Westside Middle School

2022-23 WMS Administration:

Kim Eymann - Principal eymann.kimberly@westside66.net

Jordan Rhodes - Assistant Principal (Dean 7C, 8A). rhodes.jordan@westside66.net

Jenni Allen - Assistant Principal and Special Services Department Chair. allen.jenni@westside66.net

Dan Carlson - Dean and Athletic Director (Dean 7A, 7B, 8C). carlson.daniel@westside66.net

Kellon Johnson - Dean (7D, 8B, 8D). johnson.kellon@westside66.net

No School: Friday, March 17th

8th Grade High School Walkabout: Tuesday March 21st, all 8th graders will tour and learn about WHS

All 8th graders will attend 8th Grade Walkabout at Westside High School on Tuesday, March 21st. Teams 8A and 8D will go from 12:45-2:15 and teams 8B and 8C will go from 1:30-3:00. Students will be transported by buses with their homeroom teacher. A tour and general information about the high school will be given.

Reading for pleasure inside and outside of school has real and long-lasting benefits. It unlocks the power of information and imagination and helps kids discover who they are. Here’s what you can do to help kids develop stronger reading skills and a love for reading:

· Set the example. Let your kids see you read.

· Have a collection of books in the home. Update this collection routinely to keep pace with changing tastes and reading skills.

· Support our school’s Book Fair. Allow your kids to choose their own books to read.

Our Scholastic Book Fair is a reading event that brings to school the books kids want to read. It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Please make plans to visit our Book Fair and be involved in shaping your child’s reading habits.

Book Fair dates: March 15-March 22

Shopping hours: 8:00-3:45 in the library daily

AND

During parent/teacher conferences in the library from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15th and Thursday March 16th.

If you are unable to attend the Fair in person, we invite you to visit our online Book Fair: https://bookfairs-content.scholastic.com/bf/westsidemiddleschool2

We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair! Remember, all purchases benefit our school.

None of us want to lose our 7th and 8th grade memories to the past. To save these precious memories, buy your yearbook now! A yearbook is only $25. Tap the link to remember this year forever! https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/westsidemiddleschool/products/4861

Deadline is April 3rd. There will be very limited amount of extra yearbooks ordered, so if you do not place your order there is a good chance your student will not receive one..

Medicaid Unwinding has started

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicaid members have kept Medicaid coverage even if they are no longer eligible. Regular reviews of Medicaid eligibility will start on March 1, 2023, and will be spaced out over the next twelve months. It is very important that Medicaid members make sure their contact information is up to date with Nebraska Medicaid (see attached flyer for details). If Nebraska Medicaid is not able to reach a member, they could unnecessarily lose Medicaid coverage.

• Information for reapplication

WHS Dance Marathon is hosting a babysitting night on March 31 from 5:30-8:30 pm. Families can sign- up for the night through the Google Form (link below). Dinner will be provided. The cost is $50 ($10 per additional kid). We do ask families to sign up in advance to ensure we have enough food for the kids.

Link to Google Form: https://forms.gle/WY7CqyHpiGYeWZXFA

Our school district is pursuing "Phase II" of our bond issue program that was first established in 2013. Below you will find information about this bond issue. This will be decided by our voters on May 9th through a MAIL-IN election.

Check out all the exciting things going on with We-Side Unified in this months newsletter:

https://www.smore.com/78w3d

OneWorld Medical Mobile will be stationed at Westside Middle School on February 22nd. The Clinic provides preventive care screenings, well child checks, school/sports physicals, immunizations (including flu or Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines), asthma action plans, diabetes, sick visits for earaches, pink eye, UTI's, etc, behavioral health and emotional support services.The mobile clinic features two exam rooms and a room for counseling.

During appointments, parents may join in person or over the phone. Appointments can be billed though insurance or Medicaid, and if the child or teen lives in a family with low-income and is not covered by insurance, OneWorld will slide the fee to $0, and help the family apply for Medicaid and the Market Place Insurance.

Parents or guardians may call 402-880-4870 to schedule an appointment.

Second Step Lesson 20:

• 7th: What Makes a Conflict Escalate?
• 8th: My Values

We Need Your Help!!!

As you may know, as part of our Positive Behavior Interventions and Support for our students, WMS has both a Warrior Bucks Store and website. Students' positive behaviors are reinforced by receiving a Warrior Buck from a staff member. In turn, they can then use their Warrior Bucks in the store or online. As you can imagine, our students are pretty fantastic and earn quite a few Warrior Bucks. It is expensive to stock this store. We have three awesome ways you can help!

1 - Shop on Amazon?? Here is the WMS Wish List where you can have things directly shipped to us here at school.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/165SYHMWWVZKJ?ref_=wl_share

2. Purchase things from where you would like and bring them to the main office, labeled PBIS.

List of items in our store that our students love: Mini soda, gum either in packs or individually wrapped, small bags hot/flaming of chips, small packages of cookies, mini candy bars or other types of candy, Slim Jims, airheads, little debbie snacks, granola bars, mini gatorade, fruit snacks, blow pops.

3 - Purchase $5 gift cards for students to use their Warrior Bucks in drawings. Bring them to the main office.

Popular places include: Any coffee place, Smoothie King, any fast food restaurant.

Thank you in advance for any help with these items!!

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (AHERA) requires each public school district to annually notify parents, staff, and employee groups of its asbestos management plans. A management plan is in place for Westside Middle School and is available for review either at the school building or at the Westside Service Center, 9437 J St. Omaha, NE.

This school building was originally inspected in the1980’s and re-inspected by a certified inspector every three years thereafter. The three-year re-inspection and a ceiling tile inspection was conducted in 2019, and periodic surveillance will be conducted as required. No abatement activities are currently in progress or scheduled for the 2022-2023 school year at this building.

The Designated Person responsible for managing the District’s AHERA compliance and the contact person for questions or to review a management plan is the Director of Facilities, Russ Olsen (402) 390-8331.

W-CLUB: JOIN TODAY

Make a gift that is meaningful to you to show you are proud to be part of Westside Community Schools. Funds raised through the W-CLUB get redistributed back into all Westside Community Schools. Every teacher has the opportunity to apply for W-Club grants annually. Westside Middle School has received funding for robots, traveling exhibit for German Class, and cameras for our journalism club in the past.

Donating to Westside Middle School

To make a tax-deductible donation please donate through the Westside Foundation. You can specifically note that funds should be designated to Westside Middle School community club, fun run, etc. Your gift is not tax deductible if it comes directly to our school. If you have questions, please contact Westside Foundation at foundation@westside66.net.