Westside Middle School
September 11, 2020
We have had a great week here at WMS. Below is our schedule for next week September 14-18
Mon 9/14 & Tues 9/15 = In person with last name A-K
Wed. 9/16 = Extended Campus Learners WebEx meetings (No in person learning)
Thurs 9/17 & Fri 9/18 = All In person learners A-Z
Please see the information below about changing your student's placement.
Please make sure your student is come to school with a charged laptop!
Kim Eymann - Principal
eymann.kimberly@westside66.net
402-390-8211
Brian Stevens - Assistant Principal (He will handle all questions on Busing)
Dean for 8A & 7C
402-390-6494
Jenni Allen - Assistant Principal & Special Services Department Chair
402-408-8589
Dan Carlson - Dean & Athletic Director
Dean for 7A, 7B, & 8B
402-390-8669
Corrie Philo - Dean for 7D, 8C, & 8D
402-390-8670
Extended Campus Placement Form
Please don't forget to fill out the Extended Campus Learning Placement Form.
You need to fill this out if you meet one of the following criteria:
- Your student is currently extended campus and you want them to continue to do that through the end of the semester.
- Your student is currently attending in person and you want them to move to extended campus learning until the end of the 1st semester.
- Your student is currently extended campus and you want them to attend 100% in person.
You DO NOT need to fill it out if your student is in person and you want them to remain in person.
Please make sure you fill it out for each student.
The deadline is Tuesday, September 15th.
How to view grades and determine what assignments are missing for your student
Please access Powerschool, not Google Classroom, to view your student's grades and missing assignments.
- In Powerschool please click on the grade for each class to see a detailed list of assignments. You will need to scroll down to see the entire list of assignments.
- If they are missing the assignment it will be indicated with a DND (Did Not Do)
- There is a legend at the bottom of the page to explain the codes that are used.
Community Club
First Community Club Meeting will be Tuesday, September 15th via WebEx.
Please click on the following link and register in order to get the meeting link. https://westside66.webex.com/westside66/j.php?RGID=r0f81ba2d435d75d6de6c4799657b9996
Please feel free to reach out if you would like to get involved in Community Club or have any questions. I can be reached at villatoro.ka@gmail.com. Looking forward to seeing some new faces at the September 15th meeting!
Ashley Villatoro
Before and After School Drop Off/Pick Up
After School - All Students need to be picked up and off school property by 3:30 unless they are working with a teacher or involved in an after school activity.
START on Time
Westside Middle School is committed to ensuring that class time is used effectively and efficiently. In 2019 we adopted a new set of procedures called “Operation START on Time!”--the acronym stands for “Safe Transitions And Reduced Tardies.”
All teachers will help supervise the halls during the time between classes. When the bell rings teachers having classes will close their doors and begin teaching immediately. Each hallway will have designated staff members working with any students to problem solve ways to prevent them from being late again. Tardy students will write an explanation of why they were late, which will be entered into our records. Moreover, this explanation will be sent in an email to parents/guardians so that families are kept informed.
The tardy student will be escorted to his or her classroom. The escorting staff member will ensure that the student does not disrupt the class and will signal to the teacher that all necessary paperwork has been completed. We will begin these procedures on September 17, 2020. We have waited to implement this to ensure that all students know where they are going within the building.
For students who are late, these procedures ensure that the family is kept informed and that records are kept so the continuum of consequences is consistent for all students. Our hope is that implementing this continuum will help students learn the importance of punctuality. The consequences for repeated tardiness within a semester are as follows:
1st Tardy Note home
2nd Tardy Note home
3rd Tardy Note home
4th Tardy Note home; 1 detention and meet w/ dean
5th Tardy Note home; 1 detention and meet w/ dean
6th Tardy Note home; 1 detention and meet w/ dean
7th Tardy Note home; 2 detentions and meet w/ dean
8th Tardy Note home; 2 detentions and meet w/ dean
9th Tardy Note home; 2 detentions and meet w/ dean
10th Tardy Note home; Parent Meeting & Wednesday night school (develop tardy plan that includes the possibility of additional consequences)
For students who are consistently on time, these procedures ensure that tardy students will not be allowed to disrupt the flow of the teacher’s lesson. These procedures were very successful last year which increased learning time for all students and contributed to the positive atmosphere of our school. We encourage students to ask their teacher to use the restroom once they get to class, as we are aware that using the restroom during passing period may not be doable, depending on where their classes are located.
News From Nutrition Services
Hello, Westside families,
We have great news! The USDA and NDE Nutrition Services have provided additional funding as an extension of the CARES act due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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. Nothing needs to be done to receive the benefits of this program.
Please note, while this program will run retroactively from September 1, 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: https://www.myschoolapps.com/. 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.) https://forms.gle/m8cEQawscdeWxe5b6
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 AM-12:30 PM 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.
Thank you!
Westside Community Schools
National Junior Honor Society
The National Junior Honor Society chapter of Westside Middle School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in five areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character. Students in the second semester of seventh or eighth grade are eligible for membership. If students were inducted as a seventh grader, they will NOT need to reapply.
Those students who meet the scholarship criterion of a 3.8 on the 4.0 scale are invited to complete a Student Activity Information Form that provides the Faculty Council with information regarding the candidate’s leadership and service. This will be sent out late January-early February. A history of leadership experiences and participation in school or community service is also required. Examples of leadership may happen within the school building (student council) or outside of the classroom (team captains, scouting honors, etc.). Service to the community is considered volunteering in a capacity that does not benefit the student (getting paid for a service or merely helping an extended family member) services considered would be volunteering at a non-profit organization (Film Streams, the zoo, Do Space, among many others). Service learning is not considered volunteering for a team activity to raise money for team expenses (car washes for a soccer team, selling concessions for a concert the student might participate in at a later time.) A student should have at least 5 hours of service learning when filling out the application.
Once again the Student Activity Information Form will be sent out in late January-early February.
TAGG
Attendance
We wanted to communicate about the use of "V" for attendance. The attendance code "V" in Powerschool indicates that a student did not complete the assignment during the day when it was an at-home day and thus did not attend virtual school. Subsequently, a DND will be entered for the assignment until the student completes it. We highly encourage and recommend that students utilize the normal school hours of 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. for their virtual school hours.
We understand that students are working hard to navigate their schedule and responsibilities. We have been impressed with the hard work, organization, and positive attitudes we have seen. Please continue to encourage your student to email for help, to set up WebEx meetings, and to over communicate so we can provide the necessary assistance to help them be successful.
The attendance number is 402-408-8649 or 402-390-6464
Attached below is a Parent COVID Safety Tip Sheet.
Westside Middle School
Website: http://wms.westside66.org
Location: 8601 Arbor Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 402-390-6464
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WMS66/