Warrior Bulletin
Westside Parent & Student Newsletter for December 2, 2022
UPCOMING CALENDAR DATES
December 21, 2022 - Last Day of 1st Semester
December 22, 2022-January 4, 2023 - Holiday Break
January 4, 2023 - 1st Semester Grades Due
January 5, 2023 - First Day of 2nd Semester
January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
February 1: First Day of Black History Month
NOTES FROM ADMINISTRATION
WHS CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
Westside High School has seen an increase in unexcused and excused chronic absenteeism over the course of the first semester. Consistent, daily attendance at school is the biggest indicator of academic success for students, therefore WHS will be implementing some new attendance practices at the start of second semester.
When absenteeism is becoming an issue for a student, teachers will first contact parent(s)/guardian(s) to let them know that they are seeing a negative trend and then assign students mods to help get the student back on track. If the absenteeism continues, administration and counselors will work with the student and their family on an attendance contract. Finally, a student may be dropped from a course with a withdraw/failure (WF) if their attendance still does not improve. A WF will be a permanent mark on a student’s transcript and will count towards a student’s overall GPA. PLEASE NOTE: School Excused, OSS, and ISS absences WILL NOT be figured into this total. Additionally, any extenuating medical conditions and long-term illness will be considered mitigating factors by administration and counselors with doctor's notes or documentation when discussing a WF.
If you have any questions about this new attendance practice, please consult with your child’s assigned administrator or counselor.
ALBERT.IO ACCOUNTS
All 9th grade, 10th grade, and 11th grade students received an email on Tuesday, November 29 asking them to sign up for their Albert.io account. Albert.io is a service that WHS already subscribes to and will provide ACT test preparation for students. We are asking that students set up their accounts now so we can do the rollout in January. Please make sure your child has signed up for their account.
x2VOL ACCOUNTS
During homeroom next week, there will be an activity that requires students to sign up for their x2VOL account. x2VOL is the platform that WHS is moving to in order to document service learning hours. Students will be given access to detailed instructions to set up their accounts and we will move over to x2VOL starting in January.
HOMEROOM/COUNSELOR CHANGES FOR 2023-2024
Starting NEXT school year (2023-2024), Westside High School will be moving to an alphabetical based system for both counselors and homerooms. What this means is that students will be assigned to a school counselor and administrator based off their last name. Additionally, to better serve students academically and with their social and emotional needs, homerooms will be divided up alphabetically and by grade level. These changes will allow us to provide better service to both students and families and more information will be forthcoming as we begin registering for next year's classes in the spring.
Westside High School has implemented random hall sweeps throughout the day in order to limit traffic and noise during instructional time. Students are expected to be in class or an approved open-mod space by the time the bell rings to begin the mod. For students leaving the building with an off-campus pass, we will allow around 2 additional minutes to get to the main entrance to leave. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate unnecessary hallway traffic during class time and improve our overall academic environment. Students that are caught in hall sweeps are subject to a before or after-school detention.
HOMEROOM
Students are reminded that homeroom attendance is required on a daily basis. We have seen an increase in absenteeism and tardiness to homeroom and we wanted to make sure that all students understand that they need to be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.
1ST SEMESTER GRADES
Teachers will submit 1st semester grades by the end of the day on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. At this point in time, report cards will be emailed home to families.
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Make sure to check out the WHS Counseling website for all the latest news and updates!
SCHOLARSHIPS
Seniors and parents should check out the Scholarship Newsletter put out by the WHS School Counseling Department on a regular basis to see what scholarships may be available for Westside students.
DECEMBER SENIOR INFORMATION
December
December 3 - SAT Assessment
December 6 - Students applying to colleges with January deadlines must submit all materials to their assigned counselor.
December 10 - ACT Assessment
December 15 - Admission decisions for ED, EA and REA are typically released
On your radar (December):
If you applied and were accepted into your ED school you are obligated to withdraw your other applications.
Students not accepted into their ED school make sure to complete your other applications. Students are able to apply EDII to some universities. EDII deadlines are typically between December 15th-January 1st.
NO college applications will be processed over winter break. You MUST notify your counselor of ALL universities you will be applying to on or before December 4!
PARENT & STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS
Asset 12: School Boundaries
Make sure everyone knows the rules
All schools need rules. In fact, young people actually learn better when school boundaries—expectations for how they should act—are clear and consistent. Setting these standards isn’t always easy, however, and neither is enforcing them. Many schools struggle with how to discipline students appropriately and effectively. It’s a balancing act in which school administrators, parents, and students play important roles. Working together, families and educators can ensure young people reach their highest potential. School Boundaries is Asset 12 of Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
Here are the facts
Research shows that young people who attend schools with clear rules and consequences are more likely to display positive behaviors and attitudes, rather than engage in risky behaviors. About 52 percent of young people, ages 11–18, say their schools provide clear rules and consequences, according to Search Institute surveys. Work to ensure schools help young people focus on positive, rather than negative, behavior.
Tips for building this asset
It’s important for parents to stay involved in their children’s school. Teachers and administrators can help by creating a conduct code at the beginning of the school year and sending it home to parents. Parents can reinforce the rules set by the school. Conflicts may still occur, and when they do, allow everyone—students, parents, teachers, and others in the community—to feel comfortable voicing their concerns and suggesting solutions to the problem. The more families, schools, and communities work together to establish consistent boundaries, the better off young people will be because they’ll know what to expect.
Also try this
- In your home and family: Learn about school boundaries by visiting or volunteering at your child’s school. Ask yourself: Overall, how are students behaving? How do adults and students interact with one another? When conflicts occur, how are they resolved? How do the school boundaries match your home boundaries? When you’re at home with your child, talk to her or him about why school rules are important.
- In your neighborhood and community: Understand the local school leaders’ expectations for the behavior of young people in the neighborhoods surrounding the school. If the school handbook isn’t specific, help administrators address the issue.
- In your school or youth program: Work with the young people in your school or program to create clear rules and norms about appropriate behavior.
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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