GATOR GAZETTE
Westgate Elementary Monthly Newsletter
March 6, 2020
Office/Attendance 402-390-6495
mininni.patricia@westside66.net
Preschool/Club 402-390-8202
March
2 - Dr. Seuss Breakfast Westgate Gym 8am
5 - Spring Pictures 9am
6 - Book Fair/ Art Fair 5:30-7pm
6-11 Scholastic Book Fair
9-11 Parent/Teacher Conference Mon, Wed. 4-8pm
13 - Intersession - NO SCHOOl (Fri.)
16 - 6th grade Strings and Solo and Ensemble Night 6:30pm @ WMS PAC
26 - District 5/6 Band-o-rama Concert WHS @ 7pm
30 - April 3 All Staff Appreciation Week
31 - 2020 Festival of Music 6th grade @ WHS 7pm
April
14 - CC Mtg. Board Elect & Parent Advisory 6pm
21 - Kdg. Parent Mtg. 6pm in WSG Library
30 - District 6th gr. Band Solo & Ensemble Concert @ WMS 7pm
All Staff Appreciation Week March 30 - April 3
Accepting Feedback
Staying on Task
Working with Others
Accepting Compliments
Asking for Help
Expectations for March
Technology
Classroom
Arrival/Dismissal
Bus/Transportation
Hallway
Westside Community Council
Westside Community Council is looking for representation from our elementary school for the 2020-2021 school year. WCC is composed of 2 to 3 members from each of the 12 schools in the District. The members plan and implement district-wide volunteer activities for the students in all grades. Each member serves on a minimum of 2 committees. Committees include:
*Westside Middle School Career Day
*Battle of the Books
*District Outreach/Advocacy
*Clothes Closet
*Westside High School Staff Appreciation
For additional information on the Westside Community Council or if you are interested in being a representative, contact Kim Sedivy in the Communications Department via email at sedivy.kimberly@westside66.net or phone (402) 390-2130.
Excellence In Youth Team
The Excellence In Youth Team is proud to announce Smith Dowse as the most recent recipient of the Digital Dozen award for this school year! This award is presented to students who earn 12 of the digital badges on the EY Blog (ey.westside66.org), which is available to students district-wide. It takes self-motivation, grit, and determination to earn these badges and we are proud of Smith's accomplishment!
Congratulations Smith!
String Concert Date Change
Sixth Grade String Parents - please note that the date of our Solo and Small Ensemble performance opportunity has been changed from Feb. 18 to Monday, March 16. The event will be held at Westside Middle School at 6:30. More information from your strings teachers will be emailed to you. Please let your strings teacher know if you have any questions!
Strike up the band because our BAND-O-RAMA EXTRAVAGANZA is quickly approaching! Band-o-rama will feature our district wide fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade band students as well as our award winning WHS Concert Jazz Band! Students will have a rehearsal during the school day for this event on March 26 and the concert will be the same day at 7:00 pm at Westside High School. Detailed information will be sent home about this concert as the date approaches. For now, please mark your calendars and make this evening a priority for your entire family. Please let your child's band teacher know if you have any questions!
Band and String Parents TAKE NOTE!
Band-o-rama:
Strike up the band because our BAND-O-RAMA EXTRAVAGANZA is quickly approaching! Band-o-rama will feature our district wide fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade band students as well as our award winning WHS Concert Jazz Band! Students will have a rehearsal during the school day for this event on March 26 and the concert will be the same day at 7:00 pm at Westside High School. Detailed information will be sent home about this concert as the date approaches. For now, please mark your calendars and make this evening a priority for your entire family. Please let your child's band teacher know if you have any questions!
String Solo and Small Ensemble Night:
Sixth grade string students have an optional performance opportunity on Monday, March 16! The event will be held at Westside Middle School at 6:30. More information from your strings teachers will be emailed to you. Please let your strings teacher know if you have any questions and if your child will be performing on this event!
Kindergarten Parent Meeting for 2020-2021 School Year
Kindergarten Round Up for 2020-2021 School Year
Enrollment Information
Student In-District Transfer Requests for the 2020-2021 School Year
If you are a District resident who would like your K-6 child(ren) to attend an elementary school other than the school that serves your attendance area for next school year, you must submit a completed In-District Transfer (IDT) Request form to the Office of Student Services for review.
The District gives priority to families living within the District prior to placing Option Enrollment applicants who reside outside the District. We must receive a Student In-District Transfer Request form no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 15, 2020, for your request to be considered prior to our placement of Option Enrollment students.
IDT forms are available at the ABC Building and our District website. . An IDT request form must be completed for any child starting kindergarten next year who has one or more siblings currently attending a school outside their home attendance area. Transfers are approved or denied based on available space and other resources. If you have questions about the in- district transfer process, please call the Welcome Center at 402-390-2100.
Kindergarten Enrollment for District Residents: February 15th - March 15th
Do you live in the District and have a child who will be ready for Kindergarten this fall? Do you know of other Westside residents with children who will be ready to start school in August?
Kindergarten enrollment for 2020-2021 begins February 15th, 2020. Parents of eligible students should go to westside66.org to begin the enrollment process as early as possible on or after February 15th.
Students entering kindergarten for 2020-2021 must be five years old by July 31, 2020. Parents may opt to hold their children out of kindergarten for an additional year. However, Nebraska state law mandates that a child who reaches six years of age prior to January 1 of the then-current school year must be enrolled in school.
If you have questions, you may call the Westside Welcome Center at 402-390-2100.
Requirements for Early Admission to Kindergarten
In accordance with Nebraska Statute 79-214, the Westside Community Schools allows for admission of children residing in the District as early entrance kindergarteners through a locally designed testing program. Children of District residents who wish to be tested for early entrance must turn five between August 1 and October 15, 2020. For further information regarding early entrance to kindergarten, please call 402-390-3303.
Kindergarten Enrollment for Non-District Residents
If you live outside the District and have a child eligible for kindergarten who has a sibling currently attending a Westside elementary school through the Option Enrollment program, you must submit an Option Enrollment Application. Westside’s Office of Student Services must receive Option Enrollment Applications no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 15, 2020. The application form is available at the ABC Building (909 S. 76th Street) and our district website.
Under Option Enrollment statutes, first priority for admission is given to siblings who seek to attend in the District where an older sibling is already enrolled, provided an Option Enrollment form is submitted by March 15 and provided that there is space available in a requested building and grade level. In you have questions, you may call Julie Fumagalli at 402-390-2107.
If you click on the Titles below, it will take you to the form you need.
Enrolling NEW District student(s) for 2020-21:
Click here to be contacted once online enrollment link is available.
Student In-District Transfer Request
Registration for our Preschool/Pre-K programs.
GOOD LUCK to all students participating in the Battle of the Books!
The Battle will be held Saturday, March 21, at 8 a.m., at the Westside Middle School.
All ten elementary schools will be represented--for a total of 60 teams comprised of 260 4th-6th graders.
Since last summer and fall, students have been busy reading the ten Nebraska Golden Sower Chapter Book nominees and meeting with their teams to discuss the books.
Thank you to the many parents, librarians, teachers, and other staff who have encouraged students to participate in this quiz-bowl style competition that celebrates reading and fosters team spirit.
The Battle is sponsored by the Westside Community Council. You can find more details on the Battle of the Books website:
https://sites.google.com/view/westsidebotb
The Battle of the Books requires nearly 100 volunteers! Please consider giving your time to help make this event a success:
Adults: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4caeaf28a6f94-battle
Teens: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4caeaf28a6f94-battle1
Monthly Reminders
2nd - Tuesday of every month Community Club Mtg. 6pm
3rd - Saturday of every month 11am-9pm
Lunch Menus, Accounts & Free/Reduced Meal Applications All Online
Westside's award-winning Nutrition Services Team is dedicated to quality, nutritious meals for our learners throughout our buildings. We encourage you to CLICK HERE and save this link for access to daily menus at our elementary schools, Westside Middle School, and Westside High School. You can also fill out the Free/Reduced Meal Application, and load your child's MySchoolBucks account.