• 2020 - 2021 Registration
• MLK Day Art Contest
• P.A.W.S Parent Group Information
• Athletics update from Mr. Pace
  
• Important Dates for Seniors

Newsletter: Now Available in 100+ Languages
If you prefer to read the newsletter in a language other than English, please scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to select your preferred language. Simply select the "Translate" button on the lower right, select your language from the drop-down menu, and click "Close." The entire newsletter will then be translated into the language you have selected. Over 100 languages are available for selection.

Boletín Informativo: Ahora Disponible en más de 100 Idiomas

Si prefiere leer el boletín en un idioma que no sea inglés, desplácese hasta la parte de abajo para seleccionar su idioma. Simplemente seleccione el botón "Traducir" en la esquina derecha de la parte de abajo, seleccione su idioma en el menú y haga clic en "Cerrar". El boletín completo se traducirá al idioma que haya seleccionado. Más de 100 idiomas están disponibles para su selección.

Each month one student from each grade level and department and one staff member will be recognized for living by the WHS motto We Are WEST! (Welcoming, Engaged, Safe, Trustworthy) In November the following were recognized:

This year we will be hosting a Registration Night for parents and students Jan 20th. Information will be available for course options, career pathways, college credit courses, AP courses, and graduation requirements. This evening is designed to help parents guide students in the selection of courses for the 2020-2021 school year. Mark your calendars now, and more details will be provided in the January newsletter.

Our new parent group P.A.W.S. met for the first time in October. At this meeting we discussed the school goals, school communication, barriers to student success and the importance of parent and school collaboration.

Please join us for this month's meeting on December 16th, at 6:00 PM in the Media Center.

Our topics of discussion will be 2020-2021 Registration and Spring Parent Conferences.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day the NAACP and the Sioux City Community School District would like to invite all students in grades TK-12 to participate in expressing their views through art. The 2020 theme is “The Golden Rule, Then & Now” with the subtopic: What are you doing for others?. Entries will be judged on creativity and artwork that best fits the contest theme. Artwork may be submitted in any 2 or 3-dimensional form. All interested participants should contact their art teacher or stop by the front office for more information.

Winter sports and activities are all in full participation mode as I write this. Basketball, bowling, wrestling, and boys swimming all share a common season but give spectators different opportunities to support our athletes at their best. If you have a spare minute during your Monday afternoons, our bowling team can often been seen rolling a few balls at either Plaza or Rush Lanes. Not only is it a great high school sport, but also a life time opportunity to be active and engaged. Please use our activities website to keep current on our schedules and schedule changes which happen frequently in our Iowa winters at: https://www.missouririverconf.org.

This month is our second installment of a short reminder on sportsmanship. Please be mindful of how your actions affect not only those around you, but also your player on the team.

• Use ENCOURAGING comments during the game. Save constructive feedback for one-on-one discussions with your child after the emotion of the game has passed.

Thanks for supporting Wolverine Activities!

Sincerely,

Al Pace

Asst. Principal, Athletic/Activity Director

712-279-6781

pacea@live.siouxcityschools.com

We continue to see students using vapes at school. Vapes and vape "pods" are not permitted on campus.

Here is what the student handbook says regarding this issue.

"The District maintains a drug/alcohol/tobacco/nicotine free environment for all District facilities, grounds, and vehicles. The policy includes the use of nicotine products that are not FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved for tobacco cessation. This requirement extends to students, employees, and visitors at all times. Persons failing to abide by this policy will be asked to extinguish their smoking material or dispose of the tobacco/nicotine product, or other product, or leave the District premises immediately."

If students are found to be in possession of vapes, the following will occur:

First Offense: Ticketed by Sioux City Police, placed in ISS for remainder of the day, and at least one additional day

Second Offense: Ticketed by Sioux City Police, OSS 1 day

Third Offense: Ticketed by Sioux City Police, OSS 3 days

We are also looking to require students in violation of this policy to attend an class on the health risks of smoking and stopping.

Here is some additional information about vaping:

• E-cigarettes are the most commonly-used tobacco product among teens. In 2018, over 20% of high school students reported having used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days.

• E-cigarettes contain a liquid solution that is usually flavored. Flavors, which are appealing to children, often are things like peach schnapps, java jolt, piña colada, peppermint, bubble gum, or chocolate.

• Youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke traditional cigarettes in the future.

• Children are exposed to e-cigarette advertising in the media, and in magazines and billboards.

• Although it is illegal for e-cigarettes to be sold to youth under age 18, they can be ordered online.

Below is an educational video from Grand Island Public Schools with more information about vaping.

After School Tutoring is available every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the media center from 3:05-4:05 pm. The time is staffed with teachers from each of the core content areas. Students report to the media center and get support. This is a great way to catch up in a class or get help with current homework. No Sign-up required. Students may show up as needed.

Night School is also available for students that want to continue to work on their Edgenuity courses or need extra help. Tues & Thurs 3 - 7PM and Wed 3 - 5 in room 265

*Please note: nursing services are not provided during these voluntary activities

Saturday school is another opportunity for students to get caught up on missing work, get extra help in classes that they are struggling with, or continue working on their Edgenuity courses. Our upcoming Saturday schools are:

December 14th, 8:00 AM - Noon

January 11th, 8:00 AM - Noon

West High's Food Pantry, "The Bear's Den," will be open Dec 14th 9AM - 11AM.

The pantry is open for any Westside families to get what they may need. Some clothes and toiletry items are also available.

The pantry is available by appointment throughout the month. Please contact Martez Van Buren vanburm1@live.siouxcityschools.com or your student's counselor to set up an appointment.

Last week, ACT announced new options coming to the ACT test starting with the September 2020 national test date. Below are the two major changes, as communicated from the ACT website.

ACT Section Retesting

ACT Section Retesting, which gives students the opportunity to retake one or more single-section tests to best show their knowledge, helps students focus their study efforts solely on the areas in which they want to improve their scores.

Section retesting will be available to all students who have taken the full ACT test. It is the same test – just one section or subject at a time. Section retests are identical in the content covered, timing, and the number of questions for each ACT section test. Section retesting will be offered seven times a year, on the same dates as the national ACT test. Students may take up to three section retests on any one test date, though there are no limits on the number of times a student may take a retest.

ACT Superscoring

ACT has determined that superscores are more predictive of how students are likely to perform in their college courses than other scoring methods. Starting in September 2020 ACT will begin reporting superscores. Colleges will set their own policies regarding superscoring. Therefore, ACT will supply colleges with at least one full composite score along with each superscore, plus all of the scores from the test events that are part of the superscore composite. ACT has encouraged colleges and university to consider adding superscoring to their score-use policy because, as our research shows, superscores are just as predictive – if not more predictive – of first-year grades than other scoring methods.

ACT Testing & SCCSD

Please note, these changes will NOT impact current seniors. Additionally, this will NOT change the way the Sioux City Community School District administers the ACT Test for juniors.

Learn More

To learn more, you can visit the ACT website by clicking HERE.

Wanting to sign up for the ACT?

Visit here to sign up and log in!

Future Test Dates:

February 9, 2020

April 4, 2020

April 21, 2020 (Administered to all 11th grade students at the high school; no cost to students)

June 13, 2020

We have a new system in place for requesting official transcripts. We're offering this service to make ordering transcripts easier for you. It's also more efficient for your school, and will deliver your transcripts to the colleges you choose in the format they prefer.

Please visit https://www.parchment.com/u/registration/11598/account to request transcripts.

Social media and technology are always changing, but yearbooks are forever. Buy your student a lasting memento that will grow in value each year of your student’s life – the 2019-20 West High yearbook.

When you buy your child a yearbook, you are buying a product that will be treasured today and for years to come. This invaluable keepsake of the 2019-20 West High yearbook is only $40. The price will go up as the year goes on so don’t wait.

Buy online with a credit card, debit card or PayPal at yearbookforever.com or at school with cash or check from Ms. Stephens in room 257 at West High.

Order now, so your student won’t miss out when the yearbook is distributed around October 2020, or when the class reunions start rolling around. Senior year happens once… the yearbook is forever.

December 14: Saturday School

Dec 21 - Jan 5: Winter Break

January 11: Saturday School

January 16: Semester 1 Ends

January 17: No School Teacher Work Day

January 20: 1st Day of Second Semester/ Registration Night

Dec 12 - Kind World and Siouxland Community Foundation Scholarship meeting during Advisory

Dec 19 - Wolverine Alumni College Panel during Advisory

Jan 15 - Senior Pictures are Due

Jan 16 - Last day of Semester 1

April 21st – Senior Meeting during Homeroom

May 16th – Prom, Hilton Garden Inn

May 16th – 17th After-Prom

May 22nd – Last Day of School for Seniors & Graduation Practice

May 22nd – Senior Honors Assembly

May 23rd – Graduation, Tyson Events Center

West High Yearbook Photograph Requirements for 2019-20.

Please read the following requirements for the senior pictures to be used in the yearbook.

1. The yearbook photograph must be a head and shoulders or waist up composition.
2. High resolution
3. Hand gestures may not appear in the photos.
4. “Selfie” photos will not be accepted.
5. Attire for photographs must comply with West High School’s dress code.

Senior pictures can be delivered to Ms. Stephens in room 257 or sent via email to stephet@live.siouxcityschools.com. Electronic submission is preferred but not required. The final date for accepting senior pictures will be January 15, 2020.

Iowa law requires that all students entering 12th grade have a Meningococcal vaccination. The requirement is 2 doses of meningococcal (A,C,W,Y) vaccine for students in grade 12, if born after September 15, 1999; or 1 dose if received when students are 16 years of age or older are required before school starts in the fall.

The meningococcal vaccine has been required since the start of the 2017/18 school year. Meningococcal disease is a life threatening illness that is caused by bacteria that infects the brain, blood, and spinal cord. It easily spreads in crowded settings.

What does this mean for you? You will need to call your physician’s office to make an appointment. You will need to check your home records or call your physician’s office to see what your student’s status is. If you do not have insurance, you can contact the Siouxland District Health Department at 279-6119. Please send a copy of your student’s updated immunization record to the school nurse prior to the first day of school in August 2020. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

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. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to 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.

Inquiries or grievances, including Section 504 grievances and grievances under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.

Contact us!

Principal: April Tidwell

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