News & Notes
November 2019
Congratulations to our 4th grade teachers at Oakdale, winners of the October Royalty Cup! Melissa Clark and Michelle Kopecky are a dynamite team constantly going above and beyond to make our students, their coworkers, and our families feel like royalty.
OAKDALE ELEMENTARY holds the Royalty Cup this month!!! Who will win next??
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Engineering Teachers Highlighted by OPPD
OPPD recently shared a story about Westside's focus on vocational education in their company publication The Wire! THANK YOU to our teachers like John Bombac, Tyler Foster and Paul Cross for guiding a new generation of workers! CLICK HERE to read the story.
Westside Named 2019 Employer of the Year
SEND VIRTUAL CONFETTI!
Want to let a coworker know they are appreciated? Send them confetti kindness! Use the link below to spread the word: Kindness... It's Personal. #WeAreWestside
BOARD MEETING SUMMARY
Want updates on Board of Education meetings? CLICK BELOW for a summary of what was on the agenda November 4. The next Board of Education meeting will take place Monday, November 18 at 6:30 at the ABC Administration Building. CLICK HERE for a copy of the agenda.
REMINDER OF BOARD POLICIES
Established by the Board of Education, our district board policies govern the school district and set forth important rules, regulations and procedures for the operation of the school district. You will find all board policies under the Board of Education tab on the district website - “Searchable Board Policies”. There are seven categories that cover Students; Personnel; Instruction; Administration; Board of Education; Business; and Community Relations.
Board policies are routinely reviewed; revisions are made to existing policies and new policies are introduced. Our Administrative team reviews new and updated policies monthly at their All Admin Meetings. This month, revisions were suggested to Board Policies 6450 (Homework and Assignments) and 6460 (Wednesday Night for Community and Family Activities). These revisions will be brought before the Board of Education for their consideration and discussion at the December 16, 2019 board meeting. A second reading will be held on January 20, 2020. At that time, the board will be asked for approval of board revisions.
All staff members should have some familiarity with our district board policies. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to click here to visit this page on the website.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT DUE DECEMBER 15
The Health Assessment is required in order to receive your incentive. The incentive includes FREE Family Medical Insurance for those who qualify. If points are not earned employees will be deducted for Family Medical starting in January 2020 paychecks.
Please follow the steps below to complete your HA immediately.
1. Visit connect.simplywell.com
2. Click on Complete Your Assessment
3. Review all general health questions by scrolling down the RIGHT side of the assessment.
4. Once all questions have been reviewed please hit save and submit.
A visual guide walking you through instructions is included below. Thank you for your help!
EARLY NOTIFICATION OF RESIGNATION/RETIREMENT
To All Full-Time Certified Staff:
Again this year, the District will be offering an incentive to full-time certified staff members, who provide us with early notification of their plans to resign/retire, at the end of their 2019-20 contract.
While we hope that all staff intend to stay, we are offering this incentive for those who plan to leave and who let us know early. This early notification will help us as we look ahead and plan for future staffing needs. This early notification is entirely optional. The incentive is $500.00 (minus required withholdings), payable in your final paycheck.
Details/requirements about participation, including the deadline for submissions, are attached.
Please contact hrdept@westside66.net with any questions.
LOVELAND PRESENTS DISNEY'S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS!
SCHOOLS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR GREEN RIBBON AWARD
The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program is seeking nominations for its 2019-2020 awards. The deadline for submitting applications is January 24, 2020. The purpose of the Green Ribbon Schools program is to inspire schools, districts, and institutions of higher education (IHE) to strive for 21st-century excellence by highlighting promising school sustainability practices and resources that can be utilized by anyone.
The award recognizes schools, districts, and IHEs that:
- Reduce environmental impact and costs;
- Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and
- Provide effective environmental and sustainability education
Combined progress in all three of these areas serve as the basis for recognition. The program is part of an effort to identify and communicate practices that result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness.
Encouraging resource-efficient schools, districts, and IHEs allows administrators to dedicate more resources to instruction rather than operational costs. Healthy schools and wellness practices ensure that all students learn in an environment conducive to achieving their full potential. Outdoor, environmental, and sustainability education help all students engage in hands-on, authentic learning; hone critical thinking and collaboration skills; stay active and fit; and develop a solid foundation in many disciplines.
Examples of innovative practices can be found online at: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/highlights-2019.pdf.
Applications and resources for schools and institutions of higher education are available on the Nebraska Department of Education’s Science webpage at: https://www.education.ne.gov/science/edgreen-ribbon-schools/.
BABY NEWS!
Zoey Faye Bell
Congratulations to Jensyn Bell, Vocal Music Teacher at Westbrook Elementary, who has welcomed a baby girl into her family! Zoey Faye Bell was born October 16, 6lb 10oz and 20 inches long. From her proud mom: "she's doing super well and is perfect!"
Maura Caroline Petersen
GET TO KNOW AN ADMIN!
WESTSIDE ELL PROGRAM COORDINATOR
HOMETOWN: McCook, NE
EDUCATION: Cottey College, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Doane University
DESCRIBE YOUR JOB AT WESTSIDE: I get to coordinate the English Learner Program and also teach English learners. It's the best of both worlds in teaching and leading.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT: I've enjoyed having different roles during my time at Westside. I loved teaching elementary Spanish. I've seen and heard from many of my former Oakdale students who are now at WHS. Another highlight is being part of the growth English learners make when starting with little or no English and then seeing them a couple of years later accomplishing their goals.
INTERESTING FACT: I worked as a Dental Lab Tech in Texas before going into teaching. I realized that I couldn't sit in a cubicle making teeth all day. Everyone would suggest to me that I should go into teaching but I didn't see myself as a teacher. It was a life lesson and I'm so glad I took a risk by quitting that job to become a teacher.
FAVORITE BOOK and/or MOVIE: Anne of Green Gables
COWORKER WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU: Many coworkers and mentors have inspired me. It's inspiring to see what is accomplished by teachers and students at Westside each year!
BEST MOMENT AT WESTSIDE: I try to make every day my best moment at Westside. Sometimes, I may not succeed in this, but I just keep trying to move forward.
CONDOLENCES
We remember Joe Gibbs, longtime elementary building engineer at Hillside and Underwood Hills, who died November 1. Funeral services took place earlier this month. Click here for Joe's obituary.
We remember career Westside educator Paul Nelson, who died November 6. Paul devoted many of his 36 years in education to work as a Westside elementary school principal, Director of Outdoor Ed and President for the Westside Education Association. Services will be held in Colorado Springs, CO on Monday and Tuesday. Cards for the family may be sent to Helen Nelson, 2305 Patriot Heights Apt 1302, Colorado Springs, CO 80904. Click here for Paul's obituary.
Our condolences are also with Gail Carpenter-Johnson as her mother, Penne Carpenter, died Wednesday. Gail is an Instrumental Music Teacher at elementary schools throughout the district. A family meet & greet coffee will take place Tuesday, November 19 from 9:00am-10:00am, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 10:30am. Both will take place at St. Paul United Methodist Church at 5410 Corby. Click here for Penne's obituary.
Thank you for keeping the Gail, Eilene, the Gibbs family, and the Nelson family in your thoughts.