Wolverines News May Newsletter

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Thank you!...

Thank you to the students of West High for another great year! So many of you continue to amaze me with your dedication and perseverance, with your humbleness and kindness, and by your individuality and spirit. I am so proud of all of you!

Thank you to the families that support our students and staff. You have demonstrated understanding and grace through unique times, you have communicated with us to help us improve and grow as school, and you have also persevered in order to provide for your children.

Finally, thank you to our staff who not only choose careers as educators, but who choose to do so at West High. I watch you dedicate so much of your time and hearts to our students in so many ways that most would have no idea of. You do so without thanks, you do so to help, to serve, to make a difference.

Thank you everyone! West is BEST!!

Sincerely,

-Ms. Rebecca Rieken

#WeAreWEST

Michelle Sokolovske is our April staff member of the month.

Students had the following things to say about Ms. Sokolovske:

She makes classes fun... She is a very kind teacher... Her caring attitude helps all students to feel comfortable in her class... She engages with her students making classes fun.

On Thursday, May 19th we celebrated our seniors' last day with a grill out and traveled to WMS, Liberty, Loess Hills, Riverside, and Perry Creek for graduation marches.

Leading up to their final day of school, we've had many other celebrations along the way...

I scream, you scream, Approximately 200 students screamed ice cream!! These 200 students were celebrated for their attendance and grades during April 11 to May 11. To qualify all grades were passing, students had five or less tardies, zero truancies, no ISS, and no OSS. The students were treated to an ice cream sundae with many choices of toppings!! The PBIS team scooped up the sundaes on May 13.

After school tutoring will be available for any WHS student from 3:00-4:00 on Tuesday & Wednesday during the last week of school. Tutoring is located in the WHS Media Center. Busing home will be available to students leaving WHS at 4:15 and dropping off at the nearest feeder elementary school.

Night School is available to any student working on credit recovery/acquisition via Edgenuity. The last week of school, Night School will still be 3-7pm Tuesday & Thursday, and 3-5pm on Wednesday in the SWS/AEC classroom, Room 265.

There will be one more Saturday School this Saturday, May 21 from 9am-12pm in the WHS Media Center. Saturday School is available to any 9th-12th grade student who needs academic tutoring or who needs support with Edgenuity coursework and tests/quizzes.

May 26: Last Day of School

• Students are allowed to leave after the all school assembly ending around 11:00am
• Lunch will still be served
  
• Bussing will arrive at 1:55pm
  

May 27: Graduation practice at 10:00 (Tyson Events Center)

May 28: Graduation Commencement @2:30 (Tyson Events Center)

May 31: Summer School Begins (WHS Media Center)

Summer school provides students with an opportunity to recover credits from the previous school year(s). Students will either recover their credit(s) by completing a packet of work from the course, or by completing a course through “Edgenuity” (a credit recovery online program). The options available depend on the status of their failed credit, and the semester the failed credit occurred in.

Dates: Tuesday, May 31 – Monday, June 27, 2022

Time: 8:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Location: West High Media Center

Transportation & Lunch: Transportation and lunch will be available, details to come…

Summer--a time of relax, spend time with friends and family, and work ahead for next school year. West High has a long history of donating time back to the community through Silver Cord hours. By completing 40 hours of time doing volunteer hours at places like S.T.A.R.S. barn, Launch Pad, various church nurseries. By working ahead on your Silver Cord hours, you will be recognized at graduation. Student who work the required hours, wear a Silver Cord. This shows your commitment to give back to the community. #WEAREWEST volunteering to help others!

• 12th Grade Immunization REQUIREMENTS
• Meningococcal Vaccine

Students entering 12th grade will need proof of two doses of meningococcal (A, C W, Y) vaccine; or 1 dose if received when the student was 16 years of age or older. According to the state law, students that have not received at least one dose of the vaccine will not meet the mandatory immunization requirements and there is no grace period granted to catch-up.

Your student may have already received this vaccine during their regular physical exam. If you feel they have had this vaccine, please bring the valid, signed certificate of immunization documenting your student has had the vaccine to the school nurse. You can contact your health care provider's office to get this paperwork if necessary. Our school fax number is 712-279-6790.

The West High School Food Pantry & Clothing Closet is available to meet the needs the West side community. We can assist families with meals, clothing, toiletries, and some household goods. Those in need may contact the school to arrange a time to select items they need, but we would also be happy to prepare a pick-up order to meet your needs. Please call West High School with any requests, 712-279-6772, or email Mr. Van Buren: vanburm1@live.siouxcityschools.com

If your contact information has changed since registration, please call West High School, 712-279-6772, with an update of the information. Emergency contact information is also highly recommended. Being able to successfully communicate with our families is very important to us!

Our team invites parents and guardians to connect with them anytime throughout the school year so we can partner with you as we guide our students to success. All are welcome to call West High School to schedule an appointment, or email the grade level administrator directly:

West High School, 712-279-6772

12th grade, Rebecca Rieken, Head Principal- riekenr@live.siouxcityschools.com

11th grade, Steve Green, Assistant Principal & Activities Director- greens@live.siouxcityschools.com

10th grade, Brant Bemus, Assistant Principal- bemusb@live.siouxcityschools.com

9th grade, Pam Husk, Assistant Principal- huskp@live.siouxcityschools.com

Student medication and/or medical supplies will be sent home with your child on the last day of school. If you would like to make other arrangements, please contact the school office before the last day of school. Any unused medication that remains at school will be disposed of in compliance with federal and state law or will be given to the School Resource Officers for proper disposal.

When the 2021-2022 school year ends, so do free meals for every student. While the federal government funded a program that allowed all students access to free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress recently declined to continue funding this program. This means all families will need to carry a positive balance in their children’s school meal accounts when school begins next fall. If your student qualifies for free or reduced meals, they can still receive them next year, but you must take action to make it happen.

1. Complete the 2021-2022 online application for free and reduced meals before the end of this school year if you have not already filled out an application for the 2021-2022 school year. This will give you a 30-day grace period at the start of the 2022-2023 school year to complete another application for next year.
2. Then, fill out the 2022-2023 online application which will be available on the District’s website after July 1, 2022. Even if you complete the 2021-2022 application, you will still need to complete the 2022-2023 application as well.

Families that do not qualify for free or reduced meals can start depositing money into their student’s MySchoolBucks account to prepare for the cost of school lunches next year. Information on meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year will be available in the near future.

There are hundreds of reasons to work for Sioux City Community Schools, named one of America’s best in-state employers. Discover the benefits of a career with a competitive salary and great benefits. View our current job opportunities and apply today!

Do you have school fees that need to be paid? Visit www.siouxcityschools.org and click on the “Parents” tab to pay your fees online. On the drop-down menu of the “Parents” tab, you can select “Pay Curriculum and Meal Fees.” Both links will take you to “My School Bucks” to complete the payment transaction.

Looking for ways to get your students involved this spring and summer? Sign up for the District’s Virtual Backpack program and receive weekly updates and information about free community events, summer sports league registration, and more. Virtual Backpack is your one-stop resource for upcoming events and opportunities. Sign up for the weekly Virtual Backpack email: https://bit.ly/3tRKVVi

Every student in our building has given a rapid COVID-19 testing form to take home to their parents/guardians. A student must have a signed consent form on record as well as verbal consent from their parent/guardian prior to the administration of a rapid test. Rapid tests are available to students who start displaying COVID symptoms during the school day.

Do the terms Snap map, private account, or ghost mode sound familiar? If you answered no, you are not alone. Many families are unfamiliar with these social media terms and others. The District website offers information for parents on the most popular social media platforms and tips for keeping kids safe online. Information is available here: https://bit.ly/3mgwsz7

Convenience at your fingertips! Download our new mobile app for easy access to the school calendar, events, and all the information you need about the Sioux City Community School District. The app is available to download now in the app store on your mobile device.

An engaged community makes our District stronger. That is why we have made it easy for you to connect with us whenever it is convenient for you. We encourage you to take advantage of Let’s Talk!, our 24/7 online submission site. Reach out with your ideas, questions, concerns, and praise. To make a submission, please visit http://www.siouxcityschools.org/lets-talk/.

The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW.

The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices. The District is required by Title IX and 34 CFR Part 106 not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs, activities, or employment.

Inquiries or grievances under Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act may be directed to Dr. Dora Jung, Director of Student Services & Equity Education/Title IX Coordinator at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, jungd@live.siouxcityschools.com. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations to the District may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, or both. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.

Contact us!

Principal: Rebecca Rieken

Website: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/west-high-school/
Location: 2001 Casselman Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6772
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxCityWestHighSchool/
Twitter: @WHS_Activities