immediately following the parade at approx. 7:00 PM at the Warrior Bowl.
Family-friendly event!
Today is the day to join PTSA!
The best way to stay informed about programs & opportunities at Westwood and to support happening at the school is to join PTSA today!
We need your support!
Please consider dropping off donations for the Teacher’s Lounge. We are in
desperate need of cases of bottled water, coffee & tea pods, and healthy snacks.
SUPPORT OUR PTSA
In Need of Topics for Adulting 101 Speaker Series
The library will be hosting Adulting 101 sessions for students. Sessions will be 25 minutes in length, so the topic would need to be covered in that time frame.
What is Adulting 101? A series of presentations by guest speakers, sharing specific tips on how to be a successful adult after high school.
We welcome your suggestions on what areas you see your student needing additional support after they graduate WHS.
Click here to submit suggestions.
BIGFUTURE
SCHOOL MOBILE APP
BIGFUTURE.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG
BigFuture School is the free mobile app for students in the US who've taken a qualifying in-school digital assessment like the PSAT/NMSQT. You can use the app to get your test scores quickly, connect with colleges and scholarship programs*, and get customized college and career planning guidance.
Interested in Girls Lacrosse? Come to the Try It Clinic!
National Technical Honor Society (NTHS)
NTHS is an honor society recognizing CTE students. Membership is open to 10th to 12th grade students in their 2nd year of CTE courses.
If you are interested in joining, please visit our NTHS website to view the application process.
Deadline to submit the interest form is Friday, September 19!
Questions? Please email: tiffany_carpenter@roundrockisd.org
FIRST RESPONDERS DAY
NOTES OF APPRECIATION
The library is hosting a card writing campaign in honor of First Responders Day on September 11th.
Students can write notes of appreciation to Austin firefighters who serve Westwood at Station 34. We’re open before school, during lunch, and during FLEX.
Ms. Kluck and Ms. Prescott will deliver the cards to Station 34 on Thursday.
Westwood AFJROTC is Open to New Cadets, AY25-26
Dedicated to service: in the past 12 months, our cadets have logged over 3,325 hours in community service! And we are a certifying organization with the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)!
Cadets have access to over 10 extracurricular opportunities. The academic team is one of the top 16 in the nation! Some of the other award winning teams include color guard, drill team, cybersecurity, marksmanship and fitness.
Check us out at… @Texas861st_ ; or at https://sites.google.com/roundrockisd.org/westwoodafjrotc
It’s not too late to sign up! Why join? We are a family dedicated to excellence while serving our community with integrity. By actively participating in JROTC, you will make friendships and grow as a leader. There is no military commitment – but we have opportunities for those who want to serve after High School. PE credit – you’ll earn it. Leadership experience for your resume - got it!
SUPPORT OUR PTSA
Join Westwood DECA!
Become part of the LARGEST club at Westwood!
DECA offers a variety of competitions, travel opportunities, and a community that supports your success.
While focused on business, DECA is perfect for anyone looking to learn valuable presentation skills, gain leadership experience, and explore the professional world!
Last year, Westwood was ranked #2 out of
thousands of chapters worldwide!
Now, it’s your turn to join Westwood’s
600+ future business leaders.
Fill out our interest form to receive
important club information!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR CAREER WITH WHS STUDENTS?
We are looking for guest speakers willing to share about their career.
If you are interested, please sign up here, and the Westwood librarians will be in touch.
Email westwood_library@roundrockisd.org for questions.
JOIN THE WARRIOR LACROSSE FAMILY!
2025 - 2026
Warrior Lacrosse is a partnership of these RRISD Schools:
Join our media platforms
Student Press
Yearbooks and senior ads are on sale now for the lowest price of the year. Order now at Jostens.com before the prices go up!
Free icons with personalization until Sept. 12!
More details at WestwoodStudentPress.org.
Class of 2026
Schedule your senior portraits with CADY now! You must have your portrait taken at CADY by Dec. 1 to be in the 2026 yearbook. Appointments fill up fast. We recommend getting it done over the summer. There are a lot of options at different prices, so take care when booking!
Westwood Library
Did you know?
More than 10,000 people have visited the library since school started!
10,894
Students in Flex
More than 500 students flexed into the library’s homework flexes on academic days and fun flexes on Fridays!
576
Classes Taught
Librarians have taught lessons to 27 classes, including English, Engineering, and Health Science!
27
EXCELLENCE
FUND
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Help fund WHS academic programs
Graphing calculators for math homework
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STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND
The Westwood Community Assistance Fund is a booster club that serves the elementary, middle, and high school families of the Westwood Learning Community in Austin, Texas. We started this fund in response to the growing need in our community for assistance to individual families and students.
Due to new state and national restrictions on the ability of schools and their PTAs to directly provide assistance to individual students and families, the Westwood Community Assistance Fund is one of the few financial supports available to students and families in the face of emergencies or unexpected expenses. We rely on school counselors and administration to determine how funds are distributed directly to address student and family needs in the Westwood Learning Community.
Donate to Westwood Community Assistance Fund 2025-2026
Contributions to the Assistance Fund go toward such expenses as:
Thank you for reading!
Past Editions of the 25-26 Warrior Update: