News & Notes
August 2018
Message from Communications
I am borrowing Dr. McCann's column this month to introduce you to a NEW version of News & Notes for the 2018-2019 school year. We are happy to hear many of you enjoy reading about things going on with your coworkers across the District, and we are also listening to your feedback that you want this newsletter to be shorter and easier to read. This new platform offers a mobile friendly, visual outlet with easy links to more information, files that can be downloaded with one simple click, and the option to translate to a number of languages.
We want to share what's happening in your building! If you know of a coworker with an accomplishment to celebrate, if you have photos or video to share, or if there's something you would like to post on our District website, social media or calendar, please send it my way.
Thank you to all who took part in our Fall Communications Survey to help us continue to learn how to best connect with all of our staff. Here's to a terrific school year at Westside!
Brandi Paul, Director of Communications & Engagement
Westside Community Schools Communications
Email: paul.brandi@westside66.net
Website: www.westside66.org
Location: ABC Building
Phone: 402-390-2131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestsideCommunitySchools/
Twitter: @Westside66
Staff Awards and Honors
Dr. Blane McCann, Superintendent
Marlo Tomich, Swanson
Marlo Tomich, 6th grade teacher at Swanson, has been honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Tomich is invited to the White House to receive her award and $10,000, one of only two Nebraska educators recognized for their work in science education. Click here to read more.
Judith Stucky, Westside High School
Westside High Science Teacher Judith Stucky served as a NASA Nebraska Space Ambassador over the summer. Judy helped develop and plan the national conference, presented for attendees, and participated in the event.
Jake Hoover, Westside Middle School
David Shabram, Westside Middle School
Crystal Bolamperti, Westside Middle School
Snapshots Across The District
Get To Know An Admin!
Alan Bone, Director of Student Services
HOMETOWN: Grew up in Ralston; born in Hannibal, Missouri—boyhood home of Mark Twain.
EDUCATION: BS, Lamar University; MA, University of Nebraska; Admin Endorsement, UNO.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT: In a teacher's career, lots of highlights occur in tiny, incremental segments that you only realize were highlights after the fact. At the start of my fourth year of teaching, my sophomore English class included a 14-year-old whose angry outbursts had gotten him kicked out of every one of his previous teachers' classrooms.Having heard of his struggles, I vowed to be the teacher whose class he never got kicked out of. And while it took a lot of effort (on his part and mine), and there were moments when success seemed unlikely, I ended up becoming that teacher, not just for sophomore English, but for junior English, too. A few years ago, he contacted me via Facebook to say hi, to tell me he'd become a voracious reader, and let me know that I was the only teacher who ever "got" him. Lots of little moments, it turned out, combined to form what's still one of the accomplishments that mean the most to me.
INTERESTING FACT: I appeared on Jeopardy in 1998 and finished a distant second to an eventual five-day champ.
FAVORITE BOOK and/or MOVIE: Confederacy of Dunces
BEST MOMENT AT WESTSIDE: Receiving the WEA School Bell Award in 2017.
Email: bone.alan@westside66.net
Website: http://westside66.org/student-services/
Location: ABC Administration Building
Phone: 402-390-2150
Twitter: @westsidestuserv
A NEW SCHOOL for Sunset Hills staff and students!
For Your Classroom Calendar
8/27 Swanson Picture Day
8/27 Board of Education Meeting
8/28 Prairie Lane, Rockbrook, Westgate, WMS (8th) Curriculum Nights
8/28 Senior College Planning Night
8/29 WAC Back To School BBQ & Pep Rally
8/30 5th-6th Grade Band/Strings Curriculum Night
8/31 NO SCHOOL - Professional Development
9/1-9/30 Library Card Sign-up Month
9/3 LABOR DAY - NO SCHOOL
9/4 Board of Education Meeting
9/6 Boundary Engagement Committee Meeting
9/6 Outdoor Education Parent Meeting
9/8 International Literacy Day
9/9-9/15 National Arts in Education Week
9/9 National Grandparents Day
9/10 Special Services Parent Information Night
9/11 Patriot Day
9/12 Rockbrook Picture Day
9/13 Westgate Picture Day
9/13 Prairie Lane Design Advisory Committee Meeting
9/14 Westbrook Picture Day
9/15-10/15 Hispanic Heritage Month
9/16 Westside Basketball Annual Golf Outing9/17 Omaha Police Thank A Police Officer Day
Baby News!
Norah Lucille Sualy
Natalie Morgan Kowal
Bristol Frances Stirba
Eve Mae Hellman
Cecilia Hope Morris
Rockbrook celebrates the First Day of the school year in style!
Donate to the Westside Clothing Closet, earn a jeans day!
Friday, August 31: Bring a clothing donation to Professional Development, and you can wear jeans! This month we are hoping to collect new underwear and sock donations; cash is also welcome. All donations help WCS students and their families.