Westside Pride
October 2020
New Westside Community Schools Websites
- Easy access to schedules, menus, calendars
- Updated school photos & newsletters
- Virtual tours & videos
- Translates to dozens of languages
We encourage you to check out both our District website and your child's school website(s) and bookmark each link for easy access!
K-6 WebEx Reminders & Guidelines
Westside is using WebEx as an instructional technology platform to allow student access to classroom instruction during hybrid or Extended Campus Learning. The use of WebEx to live stream classroom/course content is a forced and beneficial innovation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the WebEx live streaming has been used most recently during “yellow,” as we believe that as we transition to “green”, there are situations where students may be absent from school and may still benefit from having periodic access to WebEx.
Connecting to WebEx is a process that requires coordination with both the principal and grade level teachers. When expecting an extended absence, parents and students have the option to make a request to the building principal. Please know, there will be up to a 24-48 hour turnaround on all decisions. Students are permitted to use their own devices or work with their principal on checking out an iPad for home.
A student’s ability to access the WebEx live stream will be dependent upon their teacher’s current classroom situation. If the student is in a classroom where the teacher already live streams their class lessons, the student will be provided log-in information to access that same classroom teacher. If the student’s classroom teacher does not currently live stream, coordination for this instruction and streaming will be completed and families will be notified of the plan; for example, the student may need to log-in to the WebEx live-streamed lessons of the other teacher at that grade level who is responsible for live-streaming that content at that time. The student’s assigned, grade-level, classroom teacher will still assign and grade classwork.
WebEx access to classes is intended for:
Extended campus learners
District excused absences (eg. illness, quarantine, isolation) for more than three days
WebEx access to classes is NOT intended for:
Typical daily appointments
Unexcused absences under three days
Vacations
Sicknesses with anticipated absences of less than three days
Thank you for your support as we continue to utilize all learning mediums to best educate our students!
Meal Reimbursements Extended Back To August 18
The USDA and NDE Nutrition Services have announced they will provide additional funding as an extension of the CARES act due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NOW DATING BACK RETROACTIVELY THROUGH AUGUST 18. All families will likely see a reimbursement appearing in their child's meal accounts; nothing needs to be done to receive the benefits of this program.
Until further notice all Westside current K-12 students will receive breakfast and lunch meals for FREE. This opportunity will run through the end of the calendar year 2020 or until directed by the NDE Nutrition Services. All students, K-12, qualify. Meals included are all student meals served in Westside Community Schools as well as those meals taken home for extended campus learning. (Any extra servings, bottled water, or grab and go items above and beyond a complete breakfast and lunch will be charged accordingly.) We are hopeful this will help our students and families as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
We strongly encourage you, if you have not already, to fill out our Free/Reduced Meals Application. This could benefit your family when this extension ends. CLICK HERE to review.
ALL STUDENTS at WESTBROOK and WESTGATE Elementary Schools receive FREE MEALS under the Nebraska Department of Education’s Community Eligibility Provision. This will stay in effect for the entire school year.
For all extended campus learning we will continue to provide take home meals. Pick-up will take place each Wednesday at your child’s school through the remainder of the first quarter. We will follow the same practices we have had in place since the start of the school year, and need all families who intend to use this service to sign up so we have enough meals available. CLICK HERE to sign up (this is anonymous, but will allow our Nutrition Services team to prepare as needed.)
For meals taken for extended campus learning, please note the following:
- We will provide 1 day or 5 days worth of lunch or breakfast and lunch for each child in your household, depending on need.
- Pick-up times are 8:30-12:30 each Wednesday at your child’s school. There is also a 4:00 PM-6:00 PM pick-up option for K-8 students at the WMS and WHS and West Campus students at WHS.
- When you arrive, please tell the front office you are there to pick-up meals, and a nutrition service member will bring the meals to you.
Finally, please know we have additional resources available at Westside Community Schools to ensure our students and families are supported. If you would like to access the Westside Food Pantry or the Westside Clothing Closet, please contact your child’s principal or Director of Student Services Robert Aranda at Aranda.robert@westside66.net. These resources are available to our families on an anonymous and private basis.
DISTRICT OPPORTUNITIES
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES
Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organizations or activities described below. The distribution of these materials is provided as a community service.