Wolverine News- Sept. Newsletter

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.

Our 2022-2023 school year is off to a FABULOUS start! There are so many things to compliment our students and staff with as they have all returned for another year! From classroom engagement to student success in activities, I am bursting with WOLVERINE PRIDE!!

Soon we will be celebrating more school pride with our Homecoming events. We encourage not only our current students to join the fun and make memories that will last for years to come, but we hope our community and West High alum will join us for our events as well!

Parent-teacher conferences are also around the corner. This is a great opportunity for families, students, and staff to engage in conversations that can highlight the success of our students, as well as to create plans for future success as the year continues on.

Thank you everyone for the outstanding beginning to another spectacular year at West High!

Sincerely,

-Ms. Rebecca Rieken

#WeAreWEST

West High School Homecoming Event Schedule 2022

Monday: September 26th: Coronation 7:00 pm @ West High Auditorium.

Tuesday: September 27th: School Assembly at 10:50 am @ West High Gymnasium.

Wednesday: September 28th: Powder Puff Football Championship 5:00pm @ Riverside Field.

Thursday: September 29th: Parade @ 1:00 pm starting @ Heartland Baptist Church. *Elementary Students will be dropped off in the Crosspointe Church Parking lot.

Friday: September 30th: Varsity Football Game @7:00 pm, Des Moines East vs. Sioux City West

Saturday: October 1st: Homecoming Dance 7:00 pm, @West High

West High School Homecoming Dress Up Themes 2022

Monday: September 19th: Bare Necessities (pajamas)

Tuesday: September 20th: Monkey See Monkey Do (Twin Day)

Wednesday: September 21st: Animal Print

Thursday: September 22nd: Safari Guide

Friday: September 23rd: Stoplight Day

Tuesday: September 27th: Parrot Day (Rainbow)

Wednesday: September 28th: Class Shirts.

Thursday: September 29th: Green & White Spirit Day.

West High School Homecoming Royalty Court:

Maya Augustine

Sophia Becerra

Kinsey Elgert

Addie Fletcher

Abby Hammer

Kellesse Heard

Rosie Narcia

Lisbet Vigil Rodriguez

Trinna Stoos

Sawyer Wilde

Lamarion Mothershead

Antonio Ferrero

Hunter McHugh

Terrance Topete

Kristopher Cummings

Robbie Johnson

Brekkon Arroyo

Michael Benson

Jordy Cambara

Keavian Hayes

Homecoming Dance Eligibility

*In order to be eligible to purchase a ticket and attend the homecoming dance, all students must be passing all of their classes, and have no ISS, OSS, or Truancy on their attendance record. If students or families have questions about eligibility, please visit with an administrator.

**A guest form will be available in the main office for any student wishing to bring a guest.

On Thursday, September 29th West High will celebrate our Homecoming with our annual parade. The parade will begin a 1:00pm.

The parade will start at the Heartland Baptist Church on West 19th and then will proceed down West 19th to the Middle school entrance (between WHS and WMS) and end in the West High main parking lot.

Students will follow their normal schedule for 1st block, 2nd block, and Advisory. Students will be allowed to leave after Advisory to attend the Homecoming Parade.

Students who would like to eat lunch at West High must head to the Den for lunch at 11:22am. Lunch will be served during the 1st lunch shift only.

After school busing will follow the normal schedule, with pick-up time at 2:55pm.

Students who choose to stay at West High instead of attending the parade must report to the Media Center immediately following lunch where supervision will be provided, as well as homework help. All other students must exit the building.

Our fall parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Monday, September 26 and Tuesday, September 27. You have three options for attending conferences this fall: virtually, by phone, or in person. We invite you to choose the option that works best for you and your family.

• In-Person Conferences
• Phone Conferences: Please be sure to provide the correct phone number for the teacher to call. Your student’s teacher will call you at that number at your designated time.
• Virtual Conferences: A link to connect with your child’s teacher will be sent to you in a confirmation email.

To schedule a conference time, please visit this link:

https://www.myconferencetime.com/wolverine/

When you schedule your time, you will be asked to select the type of conference you prefer. Once you have completed your conference registration, you will receive an email confirmation of your time. Please remember to sign up for a time with each staff member you plan to visit.

Because of conferences, there will not be school on Monday, September 26 or Friday, September 30.

West High School will be conducting a certified enrollment count on October 1st. In order to prepare for this official count, we will practice on Monday, September 19th.

• All West High Students must report to West High and go to their Homeroom/Advisory class first thing at 7:55am on Sept. 19 and October 1st.
• Students who have an Out of Building Homeroom/Advisory should report to the WHS Auditorium.
• Busing to Career Academy, Harry Hopkins, and WITCC will not leave until 8:10 to allow for attendance procedures.
  

West High Senior, Jordy Cambara, was recently named to The State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council (SIYAC), a group of engaged youth from across Iowa who advocate on important issues impacting teens in the state. Cambara was appointed to SIYAC after a rigorous selection process. It’s an opportunity that will allow Cambara and only 20 other Iowa youth to connect with policymakers including Governor Kim Reynolds.

Congratulations Jordy! West High is SO PROUD of you!!!

See the full story at:

https://bit.ly/3diK9w6

West High would like to share a HUGE THANK YOU to all of those who organized, hosted, helped, sponsored, played, and donated to our West High Activities Golf Fundraiser 2022!!! With this generosity, over $8000 was raised for our new weight room flooring! Alysia & Jamie Marksbury and Charlie Silvas were instrumental in this success! Thank you also to the Bocian & VanBuren family for the amazing meal!

On Monday, October 3, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the West High School Media Center, we will have a meeting for seniors, and parents & guardians who have seniors at West High School. This will be an informative meeting on things students will need to do during their senior year of high school. Topics will include senior credit status and graduation requirements, applying to college, FAFSA information, scholarships, and fundraising for the Senior Prom.

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Hames or Christina Still at West High School, 712-279-6746.

On Thursday, October 6, 2022, from 1:00-3:00 in the afternoon, several college representatives will be in the West High School Media Center to help students apply to college. This is an awesome opportunity to be able to visit with a college rep but also get help in applying to one or more colleges. Currently we have commitments from Briar Cliff University, Buena Vista University, Morningside University, Northeast Community College, St. Luke’s College, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Wayne State College, and Western Iowa Tech.

Please contact Stephanie Hames or Christina Still if you have any questions 712-279-6746.

An opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT will be October 12th at Crosspointe Church. Tests are $18. See Mrs. Still or Mr Zeliadt for more information.

PSAT/NMSQT is designed to help prepare students for the SAT, college, and careers. Student’s who take the test as a junior may meet requirements to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program which enables them to be nationally recognized and provides scholarship opportunities.

Students who would like assistance with registering for an upcoming ACT test, please see your school counselor. All juniors will receive a free opportunity to test in the Spring.

Upcoming ACT dates offered at West High:

- October 22nd

- December 10th

- February 11th

- April 15th

- June 10th

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.

For any students who missed school pictures before school started, another opportunity will take place on October 18th.

Yearbooks for the 2022-2023 school year are available for order both online and in person! Yearbooks are $40 until October 27. The price increases to $45 on October 27, to $50 on January 16, and to $55 on March 21. Orders will be taken until April 30, 2023.

• Starting July 25: Order a yearbook online at www.yearbookforever.com. Search for "West High School" in Sioux City, IA, and shop the store for the 2022-2023 school year.
• After August 18: Yearbooks can also be ordered in the library with Mrs. Schiller. Cash, card, or check (made out to West High School) are all accepted forms of payment.

Seniors & Parents/Guardians of Seniors: please email a digital file of your senior photo to Mrs. Schiller before December 22 to ensure your photo is included in the yearbook.

Mrs. Schiller can be reached by email (schillk@live.siouxcityschools.com) or phone (712-279-6772) with any questions.

After School Tutoring is available to all West High Students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:00-4:00pm in the WHS Media Center. Busing will be available to students who choose to attend. The activities bus picks up in front of WHS at 4:15pm and drops students off at their nearest elementary feeder school.

Night School is available to students who are working on credit recovery through Edgenuity. Night School days & times are:

Tuesdays, 3:00-7:00pm in the WHS Media Center

Wednesdays, 3:00-5:00pm in the WHS Media Center

Thursdays, 3:00-7:00pm in the WHS AEC-SWS Classroom

Future dates for Saturday School will be shared soon.

National Suicide Prevention Week was Sept. 5-11, we want to encourage our Wolverine families to check in with their teens and their mental health.

The Mayo Clinic identifies the following as possible warning signs of teen suicide:

· Talking or writing about suicide — for example, making statements such as "I'm going to kill myself," or "I won't be a problem for you much longer"

· Withdrawing from social contact

· Having mood swings

· Increasing use of alcohol or drugs

· Feeling trapped, hopeless or helpless about a situation

· Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns

· Doing risky or self-destructive things

· Giving away belongings when there is no other logical explanation for why this is being done

· Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated when experiencing some of the warning signs listed above

Read about what you can do to help minimize the risk on the Mayo Clinic's website or find an abundance of resources on the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website.

We love our Westside family and encourage anyone to get help if they or someone they love is contemplating suicide by calling or texting 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or 911 if you suspect someone is in immediate danger."

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

The District has implemented new protocols to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for all students. The SCCSD Parent/Guardian – Student Handbook highlights these protocols including:

• Cell Phone & Tele Communicative Devices
• Derogatory and Threatening Language Towards Staff
• Vaping
• Attendance

We encourage you to review the handbook with your child to make them aware of what is expected of them as a student in the Sioux City Community School District. By following the protocols, together, our district will be one where all students believe, achieve, and succeed.

You may reach your student during school hours by contacting the school office to leave a message for them. If your student needs to contact you during the school day, they may come to the school office.

Do you know a #SCCSD student or staff member with an inspiring story? We want to tell their story. Our “Believer. Achiever. Succeeder.” campaign highlights the remarkable people of our district. Stories of individuals are shared on our website and social media sites. To nominate a deserving individual, email the individual’s name, contact information, and a one-sentence description about why the individual deserves to be highlighted as part of the District’s campaign to Communications@live.siouxcityschools.com.

The federal government’s program that allowed all students access to free meals ended this summer. If your student qualifies for free or reduced meals, you will need to complete the online application if you have not done so already.

Families that do not qualify for free or reduced meals can deposit money into their student’s MySchoolBucks account. Information on meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year is available on the District’s website.

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

The District and our school are continuously updating families on important school information, closings and cancellations, and other announcements. Information is shared through email, phone calls, and text. Make sure we can connect with you by keeping your contact information updated in Infinite Campus. If you need to change your contact information, please contact the school office.

Volunteers are needed to join the District’s Grassroots Advocacy Committee. As a volunteer, you will receive email updates about important legislative events that could impact public education and asked to contact our legislators with the information you receive. Tips are provided to help volunteers connect with legislators. Volunteer today and let your voice be heard! Contact Communications@live.siouxcityschools.com to volunteer.

Discover community events, programs, and activities for your entire family through Virtual Backpack. From camps and sports leagues to family services and resources, the District’s Virtual Backpack e-newsletter is a one-stop resource for community information. The e-newsletter will be sent monthly to district families. Or, avoid waiting for the e-newsletter and visit the Virtual Backpack page on the District website today!

Looking for a part-time or full-time career with flexibility? Instructional assistants, bus drivers, and food service staff are needed to join our amazing team! Extra incentives are available for many positions. Check out the District’s openings today!

Connect with your student’s school, the superintendent’s office, or transportation. Let’s Talk provides you with an easy and convenient way to connect with schools and departments across the District with your ideas, questions, and concerns.

Get started today by clicking on the Let’s Talk icon located on the District’s homepage.

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