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!

The Excellence In Youth Team is excited to showcase Vinny T. and Halle T. from Swanson, Benson M. from Prairie Lane and Jack R., Rhett W. and Henry P. from Sunset as the most recent recipients of the Digital Dozen award for the 23-24 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 students should be proud of this accomplishment!

The 2023-24 WCS District Spelling Bee was held at WMS on December 15th. The top spellers from each elementary school, along with the top spellers from WMS competed to determine the 1st place speller in WCS.

After many rounds of amazing spelling, 8th grader Max R. was the second-place speller in the district, and 7th grader Amelia C. came in first place! The championship word was “primp”.

Amelia advances to Omaha Sports Commission Spelling Bee (regional). The 2024 Omaha Sports Commission Spelling Bee will take place on the campus of University of Nebraska Omaha on March 9, 2024. The champion of the Omaha Sports Commission Spelling Bee will advance to the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, over Memorial Day weekend.

Congratulations to these top spellers!

District Overall Winners

1st Place- Amelia C. WMS

2nd Place- Max R. WMS

3rd Place-Olivia M. Prairie Lane and Abigail L. Rockbrook

Elementary Overall Winners

1st Place-Olivia M. Prairie Lane and Abigail L. Rockbrook

2nd Place Dorian G. Westbrook and Adeline O. Sunset

We will kick off the Geography Bee as soon as we return from winter break! Students will take the classroom round of the bee during the week of January 8th-12th. Students who qualify will then take the school final round the week of January 22nd-26th.

Students who would like to sharpen their geography knowledge can check out the Social Studies mini sparks by clicking the link below.

Congratulations to the WCS students who finished 3rd in the 82nd annual Central High Middle School Math Contest!

Individually, Parthiv, Whitney, Max, and Sanjay placed 2nd in the buzzer round.

Also, Whitney placed 2nd in the 7th grade division and Samuel finished in 3rd place.

SIGMA is a mathematics league that promotes problem solving through competition. SIGMA provides opportunities for students to apply their mathematical knowledge in a fun and engaging format.

Congratulations to our top scorers from each school. Way to go!

Each month, check out the EY Calendar Challenge. We encourage all students to participate in the challenge. Students choose a number of challenges to compete based on their grade level. Students who complete the monthly challenge and get an adult signature can submit for the monthly badge!

Get ready to "Flip" out over the January Challenge. Students, you wil be thinking about your 2024 goals and utilizing Flip on your iPads to record and respond to other EY students across WCS! Challenge opens January 8th!

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!

Learn about the Amazon Rainforest and how the Wampís Nation has been protecting the forest and the largest river in the world. To earn the mini spark, imagine you are a scientist studying the Amazon rainforest. Write a journal entry describing the incredible biodiversity you have observed and explain why it is important to protect this unique ecosystem.

• Classroom Geography Bees - January 8th - 12th

• Geography Bee School Finals - January 22nd-26th

On Friday December 15th, four @Loveland_School Lynx alumnae came back to their old stomping grounds and put on a math "fun" day for the 5th graders! Math is SWEET! #wcs66

• 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