Warrior Bulletin
Westside Parent & Student Newsletter for September 9, 2022
UPCOMING CALENDAR DATES
September 9, 2022 - WHS Student Council Fall Carnival
September 14, 2022 - College Fair at Westside Community Center (6:30 pm - 8:30 pm)
September 15, 2022 - First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month
September 17, 2022 - Constitution Day
September 29, 2022 - WHS School Picture Retake Day
September 29-October 2, 2022 - Westside Theatre Presents Clue On Stage
NOTES FROM ADMINISTRATION
WHS COMMUNICATION UPDATE
Westside High School has recently switched over to BrightArrow communications for our mass communication system. This means that email messages will be coming from an email domain of brightarrow.com and school text messages will be coming from 87569. Please know that these are legit messages from Westside High School.
WHS TRAFFIC SAFETY MESSAGE
We have received concerns about student safety in traffic while crossing streets surrounding Westside High School, specifically Pacific Street. With that, we encourage our families and students to talk at home about always watching for vehicles, even when they have the right-of-way in crossing a major street. Phones down, eyes up. In addition, parents, we encourage you to do the same during drop-off and pick-up; please take an extra moment to double check that no one is stepping in the path of your vehicle. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe inside AND outside of school!
3 MOMS AND A TEST ACT TEST PREPARATION
We will again be providing the opportunity for juniors to take an ACT test preparation course through Westside High School and Westside Community Schools. Generous donations through our Westside Schools Foundation make this possible, allowing us to partner with 3 Moms and a Test for ACT test preparation. This specific session is being provided for students in pre-calculus or above who plan to take the December 10th ACT test. This is a national test date hosted at multiple schools in the metro area, including Westside High School. Registration for the test is completed by the student and family through the ACT website and the student’s MyACT account.
POWERSCHOOL ACCESS
Parents who need PowerSchool Access to monitor their child's grades/attendance, should contact powerschool.support@westside66.net so an account can be set up.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
To access the WHS Attendance Office, please visit the school website HERE. New this year, parents can fill out a Google Form to report an absence. Additionally, parents who need to call their child out of school should contact the attendance office so an alert can be sent to them through their digital ID about the dismissal. PLEASE NOTE: A note through the digital ID will be the only way your child will be excused from class. Parents do not need to enter the building to pick up their child. Instead, your child will exit the front doors of the building at the time specified. In case of an emergency please call the attendance hotline at 402-343-2626 and leave a voicemail.
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Make sure to check out the WHS Counseling website for all the latest news and updates!
SEPTEMBER SENIOR INFORMATION
September 1 - All summer service learning hours due to homeroom teacher.
September 2 - Registration deadline for the October 1 SAT
September 16 - Registration deadline for the ACT on October 22.
On your radar (September):
Check the college visit calendar daily to see which colleges are visiting WHS. Most of the time, the representatives that visit are the same people who are reading student applications. Making contact is important to demonstrate interest in the college.
Determine if you will apply Early Decision (ED). Discuss the ramifications of this decision with your parent/guardian and counselor. Remember you can only apply to one ED school.
Work on college applications and observe all deadlines.
Look over your transcript and ensure all of your classes and grades are accurate. Did you take classes in middle school that counted for high school credit? Are they on your transcript? Make sure your GPA is accurate. Notify the counselor if you have any errors that need to be corrected.
PARENT & STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS
Asset 2: Positive Family Communication
The importance of an open door
Sometimes conversations with young people—especially your own children—can become confrontational. Learning to listen can help prevent slamming doors and, instead, open them. Though challenging, being available for frequent, in-depth conversations is an important role parents and other adult family members can play in children’s lives—from the time they learn to talk all the way into adulthood. The goal is to promote and maintain an open-door policy. Ask open-ended questions and then listen, listen, listen. Positive Family Communication is Asset 2 of Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
Here are the facts
Research shows that young people who experience positive communication with their parents are more likely to grow up healthy and are more willing to seek their parents’ advice and counsel. About 28 percent of young people, ages 11–18, enjoy positive communication with their parents and are willing to seek their parents’ counsel and advice, according to Search Institute surveys. Practice consistently communicating—talking and listening to young people—with an open mind and heart.
Tips for building this asset
Positive communication also means listening to understand a young person’s perspective, not to advocate your position. Be available when young people need you—and even when they think they don’t. Take good care of yourself so when your children want to talk, you can give them your full attention.
Also try this
- In your home and family: Make it easy for your child to spend time talking with you: Keep an extra stool or chair in the kitchen, den, home office, or workshop area. When you’re in the car together is a great time to chat, too.
- In your neighborhood and community: Ask young people you know caring questions, such as: What was the best thing about school today? What was the best act in the talent show? Why? Listen to their answers and respond accordingly.
- In your school or youth program: During parent meetings, discuss the importance of positive communication between parents and children.
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Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright © 2007 by Search Institute®, 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.
Westside High School
Email: dostal.jay@westside66.net
Website: https://www.westside66.org/whs
Location: 8701 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USA
Phone: (402) 343-2600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestsideHigh66
Twitter: @WestsideHigh66