The Weekly

(Message sent to everyone by Mr. Gross on 5/10)

Hello West High Parents/Guardians and Students,

Starting this trimester, we're implementing a new finals schedule for 9th-11th graders. This change comes in response to feedback from teachers, parents, and students who felt that our traditional 53-minute class schedule didn't allow enough time for students to fully demonstrate their knowledge during final exams. Our teachers collaborated with the administrative team to devise a solution that addresses this concern and better prepares students for their post-secondary endeavors. In an attachment below, you will find the new finals schedule for 9th-11th graders, along with expectations for students and parents/guardians.

Guidelines for Students:

• Attendance during Finals: All students must be present in their assigned classes during finals week.

• Deadline for Late Work and Reassessments: Late work and reassessments must be submitted and completed by 4:15 PM on Friday, May 31st.

• No Makeup Exams for Unexcused Absences: Students will not be permitted to make up exams that are missed due to unexcused absences.

• No Reassessment Option for Finals: Final exams do not offer a reassessment option for students.

• Communication for Absences: If students know in advance that they will be absent on a final exam day, it is their responsibility to communicate with their teacher(s) and schedule a time to take the final exam by June 5th, the last day of school.

• Early Dismissal on the Last Day: On the last day of school, there will be a one-hour early dismissal at 3:00 PM. Students must leave the school premises at this time.

Guidelines for Parents/Guardians:

• Attendance for Final Exams: It's crucial that your student attends school for final exams. If your student is ill or there is a family emergency, you must contact the school to report the absence or submit it through Infinite Campus. To report absences, call 319-688-1091 (9/10 attendance) or 319-688-1051 (11/12 attendance). Students with excused absences who cannot complete their exams during the testing window may receive an "Incomplete" on their transcript until the exam can be completed. Students who miss a final exam with an unexcused absence will not be allowed to retake the missed exams. Please ensure your student is in attendance to avoid this situation.
• Communication for Absences: If your student knows in advance that they will not be in school on a final exam day, it is their responsibility to communicate with their teacher(s) and schedule a time to take the final exam(s) by June 5th, the last day of school.
• Remaining in the Building: If your student does not have a final exam for a class but remains in the building, they are expected to attend class.
• Early Dismissal and Permission: If your student finishes their exam and does not have any other exams for the day, they can leave school with your permission at the end of the period. However, you must call the attendance line or enter the permission into Infinite Campus to have the absence marked as excused.
• Transportation: School buses will continue to operate on their normal schedule for drop-off and pickup.
• Last Day of School: On the last day of school, there will be a one-hour early dismissal at 3:00 PM, and students must leave the school premises at that time.

If you have any questions, please contact the school at 319-688-1050.

Thank you for your attention. Take care, and Go West!

Mitch Gross, Principal

(District message sent to everyone on 6/4)

We are excited to participate again in the Summer Food Service Program this summer. We will provide free meals and snacks to all children on a first-come, first-served basis. The program will run from June 17 to August 2, 2024, with a break from July 1 to 6, when all sites will be closed. The locations and schedules are as follows:

Antelope Mobile Lending Library: Afternoon snacks will be served as noted below from June 19 through August 10, 2024, at the following stops:

• Wednesdays:
• Western Hills Mobile Home Park, 3701 2nd St, Coralville (1:15 to 2:45 pm)
• Breckenridge Mobile Home Park, 4494 Taft Ave SE, Iowa City (3:30 to 5:00 pm)
• Waterfront HACAP Office, 367 Southgate Ave, Iowa City (5:30 to 7:00 pm)
• Fridays:
• Coralville Food Pantry, 804 13th Ave, Coralville (12:30 to 2:00 pm)
• Mercer, 1317 Dover St, Iowa City (3:15 to 4:45 pm)
• Saturdays:
• Regency Mobile Home Park, 4455 Oak Crest Hill Rd, Iowa City (12:15 to 1:15 pm)
• Casey’s, 1904 Broadway St, Iowa City (1:45 to 3:15 pm)
• Open Heartland, 3 E Benton St, Iowa City (5:00 to 6:30 pm)

Coralville Food Pantry: 804 13th Ave, Coralville

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays:
• Lunch from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm
• Afternoon snack from 1:00 to 1:30 pm
• Closed on June 19, 2024

Hills Elementary School: 301 Main St, Hills

• Mondays and Wednesdays only, grab & go meals including breakfast and lunch for 2 to 3 days provided from noon to 1:00 pm.

Iowa City Public Library: 123 S Linn St, Iowa City

• Monday through Friday, afternoon snack from 2:00 to 2:30 pm
• Open June 17 through August 9, 2024, except for July 4, when the library is closed.

Wetherby Park: 2400 Taylor Drive, Iowa City

• Monday through Friday, morning snack from 10:30 to 11:00 am

(District message sent to everyone on 6/4)

Dear Students, Families, and Staff,

We want to remind you that your mental health matters. While there is much to celebrate within our school district family, we also recognize the challenges many face throughout the year. As summer approaches, we understand that this transition can bring a new set of challenges for many. It is important that you are aware of local resources that can provide support throughout the year, including during the summer months.

Below is a list of local and national support services. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know needs help.

In addition, our District maintains and continuously updates a webpage dedicated to support resources available to our community. Don’t hesitate to visit www.IowaCitySchools.org/Support to access the resources below and more. A QR code linking to this support page is printed on every secondary student’s school ID.

We genuinely hope you have a safe and healthy summer!

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

Examples of Local and National Mental Health Support Services:

CommUnity Crisis Services & Mobile Crisis Outreach: Mobile Crisis operates in our community as a mental health crisis response. CommUnity Crisis Services & Food Bank has counselors equipped to help individuals struggling with a wide variety of issues. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, thinking of suicide, or experiencing overwhelming mental health symptoms, Mobile Crisis is there to respond to you in person.

• To contact the Mobile Crisis team, please call 1-855-581-8111 and ask to meet with Mobile Crisis counselors.
• Crisis Phone/Text: 988
• Food Bank: 319-351-0128
• https://builtbycommunity.org/

Johnson County Social Services: Comprehensive resource directory of services available across Johnson County.

• Phone: 319-356-6090

• Website: https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/social-services/resource-directory

United Action for Youth: Prevention and intervention services specifically aimed at supporting youth and their families.

• Phone: 319-338-7518
• Website: https://www.unitedactionforyouth.org/

Four Oaks: Network of programs available across the state to support children and their families.

• Phone: 319-364-0259
• Website: https://www.fouroaks.org/

ChildServe: Specialized support for children with mental health concerns, developmental delays, disabilities, injuries, and other special healthcare needs.

• Phone: 319-351-5437
• Website: https://www.childserve.org/

IC Compassion: Community services aimed at supporting our immigrant families

• Phone: 319-330-9883
• Website: https://www.iccompassion.org/

Abbe Mental Health Center: Provides a variety of behavioral health service options to provide help and healing with expertise in nearly all aspects of counseling, mental health and psychiatric treatment.

• Phone: (319) 338-7884
• Website: https://www.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/abbe-mental-health-center.aspx

University of Iowa - Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Resources: Multiple options for mental health care and support through the University of Iowa

• Website: https://mentalhealth.uiowa.edu/mental-health-resources/
• Website: https://uichildrens.org/health-library/suicidal-adolescent-family-empowerment-safe-program

988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for anyone in crisis.

• Phone: 988
• Website: https://988lifeline.org/

If you or someone you know has attempted suicide or is facing imminent physical harm, please call 911 immediately.

Brady Olson, son of Mark and Tiffany Olson and a junior at West High School, earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36.

About one-quarter of 1% of students who take the ACT earn a top score. In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2022, only 3,376 out of 1.34 million students who took the ACT earned a top composite score of 36.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science, each scored on a scale of 1–36. A student's composite score is the average of the four test scores. The score for ACT’s optional writing test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.

“Earning a top score on the ACT is a remarkable achievement,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “A student’s exceptional score of 36 will provide any college or university with ample evidence of their readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.”

The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures what students have learned in school. Students who earn a 36 composite score have likely mastered all of the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in first-year college courses in the core subject areas.

ACT scores are accepted by major four-year colleges and universities across the U.S.

Hello parents and guardians,

As we near the end of the school year, I want to send a reminder regarding our medication inventory at school. All student medications and health/medical supplies that are kept at school must be picked up by the last day of school (June 5). Your choice of pickup or disposal method was selected when you brought in your students medication. If this has changed, or you have any questions, please call the health office directly at 319-688-1056.

Any medication(s) including prescription and over the counter medication, epi-pens, or inhalers remaining at school after the last scheduled day of school will be properly disposed of.

Thank you,

West Health Office

Dear Families,

We are excited to announce that registration for the 2024-25 school year is now open! We encourage you to take this early opportunity to register your students for the next school year.

As a reminder, all families are required to register their students in Infinite Campus each year. Please use the link below to register your child(ren). Remember to select the school year “24-25” to register for next year.

Registration instructions for returning families to the District

Families who need assistance with the registration process may attend on-site registration at their home school which will be held this summer. On-site registration schedules will be shared at a later date.

We thank you for taking the time to register your students early as it helps greatly with our staffing efforts over the spring and summer.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

The Iowa City West High School Math Club competed on Saturday, May 18th at the mathleague National Math Championship. This championship was sponsored by the Great Plains Math League and was held in St. Louis, Missouri. A total of 177 students from 67 schools in 20 states earned an invitation to, and participated in, this event. The Iowa City West Math Club earned the National Math Championship.

Final overall top school results

1st Place : Iowa City West High School, Iowa 286.5 points

2nd Place: Valley Christian High School, San Jose, California 244.2 points

3rd Place: Central High School, Springfield, Missouri 186.8 points

The following Iowa City West math team members earned a 2nd place finish on the Relay Round.

Edward Li, Kyros Wu, Aiden Zhang

The following Iowa City West math team members earned a 1st place finish on the Team Test:

Aiden Zhang, Edward Li, Catherine Xu, Kyros Wu, Kai Merrill, Andrew Chen

Individual winners from Iowa City West include:

9th grade-5th place: Aiden Zhang

10th grade-2nd place: Edward Li, 4th place: Catherine Xu

Countdown round qualifiers: Prabhas Gupta, Edward Li, Catherine Xu

Overall Top Individual Finishers from Iowa City West:

7th place: Edward Li

10th place: Catherine Xu

These students competed as members of the Iowa City West national math championship 1st place team: Kyros Wu, Kai Merrill, Edward Li, Andrew Chen, Catherine Xu, Konnon Chen, Aiden Zhang, Prabhas Gupta, Helena Yang, Erin Chen, Shannon Chen, Ethan Ding, Waylon Houchins-Witt

We are currently selling our team shirts from the last few years (seen below) as a fundraiser for the upcoming 2024-25 season! We have an assortment of sizes of each style available on a first come, first served basis. Feel free to share this message with any friends, parents, teachers, etc who may be interested! To purchase, please see Mrs. Bildner in Room 4 or email bildner.megan@iowacityschools.org to place an order. Thanks for your support!

(District message sent to everyone on 5/7)

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We would like to notify you of the 2024-25 Pay-to-Ride program, which is available to families that do not qualify for mandatory transportation as required by the State of Iowa.

Iowa Code 285.1.a. The Board of Directors in every school district shall provide transportation, either directly or by reimbursement for transportation, for all resident pupils attending public school, kindergarten through twelfth grade, except that:

1. Elementary pupils shall be entitled to transportation only if they live more than two miles from the school designated for attendance.
2. High school pupils shall be entitled to transportation only if they live more than three miles from the school designated for attendance.

If you have any questions, before applying, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email at Davis.Esme@iowacityschools.org.

The Pay-to-Ride program details are available on the attached Pay-to-Ride application and on our District website at www.IowaCitySchools.org/Transportation.

Payment and Fees for Service

• Pay-to-Ride fee is:
• $650 per student, per year, round trip
• $390 per student, per year, round trip, for students who qualify for reduced-price lunch.
• $0 per student, per year, round trip, for students who qualify for free lunch.
• Full payments must be made no later than June 7, 2024, to be included on a bus roster for the start of the school year.
• Applications submitted after June 8th through September 8th will be included on a bus no later than September 27 if space available. Efforts will be made to make placements earlier; however, a date prior to September 27th cannot be guaranteed and remains dependent on space being available.
• After September 8 applicants will be notified no later than 10 school days from submission if space available.
• Applications will be accepted after the due date while capacity remains on existing routes. (Note: Students will only be assigned to existing bus stops and routes; buses will not be re-routed to accommodate requests.)
• Students are not eligible to ride until payment is received and the application is approved.

Application Process

1. To apply for pay-to-ride busing, please complete the attached Pay-to-Ride application.
2. Payment can only be made online: https://www.myschoolbucks.com
3. Mail or bring your application and receipt from MySchoolBucks to the following address:
   Iowa City Community School District
   Transportation Department
   1725 N Dodge Street
   Iowa City, IA 52245

If you are interested in participating in the Pay-to-Ride program, please return the application and payment no later than June 7, 2024, to be considered for a bus roster for the start of the school year.

Sincerely,

Esme Davis
Transportation Manager
Iowa City Community School District

Attachments:
2024-25_Pay_to_Ride_Transportation_Application.pdf (165.3 KB)

(District message sent to everyone on 5/2)

Dear Families and Staff,

As many of you may be aware, recent legislative action under Senate File 2340, also known as the "illegal reentry" bill, has prompted changes to the legal consequences for individuals under specific immigration circumstances in our state. This includes potential repercussions for those who have been previously excluded, deported, or removed from the U.S.

Please be reminded that a child’s immigration status or that of their parents does not affect their right to a public education at ICCSD. Our highest priority is providing a safe and welcoming environment where all students can be successful without fear of discrimination or harassment.

We understand that the implications of this bill may raise concerns or questions and we are committed to helping students and families understand these changes. We are working with our buildings to offer support to those who may be impacted. Should you or your family need assistance or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact our school counselors or student and family advocates. They are here to help, whether it's providing direct support or connecting you with resources in our broader community.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

This year we have struggled to keep our bus and staff parking areas clear during school hours. This is an issue because buses cannot get through for student transportation during and after school and traveling staff have nowhere to park when they arrive to start working.

We have reminded all students during announcements at Advisory time, announced license plate numbers for students to move cars, and left parking tickets on cars parked in a student prohibited area.

This letter is to inform students and families that we will now start towing cars that are parked in student prohibited areas after the following steps have occurred:

1st violation: ticket reminding student this is a prohibited student parking area

2nd violation: phone call home

3rd violation: car will be towed at owners expense

The Colors Club decided to invite everyone to wear rainbow colors on June 3rd to celebrate Pride Month. The rainbow is used as a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride because of its association with diversity and inclusivity. Each color represents a different value within the community: red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for peace, and purple for spirit. Plus the Progress Flag adds more colors: black/brown for people of color within the community and blue/pink/white for the transgender and non-binary community. So feel free to be creative and have fun with the day. This is a great way to show support, celebrate inclusion, promote awareness, honor activism, express pride, etc. Thanks for your time!

Bookmark this page for the most accurate WHS athletics calendar of events: gobound.com

Watch live streamed events on our YouTube Channel.

Club West Store (always open): https://clubwest.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/18526375

SOCCER:

West High Drops Semifinal Heartbreaker to Top-ranked Johnston in Penalty Kicks

West High Soars Past Fifth-ranked West Des Moines Valley in Class 3A Quarterfinal

West High Returns to State Tournament With 6-0 Win Over Dubuque Hempstead

Potthoff’s Goal Lifts No. 13 West High Past No. 14 Cedar Falls in Regional Semifinal

Quick Start Leads Fourth-ranked West High Past No. 10 City High

TRACK & FIELD:

How each Iowa City-area team performed at the 2024 Iowa state track and field meet

Loveless and Tiea Win Individual Titles; West High Finishes Fourth in 4A Team Race

Iowa City West's Moustafa Tiea wins 800-meter title at Iowa state track meet

West High Shuttle Hurdle Team Ends With a Bang and a State Medal

What to Watch on the Final Day of the State Track and Field Meet

Jacobsen Headlines Strong Second Day for West High at State Track and Field Meet

West High Gets Off to Solid Start on Opening Day of Class 4A State Track and Field Meet

Breaking Down the Your Prep Sports Area Teams at the Class 4A State Track and Field Meet

Class 4A State Track and Field Meet Qualifiers From the Your Prep Sports Area

TENNIS:

West High Doubles Tandem of Singh and Selby Finish Third at Class 2A State Meet

Families can purchase athletic photos at the link below. You will be asked to enter your phone number, they will send you a code and link for a coupon.

https://my.photoday.com/gallery/iowa-city-west-spri-4

Please contact the Athletic Office if you would like to purchase older photos than the current winter season.

Thanks!

Athlete Registration for 2023-2024 Year:

All athletes must register at the beginning of every new school year and have a current physical on file to participate. The ONLY way to complete the required permission to practice form is by registering first.

Online Registration Link: https://gobound.com/ia/schools/icwest

Contact Brianna Nigg (nigg.brianna@iowacityschools.org), Athletic Secretary, with any questions.

If you/your student have any athletic department issued equipment, bags, uniforms, warmups, etc. in your possession, please turn those in to the athletic or main office at your earliest convenience.

Please follow the instructions below to create a parent/guardian account, to access Canvas Parent from a computer web browser, to set up the Canvas Parent iOS/Android app, and to obtain a student pairing code from a student account.

Here a link with instructions: https://innovation.iowacityschools.org/2018/08/28/canvas-parent-guardian-access/

Check out this quarter's Cultural Diversity & Equity Newsletter here: https://www.smore.com/n/uqapms-cultural-diversity-equity

Please visit our Equity website for additional information and links to previous newsletters.

Sincerely,

Laura Gray
Executive Director of Diversity & Cultural Responsiveness
Iowa City Community School District

This newsletter can be translated into multiple languages. How do I translate a Smore newsletter?

• 9/10 Attendance direct line to call for absences 319-688-1091
• 11/12 Attendance direct line to call for absences 319-688-1051
• New option instead of calling: Parent Portal Absence Requests-Parents can now enter student absences via Infinite Campus (click here for more information)

NO PARKING IN THE HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS WITHOUT LEGAL DOT ISSUED HANDICAPPED PARKING PERMITS DISPLAYED ON YOUR VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN THE HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOT.

THIS INCLUDES SPOTS WITH NO POSTED HANDICAPPED SIGN WITH ONLY THE HANDICAPPED SYMBOL PAINTED ON THE GROUND. THIS ALSO INCLUDES HANDICAPPED SPOTS THAT ONLY HAVE A HANDICAPPED SIGN WITH OR WITHOUT THE HANDICAPPED SYMBOL PAINTED ON THE GROUND. IT IS ILLEGAL TO PARK IN SPOTS MARKED AS HANDICAPPED WITHOUT A HANDICAPPED PARKING PERMIT EVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY IN THE SPOT FOR A FEW MINUTES! VIOLATORS WILL BE TOWED.

Where Excellence Is Tradition

Email: oelrich.carrie@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Domain/327
Location: 2901 Melrose Avenue, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: 319-688-1050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westhigh/
Twitter: @IowaCityWestHS

Students, Families, and Employees - The Ombuds Office is here to help! Visit www.IowaCitySchools.org/Ombuds to learn more!

It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations, 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245, 319-688-1000, howard.eric@iowacityschools.org.