Gearing up for Fall -October 2023

October is always a busy month at school. Here are some of the highlights.

• 2nd - Count Day!
• 10th - Picture Retake Day
• 20th - End of 1st Quarter
• 24th - 2:30 Early Dismissal for Parent-Teacher Conferences
• 26th - 2:30 Early Dismissal for Parent-Teacher Conferences
• 27th - No School
• 31st - Halloween!!!

The Westwood Board of Education has turned in papers to the auditor for the Westwood Community to continue the Voter Approved Physical Plant and Equipment Property Tax (VPPEL). After a brief absence, the VPPEL approved by the community on April 5, 2016. These dollars are generated to pay for future facility, technology and transportation projects. This will not raise property taxes as it is already on our tax roles. Please view this link for more information! Westwood VPPEL Information

School board elections are on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Local voters will head to the polls to elect 3 community members to the board of education for Westwood Schools. We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to learn more about what’s happening in Iowa schools and get out and vote on November 7.

Candidates are running for four-year terms on the board. The candidates are:

• Andy Clayton
• Jeff Berg
• Elliott Johnson
• Dan Lee

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Polling places in our community:

Hornick Fire Station, 400 Main St., Hornick, 51026

Salix City Hall, 319 Tipton St., Salix 51052

Sloan Community Center, 423 Evans St., Sloan, 51055
Smithland Fire Station, 107 S. Hickory St., Smithland, 51056

For more information about voting or about absentee voting, please contact the county auditor.

In September Mr. Lutt and Mr. Mitchell attended training on testing Radon in schools. By law, this test needs to happen by 2027, but we don't want to wait. What is Radon,

The school will be testing for Radon during the week of December 4th. Students and staff may notice kits set up around the building but otherwise nothing else will be different. More communication will be coming out in November.

This is just another way that we are protecting our students and staff!

The Board of Education once again approved free breakfast meals for all Westwood students. This year they also approved a measure allowing all students that receive "reduced" lunch charges to receive "free" meals. These measures are in a accordance with state and federal guidelines.

The Importance of Breakfast

Students, Parents or Community members can report a dangerous situation 24/7 at the following link:

Report Here

Thank you so much for last year's Big Give, a GaGa Ball Pit. If you were to drive by at recess you can see a crowd of kids playing and watching "the pit." This year the Westwood Education Foundation is asking for your help in supplying teacher grants. They have donated $28,459 to teacher grants and $1,902 for the new mini grants. Please consider supporting this great opportunity for our staff and students.

There were a few tweaks to our ELL plan for the 2023-24 school year. Hit the link below to see them.

LAU Plan

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to support our school? Box Tops for Education has been around for over 25 years, and it really can make a difference. In fact, the Box Tops program has helped give almost one billion dollars to schools since 1996.

The Box Tops app gives participants the ability to earn for any school across the country with just the touch of a button. Plus, the Box Tops app allows you to search for schools that could use a little extra help, so you can help give students in low-income schools the opportunity to succeed.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: Buy participating products and use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt. The app identifies eligible products and earnings are credited to your designated school online. Even if you’re shopping online or doing grocery pickup, you can still submit your digital or email receipt with the Box Tops app and earn. Twice a year, our school gets a check!

See a list of participating products at BTFE.COM/PRODUCTS

Box Tops earnings really add up, and the more people that participate, the bigger the impact we can make. So let’s give our teachers the support they need and give more kids the opportunity to succeed. Together, we can help make a big difference.