Hillside News Brief

Hillside Families:

We are getting close to Day One of school (seems like there are several Day Ones), and the Hillside staff is getting ready for you!

It has been a whirlwind of plexiglass and videos and preparing for students in a new world of social distancing and mask wearing. Through it all, we haven't lost sight of the fact that we are here for our Hillside tigers in every way. Our top priority is the physical and emotional health of the students who walk through our doors each day and the ones who are at home learning with us.

Please let us know what you need. Contact your classroom teacher; our counselor, Mr. Maloley (maloley.zachary@westside66.net); Assistant Principal, Mrs. McGuire (mcguire.quinn@westside66.net), or me (bailey.cynthia@westside66.net) if we can help you.

Stay safe, and we'll see you in person or in the virtual world very soon!

Cynthia Bailey, Principal

Westside Nutrition Services has served more than 400,000 meals to children in need throughout District 66 and the Omaha metro area. This dedication to our community and fulfilling all needs of children will continue this fall as we again shift to our YELLOW pandemic plan to start the 20/21 school year at Westside.

On Monday, August 17, Nutrition Services will continue to distribute take-home meals for our students, but with changes in place:

• Student meals will cost the same as they would during a traditional school day. (Click here for 20/21 Student Meal Prices at all levels https://westsidecommunityschoolsne.mealviewer.net/)
• Meal benefits are available for students whose family income meets requirements. If you have not already, please complete the Free/Reduced Meals application here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p5Gt01IYnQEHcKQT9WljGDaOGaYYm2d1/view
• Depending on what days your child physically attend school, or if they have signed up for Extended Campus Learning, you will receive meals for 2, 4 or 6 days
• Meals can include lunch, or breakfast and lunch.
• Meal pick-up on Monday, August 17 will take place from 7:30am-1:00pm at your child’s school
• Upon arrival, you will provide your student’s ID number and receive requested meals for the week. Your account will then be charged accordingly.

Beginning the week of August 24, meal pick-up will take place each Wednesday as follows:

• ALL STUDENTS: 7:30am-1:00pm at your child’s school
• WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL/WHS WEST CAMPUS STUDENTS ONLY: 4:00pm-6:00pm at Westside High School
• K THROUGH 8 STUDENTS ONLY: 4:00pm-6:00pm at Westside Middle School
• Each elementary student will receive either 3 or 5 days worth of meals, depending on whether they are attending school 2 days a week or learning at home all 5 days each week
• Each secondary student will receive either 4 or 5 days worth of meals, depending on whether they are attending school 1 day a week or learning at home all 5 days each week

To best help our Nutrition Services team plan ahead for meal preparation each week, we ask that you take this brief survey. Please fill out a survey for each child in your family. https://forms.gle/RK8zMcC5VycZRqTK9 This information will not be shared; it will only be used to help us plan and efficiently carry out meal distribution each week.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we approach this unprecedented school year!

Westside Community Schools

We've been sending out a paper dismissal survey for our students who will be coming to school; obviously, these are hard to collect because we have not been together! We have decided that an electronic survey might work better. If your child will be physically coming to school, please access the survey below and complete it so we know how your child is getting home. Thank you!

We invite all 5th and 6th-grade students and families to help the BEAT go on in Westside by being a part of our award winning Band and Strings program! All in-person and fully virtual students are welcomed and invited to play a musical instrument this year! Due to district and health guidelines, Band and Strings will be fully virtual while Westside is in Yellow or Red Mode. Students will receive one live virtual lesson a week as well as one web-based home assignment. When the district is in Green Mode, we are hopeful we will be able to make music together in-person! We will be visiting with the 6th-grade students the first week of school and setting our returning learners up for success with their virtual learning experience. 6th-grade parents, please click on the sixth-grade registration link below to register your child for band and strings this school year. If you are new to Westside or did and did not have a chance to play an instrument last year, you MAY sign up for band/strings this year as well following the links below.

5th-grade families, we will be sending out a recruitment video on our first virtual Wednesday (August 26) through your classroom teachers. Please watch the video, discuss instrument options with your child and then register on the link for 5th grade Band and Strings by Labor Day. 5th-grade classes will begin mid-September so you have time to register and get your instrument. We will be hosting information sessions for families that register for band and strings as our start date approaches, but in the meantime, please connect if you have any questions about our program! We can not wait to welcome you and are excited to KEEP THE BEAT going in the Westside Community Schools!

The Elementary Instrumental Music Team

Sixth Grade Band and Strings Registration

Fifth Grade Band and Strings Registration

Tuesday, August 18:

Day 1 of instruction for A Group

Day 1 of Group 1 for Kindergarten Roundup

Wednesday, August 19:

Day 2 of instruction for A Group (Last Name A-K)

Day 2 of Group 1 for Kindergarten Roundup

Student pickup on this day is 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 20:

Day 1 of instruction for B Group (Last Name L-Z)

Extended Campus learners will be logging on to get to know their teacher and technology (will hear from teacher regarding schedule)

Day 1 of Group 2 for Kindergarten Roundup

Friday, August 21:

Day 2 of instruction for B Group

Extended Campus learners will be logging on to continue getting to know their teacher (teacher will communicate schedule)

Day 2 of Group 2 for Kindergarten Roundup

Monday, August 24:

Instructional day for A Group (Kindergarteners will now have a teacher assigned)

Day 1 of instruction for Extended Campus learners

Tuesday, August 25:

Instructional day for A Group

Wednesday, August 26:

Students do not come to school; at home learning

Thursday, August 27:

Instructional day for B Group

Friday, August 28:

Instructional day for B Group