Excellence in Youth

The Excellence in Youth (EY) Program at Westside Community Schools provides expanded learning opportunities for students with high ability, in addition to fostering and encouraging talent development in all students.

The EY program website is the hub of communication for the EY Team. For our K-8 students, monthly challenges, seminars and events, as well as other learning opportunities are posted to the site on a regular basis.

All students are encouraged to participate in the opportunities posted, regardless of whether they have been identified for the EY Program. Students can participate independently by accessing the opportunities at home or during tech time at school. Teachers may also facilitate these whole and small-group enrichment opportunities for students in the classroom.

Click below to check out all our website has to offer!

Every student in Westside has the opportunity to begin earning badges. Working towards earning a badge allows students to dig deep into topics and explore individual interest areas. Badges can be found in various subject and interest areas.

Earn 12 badges to achieve the acclaimed "Digital Dozen" and earn a prize and recognition! Choose from hundreds of badge options on the EY Website or choose one below to get kick started!

The Excellence In Youth Team is proud to showcase star student Elizabeth M. from Sunset as the most recent recipient of the Digital Dozen award for this school year! This is the second award for Elizabeth this school year. Her favorite badge that she completed for the digital dozen was Sketch note Fever. She turned in his 25th badge today and plans to start working on her third digital dozen! Congratulations, Elizabeth!

The Excellence In Youth Team is proud to showcase star student Addy W. from Sunset as the most recent recipient of the Digital Dozen award for this school year! This is the second award for Addy this school year. Her favorite badge that she completed for the digital dozen was the Nerdle Warrior. Congratulations, Addy!

The Excellence in Youth Team is proud to showcase star student Palmer S. from Paddock for earning his second Digital Dozen for the 24-25 school year. He said the Drawing Badge was his favorite badge this time and he's already working on his 25th badge. Congratulations Palmer!

Congratulations Olivia on earning your THIRD digital dozen! The EY team applauds you for demonstrating grit and determination to complete 36 badges, a rare accomplishment in our badge program history. Continue to keep learning, inspiring other kids and, of course, working on badges. We asked Olivia to share some of her thoughts about the EY badges.

My favorite badge of all time is the Blackout Poetry Badge because I think it’s pretty creative to take a piece of text and make it your own in a unique way. I plan to do the Sport Roster Math Badge next. I think that the EY badge page should add a second Desmos Badge but make it more creative for the student to use more shapes to create something interesting to them. Congratulations, Olivia! Keep up the great work.

The Excellence In Youth Team is excited to showcase Heartlin F., Drianna C. and Bette K. from Westgate, Luke I. from Paddock, Otis M. and Davis L. from Swanson, Isla K. from Sunset and Arya N. from Oakdale as the most recent recipients of the Digital Dozen award for the 24-25 school year! The Digital Dozen award is presented to WCS students who earn 12 of the digital badges from the EY Website (ey.westside66.org), which is available to students district-wide. It takes self-motivation, grit, and determination to earn these badges, and these star student should be proud of their accomplishment!

Mini Sparks are quick lessons that introduce learners to various topics. Sparks can be found under every subject area on the EY website. These activities require minimal supplies and make for a great family activity!

How do insects use their special adaptations to survive? Insects are the most diverse animals, and even in tough environments like hot volcanoes, dry deserts, and icy glaciers, they show amazing adaptations to live in these challenging conditions.

Learn More Here!

This month, a few members of WMS's Science Olympiad team visited OPD's Crime Lab to learn about the "science" behind the scenes of an investigation.

Congratulations to the WMS Science Olympiad Team! It finished 2nd overall at the competition and medaled in 14 out of 23 events! The students have been working hard all year and the results at the State Competition in Lincoln are proof of their dedication!

• Swanson
• Sunset Hills

Email: henningsen.jennifer@westside66.net
Website: ey.westside66.org
Twitter: @JHenningsen

• Hillside
• Oakdale
• Rockbrook

Email: sindt.katherine@westside66.net
Website: ey.westside66.org
Twitter: @ksindt1972

• Paddock Road
• Westgate
• Westside Middle School
• Math 7 Honors Coordinator

Email: spady.lynn@westside66.net
Website: ey.westside66.org
Twitter: @LynnSpady

• Loveland
• Prairie Lane
• Westbrook

Email: thompson.megan@westside66.net
Website: ey.westside66.org
Twitter: @MegT_Westside