Take Flight 🦅

On Wednesday, April 23rd, Thrift Club, Fashion Club, and Service Club joined forces to throw West Leyden's first-ever pop-up thrift sale. Students either sold their own items, or sorted, tagged, and vended gently-used clothes generously donated by other students, faculty, and staff. Some of the leftover items and proceeds from the sale will go towards the creation of a Leyden Locker at West, which can then be accessed by students who are experiencing clothing insecurity. The Vintage Fest was such a hit, that it's expected that there will be others in the future.

On Friday, April 25th, Kona Ice was available for purchase during the lunch periods. 20% of all sales were donated to West Leyden's Best Buddies Club. The rain during Period 8 lunch didn't deter Mr. Murphy and others from enjoying a refreshing snack while supporting a worthy cause!

What?! You didn't go to the SHS Baile on Friday, April 25th? You missed hearing and dancing to great music, seeing friends, and having an amazing time! Be sure to keep your calendar free when the dance happens next year!

Leyden's Model UN Team participated in Glenbrook South's Model UN Conference on Saturday, April 26th. Students debated different topics in their committees, from the local (Al Capone and uniting the North and South Sides of Chicago), to the international (how to provide equal access to vaccines in all countries), to the otherworldly (dealing with Doodlebob's havoc in Bikini Bottom)!

A shoutout to Ingrid Espinoza as she brought home Honorable Delegate as Al Capone!

This was Model UN's last conference of the year, and the last conference ever for seniors Jonathan Vasquez, Grace Dillon, and Ingrid Espinoza! Although the seniors will be greatly missed, we are so excited for all of the amazing things they are going to accomplish in their next chapter of life!

Contact Ms. Daliha Orozco (dorozco@leyden212.org) if you're interested in joining Model UN!

Book Club had a fantastic outing on Saturday, May 3rd. They headed downtown to both a large bookstore chain (Barnes & Noble), as well as an independently-owned store (Myopic Books). Everyone found something that they will cuddle up and read in the weeks to come. Let Ms. Elisa Flores (eflores@leyden212.org) know if you'd like to book 📖 a spot on their next field trip!

Ecology Club is all about the environment, and this weekend wasn't any different. On Saturday, May 3rd, West and East Leyden's Ecology Club went to the Indiana Dunes for a day of taking in the beautiful diversity of flora and fauna. Appropriately enough, there were four eagle sightings! What a great field trip! Reach out to Dr. Todd Veltman (tveltman@leyden212.org) for more information.

Hey, juniors! Are you interested in improving your video production skills in a PAID internship position?! Check out the Leyden YouTube channel for samples of the videos you will work on.

Email Video Production Specialist, Mr. Brandon Delgado (bdelgado@leyden212.org) with questions and/or to apply! More information about the internship is available here.

Monday, May 12th is the deadline to apply. You'll begin working as soon as your schedule allows. Don't miss out on this excellent opportunity!

Attention all juniors! Considering or planning on 4-year college/university after high school? If so, College Bootcamp in June is a MUST!

Week 1 = Workshops

June 3, 4, 5 (Tuesday - Thursday)

East Leyden, 9:00 - 2:00

Week 2 = Campus Tours

June 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 (Monday - Friday)

East Leyden, times vary based on destinations

Registration opens Monday, April 28th until Friday, May 16th. Scan the QR code to register. Take advantage of this invaluable (but free) experience! Questions? See your counselor!

Hey, seniors! You've entered the final stretch of your high school experience! Make the most of it by visiting the Leyden webpage dedicated to all senior events to stay on top of all of your class happenings over the next few weeks. Also, this graduation bulletin specifies everything you need to know for you and and your family to have the best graduation celebration!

NOTE: Students who ordered a cap and gown but have not picked it up can do so in the Main Office. If you did not order a cap and gown yet, you should visit Jostens ASAP.

The EII Journalism students have restored the school's online newspaper, called The Eagle's Eye! Consider this the printed school newspaper you once knew, but now in a digital format. In addition to student-written pieces, the newspaper has the latest episodes of the morning announcements, as well as and a pdf. flipbook of The Talon, the district's literary magazine.

It's a work in progress, and students are continuing to populate the newspaper with content.

Are there any stories YOU would like to see 👀 covered in The Eagle's Eye? Share your ideas with Mr. Victor Giordano (vgiordano@leyden212.org), and who knows? Maybe you'll see 👀 them featured in a future edition of The Eagle's Eye!

While spreading positivity, Snowball is also tackling the issue of vaping on campus to help reopen our bathrooms! Sick of long walks just to find a bathroom? Hate the crowded restrooms? You’re not alone! Many West Leyden students are feeling the impact of bathroom closures due to vaping. But there’s good news—we can change this!

West Leyden Snowball has partnered with the deans to launch the West Leyden Anonymous Vape Reporting Form—as a way to make our school a healthier place and help reopen our bathrooms. Have you seen vaping in the bathrooms? Use THIS LINK to anonymously report it—no risk to you! Want to quit? Get confidential help without getting in trouble. Text “ditchvape” to 88709 for FREE support anytime.

Scan the QR code posted in bathrooms or check your Minga ID to access the form (instructions are below). Let’s take back our bathrooms and make West Leyden a vape-free zone!

Leyden's "Strive for 95" campaign offers a lot of cool prizes for students who strive to maintain 90% or higher attendance:

• Monthly raffles to win Leyden clothing, free Prom tickets, Stanley drinking cups, Javaccino dollars, pizza parties for you & your friends, and much more.

For those soaring eagles who maintain 95% or higher attendance:

• $20 off Prom tickets (juniors & seniors only)

Click on the image above 👆 for more information!

We Are... Awards nominees can qualify to receive Javaccino (students) / Gold and Bold Café (staff members) gift cards. In addition, students may be recognized at Student of the Month breakfasts and staff members may be recognized at staff meetings.

To nominate a student or staff member, you need to fill out this We Are... Awards Google Form.