April 20th Letter

Hello, Westside families and staff members!

We have now been in our Extended Learning Campus for more than a month. We miss our students. We miss our staff members - our extended family. We miss making memories in our schools. We miss all of the Spring traditions we have so looked forward to year after year. This is not the way this school year was supposed to end.

With that being said, we are so proud of each and every one of you; our students, our parents, our employees and our community. You have stepped up in ways we could not have imagined to ensure our learners are supported, our families are engaged, and our staff members feel appreciated. We have been able to continue teaching thousands of children thanks to the teamwork and positivity you have all shown through these unprecedented times. THANK YOU. #WeAreWestside and we are all in this together.

We want to update you on a few things. If we do not address a question you may have, we encourage you to check out our COVID-19 Reference Guide, updated daily here: https://www.smore.com/0j172-covid-19-reference-guide

VIRTUAL COMMUNITY COFFEE WITH DR. MIKE LUCAS & SENIOR LEADERSHIP

• Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas will host a LIVE session on Facebook THIS WEDNESDAY, April 22, starting at 10am. Dr. Lucas, along with Dr. Mark Weichel, Dr. Enid Schonewise, and Bob Zagozda, will answer any questions you may have about Westside Community Schools.
• This will take place on Facebook, but you do not need a Facebook account to watch. LINK: https://www.facebook.com/WestsideCommunitySchools/

GRADING

The following message is from Dr. Mark Weichel, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning

With the onset of COVID-19, Westside Community Schools worked to ensure high levels of student learning during our physical school closure. We modified and altered the way we deliver instruction and have been successful, in large part, because of our partnership with you, our families. As a district, it has been a priority for us to engage students in learning and feedback, rather than focus on grades. Because of the major differences during extended campus learning and recommendations made by the Nebraska Department of Education, we have changed what elementary report cards will look like for the fourth quarter. At the secondary level, second-semester grade calculations will be different than what they have been in the past.

• The purpose of our elementary standards-based report card is to communicate with parents and students the level to which a student has achieved a particular standard. Feedback and communication between the student and the teacher are always a critical part of the teaching and learning process. For this quarter, we will continue this communication, but it will be in a different format because the time on task and assessments are different. Instead of traditional marks of a 1, 2, 3, or 4, we are going to provide you with a learning summary of the work your son/daughter was to have completed in each of their courses. The summary statement will include the topics covered as well as teacher-generated feedback about core courses.
• At a secondary level, semester grades represent the level of learning a student has achieved in the course throughout the semester. Feedback and communication between the student and the teacher are always a critical part of the teaching and learning process. During our period of extended campus learning, we know feedback did not look the same as it usually does. We also know our most valid and reliable assessment results are from the third quarter. Because of this, we have asked our teachers to work with students and families to complete major (summative) assessments so the grade accurately reflects the student’s level of learning. During the fourth quarter, we engaged students in learning by reviewing essential content and introducing new content essential for the next course. For all of these reasons, teachers will consider the third quarter grade to have the most significant impact on the semester grade. Teachers will also consider learning progress a student made during the fourth quarter.
• At the end of the school year, middle and high school students will receive a semester report card. Typically, the report card includes grade information for the third quarter, fourth quarter, final exams, and the semester grade. This spring, there will be no final exam grade included on the report card because no final exams will be given.
• After reviewing the report card, if you have questions about the comments or grades, please feel free to make this request with your child's teacher.

Thanks so much for all of your hard work and for assisting us in educating your son/daughter. We look forward to having them back with us for the entire day soon.

SPRING ACTIVITIES, TRYOUTS AND EVENTS

• As indicated in earlier communication, any events that were scheduled from late March through the end of the school year are now cancelled, postponed or rescheduled. Our Reference Guide continues to be your best source of information for the latest updates; scroll down through the guide until you see Activities & Events
• Many of our activities at WHS that typically hold tryouts in Spring are either rescheduling for a later date or holding virtual auditions/tryouts. We will continue to share this information as coaches/sponsors provide it to us across social media and in our Reference Guide.
• 6th Grade Parents should have received an email with a Westside Middle School Transition packet to review. We will also send this out via traditional mail. Our team at WMS plans to reschedule Warrior Walkabout and 6th Grade Transition Nights as soon as we know what we can and cannot do in the coming weeks.
• Seniors and parents should have received emails last week with updates regarding graduation, ‘shout outs’ on social media, and Class of 2020 yard signs. Signs are available for pickup Tuesday between 1:00-3:00pm.

FOOD AVAILABILITY & DONATION DRIVES

• The Westside Community Council has organized several donation drives for the Westside Food Pantry. This resource at Sunset Hills is open year round for Westside students and families. If you would like to make a food donation, volunteers will have carts stationed near the drop off area at Sunset Hills tomorrow (Tuesday, April 21) 11:00am-Noon and 5:00-6:00pm. All social distancing practices will be in place to ensure everyone’s safety.
• If you would like to make a monetary donation to support our families, please CLICK HERE to donate through the Westside Foundation. There is an option to indicate how you would like your donation to be used (food drives, to help pay ECC staff members, to support Westside families in need, etc.) https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E157967&id=30
• If you would like to access the Westside Food Pantry, the Westside Clothing Closet, or you need additional assistance, please email Director of Student Services Robert Aranda at aranda.robert@westside66.net.
• We will continue to provide free meals for families in need every Monday at several sites.

NEXT PICK-UP DATES & TIMES:

Monday, April 27 from 8:30am-12:30pm

• Westbrook Elementary School (1312 Robertson Dr.)
• Westside Middle School (8601 Arbor St.)
• Prairie Lane Elementary School/Swing School campus (3534 S. 108th St.)

Monday, April 27 from 4:00pm-6:00pm

• Westside Middle School (8601 Arbor St.)

Every child (ages 1-18) will receive 5-days worth of meals (breakfast and lunch) at one of our drive up sites to take home. There is no charge, and no ID is required.

BEHAVIORAL, MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH SUPPORT

We have created two hotlines, open 24/7, for anyone in our community in need of help.

• For questions about behavior, mental health support, or how you can access help for a variety of needs, call 402-390-2019
• If you are concerned about your own safety and well-being, or have immediate concerns about someone else, call the Westside Safe2Help Hotline at 402-390-2118
• We also know these closures present enormous challenges for parents, who may now be expected to help educate their children AND work from home, all at the same time. The Westside Behavior Cadre has compiled a newsletter of wonderful resources for parents looking for advice on topics including finding balance, general behavior tips, and how to avoid power struggles at home. Click here: https://www.smore.com/67tbg

You are all doing GREAT. You are making learning possible during these challenges. Thank you for your patience, your understanding, your engagement and your ongoing support. We will continue to work on communicating with you at a high level to keep you updated on developments. We hope you can join us Wednesday morning on Facebook.

Have a great week!

Westside Community Schools