Wolverines News Newsletter

Hello WHS Families, Students, and Staff,

Another year of West High School soon will go down in the history books, and what a great year it has been!!! On Tuesday our Class of 2024 will graduate and head off to their next step in life. We wish them the best, and we are SO PROUD of them!!! In August we will welcome the Class of 2028!!!

Many of our students have accomplished so much this year, and made such amazing progress! We continue to grow stronger as a school, staff, and community, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Each year that I have had the privilege of being principal of this wonderful school, I am witness to countless reasons of what makes West High such a special place, and why their is such pride in the Westside community! Thank you to our families for the love you give to our students. Thank you to the students for being so remarkable each in your own amazing ways. Thank you to the staff for choosing this honorable career where you get the chance to make a difference in the lives of so many! Have a great summer West High School!!!

Sincerely,

-Ms. Rebecca Rieken

#WeAreWEST

Congratulations to Nicole Ryan for being West High's staff member of the month! Mrs. Ryan serves as a special education co-teacher at West High School, and also as one of our Student Council Advisors. Mrs. Ryan is also the Goose Chase Champion of our school, and is one of our biggest promoters of school spirit and fun!!!

We look forward to celebrating the graduation of the Class of 2024!

West High Graduation

• Tuesday, May 21
• 7pm
• Tyson Events Center

Graduates will be expected to attend practice at the Tyson Events Center at 8am the morning of graduation.

All guests will be required to pass through the Tyson Events Center metal detectors upon entry into the ceremony. In accordance with Tyson Events Center guidelines, and out of respect to all graduates and families, the following items are not permitted at graduation ceremonies:

• Helium Balloons
  
• Silly string
• Cowbells
• Air horns
• Large horns
• Large bags
• Bottles, cans, glass containers, liquid containers or other projectiles
• Any food product, coolers, or backpacks
• Laser devices
• Skates, skateboards, or scooters
• Strollers
• Alcohol or illegal drugs
• Tobacco of any kind
• Animals, other than service animals
• Signs/posters
• Weapons of any kind, including lawful concealable firearms

All students in grades 9-12 must turn in their laptops before the last day of school. Over the summer months, our School Resource Liaison will follow up with any students and their families who do not turn in their laptos.

On Wednesday, May 22, all students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will go home with a hard copy of the tentative class schedule for the next school year. These schedules will not reflect teacher names or room numbers because those details are still evolving. These schedules reflect what the system loaded after student requests were entered. Our counselors have not made any adjustments to these schedules.

On Wednesday, another student and parent email will be shared regarding this same information, along with a form link to complete if students would like to discuss a schedule change with their counselor. We ask that students only make these requests by using the form link, and to not email their counselors directly. Counselors do not work during the summer months, however when they return in August, they will review the information collected in the form link.

Schedule change requests may not 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.

Counselors will also be available to meet with students regarding schedule questions on the following dates and times in August:

• Tuesday, August 6, 10am-6pm
• Wednesday, August 7, 8am-4pm
• Thursday, August 8, 10am-6pm
  

Days: Monday through Friday: June 3 through June 28, 2024

Time: West High School: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Location: West High School Media Center

Expectations:

1. 100% attendance is expected. Students will be dropped after four absences.

2. All school rules are in effect and will be outlined during your first session. Failure to comply with rules will warrant disciplinary action, including district cell phone and personal electronic device policy.

3. Work can be completed any time outside of summer school hours, however daily attendance is required. Tests and quizzes must be taken in person.

4. Laptops remain at school

5. Students must complete their summer course work by June 28, 2024.

*Summer school is for credit recovery only for past failed courses, and counselors are working on notifying students and their families regarding the need to attend. The only work ahead option for summer school is listed below:

Next Generation Personal Finance Course- Work Ahead Option:

Next Generation Personal Finance is a required course for graduation.

Students going into grades 10, 11, and 12 for the 2024-2025 school year are eligible to work ahead on the Next Generation Personal Finance Course during Summer School.

Students should complete the below form link by Friday, May 24 if they are interested in pursuing this option:

All students who are attending West High School for the upcoming 2024-2025 School Year are welcomed and encouraged to come to West High School on one of the following days for our annual School Registration Event.

At this event students and families will be able to:

• Receive support with Online Verification (which must be completed before students may receive a new laptop.)
• Complete required free/reduced meal application.
• Pay school fees / fill lunch account
  
• Meet with counselors regarding schedule question
• Seniors may complete diploma order forms and graduation gown orders
• Take school picture

West High School Registration Event Schedule:

• Tuesday, August 6, 10am-6pm
• Wednesday, August 7, 8am-4pm
• Thursday, August 8, 10am-6pm
  

Congratulations to our 2024 West High National Spanish Honor Society Inductees!!! It was such a special 50th Anniversary of this honorable event! Thank you to WHS Spanish Teacher, Michelle Sokolovske, for her organization and support of this celebration. Thank you also to all the special guests who joined us to congratulate these amazing students!

Congratulations to all of our talented West High artists on their displays at this weekend’s District Wide Art Show, ArtWorks!!

Jaycee Hardgraves received both Best of Show AND 3rd place in the high school division!! Congratulations, Jaycee!!! We are so proud of you!!!

The show was judged by Shelby Prindaville, Associate Professor of Art at Morningside College.

Recently, our AFROTC program honored their accomplished cadets at an awards ceremony. We are so proud of them all, especially our West High cadets! Thank you to Chief Roby for her dedication to these amazing cadets and to the AFROTC program!!!

Congratulations to the WHS seniors recognized at this year's NAACP OURS event. It was a wonderful evening of celebration, recognizing the achievements of our outstanding graduating students. Kudos to our students and their families for reaching this milestone!

Congratulations to the WHS students recognized at this year's Indigenous Graduation! The event celebrated the tremendous achievements of graduating seniors as well as students moving on from kindergarten, fifth grade, and eighth grade. Students were given special gifts to commemorate their milestones and received blessings and inspirational messages to carry with them. Kudos to the students and their families for their achievements!

West High Senior, Keegan Cummings, was recognized as West High’s Best of the Class!!! We are so proud of you Keegan, and all of your accomplishments!!!

Keegan Cummings and Jay Nguyen were honored at the Governor's Scholar Program recently in Des Moines. They were recognized by the Governor's Office, the Iowa High School Athletic Office, and the Iowa Farm Bureau for being the highest academic achievers in their first seven semesters for the Class of 2024 from West High School.

They will receive a photo plaque from the ceremony and a certificate to commemorate their achievement. Congratulations Keegan and Jay, we are so proud of you!

Recently, some of our outstanding West High School seniors were awarded scholarships at the Kind World Foundation Scholarship Banquet.

Congratulations Victor Reyes, Kyrie Olorundami, Nissi Ramos-Perez, Keegan Cummings, Anh Tran, & Alejandra Payes-Contreras!

Thank you to the Kind World Foundation for supporting these amazing students with their future journeys!

We celebrated an amazing group of students a little early with a special graduation ceremony at West High School. Congratulations to these Wolverine Graduates!!!

Friday, May 17th, we practiced a required emergency drill, our evacuation drill. We initiate this when we need to evacuate all students and staff from the building due to a structural concern, such as a gas leak.

Our students and staff did great!!! We want to thank Loess Hill Elementary and Heartland Church for hosting our students and staff during this drill.

Thank you to all of the students, families, and staff for their commitment to our state assessment this year!

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

Are you good at drawing? Do you have a story you want to tell? Then come down to West High’s best place ever: Comic Club! Here at the club, we have many wonderful people working hard to create masterpieces, and you can too! The club meets every Wednesday from 2:55 to 4. The club meets in room 249 in the left hall of the auditorium. If you’re interested, come on down and let’s make some comics!

Do you have a knack for knowing random facts? Do you want to test your knowledge? If so, you should join the West High Quiz Bowl team. Meetings will take place every Wednesday after school in Room 124 from 3-4 PM. No previous experience necessary. All are welcome! If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Adams.

Are you interested in joining the West High Pride Club? If so, you should consider coming to room 230 on Thursdays after school from 3-4pm. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Russell in room 230. All are welcome.

• Girls & Boys Soccer
• Track and Field
• Tennis
  

Parents of 11th-grade students: Please see the immunization requirement below. Before the start of the 2024/2025 school year, your student will have to have his/her immunizations updated.

Effective January 11, 2017, the change requires a one-time dose of meningococcal (A, C, W, Y) vaccine received on or after 10 years of age for applicants in grades 7 and above, if born after September 15, 2004; and 2 doses of meningococcal (A, C, W, Y) vaccines for applicants in grade 12, if born after September 15, 1999; or 1 dose if received when applicants are 16 years of age or older. There is no grace period, and it needs to be done prior to the school year starting.

Meningococcal disease caused by any serogroup is very serious. Approximately 10 to 15% of people with meningococcal disease die even with appropriate treatment. Of those who recover, up to 20% suffer from serious after-effects, such as permanent hearing loss, limb loss, or brain damage. Meningococcal vaccines are very safe and effective at preventing meningococcal disease. The meningococcal vaccine is 85 – 100% effective at preventing infection from the subtypes of meningococcus found in the vaccine. The National Immunization Survey (NIS) Teen, 2015 results indicate 75% of Iowa adolescents 13-17 years of age have received one dose of the Meningococcal (A, C, W, Y) vaccine. The national average for one dose of meningococcal vaccine is 81.3%. The meningococcal secondary school vaccine requirement will help Iowa achieve and maintain high adolescent vaccine coverage levels, protecting the health of adolescents, friends, families, and communities.

What does this mean for you? You will need to call your physician’s office and make an appointment for the meningitis vaccine. If you have no insurance, you may call the Siouxland District Health Department at 279-6119 to schedule an appointment. I have reviewed all the current 11th grader’s records through the Iowa Registry Information System (IRIS). Please schedule an appointment to receive the required vaccine ASAP. Records can be faxed to West High at 712-279-6790 with attention to the school nurse. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

Mary Mason, RN

School Nurse, West High School

712-279-6772

masonm@live.siouxcityschools.com

Iowa law requires that children enrolling in ninth grade are required to provide proof of a dental screening to their school. As an update on the screening rules, please note the following:

• A screening for 9th grade is valid if it occurs one year prior to enrollment to four months after the enrollment date.

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!

A priority of our school must be student safety, both emotional and physical safety. Students must feel and be safe at all times, both in and out of school.

It is important to remind our students and families of our student handbook which outlines district expectations for our student code of conduct. In this code of conduct, item 12 states:

12. Disobeys Classroom Rules or Engages in Disorderly Conduct or Fighting — Classroom and/or school rules include written rules, teacher and/or administrative instructions, and the general educational prohibition against all forms of cheating, fighting, or material disruptions to the learning environment.

If students engage in fighting at school they will receive school consequences. Such consequences may include being suspended from school until an intermediate school hearing at which night school may be recommended. Students who are found to be promoting school fighting by posting about school fights on social media may also receive school consequences.

West High School is a school all should be proud of, and a place where all should be safe. Our students, families, and staff should not be tolerant of school fighting. We need to work together to continue to demonstrate West High Pride by engaging in behaviors that are Welcoming, Engaged, SAFE, and Trustworthy.

Please help our school achieve this safety in the following ways:

• When students, families, or staff become aware of unsafe situations, they will notify the school administration and staff immediately.
• If unsafe situations arise, students will seek school staff assistance immediately and they should not be a bystander who encourages or records such unsafe situations.

West High School Administration always welcomes communication regarding school safety. Staff may call the school during school hours at 712-279-6772, or they may email school administration directly:

Rebecca Rieken, principal: riekenr@live.siouxcityschools.com

Gabe Hoogers, assistant principal hoogerg2@live.siouxcityschools.com

Brant Bemus, assistant principal: bemusb@live.siouxcityschools.com

Pam Husk, assistant principal: huskp@live.siouxcityschools.com

The Sioux City Community School District has outlined specific expectations for student code of conduct. This code of conduct is outlined in our Student Handbook. We encourage all families to review this code of conduct with their children. There are specific consequences outlined in the code of conduct related to cell phone and personal technology use during the classroom, as well as vaping.

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.

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, Brant Bemus, Assistant Principal- bemusb@live.siouxcityschools.com

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

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.

Student medication + supplies will be sent home with your child on the last day of school. If you would like to make other arrangements, please contact the school office before the last day. Unused medication that remains at school will be disposed of.

The #SCCSD is once again participating in the Free Summer Meal Program. Meals will be available Monday through Friday for all children ages 1-18 without charge, beginning on June 3.

View the full schedule and list of locations at: https://bit.ly/2024-summer-meals.

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 2023-2024 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.

Get a head start on preparing your student for the 2024-2025 school year by completing the online verification process today!

To complete the online verification process for the 2024-2025 school year, please visit: https://bit.ly/sccsd-online-verification.

Online verification allows you to update or confirm your student's contact information for next school year, update information on their health history, and request busing transportation for the 2024-2025 school year. Online verification is required for every student in our district, even if you believe the District has your student's current information.

If you need assistance, please contact your student's school.

The District sends out important information regarding school closings and cancellations and other updates to our families via phone, email, and text. Additionally, our school will contact you in case of an emergency or student health concern. Make sure your contact information is updated in our system and that your phone accepts the school’s phone calls. Doing this will ensure you receive school communication promptly and we can reach you in case of an emergency. To make updates to your contact information, please contact our office.

Reminder: the #SCCSD will continue to use the BOUND Sports App for tickets and season passes to all regular home high school athletic events, including baseball and softball, which begin today, May 13. 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.

In the social world we live, many kids use some form of social media. While social media can help kids connect with friends and family, explore new interests and areas of the world, and enhance their creativity, it can also lead to risks and added responsibility. Social media can be harmful if it is not used appropriately.

Without meaning to, kids can easily share more online than they should. Kids often post photos of themselves online or use their real names, birthdates, location, or school name. This information can make them easy targets for online predators or others with bad intentions.

Additionally, kids sometimes forget that photos, videos, and comments made online can’t be taken back after they have been sent or posted. It’s impossible to completely erase something once it’s been posted online. This may not cause problems for a child now but can lead to issues years later as they apply for college or a job. It is common for a college admissions office or recruiter to scour the internet for information on an applicant, ultimately discovering something a child may not want them to find. If a child would be embarrassed for a family member or future boss to see a photo or video, they shouldn’t post it.

Studies have shown that social media can negatively impact a child’s mental health. The pressure to get “likes” or keep up with other peers online can lead to depression and anxiety as well as unrealistic expectations.

What can families do?

• Limit the time kids spend on social media.
• “Friend” or “follow” your kids’ social profiles and remind them never to “friend” strangers.
• Encourage kids to use privacy settings.
• Remind kids that mean behavior is never okay, including online.

Check out the District’s website for additional social media tips.