Wolverines News February Newsletter

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Soon we will welcome families to conference with school staff on the progress of their children. We highly encourage families to take advantage of this opportunity to visit one on one with you student's teachers. Communication is so critical in working together to guide our students in the right direction. We are still very early in the semester, and there is much potential for a change in course if needed. If you need assistance with making arrangements for a conference, please call West High School so that one of our helpful staff may assist you!

712-279-6772

Sincerely,

-Ms. Rebecca Rieken

#WeAreWEST

Our spring parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Monday, February 21 and Tuesday, February 22. You have three options for attending conferences this spring: virtually, by phone, or in person. We invite you to choose the option that works best for you and your family.

To schedule a conference time, please visit this link:

https://www.myconferencetime.com/wolverine

When you schedule your time, you will be asked to select the type of conference you prefer. Once you have completed your conference registration, you will receive an email confirmation of your time. Please remember to sign up for a time with each staff member you plan to visit.

In-Person Conferences: We ask that you limit those attending to two adults and your student. Masks are optional, although we strongly encourage unvaccinated individuals or those individuals who prefer to wear masks to do so.

Phone Conferences: Please be sure to provide the correct phone number for the teacher to call. Your student’s teacher will call you at that number at your designated time.

Virtual Conferences: A link to connect with your child’s teacher will be sent to you in a confirmation email.

Because of conferences, there will not be school on Monday, February 21 or Friday, February 25.

Thank you for partnering with us on your child’s education. We look forward to sharing your child’s progress with you during conferences.

Understanding Financial Aid

Monday, February 21, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.

West High Media Center

Presentation by ICAN

Holly Candor, College and Career Transition Counselor with Western Iowa Tech Community College, will be available during Parent/Teacher Conferences to assist with FAFSA completion, applying to WITCC, or any other college-decision making questions. She will be at West High School on Tuesday, February 22nd from 3:05-5:45 in the Media Center. Walk-ins are welcome or you can email holly.candor@witcc.edu to reserve a time."

Other information:

The ACT exam will be given to all Juniors on Tuesday, April 5th here at West High.

From his students...

"He does a great job teaching us."

"Mr. Town’s always wants us to do better."

"I love going to Chorale as this is my favorite class."

"Mr. Towns makes singing fun!!!"

West High congratulates Mr. Noah Towns as our January staff member of the month!!!

This month West High staff recognized Sherrie McDonald, our 2022 West High Teacher of the Year! This is Sherrie’s 19th year serving as a special education teacher at WHS. She is also a West High graduate! Her dedication to our students goes beyond measure. According to the staff who nominated her, “West High would not be the same without her welcoming smile, engaging teaching practices, safe and nonjudgmental approach to all students, and trustworthy advice. Sherrie is WEST!” 💚

Round 2 of Regional Basketball Saturday, February 19th, SC West verse SC East at East High School 6:00 pm. All tickets must be purchased online through Varsity Bound.

https://ia.varsitybound.com/sports/girlsbasketball/2021-22/tickets?page=1

The West High Boys Basketball Team will be in Round 1 Playoffs on Monday, February 21st , verse SC North with a 7:00 pm tip-off. The game will be played at West High School and you will need to purchase your tickets online.

https://www.iahsaa.org/tickets/

Track and Field practices begins Tuesday, February 22 at 3:05 in the WHS gym for both boys and girls. Athletes should bring outdoor training attire.

Attention West High Girls. If you missed the informational meeting for joining the West High Girls Wrestling Team you can come to a follow up meeting on February 22nd in the auditorium. High School Girls Wrestling will be a new sport next winter. This meeting will be during Homeroom.

Over the course of this month, West High staff and students have engaged in activities that have recognized February as Black History Month. Daily announcements have promoted learning regarding facts related to Black History. Staff and students have been hard at work designing and painting wall murals, and in the month to come we will be excited to share some pictures of the final project!

Senior Students - Important Dates:

Senior Photos for Yearbook Deadline extended to March 1st

Jostens Cap and Gown Order Deadline was February 1st. Order ASAP!

Senior Student Mandatory Meeting April 6th @ 8:15 am or 2:00 pm

National Honor Society Induction April 6th (Invitation Only)

Top 5% Banquet April 27th (Invitation Only)

Kind World Banquet April 28th (Invitation Only)

AP Testing May 2nd- 11th

Notify Colleges for acceptance/decline by May 1st

WITCC Classes end May 5th

College Decision Day/Signing @ West High May 5th

Request Final High School Transcript by May 6th

Request Final WITCC Transcript by May 6th

Seniors Last Day- May 19th

Honors Assembly May 25th @ 6:30 pm

Graduation Practice May 27th

Graduation May 28th @2pm

2nd Semester Senior Checklist:

* Complete FAFSA (if not done)

* Complete Scholarship

* Compare and Analyze financial aid packages from colleges.

* Pass your classe

SENIOR Prom Eligibility

-Beginning Monday, March 14 Eligibility for Senior Prom begins:

*Students must be passing all classes, not just those remaining required classes for graduation

*Students may not have any truancies on their attendance record, and must have 5 or less tardies

*Students may not have any major behavior referrals resulting in ISS or OSS

We continue to focus on increasing positive attendance at school...

As parents and guardians are anticipating an absence for that school day, please call the school to report that absence, 712-279-6772.

In an attempt to find resolutions for unresolved absences, parents and students will be contacted within 24 hours to determine the reason behind the unresolved absence.

If a student is absence for more than 20 minutes of a scheduled block, and that absence is unexcused, it will be considered a truancy.

Students are expected to have a pass at all times during the instructional block if they are outside of their scheduled class.

West High School is a closed campus. Students are not allowed to leave at anytime, including during the lunch block, unless they are traveling to/from an excused absence, or to/from another school campus.

Students may not bring outside food into the school building, or have food delivered to the school for pick up.

Our next school dance, "Saturday Night Fever", will be held on Saturday, March 12th. Students will need to meet the following eligibility criteria which will begin on the first day of 2nd semester, Thursday, January 13th.

• No more than 5 tardies
• No truancies (zero tolerance)
• No major behavioral referrals
• No F's as of Thursday, March 10th 4pm
• Ticket sales will end the morning of Friday, March 11th

During 1st semester, West High School became aware of several inappropriate social media sites targeting members of our school community including students and staff, as well as anonymous accounts making threats towards our school. We take these things very seriously. The sites are harassing in nature and violate Board Policy 504.4 which addresses bullying and harassment in the District. The threatening posts cause serious safety concerns which become disruptive to our school community. Such posts to do not follow expectations as stated in our student code of conduct.

We are committed to providing all students and staff with a safe environment in which members of our school are treated with dignity and respect. No student or staff member deserves to come to school feeling unsafe, or be the subject of hurtful, disrespectful, or inappropriate social media content. Bullying and harassment of any kind, including the content on these social media sites, are not tolerated. Any student found to be in violation of our board policy, or any student who disrupts our school by posting dangerous threats, will be subject to appropriate discipline or other action pursuant to District policies.

We encourage any student who has created one of these social media sites to remove it immediately. Students are also discouraged from commenting on these sites as their comments could also be a violation of school policy.

The students and staff in our school have the right to a learning environment where they feel safe, and where they can believe, achieve, and succeed. They have a right to a supportive community. That starts with respect for one another, and doing the right thing.

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. Those in need may contact the school to arrange a time to select items they need, but we would also be happy to prepare a pick-up order to meet your needs. Please call West High School with any requests, 712-279-6772, or email Mr. Van Buren: vanburm1@live.siouxcityschools.com

This month West High welcome three new staff to our West High team! With new partnerships the district has connected with due to our ESSER funding, we will welcome the following new staff:

• Kristina Eaglechasing will join our team as a social worker through a partnership with BOOST. Kristina will be supporting our study hall environment as we implement our academic intervention program through study hall.
• Jeremy Robertson will join our team as a support person through a partnership with Youth for Christ. Jeremy will be supporting our 10th-12th grade students with attendance and social-behavioral interventions.
• Pablo Quintanilla will join our team as a support person through a partnership with 1st Tee of Siouxland. Pablo will be supporting our 9th grade students with attendance and social-behavioral interventions.

February 21: No School, Parent Teacher Conferences 8am-8pm

February 22: Parent Teacher Conferences 3:05-5:45pm

February 25: No School: Exchange Day for Conferences

March 12: Spring Dance

March 21: 4th Quarter Begins

April 14-18: Spring Break- No School

May 14: Senior Prom

May 19: Last Day for Seniors

May 26: Last Day of School

May 28: Graduation Commencement @2:30

Students will not be allowed into the building until 7:15 am. Staff are not available to supervise student safety until that time. Students will be allowed to transition to the Den for breakfast at 7:25am. Students must exit the building by 3:15 unless they are involved in a supervised after school activity.

Students are not allowed to bring blankets to school. If any student needs assistance with obtaining warmer clothing, or winter coats, please contact West High school so we may support those needs.

If your contact information has changed since registration, please call West High School, 712-279-6772, with an update of the information. Emergency contact information is also highly recommended. Being able to successfully communicate with our families is very important to us!

During the school day, any WHS student with a study hall in their schedule will have opportunity for academic intervention with WHS teachers. Students who are failing a course will be expected to work with a designated teacher during study hall until their grades are passing.

After school tutoring will be available for any WHS student from 3:00-4:00 Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the WHS Media Center. Busing home will be available to students leaving WHS at 4:15 and dropping off at the nearest feeder elementary school.

Night School is available to any student working on credit recovery/acquisition via Edgenuity. Night School will be 3-7pm Tuesdays & Thursdays, and 3-5pm on Wednesdays in the SWS/AEC classroom, Room 265.

Saturday School will be available to any WHS student on the following dates from 9am-12pm in the WHS Media Center:

• 2/19
• 4/9
• 5/7
• 5/21

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

Virtual Backpack is a central hub for district and community events and information and replaces the District’s traditional flyer distribution process. Virtual Backpack events are shared through an e-newsletter and on the District’s website.

If you are affiliated with a Siouxland nonprofit organization, let us know about your upcoming events or programs. Virtual Backpack submissions must be informational or educational in nature and appropriate for students and families. Submit your community event information today by visiting the Virtual Backpack webpage!

Find a new career that matches your goals and schedule. Job openings are available for teachers, substitutes, food service, bus drivers, summer employment and more. Visit the District’s Career section for a complete listing and to apply!

With the cooler temperatures upon us, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the colder weather. Even during the winter season, the District allows recess and outdoor activities to continue as usual, so it is important that students have the right winter weather clothing. When the temperature feels like 15 degrees or lower, then students are kept inside for recess and activities. Students should be prepared for the cooler weather with a warm coat, hat, scarf, and gloves. If your student does not have access to cold weather apparel, please contact our school office.

The weather in Iowa can be unpredictable. If the weather requires us to delay the start of our school day, cancel school for the day, or dismiss school early, information will be sent to families through Blackboard, our communication system. In addition, this information is posted to our social media sites and the District website.

Please remember that parents and guardians have the right to make the decision to keep their child home on any day they feel it is unsafe for their student to be in school because of weather conditions. If you believe the weather provides a sincere reason why you may have to keep your student at home, or take your student home when classes are scheduled to continue, you as a parent or guardian will simply need to contact our school office to let us know.

Do the terms Snap map, private account, or ghost mode sound familiar? If you answered no, you are not alone. Many families are unfamiliar with these social media terms and others. The District website offers information for parents on the most popular social media platforms and tips for keeping kids safe online. Information is available here: https://bit.ly/3mgwsz7

Every student in our building has given a rapid COVID-19 testing form to take home to their parents/guardians. A student must have a signed consent form on record as well as verbal consent from their parent/guardian prior to the administration of a rapid test. Rapid tests are available to students who start displaying COVID symptoms during the school day.

Convenience at your fingertips! Download our new mobile app for easy access to the school calendar, events, and all the information you need about the Sioux City Community School District. The app is available to download now in the app store on your mobile device.

An engaged community makes our District stronger. That is why we have made it easy for you to connect with us whenever it is convenient for you. We encourage you to take advantage of Let’s Talk!, our 24/7 online submission site. Reach out with your ideas, questions, concerns, and praise. To make a submission, please visit http://www.siouxcityschools.org/lets-talk/.

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