Excellence in Youth

Westside Community Schools

April 2022 Recap

INTEREST & TALENT DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL LEARNERS!

The Excellence in Youth (EY) Program at Westside Community Schools provides expanded learning opportunities for students with high ability, in addition to fostering and encouraging talent development in all students.
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Challenge Highlight

Challenge Highlight


Summer is almost here and this EY Challenge is going to help you think of different ways to express and think of the numbers 20 to 1 as we countdown to summer!

Challenge Highlight
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Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl

Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl

5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from WCS elementary schools and Westside Middle School participated in the Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl in April. 135 teams of students from all over the United States participated in this event. The teams answered 100 challenging questions from

a range of topics including literature, famous people, math, sports, animals and many more.



Our Swanson team earned 14th place and our Rockbrook team's score was in 33rd place.


Great work quiz bowl teams!

Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl
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Math League Contest

EY Coordinators sponsored the Math League contest during the month of April. 5th graders at each elementary building practiced problems then took the 21-22 contest.


Congratulations to these top scorers!


Overall Winners


1st Place

26 - Tie - Remi K. (WB) & Jasper W.S. (OD)


2nd Place

24 - Whitney L. - RB


3rd Place

23 - Thea F. - SH


4th Place

22 - Max G. - SH

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EARN A BADGE . . . or 12!

Every student in Westside has the opportunity to begin earning badges. Working towards earning a badge allows students to dig deep into topics and explore individual interest areas. Badges can be found in various subject and interest areas.


Earn 12 badges to achieve the acclaimed "Digital Dozen" and earn a prize and recognition! Choose from hundreds of badge options on the EY Website or choose one below to get kick started!

New Badges!

Digital Dozen Winners

The Excellence In Youth Team is proud to announce Hazel H., Max W., Isabelle R., Cooper R., from Swanson, Joslyn O. from Oakdale, Henry H., Elise M., and Jordyn F. from Sunset Hills as the most recent recipients 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 Website (ey.westside66.org), which is available to students district-wide. It takes self-motivation, grit, and determination to earn these badges and these students should be proud of this accomplishment!
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EY WEBSITE - YOUR ONE STOP INFORMATION HUB!

The EY program website is the hub of communication for the EY Team. For our K-8 students, monthly challenges, seminars and events, as well as other learning opportunities are posted to the site on a regular basis.


All students are encouraged to participate in the opportunities posted, regardless of whether they have been identified for the EY Program. Students can participate independently by accessing the opportunities at home or during tech time at school. Teachers may also facilitate these whole and small-group enrichment opportunities for students in the classroom.


Click below to check out all our website has to offer!

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College for Kids Classes!

Metropolitan Community College offers many fun classes and camps. Don’t miss out on their College for Kids and College for Teens classes. Spaces fill up fast so don’t hesitate.
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Central Honors Camp

CHI is a five-day residential camp open to students who will be entering the 7th or 8th grade in the fall of 2022 and who have demonstrated high ability in language arts, science and/or mathematics. Students who attend CHI will have the opportunity to meet other high ability learners from across the state while participating in one of four academic tracks. The instructors who lead camp are some of the brightest, most innovative educators in our state. They love helping high ability learners like you stay ‘academically fit’ over the summer break.

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EY Team

Mrs. Henningsen

Mrs. Henningsen

Mrs. Henningsen
  • Swanson
  • Sunset Hills
henningsen.jennifer@westside66.net ey.westside66.org
Mrs. Sindt

Mrs. Sindt

Mrs. Sindt
  • Hillside
  • Oakdale
  • Rockbrook
sindt.katherine@westside66.net ey.westside66.org
Dr. Spady

Dr. Spady

Dr. Spady
  • Paddock Road
  • Westgate
  • Westside Middle School
  • Math 7 Honors Coordinator
spady.lynn@westside66.net ey.westside66.org
Mrs. Thompson

Mrs. Thompson

Mrs. Thompson
  • Loveland
  • Prairie Lane
  • Westbrook
thompson.megan@westside66.net ey.westside66.org