Warrior Bulletin
October 19, 2026: Sophomore Seminar Starts
October 19, 2026: Board of Education Meeting
October 20, 2026: FAFSA Completion Event (6:00 p.m. in the CCLRC)
October 23, 2026: Senior Celebration Fall Event
October 27, 2026: Assessment Day
- Grade 12 (ACT or Senior Seminar)
- Grade 11 (ACT Testing)
- Grade 10 (Pre-ACT Testing)
- Grade 9 (No School)
November 2, 2026: Board of Education Meeting
November 3, 2026: Election Day
November 11, 2026: Veteran's Day
November 25-27, 2026: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)
December 7, 2026: Board of Education Meeting
December 17, 2026: 1st Semester Final Exam Day #1
December 18, 2026: 1st Semester Final Exam Day #2
December 18, 2026: Last day of 1st Semester
December 21, 2026 - January 4, 2027: Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)
Oct 16: Corner: Orange Popcorn Chx | Diner: Cheeseburger Penne
Oct 19: Corner: Ham & Cheese Croissant | Diner: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Oct 20: Corner: BBQ Chx Thigh | Diner: Asian Dumpling
Oct 21: Corner: Monster Bowl | Diner: Fried Chx Leg
Oct 22: Corner: Pizza Hut | Diner: Warrior Mac Wrap
Oct 23: Corner: Fajitas | Diner: Chx w/ Waffle
Oct 26: Corner: Totchos | Diner: Crispy Chx Sandwich
Oct 27: Corner: Meatball Subs | Diner: Crispitos
Oct 28: Corner: Walking Tacos | Diner: Walking Tacos
Oct 29: Corner: Pizza Hut | Diner: Caesar Chx Wrap
Oct 30: Corner: Beef & Broccoli | Diner: Spicy Chx Sandwich
HELP SUPPORT WESTSIDE FAMILIES
We are entering a time of year when our generous community often reaches out to ask how families, community groups, and student clubs can support Westside Community Schools’ students. We’re excited to share a few ways you can support Westside families.
On September 18th, we proudly opened The Carriage House at WHS. This second resource center was designed with WMS & WHS students in mind, allowing them to access a grab-and-go food pantry and clothing closet by appointment with a school social worker. Our Family Resource Center at Westgate Elementary School is continuing operations and is available to serve Westside Families.
How You Can Help
We serve families and students from kindergarten through 12th grade, so we welcome new or gently used clothing in all sizes, shelf-stable food, and basic hygiene items. Click here for a full list of items needed and donation information.
Items that are critically low right now include:
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Cleaning supplies
- Body wash & body lotion
- Laundry detergent
- Toothpaste & toothbrushes
- Deodorant
- Hair styling products
- Spaghetti noodles & pasta sauce
- Peanut butter & jelly
- Hamburger Helper/Tuna Helper
- Canned meats (tuna, chicken, etc.)
- Breakfast foods (cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix)
- New underwear, socks, bras
Where To Bring Your Donations
All donations for either facility can be dropped off at the Family Resource Center at Westgate Elementary, using its separate entrance on the northeast corner of the building.
- Location: 7802 Hascall Street, Omaha, NE
- Drop off time: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (school days)
Our school social workers and dedicated volunteers sort donations once items arrive and distribute them to each location appropriately. This team of individuals ensures all donated items are cared for and find a home.
If you, or someone you know, would like to learn more about the Family Resource Center please reach out to a school social worker.
Thank you for caring for our families and helping make Westside a community where everyone belongs. Every donation is a meaningful way to support our students and the families who care for them.
DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Daily Announcements are found on the PowerSchool Student/Parent Portal. The announcements are updated on a daily basis and will be an excellent place to keep up with all the latest news from Westside High School.
POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL
The parent portal is an online portal accessible anywhere on the web that parents can log in to and see all of their children in one place, their grades, assignments, scores, attendance, schedules, and school bulletins for each school your children attend. If you have one student in middle school and one in high school, parents will see bulletins for both the middle school and high school. You can access the Student and Parent Sign In Portal by clicking this link.
TECHNOLOGY USE AT WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL
PURPOSE OF TECHNOLOGY
At Westside Community Schools, technology use will be intentional and educational, ensuring students are active participants in learning. From this guiding principle, we are committed to implementing high-quality tools that are purposefully designed to have a positive impact on student growth. Our approach is intended to put teachers in the driver's seat, support families with transparent information, and keep student wellbeing at the center of every decision we make.
WHAT WE DO
Westside Community Schools uses technology to improve learning outcomes, meet state established learning standards across the curriculum and provide experiences that wouldn't otherwise be possible. At Westside High School, students use the iPad across the curriculum to complete creative activities, engage with digital resources, review and practice key concepts, and complete assessments. This can allow more personalization to help meet each individual learner’s academic needs.
WHY WE DO IT
We believe every student deserves an exceptional education and the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Technology supports this work by adapting to each student's learning level, reinforcing essential skills, and giving teachers real-time insights to personalize support. By combining expert instruction, purposeful technology, and a steadfast belief in every child, we ensure every learner is supported, challenged, and empowered to achieve more than they thought possible.
HOW WE DO IT
Technology use in our district is intentional and educational, ensuring students are active participants in learning rather than passive consumers. Every student in grades 9-12 has an assigned device they can use at teacher discretion. Each student also has access to a Logitech Crayon stylus for handwriting, note taking, drawing, and interactive learning.
We analyze our use of technology on an annual basis. Some adjustments we are making this school year include disabling YouTube Shorts on all K-12 devices. We will begin piloting alternatives to direct YouTube access for audio-visual content at WHS, limiting unrestricted access on school-issued devices. Students will continue to have access to teacher-approved instructional videos through approved platforms, ensuring educational content remains readily available while reducing access to non-instructional content.
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
WCS is committed to being a thoughtful steward of your child's screen time during the school day, and we encourage families to carry that same intentionality into the home. With clear expectations, open conversations about media use, and a focus on balance, we can make sure technology serves our children well, inside the classroom and beyond. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its guidance in January 2026, shifting focus from how long to the quality and context of digital media use.
Check out our Technology Use Guide using this link to learn more.
HEALTH OFFICE NEWSLETTER
Click this link to check out the latest Health Office Newsletter. This will help you stay up to date with what is going on in our School Nurse's Office.
COLLEGE & CAREER COUNSELING
As part of The Westside Foundation's Impacting Excellence campaign, WHS is excited to open the College & Career Readiness Center this fall. With this addition, we are reorganizing our counseling department to provide more individualized support to students as they near graduation.
As part of this reorganization, Dr. Vicki Londer will serve as our College & Career Counselor, supporting students and families as they navigate and plan for life after high school. This work builds on the strong foundation our counseling team has established over many years in helping students pursue a wide range of post-secondary pathways.
FAFSA COMPLETION EVENT - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026
There will be a FAFSA Completion Event on Tuesday, October 20 at 6:00 p.m. in the CCLRC. EducationQuest will be at Westside High School to help families complete the FAFSA! Please bring an iPad or laptop. Check out the documents below to learn more about what you need to complete the FAFSA for the 2027-2028 school year!
FAFSA GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now a GRADUATION REQUIREMENT in Nebraska for all seniors (Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-729) and can be completed on the FAFSA website. The purpose of the FAFSA is to inform postsecondary institutions about student eligibility for grants, work-study opportunities, and student loans. In addition, some scholarship providers require information from student FAFSA’s to determine eligibility and award amounts. Financial aid awards based on submitting a completed FAFSA help students pay for educational expenses after high school, reducing barriers to postsecondary education.
Because the FAFSA requires both student and parent participation, the deadline for completing this graduation requirement is Friday, February 26, 2027.
STEPS TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA
Review the attached documents that provide information about the FAFSA.
Create your FSA ID. Student and a "contributor" parent will each need to have an FSA ID. FSA IDs can be created by using this link.
OPT OUT OF THE FAFSA GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
The FAFSA GRADUATION REQUIREMENT states that each public high school student must complete and submit to the United States Department of Education a FAFSA prior to graduating from high school unless the form HERE is completed. Completing the opt-out form now does not prevent students from completing the FAFSA later if they choose to do so; it is indicating that at this point in time the parents/guardians authorize the student to decline to participate in the requirement.
INFORMATIONAL DOCUMENTS
CLASS OF 2027 SENIOR INFORMATION
The Westside High School website has a page dedicated to senior information that can be found by clicking on this link. Families are encouraged to bookmark this page and return often for updated information.
TEAM/PROGRAM SCHEDULES
Want to see when your Warriors will be in action next? Download the free Bound app to set up a customizable feed that highlights your favorite Westside programs.
WTV LIVE STREAM
Can't make it to the game or fine arts performance? Warrior Television has you covered! Enjoy watching your Warriors from the comfort of your home thanks to our WTV Livestream.
ACTIVITY TICKETS
All students participating in an NSAA sanctioned sport will need to purchase an Activity Ticket. The cost is $70 and students can purchase with cash from the WHS business office or online via the Hudl ticketing platform (Purchase Activity Ticket Here). Students will have the Activity Ticket added to their digital ID and will be given free admission to all Westside home sporting events (excludes Jamborees, Metros, & Districts) during the 2026-27 school year.
EVENT TICKETS & ANNUAL PASSES
You can purchase tickets to events ahead of time via the Hudl ticketing platform (Hudl Tickets). You can also purchase seasonal or yearly Athletic passes via Hudl as well.
The Empowerment Category of Developmental Assets
Give young people a chance to show you what they can do
Feeling valued and appreciated is important to all of us. For young people, this means feeling safe and believing they’re liked and respected. These feelings can go a long way toward empowering children and youth. Providing opportunities and recognizing accomplishments helps young people build self-esteem. This in turn, gives them the confidence to share their ideas, knowledge, and creativity by volunteering and working in paid jobs. By paying attention to young people, you show that you value them. Empowerment is one of the eight asset categories that make up Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
Here are the facts
Research shows the more young people are valued and feel valuable, the more likely they are to grow up healthy and avoid risky behaviors, such as alcohol and other drug use, violence, and early sexual activity. Search Institute has identified four assets in the Empowerment category crucial for helping young people grow up healthy: Community Values Youth, Youth as Resources, Service to Others, and Safety.
Tips for building these assets
It’s not always easy to know what it takes for young people to feel empowered. Sometimes young people doubt themselves or don’t feel valued despite the good intentions of and recognition from caring adults. Communicate with young people openly and honestly about relationships, politics, religion, and other serious issues. Young people need to know that their questions and concerns are valid and important.
Also try this
In your home and family: Empower your child by providing choices. Have regular family meetings to plan, solve problems, and encourage one another. Rotate who leads the meetings.
In your neighborhood and community: Get involved in the community and advocate for developing meaningful opportunities for young people, such as volunteer projects and civic activities.
In your school or youth program: Take a field trip to a nursing home or senior housing complex. Have students and group members perform a concert, and afterwards talk to residents and learn about their present situations, as well as their pasts. Ask participants to send thank you notes to the residents they met. Also encourage the young people to discuss what they learned from their visit and what they contributed to the lives of the residents.
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Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright © 2007 by Search Institute®, 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.
WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICE HOURS OF OPERATION
- Monday: 7:30 am - 3:30pm
- Tuesday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Out of office from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm)
- Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
- Thursday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Out of office from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm)
- Friday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE COUNTS
5 Absences or Tardies in a Class
Teacher contact to parent via SchoolStatus indicating that attendance is a concern.
10 Absences or Tardies in a Class
Assigned Administrator will consider placing the student on an Attendance Success Plan based on individual student circumstances.
15 Absences or Tardies in a Class
- Open Campus Privileges Revoked
- No extra-curricular activities (dances, athletic events, etc.) for remainder of the grading period
- Assigned ALL open mods
15+ Absences or Tardies in a Class
Student MAY BE dropped by administration from the class with a Withdraw Fail (WF) that will be reported on the student's transcript. This will be an administrator decision.
