Excellence in Youth

Looking for something fun or inspiring to do? Visit our Events & Contests button on the EY website to find activities happening around the Omaha area for kids and families!

New opportunities are added often—so check back from time to time to see what might spark your interest!

• Agriculture Poster Contest
• Calendar Design Contest
• Science Workshop

The Excellence In Youth Team is thrilled to shine a spotlight on Reese L. and Jasper G. from Westgate, Lillie W. and Stella C. from Swanson, Grace N. and Henry C. from Paddock and Owen O. and Anya K. from Sunset as being the most recent recipients of the Digital Dozen Award for the 2025-2026 school year! This award is earned by WCS students who complete 12 digital badge projects from the EY Website (ey.westside66.org), which is accessible to students across the district. It takes hard work, grit, and dedication to earn these badges, and this bright star should be proud of this shining accomplishment! Congratulations!

The 2026 International Academic Competitions (IAC) Regional Geography and Science Bees in Nebraska were held on Saturday, February 21st. WCS students (4th-8th) qualified by taking an online exam and then registered for the regional buzzer-based competition. Congratulations to these student on their stellar performance!

We are so proud to share the highlights from the MCC & SSEP Mission 21 Patch Design Competition! A total of 581 students participated, representing grades 4 through college. We were blown away by the creativity, ingenuity, and even humor reflected in their designs!

Bhavya B. from Swanson was K-8 winning patch design and will travel to the International Space Station this summer — what an incredible accomplishment!

During the month of January Sixth grade EY students participated in math contest called SIGMA. 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!

Click on the WMS Enrichment tab to view the variety of enrichment opportunities your Westside Middle School students can explore! There are Math & Science Weekly Challenges, Writing Contests, and more!

Go check out the WMS Enrichment site!

• Students can earn candy for answering the Weekly Math Challenge and/or the Science Question of the Week!
• We have a running Current Events Competition on the Social Studies Enrichment page - encourage your student to get involved by taking the Weekly Current Events Challenge and emailing me a screenshot of their score! Prizes awarded each month!
• There are writing contests available on the Language Arts Enrichment page!
• Quiz Bowl and Classics Book Club are up and running! Send Mrs. Sindt an email at sindt.kathleen@westside66.net if you want to join!

Parents - please remind your WMS students to check their emails. Emails are the best way for me to communicate enrichment opportunities!

Check out the new tab of the EY website!

• Swanson
• Sunset Hills
• Pre Algebra

Email: henningsen.jennifer@westside66.net
Website: ey.westside66.org

• Hillside
• Oakdale
• Westside Middle School
• Pre Algebra

Email: sindt.katherine@westside66.net
Website: ey.westside66.org

• Paddock Road
• Westgate
• Rockbrook

Email: shearer.denise@westside66.net
Website: ey.westside66.org

• Loveland
• Prairie Lane
• Westbrook

Email: thompson.megan@westside66.net
Website: ey.westside66.org