West Side Story 2.0

Scarlet Pride

This weekend, I had the pleasure of giving a building tour to alumni from the Class of 1965—and before we even got started, they broke out into the school song! From there, the stories flowed, full of laughter, memories, and pride in what it means to be a Scarlet.

When they asked how today’s students are preparing for the future, they were amazed by all the opportunities available—AP and concurrent enrollment classes, Geometry in Action, internships and apprenticeships, and our student-run businesses, The Scarlet Express and The Scarlet Den. They were thrilled to hear that our band, choir, orchestra, and theater programs are as strong as ever, and they smiled hearing that so many students are involved in DECA, FFA, HOSA, Math League, and Robotics. (They did want to know if we still teach typing and driver’s ed, as those seemed to their favorites.)

Their visit was a wonderful reminder that while times have changed, the heart of our school has not. The Scarlet pride that connected them sixty years ago continues to shine through in the amazing work our students and staff are doing today.

Grade Checks

Please log into Infinite Campus on Friday, October 10th, to see updated grades. If the semester were to end on Friday, those would be the semester grades.

Construction Updates

The elevator shaft in the front is completed, as is foundation waterproofing and backfill. Next up will be setting structural steel members, roughing in underground plumbing and electrical, and beginning construction of block exterior walls. In the back, the pile installation is complete. Now they will be working on pile cap and grade beam foundation installation.

Please encourage students to stay away from the construction lane (concrete barriers in the front lot) as we will begin seeing more construction vehicles using that lane.

FAFSA Meeting, Wednesday, October 8

We will have a FAFSA informational meeting at 6:30pm tonight, Wednesday, October 8th, in the media center.

BARR

This year, we’re excited to introduce the BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) program to support our freshmen as they transition into high school. BARR is a nationally recognized model that focuses on building strong relationships between students and staff while using data to ensure every student is seen, supported, and successful. Our 9th-grade teachers meet regularly as a team to discuss both the academic and social-emotional needs of students, allowing us to provide more personalized support and early interventions when needed. The goal is simple: help every freshman feel connected, confident, and prepared to thrive throughout high school.

Student Support Staff Newsletter

Click here for important information from our Student Support Staff.

Turn Groceries into Gold with Kash 4 Kids!

It's never been easier to support West! Through our Kash 4 Kids campaign, simply save your Hy-Vee grocery receipts and submit them to the main office. West receives $1 for every $150 you spend. Every receipt counts, and at the end of the year, the top three schools get bonus funds! Let's make every trip to the store count for our kids!