September 2024

Welcome to September! We're off to a fantastic start, and we're committed to keeping the momentum going. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events, important dates, and exciting new initiatives. Let's make this an unforgettable year together!

Check the districts website for all of our sports dates but since Homecoming officially starts in September, I want to give you the dates and times for your home calendar.

• Coronation, High School Main Gym - September 29 5 p.m.
• Parade, October 4 1:30 p.m.
• Pep Rally, October 4 2:30 p.m.
• Football Game, October 4 7:00 p.m.

Homecoming shirts can be ordered until Sept. 12th with this link.

Thanks to the Board of Education, we have replaced our athletic cameras with HUDL cameras. This will bring you all the action to your smart phone, computer or television with our own website. (full link listed below) You can also download the Hudl Fan app to watch from your phone. You will have access to FREE livestreams to every game, highlights of games and players, current schedules and rosters.

To bring you the action in full HD for every event we are asking for sponsors:

Option 1: Video Commercial Before All Games & During Varsity Games $1,000 Year - $600 Fall or Winter Only

Option 2: LiveStream Graphic Sponsorship (during varsity): $500 Year - $300 Fall or Winter Only

Option 1 & 2 Full Year Only: $1,300

Thanks to the following businesses for their sponsorships:

Commercial sponsorships (Year)

• Burgess Heath Center
• Hunt Family Farms

Graphic (Yearly)

• In The Stands Apparel

***Contact Mr. Lutt for more details. jlutt@wcsdrebels.com***

https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ia/sloan/organization/13636/westwood-high-school

Great news! Last week, the Board overwhelmingly approved the petition to place the proposed G.O. Bond project on the November ballot. This exciting development comes thanks to the tireless efforts of our community members who gathered nearly 100 more signatures than required!

Want to learn more? We encourage you to visit our amazing bond website at https://bondissue.org/westwood for detailed information about this very special project. Links for the website can be found at our website: www.wwrebels.org.

Calculator: Check out the calculator on the website that will show your exactly your cost of the bond.

In Person Meeting for the Community: October 2nd, 7-8:30 p.m. Auditorium - Hear from your board, CMBA, Klinger and Matt Gillaspie (tax guru) on the bond vote. Get all your questions answered!

Stay informed! We'll continue providing updates, but don't wait – head over to our website today!

Last winter, the district tested the entire facility for radon in accordance with HF2412. Each district must conduct testing by July 1, 2027. The district identified five rooms with radon levels slightly exceeding the limits along the south wall of the high school. This summer, radon mitigation systems were installed and are now operational for the school year. The district will retest those five rooms in November. The results for the entire district will be posted on the district website at that time.

As part of the district's safety plan, we will once again partner with AEGIX-AIM to provide a communication platform for all staff and emergency personnel using their app. During all drills this year, we will utilize the app to ensure everyone is on the same page. This app integrates with our Student Response Protocol (SRP). A list of our SRPs is included in the image below.

Please note that in an actual emergency, communication will be sent to parents regarding the reunification location for their child(ren). This location is typically not the school itself.

I want to share a change to our Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy Policy 501.09 because of a new Iowa Law. This change comes because the state will be using student attendance as part of compliance with (ESSA) Every Student Succeeds Act and will hold districts accountable as part of the Iowa School Performance Profile designation. By law, chronic absenteeism is defined as ANY absence from school for more than 10% of the total days in a grading period (semester). Truancy means a child who is absent from school for ANY reason for at least 20% of the days in a grading period (semester). Please note that there are NO longer any excused absences for purposes of calculating whether a student is chronically absent and/or truant. This change to the law will require strict legal responsibilities by the school district as follows:

• 3 Absences per grading period (semester)

• Notification letter home to parent/guardian for all absences

• 6 Absences per grading period (semester)

• Notification letter for all absences with Level 1 Meeting

• A phone call to parent/guardian regarding absences that are classified as unexcused/nonexempt for the grading period that will identify barriers to attendance and develop interventions to improve the student’s attendance.

• 10 Absences per grading period (semester) = Considered Chronically Absent

• Notification letter for all absences sent to parent/guardian with Level 2 Meeting AND county attorney

• Attendance meeting regarding unexcused/nonexempt absences with building attendance team to develop an Attendance Action Plan that establishes interventions to improve attendance.

• 13 Absences per grading period (semester) = 15% of Unexcused/Nonexempt absences for the grading period

• Notification letter for all absences sent to parent/guardian AND county attorney

• Requires a Family Engagement meeting regarding unexcused/nonexempt absences to review the current Attendance Action Plan.

• This meeting must include the child, their parent/guardian, and a school official.

• Refusal to attend requires notification to the County Attorney for Level 3 Mediation Meeting

• 16+ Absences per grading period (semester) = 20% of unexcused/nonexempt absences for the grading period

• Considered truant by the Federal and Iowa Departments of Education

• Certified Letter home to parent/guardian to schedule a meeting with building administration and superintendent

• Notification to County Attorney for Level 4 Court Date

• Open enrolled students may be required to enroll back in their home district

For more information on Absences and Truancy, please look at the following documents:

• Handbook Language

• Board Policies 501.09, 501.09R(1), 501.09E(1)

Westwood carries a student and catastrophic accident insurance for our students through Gerber Life Insurance company. This coverage is designed to supplement expenses not covered by other plans (including a family’s health insurance). If your child has an accident at school, please call the school to get more information.

Starting this school year we will have our daily menu hosted by MySchoolMenus. You can use it online or in an app to not only see the menu but every nutritional fact of each menu item. Give it a try today!

https://myschoolmenus.com/organizations/2302/sites/14179/menus/70891

Attention community members! Don't have students in Westwood schools but still want to stay in the loop? We've got you covered with our new Community Messenger program! Sign up easily at https://westwoodcsd.onlinejmc.com by clicking the registration button. Please share with anyone you think would like this feature.

Senate File 2435 made changes to the open enrollment deadline. Starting on July 1st, the open enrollment deadline reverts back to March 1, 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year. It is again September 1st for Kindergarten students. If you know someone who is interested in being at Westwood, have them fill out the application before the deadline! Open Enrollment Application