Westside Middle School Newsletter

2022-23 WMS Administration:

Kim Eymann - Principal eymann.kimberly@westside66.net

Jordan Rhodes - Assistant Principal (Dean 7C, 8A). rhodes.jordan@westside66.net

Jenni Allen - Assistant Principal and Special Services Department Chair. allen.jenni@westside66.net

Dan Carlson - Dean and Athletic Director (Dean 7A, 7B, 8C). carlson.daniel@westside66.net

Kellon Johnson - Dean (7D, 8B, 8D). johnson.kellon@westside66.net

End of 1st Semester:

Wednesday, December 21st

Winter Break:

December 22 - January 4th

2nd Semester Begins:

Thursday, January 5th

First semester will end on Wednesday, December 21st. We will dismiss at regular Wednesday time of 2:44. Please work with your student to get in missing work. Check with specific teacher(s) on their deadline for turning work in. Second Semester will begin when we return from winter break on January 5th. Students will receive a new copy of their schedule on that day.

There will be no after school library on Wednesday, December 21st. Please arrange a ride for your student when school is dismissed at 2:45.

National Junior Honors Society will be hosting a drive to stock the Westside Family Resource Center. The drive will take place Monday, December 5 - Friday, December 16.

Items encouraged and accepted are:

• non-perishable food
• toiletries
• winter coats
• hats and gloves,

This year the WMS Community Club is launching its very own website (wms-cc.org) and we need your help. The mission of the Community Club is to provide support to the Teachers, Staff, and Students of Westside Middle School and our new website will be the primary conduit through which we will convey our programs, events and fundraising efforts. Our new site has many features including an online directory so that you can connect to other WMS students and families and a mobile app so you can connect on-the-go. Here's how you can help:

If you are a family - keep an eye out in your email inbox for an invitation to activate your free membership account. With this free account you will be able to decide what information about you and your family will be published in our online directory. With the tools you are in total control of the data that gets shared. You'll also be able to manage your communication and newsletter settings.

If you are a local business owner - we are looking for any business owner(s) that would be interested in helping to support our new site by becoming a Community Club Sponsor. Your logo would be displayed on our site, your business would be further described on our Sponsors page, and we can include links to direct site visitors to your site. If you are interested, please reach out to our Website Chair, Ember Krumwied at jamesember@gmail.com.

We are seeing a significant amount of students eating and having food in the hallways. Food is only allowed in the cafeteria!! The reason being is because it's making our hallways a mess, encouraging creatures to live in our building, and causing damage to the iPads. Absolutely NO FOOD or DRINK is allowed in the halls or classrooms. Students will be asked to throw them away. We are also seeing a trend of students bringing in large family sized bags of chips to share with friends, that sharing can only take place in the cafeteria!

If we can't keep the food in the cafeteria, then we will look at removing all the "extras" like chips, juice and the snacks and just providing the meals at breakfast and lunch. We are hoping students find a way to keep this privilege.

Thank you for talking to your student about taking pride in their school building and keeping it clean!

Please remember to keep your student home if they are ill! Sending students to school when they are feeling ill contributes to spreading illness. We are seeing a lot of respiratory and GI bugs. Hand washing and staying home when ill will help prevent the spread. Students must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. If your student does not feel well, they are to go through the health office.

Please contact the main office at 402-343-6464 by 9:00 if your student will not be attending school. Please leave a message if there is no answer.

This quarter, the counselor's will be teaching a classroom counseling lesson in homeroom:

• Managing Feelings = December 12 - December 16. Students will be learning how to manage their feelings in a way that is helpful for them and others.

Check out the Unified Newsletter and Event happening next week!

https://www.smore.com/yh1wz

Another way our students use their Warrior Bucks is in drawings for $5 gift cards. Popular places include: Any coffee place, Smoothie King, any fast food restaurant.

We are reaching out to parents who may be able and willing to donate to our store either with goods or gift cards. You may bring your donations to main office labeled PBIS.

Thank you in advance for any help with these items!!

It is hard to believe the holidays are right around the corner! Some families may find themselves in need of additional resources over the holiday season. Many Omaha area holiday resource programs begin their application process now and close at the end of the month. Please be sure to visit the Social Work Newsletter for options that may fit your family's situation. If you need assistance this holiday season, and are not receiving support from another organization, you can reach out to the School Social Worker, Kim Schenkelberg at 402-452-3147.

This week students will complete a 2nd Step Lesson:

7th Grade: Gender-Based Harassment

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (AHERA) requires each public school district to annually notify parents, staff, and employee groups of its asbestos management plans. A management plan is in place for Westside Middle School and is available for review either at the school building or at the Westside Service Center, 9437 J St. Omaha, NE.

This school building was originally inspected in the1980’s and re-inspected by a certified inspector every three years thereafter. The three-year re-inspection and a ceiling tile inspection was conducted in 2019, and periodic surveillance will be conducted as required. No abatement activities are currently in progress or scheduled for the 2022-2023 school year at this building.

The Designated Person responsible for managing the District’s AHERA compliance and the contact person for questions or to review a management plan is the Director of Facilities, Russ Olsen (402) 390-8331.

W-CLUB: JOIN TODAY

Make a gift that is meaningful to you to show you are proud to be part of Westside Community Schools. Funds raised through the W-CLUB get redistributed back into all Westside Community Schools. Every teacher has the opportunity to apply for W-Club grants annually. Westside Middle School has received funding for robots, traveling exhibit for German Class, and cameras for our journalism club in the past.

Donating to Westside Middle School

To make a tax-deductible donation please donate through the Westside Foundation. You can specifically note that funds should be designated to Westside Middle School community club, fun run, etc. Your gift is not tax deductible if it comes directly to our school. If you have questions, please contact Westside Foundation at foundation@westside66.net.