Warrior Bulletin
Westside Parent & Student Newsletter for August 12, 2022
UPCOMING CALENDAR DATES
August 14, 2022 - Westside Community Schools 75th Anniversary Celebration
August 15, 2022 - Returning Student (Grades 10-12) Drop-In Orientation & Picture Day (8:00 am to 5:00 pm). Students are invited to come in at any time.
August 16, 2022 - First Day for Freshmen and New Students
August 17, 2022 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS
August 22, 2022 - WHS Open House (5:30-7:00 pm)
August 24, 2022 - Back to School BBQ & Pep Rally
September 2, 2022 - Professional Learning Day (No School for Students)
September 5, 2022 - Labor Day (No School)
NOTES FROM ADMINISTRATION
STUDENT SCHEDULES
Student schedules will be available next week on the Scheduler App for returning students. Freshmen and new students will receive their schedules on the Freshmen & New Student Orientation Day on Tuesday, August 16.
POWERSCHOOL ACCESS
Parents who need PowerSchool Access to monitor their child's grades/attendance, should contact powerschool.support@westside66.net so an account can be set up.
STUDENT DIGITAL ID CARDS
Students were emailed instructions to their school email account on how to download their digital ID card to their iPad. Digital IDs are REQUIRED to be on iPads, but students can also download them on their personal cell phones if they would like to. Students without a picture on their ID will need to stop in the WHS Counseling Office to get a picture take so their digital ID can be activated.
OPEN HOUSE
Westside High School will host an Open House on Monday, August 22, 2022 from 5:30-7:00 pm. Open House is open to ALL families and you are encouraged to drop-in to your child’s classes when it is convenient for you. Teachers will be prepared to hand out information about their course that includes information about what will be learned in class. Please note that Open House is designed for you to meet your child’s teachers and learn about curriculum taught in each of the classes. If you would like to set up a private conference to visit with teachers in more depth, please set up a time during Open House to do so.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
To access the WHS Attendance Office, please visit the school website HERE. New this year, parents can fill out a Google Form to report an absence. Additionally, parents who need to call their child out of school should contact the attendance office so an alert can be sent to them through their digital ID about the dismissal. PLEASE NOTE: A note through the digital ID will be the only way your child will be excused from class. Parents do not need to enter the building to pick up their child. Instead, your child will exit the front doors of the building at the time specified. In case of an emergency please call the attendance hotline at 402-343-2626 and leave a voicemail.
HOMEROOM ATTENDANCE
Homeroom attendance is mandatory. Students with significant attendance issues to homeroom will be subject to the following interventions:
- Absence 3= HR Teacher contact
- Absence 6- Teacher Detention (7:45am)
- Absence 9- ISS
- Absence 12- loss of privileges
CELL PHONES – IMPORTANT
At Westside High School, we support teachers establishing classroom procedures for student cell phone usage. The basic rule of thumb is that cell phones should be out of sight and out of mind while students are in class. We understand that it is difficult for parents to feel out of touch, but please understand that our new digital ID system allows parents to call the Attendance Office and relay a message to students through the digital ID that is required to be on student iPads. During the past several years, we have unfortunately had to discipline students for issues such as:
Academic dishonesty during class assessments
Unauthorized photos and social media posts directed at students and staff
Disruptions to instruction because of preoccupation with cell phones (ex. text messaging, social media posts, watching videos, and listening to music in class)
Creation of group texts/chats that cause undue stress to students/staff because of inappropriate content. (ex. 1 person in 10-person group chat with inappropriate content)
During the 2022-23 school year, we will continue to support our students and building staff by disciplining students that interrupt the educational environment or cause undue stress to students/staff through electronic communication. Consequences for using a cell phone during instructional time range from a detention to an out of school suspension.
We encourage you to visit with your student(s) about this expectation and thank you for your support as Westside High School continuously strives to educate your child in a safe environment that is free from distractions.
WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL - WEST CAMPUS NEWS
Check out the lates West Campus News HERE.
SCHOOL PICTURE DAYS
School pictures will be taken on August 15 for returning WHS students in grades 10-12. Freshmen and new students will have their school picture taken on August 16. More information can be found HERE.
JUNIOR PARKING LOTTERY
The junior parking lottery is now available and will remain open through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 28th. All Junior students are eligible to enter the lottery. Students will be notified of the results during the week of August 29th-September 2nd. Students must fill out the Google Form below in order to officially enter the lottery. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mr. Metzler. https://forms.gle/Zc4rvn2QNkZLVaMC8
OFF CAMPUS PASSES
On August 15, 2022 Westside High School will host the Returning Student (Grades 10-12) Orientation Day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Families returning to Westside High School should fill out the "Returning Student Information" for your student or students. This can be accessed through your student/parent PowerSchool access. On this day, WHS will accept Off Campus Pass requests, students will be able to walk their schedule, and school pictures will be taken. PLEASE NOTE: If students would like to request an Off Campus Pass, they must come to school on this day with the appropriate form below filled out and signed by a parent/guardian.
9th & 10th Grade Early Dismissal Form
11th & 12th Grade Off Campus Pass Form
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY (NHS)
Although the formal initiation for new members of National Honor Society is not until April, the preparation begins much earlier. Students must meet a few requirements to be eligible for applying for NHS. Please review the introductory letter HERE so that if your junior or senior child is interested, they understand what is expected of them.
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Make sure to check out the latest WHS School Counseling Department Newsletter!
Westside High School offers free software that tracks and prepares students academically for playing college sports, known as CoreCourseGPA.com. Any student interested in intercollegiate athletics should sign up for an account and speak with their high school coach and school counselor to make sure they are on track with their eligibility.
AUGUST SENIOR INFORMATION
August 27 - SAT
August 31 - Students planning to participate in college athletics should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Additionally, students should register with CoreCourseGPA to check their NCAA eligibility status. More information can be found on the WHS NCAA Initial Eligibility Resources website.
On your radar (August):
Determine which colleges you will apply to, what type of application they require, your chosen admission type for each college, as well as priority scholarship and financial aid deadlines for each specific school.
Students applying to a Common Application school should make sure their account is up to date.
Work on Common Application essay and supplemental essays.
Determine which teachers will write letters of recommendation - Students may only request teacher letters of recommendation if the college to which they are applying requires them. Check in with your teachers to ensure that they are able to write a recommendation for you. Ask each teacher what they will need to write a recommendation for you (e.g., resume, activities list etc.).
Did you complete classes over the summer? Make sure these credits are added to your transcript.
PARENT & STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Westside Foundation:
Did you know that the Westside Foundation's mission is to raise private funding for all District 66 Schools? The Foundation does this primarily through private fundraising for special projects, an annual fundraiser- VI VI, and through the annual campaign, W-CLUB. Your support of the Foundation ensures our faculty, staff and students have what they need to excel every day.
Save the Date: VI VI LAS VEGAS, September 24, 2022
Funds raised at this event benefit Westside High School teachers and students. In year's past, VI VI funds have directly supported our students. We hope you will consider attending this event or making a donation so we can continue our good work! SUPPORT VI VI TODAY!
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.
Donating to Westside High School
To make a tax-deductible donation please donate through the Westside Foundation. You can specifically note that funds should be designated to Westside High School. 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.
40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS
The Hopeful Message of the 40 Developmental Assets
Everyone has the power to help young people succeed
The secret to helping children and youth grow into happy, healthy, and responsible adults isn’t really a secret at all. Simply make a point to connect with young people: Get to know them, talk to them, understand them, help them, and build relationships with them. As a caring, trusted adult, you’ll be better able to provide the building blocks young people need to succeed and reach their goals. Adult role models, guides, and friends are very important to young people. With your help, young people can begin to understand themselves and the world around them. We all know growing up isn’t always easy. That’s why young people need adults like you in their lives.
Here are the facts
Research from Search Institute identifies 40 Developmental Assets that have a powerful, positive impact on young people. Children and teenagers who have high levels of these assets get involved in fewer risky behaviors and are much more likely to exhibit the positive values, such as leadership, good health, diversity, and success in school. The bad news is most young people don’t have enough assets. About 59 percent of young people, ages 11–18, have 20 or fewer Developmental Assets, according to Search Institute surveys. The good news is we can change this because we all have the power to build assets in young people’s lives.
Understanding Developmental Assets
The eight asset categories Search Institute has found crucial in helping young people grow up healthy include:
Support: Young people need to be surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate, and accept them.
Empowerment: Young people need to feel valued and valuable. This happens when youth feel safe and respected.
Boundaries and Expectations: Young people need clear rules, consistent consequences for breaking rules, and encouragement to do their best.
Constructive Use of Time: Young people need opportunities—outside of school—to learn and develop new skills and interests with other youth and adults.
Commitment to Learning: Young people need a sense of the lasting importance of learning and a belief in their own abilities.
Positive Values: Young people need to develop strong guiding values to help them make healthy life choices.
Social Competencies: Young people need the skills to interact effectively with others, to make difficult decisions, and to cope with new situations.
Positive Identity: Young people need to believe in their own self-worth and to feel they have control over the things that happen to them.
Each of these categories involves several specific assets that help young people grow up healthy.
Tips for building assets
In your home and family: Post a list of the 40 Developmental Assets on your refrigerator door. Each day, do at least one thing to build assets for each family member.
In your neighborhood and community: Learn the names of the young people who live around you. Find out what interests them, and ask them about those interests.
In your school or youth program: Plan asset-building activities as part of the curriculum or program. For example, engage young people in service-learning projects, social skills training, or reading for pleasure.
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Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright © 2007 by Search Institute®, 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.Westside High School
Email: dostal.jay@westside66.net
Website: https://www.westside66.org/whs
Location: 8701 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USA
Phone: (402) 343-2600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestsideHigh66
Twitter: @WestsideHigh66