Westside Pride
November 2022
Westside is honored and proud to receive National Banner recognition from Special Olympics at all 12 of our schools, we believe a first in the nation. Watch the video below to learn more!
Each Wednesday, our dedicated staff members throughout our district will share their personal stories about why they choose Westside! We hope you will click below to watch our first videos!
NEWS & UPDATES
Westside Volleyball Headed To State Tournament
- CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.
- CLICK HERE for Westside Volleyball coverage in Westside Wired, by student journalists Ben Kaufman & CeCe Gerard
Westside High School is also hosting a 'Send Off' salute to our team as they leave for Lincoln on Wednesday, at 1:55pm at Westside High School. We will share the send off LIVE on the Westside Facebook Page. CLICK HERE to watch!
WESTSIDE HISTORY SPOTLIGHT!
Reunions, Memories Throughout 75 Years of Westside Community Schools
We received this great memory from LeeAnn Ellison, a Westside graduate, shared these memories with us:
My mother was an amazing woman. She taught at Oakdale and loved being a teacher. She raised six children in District 66; valedictorians, athletes, musicians, thespians.. we all excelled. The joke was that she had Vaughn Phelps' phone number on speed dial, and with that many children at Westside at one time, she was entitled. She was well known, as she was a room mother in elementary school and attended all events regarding her children; ALL of them. Recently, her grandson graduated, being a state athlete and musician. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2019 and wasn't able to see him cross the stage. We are incredibly proud of her, and she is most deserving <to be noticed in the alumni newsletter>, considering the Westside legacy she left behind.
We couldn't agree more. THANK YOU to Ms. Ellison and all of our incredible teachers now, and throughout the last 75 years!
WESTSIDE STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESS
Student Achievement and Well-Being
Nebraska students are scoring among the best in the country on 2022 national math and reading assessments. The results of the the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shared by the Nebraska Department of Education in October, are exciting for Westside teachers, who have never stopped working even as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down many other school districts across the country.
"I would say any of the assessment scores is because the teachers just never give up on the students and find ways to reach each of them," said Diana Williams, an instructional coach at Westgate Elementary, who spoke with KMTV's Molly Hudson.
Williams was one of the 500+ Westside teachers who immediately jumped into online instruction the Monday after Omaha area schools announced closures in March of 2020. When schools across the country remained closed and opted for remote only learning for the 2020-21 school year, Williams and Westside teachers returned to school for an innovative, and challenging, hybrid teaching model for Westside learners.
"We never stopped teaching the students, the teachers found ways to connect with kids at home and still reached them," Williams told Hudson. She also noted Westside's 'Rise Up' theme for staff for 2022-23, noting district efforts to move past pandemic-related setbacks with new resolve and unparalleled support.
"We have provided a lot of professional learning around those best practices, and around the new materials," Williams said. "The teachers have really took hold to those and are just doing fantastic."
Community, Collaboration & Partnerships
In October, State Senators and State Board of Education Members were invited to the Westside Boys & Girls Club for presentations on what Social-Emotional Learning is, and what curriculum looks like in different grades and at different schools. District leaders hosted similar community meetings at Prairie Lane Elementary, and again at the Westside Boys & Girls Club, to learn more and ask questions. Click here to watch a summary from KETV's Joey Safchik and Steve Goetz!
Among presentation notes from award-winning School Psychologist Mary McPadden:
- Our curricular definition of Social-Emotional Learning, or SEL, is helping students acquire the skills to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible choices.
- Social-Emotional Learning is exactly what it sounds like: we are teaching children how to better respond to conflict, whether it be a challenge at school, an argument, or a family crisis like a death or divorce. We are not teaching them what to think in those situations, but what their options might be in response such as deep breathing, taking a break, thinking positively, etc.
- Social-Emotional Learning is not politically motivated. We are not teaching students to be Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Libertarians, etc.
- Our teachers do not want to take the place of parents and their important roles of teaching their children family values, good behaviors, etc. Social Emotional Learning and these teachers might be considered as the 'pit crew', with the parents driving the car and kids inside learning how to drive themselves.
- Improved classroom climates for teachers, increasing job satisfaction and encouraging them to stay in the education profession
- Improved graduation rates and overall test scores; studies show when students know how to better address conflict, they are then better equipped to focus in school, on tests, etc.
- Improved employability for our students; national studies repeatedly show employers cite teamwork, positivity, determination and other traits strengthened through Social-Emotional Learning.
We will work to continue sharing more about Westside's Social-Emotional Learning curriculum to better inform our families and help YOU help us with this important work!
WE-SIDE UPDATES
Behind The Calendar - NOVEMBER
Our featured photo in our printed district calendar for November 2022 is 4-year old Charlotte Halvorsen. Charlotte is an ECC student at Paddock Road Early Childhood Center and proud Westside Warriors fan; her mom, Sara, is also the School Counselor at Paddock Road, and her dad, Wade, is a PE & Health Teacher at Westside High School, where he is also a Varsity Football coach. Charlotte's mom snapped that photo last year as her dad prepared for another football season of long hours of practices and games, always with his family cheering him on.
"When I see that picture I remember what a JOY it is to be a coach's wife and the ways that I try to help our kids feel that same joy about being coach's kids," said Sara Halverson. "Our girls love the team and feel truly connected to Wade's players. Through all of the opportunities to spend time with them (ice cream at our house, popsicles at practice, candy on halloween, stopping by randomly to visit dad, etc) our girls can focus more on that connection instead of focusing on the amount of time that dad is gone. They see it as something our whole family does."
"From my perspective, it's so fulfilling to see that the girls feel like they have soooo many brothers," said Coach Wade Halvorsen. "Sara has been so intentional for making sure the girls still get some dad time during the busiest time of the year. I know that I miss a lot of pickups and drop offs for dance, soccer, and school but it gives me a peace of mind that they know that I am doing what I love with "the boys". The girls truly understand that football and coaching is so much more than a game or job title. To them our football program is the players that become family. Side note...we just got a new puppy and the girls wanted to name him... Jaylen, Teddy, Anthony, or JQ....."
Hopefully, we will see Charlotte in the stands at Memorial Stadium in November for the third year in a row, watching her Warriors compete for a state title!
Have you received a printed calendar for the 2022-23 school year? This annual family favorite is provided FREE to all Westside students, families and students thanks to local, community businesses. Get yours at your child's school, or by emailing communications@westside66.net!
Download the Westside Community Schools App!
CLICK HERE to download the FREE APP for Westside Community Schools!
In one click, you can personalize the information important to you and your family including which schools to follow, important district news and updates, PowerSchool access, and MySchoolBucks - all in one place! You can also search for the app - Westside Community Schools - in the Apple Store and via Google Play.
Download the Westside Warriors Activities App!
Search 'Westside Warriors' wherever you get your apps!
WESTSIDE OPPORTUNITIES
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES
The following flyers and information have been provided by community partners not affiliated with Westside Community Schools. We do not endorse any of the following organizations or events, but are providing this information at no cost as a public service to our children, families, staff and community. For questions, please email communications@westside66.net.