Wolverines News Newsletter

Hello WHS Families, Students, and Staff,

My name is Rebecca Rieken, and I am honored to serve as your West High School principal. I began my position as an administrator on the Westside in 2016. During this past 9 years I have witnessed firsthand the many reasons that makes our community say, "WEST is BEST!!!" The pride of the Westside community is like no other!! I can't wait to start another year as your principal. The first day of school is less than two weeks away, and we are so excited to welcome back our Wolverines!

Recently, we hosted three days of early laptop checkout and registration assistance. I want to thank all of the families and students who attended! Those who were our first group to arrive that first day, we want to say thank you for your patience while we took time to make some slight adjustments to help things flow more smoothly.

As I explained in our summer newsletter, monthly information will be shared each month in a newsletter similar to this. More frequent information will be shared through email, sometimes by text, and also on our WHS Facebook page.

We are looking forward to our first annual "We Are West Event" coming up on tomorrow, Thursday, August 15th! We hope to see many of you there to join in the fun!!

It's going to be another great year at West High School! I look forward to seeing you all soon!!!

Sincerely,

-Ms. Rebecca Rieken

West High School Principal

#WeAreWEST

This school year, Mr. Brant Bemus, will be assisting the North High School administration team. During his absence, West High School has welcomed Interim Assistant Principal, Mr. Anthony Henriks!

A Letter From Mr. Henriks...

Hello, West High!

My name is Anthony Henriks and I will be your interim assistant principal this year at West High. I am a 2008 graduate of West High who has worked in the Sioux City Community School District for the last ten years. I worked at Irving Elementary for nine years as a classroom teacher and North High School for one year as an ESL teacher and coach for multiple sports. After high school, I attended Morningside College where I earned my bachelor's degree in elementary education in 2012. I also received a master’s degree in ESL education from Morningside University in 2022, and another master’s degree from Wayne State College in administration.

I am excited to come back home to West High. My wife, Stephanie Henriks, is also here in her first year as the Head Coach of the volleyball program. We are both eager to get started and add our support to the community. Let’s make this a year to remember!

New WHS Team Members:

• Anthony Henriks, Interim Assistant Principal
  
• Aaron Hinds, Science Teacher (Freshman Biology)
  
• Alex Habeger, Science Teacher (Field Biology, Bio II Lab, & ELD Biology)
• Chase Felix, Social Studies Teacher (Freshman American History)
  
• Austin Freiberg, Social Studies Teacher (World History & ELD World History)
• Lisa Hoebelheinrich, Social Studies Teacher (World History)
  
• Stephanie Hammel, Shared Social Studies Teacher with North High (American History)
  
• Mary Hunt, Shared Math Teacher with Career Academy (PAG & Geometry)

• Drake Coupland, Physical Education Teacher (Total Well-Being)
• Lisa Dirksen, Art Teacher (Art 2D)
  
• Tyrell Blakey, Special Education Co-Teacher (English II)
  
• Deanna Urbanec, Special Education Co-Teacher (Physical Science & Field Biology)
• Jessica Kenagy, Special Education Foundations Teacher
• Molly Miller, Special Education ASD Supports Teacher

• Steve McHugh, ELL Teacher
• Lili Madrid-Tritz, Counselor (9th Grade)
  
• Krista Weiland, Counselor (11th Grade)
• Payton French, Long-Term Substitute English Teacher
  
• Kalua Van Osdel, Special Education Classroom Instructional Assistant: Foundations
• Elizabeth Paz, Special Education Classroom Instructional Assistant: Foundations
• Brinne Preston, Special Education Classroom Instructional Assistant: Resource
• Austin Pollard, Classroom Instructional Assistant
• Veronica De Leon-Perez, Building Instructional Assistant
  
• Danielle Meyers, Building Service Technician
• George Davis, Building Service Technician
• Cory Paronto, Building Service Technician
• Tiffany Pedersen, AEA Strategist
  
• Walonda Goodwin, Sanford Outreach Counselor

• Online Verification
• Youth Screener Survey Consent
  
• Home Income Survey (Not available online, may pick up at the main office)
• Assisted their student in receiving the required immunizations
  
• **Students must have also turned in last year's laptop in order to checkout a new laptop**
  

Counselors are currently encouraging students to email them regarding questions and requests related to their student schedules.

Schedule change requests may not all be honored due to such reasons as a lack of availability in the master schedule or class size limitations. Students may not make specific requests to have a change in teacher if there are teachers who teach multiple courses of the same course. Students may not make requests to be moved to the same class as their friends.

*12th grade students are allowed out-of-building privileges in place of a study hall if they have met the following requirements:

• On-track for graduation with credits
• No behavior or attendance concerns
• Parent approval

*11th grade students are allowed out-of-building privileges in place of a study hall during their 2nd semester only, and they must meet the same above requirements.

Only 12th grade students are allowed to be considered for mid-year graduation. Students interested in this option must discuss this request with their school counselors before 1st semester of the new school year begins. Students who pursue this option are only allowed to work through second semester of English IV through Edgenuity. No other courses are allowed through Edgenuity to be considered a mid-year graduate.

At West High our counselors loop with their grade level class throughout all four years, and students identified as TAG will loop with Mrs. Still. As students and families have questions, please contact the counselor for that student's grade level, or the TAG counselor, either by email, or by leaving a voicemail for that counselor.

If a student was not able to get their picture taken during our early laptop check out days, there will be another opportunity on October 18.

Iowa law requires students to have certain immunizations, vision screenings, and dental screenings before starting school in the fall.

Your student will not be able to attend school without proof of the required immunizations and screenings.

Iowa law requires that students entering 12th grade have two doses of the meningococcal vaccine. Students must have one dose of the meningococcal vaccine and proof of the vaccination turned into their school before the first day of school on August 23, 2024. Students who do not have their first dose of the meningococcal vaccine or their immunization record turned in by August 23 will not be able to start school until those steps are completed.

Students have until September 23, 2024, to get their second required dose of the meningococcal vaccine and turn in their completed immunization record to their school. Students who do not complete their second dose or turn in their immunization record will not be able to attend school after September 23 until those steps are completed.

If your student needs vaccinations, we highly recommend you call your family doctor to schedule their vaccinations today. If you do not have insurance, you may call Siouxland District Health Department at 279-6119 for assistance.

What does this mean for you? You will need to call your physician’s office and make an appointment. If you have no insurance, you may call the Siouxland District Health Department at 279-6119 to schedule an appointment. Records can be faxed to West High at 712-279-6790 with attention to the school nurse.

West High School Nurse Contact Information:

Mary Mason, RN

School Nurse, West High School

712-279-6772

masonm@live.siouxcityschools.com

Reminder: the #SCCSD will continue to use the BOUND Sports App for tickets and season passes to all regular home high school athletic events. Cash will not be accepted at the gate.

All season athletic passes and individual tickets can be purchased through https://bit.ly/missouri-river or in the BOUND Sports App.

To purchase tickets on https://bit.ly/missouri-river, click on "Home" under Sioux City East Black Raiders, Sioux City North Stars, or Sioux City West Wolverines, and select “Tickets” in the main menu.

Fans who download the BOUND Sports App from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store can purchase tickets in the app and present their mobile pass at the gate.

Questions? Call the East High, North High, or West High office for assistance.

West High Students are encouraged to become involved and join an activity or club! If you have questions about our activity and club offerings, please email our Activities Director, Mr. Gabe Hoogers: hoogerg2@live.siouxcityschool.scom

Welcome to West High class of 2028!!

Your teachers and I have been working hard this summer to prepare for you! We are looking forward to connecting with you, continuing your learning, and preparing you for graduation in 2028. As you look forward to August 23, your first day of high school, we encourage you to get involved in our numerous activities. We also encourage you to set academic goals (we will talk about these in your classes). Most of all, we encourage you to talk to your peers, teachers, and administrators. Let us know what you want out of your freshmen year of high school. Again, welcome to West High!!

If you'd like to get a head start on ordering your cap and gown, please scan the QR Code below!

The West High School Food Pantry is available to meet the needs of the West side community. We can assist families with food, limited toiletries, and diapers.

Please call West High School with any requests, 712-279-6772 ask for Mrs. Husk.

*We will no longer have clothing except for homecoming and prom dresses, thank you!

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 administrator directly:

West High School, 712-279-6772

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

11th Grade primary contact, Gabe Hoogers, Assistant Principal & Activities Director- hoogerg2@live.siouxcityschools.com

10th grade primary contact, Anthony Henriks, Interim Assistant Principal- henrika@live.siouxcityschools.com

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

Please note the bus pick-up location on the south side of the school, marked on the map below. Students will exit the building through door #14 and proceed to the bus pick-up location.

Students will be dismissed two hours early every Friday during the 2024-2025 school year for staff professional development. This will replace early dismissals on Mondays for professional development.

Due to this change, students will have a two-hour early out on Friday, August 23 – the first day of school.

There will be no school on Monday, September 2 due to Labor Day.

Stay connected with family-friendly activities, programs, and clubs in the community through Virtual Backpack. The e-newsletter, which includes information from various Siouxland organizations, is sent out monthly to all district families. Or, view the most up-to-date lists of events and activities on the Virtual Backpack website.

West High School is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program which allows our school to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to our students. West High School students will not be charged for breakfast or lunch during the upcoming school year.

A complete list of CEP schools in our district can be found on our website. If you have a student attending another school that is not a CEP school, we encourage you to complete the 2024-2025 online application for free and reduced meals. This will help ensure other students in your family receive the meals they need during the upcoming school year.

For questions or assistance with school meals, please contact the District’s Food Service Department at 712-279-6860 or 712-279-6862.

Lockers are available upon request. If your child would like a locker, please call the school office to request one.

Have you reviewed the 2024-2025 SCCSD Parent/Guardian – Student Handbook? The handbook includes important information to help students reach their fullest potential at school. Families are encouraged to review the handbook with their students to make sure they are aware of what is expected of them as a student in the Sioux City Community School District.

Click here to view the 2024-2025 Parent/Guardian – Student Handbook.

Safe + Sound Iowa offers students and families a convenient way to anonymously report safety concerns related to our school. Trained dispatchers will share the information with appropriate school administrators and/or law enforcement so help can be given to those in crisis or at risk.

Visit Safe + Sound Iowa for more information.

The safety of our students and staff is paramount. The District uses Standard Response Protocol or common terms to communicate our actions and response to an emergency situation. The terms Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter are used so students, staff, and first responders understand the situation and how best to respond.

We encourage families to become familiar with these terms to better understand our school’s response and what to expect in a crisis situation. For more information on safety preparedness within the District, visit siouxcityschools.org.

The Sioux City Community School District is excited to share an opportunity for parents/guardians! A Parent Advisory Group will be formed to provide input/feedback to work being done by a Special Education Task Force and a Talented and Gifted Task Force. The Parent Advisory Group will meet 4 times during the 24-25 school year. If you are interested in participating in the Parent Advisory Group, please email Kim Neal, Director of Learning Supports, at nealk@live.siouxcityschools.com for more information.