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.

Print the Summer Bucket List below and share your FUN by emailing a picture and/or telling us what you're up to throughout the summer! The EY Team will tweet it out on Twitter (@WCSEY66)

and post on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wcsenrichment) so everyone can see the amazing learning that happens all summer long!

In August, bring back evidence of completing at least 6 of these activities for a reward!

Summer is the perfect time to discover and explore your passion! What do you want to learn more about? What do you want to get better at? Now is the chance! Check out some great area summer camps that explore different topics in science, technology, engineering, math, arts, music, etc. There is a class or camp for everyone!

Click below for more information!

Aya Zeidan, a 6th grader from Sunset wrote a poem for a Young Writers contest earlier this year. Her poem was selected for publication in a poetry anthology called Peculiar Pets - Around The USA.

This week, we learned that there were 4000 submissions for the contest and her poem was one of the top 3 submissions in the Peculiar Pet Poetry contest! Aya was sent a goody bag full of books and writing supplies as her prize. Well done, Aya!

The Hardest Math Problem Student Contest is an annual competition presented by Scholastic, The Actuarial Foundation, and the New York Life Foundation that challenges grades 6–8 students to solve multistep, grade-appropriate math problems with real-world situations and engaging characters. Plus, 5th graders are eligible to participate by reaching to a higher grade level!

The following students answered Scholastic's Hardest Math Problem Challenge #2 correctly:

• Harmony T. & Mackenzie K. from Hillside
• Dominic D., Shelby D. & Charlotte B. from Oakdale

During the month of May, fourth grade EY students participated in the Math League Press contest. Congratulations to these students for being top scorers in each school!

Hillside

1st - Sienna G. and Izhaan M.

2nd - Sloane T.

3rd - Caleb K.

Loveland

1st - Seohynn K.

2nd - Claire W.

3rd - Jack H.

Paddock Road

1st - Cameron

Prairie Lane

1st - Becker J.

2nd - Addyson B.

3rd - Meena D.

Oakdale

1st - Alex K.

2nd - Connor W.

Rockbrook

1st - Abigail L.

2nd - Addley B.

3rd - Rhett P. and Sam P.

Sunset Hills

1st - Ben W. and Leo D.

2nd - Addy W.

3rd - JH, Alice H. and Logan M.

Swanson

1st - Peter B.

2nd - Henry L. and Vinny T.

3rd - Karnitha

Westbrook

1st - Ryker H.

2nd - Sarina R.

3rd - Isabelle H.

The Excellence In Youth Team is proud to announce Blythe L. from Loveland, Chad B., Adeline O., Holland H., Alice T., Collin A., Louise D., Annabel P., Riya P., Caroline H., Harlan S., Sloane F., Livia P. from Sunset, Finn D., Michael L., Jeremiah T., Isabel V., Mara W., Marley A., Stella H. from Swanson, Josh C., Kelsey R., Ellie B., Lola S. from Oakdale, Avery F. from Rockbrook and Sienna G. and Claire M. from Hillside as the most recent recipients of the Digital Dozen award for the 22-23 school year!

This award is presented to students who earn 12 of the digital badges. It takes self-motivation, grit, and determination to earn these badges; these students should be proud of this accomplishment!

The Excellence In Youth Team is proud to announce Harlan S. from Sunset as the most recent recipient of the Digital Dozen award for this school year! This is the second award for Harlan this school year.

Shark study was Harlan's favorite badge! Congratulations, Harlan!

The Excellence In Youth Team is proud to announce Sloane T. from Hillside as the most recent recipient of the Digital Dozen award for this school year. This is the second award for Sloane this school year! What an AMAZING accomplishment!!! Congratulations, Sloane!

Congratulations Karnitha on earning your THIRD digital dozen! The EY team applauds you for demonstrating grit and determination to complete 36 badges, a rare accomplishment in our badge program history. Continue to keep learning, inspiring other kids and, of course, working on badges.

We asked Karnitha to share some of her thoughts about the EY badges.

"My favorite badge of all time is the Bloom's Ball because it was really fun and it was about a book I really liked."

What badge are you going to do next? I would like to do the Duolingo badge.

What badge does the EY page not have but it should? Maybe you could have a badge that is like the Bloom's Ball badge but you make a big poster about the book.

Congratulations Kavin on earning your THIRD digital dozen! The EY team applauds you

for demonstrating grit and determination to complete 36 badges, a rare accomplishment

in our badge program history. Continue to keep learning, inspiring other kids and, of course, working on badges.

We asked Kavin to share some of his thoughts about the EY badges.

What is your favorite badge of all time? The Scratch badge.

What badge are you going to do next? I'm not sure. Maybe the Origami badge.

What badge does the EY page not have but it should? I think a chess badge.

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!

• 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