Wolverine News- November Newsletter

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It's the season to give thanks, and I truly have so much to be thankful for! As I think about my position as principal of our school, I am thankful for our students. My daily interactions with our students bring me so many smiles every day. Our kids are so incredible, such good kids! I'm thankful for our families. As a parent myself, I understand the demands you are all faced with. Raising your kids while working to provide for your family is not easy to juggle. Finally, I'm thankful for our staff. Teaching is so rewarding, but not an easy job. It takes a lot of time outside of the school day to plan for daily instruction, grade work, and communicate with families. Many of them also have families of their own. Some are going to college, some also work other jobs. Their dedication to our kids is invaluable. I hope everyone finds time over the upcoming break to actually take a break from the busyness of life and connect with what makes them peaceful and happy.

The time between now and the end of 1st semester will go quickly with the built-in breaks that we have in November and December. Students now is the time to evaluate where you are at with your academic progress so that you can make a plan to finish the semester strong. If you need help making a plan, the staff at West High is here for you! There are many opportunities for help built into the school day, as well as after school and on Saturdays. Families, please take time to visit with your students about their progress. If you have questions, please contact West High School and we would welcome an opportunity to visit with you!

Sincerely,

-Ms. Rebecca Rieken

#WeAreWEST

Congratulations to West High's staff of the month, Mrs. Kate Schiller. Mrs. Schiller was nominated by students because of her willingness to help them with their homework. The students also appreciate her helping with laptop issues. Staff members appreciate Mrs. Schiller's welcoming attitude with their classes in the media center. Congratulations Mrs. Schiller!!!

Nov. 23rd: 1:55 Dismissal

Nov. 24 & 25: NO SCHOOL

Dec. 5th: 8th grade WMS Students will tour Career Academy and West High

Dec. 12th: 8th grade Transition Night 6pm, WHS Auditorium

The West High School Food Pantry & Clothing Closet is available to meet the needs the West side community. We can assist families with meals, clothing, toiletries, and some household goods. Please call West High School with any requests, 712-279-6772, or email Mr. Van Buren: vanburm1@live.siouxcityschools.com

Friday, November 18 from 3 pm to 4 pm, the food pantry will be open. The families can drive up the east side of the building. The students will load their cars. We still have plenty of diapers and wipes.

The West High Band is hosting their very first Vendor and Craft Fair this Saturday November 19th from 9am to 2pm in the library. Some of the featured vendors sell Crystals, Homemade crafts, food, clothing, and holiday decorations

For any students who took school pictures in August, those packets have arrived and can be picked up in the main office.

Families may place orders with Digital Solutions securely online at:

https://vando.imagequix.com/s1981017409

West High Activities

November 17th-November 30th

November 17th:

Girls Wrestling: @ Sioux City North Tournament 5:00 pm start.

Fine Arts: Band/Choir/Orchestra: @ Iowa All-State Music Festival @ Ames, Iowa.

November 18th:

Fine Arts: Band/Choir/Orchestra: @ Iowa All-State Music Festival @ Ames, Iowa.

Girls Basketball: JV/Varsity Scrimmage vs. Glenwood at West High School. JV @ 4:00 pm and Varsity @ 5:30 pm.

Boys Basketball: Wolverine Madness @ West High School. 7:00 pm.

November 19th:

Girls Wrestling: Ridge View Tournament in Holstein, Iowa. 10:00 am.

Fine Arts: Band/Choir/Orchestra: @ Iowa All-State Music Festival @ Ames, Iowa.

Band: Craft & Vendor Fair @ West High Media Center from 9:00 am -2:00 pm.

November 20th:

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED.

November 21st:

Bowling (Boys & Girls): JV/V verse SC EAST & SC NORTH @ Plaza Bowl. 1:00 pm start.

Girls Basketball: JV/V verse Cherokee @ Cherokee Washington High School. JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.

November 22nd:

Boys Basketball: Boys Varsity Jamboree @ SC EAST High School. Multiple Teams with a 6:00 pm start.

Boys Swimming: JV/V verse Spencer @ SC WEST High School. 5:00 pm start.

November 23rd:

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED.

November 24th:

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

November 25th:

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED.

November 26th:

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED.

November 27th:

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED.

November 28th:

Boys Basketball: 9th grade @ SC NORTH High School. 6:00 pm start.

Bowling (Boys & Girls): JV/V verse Sergeant Bluff-Luton @ Plaza Bowl. 1:00 pm start.

November 29th:

Boys Wrestling: Varsity Triangular @ Lawton-Bronson. Held at Bronson Elementary Building. 5:30 pm start.

November 30th:

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED.

West High PRIDE:

Meets Thursdays after school in room 227 from 3pm-4pm.

Dungeons & Dragons Club:

Meets Wednesdays in Mr. Hunnel’s Room 212 from 3pm-4pm.

In addition to our 25 days of Mental Health Awareness activities, our Student Council just launched this year’s mental health hoodies and shirts! Please follow the link below to order!

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/westhigh1

ACT Testing

For students interested in taking the ACT at West High, the next testing date is on Saturday February 11th. Anyone wanting to register for the test needs to do so by January 20th. If you have any questions on how to register, please contact your school counselor.

Morningside University is hosting a few FAFSA completion events on their campus. They are open to the public and free to attend if you want FAFSA assistance. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ATTENDING MORNINGSIDE IN THE FALL. If you have questions, you may call their Financial Aid office at 712-274-5159

Morningside University, 1501 Morningside Ave. Lewis Hall-2nd Floor-Room 201

Friday, December 2nd , 2022, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Friday, January 27th , 2023, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Creativity, learning, and logic all in one! #SCCSD West High freshmen honors geometry and geophysics students created an "if-then" book for Loess Hills Computer Programming Elementary students. Some of the students even translated their books into Spanish for ELL students in this unique learning experience.

10th Grader, Keldon Mitchell Aranda has been chosen to carry the flag during the State Bowling Special Olympics Event in Council Bluffs this weekend! Congratulations Keldon!!! We are so proud of you!!!

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.

11th grade students: There are new requirements for your student’s immunization status at school, please read the following so you know what you will need to obtain for your child so you can fill the needed requirements before the start of the 22/23 school year.

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 for this, and it needs to be done prior to the school year.

Yearbooks for the 2022-2023 school year are available for order! Yearbooks are $40 until October 27. The price increases to $45 on October 27, to $50 on January 16, and to $55 on March 21. Orders will be taken until April 30, 2023.

To order a yearbook online, visit www.yearbookforever.com. Search for "West High School" in Sioux City, IA, and shop the store for the 2022-2023 school year. To order in person, bring cash, card, or check (made out to West High School) to Mrs. Schiller in the library.

Reminder that all Sioux City Community High School campuses are closed. This means that students may not leave for lunch, and students may not have food delivered (not even by a parent/guardian.)

After School Tutoring is available to all West High Students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:00-4:00pm in the WHS Media Center. Busing will be available to students who choose to attend. The activities bus picks up in front of WHS at 4:15pm and drops students off at their nearest elementary feeder school.

Night School is available to students who are working on credit recovery through Edgenuity. Night School days & times are:

Tuesdays, 3:00-7:00pm in the WHS Media Center

Wednesdays, 3:00-5:00pm in the WHS Media Center

Thursdays, 3:00-7:00pm in the WHS AEC-SWS Classroom

Saturday School Dates & Times (9am-12pm)

November 19

December 3

December 17

January 7

January 14

March 11

March 25

April 1

April 22

May 6

May 13

May 20

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 grade level administrator directly:

West High School, 712-279-6772

12th grade, Rebecca Rieken, Head Principal- riekenr@live.siouxcityschools.com

11th grade, Steve Green, Assistant Principal & Activities Director- greens@live.siouxcityschools.com

10th grade, Brant Bemus, Assistant Principal- bemusb@live.siouxcityschools.com

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

The District is committed to providing all students with a safe learning environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The District’s Anti-Bullying, Harassment, and Hazing policy defines bullying and harassment as well as the procedures for reporting and investigating bullying or harassment complaints.

Bullying and harassment are defined as any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student which is based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student and which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:

• Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property.
• Has a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health.
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s academic performance.
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

If your student feels they are being bullied or harassed, encourage your student to visit with the student involved and tell them to stop. They should also tell a teacher, principal, or trusted adult at their school. An online discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hazing complaint form is also available on the District’s website and may be completed by the student, parent, or school employee.

The District has implemented new protocols to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for all students. The SCCSD Parent/Guardian – Student Handbook highlights these protocols including:

• Cell Phone & Tele Communicative Devices
• Derogatory and Threatening Language Towards Staff
• Vaping
• Attendance

We encourage you to review the handbook with your child to make them aware of what is expected of them as a student in the Sioux City Community School District. By following the protocols, together, our district will be one where all students believe, achieve, and succeed.

You may reach your student during school hours by contacting the school office to leave a message for them. If your student needs to contact you during the school day, they may come to the school office.

Do you know a #SCCSD student or staff member with an inspiring story? We want to tell their story. Our “Believer. Achiever. Succeeder.” campaign highlights the remarkable people of our district. Stories of individuals are shared on our website and social media sites. To nominate a deserving individual, email the individual’s name, contact information, and a one-sentence description about why the individual deserves to be highlighted as part of the District’s campaign to Communications@live.siouxcityschools.com.

The federal government’s program that allowed all students access to free meals ended this summer. 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 2022-2023 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.

The District and our school are continuously updating families on important school information, closings and cancellations, and other announcements. Information is shared through email, phone calls, and text. Make sure we can connect with you by keeping your contact information updated in Infinite Campus. If you need to change your contact information, please contact the school office.

Volunteers are needed to join the District’s Grassroots Advocacy Committee. As a volunteer, you will receive email updates about important legislative events that could impact public education and are asked to contact our legislators with the information you receive. Tips are provided to help volunteers connect with legislators. Volunteer today and let your voice be heard! Contact Communications@live.siouxcityschools.com to volunteer.

Discover community events, programs, and activities for your entire family through Virtual Backpack. From camps and sports leagues to family services and resources, the District’s Virtual Backpack e-newsletter is a one-stop resource for community information. The e-newsletter will be sent monthly to district families. Or, avoid waiting for the e-newsletter and visit the Virtual Backpack page on the District website today!

Looking for a part-time or full-time career with flexibility? Instructional assistants, bus drivers, and food service staff are needed to join our amazing team! Extra incentives are available for many positions. Check out the District’s openings today!

Connect with your student’s school, the superintendent’s office, or transportation. Let’s Talk provides you with an easy and convenient way to connect with schools and departments across the District with your ideas, questions, and concerns.

Get started today by clicking on the Let’s Talk icon located on the District’s homepage.

The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW.

The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices. The District is required by Title IX and 34 CFR Part 106 not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs, activities, or employment.

Inquiries or grievances under Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act may be directed to Dr. Dora Jung, Director of Student Services & Equity Education/Title IX Coordinator at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, jungd@live.siouxcityschools.com. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations to the District may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, or both. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.

Contact us!

Principal: Rebecca Rieken

Website: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/west-high-school/
Location: 2001 Casselman Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6772
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxCityWestHighSchool/
Twitter: @WHS_Activities