WHS Counseling Connection
01/31/2022
In This Newsletter
-Upcoming Dates
-Coffee With Counselors
-Freshman/Sophomore/Junior Seminar
-UNL Computer Science Summer Camp
-Dual Enrollment
-Scholarship opportunities
-Graduation Checklist
-Volunteer Opportunities
-Jobs for Teens
-Free Rides on Metro Transit
-Roles of a School Counselor
-Guidance Counselor vs School Counselor
-Resources for Parents
-Avenue Scholars
-Become A Teacher
-General Education Academy
-College Possible
-Ways to stay connected
-Contact Us
Upcoming Dates
January 25 5:30PM-7:30PM 8th Grade Open House
February 5 9AM-10:30AM Coffee With Counselors (light breakfast provided)
February 16 1:10 dismissal for homeroom advisor/advisee Parent Meetings
February 18 No School for Students
February 21 No School for Students
March 10 Parent Teacher Conferences
March 11 No School
Coffee With Counselors
Attend this presentation on general information regarding:
- Academics: Transcripts, new system instead of class rank, monitoring grades
- College/Career Planning - career assessments, college applications, scholarships
- Dual Enrollment and AP
- Career and Tech Ed information
- NCAA/NAIA
- Social/Emotional support
- Graduation Requirements
- Ways for your student to be successful
Our last date for Coffee With Counselors will be April 23.
Each event will start in the Warrior Room with Coffee and a light breakfast. We will then move into the Little Theatre for discussion.
Saturday, Feb 5, 2022, 09:00 AM
Westside High School, Pacific Street, Omaha, NE, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Seminar Classes
2022-2023 Course Guide Book
https://drive.google.com/file/d/145echodqOOkxPDmtifJm4tUOzRxdeVGz/view?usp=sharing
Scholarship Opportunities
UNL Computer Science Camp
During the two-week, overnight camp students will:
- Learn basic programming skills, primarily Java, and innovation concepts through a project-oriented curriculum
- Receive instruction from Raikes School faculty members and experience what classes can be like in the Raikes School
- Visit campus research labs and local businesses
- Interact with Raikes School students and staff, all of whom play a key role in the competitive selection process to our program each year
What: Innovate: The Raikes School Way & Girls Who Innovate: The Raikes School Way
For: High School Students (primarily the graduating class of 2023)
Where: Kauffman Academic Residential Center, home of the Raikes School in the heart of Nebraska's City Campus
When: July 10-23, 2022
Cost: $1,550 (Need-based scholarship opportunities are available. Cost covers all housing, meals, instruction, and activities associated with the camp)
Programming Experience: None (in fact, no experience is preferred)
Application Deadline: April 15, 2022
We will continue to monitor COVID-19 and, if necessary, make adjustments to the camp format and activities to ensure the health and safety of participants.
Interested students can find more details and application materials at http://raikes.unl.edu/summercamps. The video below, captured at our 2021 camp, gives you a glimpse of what students can expect to experience.
If you have any questions about the camp, please email me at adam.britten@unl.edu.
Sincerely,
Adam Britten
Assistant Director of Recruitment & Outreach
Dual Enrollment
Dual Enrollment with UNO is now open. The deadline to enroll is February 25, 2022.
The following WHS classes are available for dual enrollment with UNO this semester.
AP Biology - Mr. Caffey
AP Computer Science Principles AP - Mr. Stejskal
AP Human Geography - Mr. Fey
AP US History - Mr. Brousek, Mr. Bramley
AP Latin - Mrs. Harvey
AP Physics 1 Lab - Mr. Powers
AP Physics 1 - Mr. Powers
AP Calculus AB - Mrs. Kneifl
AP Calculus BC - Mrs. Kneifl
AP Physics 2 - Mr. Powers
AP Physics C - Mrs. Stucky
AP American Government - Mr. Priester (If your teacher is Mr. Bywater, still select Mr. Priester)
Honors Sociology - Mr. Nemecek
AP Spanish - Mrs. Paskach
Intro to Education - Miss Cosentino
AP Literature (on the registration website you will select Intro to Genre Studies) - Mr. Klepfer
This link will take you to Westside's UNO Dual Enrollment Website. Here you can find more information about dual enrollment.
Graduation Checklist
Here are the graduation checklists our counselors use to track the process of their students:
This checklist will be used for class of 2025 and beyond:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ECXSBPllpHrEeE0Cj0ZzwH4ajyo92UAS/view?usp=sharing
This checklist will be used for all current 10-12th grade students:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t55_dOLi4Iwx8Hn27LPiJt51ClrljNPR/view?usp=sharing
Jobs for Teens
If you would like a job posted on here, please email Rick Painter Painter.Richard@westside66.net.
Volunteer Opportunities
Each student is required to have service learning hours to graduate from Westside. This link will provide some organizations to volunteer with.
FREE RIDES ON METRO TRANSIT FOR STUDENTS
Role of a School Counselor
Part of our academic support is working with students to find a career they might be interested in. Once we know a career field a student is interested in, we can work to see what classes would best match their career interest.
Post Secondary planning is a major part of what counselors do also. Each student will sign up to meet with their counselor individually to discuss their post secondary plans. Many times this will be college, and the counselor will help them with the planning time lines, and possible options for where they might want to attend.
Guidance Counselor vs School Counselor
Throughout this year we are working on changing our signage, websites, and a variety of other places which lists the counseling department as "Guidance." The new wording will list counselors as "School Counselor." This change of our title was put in place in the late 1990's with the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) model.
A brief History of School Counseling
Resources for Parents
https://www.nebraskachildren.org/covid-19-information-and-resources.html
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Family-Helpline.aspx
https://www.omahawomensfund.org/covid-resources/
https://www.yesomaha.org/what/community-resources.html
https://habitatomaha.org/community-resources/
https://www.unl.edu/ccfw/styles/Resource%20Packet%20for%20Nebraska%20Families.pdf
https://www.legalaidofnebraska.org/how-we-help/resources/covid-19-coronavirus/
Avenue Scholars
Ways to stay connected to the WHS Counseling Department
@Counseling4WHS
Westside Community School District App
WHS Counseling Department Website
The WHS counseling department website will provide a variety of information for students and parents.
https://sites.google.com/westside66.net/whscounseling