The Wildcat News
Western Hills Magnet Center - February 3, 2020
Principal's Message
February is a busy month as students are gearing up for district and state assessments. All classes are continuing to work on grade level standards as well as finishing up the mid-year MAP Assessment. We ask for your help in making sure students are on time and well-rested each and every day! Thank you for your support!
National School Counseling Week, "Helping Build Better Humans ” will be celebrated this week, February 3rd—7th, 2020. This is an opportunity to focus public attention on school counselors and recognize them for the contribution they make every day in the lives of our young adults. This special week honors school counselors for the important role they play in helping students examine their talents, strengths, abilities and interests. We are so blessed to have an OUTSTANDING Counselor, Mrs. Jaeke, at Western Hills! Thanks Mrs. Jaeke for all you do for our students at Western Hills! Please take a moment to give her a “special thanks” when you see her for her efforts in improving academic and social achievement for all students!
Third Quarter Progress Reports came home with students last week which is a good checkup for how your student's learning is progressing this quarter. Please take a few minutes to review your student's progress report, celebrate great efforts and make some goals for the last 4 weeks of the quarter. Don't forget P/T conferences will be Wednesday, March 4th and Thursday, March 5th, 2020.
One last note, we need your help with dismissal! Our goal is to get all students picked up and home safely everyday! Please take a few minutes to review our dismissal procedures below. It takes all of us working together to keep students safe!
Have a great start to February! Grab a good book and read, read, read on these cold inside winter days! Mrs. Harbison
Meet Mrs. Dirks - One of our Veteran Teachers
Meet one of our 2nd grade teachers! Mrs. Dirks has been teaching for 20 years and is still excited about coming to Western Hills every day to spend time with her 2nd graders! Omaha is home for Mrs. Dirks where she attended St. Margaret Mary’s for elementary school. Mrs. Dirks comes from a family of 8 and said one of the fondest memories of being in elementary school was “working her first job as a babysitter when she was 10, and she says she loves to work!” Being from a large family Mrs. Dirks feels she and her siblings learned to be good problem solvers, because her parents didn’t have time, which may be why her favorite subjects were math and soccer. Mrs. Dirks didn’t start her career as a teacher, rather after being a salesperson she decided she needed something more and went back to school to get her teaching degree.
Teaching at Western Hills she loves telling stories to kids and having them share their stories with her. She also finds making connections with kids very rewarding, and then of course there is summer break! As far a teaching power, she feels her ability to build relationships with her students is the only way to keep them engaged and interested in learning new things. Mrs. Dirks love of learning and being nice to others is her goal in the classroom.
100 years on the 100th Day of School
Our Third Grade Teachers at 100 Years Old
CandyGrams for Sale
VALENTINE CANDYGRAMS
Surprise your favorite Valentine with a CandyGram. CandyGrams will be sold during lunch February 5th-12th . CandyGrams may be purchased for 25 cents each. Candy will be attached to the CandyGram and delivered to classrooms on Friday, February 14th. Thank you for your support!
Valentine's Day Parties
All students will celebrate Valentine’s Day on Friday, February 14th. Classroom parties will start at 2:30 pm until 3:30 pm. Please consider sending non-edible treats like pencils, erasers, bubbles, etc. Students will play Valentine games and have Raspberries and a Rice Krispie treat courtesy of the Western Hills PTO!
Kindergarten Enrollment - 2019 -2020
Singing for Kindness
Mrs. Galligher's 1st Grade
Ms. Baseler's 6th Grade
Ms. Novacek's 3rd Grade
Illness Guidelines
Illness Guidelines: We have begun to see an increased number of ill children at school. In order to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases, we'd like to remind you of the following guidelines:
Keep your child home if any one of the following occurs:
· temperature of 100 degrees or higher within the last 24 hours without anti-fever medication
· vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
· any symptoms of acute illness such as persistent cough or runny nose and body aches
· students with strep throat need to be treated with antibiotics for 24 hours before returning
Your child should look and behave like him/herself for 24-48 hours before returning to school. Why???
—To protect your child from exposure to other illness before he/she is able to build resistance
—To protect the other students and staff from communicable diseases your child may transmit.
Remember– Hand washing is the most effective means of preventing the spread of communicable diseases! Remind your children to wash their hands frequently and cover their nose and mouths when coughing or sneezing.
Please call the health office with any questions or concerns you have regarding your child's health needs.
Kids Heart Challenge
We are kicking off our Kids Heart Challenge program (formerly Jump Rope for Heart) on February 10th. We are thrilled to participate as we work together to raise money for the American Heart Association and learn how nutrition and being active can help us live longer, healthier lives.
Through the Kids Heart Challenge, we are going to talk about three things:
1 Habits to keep our hearts healthy
2 How we can help others…Meet Finn
3 Encourage everyone to take the challenge to adopt one of three healthy habits
This year we are excited to welcome the Heart Heroes to our school. Over the next few weeks, the characters will share important messages about keeping their heart healthy, building self-confidence and helping others. The first step is getting your student registered and taking a challenge. When students register, they will receive their free wristband and join the Heart Heroes!!!
1 Click Here register your student for our Kids Heart Challenge
2 Choose your challenge
a. MOVE MORE
b. BE KIND
c. BE READY
3 Earn your free glow-in-the-dark Heart Hero wristband
4 Download the Kids Heart Challenge app to bring the wristband and any Heart Heroes to life.
Your student can earn the Heart Hero characters and additional gifts by asking friends and family to make donations in support of the American Heart Association.
Thank you so much for supporting our school and the American Heart Association. Together we can do this!
News From the Counseling Corner
Red Fruits and Vegetables
Getting your phytonutrients from whole foods is best.
For the month of February we will be eating red fruits and vegetables.
2/4 red grapes
2/6 red cabbage
2/11 red pears
2/14 raspberries
2/18 radishes
2/20 red plums
2/25 red apples
2/27 red peppers
National School Counseling Week
National School Counseling Week 2020 is Feb. 3–7. The week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and the tremendous impact they can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
Western Hills PTO - Activities and Information
The Western Hills PTO is always looking for interested parents to join and support activities at our school. You will find posted here upcoming events and activities.
Mark your calendars and come join us for our PTO meetings. Our next PTO meeting is this Sunday, February 9th at 2:00 pm in the Community Room at Western Hills.
PTO Spellathon FundRaiser
PRESENTED BY
WESTERN HILLS ELEMENTARY PTO
STUDY AND RAISE FUNDS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN INDIVIDUAL PRIZES LIKE:
KINDLE FIRE
FAMILY ZOO MEMBERSHIP
A SURPRISE FIELD TRIP FOR THE CLASS with the
HIGHEST AVERAGE TEST SCORES
AND MUCH MORE!!
LOOK FOR INFO PACKET IN YOUR CHILD’S BACKPACK AND THE WESTERN HILLS PTO WEBSITE THIS COMING FRIDAY
R.O.A.R. PLEDGE
Did you know that every morning students recite our Western Hills pledge?
I am a Wildcat
I Respect people, places and things,
I Only use kind words and actions,
I Always do my best, and
I am Ready and willing to learn,
I am a Wildcat,
Hear me ROAR!!!
Ask your child to practice saying the ROAR pledge and ask what the pledge means to them.
Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status, or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to address inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE. 68131
531-299-9822