Hillside News Brief
December 3, 2021
Important Dates for You
December 9, 7:00-8:30 p.m. - 5th/6th Grade Strings Concert at Westside High School
December 10 - Hillside Spirit Day (wear blue and orange OR Hillside spirit wear)
Tuesday, December 14, 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Hillside Community Club meeting in the teachers' lounge
Tuesday, December 21 - STEAM Day at Hillside. Please see the Sign-Up Genius in this newsletter to volunteer if you'd like to help with STEAM Day.
December 22 - January 4 - Winter Break (students return Wednesday, January 5th)
State Testing Information for Sixth Grade Parents/Guardians Only
Sixth graders will be participating in testing starting next week. Please watch the sixth grade newsletters for more specific testing information for your sixth grader.
Traffic Help Needed!
We have had some reports from staff that there are a few folks entering our parking lot from the exit on 76th Street. This practice is incredibly dangerous and could result in a head-on collision. Please let Principal Bailey know if you see this happening; a license plate number and/or photo of the car would be appreciated!
Also, please know that we will ask every person picking up a child to use the sidewalk instead of walking across traffic; it is important that we model safe behavior at pickup as much as possible. There is lots of traffic, and we want to keep kiddos out of harm's way.
Hillside teachers who are on duty during carpool time will not engage in conversations at that time; anyone on carpool duty must pay close attention to directing traffic. If you need to speak to that teacher, please head into the office to request an appointment.
Thank you so much for helping us to keep carpool safe and efficient.
Crosswalk Concerns
Water Bottles for Sale in the Cafeteria Will be Discontinued
Purchase of water is not included with a lunch (it is extra), and we see many students purchasing a bottle of water and then dumping out most of it before leaving the cafeteria. The plastic bottles end up in the landfill. We are wanting to reduce waste and our carbon footprint, if at all possible.
Thank you for understanding.
Unified Activity on December 8
The district's next Unified activity will be a movie night at Westside High School. Please click the link below to see the details for the December 8 movie night.
Link: https://www.smore.com/x82t3
COVID Vaccine Clinic Information
The Douglas County Health Department has asked us Westside and other area school districts to share the following link regarding upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics for children ages 5-12 who may now be eligible to receive it.
https://www.douglascountyhealth.com/109-covid-19/812-where-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine
Westside Community Schools is also hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday November 20 at Westside Middle School, 8601 Arbor Street. Our site will be open from 10:00am until 2:00pm; this is a walk-in clinic and appointments are not needed. This site is open to children ages 5 through 11, as well as those 12 years and older interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. A second dose vaccine clinic is scheduled for December 11 from 10:00am until 2pm, also at Westside Middle School
We understand this a personal choice for your family and encourage you to discuss at home and with your family doctor. For additional information about Westside’s response and protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit this link on our website: https://www.westside66.org/domain/408
If you have additional questions about anything related to COVID-19 and Westside Community Schools guidelines, please email feedback@westside66.net.
Free/Reduced Lunch Applications and Holiday Assistance
Westside families and staff,
We have two important items we hope you consider as we approach the holidays, both supporting the well-being of our Westside students and families.
FREE & REDUCED MEAL APPLICATIONS
Our records of students who are registered for free & reduced meals has plummeted for the 2021/22 school year. We fear this is not because of a lack of need, but because meals are free for all students, funded by the US Department of Agriculture. If you would traditionally qualify for free or reduced-price meals, it is important you file an application. Through that application, your student becomes eligible for additional benefits including fee waivers for scholarships, ACT/SAT testing, computers, transportation, summer school, activity cards, prom band instruments, etc. In addition, our district receives state and local funding based on the number of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. That funding is vital for Westside Community Schools.
CLICK HERE to complete the Free & Reduced Meal application online: https://www.myschoolapps.com/. If you would like to complete a traditional paper application, please send an email to Michele Divoky, divoky.michele@westside66.net or call 402.390.3382.
HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE
Once again this year, Westside Community Schools will be working together with our high school homerooms and a network of amazing community volunteers to support our district families in need this upcoming holiday season. Through the confidential and compassionate work of our district Social Workers, Counselors and Psychologists, we are able to assist those in our school community who may need extra help.
There are a number of ways you can help:
- By “adopting” a Westside student in need and purchasing items from his or her wants & needs list;
- by making a monetary contribution to the “Family Resource Fund” in care of the Westside Foundation (click here to donate);
- or by donating to the Family Resource Center’s Food Pantry and Clothing Closet (click here to learn more about the Westside Family Resource Center!)
If your classroom, your department, your family or your place of business is interested in supporting a Westside student or family this holiday season, please email Molly Hurley at hurley.molly@westside66.net by November 19, 2021.
Thank you for your generosity and support, and for affirming the “WE” in Westside.
Westside Clothing Closet
The Westside Clothing Closet is in desperate need of winter coats and new packages of boys and girls underwear. They accept gently used coats, sizes 4/5 through adult XXL (children, women’s, and men's)! The Clothing Closet also needs new packaged underwear for all sizes, elementary through high school.
You can drop off any donations, Monday thru Friday, from 9am-12pm at the Family Resource Center at the Pipal Community Center ,7770 Hascall St. You can also drop off any donations to the Clothing Closet at Hillside, and we will get them to the resource center. Or, you can contact westsidethecloset@gmail.com to make other arrangements.
Thank you for your assistance. We want to help all our families with their needs, and donations are a big part of that!
Hillside STEAM Day is Tuesday, December 21st
Use TAGG (Together a Greater Good) to Help Hillside
1) Download the TAGG app
2) When in the app, choose Hillside as a place to support
When you are ready to process a purchase:
2) Touch the "TAGG a purchase" button
3) Touch "Hillside" when asked to choose whom to support
4) Find and touch the business that generated your receipt
5) Take a photo of your receipt
6) Upload your receipt
That's it! It's that easy.
Thank you for TAGG-ing your purchases regularly for Hillside!
HyVee Receipts
Hillside's Community Club used to collect HyVee receipts for a period of time during first semester, but no longer! TAGG benefits Hillside all year long and during the summer, too! Be sure to TAGG your purchases each time you visit HyVee. Thank you for supporting Hillside!
Boxtops for Education
https://www.boxtops4education.com/How-To-Earn
Thanks for your help!
Holiday Assistance
It’s hard to believe but the holiday season is right around the corner. As part of the Westside Community Schools family, we are fortunate to have some groups and organizations that are generous in many ways, especially when it comes to helping children.
Each year, several churches in the community, community service clubs and individual donors offer to help students whose families may be experiencing some temporary financial setbacks due to the tough economic times. These groups often donate a food basket, clothing and/or gifts. These items are meant to assist you in what you are already providing for your family.
If your family is not receiving assistance from other organizations, we are here to provide support. If you need assistance during the holiday season, please contact your school counselor, Mr. Zach Maloley at maloley.zachary@westside66.net or call 402-408-8462.
PBiS Skill of the Week for Next Week
Hillside announces daily the social Skill of the Week. This is the skill we are focusing on as a building for the entire week. Next week's Skill of the Week is: Active Listening. When you listen actively, you:
- Look at the person who is talking and remain quiet
- Wait until the person is finished talking before you speak
- Show that you heard them by nodding your head, saying, "Okay," "That's interesting," etc.
A Message from our Counselor, Mr. Maloley
Mr. Maloley, Counselor at Hillside