Westside Middle School

• Monday January 20th for MLK Day
• Tuesday January 21st for Teacher Professional Learning Day

After School Pick Up

• Please make sure you are NOT parking between 87th street and the entrance to the Middle School Parking Lot on Arbor. It is a two way street coming out of the parking lot going west and we need to make sure cars and buses can get through!

There has been an increase in the number of students wearing headphones in the hallways. This is an important time to remind you that headphones and AirPods, like cell phones, must remain out of sight from 8:00 AM until the end of the school day unless a teacher grants permission to use them with your iPad in the classroom. This also means they cannot be worn around your neck or on top of your head. Similar to the cell phone policy, violations will result in being referred to E102 to turn them in. Repeated violations will lead to the headphones being held in the office for an increasingly longer period of time.

It is important for students and staff that expectations are clear, easily understood by everyone, and consistently applied.

WMS 24-25 Yearbooks are now on sale! Click on the link below to purchase your Student's Yearbook! The deadline is April 11th and the cost is $30.00. Students will receive them on the last day of school. No extra yearbooks are ordered, so please order by April 11th in order for your student to receive one.

https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/westsidemiddleschoolomaha

High School Registration - Parents/guardians, please make sure to read this as there is a lot of important information about high school registration. Registration for high school courses will begin for 8th-grade students in the next couple of weeks. All 8th graders will attend an informational session with the high school counselors on Monday, January 13 during homeroom. During this session, students will learn about modular scheduling, graduation requirements, and activities at Westside High School. High school counselors will return to the middle school on Thursday, January 23 during homeroom. Students will begin the process of selecting their courses during this meeting by filling out a course planning sheet. Students will then take their course planning sheet home to go over their course selections with their parents/guardians. Students will enter their course requests into PowerSchool with their parents/guardians. This needs to be completed by February 26, 2025. The middle school counselors will also meet individually with their assigned students during this time to go over their course requests for high school. This process will go through approximately late February. The high school counselors will come to the middle school on Thursday, February 27 to meet with 8th grade students to finalize student course requests.

Classroom lessons - Counselors have wrapped up their classroom lessons for 7th and 8th grade. Here are the topics we covered for each grade:

7th Grade - Problem-Solving/Decision Making, Self Control, and Conflict Resolution

8th Grade Lessons - Self Control, Organization and Study Skills, and Bullying Prevention

Contacting your student’s counselor - Counselors are assigned by academic teams. If you would like to contact your child’s counselor, please see the information below:

Sarah Lieske - Teams 7C, 8A, 8B - email lieske.sarah@westside66.net, phone (402) 408-8618

Doug Hauserman - Teams 7B, 7D, 8C - email hauserman.douglas@westside66.net, phone (402) 408 - 8577

On Friday, January 31st, WMS will host the Battle of the Show Choirs. As a result we will dismiss at 2:44 (just like we do on Wednesdays) in order to accomodate the visiting schools arriving at 3:15. There will be no after school library and we ask that all students are off school grounds by 3:00. Please make sure you arrange rides for your student prior to Friday, January 31st.

*Buses will run their Wednesday after school schedule.

Attention parents! We are so excited to be partnering with Omaha-based nonprofit Smart Gen Society to provide you with a FREE workshop about how to keep your child safe online.

This engaging workshop will teach you how to keep your students smart, safe, and private in today’s 24/7 digital world. They will be going over the following topics:

• Digital Branding: How to build a positive digital brand to protect reputation and future opportunities.
• Communication: How to create open lines of communication with your kids about online safety.
• Safety: How to protect your family's privacy, safety, and mental health.

Be sure to mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 11, 2025, from 6-7 p.m. at Westside High School in Room 220. Please use the main entrance and go into the main lecture hall.

Click on the flyer to view the Amazon wish list!

It's back! Last year, we set a Westside record amount for fundraising and participants and have even higher goals for this year! Everyone of all ages is welcome to take the plunge!

We are making it a competition again this year, with a traveling trophy for the school that raises the most money and has the most participants! We will have one trophy for the elementary level, and one for the secondary level. There will be frequent updates for who is in the lead! We highly encourage administrators, teachers, students and EA's to join in and fundraise. We promise it's not THAT cold and we have donuts, hot chocolate, a tent, and a heater for when you are done! School themed costumes are ALWAYS encouraged!

Date: February 8, 2025

Time: Check-in: 9:30am, Plunge: 11am

Location: Lake Zorinsky
156th and F St, Omaha, NE 68137

Post-Plunge Party: Brewsky's Food & Spirits
15350 Weir St

Please use the link to sign up with the Special

Westside Football will be hosting the Youth Football Camp in the spring this year at the Omaha Sports Complex. The purpose of this camp is to introduce the techniques, fundamentals, and skills needed to play football for Westside High School. All current 3rd-7th graders are invited to Sign Up Here or here is the link https://myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?r

ef=ZZI5ZPLR6704EZ4_ZZJUK811MF0PO

Jadin Booth class of 2020 and Westside all time leading scorer will be holding his 4th annual Jadin Booth Elite Camp this June 9th-11th. The cost is $125 and will be held at Westside middle school. This camp is for 3rd-8th graders boys and girls. The kids will enhance their basketball skills from professional and college players as well as learning Jadins keys to life and hoops. You can register at jadinboothelitecamp.com

We are excited to announce the launch of our WE-SIDE Community Events Calendar. This calendar includes dates and times for local events and community offerings.

While we are not a partner, sponsor, or organizer of the listed events, we’d like to share them with you as part of our WE-SIDE initiative, which highlights opportunities available in the greater Omaha community.

Started in the summer of 2020, WE-SIDE stands for Welcoming Equity Support Inclusion Dignity Everyone. This initiative was created to foster a district community where everyone feels valued, connected, and respected. The initiative seeks to build a supportive environment that honors the dignity of every individual, creating a sense of belonging and unity within the Westside community.

The events are listed on the right-hand side of the WCS website homepage. Click on each event for specific logistical information. However, for details or inquiries regarding any of these events, please contact the official event organizers directly.

We are excited to share these opportunities with you and hope you find something new to explore with friends or family members

Are you looking for an impactful way to support teachers, staff and students at WMS? If so, the WMS Community Club (WMS CC) needs YOU!

The Community Club’s meets from 3:30 – 4:30. For your convenience, the meeting is available via Zoom or in person at WMS.

WMS CC supports our teachers and staff by organizing fall and spring conference meals, providing gift cards for the monthly teacher recognition program and the teacher/staff end of year celebration. WMS CC celebrates our student body by providing refreshments at the academic awards night and organizing the 8th grade end of year dance.

2024 – 2025 Meetings

1/16 3:30 – 3:30 PM

2/20 3:30 – 3:30 PM

3/13 3:30 – 3:30 PM

4/14 3:30 – 3:30 PM

If you have questions and/or interested in attending, please contact susanclauser@gmail.com for the Zoom meeting or attend the first meeting on August 15th! We will gather in the main office at the Middle School and then move from there to our meeting space.

2024-25 WMS Administration:

Kim Eymann - Principal eymann.kimberly@westside66.net

Jordan Rhodes - Assistant Principal (Dean 7C, 8A). rhodes.jordan@westside66.net

Amber Biegler - Asst Principal and Special Services Department Chair beigler.amber@westside66.net

Dan Carlson - Dean and Athletic Director (Dean 7A, 7B, 8C). carlson.daniel@westside66.net

Kellon Johnson - Dean (7D, 8B, 8D). johnson.kellon@westside66.net