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.

Welcome back to the 2022-2023 school year. The EY team is excited to provide this monthly newsletter to inform and promote what is going on in the Excellence in Youth program at Westside Community Schools.

Check here each month to learn about upcoming opportunities, gain access to valuable resources, view EY highlights, engage in enrichment activities, and much more.

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!

Did you notice the EY Challenge tab when you visited the website? We encourage all students to participate in the challenge. Each month, a new challenge will be posted. We aim to keep the challenges timely and relevant to what is happening in the world around us.

You can find the current challenge by clicking the link below or visiting the EY website.

Every student in Westside has the opportunity to begin earning badges. Working towards earning a badge allows students to dig deep into topics and explore individual interest areas. Badges can be found in various subject and interest areas.

Earn 12 badges to achieve the acclaimed "Digital Dozen" and earn a prize and recognition! Choose from hundreds of badge options on the EY Website or choose one below to get kick started!

Check this area for additions to the 2021-2022 "Digital Dozen" winners.

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!

Microbes that Could Eat your Trash

Each year humanity produces roughly 400 million tons of plastic, 80% of which is discarded as trash. Of that plastic waste, only one-tenth is recycled. 60% gets incinerated or goes into the landfills, and 30% leaks out into the environment. Fortunately, there are microbes that may be able to take a bite out of this growing problem.

Congratulations to the following students who completed the EY Summer Bucket List Challenge! We hope you had a blast completing the twelve tasks and "filled your bucket" with enriching experiences!

• Joslyn O. - Oakdale
• Eliza W. - Rockbrook
• Maxwell S. - Loveland
• Kelli P. - Prairie Lane
• Claire M. - Hillside
• Harlow S. - Rockbrook

• Classroom Spelling Bees - October 10th-21st

• School Spelling Bees (Scripps Online) - November 14th-18th

• District Spelling Bee - Friday, December 16th

Last school year was the first year Westside Middle School participated in the United State Academic Pentathlon (https://www.usad.org/Pentathlon.aspx). Current WMS 7th grader Max Ruback competed in the Pentathlon as a 6th grader last year and won 2nd place in the individual state science competition and then went on to place 2nd in the individual national social science division. WMS will participate in the pentathlon again this year.

Check out the middle school EY opportunities on our website! https://ey.westside66.org/category/ms-learning-opportunities/

• 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