Hillside News Brief
November 12, 2021
Important Dates for You
Tuesday, November 16, 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Hillside Community Club meeting in the teachers' lounge
Monday, November 22, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Band Concert at Westside Middle School
November 24-28 - Thanksgiving Break
December 1 - Tiger of the Month Assemblies
December 9, 7:00-8:30 p.m. - 5th/6th Grade Strings Concert at Westside High School
Veterans Day Assembly
Please! We need masks!!
Please, please send your child to school with a few masks in his/her backpack! We hand out many, many masks every day, and we could really use your help to keep your student(s) supplied with masks. Thank you so much for your help!
COVID Vaccine Clinic Information
The Douglas County Health Department has asked us Westside and other area school districts to share the following link regarding upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics for children ages 5-12 who may now be eligible to receive it.
https://www.douglascountyhealth.com/109-covid-19/812-where-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine
Westside Community Schools is also hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday November 20 at Westside Middle School, 8601 Arbor Street. Our site will be open from 10:00am until 2:00pm; this is a walk-in clinic and appointments are not needed. This site is open to children ages 5 through 11, as well as those 12 years and older interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. A second dose vaccine clinic is scheduled for December 11 from 10:00am until 2pm, also at Westside Middle School
We understand this a personal choice for your family and encourage you to discuss at home and with your family doctor. For additional information about Westside’s response and protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit this link on our website: https://www.westside66.org/domain/408
If you have additional questions about anything related to COVID-19 and Westside Community Schools guidelines, please email feedback@westside66.net.
Free/Reduced Lunch Applications and Holiday Assistance
Westside families and staff,
We have two important items we hope you consider as we approach the holidays, both supporting the well-being of our Westside students and families.
FREE & REDUCED MEAL APPLICATIONS
Our records of students who are registered for free & reduced meals has plummeted for the 2021/22 school year. We fear this is not because of a lack of need, but because meals are free for all students, funded by the US Department of Agriculture. If you would traditionally qualify for free or reduced-price meals, it is important you file an application. Through that application, your student becomes eligible for additional benefits including fee waivers for scholarships, ACT/SAT testing, computers, transportation, summer school, activity cards, prom band instruments, etc. In addition, our district receives state and local funding based on the number of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. That funding is vital for Westside Community Schools.
CLICK HERE to complete the Free & Reduced Meal application online: https://www.myschoolapps.com/. If you would like to complete a traditional paper application, please send an email to Michele Divoky, divoky.michele@westside66.net or call 402.390.3382.
HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE
Once again this year, Westside Community Schools will be working together with our high school homerooms and a network of amazing community volunteers to support our district families in need this upcoming holiday season. Through the confidential and compassionate work of our district Social Workers, Counselors and Psychologists, we are able to assist those in our school community who may need extra help.
There are a number of ways you can help:
- By “adopting” a Westside student in need and purchasing items from his or her wants & needs list;
- by making a monetary contribution to the “Family Resource Fund” in care of the Westside Foundation (click here to donate);
- or by donating to the Family Resource Center’s Food Pantry and Clothing Closet (click here to learn more about the Westside Family Resource Center!)
If your classroom, your department, your family or your place of business is interested in supporting a Westside student or family this holiday season, please email Molly Hurley at hurley.molly@westside66.net by November 19, 2021.
Thank you for your generosity and support, and for affirming the “WE” in Westside.
Westside Clothing Closet
The Westside Clothing Closet is in desperate need of winter coats and new packages of boys and girls underwear. They accept gently used coats, sizes 4/5 through adult XXL (children, women’s, and men's)! The Clothing Closet also needs new packaged underwear for all sizes, elementary through high school.
You can drop off any donations, Monday thru Friday, from 9am-12pm at the Family Resource Center at the Pipal Community Center ,7770 Hascall St. You can also drop off any donations to the Clothing Closet at Hillside, and we will get them to the resource center. Or, you can contact westsidethecloset@gmail.com to make other arrangements.
Thank you for your assistance. We want to help all our families with their needs, and donations are a big part of that!
WE-SIDE FALL ART CONTESTS
Our popular and inspiring district contest is BACK for 2021! We invite ALL students and staff members to create a poem, drawing, photograph, sculpture, digital/electronic art, or painting using the theme of Belonging Builds Community.
We will be awarding prizes for different grade levels and buildings throughout the district, and your work could be featured on Westside websites, social media and in future publications!
All entries are due by November 16th at 4:00pm. Bring your art to school or email it to Dr. Lucas at lucas.mike@westside66.net.
For questions about these events or any other issues, please email communications@westside66.net.
Thank you – please join us for these important events!
Westside Community Schools
Hillside STEAM Day is Tuesday, December 21st
Students at Work!
We are so proud of our awesome Hillside Tigers. They are helping to keep our school beautiful.
Use TAGG (Together a Greater Good) to Help Hillside
1) Download the TAGG app
2) When in the app, choose Hillside as a place to support
When you are ready to process a purchase:
2) Touch the "TAGG a purchase" button
3) Touch "Hillside" when asked to choose whom to support
4) Find and touch the business that generated your receipt
5) Take a photo of your receipt
6) Upload your receipt
That's it! It's that easy.
Thank you for TAGG-ing your purchases regularly for Hillside!
HyVee Receipts
Hillside's Community Club used to collect HyVee receipts for a period of time during first semester, but no longer! TAGG benefits Hillside all year long and during the summer, too! Be sure to TAGG your purchases each time you visit HyVee. Thank you for supporting Hillside!
Boxtops for Education
https://www.boxtops4education.com/How-To-Earn
Thanks for your help!
Holiday Assistance
It’s hard to believe but the holiday season is right around the corner. As part of the Westside Community Schools family, we are fortunate to have some groups and organizations that are generous in many ways, especially when it comes to helping children.
Each year, several churches in the community, community service clubs and individual donors offer to help students whose families may be experiencing some temporary financial setbacks due to the tough economic times. These groups often donate a food basket, clothing and/or gifts. These items are meant to assist you in what you are already providing for your family.
If your family is not receiving assistance from other organizations, we are here to provide support. If you need assistance during the holiday season, please contact your school counselor, Mr. Zach Maloley at maloley.zachary@westside66.net or call 402-408-8462.
PBiS Skill of the Week for Next Week
Hillside announces daily the social Skill of the Week. This is the skill we are focusing on as a building for the entire week. Next week's Skill of the Week is: Asking for Help. When you ask for help you:
- Look at the person
- Ask the person if he or she has time to help you
- Explain the kind of help you need
- Thank the person for their help