Take Flight 🦅
West Leyden Student Activities
🦅April 2, 2024
🏅 Junior Olympics 2024! 🏅
Congratulations to the seniors, Class of 2024, for winning this year's Junior Olympics! They'll get bragging rights until next year's games. What an energy-packed competition it was! Special shout outs to:
- StuCo and Ms. López, who chose the games and spirit days;
- The junior helpers who ran the events;
- Eva Tate, Ingrid Espinosa, Michelle Abeja, and Amaya Maynard, who were our pioneer student co-emcees with Mr. Powers
- All of the event competitors (and their class sponsors);
- Spinnin' Discs for their music accompaniment;
- Admin, faculty, and staff who competed, refereed, and supervised; and
- Maintenance for setting up and cleaning up the Fieldhouse.
What did YOU do over Spring Break?
April is Arab American Heritage Month
Celebrating the rich and diverse culture and contributions of the diverse population of Arab Americans, National Arab American Heritage Month has been observed during the month of April since 2017.
An estimated 3.7 million Americans have Arab roots, according to the Arab American Institute, with ancestries traced to 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
The initiative for official national designation of the month was launched in 2017 by a nonprofit media and education organization. It began with support from a few states, but gained momentum each year.
National Arab American Heritage Month was recognized in April 2021 by President Joe Biden, with the U.S. Department of State, some members of Congress, and 37 governors issuing proclamations supporting the month.
Click here to watch a brief video or Click here to read more!
🌞 Get Ready for a Solar Eclipse - April 8th 🌞
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean. Weather permitting, the first location in continental North America that will experience totality is Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT.
The total eclipse will be visible in the Chicagoland area beginning at 12:51 p.m. and last until approximately 3:22 p.m. The peak time to see it will be around 2:07 p.m. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.
It is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.
You must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun.
🩸 StuCo Blood Drive - April 11th 🩸
On Thursday, April 11th, Student Council will be hosting our spring blood drive in the Eagle's Wing. The health benefits and community needs make this a great service project. Students can start registering for an appointment online now! Students can also get help registering online during lunch periods the week of April 8th.
Upperclassmen should consider donating. Students must be 16 or older and weigh at least 110 lbs. Anyone 18 or older may donate as a "walk-in". Staff members do NOT need an appointment and will be moved immediately to the front of the line. Thank you in advance for your donation - it may just save a life!
🌈 National Day of Silence - April 12th 🌈
With more than 800 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced last year, students must rise up and take action. The Day of Silence is a nationally-recognized student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies all around the country - and the world - protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools.
Leyden students can participate on Friday, April 12th to demonstrate that silence is LOUD. See Teacher Wilson in room 063-1 or 271 the week of April 8th for a Day of Silence card.
Attention ARTISTS! We want YOUR creative works!
Attention writers, artists, designers, and creatives! Do you want your work highlighted in Leyden's Literary Art Magazine?
If so, use this QR code to submit your sculpture, pottery, 3D design, architecture design, fashion design, creative writing, poetry, short stories, screenplay, songs or anything creative.
Deadline is April 15th! Contact Mr. Stong with any questions!
Student Activities Calendar!
The Student Activities webpage continues to improve! Now you can view a month-at-a-glance calendar and see when and where West Leyden's clubs are meeting. You can also get there from the Leyden website > Activities and Arts > Clubs - West > Activities Calendar.
Now there's even less reason to not get involved! Go to a club meeting this month!
Excellence Award
We Are... Awards
We Are... Awards nominees can qualify to receive Javaccino (students) / Gold and Bold Café (staff members) gift cards. In addition, students may be recognized at Student of the Month breakfasts and staff members may be recognized at staff meetings.
To nominate a student or staff member, you need to fill out this We Are... Awards Google Form.