WHS Newsletter
January 2019
Message from the Principal
As we approach the semester change it is important that the school and families work together to keep students engaged and maintaining positive attendance.
Pay Attention to Attendance:
Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.
Did you know?
- Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
- Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
- By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
- By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
- Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
- Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.
- Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.
What you can do:
Make school attendance a priority
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school everyday, make that the expectation.
- Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.
- Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety.
Help your teen stay engaged
- Find out if your child feels engaged by his classes and feels safe from bullies and other threats.
- Make sure he/she is not missing class because of behavioral issues and school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, work with your school.
- Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
- Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
- Encourage meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.
Communicate with the school
- Talk to teachers if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be tied to something going on at school.
- Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not piling up.
- Ask for help from school officials, after-school programs, other parents or community agencies if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. WHS Attendance office:712-279-6093
Light up the Gym Night!
The 2019-18 Light up the Gym Night will be Tuesday January 29th with our home boys contests vs. South Sioux City High School. All West Side feeder elementary schools and West Middle School will be in attendance. The half-time dancers for the JV contest will be The City Elite Dance Team, while the Varsity halftime light show will be our own West High Dance Squad. All elementary and middle school students will receive free admission to the games. They'll also receive free popcorn and pop, along with a "glow-in-the-dark" bracelet that'll assist them in "lighting up" the West High gymnasium.
SCCSD High Schools to Host ACT Exam for all Juniors
On April 9, each of the three Sioux City Community School District high schools will host an ACT exam date for all 11th grade students, in order to encourage college readiness and preparedness for the work force.
Data from this exam will inform the District on how current curriculum aligns with the ACT, as well as suggest areas of improvement. It will also assist in providing students with a smoother transition into college and increase their potential for future success.
In order to eliminate distractions and secure proctors for the exam, 9, 10, and 12th graders will not have school on this date.
Report Cards
Report Cards will also be mailed home.
Driver Education Information
The Sioux City Community Schools plan to offer two, four weeks sessions of Traffic Education for the summer.
**SNOW DAYS USED BY THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY AFFECT ACTUAL STARTING DATE.**
If further snow days are utilized, course dates will change accordingly.
Classes will be held Monday thru Friday at each of the three public high schools East, North and West. Registration for Summer Traffic Education will begin the 1st week in March. Cost for the class will be $385. (School waivers are accepted for Summer School. Make sure if you are on free or reduced lunch you have submitted a fee waiver to the bookkeeper).
In order to get registered,
1. You must be 14 years of age.
2. You must have a valid learner’s permit and it must be shown at time of registration in order to complete child’s registration.
3. A complete deposit for the class fee must be made to the high school you are registering at in order to be completely registered.
Registration openings are limited at each school. Students will be accepted for the course based on the number of openings available at each school and the date in which the student completes the registration form. If you have any questions you may contact John Torno, at North High School, phone # 712-898-3505 or for quicker responses tornoj@live.siouxcityschools.com
Students and Staff of the Month
Freshman – Niurka Ramirez
Sophomore – Nathaniel Marbley
Junior – Gwendolyne Rogers
Senior – Nick Hoover
Staff – Ashley Brady
Immunization Information for Class of 2020
Iowa Immunization law requires that all students entering 7th grade have both a Meningococcal vaccination and a Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis/whooping cough) vaccination before school starts in the fall.
Iowa law requires that all students entering 12th grade have a Meningococcal vaccination. The requirement is 2 doses of meningococcal (A,C,W,Y) vaccine for students in grade 12, if born after September 15, 1999; or 1 dose if received when students are 16 years of age or older are required before school starts in the fall.
The Tdap requirement has been in place since the 2013/14 school year and requires a booster dose of Tetanus, Diphtheria, and acellular Pertussis containing vaccine for students entering 7th grade, regardless of the interval since the last Tetanus/Diphtheria containing vaccine. Pertussis (whooping cough) is a very contagious disease that causes violent coughing fits that make it hard to breathe.
The meningococcal vaccine has been required since the start of the 2017/18 school year. Meningococcal disease is a life threatening illness that is caused by bacteria that infects the brain, blood, and spinal cord. It easily spreads in crowded settings. The vaccine is required prior to both the 7th and 12th.
What does this mean for you? You will need to call your physician’s office to make an appointment for these vaccines. You will need to check your home records or call your physician’s office to see what your student’s status is. If you do not have insurance, you can contact the Siouxland District Health Department at 279-6119. Please send a copy of your student’s updated immunization record to the school nurse prior to the first day of school in August 2019. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
After School Tutoring
Seal of Biliteracy
We are excited to announce, beginning this academic year, the Sioux City Community School District (SCCSD) will offer a Seal of Biliteracy to graduating students who have attained proficiency in two or more languages, one of which being English. Students in SCCSD that complete requirements for AP Language and Culture, pass the AP language and culture exam with a minimum score of 3, and complete district determined requirements will be awarded the Seal of Bilteracy on their diploma, and receive a certificate of completion.
Being able to know and use more than one language is a critical skill for the 21st century. The seal of biliteracy recognizes the value of language diversity & cultural identity, prepares students with 21st century skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society, and provides employers, universities, and grant/scholarship providers with a method to recognize applicants for their dedication to attainment of biliteracy.
The Seal of Biliteracy, designated by the Iowa Department of Education, will be recognized statewide. The honor focuses not on “seat time” or completion of language courses; it relies on demonstrating proficiency in a given language.
Additional information can be found at https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/instruction/biliteracy-seal. Questions about the Seal can be directed to Victoria Albright, world languages coordinator for the Sioux City Community School District.
Maintaining A Safe and Healthy Environment
The Sioux City Community School District is committed to providing an environment where students and staff members are treated with dignity and respect. We recognize that we are not unique, in that we experience the challenges of school and community-based bullying, yet we want to be unique in serving as a District that works to make a significant and positive difference in this arena. Please, join us in the effort to maintain a safe and healthy school environment. Visit our website, www.siouxcityschools.org/anti-bullying-harassment-hazing/, to learn more about our anti-bullying policy, view resources to help us combat bullying, or report concerns. We also welcome your feedback. Consider sharing your ideas or concerns using the Let’s Talk tool on our website.
Let's Talk
Non-discrimination Statement
The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices. Inquiries or grievances, including Section 504 grievances and grievances under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075,gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.
Sioux City West High School
Website: http://www.siouxcityschools.org/west-high-school/
Location: 2001 Casselman Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 7122796772
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxCityWestHighSchool/
Twitter: @WHS_Activities