Westside Middle School Newsletter

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

End of 1st Semester:

Wednesday, December 21st

Winter Break:

December 22 - January 4th

2nd Semester Begins:

Thursday, January 5th

First semester will end on Wednesday, December 21st. We will dismiss at regular Wednesday time of 2:44. Please work with your student to get in missing work. Check with specific teacher(s) on their deadline for turning work in. Second Semester will begin when we return from winter break on January 5th. Students will receive a new copy of their schedule on that day.

There will be no after school library on Wednesday, December 21st. Please arrange a ride for your student when school is dismissed at 2:45.

We will be changing the 7th grade lunches up to help with some traffic flow to and from lunch.

All items in the lost and found will be cleaned out and donated over break. Please make sure your student checks the lost and found in the main office for any missing items!

This year the WMS Community Club is launching its very own website (wms-cc.org) and we need your help. The mission of the Community Club is to provide support to the Teachers, Staff, and Students of Westside Middle School and our new website will be the primary conduit through which we will convey our programs, events and fundraising efforts. Our new site has many features including an online directory so that you can connect to other WMS students and families and a mobile app so you can connect on-the-go. Here's how you can help:

If you are a family - keep an eye out in your email inbox for an invitation to activate your free membership account. With this free account you will be able to decide what information about you and your family will be published in our online directory. With the tools you are in total control of the data that gets shared. You'll also be able to manage your communication and newsletter settings.

If you are a local business owner - we are looking for any business owner(s) that would be interested in helping to support our new site by becoming a Community Club Sponsor. Your logo would be displayed on our site, your business would be further described on our Sponsors page, and we can include links to direct site visitors to your site. If you are interested, please reach out to our Website Chair, Ember Krumwied at jamesember@gmail.com.

One aspect of the role of a school counselor that is unique when compared to other student

services personnel such as school psychologists and school social workers, is that school

counselors directly deliver a curriculum to all students through classroom lessons. The topics of the lessons are driven by a variety of factors that include needs assessments, counseling depart annual goals, referral data, attendance data etc. During the weeks of December 5 th and 12 th the school counselors are in both 7 th and 8 th grade homerooms delivering a lesson on healthy vs. unhealthy relationships which focuses on healthy relationships between peers. The lesson focuses 4 components of a healthy relationship:

1. Healthy relationships have healthy boundaries.

2. Healthy relationships are balanced in terms of equal benefits from the relationship and

the decision-making power is balanced between both individuals

3. Healthy relationships are stable and predictable.

4. Healthy relationships are accepting. In other words, each person is free to have their

own opinions, values, beliefs and those are respected and accepted within the

relationship.

The lesson also guides students on how to handle unhealthy relationship by either establishing/re-establishing boundaries or distancing themselves from the other person in the relationship. When we return in January, school counselors will be back in homerooms delivering a lesson on managing emotions. Both these lessons were identified in a needs assessment completed by WMS Staff and the WMS School Counseling Advisory Committee. The lessons also align with the counseling department annual goal pertaining to reduction of major office referrals. As always, your student’s school counselor is here to support you and your student in academics, career exploration/readiness, and social emotional development.

Our school counseling staff is:

Doug Hauserman – Teams 7D and 8C, Haserman.Douglas@westside66.net, 402-408-8577

Sarah Lieske – Teams 7B, 8A and 8B, Lieske.Sarah@westside66.net, 402-408-8618

Mike McCann – Teams 7A, 7C and 8D, McCann.Michael@westside66.net, 402-4088591

Another way our students use their Warrior Bucks is in drawings for $5 gift cards. Popular places include: Any coffee place, Smoothie King, any fast food restaurant.

We are reaching out to parents who may be able and willing to donate to our store either with goods or gift cards. You may bring your donations to main office labeled PBIS.

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

This week students will have team celebrations in honor of ending the 1st semester!

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.