West High Newsletter
West High School - Sioux City, IA
January 2020
This Month's Highlights.....
- Driver's Education Information
- Registration for the 2020-2021 School Year
- Vaping Education
Traffic Education 2020
The Sioux City Community School District (SCCSD) plans to offer two sessions of Traffic Education for the summer of 2020. The first session of classes will run June 1 - June 30 and the second session will run June 29 - July 28.
Classes will be Monday through Friday, however some driving sessions may have to happen on weekends in order to have all students complete the session in four weeks.
Registration for summer Traffic Education will begin on Monday, March 2 with the deadline for all registrations ending on Friday, March 27. Cost for the class will be $385. (School waivers are accepted for Summer School.)
In order to register:
- You must be 14 years of age.
- You must have a valid Iowa learner’s permit.
- A complete deposit for the class fee must be made to the high school you are registering at in order to be completely registered.
Registration forms must be filled out at the main offices of one of the three Sioux City public high schools (East High, North High, and West High). Students must complete the registration at the school they plan to attend. Registrations will not be accepted by mail or email. The student’s permit and the payment fee must be presented at the time of registration.
Registration is limited to the number of available openings at each school (West High, North High and East High). Enrollment will be accepted, based on the date order in which registration forms are received, until capacity is met. Students placed on a waiting list are not guaranteed a place in the summer class. For questions, contact John Torno (North High School) at (712) 898-3505 or tornoj@live.siouxcityschools.com.
Students and Staff of the Month
12th Grade Students of the Month
11th Grade Students of the Month
10th Grade Students of the Month
9th Grade Students of the Month
Staff Member of the Month
Registration Night for 2020-2021
Current WHS 9-11th Students:
Meet in the Media Center at 6:30
- Informational meeting covering college courses, AP courses, Career Academy, Graduation Requirements, and other important information.
Current 8th Grade Students:
Meet in the Auditorium at 6:30
- Informational meeting covering transitioning to high school, the freshman house, block scheduling, and other important information
Activity sponsors, athletic coaches, and Career Academy representatives will be available in the gym for questions and information.
Building Tours will be available, beginning in the gym.
We hope to see a lot of families, as we prepare for next Fall!
P.A.W.S. Meeting
P.A.W.S is our parent group, similar to a PTA. Please plan to join us in the Media Center on the following dates at 6:00 PM.
This group is a way for parents to be involved with what is going on at West High!
We hope to see you there!
January 13th
March 16th
April 20th
Januray Update from Mr. Pace and the Athletic Department
Although we are in the middle of January and spring seems so far away, track, soccer, golf and tennis are right around the corner. If your student athlete has not gotten a new physical for the year now is the time to start planning to get that done; remember our student-athletes cannot practice without a current physical on file in the activities office. With that physical all athletes also need a current consent to treat and good conduct form in the office as well. The paperwork for each of those items can be pickup up in the stacks outside of the attendance office or in the activities office with Michaelle.
We wanted to take a few minutes and touch on sportsmanship for parents and spectators again this month. Learn the rules of the game so that you may understand and appreciate why certain situations take place. Each year the organization that governs sports makes rules changes to the game that affect the play and the situations that arise, most often, the rules as you knew them when you played or learned the game may have changed. Remember that a ticket to an interscholastic athletic event is a privilege to observe the contest, not a license to verbally assault others and be generally obnoxious.
It is never too late to purchase an individual or family pass for the activity events that happen at West High School. Please contact the activities office with questions about the cost and availability of those passes. If you have questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Sincerely,
Al Pace
Asst. Principal, Athletic/Activity Director
712-279-6781
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Vaping Concerns
We continue to see students using vapes at school. Vapes and vape "pods" are not permitted on campus.
Here is what the student handbook says regarding this issue.
"The District maintains a drug/alcohol/tobacco/nicotine free environment for all District facilities, grounds, and vehicles. The policy includes the use of nicotine products that are not FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved for tobacco cessation. This requirement extends to students, employees, and visitors at all times. Persons failing to abide by this policy will be asked to extinguish their smoking material or dispose of the tobacco/nicotine product, or other product, or leave the District premises immediately."
If students are found to be in possession of vapes, the following will occur:
First Offense: Ticketed by Sioux City Police, placed in ISS for remainder of the day, and at least one additional day
Second Offense: Ticketed by Sioux City Police, OSS 1 day
Third Offense: Ticketed by Sioux City Police, OSS 3 days
Students who are caught smoking, using a vape, or in possession of tobacco or vaping products will be required to attend a vaping education class. Our first class is Monday January 27th 2:00 - 3:00 PM.
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After-School Tutoring & Night School
Night School is also available for students that want to continue to work on their Edgenuity courses or need extra help. Tues & Thurs 3 - 7PM and Wed 3 - 5 in room 265
*Please note: nursing services are not provided during these voluntary activities
Upcoming Saturday Schools
January 11th, 8:00 AM - Noon
February 8th, 8:00 AM - Noon
Food Pantry & Clothes Closet
The pantry is open for any Westside families to get what they may need. Some clothes and toiletry items are also available.
The pantry is available by appointment throughout the month. Please contact Martez Van Buren vanburm1@live.siouxcityschools.com or your student's counselor to set up an appointment.
Upcoming ACT Dates
Wanting to sign up for the ACT?
Visit here to sign up and log in!
Future Test Dates:
February 9, 2020
April 4, 2020
April 21, 2020 (Administered to all 11th grade students at the high school; no cost to students)
June 13, 2020
New Transcript System
Please visit https://www.parchment.com/u/registration/11598/account to request transcripts.
Order your 2019-2020 Yearbook Now!
Social media and technology are always changing, but yearbooks are forever. Buy your student a lasting memento that will grow in value each year of your student’s life – the 2019-20 West High yearbook.
When you buy your child a yearbook, you are buying a product that will be treasured today and for years to come. This invaluable keepsake of the 2019-20 West High yearbook is only $40. The price will go up as the year goes on so don’t wait.
Buy online with a credit card, debit card or PayPal at yearbookforever.com or at school with cash or check from Ms. Stephens in room 257 at West High.
Order now, so your student won’t miss out when the yearbook is distributed around October 2020, or when the class reunions start rolling around. Senior year happens once… the yearbook is forever.
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Important Dates for All Students
January 11: Saturday School
January 16: Semester 1 Ends
January 17: No School Teacher Work Day
January 20: 1st Day of Second Semester/ Registration Night
Important Reminders for the Class of 2020
Jan 15 - Senior Pictures are Due
Jan 16 - Last day of Semester 1
April 21st – Senior Meeting during Homeroom
May 16th – Prom, Hilton Garden Inn
May 16th – 17th After-Prom
May 22nd – Last Day of School for Seniors & Graduation Practice
May 22nd – Senior Honors Assembly
May 23rd – Graduation, Tyson Events Center
West High Yearbook Photograph Requirements for 2019-20.
Please read the following requirements for the senior pictures to be used in the yearbook.
- The yearbook photograph must be a head and shoulders or waist up composition.
- High resolution
- Hand gestures may not appear in the photos.
- “Selfie” photos will not be accepted.
- Attire for photographs must comply with West High School’s dress code.
Senior pictures can be delivered to Ms. Stephens in room 257 or sent via email to stephet@live.siouxcityschools.com. Electronic submission is preferred but not required. The final date for accepting senior pictures will be January 15, 2020.
Graduation for the Class of 2020
The Tyson Events center will be hosting all three high schools on this Saturday. Information regarding pictures and other details will come on upcoming newsletters.
Saturday, May 23, 2020, 02:30 PM
Tyson Events Center, Gordon Drive, Sioux City, IA, USA
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Immunization Information for the Class of 2021
Iowa law requires that all students entering 12th grade have a Meningococcal vaccination. The requirement is 2 doses of meningococcal (A,C,W,Y) vaccine for students in grade 12, if born after September 15, 1999; or 1 dose if received when students are 16 years of age or older are required before school starts in the fall.
The meningococcal vaccine has been required since the start of the 2017/18 school year. Meningococcal disease is a life threatening illness that is caused by bacteria that infects the brain, blood, and spinal cord. It easily spreads in crowded settings.
What does this mean for you? You will need to call your physician’s office to make an appointment. You will need to check your home records or call your physician’s office to see what your student’s status is. If you do not have insurance, you can contact the Siouxland District Health Department at 279-6119. Please send a copy of your student’s updated immunization record to the school nurse prior to the first day of school in August 2020. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
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Lessons to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Annually, Sioux City Community Schools are in session on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in order to facilitate specialized instruction that honors the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Working in partnership with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the District plans age-appropriate lessons for every grade. Parents/guardians are welcome to visit our classrooms on January 20 as we learn more about the significant contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You can contact your child’s teacher or call the main office at your child’s school to inquire about lesson times. All visitors are asked to check into the building office and receive a visitor pass before joining the classroom.
Maintaining A Safe and Healthy Environment
The Sioux City Community School District is committed to providing an environment where students and staff members are treated with dignity and respect. We recognize that we are not unique, in that we experience the challenges of school and community-based bullying, yet we want to be unique in serving as a District that works to make a significant and positive difference in this arena. Please, join us in the effort to maintain a safe and healthy school environment. Visit our website, www.siouxcityschools.org/anti-bullying-harassment-hazing/, to learn more about our anti-bullying policy, view resources to help us combat bullying, or report concerns. We also welcome your feedback. Consider sharing your ideas or concerns using the Let’s Talk tool on our website.
Let's Talk
An engaged community makes our District stronger. That is why we have made it easy for you to connect with us whenever it is convenient for you. We encourage you to take advantage of Let’s Talk!, our 24/7 online submission site. Reach out with your ideas, questions, concerns, and praise. To make a submission, please visit http://www.siouxcityschools.org/lets-talk/.
Communication and Preparedness
Student and staff safety is of paramount importance in the Sioux City Community School District. For this reason, the District exercises a host of crisis prevention and planning tactics. Should an emergency occur, the school notifies you through our Blackboard phone system. In an emergency, the system calls every phone number associated with your child in order to reach you. The message will give you details about the emergency and provide directions on when/where to pick up your child if the normal school day is altered. Learn more about school safety.
Focus 2022 Strategic Plan
Non-Discrimination Statement
The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW.
The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices.
Inquiries or grievances, including Section 504 grievances and grievances under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.
West High School
Principal: April Tidwell
Website: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/west-high-school/
Location: 2001 Casselman Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6772
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxCityWestHighSchool/
Twitter: @WHS_Activities