Wolverines News

Click the Translate Newsletter button to the right of this page to view this newsletter in over 100 languages.

Haga clic en el botón Translate Newsletter para ver una traducción automática de esta carta de noticias en más de 100 idiomas.

Once February rolls around, the rest of the school year always seems to go by so quickly. March, April, and May are full of spring activities, assessments, and senior rites of passage.

Students, I encourage you to stay the course and keep focused on ending the academic semester strong. The staff at West High want to see you succeed! Stay on top of your assignments, take advantage of retakes when available, and attend opportunities for additional assistance when needed.

Families of West High, my appreciation of the support you have shown myself and my staff through this unique school year will never be forgotten. I continue to welcome your suggestions as we keep moving ahead through 2nd semester, and make plans for the school year to come. It truly takes a team, and that team includes each and every one of you!

#WeAreWEST

Sincerely,

-Ms. Rebecca Rieken

riekenr@live.siouxcityschools.com

"Congratulations to our January Staff Member of the Month, Ms. Brenna Splinter!

Students at WHS had these things to say about Ms. Jensen...

• "This teacher is important to West High School because she makes learning fun. She is always makes you feel welcome! She is nice and fun to talk too."

• "She always greets students when they walk into her classroom and makes class fun even when it gets hard. She is a funny person and makes her students feel safe."

Parent Teacher Conference will take place on Monday, February 22nd, from 8:00am-8:00pm, and on Tuesday, February 23rd from 3:05pm-5:45pm.

Parents will receive an email soon regarding information about how to schedule a conference.

There will be no school for students on Monday, February 22 and no school on Friday, February 26.

Attention Seniors!

The deadline for the Senior Diploma Form has been extended, feel free to stop by the main office and ask for another copy. Please turn in your completed form as soon as possible.

Prom-

Tentatively planned for Saturday, May 15th: Location, time, theme, and student eligibility requirements will be shared at a later time.

After Prom-

Parents, please contact Kat Pendleton if you would like to assist with planning After Prom:

kadillac4@live.com

Graduation-

Tentatively planned for Saturday, May 29th.

The West High 20-21 yearbooks are being sold now!

February 1-March 31: $50

April 1-15: $55

You can purchase books in person with cash or check in Ms. Stephens' Room S108 before school or during 1st period. You can buy yearbooks using a debit or credit card online at www.yearbookforever.com

If you forgot to order your 2019-2020 Yearbook, there are still some remaining, the cost is $50. Please email Ms. Stephens to inquire about availability and purchasing, stephet@live.siouxcityschools.com

All teachers have worked to create and maintain a common CANVAS home page. The week will be represented Monday through Friday, and within each day, teachers will detail the activities and assignments for that day.

If a student is absent, or will be gone for an extended absence, it is our hope that this common design will assist student and families as they access the activities and assignments that were assigned when the student was not able to attend class. If a student falls behind, they can also search back through archived weeks to locate assignments that are past due.

Any student learning remotely via an Edgenuity course must complete all tests before the end of the semester in order to receive credit for the course.

Virtual students need to make arrangements with Mr. Bemus to take their tests onsite. Night school hours are available for students who do not want to visit campus during normal school hours.

Night School hours are:

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:00-7:00

Wednesdays, 3:00-5:00

Night School is located in the WHS Media Center. For any questions related to Edgenuity courses, please contact Mr. Bemus: bemusb@live.siouxcityschools.com

Congratulations to senior Colin Houts who has been named the February 2021 Rotary Club Student of the Month. He will be honored during a Rotary Club meeting on February 15.

Reminder that Siouxland Community Foundation scholarships are due February 15th.

The West High Counseling Dept. will be hosting a JUNIOR PARENT NIGHT at 6 pm on Monday, February 22nd in the Media Center. Understanding financial aid, applying to colleges and finding scholarships are some of the key topics to be addressed by the Iowa College Access Network representative. The counseling dept. will also provide a live feed on Facebook for those who do not wish to attend in person due to Covid concerns. Masks and social distancing will be enforced.

The next ACT is April 17th. The Deadline to register is March 12th. Please see your counselor for more details.

West High School is currently seeking interested and qualified staff for the following employment opportunities:

• Compass Academy Classroom Special Education Instructional Assistant

For more information about these positions, please contact Ms. Rieken: riekenr@live.siouxcityschools.com

To apply, please visit:

https://www.applitrack.com/siouxcity/onlineapp/default.aspx

All SCCSD high schools operate closed campuses. This means that students are not allowed to leave campus unless they are scheduled out of the building, or unless they are attending an off-campus class.

Students are not allowed to bring outside food back into the building, and students are not allowed to have outside food delivered. Food that is delivered will be held until after school for pick up.

After school tutoring, Night School, and Saturday School are all located in the WHS Media Center.

After school tutoring-

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays 3:00-4:00

Night school-

Tuesdays 3:00-7:00

Wednesday 3:00-5:00

Thursday 3:00-7:00

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. We are limiting building access at this time, but would 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

Please keep students home and contact West High School if:

• student is experiencing symptoms related to COVID
• student is awaiting the results of a COVID test
• student has been exposed to someone in the home who has tested positive for COVID
• student has been in close contact (less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) with someone who has tested positive for COVID and they were not wearing a mask during that time
  

All students, staff, and guests entering the building must be wearing a mask or face covering that covers both the mouth and nose at all times. If someone needs assistance with obtaining a mask, please communicate those needs with the school.

Administration will be contacting parents/guardians regarding any student who does not come to school prepared with a mask or shield. Students who repeatedly come to school without a mask or shield, or who do not comply with these expectations, may be sent home.

To request technology assistance or learn about solutions and information regarding CANVAS, we encourage students and families to visit the SCCSD Freshdesk.

The District is committed to connecting our students and families to important community resources. View a comprehensive list of local services including information about food access, housing assistance, and mental and physical health resources. Learn more: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/community-resources-in-sioux-city/

The Sioux City Community School District is currently hiring for the following positions:

· Substitute School Bus Drivers and Substitute Bus Assistants

· Substitute Building Service Technicians

· Substitute Teachers and Substitute Instructional Assistants

· Substitute Food Service Workers

The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. To learn more about job qualifications and our available opportunities, please visit our website: www.siouxcityschools.org

With cold weather upon us, it’s important to plan for inclement weather. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the colder weather. Suggested apparel includes a warm coat, hat, scarf and gloves. If a student needs access to these cold weather apparel items, please contact the school office.

Even during the winter season, the District allows recess and outdoor activities to continue as usual. However, if a student does not have appropriate winter clothing, a school official may ask a student to remain inside.

When the atmosphere reaches a temperature that feels like 15 degrees or less, then all students are kept inside for recess/activities. The “feel” of the temperature is determined based on the National Weather Service’s report.

Thank you for helping us keep students safe and warm this season.

The winter in Iowa provides us with some days that make it a challenge to hold classes at the regular time, and sometimes we must close our schools early, late, or for the entire day. As you know, our weather is not only challenging at times, it is constantly changing.

Please remember that parents and guardians have the right to decide to keep their child home on any day that they feel it is unsafe for their student to be in school because of weather conditions. If you believe the weather provides a genuine reason why you may have to keep your students at home, or take your student home when classes are scheduled to continue, you as a parent or guardian will simply need to contact your child’s school to let them know.

If a decision is made on the day of school to cancel classes or to have a late start, a call goes out at 6:00 AM to all parents and guardians. Parents can also check the following sites for closure information.

1. GovDelivery https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IAEDU6039/subscriber/new?qsp=CODE_RED
2. District’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SiouxCityCommSchools
3. District’s Twitter @siouxcityschool
4. All media outlets

If the schools are dismissed early or if school is called off entirely, there will be no evening activities. If you have before and after school care, please check with your provider about their procedures.

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 Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education/Title IX Coordinator at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@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